Sins of Omission

by Fern Michaels

  “Then tomorrow you shall have a key, but whatever in the world will you do with it?” Mickey laughed.

  “I’ll carry it on my watch chain. It’s a symbol. Do you understand, Mickey?”

  “But of course, chéri. There is nothing I do not understand about you.”

  Sitting down to dinner that evening, Bebe was instantly aware of the smug look on Reuben’s face. It meant something was going to happen, something that involved her. Reuben looked smug only when he had the upper hand in something. Whatever the announcement was going to be, she knew she wasn’t going to like it. In her apprehension she stirred the food around on her plate, making a mess of the vegetables and potatoes.

  His own plate empty now, Reuben eyed Bebe’s. She hadn’t said much during dinner, but he noticed her hands were trembling. She must sense something is going on, he thought. Suddenly he felt sorry for her and was shocked at the feeling. What was Bebe Rosen really like underneath all the braggadocio, he wondered. Underneath her pretended shyness, underneath…her clothing? The thoughts so startled him that he dropped his fork, blinking in surprise. He could feel Mickey’s curious frown from across the table. Could she feel his thoughts? Trying to cover his clumsiness, he addressed Daniel.

  “Pierre Faroux sent your reports from the Sorbonne today, Daniel. They are something to be proud of. Mickey and I want you to stay on at the Sorbonne and live here in the house. You can come back to the château in September if you agree. With Faroux’s help you’ll have a high school diploma—we know you’re way beyond that, though. In any case, then we can work on law school. What do you think?”

  Daniel looked at Bebe first and read only blankness. His gaze then traveled from Mickey to Reuben. Did they want to be rid of him? It was such a foolish thought, he was sorry it even entered his mind. They wanted only what was best for him. More time at the Sorbonne. God, he’d give his right arm to stay longer, and here they were, offering him the opportunity on a silver platter. He stammered his acceptance, then asked, “What about Jake?” The dog, seated calmly by his side, thumped its tail, knowing intuitively it was being spoken about. “Will he go back to the château with Bebe, or can he stay here?”

  “It will be better, chéri, if he stays here with you. Bebe will be going to England for the summer to stay with friends of mine. Reuben and I for the most part will be in Bordeaux.” At the look on Bebe’s face Mickey said quickly, “Bebe, chérie, why are you looking like this? You begged me, pleaded with me, to allow you to go to England. I promised you could go if your father agreed. I expect to hear from him any day now. You look devastated. Please do not tell me now that you have changed your mind, after I’ve made all the arrangements. Say something, chérie!”

  Bebe’s world rocked. Separated from Daniel and Jake, and from Reuben as well! They didn’t want her. It always happened like this. No one wanted her. Well, she couldn’t let them know she was aware of their intentions. Later in her room she’d cry all she wanted to. But not now.

  “How wonderful!” she croaked, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “I must buy some new clothes. I’ll write to all my friends and tell them I’m finally going. How long ago did you write my father? He will agree,” she lied. “We talked about it before I came here. Does he know your friends?”

  “Why, yes, he does. But I wanted to be sure. You are happy, then?”

  “Happy? I’m delighted!” She jumped up from her chair. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to be excused, I’m too full to eat dessert.” She beamed a smile around the table as she carefully replaced her chair.

  Reuben stared at her as though she’d lost her mind. Daniel gawked, wide-eyed. The girl was one fine actress, he thought. Didn’t they see what they’d just done to her? Were they blind? He could feel her pain, her rejection. Abruptly he excused himself and whistled for Jake, then realized the dog had followed Bebe to her room. By now her door would be closed and Jake would be inside on her bed licking at her tears. Goddammit!

  In the now-deadly-quiet dining room, Mickey’s heart fluttered in her chest. “I have this feeling,” she said so quietly Reuben had to lean across the table to hear her, “we just made a terrible mistake.” Reuben could only nod his agreement.

  But it was too late to change things.

  Daniel hesitated a moment before tapping softly on Bebe’s door. He thought he could hear muffled sobs from within. Once again he tapped, this time louder, and called softly, “Bebe, it’s Daniel. Please open the door.”

