My Promise

My Promise

Copyright © 2017 by Noah Bolinder

www.noahbolinder.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations in reviews and other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

First Edition

ISBN 978-0-9958291-0-7 Print

ISBN: 978-0-9958291-1-4 eBook

Published by:

Viking House Publishing

Victoria, BC, Canada.

For John

Table of Contents

A - Do You See It?

The Giver (Soundtrack), Marco Beltrami, Sony Classical, 2014.

B - The Island Awaits You

The Island (Soundtrack), Steve Jablonsky, Milan Records, 2005.

C - New Home

Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (Soundtrack), Jan A.P. Kaczmarek, Varese Sarabande, 2010.

D - Day One

Interstellar (Soundtrack), Hans Zimmer, WaterTower Music, 2014.

E - To the Ball

Becoming Jane (Soundtrack), Adrian Johnston, Sony Classics, 2007.

F - Sent Here for a Reason

Man of Steel (Soundtrack), Hans Zimmer, WaterTower Music, 2013.

G - Illusions

Illusions, Thomas Bergersen, 2011.

H - Creation Choral

The Bible (Soundtrack), Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe, Mercer Street Records, 2013.

I - Look to the Stars

Man of Steel (Soundtrack), Hans Zimmer, WaterTower Music, 2013.

J - Beyond the Clouds

Existence, Audiomachine, 2013.

K - The Great Secret

Cinderella, Patrick Doyle, Walt Disney Records, 2015.

L - New Beginning

Existence, Audiomachine, 2013.

M - I Have So Many Questions

Man of Steel (Soundtrack), Hans Zimmer, WaterTower Music, 2013.

N - Walking Through the Garden

The Secret Garden (Soundtrack), Zbigniew Preisner, Varese Sarabande, 1993.

O - The Giving

Freedom, Michael W. Smith, Reunion Records, 2000.

P - State of Endless Grace

Trailerhead: Triumph, Immediate, eOne Music, 2012.

Q - Where Are We

The Thirteenth Floor (Soundtrack), Harald Kloser, Milan Records, 1999.

R - The Lake House

The Lake House (Soundtrack), Rachel Portman, Lakeshore Records, 2006.

S - Gloria

Two Steps From Heaven, Two Steps From Hell, 2012.

T - More Than A Symbol

Illuminate, Brand X Music, 2013.

U - Goodbye

Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (Soundtrack), Jan A.P. Kaczmarek, Varese Sarabande, 2010.

V - Dreaming

Amalgamate, Brand X Music, 2014.

W - Remember Me

Illusions, Thomas Bergersen, 2011.

X - Promise

Illusions, Thomas Bergersen, 2011.

Y - Color

The Giver (Soundtrack), Marco Beltrami, Sony Classical, 2014.

Z - Miracles................TO BE CONTINUED

Miracles, Two Steps From Hell and Thomas Bergersen, 2014.

Author’s note

One of the most challenging and fun aspects of writing My Promise was the process of selecting the chapter titles. I knew from the start that I wanted each title to be based on a song that would appropriately capture the emotion of the chapter. In the same way that a film has a soundtrack, I desired the chapter titles to form a soundtrack for the book. After many hours of reviewing hundreds of songs, I feel that a healthy balance was struck in selecting tracks that summarised the emotion of each chapter while providing an accurate title. After completing each chapter, I encourage you to listen to the music that inspired it which is found in the table of contents. I hope that this will add an exciting new dimension to your reading experience.

Do You See It?

Are you watching closely, Cecilia?

Cecilia took the Pennsylvania driver’s licence from Grace and examined it. Why? Is there something I’m supposed to see?

Do you see it? Grace clasped her jittery hands to disguise her excitement.

"I’m not sure, but what I do see is a darn hot photo of a young lady, especially considering this is a piece of government ID. You mean they actually let you smile for your driver’s license down there? Cecilia shook her head and looked up at Grace. When I got my license the person told me I had to keep a straight face."

You aren’t really looking, Grace giggled as a smile burst across her face. The moment she had started working at the Red Barn Market, she and Cecilia had hit it off. Grace was a quiet, generally reserved person but there was something about Cecilia that encouraged her playful side. A few months had passed since landing the job and she still hadn’t told any of the staff her real name.

