She was curious but didn’t want to text and ask him. She didn’t want to open Pandora’s box again. Whatever his reason for forfeiting, it must have been a good one. It was noon for her then, and she went about her day, then went back to the emails she was writing to the artists whose work she was selling.
She bought groceries after, and had just scrambled some eggs at eight o’clock that night when she heard a text come in. She was going to ignore it, but thought it might be Aden, and that he had heard more about Paul. Instead she saw it was from Paul himself. She was about to erase it without reading, when curiosity got the best of her and she opened it and stared at what it said.
“I just flew here from Madrid. I’m in Chicago. I retired today.”
“Why?” she texted back.
“I figure I may have used up the ninth life in Canada and decided to quit while I’m ahead. And I’m in Chicago because you live here and I love you. I did it for you, Maggie, if you still care.” She didn’t know what to answer, and had tears in her eyes. She didn’t want to care, but she still did. She didn’t trust him. He’d find some other way to risk his life if he wasn’t racing. Skydiving. Mountain climbing. He’d find something. He couldn’t help himself.
He had spent the last four weeks thinking about her, and trying to decide what to do. And when he got to the racetrack that morning, it all became clear. It was so simple. He just had to do it. It had been easier than he’d thought it would be.
“You probably don’t believe me,” he texted her when she didn’t respond. “I wouldn’t either. I could have won the race. You mean more to me. My sponsor will probably sue me for walking, but I don’t give a damn. I flew here to see you. Can I come home?” Her eggs were stone cold as she stared at her phone. She didn’t want to go through it with him again. Canada had almost killed her. But what if he really did it for her?
“I’m here,” was all she responded, and forty minutes later, her doorbell rang. She opened the door and he was standing there, still in his driving suit. He hadn’t bothered to change on the plane.
He looked serious when she opened the door to him, and so did she. She stood there, staring at him.
“You made history today,” she said to him, still not sure what to think or if she believed him. But it had been on TV.
“I know,” he said, and then gently pulled her into his arms. “I did it for you,” he told her again.
“So you said.” She had left him standing on the sidewalk outside the Four Seasons a month before and she believed it was the right thing to do. But she couldn’t ignore what he’d just done in Spain, whether it was for her or not. It was huge for him to have done it, and took incredible courage. He’d been racing cars since he was a kid, and was one of the most famous drivers in the world. “Thank you,” she said softly. And then he kissed her and she looked at him in surprise. The man who had nine lives had come home. “Why did you do it?” she asked him when he stopped.
“I have too much to lose now. You and Aden. I don’t want to lose you, Maggie.” She nodded. She didn’t want to lose him either. They had lost each other the first time at seventeen and eighteen, and neither of them wanted it to happen again more than thirty years later. Something had brought them together the first time, and again now. She didn’t know if it was kismet or fate, or an accident of some kind, but it was stronger than they were. And she knew his passion for danger. But he had walked away from a race for her. And if he could do that, she could take a chance on him. She knew as she looked at him that she was willing to risk it, and brave enough to try.
He followed her into the living room and they sat down on the couch in the small simple house she had outgrown. And as she looked at him, she saw in her mind’s eye the boy who had biked away when she was eighteen with a wave and a smile. She remembered him distinctly and she put her arms around the boy and the man and held him close to her.
“Welcome home,” she said softly, and he kissed her again. She realized then that her mother had been wrong. Sometimes the wild ones are worth the wait, and don’t break your heart after all.
To my brave, wonderful children,
Beatie, Trevor, Todd, Nick,
Sam, Victoria, Vanessa,
Maxx, and Zara.
May you be brave in your losses and your wins,
make wise choices,
and be protected in the risks you take.
May you have happy lives
and be blessed,
lucky, and protected, always.
I love you so much!
Mom/d.s.
