A Promise to Remember

A week later, Ted returned and handed me a blue down jacket, averting his eyes. "Yours got trashed. This is a replacement."

I accepted it without question. It was only much later that I learned its value could have bought every piece of clothing I'd ever owned.

From there, things gradually eased between us. He thawed toward me, and I became his only friend in that small town.

Just before finals, he suddenly asked, "Have you thought about studying abroad?"

I blinked in surprise, and he flushed, his ears turning red. "My mom's planning to send me to Araros after graduation. Want to join?"

I gave a bitter laugh. "My family can't afford to send me overseas."

"Where are you headed, then?"

"Nyxifall, probably. The south is too muggy for me, and Nyxifall's close enough that I can hop on a train and be home in a few hours."

He yanked my hat down over my eyes and fell silent. During the dream schools exercise, I expected him to list Araros, but instead, he matched my choice of Nyxifall.

I was shocked. "What about Araros?"

He slumped over his desk. "Nah, it's overrated. Nyxifall sounds solid."

...

Three days before the exams, he ripped up his slip.

When I probed, he stayed silent. That night, I learned the truth: Pierre Wiley's wife and son had both perished in a car crash, and he was summoning Mamie and Ted back.

Pierre finally paid attention to his one remaining heir, offering legitimacy and inheritance if Ted stayed in Eldonfield.

Ted scoffed at the money, but Mamie slapped him amid tears. "All the suffering I've endured over the years for what? For you! If he marries me, I'll no longer be the mistress, and no one can call you a bastard anymore!"

Under the birches in the summer heat, with cicadas droning loudly, Ted hung his head. "I'm sorry, Nora. Nyxifall is out for me."

His voice was cracked from crying, his eyes rimmed red. After a moment's thought, I tiptoed up and tapped his head. "No sweat. I'll join you in Eldonfield instead."

...

Morning light filtered in, and I opened my eyes, my head pounding from yesterday's flurries.

Still, my friend's birthday beckoned. Gift in hand, I couldn't skip it.

My phone buzzed with a message from Ted: [Forgot these. Swing by tonight.]

Attached was a photo of the Snoopy pajamas.

They were a sneaky couple's set I'd bought—one for him, one for me. Whenever he wore his, it sparked a fleeting illusion of happiness, as if he belonged to me, even if just for a moment. In hindsight, it was pathetically laughable.

I replied: [Toss them. Don't need them anymore.]

There was no response, and I flopped over, covering my eyes with my arm.

Life in Eldonfield had changed Ted profoundly. I learned then that his mom hadn't been the mistress after all. She had been Pierre's first love, bearing Ted out of genuine passion.

But Pierre had abandoned them for a status-matched marriage.