A Promise To Keep

by Christina Tetreault

  She looked at an apartment on Pleasant Street not far from Quinn’s Hardware first, and then at a second on Fender Drive. Either would suit her needs, and the monthly rent was within the amount the insurance company was willing to pay. Kelsey couldn’t commit to either. Instead, she’d told the landlords she needed to think about it, because signing on any dotted lines would’ve been accepting that her and Drew’s marriage was over. Despite the problems between them, she wasn’t ready to do it.

  The front door was open when she pulled into Cat’s driveway. Cat had left for a conference this morning in Delaware and wouldn’t be back until Saturday night. The open door meant Tony was home. Kelsey didn’t know if Cat had filled Tony in on all the details, but she guessed Cat had told him something by now. Even if she hadn’t, he’d know there were problems with her and Drew’s relationship. Newlyweds didn’t usually live in separate houses less than a month after saying I do.

  “Hey, Kelsey.” Tony sat in the living room, a slice of pizza in his hand and the baseball game on the television. “I grabbed a couple pizzas on the way home. Help yourself.”

  Some pizza and a baseball game would let her keep her brain turned off for a little longer. Hopefully. She’d tackle the papers she brought home later.

  She opened the top pizza box. Ham and pineapple covered it. She liked ham, and she liked pineapple. She just didn’t care for them on her pizza. Kelsey opened the bottom box. Sausage, pepperoni, and tomatoes covered this one. “Much better.” She snagged a bottle of iced tea before joining Tony.

  “Who’s winning?” she asked.

  “No score yet. It’s only the second inning,” Tony answered. “Cat said you were apartment hunting tonight. How’d it go?”

  “Either one will work.” She twisted off the bottle lid. “I’m going to sleep on it and decide over the weekend.” Tony was a great guy, but he wouldn’t want his wife’s best friend sleeping in the guest room forever.

  Tony looked away from the television toward her. “No need to rush. Stay as long as you need.”

  “Thanks.”

  She’d discussed her problems with Cat and Ella. They’d given her the answers she wanted to hear, but they were both women. Women viewed relationships and love differently than men. What kind of answer would a guy give her if she presented the facts to him? She had a guy sitting a few feet away. Even better, Tony knew Drew. Maybe she should ask and find out.

  Kelsey set her iced tea down. “Tony, can I get your opinion?”

  He used the remote to pause the game and nodded. “Shoot.”

  “Do you think a guy would marry a woman simply so he can take care of her?”

  She didn’t know what kind of response she expected from Tony, but it wasn’t the burst of laughter she got.

  “Not anyone I know,” he said once he stopped laughing.

  “What if Sean had asked you to look out for Charlie? Would you have married her then?” It was no secret Tony Bates and Sean O’Brien were best friends, much the same way Ian and Drew had been.

  Tony shook his head. “I would’ve done anything I could to help Charlie out if she needed it, but not marry her.” His expression grew serious. “Cat shared what happened. Your problems were solved when you sold Bancroft Auto. You didn’t need more help. And if you had, Drew would’ve helped you in some other way. He wouldn’t have married you.”

  Tony had a good point. The moment she signed the purchase and sales agreement, her problems had been solved. Drew had known it too. He’d asked her to marry him after she’d accepted the offer from Jack Newton. After she no longer needed any assistance.

  “Thanks for your help, Tony. I appreciate it.”

  She took another sip of her iced tea and watched the batter hit a home run out of Fenway Park. Maybe Drew had married her because he loved her. Perhaps Ian’s request had prompted his decision to go behind her back where the business was concerned, but not his decision to propose. Three people seemed to think so. What were the odds they were all wrong?

  Zero, she hoped.

  ***

  He’d held off on calling or texting her. Instead he’d sent her gifts and cards, hoping she’d come around and talk to him. They couldn’t resolve anything if she wouldn’t sit and talk. So far, nothing. Not even a text message saying thank you. Well, he was done waiting, and he had one more surprise to give her. A surprise he wouldn’t be leaving at school or Tony’s house. This surprise, Drew planned to give her in person.

