The Promise

by JM Dragon

  “I will hold you to that.”

  “I certainly hope so. Now, what can I help you with?” Kris moved away. Her instinct was to miss dinner too, but Shirley was right. She had to make the future in-laws like her or at least try.

  Claire shrugged, looking down at the wine in her clutches. “As you can see, I have Shirley’s favorite Chardonnay under my arm, Grams’s favorite Merlot in my hand. My mother will insist on a Cabernet Sauvignon…well a Bordeaux, but I can’t find one. The dilemma is, I can’t carry a bottle for any length of time with my left hand. Damn it.”

  Kris tried to think of something to counter the irritation Claire felt with herself. Ah! “To be honest, Claire, even if you could, how would you open the doors with three bottles of wine in tow and…?”

  Claire frowned.

  “You forgot what you like?” Kris winked.

  “Damn, I forgot about me and then what about you…oh right you like Chardonnay. To be honest, I can drink any of them, so no problem there. Can you see a Bordeaux in any of the red wine areas?”

  Kris looked around and then walked closer to the racks. It was a substantial cellar, considering no one really stayed at Seasons anymore. It seems wasteful to spend money on something you might never use, but then I’ve never had the opportunity to squander money. I wonder what that feels like.

  After a couple of minutes, she reached a rack that was covered in dust and selected a bottle. Sure enough, it was Bordeaux. “Got it, Claire. Hard to find, I must say. Looks like this stuff hasn’t been drunk in decades with the amount of dust on it. Will it be okay?”

  “Red wine has longevity. I suppose we’d better reenter the fray. You know, I feel sorry for Shirley.”

  Kris frowned as she held the dusty bottle, thinking she’d better clean it up before presenting it to Anna. “Why?”

  “She’s had to sit with the family on her own for at least ten minutes.”

  They both laughed.

  “Come on, let’s go. I’ll clean this bottle and bring it in. Oh, I’ll open the door for you. That will make your mother think again before she calls you incapacitated.”

  Claire caught Kris’s eyes and smiled slowly. “If I didn’t already love you, I would right now.”

  Kris kissed her and pulled away. “Good to know. Come on, dinner will be getting cold and Shirley will give us a hard time.”

  Claire laughed and they headed up the stairs.

  †

  “Where is that girl? What is taking her so long? You’re back,” Anna said gruffly, looking at Claire. Mother was wrong to bring Claire back here. It had never been a good place for her. Now she was extolling the virtues of the help. I hope she hasn’t gotten into a situation like she did last time she was here. Carl was so annoyed having to bail her out of that debacle with that older woman.

  “Mother, you are the most—”

  “Claire. Anna, this isn’t your house, it’s mine. You will respect the people here. If that’s too much effort, go to your rooms. Seasons has always been a place for me to relax and enjoy life. I will not have the bickering or disrespect of others that you both advocate.”

  “I don’t disrespect people, but Mother is out of line.”

  “Claire, you may not like what your mother says, but she deserves your respect if for nothing more than the fact she gave you life. No one is asking you to be her friend, but she’s family and we support family.”

  “Grams, she doesn’t deserve—”

  The door opened and Kris walked in.

  “Sorry for the delay. I figured this wine needs to look its best.”

  Anna looked at the wine, then at Kris. “I need a drink. Pour it, please. Wait, let me see that label.” Her fingers trailed over the label.

  “See? No respect for anyone. She’s a loser. I’m not surprised Father didn’t care that she left him.”

  “Claire, that’s enough,” Melissa growled.

  Then everyone in the room seemed to be moving in slow motion as Anna gasped and took the bottle from Kris.

  “Mother, this is….”

  “Yes, the year you were born. Your father and I bought a couple of cases. We had a case at your christening and bought another for your firstborn’s christening. As you know, that never happened.”

  Kris found the corkscrew and held it over the bottle.

  “Wait, please don’t open it,” Anna announced. All those years she kept it for us. Damn, why did I listen to Carl about not christening Claire here? He didn’t care then and cares even less now. He hasn’t even contacted me.