  Bebe muttered something he couldn’t quite make out. Without waiting further, he opened the door and closed it behind him. Jake didn’t run to him, merely burrowed deeper into the pillows next to Bebe, who looked up at him, tears streaming down her cheeks. Daniel thought her eyes looked like moonstones, clouded with pain.

  “He’s nasty, he’s mean, and he’s hateful! It’s all his idea.” Daniel didn’t have to ask who “he” was. “He wants to be rid of me just like he wants to be rid of you. Don’t you care, Daniel? Why do you let him push you around like he does? Don’t you have a mind of your own?” Bebe gulped as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. “He’s worse than my father on one of his bad days. I hate him! Mickey didn’t…Mickey doesn’t care. Whatever Reuben wants is fine with her. She’s glad to be rid of us, too. I don’t want to go to England. I want to go home! We’re prisoners!”

  “No, we’re not,” Daniel said, outraged. “You’re upset because they didn’t discuss your trip, just announced it cold like that at dinner.”

  “There’s a big difference between wanting something and having something shoved in your face. Why can’t I stay at the château? They have other plans. They don’t want me around, it’s that simple. They don’t want you around, either. For God’s sake, Daniel, can’t you see what they’re doing? They’re running your life. They could mess you up forever. You just sit there like a ninny pretending you like the whole idea.”

  Daniel took in a long, deep breath before answering her gently. “But I do like the idea. I love the Sorbonne. Not many Americans get to study there. They’re doing me a favor. I’ll be living like a king, being waited on and going to classes. I’ll have the library at my fingertips. I might even make some friends. It’s good for me.” Bebe’s disdainful expression pushed him further. “Listen to me, Bebe, I can’t let you talk this way about Reuben. He cares about me, I know he does. Everything he’s ever done for me has been for my own good. Mickey, too. You have to change your thinking.”

  “You’re a damned fool,” Bebe said sourly as she pushed away from his comforting hand. “Take your damn dog and get out of here. I don’t need you. I’m sending my father a cable tomorrow. I’m going to tell him what’s going on here, too!” Her voice was so defiant and spiteful, Daniel shuddered. “This place is just like Hollywood. It’s a damn…den of iniquity! What do you think of that?!”

  “I think you’re upset. What would you do at the château by yourself? It’s way out in the country. No, England is definitely the best choice,” he said firmly.

  “I wish you’d leave, Daniel. I have a headache. I’m sorry…I’m sorry you…what I mean is, I’m glad you came in to talk to me, but I’m not glad…never mind. We’re friends, and that’s all that matters. We’ll always be friends, won’t we, Daniel? No matter what happens.” Her eyes implored Daniel to agree with her. He swallowed hard, then nodded, and Bebe threw her arms around him. Jake bounded from the bed, barking and wagging his tail excitedly.

  “Let’s take Jake for a walk, Daniel.”

  “Bebe, it’s late…. Oh, all right,” he capitulated. “I’ll meet you downstairs.”

  The fat little puppy of Christmas was now sleek, but still full of energy and mischief. Jake romped ahead of them, skidding to a stop, waiting until they caught up to him and then darting off again.

  It was a lovely evening, the star-shot sky boasting a bright full moon. “Nights like this make me feel wicked,” Bebe confided.

  “Then maybe we should go home,” Daniel grumbled. “I wish you’
d make up your mind what it is you want. I’d like to see you happy.”

  “Don’t you think I’d like to be happy? I don’t even know what it’s like. Can you define happiness, Daniel?”

  He struggled with the question. Whatever he came up with would have to be good to satisfy Bebe. “I think Mickey and Reuben are happy. They made their own happiness. I guess that’s what each of us has to do.”

  Bebe stopped in her tracks, hands on her hips. Her eyes blazed. “I asked you a simple question, a very simple question, important to me, and what do you do? You throw Reuben and Mickey in my face. No matter what I ask you, you always bring them into it.” Her mouth twisted in pain, and she turned her back to him.

