A Promise to Remember

I blinked awake, my body throbbing with exhaustion as every muscle protested. No matter how many times we'd been together like this, Ted Wiley's raw, unrelenting energy still left me reeling.Rolling over, I saw he was already stirring. His chiseled muscles caught the morning light in a warm, honeyed glow, while his eyes remained half-lidded, lazy and distant."Up so early?" he asked, his voice carrying that gravelly morning husk.A sharp twinge shot through my waist as I leaned down to slip on my stockings, only to discover yesterday's pair had been shredded beyond repair by his eager hands.Ted flipped onto his side, dangling my bra from one finger with a wicked grin. "A grown woman like you still rocking plain white lace? Talk about outdated. Time to switch things up."I snatched it from him. "Fine, I'll grab some new stuff. What kind do you...""No point," he interrupted. "I'm changing the code soon. Stay clear unless you need something."I was stunned, especially since we h

Ted was stunning, as if he'd stepped from another world. By that afternoon, girls from every grade had crammed against the windows, gawking at him.A few days later, even the prom queen slipped him notes, but he brushed them all off, preferring to doze in the back row as if nothing mattered.He ignored books and lectures alike, and the teachers turned a blind eye. Only during tests would he nudge my back and say, "Hey, let me copy your answers."He seemed to assume I'd comply, and I did. That irritated the other guys, who branded him a show-off and started picking fights with him every few days in the alley behind the school.I'd catch glimpses of those brawls almost daily.One evening, as I biked past, I spotted him slumped against the wall, smoking through a battered face. I hesitated, then braked and fished a Band-Aid from my pocket."You're bleeding," I said, offering it to him.He glanced up with an icy stare. "Scram."What a jerk! I wasn't crushing on him; it was just bas

After the marriage, Pierre continued straying, even scheming to produce more heirs.Mamie endured endless torment and rows, spiraling into severe depression before ultimately jumping to her death. Pierre seemed to reform afterward, but the chasm between the father and son was irreparable.Ted stopped going home, diving instead into booze, reckless driving, and heavy smoking. He became the stereotypical trust-fund kid, reveling in nightly excesses. Once aloof toward girls, he now navigated relationships with the skill of a seasoned player.The pure, untainted boy I'd known had faded into an illusion—a ghost from my memories....That night at the party, I met Ted's new girlfriend for the first time.She was fair-skinned and fresh-faced, wrapped in a camel coat with chestnut curls tucked into a cashmere scarf. Her smiles crinkled her eyes—sweet rather than stunning, but radiating an innocent purity.Ted had been right; she was leagues apart from his previous girlfriends."You're

"Okay," I replied."Don't fight it," Alice pressed on. "I know you like that Wiley boy, but... wait, what?"My eyelashes drooped. "I said okay. Introduce us."After dinner, my old app rang with a call from Ted. I'd switched to a new number, sharing it with only a couple of close friends, but I still logged into the old one occasionally to tie up loose ends before deleting it.He sounded casual, as if nothing had happened. "Why is your phone not connecting?"Before I could answer, he continued, "Anyway, I've got the holiday prep all sorted. Anything else you want? I'll have my assistant grab it."His words triggered a memory: the year Mamie died. I'd gone home, but on Christmas Eve, I video-called him to wish him happy holidays.It took ages for him to answer; the screen was dark at first, showing only a fading ember from his cigarette."Yeah?" he rasped.As the screen adjusted to the light, I saw he was alone on the balcony, surrounded by scattered bottles and cigarette butts.

I never imagined my first night back home would involve sitting on the couch with a stranger, our heads nearly touching as I tended to his wound.Dabbing the cotton ball on it, I learned his name was Chase Sterling, an artist here to sketch the local landscapes."Looks pretty deep," I frowned at the wound. "Think you need a tetanus shot?"He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Nah, a rabies shot might be more appropriate."It took a second for the tease to register. I glared at him, though my guilt softened the intensity.He grinned. "Seriously, that bite's perfectly round. It has a certain artistic flair."Alice adored Chase, constantly inviting him over for meals. She'd wink at me slyly. "That boy is great, always helping with chores. And so handsome! If you two got together, your kids would be...""Mom," I sighed in exasperation.It wasn't that I had anything against Chase, but I'd once noticed his coat, casually tossed on our sofa. It matched one Ted had worn, from a century-ol