Fall from Grace

by Danielle Steel

  “And I invited my lawyer, Steve Weinstein. He said he didn’t have any plans. And, Sabrina,” she said, looking seriously at her older daughter, “I want you to know how grateful I am for your arranging my bail and paying his retainer. I intend to repay you as soon as I can.” She was planning to sell a piece of jewelry if she had to, although she didn’t have many and had been trying to hang on to everything she could, to sell in the future if she needed to. But this was one of those times. She had depleted Sabrina’s savings, and she wasn’t going to let it stay that way for long.

  “I don’t need the money right now, Mom. And there was no way I was going to let you stay in jail, or not have a decent lawyer. Do you think he’s okay?” She had liked him when they spoke, and he seemed competent.

  “I think he’s very good, and Ed’s family checked him out.” She knew that didn’t mean he would be able to get her off. There were variables in the case and, as Steve had told her, once a matter went to trial, the results were unpredictable. It wasn’t going to be a shoo-in, but it wasn’t a lost cause either. And hopefully they would find damning evidence on Paul Zeller before they went to trial.

  They were still talking about it when Ed Chin rang the buzzer, and when he came in the door he greeted Sabrina, pleased to see her. He congratulated her on her new job, and they launched into animated conversation immediately. He admired her dress, she admitted that the design was one of hers, and he told her he loved it. Ed had worn jeans, a black turtleneck, a black cashmere jacket, and suede loafers, and looked as chic as Sabrina. He had the wardrobe and the style to wear it, and had all his clothes made at his tailor in Hong Kong whenever he went home. They were talking about her new job and the people he knew there, when Sophie and Grayson arrived.

  Grayson walked into the apartment looking nervous in jeans and a sweatshirt he’d had since he was at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he’d gotten a full scholarship and had graduated eight years before. He was thirty, had brown hair, was sporting five days of beard stubble, and wore battered high-topped sneakers with holes in them. He glanced around the room and spoke to no one in particular as he cautiously accepted a cup of eggnog.

  “I don’t normally do holidays, but Sophie insisted,” he said as Sydney smiled warmly at him and kissed her younger daughter. Sophie was wearing a black leather miniskirt, a black sweater, black tights, and high-heeled black suede boots that reached her thighs. She looked sexy and young, and more casual than her sister, and had a more voluptuous figure. Her whole style was younger and less sophisticated than Sabrina’s. She wore her hair wild and loose and long in a mane of curls she’d had since she was a child.

  “We’re glad you could come,” Sydney told Grayson graciously, and managed to keep a straight face when the eggnog coated his mustache and turned it white. Then the doorbell rang again and it was Steve, carrying a big baker’s box and a bottle of good California wine. His offerings were gratefully received, and when Sydney peeked inside the box as she set it down, she saw that it was a beautiful yule log for dessert. She’d been planning to serve Christmas pudding, and instantly decided to serve both and thanked him. She introduced all the young people to each other as they came in. And the chatter of conversation reached a comfortable level, except for Grayson, who sat quietly on the couch, watching the others. If nothing else, he always seemed odd, and Sophie explained that he was shy. Ed commented on his sweatshirt when he sat down next to him, and said he had always wanted to go to RISD, but hadn’t been accepted, and had gone to design school in London instead. Grayson relaxed a little after that, and it amused Sydney to realize that of the six people in the room, five of them were designers, in one form or another, and four of the six were in fashion.

  “You’re the only sane grown-up here, not in fashion or design,” she teased Steve, and she liked being able to count herself among the designers again. It gave form and purpose to her life, aside from feeding her and helping to pay her rent for the past five months.

  “It’s definitely intimidating,” he admitted. “I changed shirts four times, and jackets twice before deciding on an appropriate outfit. Having dinner with a bunch of fashion designers definitely puts the heat on.” In the end, he had opted for a blue collared shirt, a tweed jacket, jeans, and brown suede oxfords that were very stylish.

