The Affair - Danielle Steel Page 0,28
realized that they were unusual and very lucky. She swore that sex three times a week was their secret for success, and her sisters couldn’t figure out how she managed it, with a company to run, six collections a year to come up with, three children to raise, one of them on the cusp of becoming a teenager, and a husband who needed her attention too.
“I barely have time to brush my teeth and go to yoga class once a month,” Olivia had said, and Athena said that she and Joe were lucky to have sex once a month. Nadia had been discreet about her sex life when the sisters had had a couple of glasses of wine and told all at Christmas. Nadia had their mother’s reserve, and they sometimes teased her for being prudish, but she still didn’t tell them what the others shared and they wanted to know. Now Nicolas was having sex with someone else. They all felt sorry for her.
“Hi, Squirt, what’s up?” Venetia addressed her and Nadia laughed. Nadia was the shortest of her sisters, and she accused them of being giants. They considered Olivia short too and she was several inches taller and a few pounds heavier than Nadia, the “baby.”
“I think Mom and Dad ran out of tall genes when they got to you two,” Athena would say to Nadia and Olivia when they got together. Athena and Venetia were even taller than their mother, who was six feet.
“I’m trying to organize a sisters’ reunion on the Fourth of July weekend,” Nadia said, sounding hesitant. It had been their mother’s idea, and Nadia was sure they would all be too busy with their mates and children, and Athena with her dogs and Joe. “What are you doing for the fourth?” Nadia asked her. Venetia stared into space and thought about it for a minute.
“We’re going to the Hamptons. I guess Ben could handle it without me. We go to our neighbor’s for a big barbecue and picnic every year.”
“I’m sure you don’t want to miss it,” Nadia said shyly and Venetia laughed.
“Actually, I do. The boys will argue about which red, white, and blue flag shirt to wear, India always hates the dress I pick out for her, Ben eats ribs and drinks beer all night and passes out the minute we come home. I gain five pounds eating apple pie with ice cream. I think I’d rather come to France and skip it this year. Why? What do you have in mind?”
“Mom suggested a sisters’ weekend, and she might come for the last two days, if she can get away. You can stay as long as you want,” Nadia said generously.
“I’ve got to finish the spring line, but we’re getting there. A long weekend in Paris wouldn’t kill me,” Venetia said, considering it.
“I was thinking about doing it at the château, so we can really relax.”
“Great idea,” Venetia said enthusiastically. She was always up for an adventure, especially with her sisters. She wanted to be there for Nadia in the crisis. “Count me in. I’ll tell Ben he’ll have to manage without me this year.”
“Will he be pissed?”
“No, he’s a good sport about those things, and he loves you. I’ll tell him you were crying when you called me and begged.”
“Don’t make me sound pathetic!” Nadia pleaded.
“He has a soft spot for you.” Venetia grinned. “What about the others? Can they do it?”
“I called you first. I’m not sure we can keep Olivia off their sailboat for four whole days, but I’ll try. And I’m not sure when Athena’s show goes off air for the summer.”
“Call them, and tell them they have to come.”
“I will,” Nadia promised, excited that Venetia was coming. The two of them had always been close. Venetia got along with all of them, and they all got along with each other. Although Venetia didn’t say it, this was a sister crisis now, and they all wanted to be there for Nadia. It also sounded like a ton of fun to Venetia. She told Ben about it that night and he agreed to be full-on dad for the whole Fourth of July weekend so she could go to France to see Nadia and all her sisters.
“I knew there was a reason why I love you,” she said, as he slipped a hand under her sweater, and she locked the door to their bedroom before the kids could interrupt them. She was going to miss her handsome