  Drew checked his cell phone. He’d been lying awake for hours. Actually, he hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep since Kelsey moved out. Without her next to him, the bed was too big and too empty.

  He watched the numbers change. Ten past nine. Late enough to call her.

  “Drew, I was going to call you soon,” Kelsey said after answering, her voice the best sound he’d heard all week. “I didn’t want to call too early and wake you.”

  He hated that she sounded so formal, but it was better than sounding angry. “I’ve been up for hours. Can’t remember the last time I had a good night’s sleep.”

  “Same here.”

  Was she suffering from the same problems as him?

  “Can I come over? We need to talk,” she said.

  At least they were on the same page there. He hoped they remained on the same page. “It’s why I called. I hoped you’d come by today.”

  “Twenty minutes work for you?” Kelsey asked.

  Whatever decision she’d made, she wasn’t keeping him waiting long. Should he take that as a good sign or not? “Whatever works for you, sweetheart.”

  Drew choked down coffee and touched his back pocket. He had the documents he needed. The big question was what she would do with them. He raised the mug toward his mouth again, then set it down. He couldn’t handle even another sip of coffee. What he’d ingested already was threatening to make a reappearance. He poured the mug’s contents down the drain and moved into the living room instead.

  She’d taken her house key and garage door opener when she moved out. He’d assumed Kelsey would let herself in when she arrived. Instead the doorbell rang. Not a good sign. He should’ve pulled on his lucky socks. The ones he’d worn when he’d won three of his four Super Bowl rings.

  When she’d walked out on him last weekend, he’d almost been able to see the steam escaping her ears. This morning she appeared calm and in control. Her expression gave him no clue as to what she was thinking or planning to do.

  “Morning. You could’ve let yourself in.” He moved in to kiss her, but then put on the brakes.

  “I took the key off my keychain and forgot it at Cat’s house.”

  She brushed some loose hair back, and he noticed the diamond engagement ring and wedding band still on her finger. Maybe things were looking up. “Do you want anything?”

  “No thanks. I’ve had enough coffee this morning to drown an elephant. But if you need to finish eating, go ahead. I’ll wait.”

  “I couldn’t eat if I wanted too.” He touched her arm and waited for a response. When she didn’t pull away, he reached for her hand. “Let’s sit in the other room.”

  Her thumb brushed over his palm and his wedding band. “Thank you for the gifts. I should’ve texted or called after you sent them.”

  “Glad you liked them.”

  They sat, the silence between them heavy. One of them had to go first. “I’m sorry, Kelsey. What I did was unacceptable. I should’ve minded my own business.” He took out the folded documents in his back pocket. “Sign these and Bancroft Auto is yours again.” He handed the papers to her. “Do whatever you want with it. Keep it. Sell it. Whatever, and I won’t interfere again.”

  He’d met with Jack and his lawyer in Boston this week. He now officially owned the garage. All she had to do was sign the papers his lawyer drew up, and it would belong to her again.

  “Drew, I’m not… thank you.” She opened the papers and glanced over them, but didn’t sign them. “It doesn’t make it right, but I understand wh
y you did it.”

  Kelsey hadn’t said she forgave him, but it was better than still accusing him of deceit.

  Drew’s hand shook as he reached for the envelope still in his pocket. He didn’t want her to accept this one, but he had to offer. “Kelsey, I know you think I married you to keep my promise to Ian. It’s not why.” He slid the envelope across the table. “But if you don’t want to stay with me, you don’t have to.”

  He held his breath while Kelsey pulled the documents out and read them over. If she asked, he’d give her a divorce and leave her alone. Exactly how he’d get through it, he didn’t know. Drew couldn’t fathom not having Kelsey in his life.

  She read through the first page and looked at him briefly before continuing on to the second. When she finished, tears filled her eyes. “These are divorce papers.” Her voice cracked, the sound pulling at his heart.

  She’d come over hoping to mend things between them. Kelsey had guessed it was why he wanted to see her as well. Instead he turned over ownership of Bancroft Automotive, and now he was presenting her with divorce papers. Gritting her teeth kept her from crying out. Kelsey blinked several times, hoping to clear her vision. It didn’t help.