  Everyone looked at Anna.

  “Claire, you open the wine.” Anna gazed at her daughter, who gave that sour expression when she was upset. This would be fitting for Claire to open the bottle. Daddy would have been proud if he were here to see this. At least Mother is.

  Claire frowned. “Hell, Mother, you’ve been saying everyone is using me as a servant and now you are doing the same thing. Weird. I have weird parents. That’s the only thing I can think. Kris, please give me the bottle.”

  “It needs a corkscrew, Claire, you won’t….”

  Claire grinned. “Want to hold the bottle while I open it? Apparently this should have been for my christening and it’s long overdue.”

  “Deal.” Kris walked over to stand beside Claire, gave her the corkscrew, and held the bottle as she opened it. The cork popped as one would expect.

  “Okay, Mother, duly opened.” Claire placed the bottle in front of Anna.

  “Thank you, darling.” Anna picked up the bottle and poured a generous measure into her glass. “Anyone else want to try this? I do know it was the best of that year.” Yes, for more than just the wine; my baby was born.

  Claire scowled. “Okay, I’m game. The next question is, why didn’t you use it for my christening?”

  Anna drew in a deep breath.

  “Your father decided you didn’t need christening at that time.”

  Melissa shuffled in her seat. “Claire, your father has never shown any affinity to a church. His religion as far as I’m concerned is money.”

  Anna looked at her with a pained expression. “Mother, we both know he is a lapsed Catholic. He was away on business so much that we just never found the time.”

  Claire moved back in her chair and stared at her mother.

  “Don’t give me the spiel that Father would ever resurrect his Catholicism and have bothered. That’s like saying the pope is a woman.”

  “Claire!”

  “Okay, Grams, I’m going silent.”

  “Shall I serve dinner?” Shirley quietly interjected.

  “Yes, please, Shirley,” Anna said.

  “I’ll help.” Kris stood and left with her.

  “See, I told you they know their place.” Anna took a sip of her wine and exaggeratingly rolled it around her mouth, letting it explode on her taste buds. “This wine is superb, so much better for aging. Tell me, Claire, has this little sojourn of yours been fruitful?”

  Claire pursed her lips, then spoke quietly. “Better than I could have imagined. In fact, I want to tell you my news. I should wait for Kris, but under the circumstances, I think it best I do it while she’s not here.”

  “Kris? Why should she be here?” Anna frowned and wondered when Claire was going to see sense and have the surgery to fix her scars and look at least halfway decent. Perhaps Racheal might take her back.

  “Mother, Kris and I are engaged.”

  “Why, Claire, that’s wonderful.” Melissa smiled.

  Anna stared at Claire and then her mother, who appeared pleased by the news. This is a nobody they are talking about. “Well, I’m sure this is a dalliance that you think is important at this moment, but of course it’s ridiculous. Whatever would your father think?”

  Claire stood and glared at her. “I don’t give a shit what my father thinks, and I’m surprised you even mentioned him under the circumstances. I love Kris. She loves me. I will marry her!”

  Anna placed her wineglass on the tabl
e and began drumming her fingers on the surface. The huge diamond engagement ring on her left hand glittered in the half-light.

  “What happens between me and your father is our affair. You are his daughter and he’ll want to vet this woman, and trust me, she hardly comes up to his idea of a daughter-in-law. Now enough of this nonsense. When we go back to the city tomorrow, I’m arranging an appointment for you to see the best plastic surgeon in the state and we will fix those terrible scars of yours.” Anna picked up her glass and drew in a slow breath as she savored the fragrances that assailed her nose. Claire was right, Carl wouldn’t care. This would simply give him another reason to cut all ties.

  “Anna, Claire has a right to make her own decisions on her future partner and changes to her body. You must respect that she isn’t a child anymore, and I for one approve of Kris becoming part of the family.”