She had not got around to officially changing her name in the States until the month before leaving. Her new driver’s licence arrived in the mail exactly a week before her flight which meant her biological name, Fiona, was used on the paperwork for her study permit. When applying for the job, she wasn’t sure if she had to use the name she was registered with under the government or not. So she wrote on her application that her name was Fiona, and as far as her friends and colleagues at the Red Barn were concerned, that was her name.

She should have started the process earlier but had procrastinated. The idea of having to submit a notice of her name change in two local papers had not appealed to her. What did it matter to the world if she wanted to change her name? It wasn’t really like she was changing her name anyway. She had gone by Grace since she was 12. She wasn’t even technically changing her name, just the order. Instead of Fiona Grace Kelly on her documents, she would be registered as Grace Fiona Kelly. Before moving to Canada, she figured she should make the name change official. After jumping through all the hoops in making it official, she had yet to fully shed her old name thousands of miles from home.

On her first day at the job she had thought about telling her boss about the name situation, but seeing the Fiona nametag they had made for her, she changed her mind. No one really knew her here anyway, and so the name stuck.

She was just finishing up her break when Cecilia walked into the staffroom with stiff shoulders and began going off about how a customer was complaining to her because they were sold-out of gluten-free macaroni and cheese. The part that really seemed to get her was that he had mispronounced her name as Ce-Kelia. It wasn’t like they were short on stock; it was that some guy had come in a few hours earlier and completely cleaned them out of all 13 remaining packs. It was the part about the man mispronouncing her name that prompted Grace to pull out her licence and let her friend in on the secret that they had been getting her name wrong too.

Cecilia took another glance at the licence. Besides the abnormally cute picture, for a driver’s licence, it looks pretty normal to me.

Grace lowered her chin and offered the less than impressed look her grade 11 math teacher Mr. Delaware gave to anyone who raised their hand in class. How was she not seeing the name? It was right there at the bottom left of the card: GRACE FIONA KELLY.

What’s that face for? Cecilia studied Grace’s expression while shifting her foot towards the microwave on the counter.

Just look at it, Grace exclaimed, laughing and sighing at the same time.

Cecilia gripped the edges of the licence with both hands and narrowed her eyes. I don’t get it.

Grace placed her hand on her hip. Are you pulling my leg, Ce?

Cecilia thrust the card in Grace’s hand and strode over to the microwave. Maybe I’m blind.

Do you just want me to tell you?

With the look you gave me, she peeked over her shoulder after opening the microwave, probably not.

Grace let out a quiet sigh that was muffled under the beeping sounds from the microwave. After all this time, you still want to be fooled.

I guess so, Fiona. Cecelia was intently looking at the glass container circling inside the machine.

"My point exactly, Grace flashed her open hand like the conductor of an orchestra and returned the licence to her wallet. Well, I’m off break." Grace made her way for the door.

See ya.

Enjoy your food. Grace could hear the microwave open as she rounded the corner into the store. How Cecilia hadn’t seen her name was beyond her. Knowing her, she was probably up late the night before and strapped for sleep. But somehow she didn’t think so. She could usually tell if Cecilia had not got a proper rest. Some people just couldn’t see the truth if it was placed directly in front of them.

Grace took her place at the till near the store’s entrance where she was immediately met by a woman purchasing a bag of onions and a bottle of ketchup. In three hours her shift would be up and she’d go home and try to put a dent in the assignment she had for her accounting class. She pondered making a batch of shepherd’s pie, which could last her for a few days, but decided on pierogies instead. It would be faster and she’d have more time to finish her school work, and she could potentially get to bed earlier.

A young man approached the counter and placed two cans of tomatoes, a bag of rice pasta and a clear bag with three onions on the counter. People sure seemed to be craving onions today. How’s your day going? she recited her opening line casually. He was one of the many nameless faces that would stand in front of her over the next three hours. It was an innocent encounter; so normal that it would quickly fade from her memory.

Little did either of them realize the significance of this moment. A single glance from her had stirred something deep within his soul.

Did she know? Did she see it?

No.

And his heart began to break. So he made a decision that would change their lives forever.

