The Promise

by Robyn Carr

  She knew he wouldn’t want to talk about the details. Not at this time of the morning. He was all about getting out of the house. If she was around later when his work was done, they might sit on the porch and talk a little, but for now he would leave the details for Corinne to collect. “Nothing I can’t handle, Papa.”

  Her mother put a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of strong coffee in front of her. Her father ate cereal, eggs, sausage. Around ten in the morning he would stop by the house to fill-up on toast and coffee, maybe some beans. And at one, lunch. At six, dinner. It took a lot of fuel to keep a farmer going.

  Paco was done eating inside of ten minutes. He rose, rubbed his hands over his stomach and leaned down to give Peyton a kiss on the head. “You are the strong one,” he said. Peyton knew he said some variation on that to every one of his children.

  Corrine rinsed the dishes and brought her coffee to the table, sitting across from Peyton, silent and waiting. Peyton told the story of Krissy, and when she was done, all Corrine said was, “Fifteen. Holy Mother.”

  “Totally,” Peyton said. “If that was your daughter, what would you do?”

  She gave a helpless shrug. “We’ve had a slip or two in our vast family, not at fifteen that I can think of. My mother used to say, ‘The first baby can come anytime, but after that they all take nine months.’ Peyton, I’m surprised you’ll go to help that fancy doctor. He hasn’t often appreciated you.”

  “I’m not going for him. In fact, leaving it in his hands will be a challenge. He clearly expects me to handle it for him, no matter how long it takes or how much it costs me.”

  “I hope you’ve made up your mind how much you can take.”

  “I hope so, too.”

  Of course, her mother wanted to know all about Adele and the baby, wanted to hear about all of Lucas’s family. They’d sent pictures almost daily to the entire Lacoumette family, but Corinne was hungry for gossip and details. They had a second cup of coffee.

  “Mama, when did you know you loved Papa?”

  “When my father told me I did,” she said with a smile.

  “Really?”

  “I loved him before I knew him, like most brides. Then the truth came out. I found out what he was really like.”

  “Does he ever give you trouble?”

  Corinne laughed. “Every day of my life. Peyton, please, tell me we’re not talking about Ted.”

  She shook her head. “That was over a long time ago. Before I moved out. So sad. It makes me a little afraid that I’ll think I’m in love again, and then it will slip away from me. That I’ll see I was kidding myself. Again.”

  Corinne shook her head. “Peyton, it’s not like you to play games with yourself. You, of all my children, have always known what you feel, what you want.”

  “I didn’t with Ted,” she said.

  Corinne sighed. “Anyone could see you stayed much longer than you wanted to. You stayed for those children. Not because you loved them but because you feared for them. And with good reason, it seems. The next time you find yourself willing to accept a lie, be prepared to be disappointed. Paco can drive me crazy, but underneath everything, he is good. When I’m angry, I break his yolks. When he’s angry, he grunts at his food and gives me his back in bed. When we fight, we keep score—he yields half the time and I yield almost half the time—it’s a proven system.”

  “Mama.” She laughed.

  “He’s stronger than I am. It’s fitting he should carry a little more of the burden.”

  “Does he know this?”

  “There is no question. Everything is going to be all right with your young doctor. He loves you. He looks at you in a way I haven’t see a man look at you before. And he has a gentle strength. He enjoys people in an honest way. He’s not afraid to give. He’s not Basque, but otherwise he’s acceptable.” And then she grinned.

  “He’s been a little cranky lately,” Peyton said.

  “Oh? Then perhaps he has a mighty big problem. And so do you— Now, get yourself ready and get to the fancy doctor’s house and get that behind you. I wish you good luck with that.” She shook her head and tsked. “Such a terrible ordeal for that child. For everyone.”

  * * *

  Peyton made it to Ted’s house by just after nine in the morning. She called Ted’s cell phone to announce her arrival, and the first thing he did was bitch about not being able to reach her because his number was blocked. She told him she was sorry, but she had no idea how to unblock it and told him he could call Krissy’s number and ask to speak to Peyton if he needed something.

