Promise

Four women, Eleanor, Pam, Jacqui and Rowena, begin as teenagers determined to stay close, and their friendship changes over the years. To seal their pact, they tie it to a set of teacups called the Friendship Cups. Years later, Carrie's great-aunt Eleanor shares memories of her own youth and of the three friends she shared it with. Curious whether they kept their promise, Carrie inherits a matching milk jug and a notebook, then reaches out to the women's families. As she talks with them, she learns how much the Friendship Cups meant to each of them. The novel follows how their lives turn and shift, showing how friendships alter with time, and it includes a gentle thread of romance alongside its focus on loyalty.