If Dad promised someone something that person knew they were sure to have it – no matter what happened or how much time went by.
Most of the business done in Italy before the 1960’s was strictly by shaking the other person’s hand and sometimes even without a handshake. I remember that if you even just casually mentioned something to someone they would later say, He promised me.
Your spoken word was taken as a promise regardless of how it was stated!
Dad was indeed a man of his word.