The Promise Read Free Page A

had apparently denied and kept hidden for half a lifetime along with all details of her family, were they in some way related? Was this reminder of her hometown the reason she was in a particularly sour mood today? And what was this woman to Chrissie?

Chapter Two
    Her mother wept when Chrissie confronted her with what she’d discovered. ‘All right, it’s true. My maiden name wasn’t Shaw. I changed it because I never wanted Ma to find me.’
    Georgina Cowper had apparently objected so strongly to the man her own daughter had chosen to marry, she’d cut her off completely only a few years into the marriage, banishing her for ever from her life.
    ‘Whatever did my father do to deserve such treatment? A lifetime of silence for not agreeing with her own daughter’s choice of husband was surely somewhat excessive?’
    ‘Nothing. Aaran did nothing at all. The woman is heartless.’
    ‘But why has this family feud, this estrangement, lasted so long? What gives your mother, my grandmother , the right to consider herself the oracle when it comesto choosing a spouse? There must be more to it than simple disapproval. And did we never visit? I’m sure I have a vague memory of holidays in the Lakes.’
    ‘Nonsense, you’d be far too young to remember such things.’
    ‘Then tell me the whole story. I want to know all about this grandmother I can’t quite remember.’
    Vanessa firmed her lips and stubbornly shook her head. ‘There’s nothing to tell. I believe she was born in America, but I’m not certain. Isn’t that sad? My own mother and I know virtually nothing about her. If there’s one thing Georgina, or Georgia, as she likes to be called, hates, it’s someone who attempts to pry into her private affairs. And she has to be the one in charge, you can’t tell her anything. The woman is quite impossible.’
    Rather like you, Chrissie thought, hiding a private smile.
    But she knew at once what she must do. Perhaps it was an unrealistic dream but Chrissie resolved to bring about a reconciliation between these two women, or at least attempt to start the healing process. She leant forward, suddenly excited. ‘We could visit her now. Why don’t we both go to the Lakes and see this place? When did we last have a holiday? We could go and stay at this Rosegill Hall and start building some bridges. Wouldn’t that do us both good? Cheer us up no end.’
    Vanessa was appalled at the very idea. ‘After so many long years of silence, any sort of reconciliation would be impossible. I refuse to set foot in that place ever again.’
    The cause was lost before Chrissie had even begun, and when she responded by saying she would go alone, her mother was horrified and begged her not to even try.
    ‘You don’t appreciate how difficult that woman can be, how arrogant. She showed not the slightest compassion when Aaran and I fell in love, practically threw me out of the house, and I’ve had no proper relationship with her since. I forbid you to have anything to do with her.’
    ‘Mum, I have to try. You’re a widow, a woman alone, still with huge debts to pay off, no income and about to be evicted from your home. We have to do something !’
    ‘Leave me some remnants of pride,’ her mother snapped. ‘That woman has never lifted a finger to help me throughout my entire marriage, and I’m certainly not going to ask for it now!’
    ‘No, I am. She’s your mother ! She has a right to know how things stand with you. We can’t let pride get in the way of practicalities, or a possible rapprochement.’
    The older woman’s cheeks were stained red with anger. ‘Listen to me, Chrissie, this is one particular Pandora’s box I do not want opening. Ever! Is that clear? ’
    They quarrelled for hours, Vanessa stubbornly refusing to accept Chrissie’s idea as a possible solution to their difficulties. Probably because she hated to admit to the fact that Georgia had been right all along, that she never should have married Aaran