  “You did just fine,” Sydney complimented him, impressed by how nice he looked. He was more handsome than she’d realized in court, when she’d been distracted by more serious preoccupations than how he dressed.

  “I just wore my old school sweatshirt,” Grayson said, looking nervous again, as he helped himself to more eggnog, and Sophie watched him. She didn’t want him to get drunk because he was ill at ease with people.

  They made it to the table at nine, when the turkey was done, and Steve opened the wine and poured it. They were drinking Sabrina’s bottles first. Sydney had seated Sabrina next to Steve, and she was on his other side. And she put Ed on Sabrina’s other side, with Sophie and Grayson between Ed and herself, and the conversation at dinner flourished, aided by the excellent wine Sabrina had provided. Steve complimented her on it.

  Steve’s yule log was a big hit for dessert, with the Christmas pudding, which Sydney poured brandy over and lit. And they all talked about how they had spent Christmas as children. Sophie and Sabrina’s warm description of their family traditions brought tears to their mother’s eyes. Ed said that his family had always celebrated Christmas and Chinese New Year’s, and gave big dinner parties with family and friends for both events. “My family loves a party!” he said, and everybody laughed.

  “We celebrated Chanukah when I was a kid, but pretty loosely,” Steve commented. “My parents let me have a Christmas tree too, because my friends did. They always envied me because Chanukah lasts for eight days, but they got all their presents at once, which I thought was cooler. And I’m happy to be with you,” he added. “My family is all away this year, and I’d be sitting in my apartment feeling sorry for myself tonight if I weren’t here, so thank you, Sydney, for inviting me, and to all of you for having me.” He raised his glass and smiled at his new client.

  “I’m an atheist,” Grayson announced. “I don’t believe in Christmas,” he said, and there was silence at the table for a minute, “but I’m having a good time, thank you,” he added, as everyone exhaled, and he raised his glass too.

  Sophie suggested charades after dinner, and after several glasses of wine, Grayson was the best one at it, and could guess nearly anything before anyone else could, and his pantomimes were hilarious and made them all laugh. And although she hadn’t expected it to be that way, Sydney thought it was one of the best Christmases she’d had in years, despite Andrew’s absence. The atmosphere was warm and cozy, and it was a special night among friends who genuinely liked each other, and were glad to be together.

  She noticed that Steve and Sabrina had engaged in conversation repeatedly, when she wasn’t talking to Ed about fashion. Ed and Sydney talked a little about the new business they were starting. And no one had the bad taste to mention her recent legal difficulties or the threat of an upcoming trial. They had put it aside for the night, and so had Sydney. She was just enjoying everyone. No one made a move to leave until after one in the morning, and when Sabrina stood up, Steve offered to take her home, since he didn’t live far from her. They all said goodbye reluctantly, and Ed stayed for a few minutes after the others left.

  “What a lovely evening you gave all of us,” he complimented her, as he sipped the last of his wine. “And I think you may have started something tonight.” He looked at her mischievously and guessed that she had done it on purpose.

  “Steve and Sabrina?” He nodded, and they both laughed. “I thought that might work. At least I hoped so. I like him. And poor Grayson looked like he was going to fall apart when he walked in, but he rallied. I think the eggnog helped. He’s a sweet kid and a very good designer. He just had a lousy childhood, and has a lot of issues.”

  “I liked him,”
Ed said easily. “I liked all of them, and your daughters are fantastic. I could have talked to them all night.”

  “They’re good women. I’m very proud of them.”

  He offered to help her clean up and do the dishes, and she told him she’d do it in the morning and he didn’t have to, and he left a few minutes later. She sat alone on the couch after he was gone and thought about the evening. It had been perfect and just what she wanted it to be, for all of them. Even Grayson had joined in the fun with good humor. They had managed to blend traditions, and the lack of them, between Christians, a Jew, a Buddhist, and an atheist, and shared a warm and wonderful evening, which was what Christmas was all about. And she hoped that wherever he was, Andrew was at peace too.

