The Sins of the Mother

by Danielle Steel

  The girls were waiting for her at the airport when she arrived. The three of them checked in, and were in high spirits, and then Sophie noticed her mother’s long legs. They were three beautiful women standing at the check-in counter, and were drawing appreciative stares from men.

  “Mom, where did you get those shorts?” Sophie asked her with a look of suspicion.

  “From your closet. I forgot to leave out something to wear on the flight. I can give them back to you on the boat.” She looked apologetic, and Sophie grinned. Carole was on her cell phone with a friend and paying no attention to them.

  “I left them there because they’re too short. You look pretty sexy, Mom,” Sophie said with a mild look of disapproval. They were in fact very short to be wearing them in a public place.

  “Believe me, at my age no one looks,” Liz reassured her daughter. Her hair was dry by then, and fell in gentle waves and curls, framing her face.

  “That’s what you think. About ten guys just checked you out.”

  “No worries. I’ll cover myself with a blanket on the plane.” Sophie had worn a short white linen dress, and Carole was wearing a flowered miniskirt with a white T-shirt and sexy gladiator sandals. As usual, she looked incredible, she was a gorgeous girl, like both her parents. Sophie was beautiful too, she looked like Liz, but with dark hair.

  They boarded the plane in first class. Olivia had sent the others in first class too. She wanted their trip to start out right—comfortable, fun, and easy for them. It was a small gift to give to them, and Liz and the girls were thrilled as they settled into their seats on the plane. The girls wanted to watch a movie, and Liz said she wanted to sleep. And instead she took the manuscript out of her bag after takeoff, and started editing it again. She had been doing that for weeks. The girls didn’t even notice what she was reading. They were sitting together and chattering excitedly about the trip. They both loved their grandmother and always had fun with her. She was far more attentive to her grandchildren than she had been with her own children. Now she had more time, and they were more interested in her and what she’d done, and the business that was her world.

  After takeoff, a stewardess offered them champagne. Both girls helped themselves to a glass and Liz asked for a Bloody Mary. She sipped it slowly, as she quietly worked on her book, and then set it down next to her and forgot about it, until they hit some turbulence half an hour later, and the glass toppled into her lap. The stewardess was quick to bring damp towels and help her clean up the mess. Liz managed to save her manuscript from the accident, but Sophie’s shorts and her own white shirt were a mess, and she had nothing else to change into. She looked at the girls, laughed, and shrugged. It didn’t really matter, she could change her clothes when she got to the boat.

  By the time the plane headed out over the ocean two hours later, all three of them had turned their seats into beds with pillows and comforters, and they were sound asleep. In spite of Liz’s usual trepidation about spending time with her family, they all knew it was going to be a fabulous two weeks. And other than the minor mishap with the Bloody Mary, they were off to a great start.

  Chapter 5

  When Olivia reached the port in Monaco, the day before her children were scheduled to arrive, it took her breath away to see the yacht she had chartered for them. It was three hundred feet of pure luxury, and an exquisite sight. All twenty-four crew members were lined up on deck in uniform, waiting for her to arrive. The captain stood on the dock, ready to escort her on board and introduce her to the crew. It was evenly divided between women and men, and impossible to remember all of their names. There was an enormous outdoor bar, with a spectacular arrangement of orchids in a crystal vase, and a stewardess offered her champagne, which she declined. She was tired from the long trip, and rarely drank.

