Promise
I sat behind the wheel, driving steadily along the motorway with my mate Tom in the passenger seat. We were on our way back from Birmingham, having spent two days there for workour boss had sent us to seal a business deal.
“Tom, that went brilliantly, didnt it? Signed the contract for a tidy sumboss will be chuffed,” I said, feeling rather pleased with myself.
“Absolutely, mate. Lucky break for us,” Tom agreed. We worked together at the same office, so it felt like a team win.
I couldnt help but think out loud, “Its a cracking feeling, knowing theres someone waiting for you at home. My Alices pregnant, complaining about morning sickness. I feel for her, really, but weve wanted this for ages. She says shell endure anything for our little one.”
“A babys a blessing,” Tom said quietly. “Me and Sophieseven years marriedhavent had any luck. She just can’t seem to carry to term. We’re about to try IVF again after the first go didnt work.”
Id married late, at thirty-two, and had my fair share of relationships before Alice, but none ever swept me off my feet. Then I met herand it was all or nothing. There wasnt another woman in the world for me after that.
Tom had felt a bit of envy when he met Alice, especially on our wedding day when he was my best man. Alice was gentle, beautifuleasy to fall for.
A gentle drizzle pattered against the windscreen now and then, wipers squeaking their rhythm while we chatted. My mobile rang; it was Alice.
“Hi, love. Yes, heading back now, should be home in a couple of hours. How are you feeling? The same, bless you Just rest, dont lift anything heavy. Ill sort it all when I get in. Love you, see you soon.”
Tom listened and pictured Alice worrying about me. He thought of Sophienot one for fussing over him. She trusted he was always hers, that was that. Not at all like Alice, really; Sophie was practical, work and home, always in order.
Suddenly, I swerved as a van veered straight towards usno way to avoid a crash. At the last second, we smashed into a lamppost on my side and skidded off the road. Tom came to with a splitting headache, blood on his arm, and the car miraculously upright. The passenger door was flung wide open. He glanced over at meI wasnt moving.
Some passersby rushed over, cars stopped up along the verge. Tom, dazed, lay on wet grass, waiting for the ambulance. They got me out of the car, onto a stretcher. Tom leaned over me as I whispered, barely audible:
“Help Alice”
We were whisked to hospital. Tom had a broken arm and concussion but stayed conscious, always asking,
“Hows Dan, my mate?”
A nurse finally told him,
“Dan passed away”
Tom was devastated. Couldnt even attend my funeral. Sophie went and later told him that Alice was inconsolable, barely able to stand by my coffin.
After he was discharged, he and Sophie visited the cemetery. He lingered at my grave, silently promised:
“Dont worry, mate. Like you asked, Ill look after your wife.”
A couple of days later, Tom went to see Alice. She broke down as soon as she saw him.
“How am I supposed to live without him? I just can’t accept that hes gone.”
“Alice, I promised Dan I’d look after you. We’re in this together now. Call me anytime, Ill come by as much as you need.”
Time crept on. Alice slowly found her feet, though she still feared losing the baby from all the stress. The doctors had warned her, too. Tom visited twice a week, bringing groceries, vitamins, popping her to appointments, wherever she needed to go. Alice didnt take advantagejust asked when she absolutely had to.
“Tom, I hate to trouble you,” she’d say.
“Its no bother, Alice. I promised Dan.”
But Tom found himself torn. Alice was everything he ever dreamed of, and it rattled him, given the circumstances.
While Alice endured her rough pregnancy, Tom and Sophie underwent yet more tests, appointmentscharting their hopes and heartbreak. Childlessness became their familiar ache. Sophie had no idea Tom was helping Alice; he hadnt said a word. On his mobile, Alices number was saved under “Charity” just in case Sophie saw ithe knew her well.
Their second IVF failed. Tension grew. Sophie blamed Tom, though he stopped blaming anyone.
She noticed he was offdistracted, prickly, coming and going at odd hours. Infidelity didnt seem likely, nothing had soured between them in that sense.
