PROMISES

PROMISES

The bus left Binghamton, New York, at 4:15 a.m. Denny and Jenny Skinner settled into their seats, uncertain of what awaited them in the city.

One thing was true: they could not trust their father, John. The twins spoke little during the journey.

Four hours and twelve minutes later, the Greyhound pulled into the Port Authority Terminal in New York City. The bus arrived at 8:27 a.m. The teenagers exited the bus, hoping to find their father waiting. Although he promised, his face was not among the multitude of faces on the platform.

“I don’t understand, Jenny. In his letter, Dad promised to wait for us here at 8:15 a.m. It is now 8:45. Where could he be?”

Jenny listened in sullen silence as Denny reread the letter from their father, John, for the third time.

She clenched her jaw and gave her brother an exasperated glare.

“Why are you confused, Denny? Do you need to read it a fourth time? It may be easier to understand if you read it a fifth time.”

“You know Dad’s record as well as I do. When did he last keep a promise? Why did we dare to hope that today might be different?”

Denny lowered his head and shrugged.

“Jenny, stop being sarcastic. I am starving, and we need to eat. That miserable bus ride took over four hours. We have waited forty-five minutes for him.”

“Let’s find something to eat. Afterward, we can catch a taxi to Dad’s place.”

A wave of remorse flowed over Jenny, and she regretted mocking Denny.

Her eyes became misty as she looked at him. She reached over and patted his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Denny. It was unfair of me to take my anger out on you.”

“You’re right—we need something to eat.”

They picked up their luggage and headed toward the terminal door.

Inside, they made their way to the snack bar.

After checking the menu and discovering lunch was available, Denny ordered two double cheeseburgers, fries, a chocolate milkshake, and a slice of apple pie.

Jenny chose the same, but with only one cheeseburger.

It was nice to relax and enjoy the food.

“It’s possible Dad got stuck in traffic or overslept. Denny, I’m sure he will be here soon.”

“Jenny, you do not believe that, and neither do I; we just don’t want to give up hope.”

Jenny was protective of her younger brother. She was born fifteen minutes and forty-five seconds before him. It did not matter that he towered over his petite sister and outweighed her by sixty pounds.

When he played quarterback for his high school football team, she cringed each time the defense tackled him. Jenny wanted to keep him safe from everything that might harm him—including their father.

Significant differences existed between the twins.

Denny’s curly brown hair resembled his mother’s. His hazel eyes changed with his mood.

 Jenny mirrored their father’s piercing blue eyes and flamboyant red hair. She was as quick to explode as he was.

Their father’s lies destroyed their trust and left them heartsick.

A dark cloud of abandonment and betrayal engulfed Jenny.

Denny’s expressive eyes reflected his pain, as well.

She knew why her father didn’t come to the bus station—he was “sick” again. That was their code word to hide the family secret. In the end, that secret destroyed the family.

Her mother, Leanna, succumbed to the mental and physical abuse she suffered at their father’s hands.

 Leanna became withdrawn and depressed. She stopped tending to her family and home. Those burdens fell on Jenny’s shoulders and made her old beyond her years. She always picked up the pieces left behind by her parents.

Their father did not break his word on purpose. Remorse washed over him when he did. Of course, he swore to change; but that was just another broken promise.

An hour later, a familiar voice drifted above the crowd’s noise.

“Jenny! Denny! I am here at last!”

Their father raced toward them.

He was panting when he reached the twins.

“I was stuck in traffic in the tunnel. My phone had no bars, so I could not call you. Please forgive me for being late.”

With narrowed eyes, clenched fists, and crimson splotches on her cheeks, Jenny lowered her head. Her father’s lies outraged her.

“You thought I had broken another promise. I understand your reaction.”

“Let me explain. I am getting counseling for my alcoholism. My doctor diagnosed me with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) caused by my service in Afghanistan.”

“I was ashamed of my flashbacks and saw them as a sign of weakness. My inability to cope destroyed my self-confidence. I spiraled out of control into a dark, bottomless pit.”

“Loud sounds startled me, and I experienced angry outbursts. Vivid nightmares prevented me from sleeping. Worsening flashbacks left me always on guard.”

“On one life-changing day, I pressed my pistol against my temple. As I did, an intense light blinded me. I saw an image of you and your mom reaching out to me.”

“At that moment, I realized I needed to change my path to nowhere. I lowered my pistol and dialed 988.”

“Remaining sober is challenging, but I must regain your trust and love. I will never break your hearts or my promises again.”

Jennifer raised her head and stared into her father’s eyes. She needed to believe he was telling the truth.

“I want to trust you and will help you. It’s time we were a family again.”

“I hope your sobriety will encourage Mom to seek help as well. Besides individual counseling, we need help as a family.”

“I love you, Dad. It takes bravery to come to terms with your experiences. It takes even greater courage to reach out and ask for help. I am proud of you.”

“Dad, I agree with Jenny. We each coped in our own ways, and it changed us in countless ways. The problem we do not name remains unchanged. I miss us. It’s time to unite as a family to fix the problem.”