The Sins of the Mother

by Danielle Steel

  The next day dawned spectacularly beautiful, sunny and hot. The florist arrived with everything Olivia had ordered. She’d hired a local band to play soft music in the background, and then dancing music later. The chef had the menu she wanted, they had beautiful linens to put on the table, and there was a canopy set up over the table to shade them from the sun. The wedding was set for seven that night, and Olivia planned to spend the day checking all the details. She wanted it to be perfect for Cass.

  By six o’clock everything was in place. The minister and local judge were due to arrive any minute, since they needed to make it both legal and religious.

  Danny had asked Andrew to be his best man since they were fellow countrymen, and he said Andrew spoke fluent cockney and would understand him if he got nervous. Cass had asked her mother to be her witness, and Phillip was walking his sister down the aisle. She had bought a wedding dress in London by a famous designer, two sizes larger than she would have worn normally, but she looked exquisite in it.

  Everything was all set, as Olivia went to put her dress on. It was a champagne-colored lace, trimmed in ivory satin, which looked beautiful on her and was the right color for the mother of the bride, but pretty enough to look romantic.

  Cassie appeared at the top of the stairs with her older brother, and came regally down the château staircase and into the garden, with her mother walking solemnly behind her on Alex’s arm. Cassie held an enormous bouquet of lily of the valley, and Olivia a smaller one of pale beige orchids the same color as her dress. She knew Cass was wearing a blue garter, and she had lent her Maribelle’s ring from Ansel as her something borrowed, and Danny had bought her a huge diamond wedding band at Graff’s. And right before Cass went down the stairs, Olivia hugged her close and they exchanged a conspiratorial smile.

  “You okay, Mom?” Cass whispered.

  “I’m fine,” Olivia whispered back. Cass was the only one who knew what was about to happen. Olivia looked beautiful and hesitated only for an instant as she looked for Peter, and saw him waiting for her at the altar. And as she took her place beside him, the others understood. It was a total surprise.

  Olivia’s something blue was the sapphire ring he had given her, and she had borrowed a hairpin with a pearl on it from Liz that she had tucked into her upswept hair. Peter was standing at the altar with Danny and Andrew, and the ceremony began as both couples stood in front of the group, exchanging their vows in turn. Peter had told his children what they were planning to do, and they felt too awkward to be there, in deference to their mother, but had sent congratulations and would join them in a week to celebrate.

  Danny and Cass were declared husband and wife first, and Peter and Olivia immediately after. The grooms kissed their brides at precisely the same time as the assembled company sent up a mighty cheer and the judge and minister shook hands.

  “We did it!” Olivia said breathlessly to Peter after he kissed her.

  “Yes, we did,” Peter said, beaming at her, and then all the Graysons swarmed around them, hugged each other and congratulated the two brides and grooms as Cass and Olivia looked at each other, and both of them thought of Maribelle at the same moment, and Cassie touched her ring. They knew she was with them in spirit and they were all together now.

  Olivia thanked Alex for walking her down the aisle and doing such a good job of it. She was wearing the locket he had given her under her dress. And they both tossed their bouquets to Taylor later on. It was everything a family should be, and that theirs had always been: joyous, exuberant, loving, and strong. They held together in the hard times, and celebrated in the good ones. They had forgiven one another their mistakes, and learned from one another. The family Olivia had created was her greatest achievement, and as each of them looked at her that night, they knew that they were like her and at the same time different, unique, separate, and woven together. They were part of a tapestry with Olivia at its center. She was irrevocably a part of them, just as they were a part of her, and together they were whole.

  To my beloved children,

  Beatrix, Trevor, Todd, Nick,

  Sam, Victoria, Vanessa, Maxx, and Zara,

  May you find jobs and careers that

  excite you and reward you,

  May you find partners who treat you

  with love and respect and support you

  in all your endeavors,

  and enhance your lives,

  May you make wise choices,

  May you look on those you love

  with tenderness, forgiveness (above all),

  and compassion,

  and may they do the same for you,

  May your children delight and appreciate you,

  May the best in life be yours,

  And may you always be greatly loved,

  as much as I love you.

  with all my love,

  Mommy/d.s.

  By Danielle Steel

  THE SINS OF THE MOTHER • A GIFT OF HOPE: Helping the Homeless • 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 • HIS BRIGHT LIGHT: The Story of Nick Traina • 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

  About the Author

  DANIELLE STEEL has been hailed as one of the world’s most popular authors, with over 600 million copies of her novels sold. Her many international best sellers include Friends Forever, Betrayal, Hotel Vendôme, Happy Birthday, 44 Charles Street, Family Ties, Big Girl, 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.

  Visit the Danielle Steel website at daniellesteel.com.