Sara's Promise by Deanna Lynn Sletten Page A

see."
    Friday night, William picked Annie up from her place at six, and they drove down the coast to Cannon Beach to a delightful restaurant right on the beach with a spectacular view of Haystack Rock. Annie had decided to wear her favorite sleeveless, black dress that fell to just above her knees and was decorated simply with a few select sequins and beads around the scoop neck. Her black, high heel pumps gave her some height, but William still had several inches on her. In her dress and his dark suit, they were a handsome couple and the people in the bar couldn't help but stare at them as they sat to have drinks while they waited for their table.
    "Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?" William asked as Annie gave him a smile. 
    "Yes, you did, but I won't complain if you tell me again," Annie teased.
    "Okay, you look beautiful tonight." William smiled back at her, a mischievous twinkle in his brown eyes.
    "Thank you," Annie said and took a sip of her soda as William sipped his wine.
    The bar was busy and noisy with chatter and music. One group of young people seemed to be having a little more fun than everyone else, talking loudly and slamming back shots.
    Annie excused herself to freshen up in the ladies' room and carefully made her way through the throng of people, trying not to bump anyone and have a drink spilled on her. Luckily, there was no line, and she entered the restroom without having to wait. As she stood in front of the mirror reapplying her lip gloss, she heard someone throwing up in one of the stalls. Concerned, she asked tentatively, "Are you okay in there?" All Annie heard in reply was a grunt and the sound of the toilet flushing. 
    Annie turned back to the mirror to give herself one last check, when the door to the bathroom stall opened up and out stumbled a young woman, who looked a little worse for wear. As she locked eyes with the woman in the mirror, it took Annie only a second to realize she was staring at William's daughter, Sandy.
    Sandy stared at Annie a moment, then scrunched up her face. "What are you doing here?" Sandy asked as she walked on wobbly legs to the counter. Steadying herself against the counter, she looked at Annie with hazy eyes. "What?" she demanded.
    Annie turned and looked directly into Sandy's eyes. Her pupils were dilated, her hair was in disarray, and her mascara was smudged under her eyes. Sandy couldn't seem to stand steady, even when leaning against the counter. She was dressed in a too-tight, hot pink, mini skirt, a low-cut black tee, and ankle boots with heels too high for her to balance on in her condition.
    Remaining calm under Sandy's angry stare, Annie said, "The real question is what are you doing here? The last I heard, you're only twenty years old. Aren't you too young to be drunk at a bar?"
    Sandy sneered at her. "Who do you think you are, my mother? Mind your own business." She turned to look in the mirror and stumbled, losing her balance. Annie reached out and grabbed her arm to steady her.
    "No, I'm not your mother and thank God for that. Because if I were your mother, you wouldn't be here, high on alcohol or drugs," Annie told Sandy, who responded with wide eyes. "Honestly, Sandy," Annie continued, "why are you here? And what are you high on? You didn't get this way by just drinking alcohol."
    "Well, aren't you just full of questions," Sandy slurred. "What about you? Why are you here in your fancy dress? Are you trolling for men? Won't my father love to hear that."
    Annie's eyes sparked. "I'm here with your father," she retorted.
    Sandy seemed to sober up by a few degrees at this news. "Crap. My dad's here? Shit! Did he see me here?"
    "No, of course he didn't see you or else he'd already have dragged you out of here. I didn't see you either until I came in here."
    Sandy sighed. "Good." She wobbled a little again, and Annie grabbed her arm to steady her.
    "Come on, Sandy. Let's get you out of here. You are obviously high on something, and we need to