view. The church, called Notre Dame de Bon Port, had been built in the eleventh century and had a fourth-century chapel. Miracles were said to have happened there. They wandered into the church, and Olivia lit a candle for Joe, and afterward they stood outside, eating ice cream and admiring the view.
“How did you ever find this place?” Sarah asked her with interest. She had already taken dozens of pictures of the chapel and the view.
“Joe and I found it when we stayed at the Hotel du Cap. I always wanted to come back here one day. I just never thought it wouldn’t be with him.” She smiled sadly, and Sarah gently touched her arm in sympathy. They all fell silent after that, and were quiet on their way back to the port in the cab. Olivia didn’t say anything, but she had lit a candle for Alex too, for the smooth transition of his coming out, whenever it occurred.
They had dinner in the port that night, then went back to the boat. In the morning, they were going back to Monaco to spend their last day of the trip and celebrate Olivia’s birthday. It had really been a perfect trip, for all of them. Even Phillip and Amanda seemed on better terms. And Alex seemed a lot happier than he had at first. Sophie had the promise of a job when she graduated. And Liz was going to call her agent as soon as she got home and had her mother’s endorsement of the book. Olivia had dedicated the whole time to taking care of them, and she had had a wonderful time too. Her best birthday gift to herself every year was her holiday with her family.
And the next day, thanks to Olivia’s meticulous organizing, everything went according to plan. They got to Monaco in the morning, and after wishing Olivia happy birthday over breakfast, they all relaxed and talked. After lunch on deck in the port, they took the boat out again so everyone could swim. Phillip and John went off on the tender to go fishing. And Olivia got a final ride on a jet ski with Alex, and all the kids rode the banana for a last time. At the end of the day, they pulled into port and had a sumptuous birthday dinner for her with lobster and caviar, and soufflés and a birthday cake for dessert. They went to the casino afterward, while Olivia kept Alex company on the boat and played gin with him, and then they met them all at Jimmyz, and danced until three in the morning, and they stayed up till four o’clock reminiscing about the trip. The crew had packed for all of them so they were ready to leave. They would all be off the boat by noon, and Olivia thought it had been the happiest two weeks of her life, and everyone agreed with her, as they hugged each other and wished her a happy birthday again, and went to their cabins for their last night.
She and Alex had discussed his problem with his parents again that night while the others were at the casino, and she had encouraged him once more to tell them that he was gay. And he was just as adamant that they wouldn’t understand, and he wasn’t willing to take the risk. Olivia thought about Alex when she went to bed that night. She had so much to think of, as well as so many happy memories to take with her. And when they left the boat, the others were going home, and she was going to London to check on their store there. They had been remodeling it for six months, and she wanted to see what had been done. It had been their original flagship store in Europe, and she had a deep personal attachment to it.
And in the morning, they all shared a last breakfast together. Phillip and Amanda were the first to leave, and she was anxious to get back to her office. John and Sarah were going to Paris for the weekend with Alex. Liz and the girls were going home to Connecticut. And then Carole would be packing up to leave for L.A., to work for her stepmother and father. She could hardly wait to get started. Her father had called and made her an offer while she was on the boat, and Carole had jumped at the chance.