Danielle Steel - The Apartment

“Do you still love him, Mom?” Claire asked quietly. She knew what a big step this was for her mother. She had protected him for thirty years, like a child, and sacrificed herself and everything she wanted in the process.

“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “He’s hard to love the way he is. Not just the drinking, but his whole outlook on life. I love the way he used to be before his business ventures failed. He believed in himself then, but he’s become a very sad, bitter man. I don’t want that poison in my life anymore. It’s too toxic. It’s bad enough to get old—I don’t want to do it with a miserable old man. I’d rather be alone. Maybe this will jolt him into making some changes. And I want to try living in New York again. I have wonderful decorating clients here, but I’d love to play in the big leagues again. Or I thought that was what I wanted—now we’re going to do shoes!” She almost giggled as she said it, and Claire grinned. “But I want you to ask the girls about my staying in the apartment. I’ll understand if they say no. It would save some money if I can stay with you, but I don’t have to. I can get a small place of my own for a few months, if that’s better for you.”

“It would be fun to have you at the loft with me, and they all love you. I’ll ask them, and tell you the truth. When do you want to come?”

Sarah thought about it for a minute. “Would the first week in January be too soon? We should get moving.” Claire felt giddy as she listened to her. She was starting her own shoe business! She had never even dreamed of something like this.

“That sounds fine,” Claire said about her arrival. “What’ll we call it?”

Her mother didn’t hesitate for an instant. “Claire Kelly Designs, of course. What else would we call it?” The two women hugged again, and Claire thanked her profusely and opened her computer again when she left the room. She wrote a joint e-mail to all three of her roommates, told them she was starting her own shoe company with her mother, and asked how they would feel about her staying with them for a few months until they got it off the ground, and she told them she wouldn’t be angry if they said no.

All three responses came back immediately. They were thrilled for Claire about the shoe company, and delighted to welcome her mother. Morgan had added, “I hope she cooks better than you do,” but they had Max for that. Claire went to report their answers to her mother. She was in her bedroom sorting through her closet, and Claire knew why. She was getting organized for New York.

“It’s a go,” she said cryptically to her mother, “unanimously.” Sarah beamed at her and gave her a thumbs-up. And Claire had to hand it to her. She was fifty-five years old and she was starting a shoe company. “I love you, Mom,” Claire said as she left her mother’s bedroom again and went back to her own. She was leaving in two days, and now she could hardly wait to go back and get started. They had a lot of work to do, and they’d have to go to Italy to meet with the factory, make production arrangements, and sign a contract. It was too good to be true, but it was happening. Two weeks before, she had lost everything, and now a whole new life was beginning. A miracle had happened, all thanks to her mother. And Claire hoped it was going to be a miracle for Sarah too. And who knew, maybe her father would wake up.

—

Alex and Sasha were on duty at the hospital on Christmas Eve, sitting in the doctors’ lounge, sharing a sandwich. She had two women in early labor with first babies, who she knew were going to take forever and probably wouldn’t be born until morning, but she was stuck there anyway. And everything was quiet in neonatal ICU. Three babies had gone home the day before, and the others were all stable. The nursing staff was keeping an eye on them while he and Sasha talked and ate the turkey sandwich he’d gotten for them downstairs.

“Merry Christmas,” she said, grinning at him. “Maybe next year we’ll actually have a turkey dinner instead of a sandwich.” But neither of them looked unhappy, and they were grateful to be together. She’d been telling him about Valentina and her French boyfriend. They were in Paris and due back in two days. “I can’t believe she’s still with him,” Sasha told him. “They usually don’t last this long. It’s been three months.”

Alex’s parents had called them earlier on his cell phone and wished them both a merry Christmas. She had loved spending Thanksgiving with them, and sent his parents flowers to thank them, and a five-pound box of chocolates for Christmas. She and Alex hadn’t exchanged gifts yet and wanted to do it when they went off duty on Christmas night. She had bought him a warm hat and gloves, and a pair of Crocs as a joke.

He pulled a box of cookies out of his pocket then, that he’d gotten for her in the cafeteria, and he handed them to her when she finished her half of the sandwich.

“Dessert,” he said as she hesitated.