  There was beautiful deck furniture in seating arrangements, and a helipad on the upper deck, along with a large sunbathing area. The purser escorted her around the boat, showed her into the movie theater, the gym, and the spa. Crew members were stationed at each location, and in the hair salon, three young women waited at attention. She glimpsed the main dining salon and an outdoor dining area, peeked into the sumptuous bedrooms her children would occupy, and was finally led to her own, which they referred to as the Owner’s Suite, filled with beautiful furniture and impressive art. And there was a huge, inviting king-size bed, with impeccably pressed linen sheets. She could hardly wait to get into it. She was tired after the flight, but it was too exciting to be here. They asked if she would be dining aboard tonight or in town, and she said she would be staying in. She wanted to get some rest before they all arrived. They would be constantly busy after that. And Olivia couldn’t help thinking, as she looked around her suite, how blessed she was to be able to provide something like this for her children and grandchildren. It had been well worth all those years of hard work, even if she had missed some time with them when they were young. How fortunate they all were now, and so was she. She never took for granted what she and Joe had built, and the fruits of it.

  When the stewardess left her in the cabin, after unpacking for her, Olivia took a long luxurious bath. She came back upstairs afterward wearing a long white linen caftan, and they served her dinner in an outdoor dining area, with a beautiful table setting of French china, with flowers in small vases, and silver seashells scattered around the table. They had given her precisely what she ordered, an omelet and salad, with fresh fruit for dessert. She was relaxing quietly, enjoying watching the comings and goings from other yachts in the port, when a steward came to tell her there was a call for her, and brought her a phone. She hoped it wasn’t one of her children canceling at the last minute because something untoward had happened. And when she answered, she was surprised to hear Peter Williams’s voice. She was instantly worried about a legal crisis at work.

  “I had such a crazy week, I never got to say goodbye to you before you left,” he apologized, and Olivia smiled when she heard him. She was instantly relieved that it was a purely social call. “How’s the boat?”

  “Absolutely incredible,” she said, smiling broadly, and he could already hear the more relaxed tone of her voice. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I’m going to refuse to leave when our two weeks are up.”

  “That sounds like an excellent decision. You’re going to have a wonderful time with the kids,” he said. He always enjoyed talking to her, and they hadn’t had time to chat in a while. They were too busy solving and avoiding problems involving her business. He was happy that she had taken time off. He knew what these vacations with her children meant to her, and they did her a world of good. She always came back looking years younger, and full of new ideas and happy tales of the trip.

  “I think my grandchildren will enjoy it too. This looks more like a ship than a yacht. I want to try the water toys with them. I want to learn to jet ski before I come home.”

  “Be careful, Olivia,” he said with a tone of concern, and she laughed.

  “I’ve always wanted to learn to ride a motorcycle too, but it’s too late for that.”

  “I’m glad you think so. It’s not too late for anything with the energy you have.”

  “Yes, it is,” she said sobering for a moment. “I’m having a dreadful birthday on this trip.”

  “There are no dreadful birthdays, looking as you do. I forget which one it is, but whatever it is, you don’t look your age.”

  “Oh yes, I do,” she said stubbornly. “I was thinking about it tonight. I don’t know where the years go. One day you’re young, and the next thing you know, it’s all over. Except my mother, who is still fantastic at her age, and she looks great.”

  “So do you. You haven’t changed in twenty years, since we met.”

  “Your eyes are going, Peter, but thank you. When are you leaving on vacation, by the way?” She knew he went to Maine with his family every year. He had a very pretty house that she had been to once, when she’d been in the area, checking out a new loca
tion for a store, and Peter had taken her there for lunch. It was a beautiful old family home, full of Early American antiques, with a big old-fashioned porch.

  “I’m leaving next week. Emily’s there already with our daughter. Eric and I are going up next week.” She knew that both of his children were married and had young children. He would be spending time with his family too. It did them all good to get away from the stress of their daily pace. They worked hard all year. “We’ll do some sailing and fishing. I want to play some golf. I haven’t had time to play in months.”

  “Thanks to me,” she said, sounding apologetic, as she relaxed and looked around her. “You wouldn’t believe how lovely this is. I’m sitting here in the port of Monaco, with the castle right above me, on this unbelievably beautiful boat. Sometimes I can’t believe how lucky I am.” He always admired the fact that she didn’t take it for granted, was never blasé, and had a healthy respect for how fortunate she’d been.