  The next order of business was talking to Krissy. She was up, still in her pajamas, but already crying. For a little while it was just Krissy and Peyton, going over all the details again. Krissy said she knew right away that she was pregnant and had been terrified to tell her parents, which any girl would be.

  After an hour listening to Krissy, Peyton made an appointment with a crisis counselor, who had been recommended by her sister-in-law Lori. She told Krissy to get cleaned up for an appointment in a couple of hours. Then she called Ted.

  “Krissy has an appointment with a counselor at noon, Ted. You should take her.”

  “Listen, Peyton, I’m booked solid. Can you please take her?”

  “It’s the lunch hour, Ted! Someone can cover you.”

  “I can’t, Peyton. But I’ll come home early and get the details from you and Krissy then. Thanks for doing this.”

  “I should walk right out of here and leave you with whatever mess there is to clean up!”

  “Please, Peyton. I won’t ask anything more, I swear!”

  “You’re damn right, you won’t!”

  When she told Krissy, the girl just said, “I’d rather it be you, anyway.”

  “You understand this is private between you and the counselor, right? You can tell her anything and everything, and it’s totally confidential.”

  “I know,” she said.

  “Have you been in counseling before?”

  She shrugged. “Just at school. When I was younger. I don’t think it was the same kind. We were sent to the counselor’s office when we didn’t behave.”

  “I bet that happened a lot,” Peyton said. “Well, this kind is perfect for now—you’re in a crisis. If you just open up a little, the counselor might have some ideas for you. She won’t tell you what you have to do, but she might be able to help you cope with a very difficult situation.”

  Although she’d threatened not to, of course Peyton took Krissy to her appointment. She then sat in the waiting room. When Krissy finally came out, looking as if she’d been through the wringer all over again, the counselor asked Peyton to come into the office.

  “You’re a friend of the family, do I have that right?” the therapist, Margaret Kazerus, asked.

  “Yes. I lived with Dr. Ramsdale for a couple of years and got to know the kids very well. Krissy called me, and I was surprised. I didn’t think she liked or trusted me. We didn’t get along that well.”

  “She tells me you said you could stay a couple of days, is that correct?”

  “Right, again,” she said.

  “All right, then. I’m going to call Dr. Ramsdale. Unless you’re planning to be responsible for Krissy in the long term, it’s time to turn it over to the girl’s parents. Do you know where the mother is?”

  Peyton shook her head. “It’s a joint custody situation. Ted and I had the kids three to four days a week. I left a couple of months ago. I work in a small town down the coast now, and I really can’t stay any longer.”

  “That’s fine... Is it Peyton?”

  “Yes, Peyton Lacoumette. Is she going to be all right?”

  “With the right support system and tools,” she said, scribbling on a notepad. “I think it was very good of you to step in, Peyton. I understand you came a long way?”

  “I was visiting my sister in San Francisco. It was a very long drive.”

  “Well, that was over and above. Whenever you feel comfo
rtable leaving this in my hands, you can get back to your sister or your job. It’s up to Krissy and her family now. I explained that to her.”

  “Thank you for seeing her. She scared me.”

  “I don’t doubt it,” the counselor said. “She’s pretty unsteady right now.” She stood behind her desk and extended her hand. “Thanks for finding her counseling, Peyton. It was a very good first step.”

  “Sure. Thank you.”

  Peyton took Krissy for a hamburger and listened to the story of her counseling experience. Then the poor exhausted thing went to her room for a nap. “Will you be here when I get up?” Krissy asked.

  “I think I’ll leave tomorrow. Are you going to school tomorrow?”

  She shook her head. “Miss Kazerus wants another appointment tomorrow.”

  “Well, if your dad can’t take you, I will, and then I have to leave. Once you’re feeling a little better. I have to get back to work, honey.”

  “I know.”

  “You’re going to be all right, you know.”

