Read Online Fine things by Danielle Steel - Free Book Online

her, and she quietly slid her hand into his, and her braids bobbed as they walked along, holding hands.
    He helped her up onto a stool at the bar and asked for a banana split, which was not on their menu but he felt certain they could come up with one, and for him, they did. Jane dove into it with a blissful smile and worried eyes. She hadn't forgotten her mother totally, but she was well occupied as she chatted with Bernie about their apartment, the beach, and school. She wanted a dog, but their landlord wouldn't let her have one.
    “He's real mean,” she said with chocolate and marshmal-low all over her face and her mouth full. “So's his wife …and she's real fat too.” She shoved in a mouthful of nuts, banana, and whipped cream as Bernie nodded seriously, wondering how he had lived without her for this long. “Your bathing suits are very good.” She dabbed at her mouth and dove in again as he smiled.
    “Which ones do you like best?”
    “The little ones with the bottom and the top. My Mom says I don't have to wear a top if I don't want…but I always do.” She looked prim as the chocolate enveloped her nose as well. “I like the blue and the pink and the red …and the orange …” The last of the banana disappeared, followed by the cherry and more whipped cream, and suddenly there was a flurry in the door and a woman appeared with a long shaft of golden hair that looked like a sheet of gold as she flew across the room.
    “Jane!” She was a very pretty girl, not unlike Jane. There were tearstains on her face and her eyes were wild as she juggled her handbag and three packages and what was obviously Jane's jacket and another doll. “Where did you go?” Jane blushed as she looked at her sheepishly.
    “I just wanted to see …”
    “Don't you ever do that again!” Her mother cut her off and grabbed her arm, shaking her a little bit, and then she quickly took the child in her arms and held her close as she fought back tears of her own. She had obviously been terrified. And it took her a long time to notice Bernard standing by, admiring them both. “I'm so sorry.” She looked at him and he liked the way she looked. She was wearing sandals, a T-shirt, and jeans. But she was prettier than most, more delicate, and terribly frail and blond with the same huge blue eyes as Jane. “I apologize for all the trouble we've caused.” The whole store had been looking for mother and child, and the entire main floor was in an uproar by then. Jane's mother had been afraid that she had been kidnapped, and she'd been desperate as she asked a salesperson to help, and then an assistant manager, and a buyer who happened by. Everyone did all they could, and finally the announcement that she was in the restaurant was made on the P.A.
    “It's quite all right. We can use a little excitement around here. We had a very good time.” He and Jane exchanged a knowing look and Jane suddenly piped up, grinning at him.
    “You know, you'd really be a mess if you ate a banana split…see! That's why I don't like beards!” They both laughed and her mother looked horrified.
    “Jane!”
    “Well he would!”
    “She's right,” he admitted happily. He had enjoyed her so much, and hated to see her leave. He smiled and the pretty young woman blushed.
    “I really apologize.” And then suddenly she remembered that she hadn't introduced herself. “I'm sorry, I'm Elizabeth O'Reilly.”
    “And you're Catholic.” He was remembering Jane's remark and her mother looked stunned, and then he attempted to explain. “I'm sorry …Jane and I had a very serious conversation about that.”
    Jane nodded sagely and popped another maraschino cherry into her mouth as she watched them talk. “And he's something else …” She squinted as she looked up at him again. “What was it again?”
    “Jewish,” he supplied, as Elizabeth O'Reilly grinned. She was used to Jane, but there were times …
    “And he has eight Christmases …” She looked