  “You deserve it. You’ve earned it all. I hope you have a wonderful time.” Wishing her a good trip had been the only reason for his call.

  “Thank you, Peter, you too. It was nice of you to call.”

  “I’ll see you when you get back. Take care, Olivia. And happy birthday, by the way.”

  “Let’s forget that, shall we?” she said, and laughed. Compared to her mother, she was a youngster, but seventy sounded very old to her. “Have a wonderful time in Maine.”

  “Thank you,” he said warmly, and a moment later they hung up, and she sat looking out over the water, thinking about him, and the business she had left in New York. She and her sons would meet on the deck every morning, to go over faxes and e-mails she would continue to receive while on the trip. They kept her abreast of everything, even when she was away. She couldn’t neglect the business for two weeks, nor could Phillip and John. Too much went on there every day for them to remain out of touch. And she knew how to reach Peter if a legal crisis occurred. Hopefully, none would.

  She went back to her cabin a few minutes later, and got into bed early with one of the books she’d brought with her. She read for a few minutes and turned out the light. She had left a wake-up call with the main stewardess so she didn’t oversleep. She wanted to look around Monaco the next day and do some shopping, and get to know the boat before the others arrived. Phillip and John were coming on the same flight that night, and Liz several hours later the next morning, and they would set sail right after that. She could hardly wait to get under way, for her children to arrive, and the trip to begin. She reminded herself, as she fell asleep, to call her mother the next day. She had visited her the day before she left. And then her eyes closed, and she drifted off to sleep. She slept like a baby in the dark cabin, with the shades drawn, and she didn’t hear a sound all night. Her last thought before she fell asleep was that it was going to be an amazing trip on the Lady Luck, for almost two glorious weeks.

  Olivia had a relaxing, easy time in Monaco the day her children were to arrive. She did some shopping at the local stores, all branches of the fanciest shops in Paris—Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Hermès, Louis Vuitton. She bought very little, but she had a fun time looking. She never had time to shop when she was working, and she usually had more important things on her mind, like running her business, and the kind of problems that surfaced in trouble spots around the world. She had a personal shopper who knew what she liked and sent things to her home in Bedford for approval, and browsing now was a luxury. The only time she had to go through the boxes the personal shopper sent her was late at night.

  The captain had sent a crew member to accompany her and carry her packages, and a car and driver to bring her back to the boat. It was a lazy day she thoroughly enjoyed, and when she got back, they had lunch waiting for her. And she spent the afternoon reading a novel, which was a luxury for her. She checked for e-mails from her office, and they were all about minor matters. She responded to them quickly and went back to her book. It was rare for her to have so much free time on vacation.

  At six o’clock, after a massage and a shower, Olivia changed for dinner. She wore a pale lavender silk caftan, and indulged in a glass of champagne, while sitting on the deck. She had explored the boat so she could show her grandchildren when they arrived. And she knew how excited they would be about the water toys, especially Alex. She could hardly wait to see the kids. She was excited about their first stop, Portofino. She hadn’t been there since a weekend she had spent at the Hotel Splendido with Joe, after they opened their store near Milan. It was a charming port town, with quaint restaurants and a string of tiny shops. She was sure they’d all enjoy it. And it was spectacular at night, with an ancient church and a castle, beautifully lit up on the hills above.

  The captain had told her that the boat was too big to get into port, and they would be tying up at some rocks just outside. It would be an easy trip into town by tender, and would only take a few minutes, and he said they could swim at night, while they were at anchor, if they chose. She was sure all the young people would love that. The trip she planned every summer was designed entirely for them, and she enjoyed it too.