By Danielle Steel
NINE LIVES • FINDING ASHLEY • THE AFFAIR • NEIGHBORS • ALL THAT GLITTERS • ROYAL • DADDY’S GIRLS • THE WEDDING DRESS • THE NUMBERS GAME • MORAL COMPASS • SPY • CHILD’S PLAY • THE DARK SIDE • LOST AND FOUND • BLESSING IN DISGUISE • SILENT NIGHT • TURNING POINT • BEAUCHAMP HALL • IN HIS FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS • THE GOOD FIGHT • THE CAST • ACCIDENTAL HEROES • FALL FROM GRACE • PAST PERFECT • FAIRYTALE • THE RIGHT TIME • THE DUCHESS • AGAINST ALL ODDS • DANGEROUS GAMES • THE MISTRESS • THE AWARD • RUSHING WATERS • MAGIC • THE APARTMENT • PROPERTY OF A NOBLEWOMAN • BLUE • PRECIOUS GIFTS • UNDERCOVER • COUNTRY • PRODIGAL SON • PEGASUS • A PERFECT LIFE • POWER PLAY • WINNERS • FIRST SIGHT • UNTIL THE END OF TIME • THE SINS OF THE MOTHER • FRIENDS FOREVER • BETRAYAL • HOTEL VENDÔME • HAPPY BIRTHDAY • 44 CHARLES STREET • LEGACY • FAMILY TIES • BIG GIRL • SOUTHERN LIGHTS • MATTERS OF THE HEART • ONE DAY AT A TIME • A GOOD WOMAN • ROGUE • HONOR THYSELF • AMAZING GRACE • BUNGALOW 2 • SISTERS • H.R.H. • COMING OUT • THE HOUSE • TOXIC BACHELORS • MIRACLE • IMPOSSIBLE • ECHOES • SECOND CHANCE • RANSOM • SAFE HARBOUR • JOHNNY ANGEL • DATING GAME • ANSWERED PRAYERS • SUNSET IN ST. TROPEZ • THE COTTAGE • THE KISS • LEAP OF FAITH • LONE EAGLE • JOURNEY • THE HOUSE ON HOPE STREET • THE WEDDING • IRRESISTIBLE FORCES • GRANNY DAN • BITTERSWEET • MIRROR IMAGE • THE KLONE AND I • THE LONG ROAD HOME • THE GHOST • SPECIAL DELIVERY • THE RANCH • SILENT HONOR • MALICE • FIVE DAYS IN PARIS • LIGHTNING • WINGS • THE GIFT • ACCIDENT • VANISHED • MIXED BLESSINGS • JEWELS • NO GREATER LOVE • HEARTBEAT • MESSAGE FROM NAM • DADDY • STAR • ZOYA • KALEIDOSCOPE • FINE THINGS • WANDERLUST • SECRETS • FAMILY ALBUM • FULL CIRCLE • CHANGES • THURSTON HOUSE • CROSSINGS • ONCE IN A LIFETIME • A PERFECT STRANGER • REMEMBRANCE • PALOMINO • LOVE: POEMS • THE RING • LOVING • TO LOVE AGAIN • SUMMER’S END • SEASON OF PASSION • THE PROMISE • NOW AND FOREVER • PASSION’S PROMISE • GOING HOME
Nonfiction
EXPECT A MIRACLE: Quotations to Live and Love By
PURE JOY: The Dogs We Love
A GIFT OF HOPE: Helping the Homeless
HIS BRIGHT LIGHT: The Story of Nick Traina
For Children
PRETTY MINNIE IN PARIS
PRETTY MINNIE IN HOLLYWOOD
About the Author
DANIELLE STEEL has been hailed as one of the world’s bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include The Affair, Finding Ashley, Neighbors, All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy’s Girls, The Wedding Dress, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina’s life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children’s books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.
daniellesteel.com
Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Twitter: @daniellesteel
Instagram: @OfficialDanielleSteel
What’s next on
your reading list?
Discover your next
great read!
Get personalized book picks and up-to-date news about this author.
Sign up now.
Nine Lives Page 21