“Mum, I’m so hot… Whens Dad coming home?” whined little Annie, standing in the hallway bundled up in her winter coat, scarf, and hat.
“Annie, love, I told youwait for Dad *first*, then get dressed. Lets put the sled away for now. You can take your things off and play a bit. Ill finish making lunch, and then well go out for an hour,” suggested Vera, her mum.
“No. Dadll be here soon, and well go out together. He *promised*,” Annie replied, pouting.
“Promised Exactly*promised*!” Vera sighed, giving her daughter a sad glance before walking into the kitchen. She peeked out the window, tears welling up before she could stop them…
Vera had married Geoffrey, or so shed thought back then, out of love. Geoff was the most charming lad in their circle, and shy Vera had been flattered by his attention. When he asked her out, she was over the moon. All the girls whispered enviouslywhat a perfect pair they made. Vera was proud, certain shed won the lottery with him.
A year later, Geoff proposed. Vera said yes without hesitation. Half her friends volunteered to be bridesmaids. She was convinced fate had handed her the golden ticketnot just because Geoff was handsome, but because the Harrisons were one of the wealthiest families in town. His dad ran a big company, his mum owned several grocery shops.
“Vera, youre so lucky! The weddings soon!” her friend Natalie gushed.
“Yeah. Geoff promised wed go on a honeymoon somewhere nice,” Vera whispered.
“No way! Thats amazing!” Natalie squealed.
Everyone envied Vera. Only her mum, Margaret, seemed uneasy.
“Love, maybe dont rush into marriage? Its only been a year. Theres plenty of fish in the sea,” Margaret said, watching her daughter twirl in front of the mirror in her wedding veil.
“Mum, not this again! Geoff and I *love* each other!”
“Oh, darling Love fades. What you need is someone reliable. People talk, you know. Geoffs had his share of girlfriends,” Margaret warned.
“Honestly, Mum! You just dont want me to move out. But dont worryGeoff promised well have a big house, so you can visit whenever. He also said hed pay for driving lessons and buy me a car. Ill come see you all the time. Everythings going to be fine. He *promised* Id be happy.”
“Promised, promised Lets hope those promises come true.”
“Mum, *enough*! Just help me pick shoes!”
The wedding day came quickly. Geoff arrived in a sleek white car, grinning with his mates. Vera stepped out of her mums flat for the last time as a single woman.
At the registry office, Margaret felt uneasy. Most guests were Geoffs family and friendshis parents crowd. When the registrar asked them to exchange rings, Geoff slid Veras on effortlessly. But Vera fumbledhis ring clattered to the floor.
“Oops”
Geoff lunged after it, laughing. Later, guests joked about how quick he was to chase his own happiness. But Margarets heart sank. Her own gran used to say: *Drop the wedding ring, and the marriage wont bring joy*.
Whether you believe in omens or not, Veras married life soured fast. At first, things seemed fine. They moved in with Geoffs parents. Vera quit her jobMargaret objected, but Geoff had *promised* to provide.
Then Annie was born. Vera and the baby wanted for nothingexcept choice. Her mother-in-law picked their clothes, toys, everything.
“Geoff, maybe we could move out?” Vera ventured once.
“Why? Weve got it easy here,” he shrugged.
“But you *promised* wed have our own place.”
“Dads hit a rough patch. Moneys tight. Maybe later.”
“Yet youre always working late…”
“Lets talk about it another time.”
Years passed. Vera started suspecting Geoffs late nights werent work-related. Fights erupted.
“Vera, stop overreacting! So he had a night outbig deal!” her mother-in-law snapped one morning after Geoff didnt come home.
“Im done tolerating this! Annie and I are leaving!”
“Fine! But youre not taking our granddaughter!” Geoff slurred.
Vera moved back to her mums. Margaret was heartbrokenbut relieved.
It didnt last. Geoff showed up days later. “My daughters not living in some cramped flat with an old woman!” Vera had no choice but to return.
Things settled brieflyuntil Geoff started disappearing again. Vera endured, not complaining. But in a small town, gossip travels. Margaret knew.
Then her heart gave out. The funeral changed Vera. She realized she alone was responsible for her and Annies future. She packed their things and filed for divorce.
Geoff barely resistedhe was already seeing someone new. His mother raged.
“You cant take Annie from us!”
“Im not. You can see her. But Im never coming back.”
Soon, Vera met Daniel. He treated Annie like his own, even offered to adopt her. Geoff refused.
“Ill take her from you! Youll regret this!” he shouted, drunk.
“Geoff, sober up before making *more* promises. Ive got enough of those piled up already.”
***
That day, Annies dad never came for their walk. And sadly, it wasnt his first broken promise.
“Mum, Dad *promised* a bike for my birthday!” Annie said at eleven.
Uncle Dan bought her one the next day.
“Mum, Dad *promised* the London Eye! He said today or tomorrow!”
“Well see,” Vera sighed.
They went the following weekendjust Mum and Uncle Dan.
At fourteen, Annie mumbled, “Dad *promised* to pick me up from camp…”
“He mustve been busy. Come onMums made a feast,” Dan said warmly.
On her prom night, Annie fretted. “Dads not answering! What if somethings wrong?”
“I know exactly whats wronghes down the pub celebrating without you.”
“Mum, *stop*.”
Geoff never showed. The next morning, Daniel grinned.
“Enough tears. Lets goIve got a mate who runs a driving school. Lets see how you handle a car.”
“Seriously?!”
That evening, Dan laughed. “Shes got talent!”
Vera smiled. “I just want her happy. And to stop believing empty promises.”
Shed always taught Annie: *Judge people by actions, not words*. But the lesson hadnt quite stuck. Maybe life would teach her in time.