  Chapter 10

  On Christmas Day, the morning after her dinner party, Sydney got up early to do the dishes and clean up, and thought again about how warm and congenial it had been the night before. And as she scrubbed the pan the turkey had roasted in, she realized that she hadn’t heard from Veronica or any of her old friends over the holidays, but she didn’t miss them. She was totally absorbed in her new life. Sydney hadn’t heard from Veronica after their last conversation. She had only been interested in delivering bad news, and Sydney was no longer willing to hear it, which spoiled it for Veronica.

  None of her other friends had called her to see how she was, or invite her to their holiday parties. It was as though they felt it was too awkward now to acknowledge her, particularly since the news had spread like wildfire that she had no money left, and her arrest had been in the papers. It was disappointing to observe how important Andrew’s money had been to them. In the past six months, she felt like the forgotten woman. She hadn’t called them either and felt strange doing so, and now that her arrest had hit the fashion press, she was afraid to talk to anyone, and didn’t want to discuss it with them. But her friends from their married days certainly hadn’t been loyal or attentive. They had valued the lifestyle she’d shared with Andrew, but apparently not her friendship.

  Steve called her as she was putting the last rinsed dish in the dishwasher, and thanked her profusely for dinner.

  “Thank you for the delicious wine and that gorgeous yule log,” she said warmly.

  “You made the evening lovely for all of us,” he said kindly. “I wanted to ask you something, it’s a little awkward. I don’t normally do this with clients.” She wondered what was coming, and hoped her matchmaking had worked. It sounded like it, and had looked that way the night before. “Would you mind if I call Sabrina? She’s a fantastic woman, and she looks just like you except for the dark hair. I don’t normally date my clients’ daughters, but in this case, I’d like to make an exception, if you agree.” He was obviously nervous as he put the question to her, and Sydney forced herself to seem casual when she answered, but at her end she was beaming from ear to ear. She had thought he was perfect for her daughter, and she hoped that Sabrina liked him too.

  “I have no problem with it whatsoever,” she assured him. “I thought you’d get along. She’s awfully busy, though, and when Fashion Week happens twice a year, she disappears.”

  “I think I can manage. I have a few things to do too.” He was planning to suggest lunch to her, and go easy with it. “Is she involved with anyone? I don’t want to step on any toes.”

  “Yes, her work. 24/7,” Sydney said, and he laughed.

  “I like a woman who works hard. It makes me feel less guilty when I have to.”

  Sydney gave him Sabrina’s number, and then he said they should get together in the coming weeks to talk about the detective he wanted to hire to do some snooping around on Paul Zeller. There had been no word about the grand jury hearing yet.

  “Will a detective be hideously expensive?” Sydney asked, sounding worried. She was afraid to run up a lot of bills she couldn’t afford, and Sabrina had paid enough for bail and his fee.

  “It’s not cheap,” he said honestly, “but it could give us just what we need to get the case against you dismissed, or win at a trial.”

  “Then it’s worth it.” She made an appointment with him for early January, and wished him a merry Christmas again. And after they hung up, she wondered how fast he’d call Sabrina, or if he’d wait until the new year and play it cool.

  Sabrina called her half an hour later, sounding pleased. “You’ll never guess who called me,” she said, surprised, while her mother feigned ignorance.

  “Let’s see, Brad Pitt…Harrison Ford…Leonardo DiCaprio?” Sabrina laughed at her mother.

  “Yes, obviously. But after they called, Steve Weinstein called me half an hour ago. He invited me to lunch on Sunday. And he asked if I had plans on New Year’s Eve. I guess he just broke up with someone, and he’s at loose ends. I was going to do some work that night. But he suggested dinner and a movie. That sounds about right for someone I don’t know that well. What are you doing on New Year’s Eve?” she asked, concerned for her mother. She didn’t want her to be lonely, and she didn’t seem to have a social life these days. She and her sister were both aware of it. It was a big change from the active life she and Andrew had shared when they were married. They were always going to some dinner party in Connecticut, cocktail party in New York, black-tie benefit at a museum, or out to dinner at their favorite restaurants. And now all of that seemed to be gone, and she was sure her mother missed it.

