The Day Our Promise Breaks

"No, I got held up with something."

Charles responded in a subdued voice, carrying Sandy into the house.

Under the bright lights, Dahlia, whose attention had been fixed on Charles, noticed his lower lip was cut. It looked like someone had bitten it. Dahlia's smile froze for a moment.

Was Evelyn the "something" that held Charles up? Was she using her charms to keep him by her side?

...

Eight-thirty was Sandy's bedtime every night. After bathing her, Dahlia carried her to bed.

Charles picked up a bedtime storybook and sat by the bed, ready to lull her to sleep.

Sandy snuggled into his embrace, hugged his neck, and cooed softly, "Daddy, please don't go tonight. Stay and sleep with me and Mommy, okay?"

Dahlia had just finished tidying up the bathroom and stepped out. She frowned upon hearing this and scolded her daughter, "Sandy, don't make a fuss."

Dahlia with a whimpering cry. "I'm not making a

cried and sobbed, "Other kids can sleep with their Mommy and

heartache. Wearing the clothes that got wet from bathing Sandy, Dahlia quickly

Charles could clearly see everything from his position. She was

this, seemed to have all

tried to comfort her distraught daughter,, "Be a good girl, Sandy. Stop crying, okay? The doctor

and persisted in asking Charles to stay. Her small hands clutched Charles' sleeve. She shook it and pleaded pitifully, "Daddy, please?" For the first

her embrace and forced a smile at Charles. "Charles, don't mind her. She'll stop crying soon. It's getting late. You should head back and rest." Without Charles' embrace, Sandy

she had been

cried intermittently, looking

had just stabilized, and she needed to rest well. Getting too worked up was not

the end, Charles nodded, agreeing

...

call from Dahlia early in

refuse and