Blessing in Disguise
Page 25
“Is that an invitation, or a mistake?” he asked and she smiled at him.
“Which would you prefer?”
“What do you think?” And with that, he took her up on the challenge, stepped across the threshold and kissed her as he walked into her life.
* * *
—
Everything changed for them in Paris. They found their youth again and dared what neither of them had in years. Their hearts were open, and by the time they left Paris, boundaries had been crossed, walls had fallen, and hearts laid bare.
* * *
—
They flew back to New York sitting next to each other, eating, talking, watching movies, and he was sad knowing he couldn’t stay with her in New York. He couldn’t leave his sister alone at night. He wasn’t going to desert her no matter how in love he was with Isabelle, and he was very much so. She understood the responsibilities he had to honor, and respected him for it.
He dropped her off at her house, took her inside, and kissed her. They had talked about her children in Paris, and she said she didn’t need their permission or even their approval. It was too late for her to let anyone stop her at her age. He lingered and hated to leave her and then he went home to Sandy, who was waiting for him. He thought she looked strange when he walked in, as though something was bothering her, but he was tired and didn’t want to ask.
She waited until the next morning to tell him, after asking how the trip was. She thought he looked different too. There was something she couldn’t put her finger on, but she could feel it, more than see it. In some subtle way, he had changed while he was away.
“I have bad news,” she finally said over breakfast. “Not about my health,” she was quick to reassure him. “I feel terrible doing this to you. Your niece finally left the creep she’s married to. Nancy wants to come home, Jack, with the kids, and live with me. I didn’t have the heart to say no to her.” She felt guilty toward him. “You gave up a great job in Washington for me, and now I’m throwing you out. I feel like the worst sister in the world.” He looked at her in amazement.
“You’re throwing me out?”
She nodded. “She’s coming home in three weeks.”
“Perfect timing,” he said, put on his jacket, and rushed to the door. “I’m late for work. Sorry. We’ll talk later.” He smiled at her.
“Are you mad at me?” she called after him.
“Not at all. I love you, more than ever.”
He let himself into the house, and Isabelle was still asleep. He took the stairs two at a time, silently opened her bedroom door, dropped his clothes on the floor, slipped into bed beside her, and put his arms around her. She opened one eye sleepily and looked at him, half awake.
“You call this a job?”
“It used to be….I just got evicted. By my sister. Her daughter left her husband and she’s coming home in three weeks to live with her mother. So I’m out.”
Isabelle smiled and pulled him closer to her, until they were pressed against each other and she could feel every inch of him against her skin. “Isn’t that what you call a blessing in disguise?” she whispered. He didn’t answer her. He kissed her. The fates had smiled on them again.
To my beloved, wonderful children,
Beatie, Trevor, Todd, Nick, Sam,
Victoria, Vanessa, Maxx, and Zara,
May the blessings in your lives
be abundant, and not disguised,
and may bad things always lead
to good ones!
I love you so much,
Mom/ds
By Danielle Steel
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
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 most popular authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include Blessing in Disguise, Silent Night, Turning Point, Beauchamp Hall, In His Father’s Footsteps, The Good Fight, The Cast, 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; 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
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