  Peyton rummaged around in the cupboards and refrigerator, looking for something for dinner. Typical of Ted, he hadn’t mentioned dinner and was likely expecting her to round up something. She grabbed a pound of frozen ground turkey, fried it up and prepared to add beans, tomatoes and chili seasoning. She found biscuits in the refrigerator and got them out. While she was cooking, Pam and Nicholas came in from school.

  “You’re here,” Pam said. “You came.”

  “Krissy asked me to come. I’m glad I did. How are you guys?”

  “Okay,” Nicholas said. “Is she real sick?”

  “No, she’s not sick, kiddo. Just upset. Hasn’t anyone talked to you about what’s making her upset?”

  He shook his head, but Pam said, “She’s pregnant.”

  “She can’t be,” her brother said.

  “Never mind, Nicholas,” Pam said. “Don’t worry about it.”

  This family, Peyton thought. How have they made it this long with no communication, no team effort?

  “How long will you stay?” Pam asked.

  “I think I’ll leave tomorrow. The longest I can stay is one more day, then I really have to get back to work. I think Krissy will feel a little better before I leave.”

  “I can’t believe you came,” Pam said again.

  Peyton gave her hair a pat, a little stroke. “I’m throwing together some chili for your dinner. Does that sound okay?”

  They both looked a little thunderstruck. But they both nodded. “Why don’t you get started on homework?” she asked. And for the first time in Petyon’s memory, they headed off with book bags toward their rooms. “I think Krissy is napping, so, please, don’t wake her. She’s had a hard day.”

  Chili done, biscuits ready for the oven, Peyton checked the time. Almost five and no Ted. Well, no surprise there. She poured herself a glass of wine and sat at the table. She texted Scott. She didn’t call him, hadn’t called him since that conversation the night before. But she didn’t want to ignore him, knowing he’d wonder what was going on up here. Took Krissy to the counselor. I’m staying another day, I think, then maybe stopping off at the farm. Are you okay?

  Before she received any response, Ted came in from the garage. He looked very unhappy. He was apparently no longer grateful. He glared at her, putting his bag on the counter.

  Rather than talking, he fixed himself a drink. He leaned against the breakfast bar and glared at her. “I’m required to be at counseling tomorrow,” he said. “Is that your doing?”

  “My doing? I have nothing to do with that, but it’s a good idea.”

  “It’s what you wanted all along, and now, it seems, I don’t have a choice.”

  She raised her brows and looked at him. “Is that right?” she asked. “Well, I suppose you could refuse.”

  “No,” he said. “I can’t. She threatened me.”

  Peyton was frankly startled. “Who?”

  “The counselor! Miss Kazerus!”

  “How could she threaten you?” Peyton asked, confused.

  “She said if one of Krissy’s parents didn’t show up with her tomorrow, she’d call the department of children’s services. Olivia is out of town until tomorrow night. I offered you, but she said that wouldn’t work. I explained my schedule, the critical demands of my patients, and she said I’d have to make a choice. Her mother should do this.”

  Wow, Peyton thought. Right now Ted is slapping himself for not being out of town! “I suppose you could skip it and let her make the call....”

  “No, I can’t do that. It would be too humiliating, as if my current situation isn’t embarrassing enough.”

  Knowing he wouldn’t get it, knowing he’d never understand what she was saying, she said it, anyway. “Ted, this isn’t about you.”

  “Did you suggest this? Be honest, Peyton. You’ve been yammering about counseling for a long time. Did you tell the counselor to force me?”

  She just looked at him for a long moment. She shook her head sadly. “I think I should be on my way,” she said. “I made some chili for you and the kids—it appeared nothing was planned for dinner. I’ll make sure Krissy is feeling better, and I’ll just take off, drive down to the farm and stay with my mom and dad. I’ll head home after that.” Her phone chimed with an incoming text, and she ignored it. “I think you can take it from here.”

  “If you can manage, I’d appreciate it if you’d stay one more day,” he said. “To make sure Krissy makes it through her next counseling session.”

  “All right,” she said. “Then that’s all the time I have.”