Tom knew his marriage was on shaky ground, but work was a different matterthe project he and I started together came to fruition, and the contract was a hit.
Alice, growing more helpless as her due date neared, relied on Tom. Her parents lived miles away in Scotland; she hadnt a soul in London. She suffered headaches, swollen feettoughed it out, rarely complained.
One day, Tom caught her climbing a stepladder, trying to hang new curtains.
“I cleaned the window and thought Id put these up,” she said, smiling.
“Get down now,” Tom ordered, eyeing her swollen belly. “Thats dangerousyou could hurt yourself, or the baby.”
He helped her down, found himself trembling as they stood close.
“Thanks, Tom,” she managed before dashing off to the bathroom. The morning sickness was a regular visitor.
Tom wiped his brow, thinking, Does Dan see any of this, wherever he is now? You only asked for help, mate You never said it’d feel like this.
Next visit, Alice asked shyly,
“Tom, could you help me fix up the nursery? Once the baby comes, Ill have no time. I spotted some lovely wallpaper for it.”
Tom couldnt let her struggle with decorating alone. They did it togetherwell, Alice mostly handed him tools and cheered him on. The nursery turned out perfect.
At home, Sophies grief grewshe talked only of infertility now, while Alices due date loomed. Tom juggled two worlds: one, a wife haunted by loss; the other, Alice, anxiously awaiting motherhood.
Sophie realised shed have to throw herself into work to keep going. She took to writing for magazines, and when a well-known publication offered her a column, she jumped at it. The fee was substantial. She came home buzzing, arms full of posh groceries and two bottles of wine.
“Whats all this, thena celebration?” Tom asked when he got in from work.
“Yes! Landed a nice contractIve waited ages for it,” she beamed.
Their favourite film was on telly. Sophie tried to recapture a bit of the warmth they’d had once. She laid out snacks and wine. They relaxed, half-heartedly watching through old scenes.
Out of nowhere, Toms phone rang. Sophie glanced over his shoulder and read “Charity” on the screen. Tom darted into the kitchen to answer.
“Whats up?” he whispered.
“Tom, sorry, but I think Im about to go into labour Already called the ambulance.”
“But its early.”
“Seven monthscould be, right?” She sounded strained, fighting pain.
“Ill be at the hospital as soon as I can.”
He hurriedly dressed. Sophie watched, anxious.
“Where are you off to?”
“Boss wants to speak to me about a charity thingurgent,” he lied, thinking fast. “Ill explain later. Trust me, its important”
But Sophie didnt buy it.
“Charity, boss, Tomyoure making it up,” she muttered.
Outside, Tom rushed to his car and sped to the hospital, not exactly close by. When he arrived, Alice had already been admitted. He waited, nerves frayed, for two hours before a nurse told him: Alice had given birth to a son. Relief washed over him as he went home, completely wrung out.
Sophie was awake, eyes drilling into him the moment he walked inshe saw he was shattered.
“Your charity works really taken it out of you,” she said bitterly.
Tom sank onto the sofa, coat still on.
“Yes, Sophie,” he said quietly. “Alice had her baby. I promised Dan Id help her. Shes completely on her own.”
Sophie went silent, then said, “I see now The pieces fit, dont they? Next step, help Alice with her newborn son, am I right?”
“Youre right,” Tom replied honestly.
“Well, you know me. I wont tolerate this. I wont watch you devote time to someone elses childespecially as well likely never have one ourselves. Im filing for divorce, so do what you want. Maybe Ill still meet someone else and start afresh.”
Tom stared, knowing she blamed him for their childlessness.
“Its your choice, Sophie. Im not making excuses. I have to be there for Alice and the baby.”
Time moved on. Sophie filed for divorce. Tom moved in with Alice and little Danny. Not long after, they married. Two years later, a daughter arrived.
Thank you for reading, for your support, and your kindness. Wishing you all happiness in life!
