Danielle Steel: Miracle

When all is lost,

a miracle occurs,

and life begins.

MIRACLE

PRAISE FOR

DANIELLE STEEL“Steel pulls out all the emotional stops …

She delivers.— Publishers Weekly “Steel is one of the best!”— Los Angeles Times “The world's most popular author tells a good,

well-paced story and explores some important issues … Steel

affirm[s] life while admitting its turbulence, melodramas,

and misfiring passions.”— Booklist “Danielle Steel writes boldly and with practiced

vividness about tragedy—both national and personal …

with insight and power.”— Nashville Banner “There is a smooth reading style to her writings

which makes it easy to forget the time and to keep flipping the

pages.”— Pittsburgh Press “One of the things that keeps Danielle Steel fresh is her

bent for timely storylines … the combination of Steel's

comprehensive research and her skill at creating credible

characters makes for a gripping read.”— Newark Star-Ledger “What counts for the reader is the ring of authenticity.”— San Francisco Chronicle “Steel knows how to wring the emotion out of the briefest scene.”— People “Ms. Steel excels at pacing her narrative, which races

forward, mirroring the frenetic lives chronicled; men and

women swept up in bewildering change, seeking

solutions to problems never before faced.”— Nashville Banner “Danielle Steel has again uplifted her readers while

skillfully communicating some of life's bittersweet

verities. Who could ask for a finer gift than that?”— Philadelphia Inquirer

PRAISE FOR THE RECENT NOVELS OF

DANIELLE STEELMIRACLE“Steel is almost as much a part of the beach as sunscreen.”— New York Post “Another Steel page-turner. Three strangers' lives

become linked after a terrible storm ravages northern

California.”— Lowell SunTOXIC BACHELORS “A breezy read … that will keep fans reading and

waiting for more.” — Publishers Weekly “Steel delivers … happy endings in the usual nontoxic,

satisfying manner.” — BooklistIMPOSSIBLE “Dramatic, suspenseful … Steel knows what her

fans want and this solid, meaty tale will not

disappoint them.”— BooklistECHOES “Courage of conviction, strength of character and love of

family that transcends loss are the traits that echo

through three generations of women … a moving story

that is Steel at her finest.”— Chattanooga Times Free Press “Get out your hankies … Steel put her all into this one.”— Kirkus Reviews “A compelling tale of love and loss.”— BooklistA MAIN SELECTION OF THE LITERARY GUILD

AND THE DOUBLEDAY BOOK CLUB

Also by Danielle Steel

THE HOUSE THE GIFT TOXIC BACHELORS ACCIDENT IMPOSSIBLE VANISHED ECHOES MIXED BLESSINGS SECOND CHANCE JEWELS RANSOM NO GREATER LOVE SAFE HARBOUR HEARTBET JOHNNY ANGEL MESSAGE FROM NAM DATING GAME DADDY ANSWERED PRAYERS STAR SUNSET IN ST. TROPEZ ZOYA THE COTTAGE KALEIDOSCOPE THE KISS FINE THINGS LEAP OF FAITH WANDERLUST LONE EAGLE SECRETS JOURNEY FAMILY ALBUM THE HOUSE ON FULL CIRCLE HOPE STREET CIRCLE CHANGES THE WEDDING THURSTON HOUSE IRRESISTIBLE FORCES CROSSINGS GRANNY DAN ONCE IN A LIFETIME BITTERSWEET A PERFECT STRANGER MIRROR IMAGE REMEMBRANCE HIS BRIGHT LIGHT: PALOMINO The Story of Nick Traina LOVE: POEMS THE KLONE ANDI THE RING THE LONG ROAD HOME LOVING THE GHOST TO LOVE AGAIN SPECIAL DELIVERY SUMMER'S END THE RANCH SEASON OF PASSION SILENT HONOR THE PROMISE MALICE NOW AND FOREVER FIVE DAYS IN PARIS PASSION'S PROMISE LIGHTNING GOING HOME WINGS a cognizant original v5 release october 14 2010

To miracles,

large and small,

that bring forgiveness

And to great loves,

oh so rare,

and hard won.with all my love,

d.s.

“… all human wisdom was contained

in these two words: Wait and Hope!”

ALEXANDRE DUMAS The Count of Monte Cristo

1

THE SAILING YACHT VICTORY MADE HER WAY ELEGANTLY along the coast toward the old port in Antibes on a rainy November day. The sea was choppy, as Quinn Thompson stood silently on the deck, looking up at the sails, savoring his last few moments aboard her. He didn't mind the weather or the gray day, or even the rough seas. He was an inveterate and seasoned sailor. The Victory was a hundred-fifty-foot sailboat, with auxiliary engines, that he had chartered from a man he had done business with frequently in London. Her owner had had business reversals that year, and Quinn had been grateful to have use of the boat since August. He had used her well, and the time he had spent aboard had been good for him in every way. He was healthy, strong, and more peaceful than he had been when the trip began. He was a handsome, vigorous, youthful-looking man. And more than he had been in months, he was resigned to his fate.

He had boarded the yacht in Italy, and after that spent time in Spanish and French waters. He had hit a traditionally rough patch in the Gulf of Lions, and relished the excitement of a brief and unexpected storm. He had sailed on to Sweden and Norway afterward, and returned slowly through several German ports. He'd been on the boat for three months, and it had served a useful purpose. It had given him all the time away that he needed, time he had used well to think and recover from all that had occurred. He had been stalling his return to California for months. He had no reason to go home. But with winter setting in, he knew he couldn't delay his return much longer. The owner of the Victory wanted her in the Caribbean for his own use by Christmas, as they had discussed when they agreed to the charter. Quinn had paid a fortune for three months aboard, but he didn't regret a penny of it. The stiff price of the charter meant nothing to Quinn Thompson. He could afford that, and a great deal more. Materially and professionally, he had been a very lucky man.

The time on board had also served to remind him of how passionately he loved sailing. He didn't mind the solitude, in fact he thrived on it, and the crew were both expert and discreet. They had been impressed by his skill, and quickly realized he knew far more about the Victory , how to sail her hard and well, than did her owner, who knew next to nothing. Above all, for Quinn, she had provided both a means of escape and a gentle haven. He had particularly enjoyed his time in the fjords, their stern beauty seemed to suit him far more than the festive or romantic ports in the Mediterranean, which he had assiduously avoided.

His bags were packed in his cabin as he stood on deck, and, familiar with the efficiency of the crew by then, he knew that within hours of his departure, all evidence of his time aboard would have vanished. There were six male crew members on board, and one woman, the wife of the captain, who acted as stewardess. Like the others, she had been discreet and polite, and rarely said much to him, and like the owner, the entire crew was British. And he and the captain had enjoyed a comfortable and respectful rapport.

“Sorry for the chop on the way in,” the captain said with a smile as he joined Quinn on deck. But he knew by now that Quinn wouldn't mind. Quinn turned to nod at him, undisturbed by the waves breaking over the bow, and the rain beating down on them.