  Hadn’t he said less than five minutes ago he hadn’t married her because of his promise? If that was true, why was he giving her these documents? “You want a divorce?”

  “Hell no.” He took the papers from her and set them aside. “But if it is what you want, I won’t contest it.” Drew took her hands, his palms sweaty against hers. “I’m leaving this up to you. Whatever you decide, I’ll honor.”

  She couldn’t recall ever seeing Drew cry, but this morning tears glistened in his eyes. The sight was the final straw. Her last bit of reserve failed, and tears streaked down her cheeks. Kelsey grabbed the papers and tore them in half. “I decided I was going to marry you when I was ten.” She ripped them in half a second time and let the papers fall on the sofa. “Divorcing you and not having you in my life is the last thing I want.”

  Drew brushed his thumb across her cheek. “Good, because I can’t imagine my life without you. I love you.” He kissed her. “And for the next fifty years, I plan on showing you how much.”

  Maybe she was letting him off too easy. And maybe others would argue she shouldn’t trust him. Kelsey didn’t care what anyone else thought. Life was too short. She knew it better than most. She wanted to spend her life with the man she loved. The man her heart and head said loved her too.

  “Only fifty?” She smiled for the first time in what felt like weeks. “I was hoping for more.”

  “How does forever sound?”

  “Promise?” Kelsey asked.

  Before Drew answered, he kissed her again and then nodded. “That’s a promise I can keep, Kelsey.”

  Epilogue

  Two Months Later

  Kelsey popped open one of the bottles of champagne she’d brought to Mack and Jessie’s house. It might not be the drink of choice for a poker game, but tonight wasn’t any other night. Nope, today had been the last day of school. This afternoon she’d turned in her school badges and closed the door on a chapter of her life. Her friends would understand her desire to celebrate.

  She handed Cat and Ella each a glass. “Anyone else?”

  Both Mack and Sean passed, opting for beers instead. Dakota and Drew accepted glasses. Tonight marked the fourth time Dakota had joined them for a poker game. Kelsey hoped he continued to come. He was a good addition to the group.

  “To the end of the school year,” Jessie said, raising her glass of lemonade. “I know Grace would be here celebrating too if she could. She couldn’t wait for summer vacation.”

  She’d noticed the lack of noise that often signaled Grace was in the house. “Staying with her grandparents tonight?” Kelsey asked.

  Jessie’s frown was all the answer she needed. “No, she’s with her mom until Tuesday.”

  Kelsey knew there was no love lost between Jessie and Mack’s ex-wife. For Grace’s sake, Jessie did her best to get along with the woman.

  “I miss her already, and she’s only been gone a few hours,” Jessie said.

  She’d seen firsthand the tight bond Jessie had with her stepdaughter. “Grace isn’t the only one missing tonight. Sean, where’s Mia?” Kelsey had last seen Mia at the grocery store. The poor woman looked ready to pop any day. “Is Angie visiting again?”

  Sean set his beer aside. “No. She wasn’t feeling well. I offered to stay home and keep her company. She told me to come because this will be my last game for a few months.”

  Mia was due this month, so at least for the foreseeable future they’d be skipping the monthly poker game. It was another reason she was glad Dakota was now joining them. Especially since in another two months Jessie and Mack would be temporarily leaving the group too.

  Across the table, Dakota shuffled the cards and began dealing. “Did your sister-in-law like the house on Grove Street?”

  Since the spring, Mia’s younger sister had been coming to town and checking out various homes. Kelsey had heard she’d even spoken with a contractor about building one in North Salem. This was the first time she was hearing Angie had looked at the old Federalist-style home that had gone on the market in May.

  Sean accepted his cards and nodded. “Angie surprised me when she looked at it. Her home in California is one of those futuristic-looking places. I was afraid to sit on anything when we visited. But she put in an offer and it was accepted.”

  “Mia must be psyched.” By the way Mia talked about her two sisters, it sounded like she was close to both.

  “Yeah, she’s happy.”