The Island Awaits You

A knot formed in Grace’s stomach as she gazed out the window at an ocean of clouds on her flight to Victoria on Vancouver Island. Clouds stretched as far as the eye could see, like a giant piece of cotton candy. Perhaps they were over the Pacific now. She had never seen the Pacific and looked forward to living walking distance from the water. Were there sharks off Vancouver Island? Her stomach rumbled and she could feel the fizzle of acid in her gut. Canada was too far north for sharks, right? The thought soothed her for a moment. She never liked sharks, especially after watching Jaws at Terra’s slumber party back in elementary. She had remained calm for most of the trip, traveling from Philadelphia to Toronto and then Vancouver, but as her destination drew closer she was having second thoughts. A light pressure was expanding around her temples and she propped her hand under her chin, staring at the clouds below.

What was she thinking moving to Canada? She literally knew no one here. Her parents had counselled her to stay in Philadelphia for school. They even offered to cut her rent when she announced her decision. It was another practical reason for her to stay. She’d be saving money, thousands of dollars in hard earned tips saved from waiting tables at Johnny Mañana’s. Her friends were in Philly. She knew the area. She liked the area. If she wanted to go to school out-of-state, why not something closer like in New York or D.C.? At least she would have been able to come home every now and then if she had remained on the East Coast. She couldn’t remember ever not being home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It wasn’t cheap flying back and she probably wouldn’t be there for Christmas, unless she got really homesick. She’d be missing out on Mom’s turkey dinner with hot gravy, chilled cranberry sauce, spiced stuffing, homemade rolls and chocolate cherry pie. She pictured placing a forkful of the soft, flaky sweet texture laced with cherries, strawberries and veins of rich fudge, topped off with lightly sprinkled sugar on her taste-buds. Saliva washed over her tongue. But not even the best comforts of home could hold her back from this journey. She hadn’t told anyone the real reason she was leaving for British Columbia. How could she explain something even she did not entirely understand?

Grace took a deep breath. She could feel the steady hum of the plane’s engine reverberate in her chest. A few months ago she would never have considered being on this plane. Her plan since February had been either to study business at Philadelphia University or social work at Temple, both of which were close to her home in East Falls. The plane suddenly dropped and she gripped the edge of the armrest. Her stomach entered her throat.

How had her life led to being on this plane heading to this island? Her mind drifted back in time to survey her life. She had been born nearly 20 years ago at the Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. Her mom was a nurse and had grown up in Baltimore where most of her family had lived since the late 1800s. Her father was an auto mechanic who had grown up in Trenton, New Jersey whose parents had emigrated from Ireland.

She loved her parents. Sure they had their faults like anyone; her mom read too many romance novels and her dad had a habit of drinking more than was healthy, but overall they had been good to her. She was an only child and had grown up in the same off-white house on West Penn Street in East Falls her entire life. Her earliest memory was in the dining room watching sparkling birthday candles sizzle on top of her purple cake on her fourth birthday. She had so much fun in those early years. How Mom would read her books from the library before bed and Dad would play hide-and-seek with her on the weekends.

Growing up she never had a large number of friends, but there was always a small group of girls she had a close connection with. Her best friend through elementary was her neighbour across the street, Eleanor Rossen. They often wandered over to McMichael Park where their imaginations would run wild in their make-believe world of magic and grand adventures.

The Rossen’s had taken Grace to church with them for several years. It wasn’t a Catholic church, a fact her mother had at first seemed hesitant about, but neither of her parents really ever attended Mass. They’d often go during Easter and Christmas as tradition, but that was it. Sundays always excited her as a child because she got to spend the morning with Eleanor singing songs, often making crafts, and staying over to play in the afternoon. It had been on one of their car rides home from the service that Eleanor’s mom overheard Grace mention that her middle name was Grace. Oh, how lovely! her mom said with delight. Grace Kelly. That’s so fitting. Did your parents name you after her on purpose?

Who? Grace replied.

Why Grace Kelly, the princess.

A princess? I’m named after a princess?

Why yes. Didn’t you know that? Mrs. Rossen turned from the passenger seat to look at her. Grace Kelly was a famous actress and princess that lived just up the street from our house. You have a royal name, Grace.

She ran home that afternoon full of excitement to tell her parents that she was named after a princess.

Yes, you’re right. Her father looked up from the paper he was reading. We had a few comments about that when we told people your middle name.

Eleanor’s mom said she lived just up the street from us. Do you know which house Dad? Can we go see it? Please!