  Anger sparked and then flared in Daniel’s eyes. Firmly he reached for Bebe’s arm and made her face him. “Don’t ever say something like that and then turn away. Reuben is my friend, and he will always be my friend. I want you for a friend, too, but I’m sick of the way…what the hell is it you want that you’re not getting? What is it you expect from everyone?”

  “Just shut up, Daniel. Just shut up. I’m going home,” she cried, wrenching her arm from his grip. Confused, Jake sat between them, his big brown eyes curious.

  “Run away, that’s your answer to everything,” Daniel said. “As soon as something doesn’t go your way, you run and hide. You can’t have Reuben. You can’t always get what you want. Life isn’t always generous. Remember that, Bebe.”

  Daniel’s words had held her, an unwilling captive, just a few steps from where he stood. “I didn’t ask for your advice,” she replied belligerently, “and none of what you said is true.”

  With an arrogant toss of her head, she flounced ahead of him, Jake nipping at her heels. Daniel followed behind. He’d had enough of Bebe Rosen for one night. Twice she turned to see if he was following her. Once she stuck her tongue out at him, and the other time she rolled her eyes heavenward.

  True to her word, the following morning Bebe sent a cable to her father. The remainder of the day she was perky and full of smiles. “You’ll see, Daniel, my father will put Mickey in her place once and for all and allow me to go home, or else he’ll forbid me to go to London.”

  When the response to her cable arrived three days later, Bebe locked herself in her room and wouldn’t come out. Predictably, she refused dinner and wouldn’t open the door even to Daniel. Reuben’s threats of breaking the door down met with silence. Mickey calmed him and suggested they give her some time to herself.

  Bebe Rosen was making a statement.

  “This is ridiculous,” Mickey said two days later. “The child is starving herself. How am I to explain this to her father? What in the world is wrong with her? I never behaved like this when I was her age. She must be sick!” Her voice was anxious, her face full of concern.

  “Bebe won’t starve; she’s just being a stubborn, obnoxious child. Leave her alone. Obviously she wants to be by herself, and this is her way of telling you she doesn’t want to go to England. You can either give in to her or else let her sweat in her room. If you want, I’ll take the hinges off the door. It’s up to you,” Reuben said, his cold voice belying his true feelings.

  “Two days! What must be going through that head of hers. Mon Dieu!”

  The following afternoon, after returning from his classes at the Sorbonne, Daniel climbed the steps to the second floor and rapped softly on Bebe’s door. “Bebe, it’s Daniel. Please, may I come in?”

  To his utter surprise, the door opened and Bebe stood there, frowning at him. “Well, don’t stand there. Come in. You wanted in, didn’t you?”

  It was such a pretty, soothing room. He could see how she’d be able to stay here indefinitely. The window was open, allowing for the slight spring breeze to lift the sheer curtains in a gentle dance. Then he detected the stale cigarette smoke, two empty wine bottles standing on the end of the dresser, and plates of half-eaten food sitting at the edge of her dressing table. She must have foraged late at night.

  “Why are you hiding in here? What happened?”

  Bebe wrinkled her nose, then rummaged in a drawer. Only when she handed him the pink cable from her father did he notice the trembling in her hands, the tears forming on her thick lashes.

  Daniel unfolded the pink paper. The message was so short he found himself blinking in surprise as he read it again out loud.

  You are to do what Mickey says, when she says it. Do not give her any trouble.

  Much love,

  Papa

  “You thought he would intervene or allow you to sail home.” It was a statement rather than a question.

  Bebe nodded miserably. “No one cares about me. Even my own father. It’s…a conspiracy,” she cried, wiping at her tears.

  “Maybe it’s parental caring,” Daniel said in a conciliatory tone.

  Bebe’s eyes blazed. “He doesn’t want me home. Someday, Daniel, you are going to agree with me on something, and that will be the day you shock the bloomers right off my behind. Don’t blush, only girls and virgins blush,” she retorted irritably.

  The ring of heat around Daniel’s neck subsided. God, he hated it when she tried to shock him. If he was more worldly, he’d be able to give back as good as he got. Instead, he stood shuffling his feet like some ten-year-old caught doing something wrong.

