The Sins of the Mother

Chapter 5


When Olivia reached the port in Monaco, the day before her children were scheduled to arrive, it took her breath away to see the yacht she had chartered for them. It was three hundred feet of pure luxury, and an exquisite sight. All twenty-four crew members were lined up on deck in uniform, waiting for her to arrive. The captain stood on the dock, ready to escort her on board and introduce her to the crew. It was evenly divided between women and men, and impossible to remember all of their names. There was an enormous outdoor bar, with a spectacular arrangement of orchids in a crystal vase, and a stewardess offered her champagne, which she declined. She was tired from the long trip, and rarely drank.

There was beautiful deck furniture in seating arrangements, and a helipad on the upper deck, along with a large sunbathing area. The purser escorted her around the boat, showed her into the movie theater, the gym, and the spa. Crew members were stationed at each location, and in the hair salon, three young women waited at attention. She glimpsed the main dining salon and an outdoor dining area, peeked into the sumptuous bedrooms her children would occupy, and was finally led to her own, which they referred to as the Owner’s Suite, filled with beautiful furniture and impressive art. And there was a huge, inviting king-size bed, with impeccably pressed linen sheets. She could hardly wait to get into it. She was tired after the flight, but it was too exciting to be here. They asked if she would be dining aboard tonight or in town, and she said she would be staying in. She wanted to get some rest before they all arrived. They would be constantly busy after that. And Olivia couldn’t help thinking, as she looked around her suite, how blessed she was to be able to provide something like this for her children and grandchildren. It had been well worth all those years of hard work, even if she had missed some time with them when they were young. How fortunate they all were now, and so was she. She never took for granted what she and Joe had built, and the fruits of it.

When the stewardess left her in the cabin, after unpacking for her, Olivia took a long luxurious bath. She came back upstairs afterward wearing a long white linen caftan, and they served her dinner in an outdoor dining area, with a beautiful table setting of French china, with flowers in small vases, and silver seashells scattered around the table. They had given her precisely what she ordered, an omelet and salad, with fresh fruit for dessert. She was relaxing quietly, enjoying watching the comings and goings from other yachts in the port, when a steward came to tell her there was a call for her, and brought her a phone. She hoped it wasn’t one of her children canceling at the last minute because something untoward had happened. And when she answered, she was surprised to hear Peter Williams’s voice. She was instantly worried about a legal crisis at work.

“I had such a crazy week, I never got to say goodbye to you before you left,” he apologized, and Olivia smiled when she heard him. She was instantly relieved that it was a purely social call. “How’s the boat?”

“Absolutely incredible,” she said, smiling broadly, and he could already hear the more relaxed tone of her voice. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I’m going to refuse to leave when our two weeks are up.”

“That sounds like an excellent decision. You’re going to have a wonderful time with the kids,” he said. He always enjoyed talking to her, and they hadn’t had time to chat in a while. They were too busy solving and avoiding problems involving her business. He was happy that she had taken time off. He knew what these vacations with her children meant to her, and they did her a world of good. She always came back looking years younger, and full of new ideas and happy tales of the trip.

“I think my grandchildren will enjoy it too. This looks more like a ship than a yacht. I want to try the water toys with them. I want to learn to jet ski before I come home.”

“Be careful, Olivia,” he said with a tone of concern, and she laughed.

“I’ve always wanted to learn to ride a motorcycle too, but it’s too late for that.”

“I’m glad you think so. It’s not too late for anything with the energy you have.”

“Yes, it is,” she said sobering for a moment. “I’m having a dreadful birthday on this trip.”

“There are no dreadful birthdays, looking as you do. I forget which one it is, but whatever it is, you don’t look your age.”

“Oh yes, I do,” she said stubbornly. “I was thinking about it tonight. I don’t know where the years go. One day you’re young, and the next thing you know, it’s all over. Except my mother, who is still fantastic at her age, and she looks great.”

“So do you. You haven’t changed in twenty years, since we met.”

“Your eyes are going, Peter, but thank you. When are you leaving on vacation, by the way?” She knew he went to Maine with his family every year. He had a very pretty house that she had been to once, when she’d been in the area, checking out a new location for a store, and Peter had taken her there for lunch. It was a beautiful old family home, full of Early American antiques, with a big old-fashioned porch.

“I’m leaving next week. Emily’s there already with our daughter. Eric and I are going up next week.” She knew that both of his children were married and had young children. He would be spending time with his family too. It did them all good to get away from the stress of their daily pace. They worked hard all year. “We’ll do some sailing and fishing. I want to play some golf. I haven’t had time to play in months.”

“Thanks to me,” she said, sounding apologetic, as she relaxed and looked around her. “You wouldn’t believe how lovely this is. I’m sitting here in the port of Monaco, with the castle right above me, on this unbelievably beautiful boat. Sometimes I can’t believe how lucky I am.” He always admired the fact that she didn’t take it for granted, was never blasé, and had a healthy respect for how fortunate she’d been.

“You deserve it. You’ve earned it all. I hope you have a wonderful time.” Wishing her a good trip had been the only reason for his call.

“Thank you, Peter, you too. It was nice of you to call.”

“I’ll see you when you get back. Take care, Olivia. And happy birthday, by the way.”

“Let’s forget that, shall we?” she said, and laughed. Compared to her mother, she was a youngster, but seventy sounded very old to her. “Have a wonderful time in Maine.”

“Thank you,” he said warmly, and a moment later they hung up, and she sat looking out over the water, thinking about him, and the business she had left in New York. She and her sons would meet on the deck every morning, to go over faxes and e-mails she would continue to receive while on the trip. They kept her abreast of everything, even when she was away. She couldn’t neglect the business for two weeks, nor could Phillip and John. Too much went on there every day for them to remain out of touch. And she knew how to reach Peter if a legal crisis occurred. Hopefully, none would.

She went back to her cabin a few minutes later, and got into bed early with one of the books she’d brought with her. She read for a few minutes and turned out the light. She had left a wake-up call with the main stewardess so she didn’t oversleep. She wanted to look around Monaco the next day and do some shopping, and get to know the boat before the others arrived. Phillip and John were coming on the same flight that night, and Liz several hours later the next morning, and they would set sail right after that. She could hardly wait to get under way, for her children to arrive, and the trip to begin. She reminded herself, as she fell asleep, to call her mother the next day. She had visited her the day before she left. And then her eyes closed, and she drifted off to sleep. She slept like a baby in the dark cabin, with the shades drawn, and she didn’t hear a sound all night. Her last thought before she fell asleep was that it was going to be an amazing trip on the Lady Luck, for almost two glorious weeks.



Olivia had a relaxing, easy time in Monaco the day her children were to arrive. She did some shopping at the local stores, all branches of the fanciest shops in Paris—Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Hermès, