Nine Lives - Danielle Steel Page 0,57
waited to hear from her. And Aden was having too much fun with his friends to worry about where his mother was, or to ask. He knew how to reach her if he needed to. He thought maybe she had gone to a spa, which she had never done before, or that she was in New York.
On the day of New Year’s Eve, they motored into port at Saint Barth’s, spent a few hours there and then anchored just offshore, outside the port. Some of the biggest and most luxurious boats were there. They were mostly owned by Russians, who seemed to have cornered the market on huge boats. Even the Lady Luck seemed modest by comparison, although she could hold her own among the finest yachts, and she was very big for a sailboat.
“We’ll be able to see the fireworks from here tonight,” Paul told her.
She wore a simple white knit dress and silver sandals, and he wore white jeans and a navy blue blazer. She liked the fact that they were casual on his boat, and they were sailing just the two of them, without fanfare, formalities, or friends. She was completely relaxed with him, and he seemed equally so with her. Sometimes they sat and held hands as they watched the sun set, but she felt no pressure to do anything more with him. He had understood what she wanted and was willing to share with him. A deep loving friendship, enriched by their long history, but nothing more. It was the only way she could make her peace with his dangerous pursuits. She knew that if she slept with him, or became his woman, she would be crazed every time he raced, and terrified he’d die. This way it was his own affair. She would worry anyway, but she had no claim on him, and he had none on her. She thought it was the only way it might work.
At the end of the vacation, she would go home and pursue her own life and do as she wished. She didn’t want him to die as a friend either, but there was no tempering what Paul did, or taming him. He was willing to live through broken ribs, or burns, or more severe injuries to do what he wanted, and she had to let him, and hope for the best for him. But she couldn’t pin her future on him, or even count on his staying alive, given how he wanted to live.
Seeing him race in Barcelona had been frightening, especially when his car caught fire, and he emerged from the wreckage ablaze himself. She hadn’t discussed it with him, and didn’t intend to, but she knew he was still in pain from his injuries, although he was a good sport about them and never complained. He accepted them as part of his job, the way other people accepted late hours or demanding working conditions. He was willing to get injured and risk his life. In fact, he loved it. It was some sort of badge of courage he wore with pride. When she saw his body taped from shoulders to hips when they went swimming, she winced realizing the pain it must have caused him. And one hand was still bright pink from where he’d been burned. As a friend, she was trying to accept him as he was.
He was still hoping to ski in Courchevel next month and wanted her to go with him, but so far she hadn’t changed her mind. She had two months to do whatever she wanted, before Aden came home for spring break in March. She still missed him terribly, but in exchange, she had enormous freedom. It would have been different if Brad was alive, she would have been with him. But now, Paul was helping her fill the time in the most agreeable and luxurious ways possible, more than she could ever have imagined. They were satisfying each other’s needs for companionship, without altering each other’s lives. It seemed ideal to her.
They drank champagne and ate caviar on New Year’s Eve, and then lobster, and baked Alaska for dessert.
He smiled at Maggie as they finished dessert and he poured more champagne. “You know, I enjoy my life, but I never forget how poor I was. It keeps me humble. And if I ever lose it all, I’ll make it again.”
“By risking your life the way you have for all these years?” she said with a