“See you tomorrow,” he said as he left. He was intrigued by her. There was something mysterious about her, and she didn’t give much away.
She dressed carefully for dinner the next day in black slacks and a soft pink cashmere sweater. She looked very pretty, and they had a good time when she went to his house. And she agreed that the fried chicken was fabulous.
They went riding together again, and she checked out the south pasture with him. He made her a very decent offer for it, on the high side, and she accepted. He was a fair person, a nice man, and good company. And it was such a pleasure having an adult to talk to, and not just Desi or the babysitter. She loved her daughter, but missed grown-up conversations and companionship.
He asked her about her books again, one afternoon when he stopped by for coffee.
“You know, I Googled you so I could order one of your books, but I couldn’t find you. Do you publish under another name?” She hesitated for a long moment, pondering the question, and then she made a decision and nodded. She was certain she could trust him. “What name is it? I’d really like to read one.”
“You already have,” she said with a mysterious smile.
“Have I? I don’t think so.” He looked puzzled.
“Alexander Green,” she said simply and he laughed.
“Very funny. No, really, tell me.” He was insistent. And then he saw the look in her eyes and grew serious. “Oh my God, you’re Alexander Green?”
“Not exactly. He’s a figment of my imagination, but I write under that pseudonym. I have since I was nineteen.” He was stunned into silence as the full impact of it hit him.
“You’re brilliant, Alex. Absolutely brilliant. You’re my favorite author, my idol. You’re a phenomenon.” All his admiration was in his eyes.
“I’ll give you an advance copy of my next one, if you like. But you can’t tell anyone what I just told you. I only told my husband, other than the publisher, my agent, and my editor.” Her heart ached for a moment when she mentioned Bert—it always did. She still missed him. “It’s been a dark secret all my life. And a heavy burden at times. But I felt I couldn’t write them under my own name. My age wasn’t in my favor at the time, and my father suggested I write under a male pseudonym if I ever wrote a book. I followed his advice, and then I became stuck with it. I had no idea how complicated it would turn out to be. I stopped writing for about five years when my husband died. I had some dark years, and then I got back to work.” She looked peaceful as she said it.
“I remember, I combed every bookstore for years, hoping you had a new book. And then you finally came out with a new one, and it’s your best. You have a frightening mind,” he teased her. “But also a fascinating one. I’m very flattered that you told me.”
“I just wanted to be honest with you. I haven’t told many people out in the world, just my husband. And the nuns I grew up with.” She had told him about them on one of their walks in the garden, and he was touched by the story.
“I won’t say a word, I promise. I’m truly honored. You deserve the recognition for what you’ve accomplished, though. It’s a shame you can’t have that, without jeopardizing your readership.” As she listened to him, she realized that he wasn’t jealous of her. He admired her. And as the thought crossed her mind, she heard Bert’s words in her head, for the first time in a long time. The Right Man at the Right Time. And he would find her. Miles had. And now she had learned that she was living next door to this extremely accomplished, intelligent man. She looked at him as though seeing him for the first time. He had just thought of something too.
“I’m doing something that might be fun in a couple of months, while I’m here. I’m going to Ascot. I’m invited to sit in the royal enclosure. I have a horse running that day. Would you like to join me?” It was an extraordinary invitation, and she wanted to go with him.
“I’d love to come.” Her face lit up as she said it. And she knew she’d have to go to London to get something to wear, and a fabulous hat to go with it, since everybody wore them there.
“It’s a lot of fuss, but it’s very entertaining.” He was smiling at her warmly. He knew he’d be proud to go with her, especially with all he knew about her now. She was not just any woman. She had an amazing gift.
—
Alex went to London several weeks later, for the first time in years, and went shopping. She found a simple sky-blue silk dress with a matching coat, and after some searching, the hat she needed.
The night before the race, they both stayed in London at Claridge’s and had dinner at Harry’s Bar, where he was a member. She had let Miles’s membership lapse years before, since she no longer lived in London, nor went there. It made her too sad without him. But she had a good time with Jerry.
And when they left the hotel to go to Ascot, he loved her outfit and complimented her, especially on the hat.
“You don’t look like a woman who writes crime stories,” he whispered as they got in the car.
His horse was a new one, and a long shot to win, the odds were ten to one, but it won. Alex had bet heavily on him and was thrilled. And so was Jerry.
Every royal was there that day, except the queen herself, who had the flu. But they got to ogle and watch and talk about them. He made her laugh and he introduced her to a great many people that he knew. It was a perfect day, and exactly right for the moment and the time in her life. Everything had its time, she thought to herself as she watched him chatting with friends and enjoying himself. He seemed like a good person, and he was very kind to her, and was proud to be with her, as she was with him. They rode back to their respective farms together, talking about the day.
And the day after Ascot, Rose called her.
“I have some big news for you,” she said. “You’re being given a very important award. The Mystery Writers of America want to give you a Grand Master Award.” It was a very big honor, one of the highest in her field. “Who do you want to accept it for you?” Alex was startled by the question.
