Даниэла Стил - Turning Point

When he got home, Tom looked under his bed, as Valérie’s text message had said, and all her underwear was there, the lacy thongs with matching bras, the garters. She had left it all for him in one place, and he sat there and laughed holding it. It was going to be a long three months without her, but they had good times in store.

—

Marie-Laure and Valérie sat together on the flight. They talked about everything that had happened, the changes they’d been through in the past two and a half months since they’d met their American friends. Valérie’s life had changed the most of all since she was moving to California. Paul was going back to Africa. Stephanie and Andy had come full circle but were in a better place. Tom had reformed. Bill had opened up and come alive again, and Wendy had shed a man who had wasted six years of her life, and would have wasted the rest if she’d let him. None of them were untouched. Even Gabriel was going back to his old life, but by choice not default. The only one whose life hadn’t changed was Marie-Laure. “The office won’t be the same without you,” she said to Valérie.

“Yes, it will, it’ll be better. You’ll get some new young thing who’ll come up with a bunch of bright ideas and get everyone scurrying in all directions and shake things up. That’s what we all need. It’s what we did for each other.” Marie-Laure nodded, thinking about it, and a little while later, she fell asleep.

The flight attendant woke her when they were about to land at Charles de Gaulle, to tell her that her official police escort was waiting for her.

“Good Lord, are we having threats again? Welcome back to France,” she grumbled to Valérie. “They’ve sent the police for me for protection. God knows what’s going on now.” They came to get Marie-Laure when they landed, and escorted her off first. As she looked up, expecting to see uniformed police officers or CRS with machine guns waiting to accompany her through the airport, instead she saw Bruno in his captain’s uniform standing there.

“What are you doing here?” she said to him with a smile.

“I thought you deserved a police escort for your triumphant return. You were gone a long time. It’s about time you came home. We need you here.” She smiled as she listened to him, and looked up into his smiling face with the lines around his eyes.

He walked her into the terminal ahead of the others. He picked up her bag from the conveyor belt and walked it to his police car outside and turned on the flashing lights, but not the sirens.

“I missed you,” he said, looking faintly embarrassed to have admitted it. “When are we having dinner?”

“Tonight? I have to pick up my boys tomorrow.” He was pleased. He would have her to himself for tonight at least. And after that, who knew what would happen, what madness might turn their lives upside down.

She was smiling as they drove into the city, darting through traffic, blue lights flashing, and she laughed.

“This is fun,” she said, as they glanced at each other warmly. She was happy he’d come to the airport, and so was he. Tomorrow she’d be back in her office, planning for emergencies, and he’d be responding to disasters. And at the end of the day, they would have whatever they created together. They had met in the midst of chaos, and something good and worthwhile had come of it for all of them. Suddenly she realized that her life and Bruno’s had changed too. It would be whatever they chose to make of it. And whatever happened after that, destiny would decide. It had turned out well for all of them so far.

To my wonderful, much loved children,

Beatie, Trevor, Todd, Nicky, Samantha,

Victoria, Vanessa, Maxx, and Zara,

May your disasters and challenges

turn out to be Turning Points and blessings

May you be brave and wise, and fortunate,

surrounded by people who love

and support you,

and may your choices be the ones you want

and that bless you in the end.

I love you so much,

Mommy/D.S.

By Danielle Steel

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

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 HOLLYWOOD

PRETTY MINNIE IN PARIS

About the Author

DANIELLE STEEL has been hailed as one of the world’s most popular authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include Beauchamp Hall, In His Father’s Footsteps, The Good Fight, The Cast, Accidental Heroes, Fall from Grace, Fairytale, Past Perfect, The Right Time, 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; 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

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