  He took a sip of his drink. “Can we have a discussion about us?”

  “That ship has sailed, Ted. I’m ready to get home.”

  He took another sip. “Home?” he asked. “That place is home now?”

  “It’s working out. Would you like some chili with the kids?”

  “I believe I’ll make do with this drink for now,” he said. And he left the kitchen and went to his office.

  Peyton looked down at the text. It was from Scott. Is Ted behaving himself?

  * * *

  Surprisingly, Ted didn’t bother Peyton any more that evening. He isolated himself in his office or the master bedroom. To his credit, he did check on Krissy once, asking her how she was feeling. But Peyton had expected a full-court press regarding their relationship, and that didn’t happen.

  She, likewise, hid. She checked on each of the kids, then closed the guest room door where she talked on the phone a little, texted a little, read a little. At one point there was a knock at the door. “Come in,” she said.

  Pam peeked into the room, looking a little uncertain. Then she pushed the door open and came in. She was carrying a pair of leather-and-suede boots that Peyton had left behind because they’d gone missing.

  “These are yours,” she said.

  “Yes, I see that,” Peyton said, smiling. “I remember them fondly. I gave the credit to Krissy. It was you who took them?”

  Pam nodded. “Sorry.”

  “They must be much too big for you.”

  “They were gonna fit pretty soon.”

  “By that time they would have been out of style.”

  “Don’t be mad, okay?”

  “Pam, I grew up with three younger sisters. You can’t hold a candle to their thievery. They were in my stuff all the time, and it made me furious. Besides, I think I’m past being shocked by what you kids do. I was pretty ticked at losing these boots, but I’m done being mad now. I do think it’s very mature of you to return them and apologize. Thank you.”

  “Will you come back now?” she asked.

  “Why would you want me to?” Peyton asked.

  Pam shrugged. “It’s easier,” she said.

  “Ah. Well, little darling, I think you should prepare yourself to try a little harder, then. I found a new job, a new little house all my own and some new friends. Your dad and I decided our relationship wasn’t working, and we bot
h moved on, no hard feelings.” She gave her returned boots a pat and smiled. “I think you know how to do the right thing. Why don’t you prove to your dad that he can depend on you. That’s a good place to start.”

  “I knew you wouldn’t stay.”

  Peyton shook her head. “Did you also know you were trying to force me to leave?”

  “It wasn’t that bad,” Pam said.

  “For who?” Peyton asked, very pleased to see Pam blush slightly. “You can call or text me if you like. We can keep in touch if you want to, but I’m afraid it’s time for me to leave. I’m starting over, too.”

  * * *

  Peyton thought it was perhaps self-indulgent or even self-flagellating on her part, but she chose to stay at Ted’s house until Krissy and Ted came home from their counseling session. There was a bit of generosity of spirit left in her because she did want to comfort Krissy if necessary, encourage her a little bit before leaving. She was quite sure she wouldn’t be back. Miss Kazerus was right—it was time for Peyton to leave this family on their own. She was an outsider.

  She waited and waited and waited. She fully expected Ted to drop Krissy at the house and go straight back to his office. She wasn’t sure he’d even come inside, and if he did, it would only be for one of two reasons—to say goodbye or ask her to stay and manage his home and family for him.

  As the hours ticked by, Peyton hoped he’d at least taken Krissy out to lunch or something. Peyton’s suitcase sat by the back door, ready for her departure. It was almost two, and they had been gone four hours when she finally heard the garage door rise. Krissy walked in first, Ted very close behind her. His hand was resting on his daughter’s shoulder, and he looked wretched.

  “Do you want to go lay down for a while?” Ted asked Krissy.

  She nodded, but then in noticing Peyton’s suitcase, she turned concerned eyes toward her. “If I take a nap, will you be here when I wake up?”

  “I won’t leave without saying goodbye,” Peyton promised.

  “Thanks,” she said.

  Ted came over to the kitchen table where Peyton waited and sat down. “You’ve been gone awhile,” was all she dared to say.