“Eleanor Clarke never meant to break her promise.”
You see, Eleanor said to her daughter, choosing her words carefully, adults can act more foolishly than children sometimes.
Dad doesnt want me to meet the lady hes seeing, does he? Molly asked in a low voice.
I dont think its that he doesnt want to, Eleanor replied. Maybe they just havent figured out how to organise everything yet, or perhaps Poppy is shy.
Why would she be shy? Im not biting anyone, Molly retorted.
A child you dont know is always a responsibility. Not everyone is ready for that.
Eleanor stood in the hallway, watching her daughter hurry to meet her father.
Mollys phone buzzed. She sat up, grabbed the handset, and a smile faded from her face.
Hes not coming? Eleanor asked.
He said works a mess, Molly muttered, not looking up. Next time, then.
Got it. Get dressed.
Eleanor slipped into the kitchen, careful not to say too much. She filled the kettle and switched it on. The hiss of boiling water softened the thoughts swirling in her head.
Eight years had passed since the divorce, and David Hughes still managed to be a master at souring moods.
***
The first three years of their marriage felt like a fairytale: flowers for no reason, breakfast in bed, gifts at every turn. Eleanor believed she had drawn a lucky ticket.
When she became pregnant, David carried her around on his shoulders. But in the delivery room the first alarm rang, and she brushed it aside.
The midwife filled out baby Mollys chart while David stood nearby, pale and nervous. He was present at the birth.
Whats the blood group? the new father asked.
The girls Rh is negative, the doctor said matteroffactly.
David frowned.
What do you mean? My test says Im positive. Eleanors is positive too.
Where did the negative come from? he demanded, his voice cracking with panic. Did you mix something up?
The doctor removed his glasses, rubbed his nose.
Remember school biology, Mr. Hughes. The Rh factor can be tricky. If both parents carry a hidden negative gene, the child can be negative. Its normal.
Are you sure? David squinted. No mistake?
The tests dont lie.
David called Eleanor a hundred times afterward, demanding an explanation. She sent him the doctors notes and the links shed found online. He seemed to calm down, but
***
The trouble began once they were discharged. David changed.
He had diabetes, and Eleanor had always monitored his diet, reminding him about insulin. Suddenly he started acting like a teenager itching for freedom.
Im off to football, he shouted, grabbing his bag.
David, which football? Your sugar is spiking, the doctor said you need a routine.
Dont start with me, alright? Im a grown man, I need to move. Your caring smothers me.
He started coming home late. One night he stumbled in, face pale, sweatinghypoglycaemia.
Eleanor, ignoring Mollys sleepy cries, rushed to his side with orange juice and glucose tablets.
Where have you been? she asked as he steadied himself.
I told you I was at football. I ran a mile.
Till two in the morning?
We sat and talked afterward. Youre starting again? Its fine, really.
Eleanor wanted to believe. She sat alone, soothing the tiny, wrinkled fingers of her baby, convincing herself it was just a phase, that he was simply exhausted.
Once shes a bit older, everything will settle
It didnt. Phone calls began.
Her line usually lit up in the evenings with former colleaguesgirls from accounts, managers. Eleanor was friendly with everyone while she worked.
Hey, Ellie, you free?
Hey, yeah, all good. Whats up?
Just checking in. By the way, is David staying late at the office tonight?
Probably. Why?
Just you know, I saw him with a new girl, Veronica, giggling all night.
They were overly friendly. Theyd gone to the pub together five times and he kept touching her waist
Eleanor felt a chill run down her fingers.
Katie, stop. They might just be on a project together.
Maybe, but I thought you should know, just as a friend.
Eleanor hung up, sighing. Gossip, she thought, only feeds vanity. She was convinced David loved her; he was just sociable. She laughed it off, played the confident wife, while inside anxiety grew. A year and a half after Mollys birth, everything collapsed.
***
Eleanor was invited to a big company gala. Her parents agreed to look after baby Molly.
She chose a dress she thought could hide the postpregnancy changes, applied a little makeup. She wanted a night out, to feel part of a world beyond nappies and porridge.
She went with David, but he vanished almost immediately.
Im going to say hello to the lads, he said and melted into the crowd.
Eleanor chatted with colleagues, smiled at compliments, but kept scanning for David. An hour passed, then two. He was nowhere.
She searched the main hall, the loungeempty. She checked the side corridor near the back exit, usually quieter.
There they were, not kissingjust standing in the shadows behind a huge ficus. The new girl whispered something, fingers grazing the lapel of Davids jacket. He tilted his head toward her shoulder, smiling with the same grin hed once shown Eleanor.
It felt like a bucket of icy water dumped on her head; her breath caught.
She didnt make a scene. She didnt scream. She turned, left the venue, called a taxi, and drove straight to Mollys flat.
David came back at dawn.
Why did you leave? he asked, loosening his tie. Ive been looking for you.
Eleanor stared at him, knowing there was nothing to say.
I saw you behind the ficus.
He froze for a second, then waved it off.