Her father took a sip from his coffee mug. I’m pretty sure I know the one. It’s just up the street on Henry Avenue. You want to go for a walk?

Grace nodded her head rapidly and as soon as her dad tied his shoes, they were out the door.

Their modest sized, two-story house was nestled in the small middle class pocket of town that buffered the smaller, more tightly built houses and the ritzier area. It only took a few minutes of walking for them to arrive.

Here we are, said her father.

Grace marveled. The three-level brown brick building was by no means a castle, but it was definitely classy. The windows had black shutters and a white pillar stood proudly on each side of the main entrance. The property had a healthy sized lawn that featured several sculpted bushes and a curved driveway with two exits on the road that allowed a car to pull up to the front of the house and drive away without reversing.

"You mean a real princess lived here Dad?" she said with wide eyes, examining the property.

I guess so dear.

Wow. She stood mesmerized. Who would have thought that royalty had once upon a time lived so close to her?

Not long after discovering the property, Grace was assigned a project at school to research someone who was famous or contributed something important to history. It was the perfect opportunity to discover more about this princess with her name. After checking out every single book about Grace Kelly from the school library, as well as doing research online, she finally began unravelling the mystery of Princess Grace.

Grace Kelly was born in Philadelphia on November 12th 1929. Her father was a three-time Olympic gold medalist in rowing and owned a brickwork company; her mother was a model who taught physical education at the University of Pennsylvania. Grace was the third child of the family and had an older sister, Margaret, an older brother, John Jr., and a younger sister, Elizabeth. She studied acting and landed her first role in a major film in her early 20s starring in High Noon alongside acting legend Gary Cooper, going on to become one of Hollywood’s most sought after and highest paid actresses in the 1950s and winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1954.

In 1955, while attending the Cannes Film Festival in France, a magazine arranged a meeting between Grace and Prince Rainier III. Prince Rainier was the ruling monarch of Monaco, a tiny kingdom along the southeast coast of France. After their meeting they began a private correspondence and in December the prince travelled to Philadelphia where he proposed. At the peak of her professional career, Grace walked away from the silver screen and her life in America to become a real-life princess. In a springtime fairy tale wedding in Monaco, Grace and Rainier were married as millions of people around the world watched the event.

Unfortunately, Grace’s life ended tragically in September 1982 when she drove her car off a cliff along the winding streets above the city. She had suffered a stroke and lost control of the vehicle and later died in the city’s hospital, The Princess Grace Hospital.

Ever since that day when Grace first looked upon the house on Henry Avenue with her father, a quiet fascination about the princess had gripped her heart. It was about this time in her middle school years that she took up jogging, a practice she continued to this day. She would often wake up in the early morning, before the sun had risen, to run. Other times she would head out after supper in the evening breeze. She had many jogging routes, but they all shared one thing in common. They all led her to the same house on Henry Avenue.

It was here she would pause for a moment under the glow of the street light and catch her breath. Seldom had she seen movement in the windows. Sometimes a cat in the window stared back at her and only a couple of times had she seen a shadow move in the background. She wondered how much the interior had changed since Grace Kelly was alive. Was it still the same? Something deep within her had continued to draw her to this place. Perhaps it was the sheer fantasy of it all. A connection to a story of fame, fortune, love and royalty that had its beginning so close to her. Maybe it was the longing, the hope that if such a story could come true for a girl who grew up across the way, it could also come true for her.

The previous year the city placed a sign in front of the house as a historical marker with a brief tribute to the Kelly family. At least some people in the town hadn’t forgotten about her. One of the things that surprised her the most after researching the princess was that people didn’t know who Grace Kelly was, even adults who lived in East Falls. Only a few decades ago she was a huge movie star. Surely that was enough for people to remember who she was, considering she grew up in their town. But she wasn’t just a famous actress; she was a princess. Wasn’t that something worth remembering?

When the soon-to-be princess first arrived at her new home in Monaco, over 1600 reporters and photographers from around the world travelled to the kingdom to report on her wedding. The media coverage of the event was historical in scale, breaking records as the largest and most complex live-televised event ever broadcast internationally. The wedding was a global sensation. But now it seemed Grace Kelly was a footnote in history on the verge of being forgotten. Sure there were a few people who remembered her, but most of the new generation had no idea. It was a disheartening thought. If someone like Grace was being forgotten, what hope was there for anyone else to be remembered?

