Promises to Keep by Char Chaffin

don’t believe the worst of you, Mother. I couldn’t. But I do believe better of Annie and her family. I can understand why you would do all you could to bury what happened to you.”
    His eyes burned with emotion as he gazed at his mother’s ravaged face. “It breaks my heart to know you had to go through something so terrible. But it changes nothing for me, except to be thankful Henry Turner grew up normal, became a good husband and father. Someday soon, the Turners will be my in-laws. If you can’t accept it, then there’s nothing more to be said.” Tears slid down his cheeks as he whispered sadly, “I love you, Mother. Maybe one of these days we’ll be able to come to terms with all of this.” Turning away, he stepped into the foyer.
    He was almost to the front door when his mother’s shout hit the dead silence between them. “If you walk out that door, Travis, you leave without the support of the Quincy family and its legacy. Do you understand? You’ll be cut off, penniless. You’ll have nothing. Do you hear me? Nothing !”
    Travis walked through the front door and closed it behind him.

Chapter 11
     
    Watery daylight shone between the trees as Travis drove toward the older section of town. The snowfall from the night before still coated the bare limbs and remained on rooftops, making a pretty holiday picture. He hardly noticed.
    Less than a quarter mile from Annie’s house, Travis pulled to the side of the road and let the motor idle while he scraped his hands over his face and wondered what the hell he was going to say to her family. He’d bet money they knew nothing of Franklin Turner’s fondness for young, virginal girls.
    The Turners used to live in Roanoke. He remembered Annie telling him how her parents moved back to Thompkin after Mark’s birth. They’d have never returned to town with a scandal hanging over their heads if they’d known about it.
    Jesus, what a mess.
    He’d looked forward to a day of Christmas shopping in Charlottesville with Annie. Maybe a movie later on before heading back to town. Now, all he could think about was the fury on his mother’s face when she figured out her story hadn’t affected him the way she hoped. No doubt she thought he’d recoil in horror, drop all contact with Annie, and then immediately call Catherine Cabot for a date. As usual, his mother had underestimated the importance of Annie in his life and in his future.
    Not any longer. She knew exactly how much he and Annie wanted each other.
    His mother was more than capable of making trouble for the Turners. He knew his dad could control some of it, but his mother had a lot of influential friends in town. A few phone calls, some words in a half dozen willing ears, and the town’s attitude toward Henry Turner and his family could quickly change from “well-liked and respected” to “undesirable and unsavory.”
    Thompkin was a nice place, but it was also a typical small town. Gossip fed the grapevine, and everyone knew each other. Older people in town thought his relationship with Annie was “sweet.” As if it were a summer breeze passing through, to blow away like so many dried-up leaves come autumn.
    Would Annie’s folks put pressure on her to stop seeing him, if his mother started any kind of trouble? The Turners cared about him, and they approved of him for their daughter. If they hadn’t, they would have put the kibosh on the friendship a long time ago. But they’d yank her out of his grasp if association with him and his family caused her pain.
    His mother was capable of anything. No matter what, someone would get hurt.
    Confused about everything except his need for Annie, Travis tried to set aside his worry as he shifted back into gear and headed toward her house.
     
    While she waited for Travis, Annie peeled apples for pie, a mindless task handled easily with low thought process. Nearby, her mother rolled out flaky pie dough. Mama always made sure everyone got their favorite dessert,