  Olivia had dinner in the outdoor dining area at eight o’clock, and by nine she was impatient for her children to arrive. The purser came to tell her that the flight had been on time, and then advised her when they were in the car. And then at last, just after ten, she saw John and Phillip’s car pull up with a luggage van behind it, and the five of them got out. They looked tired and a little rumpled, and then they broke into broad smiles and excited chatter when they saw the boat. And then they saw her leaning over the rail, and she waved with a happy smile. Amanda was wearing an enormous white hat, and Olivia couldn’t see her face. Alex bounded up the gangway, and both her sons followed, and her daughters-in-law brought up the rear. Amanda was wearing a dress, and looked impeccable despite the flight. Sarah was wearing cut-off denim shorts, a Princeton T-shirt, and sandals, with her wild frizzy hair and a nervous smile. She looked as though she felt shy, and Olivia knew that after a night on board, she’d relax. She always did. Amanda came on board looking as though she owned the yacht. And a moment later they were all around her, chattering animatedly, and her grandson gave her a huge hug, which she reciprocated with delight. Olivia always remembered how important her own mother had been to her children, and how powerful the bond between them was. She tried to emulate her as best she could, although she didn’t live with them, as Maribelle had. But she had a good relationship with her grandchildren, and always had.

  “Wow! Grandma! This is some boat,” Alex said with a look of awe.

  “Wait till I show you around!” Olivia promised, and put an arm around his shoulders. “They have lots and lots of water toys. We can take them out tomorrow.”

  She had asked the chef to set out a buffet for them, and he had done a masterful job. There was sushi of all kinds, which she knew they loved, hot meats and cold ones, sliced chicken, many salads, assorted pastas, and an entire table of elegant desserts. It was a feast! The stewardess poured them champagne, and a few minutes after they had arrived, they were dining and talking, and totally revived after the trip. Even Sarah was more at ease once she started eating, and Alex had taken the chair next to his grandmother, and was telling her all the things he wanted to do. It all sounded like fun to her.

  The newcomers stayed on deck until almost midnight, and then both couples went to their cabins. She saw a conspiratorial look pass between John and Sarah, and smiled to herself, knowing what it meant. The two of them could never keep their hands off each other, and it pleased her to see them so happy and their marriage solid. She and Joe had felt that way about each other for all their years together too. In fact, they had gotten closer over the years, and more in love. Their children and the business they had built together, and their profound respect for each other had been a powerful bond. In John and Sarah’s case, they were still like two college kids deeply in love. Olivia noticed Alex watching them as they went downsta
irs. He stayed to chat with his grandmother, and helped himself to some more dessert. The pastries were delicious, and there were a dozen flavors of sorbet. He had slept on the flight and said he wasn’t tired. It was six hours earlier for him, and he was in no hurry to go to bed. Olivia asked him what he’d been doing recently, and he told her about all the sports he was involved in, and he was hoping for early admission to Stanford in the coming months. She promised to visit him whenever she was on the West Coast, if he got in, and she went out there often to check their stores. Visiting their stores personally was a practice she had started thirty years before, and her travel schedule had never slowed.

  When Alex finished eating, she took him to see the movie theater, which he loved, and the gym, and she had a crew member show them the rafts, floats, small sailboats, speedboats, and jet skis. They checked out the inflatable toys that they could ride on, which were all full of air and ready. There was one that looked like a giant banana and half a dozen people could ride it at the same time, if they could stay on it, as a crew member explained. That was the trick! There were three lovely small sailboats, half a dozen jet skis, and several speedboats. The family that owned the boat had everything they could have wanted. Alex could hardly wait to try it all. His eyes were huge as he took it all in, and then she laughed and asked him if he would take her on a jet ski with him.

  “I’d love that, Grandma,” he said, grinning at her. “Tomorrow,” he promised. They both laughed, and he hugged her to seal the deal.

  “I’m going to hold you to it,” she warned him. “I’ve always wanted to do that, and I’m scared to go by myself.”

  “You’ve got it, Grandma.”

  They went back on deck afterward, and at two o’clock Alex finally left to find his cabin. Olivia went with him and saw that his bags had been unpacked. There was an enormous TV screen in his room and a whole library of movies.