  “I’m staying home with a good book,” Sydney said about New Year’s Eve. “And I might do some work too. But you’re too young to do that at twenty-seven. You should go out with Steve.”

  “I said I would.” Sabrina sounded pleased. “He’s good company and seems like a nice person. He’s very bright, and has a lot of interests.”

  “He strikes me that way too,” and hopefully he’s a brilliant lawyer, Sydney thought to herself. “I thought Grayson did very well last night,” Sydney said generously.

  “The poor guy is such a ball of nerves. I always have the feeling that if I say the wrong thing, he’ll run out of the room. But he was very funny at charades, and you were right about Ed Chin. I love him. I was leery about meeting him at first because he worked for that sausage factory, but I see now that he’s a serious person. He was smart to quit. Zeller is going to take everyone down with him, just like he did to you.” Sydney didn’t disagree.

  “Well, have fun with Steve. Don’t get him too distracted so he can still win my case.” It was beginning to feel like there was no case to win. Everything had gone back to normal, she was home again, and her four days in jail seemed like a bad dream. But sooner or later, she knew the case would rear its ugly head again, like a snake, and she would have to deal with it.

  —

  As she had said she would, Sydney stayed home on New Year’s Eve. She watched some old movies, and did some sketches. Ed called her from a party at midnight. But she didn’t want to be anywhere this year, except at home. She knew she’d probably go out on New Year’s Eve again one day, but it didn’t feel right this year, so soon after Andrew’s death and everything that had happened since.

  Sophie called her at midnight to wish her a happy New Year and said that Grayson was asleep. They had stayed home too, and Sophie had watched the ball in Times Square on TV, which seemed a little too sedate to her mother.

  Sabrina called her the next day and said she and Steve had gone to dinner in the Village, and instead of the movies, they went skating at Rockefeller Center underneath the giant Christmas tree, and had sat in the bar for hours afterward, drinking champagne and getting to know each other. Sabrina said it had been the perfect New Year’s Eve. Sydney thought it sounded like a great beginning.

  —

  After the first of the year, she and Ed got busy with their plans for the business, and tried to define what they wanted their clothes to look like and be noted for. Great fabrics, interesting designs, subtle textures, a look that was structured and serious, but not severe, and now and then had a surprise wisp of softness. They wanted their clothes to be
what every woman wanted to wear, and affordable, but not dirt-cheap either, like Lady Louise. There were still a lot of things they needed to work out and decide on, and people they wanted to hire.

  In the second week of January, she met with Steve Weinstein again about her case, as they had arranged. He talked to her about the detective he wanted to hire and had used before. And he told her that he wanted to use a local operative in Beijing whom they could send to the manufacturer to see what they were willing to say about Paul Zeller. Steve wanted the detective to turn over every stone until they found the one they needed. He was sure it was there. They just had to find it. Steve agreed to cap the detective’s work at a certain price that they both thought was reasonable, and said he would be willing to front the money for the detective, and she could repay him later, which was a relief to her. The money was flowing like water for her court case, and she didn’t want the faucet open too wide, so she didn’t drown paying for it.

  When Sydney met with Steve, they didn’t talk about Sabrina. She didn’t want to mix her business and her daughter’s romance, but she was very curious if they were seeing each other. With Fashion Week only weeks away in New York, she knew that Sabrina must be buried until it was over. And Sophie was just as busy with her line. She had just won an award for the best designs for young juniors, she was thrilled, and Sydney was pleased for her. She had found her perfect niche. Her clothes had a fresh, youthful look that was fun and pretty, and didn’t make teenagers look like hookers.