  Kelsey got the impression Sean wasn’t as thrilled. Considering the relationship he had with his mother-in-law, he probably feared she’d be visiting even more with two of her daughters living in town.

  Sean tossed a few chips into the middle of the table. “Angie’s keeping her home in California though. She doesn’t plan on living here year-round.”

  “When’s the closing?” Dakota asked.

  Kelsey’s ears perked up at the interest in his voice. As far as Kelsey knew, Dakota had only met Angie once, and it’d been at Sean’s wedding. Was he making conversation tonight, or was there another reason behind his questions?

  “First week in July. They already did the home inspection.”

  “An extra set of hands to help out with the baby,” Cat said, echoing Kelsey’s thoughts.

  “Maybe. But if so she’ll stay with us. She hired an interior design firm out of Boston to come in after the closing and redo the place. Not that it needs it.”

  “Is your mother-in-law staying with you too when the baby is born?”

  Tony’s question earned him a murderous glare from Sean. Before he could comment, his cell phone rang. Usually the group as a whole avoided taking phone calls during a game. Sean checked the screen and then set his cards down. “Mia,” he greeted the caller.

  Kelsey held her breath. Judging by the expressions around the table, everyone else was doing the same. Mia’s due date was two weeks away. In reality though, the baby could come at any time.

  “Be right home.” Sean lowered the cell phone, and she noticed his hand shook slightly. “Sorry, guys, I’m out. Mia’s water broke.”

  Having a baby was a big deal, especially if it was your first. She could understand why Sean might be nervous.

  “Keep us updated,” Tony said as Sean raced out of the room. He checked his cards again and tossed in his bet.

  Kelsey looked around the table. More change had happened in the last few years than she could ever remember in North Salem. It just kept continuing. Right now, Sean was on his way to be with his wife as she delivered their first child. Mack and Jessie would soon be welcoming twins to their family. Cat and Tony were happily married. Kelsey knew they planned to try for a baby after Ella and Striker’s wedding. The only reason they hadn’t already was because Cat didn’t want to be pregnant on Ella’s big day. Come August, Ella and Striker
would be married, leaving Dakota the single guy in the bunch.

  “Dakota, how’d you know Mia’s sister looked at the house on Grove?” Kelsey asked, her brain circling back to their earlier conversation.

  “I was out for run when I saw her and the real estate agent pull into the driveway. At first I thought it was Mia, so I stopped.”

  Kelsey agreed. Mia and her younger sister resembled each other a lot, so much so they could be mistaken for twins.

  Maybe it was time she took a page out of Jessie’s book and played matchmaker. She could enlist Mia’s aid and set Dakota up with Angie. The questions he’d asked didn’t prove Dakota was interested in getting to know Mia’s sister better, however his tone of voice made her think he did.

  ***

  “I wonder how Mia is doing?” Kelsey asked.

  He’d wondered the same thing since Sean had bolted from Mack and Jessie’s house. As of when the poker game ended, no one around the table had heard from Sean. Cody’s wife had been in labor for six hours with Joey. He didn’t know if that was the norm or not. Someday he’d find out.

  Kelsey kicked off her sandals. “Sean will probably call Tony right away. Cat will let me know when he does.”

  “I already feel bad for Sean’s daughter. I still remember how protective he was of Charlie. He was worse than Ian. And Ian took the protective big brother role seriously.” Over the past several months, talking about Ian had become easier. Whether it was because more time had passed or because he had Kelsey, Drew didn’t know. “If he could, I bet Sean would lock his daughter up in a tower to keep her safe.”

  She nudged him in the side. “Like you’d be any better if you had a daughter.”

  Drew refused to admit she was right. “Guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay waiting?”

  They’d discussed it and agreed to wait until after she finished her doctoral program. It didn’t mean he wasn’t anxious for them to start a family. “What’s a year?” He moved closer and kissed her. “Besides, this way I’ll have you all to myself longer. Once we have kids, I’ll have to share you, and I’m not ready for sharing.” Drew undid her braid and ran his fingers through her hair. “But I’m warning you, the moment you have your degree in hand, we’re going to concentrate on getting pregnant.”