  At last, hesitantly, he sat down on the edge of the bed. “You are in such a hurry to get to tomorrow, you’re missing today and yesterday.”

  “Sometimes,” Bebe said sadly, “you just get tired of trying.”

  “But if you give up…what’s left?”

  “I don’t know. Endless days, parties, sweet…little lies. I’m not a fortune-teller, how do I know?” she said defensively. “You’re the smart one, you figure it out.”

  “Bebe, you can be whatever you want to be. You don’t have to live that fast life. You have a good start here. Change, make something of yourself. You’ll be going home soon enough, and I’ll bet you no sooner get home than you’ll wish you were back here.”

  “Sure. Daniel.” There was no enthusiasm in the girl’s voice.

  The following morning Mickey and Bebe left the house early to shop for a new wardrobe. “Whatever you want, within reason,” Mickey told the girl with an indulgent smile. In reality, she was so relieved that everything was all right, she would have promised the moon.

  When they returned, loaded down with boxes of every size and shape, Bebe’s face glowed. Reuben had to admit that spending money, regardless of the amount, made her radiant, so spontaneous and happy it was hard not to fall prey to her charm.

  Bebe Rosen operated on the give-to-Bebe-and-Bebe-gets system: give her what she wanted, and she would give you what you thought you wanted. Bebe always seemed to win, one way or another.

  Chapter Thirteen

  It was a black, silky night, the heavens shot with millions of tiny diamonds. It was late, and the walk Reuben and Mickey were taking was something she had suggested just as they were about to go upstairs. Reuben didn’t mind, he thought it rather romantic. A perfect prelude, really, to their lovemaking. For hours he’d thought of nothing but Mickey, and now that he was walking alongside her, holding her hand, he felt closer to her than if they were in bed next to each other. Less is sometimes more, Mickey was fond of saying, and he believed it. Tonight was a perfect example.

  “I think Bebe is settled, at least for now. We had a wonderful day today, Reuben. There were times when she even turned down something I wanted to buy for her. She’d say she didn’t need it or could make do with what she had. For a little while, when she was being particularly loving, I felt like I had a daughter. It was a very nice feeling…. I can feel you frowning, darling. What is it? Still the animosity with Bebe, eh? Well, I can’t say I blame you. I know how difficult it’s been for you, poor darling. When Bebe sees you sweat, that’s when she moves in. I think sometimes it’s a question of power.”

  “We spend too much damn time worrying about Bebe. If we aren’t worrying about her,
we’re talking about her. She’s with us physically or mentally twenty-four hours a day,” Reuben groused. “I can’t wait till she leaves.”

  Mickey squeezed his hand. “She’s a child, chéri. We’ve gone over this so many times already.”

  “Even Daniel is fed up with her. So can we please talk about something else?”

  “What would you like to talk about?” Mickey asked huskily.

  “My favorite topic of conversation is you…us…but I need to know more about the wine industry if I’m to make your world mine.”

  Mickey was aghast. “You want to talk about wine on a beautiful night like this! You can’t have everything yesterday, Reuben. When my husband died, he still didn’t know all there was to know of the grape. Every day it is something new. My people will have to teach you, I will make sure of that.” And then when you learn all there is to learn, you will decide to go back to America, she said to herself. “It could take years, chéri. Years!” she heard herself say.

  Reuben stopped and drew her to him, staring down into her eyes. “I have all the time in the world, my whole life. I want to spend it here with you.” His voice was so intense, so passionate. Mickey drew back in surprise.

  “But your country…you are an American. In time you will come to miss all you left behind.”

  “I can always go back to visit. There’s nothing there for me. Why do you keep throwing obstacles at me? Do you want me to get angry and leave?”

  Mickey’s heart fluttered. “No. chéri, that is not what I want at all. When a seed of fear creeps into my mind I must mention it, talk about it. I am a woman,” she said simply, as if that explained everything.

  Reuben shrugged. This was the way it always ended. If he pursued it, the rest of the evening would be ruined. He knew when to let go.