“I have to think about it.” There weren’t many people for her to choose from. Bert was gone, and Miles, whom she might have chosen. Bert probably would have refused. He didn’t like formal receptions. “Would you mind accepting it for me?” she asked her agent.
“I’d be honored,” Rose said, and meant it. Their association went back twenty years now, and although they weren’t intimates or confidantes, they were good friends, and had accomplished great things together. Their talents and goals had complemented each other.
“Could I come too? As your guest. I’d love to see the ceremony, even though I can’t pick up the award myself.”
“You could, you know, accepting it for Mr. Green?”
“What if someone suspected who I was?”
“Why would they? And if you accept the award, you’d have the thrill of being part of the event. I think you should do it.”
“I’ll see. Let’s go together, and I’ll see how I feel when I’m there. When is it?” Rose told her the date. It was in New York, and a major event at the Pierre, in the Grand Ballroom. And then Alex thought of something. “Can I bring one other person?”
“Of course. I’ll get three seats.” She couldn’t get enough seats for the nuns.
She drove over to Jerry’s place after the call, and told him all about it. It was an important book award and he knew of it. He was very impressed and pleased for her.
“That’s a huge deal, Alex! Congratulations!”
“Would you come?” she asked him softly. “With me, I mean. It’s in New York.” She told him the date, and he said he was free and had to be in New York that week anyway.
“Well, put it on your dance card.” She looked shy as she said it.
“I most certainly will.” She stayed for a while to talk to him, and he told her that it meant a great deal to him to go to the award ceremony with her, even if she didn’t actually go onstage herself to accept the award, and someone else would. She said her agent was going to do it.
But he was excited to be there with her.
“I think you should accept it yourself,” he said, sounding very definite about it. “You can always pretend to be Mr. Green’s assistant.”
“That’s what Rose said, my agent. I think it would feel odd. And it would be a shame to risk blowing my cover now, after all these years.”
“It might be. But you deserve the glory of your accomplishments. You’ve lived in the shadows for a long time.”
“I’ve had no choice except to live in the shadows.” Alex wondered what Bert would say, or Miles, the two men whose advice she trusted most. “I’ll think about it,” she said to Jerry, but it didn’t look like she’d do it. She had kept the secret for too long to throw caution to the wind now. Jerry insisted she could accept the award without exposing herself, as Rose had said.
Alex flew to New York two days before the ceremony so she could see Rose at her office to talk about the future books, meet with her publishers, and do some shopping. Jerry was already there, staying at the Four Seasons, and he was happy to see her. They had dinner at La Grenouille to celebrate, the night before the award ceremony.
The night of the award, Jerry met Alex in her suite at the Pierre. He was impeccably dressed in a dark blue suit, a tie, and a pale blue shirt. He looked like a banker. They walked into the event together, and no one paid any attention to her. Rose was waiting for them in a chic black dinner suit. Alex was wearing a navy Chanel cocktail dress she bought in London for the event.
The ceremony was long and impressive, as the honorees went up to receive their Edgar statues. Alex was the last one, and hers was for an extraordinary literary career and lifetime achievement.
“I feel ancient,” she said to Jerry. “Listening to them, it makes me sound like I’m ninety.” She was nervous and he squeezed her hand.
“And very accomplished,” he added with a smile.
They called Alexander Green to the podium, and were aware he wasn’t coming. Alex didn’t stir as Rose stood up, ready to go, and suddenly Alex stopped her with a gentle smile, and stood up and moved forward.
Alex walked gracefully toward the stage, accepted the award, and thanked the commission on behalf of Mr. Green. A photographer took her picture holding it. It was a funny little statue depicting Edgar Allan Poe, with black hair, a blue shirt, and a black tie. She saw Rose and Jerry smiling proudly at her with tears in their eyes. And she could feel Miles and Bert and her father there with her.
They didn’t announce her name when she collected the award. They didn’t have to. She knew she had written the books and so did the people she loved, and now Jerry did too. It was a sign of her trust that she had told him. It would allow her to have an honest relationship with him, as she’d had with Miles.
It was a proud moment in her career. And Bert was right again. The Right Man had come along at the Right Time, twice in a lifetime, and both of them had found her. It was perfect timing.
She was beaming as she walked toward Jerry, holding the statue, and when she reached him, he kissed her.
“I love you, Mr. Green,” he whispered, and they both laughed, as the entire room stood up and gave her the standing ovation she deserved. It was for Alexander Green, but it didn’t matter. Alex, Rose, and Jerry knew it was for her.
To my very special, much loved children,
Beatrix, Trevor, Todd, Samantha, Nick,
Victoria, Vanessa, Maxx, and Zara,
May you work hard, love well, and be greatly loved,
and may all your victories and accomplishments
be celebrated and appreciated.
Anything and everything you wish is possible,
and good things happen at the right time.
I love you with all my heart and soul,
Mom/DS
By Danielle Steel
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 over 650 million copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include The Duchess, Against All Odds, Dangerous Games, The Mistress, The Award, Rushing Waters, Magic, 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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