A Reluctant Promise
"Mom, Dad, Iâve decided to come home for the blind dates you mentioned. Iâll be back by the end of the month."
In the early spring, with the lingering chill of winter in the air, Valerie Stonecutter pushed open the door while speaking softly into the phone. Her gentle voice drifted through the rain like a thread weaving through the mist.
Pulling her collar tighter against the cold, she heard her parents breathe a sigh of relief on the other end.
"Val," her father began, his voice heavy with age. âYour mom and I havenât been in good health these past few years. So now that youâve made up your mind, thatâs good. When youâre back, Iâll have your Aunt Laura arrange a few suitable candidates for you to meet."
Hearing that her parents were already making arrangements for her future, Valerieâs gaze flickered, her emotions momentarily unsettled. After a few more words of small talk, she ended the call.
She glanced around her home with a heavy heart, her thoughts tangled in a quiet storm. Then she retreated to her bedroom and began to pack.