Danielle Steel: The Apartment

“It was cheap and I was poor. I’m still poor, but not as poor as I used to be. And I still love it.” He asked what she did, and she said she was a shoe designer and had just started her own business. It sounded interesting and fun to him, and she told him about the factory in Italy and the trade show in Las Vegas, and he seemed to enjoy hearing about it.

“It’s going to be strange at the apartment now,” she said wistfully during dinner. “I’ve lived there for nine years with roommates. One left in March, and the other two are moving out this summer.”

“You’re not ready to be alone there?”

“I’m not sure,” she said honestly. “I’ve never tried it. I don’t know if I’m that grown-up yet,” she said, looking hesitant.

“Have you ever been to Chicago?” he asked her.

“No, I haven’t.” But she was planning to visit once Sasha and Alex moved there.

“You should come out sometime. Do you like to sail?”

“I love it. I’m from San Francisco. I used to sail on the bay as a kid.”

“Have I got a boat for you!” he said, laughing, and they chatted all through the evening, when they weren’t dancing, and Sasha elbowed Alex and pointed at them discreetly.

“Maybe we got lucky,” she whispered.

“I always thought she’d be great for him,” Alex confided to his bride. “I just didn’t know how to get them together.” The wedding was the perfect occasion.

“Now we just have to get her to Chicago,” Sasha said, looking thoughtful.

“He’s a big boy—he can afford a ticket to New York. I wonder if he’s told her about the boat yet.” They both laughed and then went to say hello to his mother and then hers. For once, Muriel had nothing bad to say. Sasha was shocked as she danced away in Alex’s arms. “It looks like we have a policeman in the family, by the way,” Alex commented. “I know it sounds crazy, but I think he’s good for her. Have I told you lately how good you are for me?”

“Not in at least five minutes,” she teased him. “Tell me again.” And then he kissed her. And out of the corner of her eye, she could see Prunella everywhere, overseeing everything. She was great, wearing a severe black dress that made her look like a member of the Addams Family with her black hair. But she had done her job to perfection.

They went over to talk to Oliver and Greg then. They had been thoroughly enjoying the evening, and Oliver had danced several times with his sister and teased her about the bump. It had really popped in the last month. Morgan was proud of it now, and had adjusted to the idea, with Max’s help. And as long as he promised they’d never marry, she agreed to have as many kids as he wanted.

Sasha was standing with all of her roommates later in the evening. They were reminiscing about the early days, and when Morgan and Sasha had moved in, and how well it had worked for so long.

“What are we going to do without each other?” Sasha said sadly.

“Fly around to see each other, I guess,” Morgan said.

“Josh and I are moving back in a year,” Abby assured them, and they wanted to believe her. And Claire looked at all of them and realized how lucky they were, and somehow remarkably they had found good men as their partners, despite their mistakes along the way. Josh was perfect for Abby and was launching her career, Alex and Sasha were made for each other. Max was the best thing that had ever happened to Morgan. And Claire had survived George’s cruel madness, and as they stood together, Sasha could see Ben waiting at a discreet distance to dance with Claire again. And they all agreed that the loft in Hell’s Kitchen would be home base to them forever.

“Come and stay with me whenever you want,” Claire reminded them, and then Ben got up the courage to sweep her away from her friends and onto the dance floor.

“Now let’s talk about your trip to Chicago to see our boat. The Fourth of July would be perfect,” he was saying as they danced away.

It was time to cut the cake then. And after that to toss the bouquet, as Prunella handed Sasha the tossing bouquet so she didn’t have to give up her real one. And all the single women lined up in orderly fashion under Prunella’s direction, as the men stepped aside, and Alex watched his bride adoringly, waiting to take her away.

She stood on a little stool so she could throw the bouquet at them, and her toss was stronger and higher than expected as it sailed over the women’s heads, past Claire, where she had aimed it. And without even meaning to, Greg instinctively reached out and caught it, as Oliver looked at him in amazement.

“It’s the goalie in me,” Greg said apologetically, and everyone laughed, and with a gallant gesture, he handed it to Claire.

Alex and Sasha lingered for a while and finally left the party, as everyone threw rose petals at them on Fifth Avenue, where a white hansom cab pulled by a white horse was waiting to take them to the Plaza for their wedding night before they left for Paris in the morning.

The last faces Sasha saw, as she turned to wave at them, were the three women she had lived with in Hell’s Kitchen, standing next to their men. And Ben was with Claire with an arm around her. It was a pretty sight as the white horse clip-clopped them down Fifth Avenue toward the Plaza, and into their future. It was a beautiful night.

And the loft in Hell’s Kitchen was in their hearts forever. It had all started there, and the love and bonds it had created would never end.

To my beloved children,

Beatrix, Trevor, Todd, Nick,

Sam, Victoria, Vanessa,

Maxx, and Zara,

My prayer for each of you

is a happy ending,

with the right people and partners.

May your lives be sweet,

and life be kind to you.

I wish you peace, happiness,

and love,

with all my heart and all my love,

Mom/DS

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 PARIS