All That Glitters - Danielle Steel Page 0,112

her parents. She wanted what they had, and this was it, with Sam. It was real. Charlie’s life wasn’t, or Ed’s or Nigel’s. Ian was real, but he was broken. Sam was whole, and so was she, even after all they’d been through.

“You walked out on all that for me?” She nodded. “You’re crazy, and I love you too. I’ve thought about it over the years but I thought you wouldn’t want me. I’m not fancy enough or glamorous enough.”

“This is what I want. You, and the kids,” she said simply. He pulled her into his arms then and kissed her for the first time, while his children stared at them. Sam was smiling when they stopped kissing.

“You’re nuts to give all that up for me. But if this is what you want, we’re all yours. I have an idea too. I want to close the accounting side of my business, and only handle private investments. I can do it from anywhere. What do you think if I come to London, with the kids, and try working from there, at home?” She smiled. Suddenly it all made sense. These were the children she had been waiting for. The enormous house Nigel had made her buy with rooms for all the children they never had were going to be filled with Sam and his kids, and Bethanie. And maybe more of their own.

“It sounds great to me.” She thought about it then. “I’d better keep my parents’ apartment for when we come here. I think I’ll redo it and spruce it up a little.” It had all finally fallen into place, and taken twenty years to do it, with a million detours and good and bad men, and Tamar leaving him for another man. There was a reason for all of it. And it started in fourth grade. It was suddenly all so simple. “Your mom was right.”

“About what?” He looked puzzled.

“If we kept hanging around together, we’d wind up getting married one day.”

“It took you long enough,” he complained.

“That’s not so bad…twenty years.” She turned and smiled at him, while they continued to keep an eye on the kids.

“I’m hungry, Daddy,” Nathan came to report to him, and Sam looked at Coco with a question.

“McDonald’s?”

“Perfect,” she said, and went to scoop Hannah out of the sandbox. They walked out of the park together a few minutes later, with his arm around her.

“I love you,” he whispered in her ear.

“I love you too,” she whispered back, and they both smiled. Just like when she was in fourth grade. Finally. They were back to where they started and were always meant to be. It just took a long time to see it, and the lessons they had learned hadn’t been wasted if they led to this in the end.

It had been a long road for both of them, which had finally led them safely home.

To my very special, most beloved children,

Beatie, Trevor, Todd, Nick,

Samantha, Victoria, Vanessa,

Maxx, and Zara,

The Flash is fun,

but don’t let it dazzle you or blind you,

Always seek and be real, as I know you are,

and may the lessons you learn be gentle ones.

I love you with all my heart and being,

Mom/d.s.

By Danielle Steel

ALL THAT GLITTERS • ROYAL • DADDY’S GIRLS • THE WEDDING DRESS • THE NUMBERS GAME • MORAL COMPASS • SPY • CHILD’S PLAY • THE DARK SIDE • LOST AND FOUND • BLESSING IN DISGUISE • SILENT NIGHT • TURNING POINT • BEAUCHAMP HALL • IN HIS FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS • THE GOOD FIGHT • THE CAST • ACCIDENTAL HEROES • FALL FROM GRACE • PAST PERFECT • FAIRYTALE • 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

EXPECT A MIRACLE: Quotations to Live and Love By

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 bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include Royal, Daddy’s Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, Child’s Play, The Dark Side, Lost and Found, 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; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; 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

Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel

What’s next on

your reading list?

Discover your next

great read!

Get personalized book picks and up-to-date news about this author.

Sign up now.