Promises to Keep by Char Chaffin Page A

each Christmas. Apple pie, chocolate brownies, peach cobbler, pumpkin pie . . . Christmas was a bonanza of deliciousness because her mama thought to please her family. Even the blueberry pie she and Travis enjoyed last night had been made just for him.
    Annie’s heart melted as she watched Mama’s capable hands lay the dough in pie pans. How lucky she was to have such a caring mother.
    “Mama? Mama, I love you.” The words burst from her throat as Annie tossed down her paring knife, launched herself out of her chair and straight into her mama’s arms.
    Her mama moved the pie pans aside and hugged Annie tightly. “I love you too, honey. Are you ready to tell me what’s making you so sad? Did something happen at the Quincy’s dinner last night?” she prodded.
    “Travis’s mother is a bitch! Oh, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that, but it’s true.” Annie condemned the woman, asked forgiveness and reaffirmed her original assessment all in one fast hiccupping breath. She pressed her damp cheek into her mama’s neck. “The way she treated Travis and his daddy last night was awful.” She looked up with blurry eyes. “She was mean to them. I don’t care for myself, I know she hates me. I know it’s because she thinks she’s better than anyone else. But she hurt Travis. I can’t stand to see him hurt, Mama.”
    “I know, honey. Travis is a good boy. What else happened last night?”
    “She was really mad I was there. She got Mr. Quincy all upset. He was nice and acted calm, as usual, but I could tell he was upset. He was so sweet to me. Why can’t she be nice, too? What makes one parent so mean and the other so nice, and they can stay married to each other? I don’t understand it.”
    “Neither do I. But honey, she’s his mother. Right or wrong, the way she deals with her son is her business. And she does love him.”
    Annie wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck and clung. “I’m so lucky, Mama. I wish Travis could be as lucky as me.”
    “Oh, honey. Nothing you could ever say to me could be sweeter. Thank you.”
    For several seconds they cuddled together as Annie struggled to get her emotions under control.
    Finally, her mother stepped back. “My pie crust is drying out, young lady. You pick up that knife and keep slicing. And I hope you and Travis enjoyed the pie you gobbled up last night. Not a crumb left for your poor father to put in his lunch this morning. Just who did you think you were fooling, covering the empty plate with foil?” Her voice held just the right amount of teasing admonishment to shake Annie out of the sniffles.
    Annie managed a smile as she picked up the abandoned apple. “It was good pie, Mama. Thank you.” She blinked away fresh tears when she felt her mother’s hand brush over her hair.
    Ten minutes later Travis knocked on the door, and Annie’s heart burst as it always did when she saw him standing in their small foyer. He opened his arms and she flew into them, uncaring if her mama or anyone else saw. He swung her off her feet and she released a breathless giggle.
    “Put me down! You’re all wet.” A light snow mixed with rain had kicked up in the time it took for him to park the car and walk to the door.
    He rubbed his cold nose against her neck and made her squeal. “Just a little snow. You’ll have to tough your way through it.” He pulled back and grinned at her, but she saw tension around his eyes. “Are you ready to go?”
    “You sure you still want to? You look kind of tired.” She traced the edge of his eyelid with a finger. “We don’t have to do this today, Travis.”
    “And miss out on watching you buy out the mall with all that Coffee Hut money you’ve been hoarding? No way. I’m fine, sweetheart. Get your coat and let’s take off.” He squeezed her once more before letting her go, and Annie turned to lift her coat from the hall chair.
    As she slid her arms into the sleeves, her mama came in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a