THE PROMISE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

Tori Spade didn't think she heard right. The lady on the phone was informing her that her sister was in emergency at the hospital. She had fallen apparently. "Ms Spade... Are you there..." Tori shook herself.

"Yes."

"I'm sorry, you are the next of kin... Would you please hurry to the hospital..."

Tori hadn't seen her sister Evelyn in over six years. She left them when Tori was just fifteen years old. Evelyn was only four years her senior. But she was her protector... Her best friend. She was her mother...

Ever since their mother passed away Evelyn was the one who took on the role of looking after Tori and their father Hugh.

Until she fell in love with one of the most dangerous of men... Felix Ramsgate.

Tori didn't hear or see her sister from the moment she left them and eloped. Her father refused to allow any communication, not that Evelyn ever tried to make contact.

Not long after she had left, Tori got news that Evelyn's husband had been shot. He died at the scene.

Tori needed to get a grip... She drew in a deep shaky breath and hurried to the hospital.

To her absolute shock, her sister was literally hanging on by her last breath. Tori hurried over to her and held her hand. "Evelyn... I'm here... Evelyn... Evie... I'm here honey..."

Evelyn opened her green eyes and coughed. "Tori... My son..." What? "Tori... My son... You need to take him from that house... Save him..."

"What? Evelyn..." She looked really bad.

"Listen to me... I don't have much time... My son... Joseph... You save him... Save my baby..."

Tori felt her sister's grip on her hand loosen slightly. "Promise me Tori..." She whispered. "Please..."

"I promise you... I love you Evelyn... Dad loves you..."

"Tell dad I'm sorry..."

And that was the last thing that her sister said to her.

Tori was given her sister's jewellery. A locket with a picture of her would be son. He was adorable...

The funeral was dreadful. Only the sister in law and the help showed up to pay their respect. Tori was too upset to care... She stood beside her father and wept... She had a few of her childhood neighbourhood friends there for support.

Once her sister was buried, a stunning woman walked over to her. "I'm sorry for you loss..." Tori looked at the dark eyed beauty, she would be the sister in law. "Evelyn was such a lovely girl. She will be missed terribly."

Tori looked around for Joseph, he was nowhere to be seen... Why wasn't her at his mother's funeral? Why?

"Thank you." Tori had to reply, it was the polite thing to do.

That would have had to be the hardest thing that Tori ever had to go through. She touched the locket that she now wore around her neck and kissed it.

"Dad..." Tori sat down beside her father once the house was empty. She was glad to be alone. "Are you okay?"

"I lost my first born... A father isn't supposed to outlive his children..." He said choking up. "I lost my baby..."

"Dad..." Tori had nothing. She was in tears. "Look..." She opened the locket and showed her father the picture of the little bushy haired boy in the picture.