What? We were just talking. Youre imagining things. Its your paranoia, Ellie.
Enough, she whispered. Just stop.
For a month she drifted in a fog. Being in the same flat hurt physically. When he finally packed his things and leftpretending he needed space because Im so nervousthe air seemed clearer.
The divorce happened quickly. David vanished from her radar almost instantly. He didnt call at all for a whole year.
Molly was two and a half, sometimes asking, Wheres Daddy? Eleanor answered calmly, Daddys at work. She didnt lie, she just didnt elaborate.
Her mother helped with Molly, and Eleanor returned to work, grinding hard to be independent. Money was enough. They lived apart, each in their own flat, taking holidays separately.
She never claimed child supportshe didnt want to beg, didnt want to be humiliated, didnt want paperwork.
Pride? Maybe. More likely sheer disgust.
Then one evening David called.
Im the dad now, he said. I have a right to see my child.
Eleanor didnt block him. Fine, come Saturday, she said. He started turning up, irregularly, but he did. He paid for Mollys piano lessons and dance classes. It was his way of ticking the good dad boxhe didnt engage in parenting, just bought presents.
Molly adored him. To her, he was a holiday figure: gifts, movies, cafés.
How much does a child need? Eleanor thought philosophicallyat least one father figure.
***
Molly walked into the kitchen in a battered Tshirt, eyes red.
Mum, why does he keep doing that? she asked softly, sitting at the table.
Whats that, love?
He promises and never follows through.
Eleanor sighed.
People are different, sweetheart. Dad isnt doing it out of spite. He just cant plan.
He said its because of you, Molly blurted.
Eleanor froze, cup in hand.
What?
He said on the phone, Your mum always messes up plans, pushes you, thats why I cant meet.
Eleanor placed the cup down slowly. Molly, have I ever stopped you from seeing your dad?
No.
Have I ever spoken badly about him?
Molly shook her head.
Then decide for yourself. Trust facts, not words.
The saga with the new aunt had been going on for six months. One weekend Molly came back from Davids place and said:
Dad lives with Aunt Poppy. Shes lovely, Ive seen pictures. They have a cat.
Eleanor merely shrugged. They live together, thats all. She didnt mind. But Molly was eager to meet her.
Mum, I want to be friends with her. Dad says shes nice.
Eleanor called David.
Hey, David, Molly knows about your girlfriend. She wants to meet. What do you think?
There was a pause.
I dont know, David said. Its early, maybe later. Ill let you know.
Later stretched into a month. He would say he wanted to introduce her, then backpedal.
She really wants to meet Molly! David had shouted a week earlier. Lets go to the park or the pizza place next weekend.
Okay, Eleanor agreed, Arrange it with Molly.
And again, another cancellation.
Eleanor stepped onto the balcony, phone pressed to her ear, needing a private conversation.
David answered after a moment, sounding irritated, music faintly playing in the background.
Hello, Ellie, Im busy, what do you want?
Busy? You just told our daughter you had a pile of work. I hear music. Are you in a bar?
Im at a meeting, he snapped. I have the right to unwind, dont I?
Sure, just dont lie to our child. And dont blame me for your missed meetings.
Whos to blame? David shot back. Youre always hovering, telling me when to pick up and drop off. Youre suffocating me.
Poppy is scared to get involved because youre impossible, he added.
Impossible? Eleanor laughed. David, lets stick to facts. Molly waited an hour in a dress. You called at the last minute. Is that my fault?
Or perhaps Poppy simply doesnt want to meet your child, and youre too proud to admit it?
Dont talk about Poppy like that! he roared. She wants to! Its just circumstances.
What circumstances? The fifth time now?
David, enough with the games. If your lady isnt ready to meet a stepchild, thats her choice. But have the courage to tell Molly the truth, or at least a better excuse than blaming me.
You always make things complicated, he muttered. You cant even find a decent woman, thats why youre angry that Im doing fine.
He hung up.
**
That night, after Molly was asleep, Eleanor replayed the conversation in her head. She was fed up smoothing over the edges. She typed a message to David:
From now on, any arrangements must go through me, with at least 24hour notice. If you promise Molly a meeting and cancel the same day, there will be no more meetings for a month. I wont let you turn her into a nervous wreck. If you want her to meet Poppy, set a firm date, time, and place. If Poppy doesnt want that, were done. Ill explain it to Molly myself. No more later or maybe. Good night.
His reply arrived within a minute:
Whatever. These meetings suit you more than they suit me.
***
Eleanor finally barred David from seeing Molly without a court order. He never pursued legal actiontime and money werent on his side, and his new flame didnt want a stepdaughter either. Molly suffered, but Eleanor did everything she could to keep her daughter from feeling deprived.
In the end, Eleanor learned that honesty, clear boundaries, and standing up for what matters protect not just yourself, but the ones you love. The greatest lesson she carried forward was that promises kept are the foundation of trust, and without them, relationships crumble no matter how sweet the gifts may be.