  “Well you would, Mother, you’re going senile.” Anna flared her nostrils and for once was thankful when the door opened and Shirley pushed in the heated trolley with their meal. “Thank God, the food at last. I’m famished.” Anna ignored the glares from her family and gave Mrs. Rank a half smile as she began to place the dishes on the table. “Let’s eat.”

  Claire shook her head and looked at her grandmother. “Sorry, Grams, but I can’t sit here with her.” She stormed out of the room.

  A couple of minutes later, Kris arrived with the gravy boat.

  “Where’s Claire?”

  Anna gave her a harsh stare. “My daughter has refused to eat with us, and it’s all your fault,” she declared, ignoring the gasp from the younger woman and piling her plate with duchess potatoes.

  “Sit, Kris, and eat. Claire will be back.” Melissa pointed to her seat, and Kris took it.

  †

  Claire sank down on her bed facedown. The sting of tears she’d held back at her mother’s horrendous words now poured down her cheeks, soaking the pillow.

  “I won’t let her dictate how I should live my life. She made a mess of her life, but she isn’t going to do the same to mine. I can do that all on my own.” The muffled words against the pillow made her realize she’d left Kris alone with her mother.

  Am I crazy? Sure I am for thinking someone as gentle and kind as Kris could ever deserve such treatment. She lifted herself off the bed and stared at the red blotches that looked back at her in the mirror.

  With a shaking hand, she touched the scars that trailed across her face. It would be so easy to have the surgery and at least look cosmetically normal. In the last twelve months she’d seriously thought about it, but…. Yeah, that big but. This was who she was now, and people had to take her this way or not at all. Her mother included.

  She walked into the en suite and washed her face, trying to eradicate the tearstains. With renewed vigor, she headed out of her room back to the dining room, but first she’d make a detour.

  †

  Anna stared at Claire as she reentered the room and sat down silently. “Just as well, or your dinner would be cold.”

  Claire shrugged and began to help herself to dinner.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  As she ate Claire had given Kris a few discreet looks and smiled at the pensive expression on her face. When she winked, Kris gave her a tentative smile.

  “So, Mother, how long do you intend to sponge?” At the raised eyebrows from her grams, Claire changed her tone. “How long do you intend to stay with Grams?”

  “Oh, indefinitely. Mother doesn’t mind. I’ll have to work the details out with the divorce lawyer, and we all know how long they take.”

  How the hell would you know if she does or doesn’t? Claire gave her Grams a smile. “Grams, is it okay?”

  “Of course, darling. She’s my daughter. I couldn’t see her in trouble and do nothing to help, just as I can’t you.”

  “Am I in trouble?” Claire frowned.

  Grams didn’t look her straight in the eye at first. “It all depends on how you want to live.”

  Claire laughed and waved a fork at her grams. “Frugally if Kris has her way. Isn’t that right, darling?” She wanted to kiss Kris at the shocked look on her face. Ah, of course, she wasn’t here when I told them. “Sorry, Kris, I mentioned to Mother and Grams that we got engaged. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Kris didn’t say anything. She simply stared.

  Hmm, I could be in trouble here.

  “I think it’s wonderful, Kris. You are exactly what Claire needs.”

  “What’s that, Grams?”

  “Someone sensible.”

  Claire nodded. Kris was all of that, sure. Except that isn’t why I want to marry her and have her by my side for the rest of our lives. Nope. When her mother spoke, she turned her attention to Anna.

  “Well, I don’t approve. Sorry, Kay, or whatever you’re called, but Claire can do so much better. She has in the past and will in the future. In fact, I’m sure Racheal will have her back in a heartbeat. Once she’s had the surgery.”

  The room went so silent a bomb could have dropped and no one would have made a sound, not even the bomb. The spiteful words shocked everyone except the speaker, who continued to eat.

  Claire had never considered her mother a snob. When Anna had been under the thumb of her father, she could have half expected this reaction, but not now. Her eyes tried to catch Kris’s, but she averted her profile, and from what Claire could see had squared her jaw. Oh crap, how do I make this right without a full-scale war?

  “Mrs. Tremont, I may not be what you want for Claire, and I’m sure you believe she can do better. I have told her myself that very thing—”

  “Well there you go.”

