Read Promises for Free Online Page A

“Luncheon on the Grass.” “Isn’t she nervy?” Nina had said of the naked woman sitting with the gentlemen in their dark, formal suits. And “It makes my room, doesn’t it, with all that color splashing on the wall?”
    Remembering all this now, Margaret felt inner laughter along with a few inner tears. Over time she had taught hundreds of teenagers and thought she understood them fairly well. Yet Nina remained unique. Clearly, the circumstances of her birth must have had their effect; again and again she had asked questionsabout her father, questions that had been answered simply with “I don’t know.” The truth was that no one knew. It was possible—ugly thought—that even Nina’s mother had not known. Jean had believed it best to tell Nina that her father was dead, and it was too late now to say otherwise. Perhaps the man really was dead, anyway.
    And with a surge of gratitude Margaret thought again about her own three sitting there, who had no such uncertainties, no unanswered questions, nothing hidden. Father and mother were here together and always would be.
    Fifteen years! In the course of history that was not even the wink of an eye, yet for this little handful of people, much had occurred in that wink of time. Adam’s cheerful mother, who had lived with them long, too long, past the inception of Alzheimer’s disease, was now in an institution. Jean and her new husband had been run over by a taxi in Hong Kong; he had been killed, and Jean had lain in the hospital there for three months before Margaret had been able to bring her home, where she had later died. When travelers returning from Hong Kong rhapsodized over that fabled city, Margaret shuddered. That fabled city was, in her memory, only a hospital and a cheap hotel. After that, there had been a miscarriage, and after that, Danny.… You wondered, looking back, how you had managed to weather it all.
    Perhaps, though, when two people loved each other, problems even strengthened a marriage. Together you overcame. Of course you did. For here they were, held close in prosperity and health. Adam had his good job, and she was assistant to the head of the science department.Their children flourished. Nina was on her way. What more could one ask of life?
    Presently, the music came to an end. Fred Davis departed with Jimmy and a temporary supply of puppy food. The cousins left with praise:
Delicious food, a lovely family, a lovely day.
And Nina prepared her good-byes, for she was to leave in the morning.
    “Remember, you two, that you promised to come to New York in the fall.”
    “We’ll be there,” Adam promised. “It’s four years now since we’ve been at the opera, and we owe ourselves a treat. Besides seeing you,” he added.
    The house was closing up, with lights out and doors locked. Margaret was the last at the back door, waiting for the dogs to come in after their final run. The sky was misted, a few drops pattered, and the air was cool on her face.
    “A lovely day,” Louise had said, and so it had been. Blessed, she thought. We are blessed.
    The only way you could tell that it was fall outside was to note that brittle leaves were dropping from the meager trees on Nina’s street. Adam, standing at the window, was ready to depart, but the women were still chattering over tea and cookies. It was good, though, to see them so happy with each other, so eager to hear about each other’s school and children, boyfriends and job. Furthermore, he was himself in a mood of well-being. They had tickets for
Der Rosenkavalier
at the Metropolitan tomorrow night, and just before leaving home, reports had been circulating through the company about a possible move into European markets. If so, it should certainly mean a step upward for him.Ramsey, vice-president for programming, would probably go to Europe and then … So reflecting, he was interrupted in these pleasant thoughts by catching Margaret’s words.
    “Adam deserves to be head of