“Maybe I should save them for later. It’s going to be a long night.” She eyed the box thoughtfully.

“Go on, I’ll get you more if you want. The cafeteria’s open all night.” She weakened and dug into the box and couldn’t reach the cookies. They were stuck inside. She peered into it and saw a black velvet box instead, and she looked at Alex with startled eyes.

“What’s that?” Her heart was pounding as she pulled it out and looked at him in amazement.

“The cookies must have come with a prize!” he said with a wide smile. She had the box in her hand as he got down on one knee in the doctors’ lounge and spoke softly. “Sasha, I love you with all my heart and being. I pledge you everything I have and am. Will you marry me?”

“Oh my God,” she said, and started to cry, as he opened the box for her, and slipped a beautiful diamond ring onto her shaking hand. “Oh my God…I love you…What number date is this?” she asked, laughing through her tears. They had only been dating for three months, but he was absolutely certain she was the love of his life. He had told his parents over Thanksgiving what he intended to do, and they heartily approved. His father had lent him the money for the ring, and Alex was going to pay him back.

Alex kissed her then, and looked at her. “You haven’t answered me. ‘Oh my God, what number date is this,’ is not a conclusive answer.”

“Yes! Yes…oh my God. What am I going to tell my mother? She doesn’t believe in marriage.” She was panicked.

“Tell her we do,” he said quietly, and put his arms around her, and she held up her hand to admire the beautiful ring he had just given her.

“When are we getting married?” she asked him. She was overwhelmed by the whole idea.

“How about June?” She nodded, and they were talking and hugging and laughing, when one of the labor nurses walked in and saw them. It was Sally, the one they both liked best.

“What are you two doing in here?” She liked them both and always enjoyed working with Sasha when she was on duty.

“We just got engaged,” Sasha told her, beaming.

“Congratulations!” she said heartily, and then went back to business. “We’re getting some action in Room Two. Heavy labor, we’re at ten. She’s ready to push. We need you.”

“How did that happen so fast?” Sasha stood up quickly. “She was at two the last time I looked.”

“Maybe the baby got tired of waiting. What do I know? You’re the doctor, so get your ass in there and get to work. If you’ll excuse me,” she said, turning to Alex with a broad grin, “your fiancée is on duty. She’s the doctor here tonight. And give him back the ring,” she said to Sasha. “You can’t wear it when you’re doing a delivery.” She was right. Sasha handed it to him, and he put it in the box and slipped it in his pocket.

“Don’t lose it!” she said as she kissed him quickly and hurried after the nurse with a wave at her future husband.

The baby in Room Two was already through the birth canal and crowning when Sasha hurried into the labor room. She was just in time to catch the baby, a little girl who came out with two pushes, as her parents laughed and cried at the wonder of her. Sasha cut the cord and put her on her mother’s stomach, and then to her breast, as the new mom held her close and looked adoringly at her husband and told him how much she loved him. And all Sasha could think of, as she watched them, was that one day that would be her and Alex.

When Alex and Sasha came off duty on Christmas night, they met the others at Max’s restaurant, after they went back to the loft to shower and change, and make love to celebrate their engagement. They were both glowing when they walked in to meet the others, and Sasha was wearing her engagement ring, but she was not going to tell them until they saw it. She was drinking a glass of wine since she they were off call for the night, and holding the glass with her left hand, when Morgan let out a piercing scream as she stared at it.

“Oh my God! What is that?” Max looked instantly terrified, thinking she had seen a mouse or a cockroach, and then Abby saw the ring and let out a shriek.

“What’s wrong with you two?” Max shouted at them, and by then Greg and Oliver had seen it too and were laughing.

“We’re engaged!” Sasha shouted at them. “We’re getting married.”

“Oh, for God’s sake, I thought we had rats.” Max turned to Morgan. “Don’t ever scream like that again, unless someone shoots a customer.” But they were all laughing and hugging by then, and Max ordered their best champagne for the table.

“When did he ask you?” Morgan wanted all the details, and Sasha told them. And Alex looked like a proud man as they all congratulated him.

“Have you told your mother?” Morgan asked her, and Sasha shook her head.