At the end of grade seven, Eleanor’s family moved to Madison Wisconsin. Grace had kept in contact with her for a while but eventually lost touch. She convinced her parents to come with her to church for a few months after the Rossen’s left, but it only stuck for a few weeks. It had something to do with her dad not wanting to go. Her mom offered to drop her off on Sundays, but Grace didn’t want to go alone and her mom didn’t want to go because her dad wasn’t there, so they just stopped. Back then she had felt close and connected to God. She prayed each night before going to bed and often talked with God throughout her day. Sometimes she even felt like she heard something back, but not anymore. She hadn’t prayed or stepped foot in a church for years now. To be honest, she didn’t really know what she believed anymore. Sure there was probably some sort of a higher power out there, but she wasn’t religious.

Before she knew it, middle school had given way to high school.

She sighed as her eyes stared blankly at the sheet of clouds outside the plane window. All she could think about at the thought of high school was one person.

Jack.

Returning to the memories was like picking open the scab of a wound that hadn’t yet healed. It had been three and a half years since her relationship with him ended. Yet even now, recalling what happened made her feel as if she was falling through the sky and being sucked into the ocean below. How had something so enchanting ended in such misery?

She met Jack in grade 10. He was popular and played on the football and basketball teams. Wherever he went he always seemed to have at least one other guy at his side. That was the kind of person he was. Crowds gathered around him, drawn in by his outgoing and confident personality. She, on the other hand, was quiet and kept to herself. They hardly exchanged glances in the hall and shared no classes with each other for the first year. But when the semester changed in the New Year of grade 11, they both ended up in the same English class. The quietness between them continued at first, until February on Friday the 13th.

She had just finished writing a test when the bell sounded. She hadn’t walked more than a few steps to math class when someone called her name from behind. She turned around to see someone looking at her. It was Jack. He was wearing slim cut jeans, a black V-neck that was just snug enough to outline his chest and an unbuttoned black vest. He held his green binder at his side and his brown hair was neatly swished to the side. The first thought that entered her mind was, why is he talking to me? Maybe she had dropped something? She glanced at the ground but didn’t spot anything. His eyes were squarely fixed on her.

He began walking towards her. How’d you think you did on the test?

That was an odd question coming from him.

Fine. She waited for him to continue.

That’s good. I think it went pretty well.

She noticed that something was off in the way he looked. What was it? It was almost like he seemed nervous.

He reached up with his free hand to scratch the back of his neck. So I’ve got a question for you.

Okay.

He smiled and paused for a moment before speaking. What’s your favourite kind of dessert?

She tilted her head to the side and looked up at him with narrowed eyes. What kind of question is that?

A serious one. He tried to rein in his smile.

It was at this point the thought dawned on her that maybe he was trying to ask her out, but that was jumping to conclusions way too fast. Well I’m not sure what you are getting at—

I have a reason, he assured her.

She examined his eyes, looking for answers. Do donuts count?

He nodded. So you like donuts?

On occasion.

Okay, his eyes drifted above her in thought. You live in the East Falls area, right?

She hesitated. Yes.

And are you doing anything tomorrow morning?

Why? she said, now managing a slight smile.

Well, he shrugged, I’d like to take you out for a donut.

She felt a pleasant wooziness in her stomach. She wanted to say yes and take it for what it appeared to be, but he wasn’t seriously asking her on a date, was he? Why do you want to take me out for a donut?

He let out a slight sigh, I guess I have something I want to tell you. You live around East Falls, right?

Mmhm, she responded, wanting to point out that he had just asked her that question.

Great, well how about we meet tomorrow at the Dunkin Donuts by the bridge off Kelly Drive. Does 10 in the morning work?

Ten in the morning. She nodded her head slowly. Yeah, that would work. Her heart was now beating a bit faster.

Great, great, he began stepping backward, well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then. And just like that he turned and disappeared around the corner of the hall.

She didn’t move for several seconds, processing what had just happened. Was this a date? It had to be, but it couldn’t be. She had trouble falling asleep that night as her mind raced with anticipation for the next day. She had always liked Jack, she just never imagined he would want to be with her. There were a bunch of other girls more fitting for him, into sports, outgoing, not to mention more attractive.

The Dunkin Donuts was within walking distance from her place and she made sure