  “Shut up, Anna, and let the girl speak. Please continue, Kris.”

  Claire placed a hand across her mouth to stop the laughter as Grams told her mother off and felt pride that at least one member of her family wasn’t full of bullshit.

  “She doesn’t listen. Claire is a strong-minded person and won’t be diverted when she wants something. You should see her with Buddy.”

  Oh I love you even more, Kris. Not that I could ever love you less than I do.

  “Who is Buddy?” Shirley asked.

  Claire lifted a finger and bit down on her lower lip.

  “He loves your oatmeal cookies, Shirley. Claire feeds him crumbles most days.” Kris smiled at Shirley.

  Claire watched the interaction, and it reinforced why Kris would make her life whole.

  Shirley huffed. “Oh well, that’s good, just the crumbles. I was thinking she didn’t like them.”

  Claire cringed. “No, of course not. I love your oatmeal cookies. Kris used to snag them for me when we had a coffee break in the morning.”

  “Well if you had said, I would have—”

  “I’ve heard enough. My daughter is not going to marry you. I don’t care what you say or she says. For God’s sake, how can you live a decent life? Claire isn’t fit for a job and you…what do you do?” Anna tersely interrupted.

  Claire couldn’t take it any longer. She stood up knowing her face was glowing. She took a deep breath, trying to contain the anger. Then a hand descended on her good arm, and that narcotic called Kris settled her within seconds. She looked into the muddy-brown eyes and wondered what her life would be like without her. One word came to mind: unhappy.

  “At the end of the day it doesn’t matter what jobs we can and can’t do. The important thing is we are together. I don’t care what you think, Mother. Kris and I are going to get married, and that’s the end of the story…according to you.”

  “What do you mean?” Anna frowned.

  “From what you’ve said, you won’t want anything to do with us. So I guess after breakfast tomorrow, that’s it.” Claire felt deflated at the words. She hated some of the things her mother said, yet at the same time she knew that deep down her mother wasn’t this person. Not the woman who had raised her until she was ten, when things had changed and she had never understood why.

  “Give me a m
inute,” Claire said. Then with a smile at Kris, she left the room for a few seconds and returned with a magnum of champagne.

  “Grams, do you mind? I’ll replace it.” She held up the bottle.

  “I applaud your taste, my darling girl. Unfortunately, even I can’t buy another of those, so don’t even try.”

  “Claire, you can’t,” Kris pleaded.

  Claire turned to her. “You are worth it, and Grams knows I’ll repay her. Isn’t that right, Grams?”

  Melissa smiled. “You already have, darling.”

  “Shirley, when did you and Ricky marry?”

  “Christmas Eve.”

  Claire turned to Kris and raised the bottle. “We’ll open this when we get married, on the anniversary of Shirley’s marriage. What do you say?”

  Kris nodded. Claire saw tears forming and pulled her close.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you more.”

  There was a shuffle of a chair as Anna left the room.

  †

  After Anna’s departure the evening had slipped by amicably enough for the four of them, and Melissa decided an early night was in order. Shirley had also gone to bed early, leaving the two lovers alone in the dining room.

  Claire leaned back in her chair and smiled.

  “Great night once Mother left, don’t you think?”

  Kris looked at her empty wineglass. In the end she’d decided to stick to water. There’d been enough excitement without alcohol making it worse by loosening tongues. She glanced at the clock. It was nine thirty.

  “It was a great night, right? You’re not mad at me for telling them our news, are you?”

  Claire’s anxious tone had Kris shaking her head. “No, no, of course not. It didn’t go so well, did it, from your mother’s point of view?”

  “Does it matter what my mother thinks? Grams was happy and we are, so the parents are irrelevant in the big picture. Are you going to tell yours?”

  Kris paused for a moment. In truth, she hadn’t thought about it. Everything was going so fast. The proposed wedding date would be in a little over two months, not that she was unhappy about that. She’d marry Claire tomorrow if they could arrange it.