“Who told you that?” he whispered as he pulled her closer. “Who told you it was too late? And who tells you that you were wrong and I was right? A thousand times I told myself that I could have moved back to New York with you, that we could have moved into the house in Purchase, what right did I have to stand in your way?”
“You had every right … you had your kids to think of too. All I was thinking of was myself.”
“And now?” He could barely get the words out as he held her. He still loved her so much. It hurt just standing this close to her again.
“Ollie, I love you so much.” She barely breathed the words, and then slowly he kissed her. It was all he had wanted to hear, all he had cared about, all he had lived for after she went away.
“I love you too … you'll never know how much I miss you. I thought I'd go crazy for a while. …”
“So did I.” She was smiling suddenly, as he swept her off her feet and carried her through the house while she laughed. “Where are you taking me?” Suddenly she was happy again. She was in the arms of the man she loved. He didn't hate her, and he had been as unhappy as she was. She had been such a fool, but thank God she hadn't left to do the play on Broadway.
“What are you doing?”
He marched solemnly up the stairs toward his bedroom. “Taking you to my bed where you belong, until you learn to behave yourself … goddamn famous actress … don't ever pull a stunt like that again!” He railed as she laughed and he carried her through his bedroom doorway. It looked familiar and warm and wonderful as she looked up into his eyes.
“Ollie, I'm so sorry….” He was still holding her, as though he would never let her go this time, but he smiled at her.
“Don't be. I was as big a fool as you were.”
“And now?” She looked up at him, as he deposited her on his bed.
“I figure we're both fools and we deserve each other.”
She smiled as she held her arms out to him, and as they lay in his bed for most of the next four days, it was a magical weekend. The kids found her in her jeans and his shirt, barefoot in the kitchen, when Sarah dropped them off Sunday night on her way to the airport. She came in to say good-bye to Oliver, but only briefly, and she looked intrigued when she saw Charlotte, looking tousled and happy in the kitchen.
“Is that who I think it is?” Sarah whispered with a smile, as Oliver walked her to the car. He had tried to introduce them, but Sam and Alex had made so much noise, it was impossible to hear anything, and Charlotte looked faintly embarrassed to be found barefoot in Oliver's kitchen.
“It is.”
“Does this mean you're moving to New Yoik?” Sarah looked faintly amused, and pleased for him as she slid behind the wheel of her car. She and the children had had a very good weekend.
“No, I'm not moving to New York.” He looked faintly smug, and tried to pretend he wasn't.
“She's staying.”
“She is?” Sarah looked impressed, and he smiled at her.
“I got lucky, I guess.” This time.
“No, Ollie.” She smiled up at him, the past no longer painful for either of them. “She's a smart girl. Congratulations to both of you, or am I premature?”
“A little.” He grinned, and they both laughed.
“Good luck then.” She waved and backed out of the driveway, and he walked back into the kitchen, still feeling startled as he saw Charlotte with one arm around Sam, and holding Alex with the other, talking animatedly with Mel above their heads, as Aggie made hot chocolate amid the confusion.
“I can't believe how lucky I am,” she whispered to Ollie as they sat at the kitchen table.
“I'm the lucky one.”
“We both are.” She thought of the ring she had had sent back to him and wondered what had happened to it. She glanced at her hand as she thought of it, and as she looked up, she saw that Oliver was laughing. “What's so funny?”
“You are. And in answer to your question, I threw it away.” In truth, he hadn't had the heart to send it back to the store, and it was in the safe in his bedroom closet.
“How did you know what I was thinking?”
“Because I'm smarter than I used to be, and I love you.” They exchanged a long, slow smile over the baby's head, and Oliver felt as though a miracle had happened. A miracle that had brought her back to him, whether or not he thought he deserved it. “Will you exchange it for a plain gold one?” He wanted to grab her before she changed her mind again, or another play came up, or a film or a handsome leading man. He wasn't even sure he'd be willing to wait another four weeks till Christmas.
But she was nodding in answer to his question. And the look in her eyes told him all he needed to know. She had come back to stay and she would have it all, her life with him and her career, for as long as she wanted. And this time, they both knew she could do it.
She had made her choice. And her choice was to be with him, and the children.
But she had her show too. And an Emmy, and a guinea pig, and the man she loved, three wonderful kids, and even a built-in grandchild. And children of her own, if that was what she wanted. He was ready to give it all to her. He had learned a lot, too, in her absence.
“When?” The look in his eyes was fiery as he took Alex from her lap and handed him to Aggie. And she carried him, and led Sam swiftly out of the kitchen, leaving them alone to settle their future.
“Tomorrow? Next week?” Charlotte was suddenly laughing at him as she answered.
“No later.” He scowled as he pulled her close to him, and bent down to kiss her, just as Benjamin walked in, with his ski bag over his shoulder.
“Sorry, Dad,” he grinned with pleasure when he saw Charlotte. Oliver gestured over his shoulder, and Benjamin scurried out of the room, still grinning, as Ollie bent to kiss Charlotte again and they both started to laugh.
“Next weekend?” he asked again, amused but getting desperate.
“Tomorrow.” She smiled quietly, setting the wedding date they'd almost lost until she came to her senses.
“I love you,” Oliver whispered, feeling her heart pound next to him, and almost as loudly.
“I love you too,” she whispered back, and in the distance, they could hear the children thundering up the stairs. They were laughing and discussing the good news, and by week's end, it would all be in the papers, and it was, but by then Charlotte Sampson and Oliver Watson were already married and had gone to Hawaii for a week, with her producers' permission. The paparazzi were, predictably, waiting for them when they got home, and snapped dozens of pictures at the airport.
Benjamin and Alex were waiting for them. Benjamin was smiling broadly, and Alex was sound asleep in his arms, happy and peaceful with his daddy.
“I hope ours is as cute as that,” she whispered to Oliver as they followed Benjamin to the baggage claim, and he put an arm around his wife, and smiled. He wasn't worried about that. He had it all, the life he had wanted, and a woman who made it all worthwhile. And he knew, without a doubt, that he was the luckiest man alive.
“All set?” he asked, as Benjamin helped him carry the bags. And as they walked slowly outside, a woman came rushing up to them, with a squeal of excitement.
“Aren't you … aren't you Charlotte Sampson?”
“No,” Charlie shook her head pleasantly with a smile, “the name's Watson.”
“Oh.” The woman apologized, and disappeared as the threesome laughed, the baby slept, and Oliver and Charlie went home to their children.
a cognizant original v5 release october 14 2010
Published by
Dell Publishing
a division of
Random House, Inc.
Copyright © 1989 by Danielle Steel
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eISBN: 978-0-307-56640-9
v3.0
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