Sara's Promise by Deanna Lynn Sletten Page B

get you home." Annie had just begun to pull Sandy along with her when the door opened, and a young woman with jet black hair and thick eyeliner walked in.
    "Oh, there you are," the woman said, staring at Sandy. "Come on. We're blowing this place and heading up the coast to another bar." The woman looked from Sandy to Annie and back again. "Hey, what's going on here? Who are you?"
    Before Annie could reply, Sandy pulled away from her grasp and said, "Don't mind her. She's nobody." Sandy turned to Annie. "And you'd better not say anything to my dad about this. It's none of your business, you hear?"
    Annie stood there a moment, not knowing what to do. How could she knowingly let William's daughter leave in her condition? Yet, was it really her business? At last, she grabbed Sandy's arm and spun her around to look her straight in the eyes. "Give me your phone," she demanded.
    "What?" Sandy stared at Annie in shock.
    Annie insisted again, "Give me your phone."
    Looking dazed, Sandy produced her phone from the small purse she carried and handed it to Annie. "What are you doing?" she asked.
    "I'm putting my phone number into your phone in case you need to call someone," Annie replied as she typed in her name and cell number. She handed the phone back to Sandy. "Call me anytime of the day or night if you need someone, okay?"
    "Are we leaving or what?" the dark-haired girl asked, annoyance edging her voice.
    For one brief second, Sandy stared at Annie, trying to figure her out. Then she turned and let the other girl lead her out of the bathroom.
    Annie turned back to the counter and rested her hands on it. She closed her eyes and letting out a big sigh. She didn't know if she'd done the right thing by not bringing Sandy out to William. She could only hope that Sandy would be okay, and her friends would take care of her. Annie took another deep breath, let it out, and headed back to the table.
    "Oh, there you are," William said with a smile as Annie approached him. "Our table is ready."
    Annie followed William and the hostess to their table, glancing around to see if Sandy was still in the bar. Their table was near the fireplace next to a window with a view of the beach. It was the perfect, romantic setting, but all Annie could do was worry about where Sandy had gone and who she was with.
    Once they were settled at their table and had menus in front of them, William commented, "Looks like we have the best table in the place."
    "Yes," Annie replied, glancing out the window at the view of the ocean and Haystack Rock. She returned her gaze to the dining room and quickly swept her eyes toward the bar area. She hoped that Sandy wasn't driving, and that the person who was driving was sober.
    "Are you okay?" William asked, noticing Annie's distraction.
    Annie quickly nodded. "Oh, yes, I'm fine. Just looking around. This is a wonderful place. I've never been here before." She opened her menu and looked at the dinner choices, angry with herself for lying to William. He was a nice guy, and her feelings for him were growing. She felt caught between telling him about Sandy and minding her own business.
    William reached out and touched Annie's hand. Her eyes rose to meet his. He knew those eyes. They were so much like his wife's had been. Not only in color but in how they seemed to cloud over when she was distressed. "Does your change of mood have anything to do with seeing Sandy?"
    Annie stared for one long moment at William before letting out a sigh of relief. "You saw her here?" 
    William nodded. "Yes, I did. I saw her go down the hall toward the ladies' room a moment before you went. Did she say something that upset you?"
    Annie shook her head. "No, I'm just worried about her. She'd been drinking, and she didn't look too good."
    William nodded. "I think she was with that noisy group of young people. I recognized one of the girls as one she'd gone to high school with."
    Annie frowned. "They aren't old enough to be drinking in here. Why didn't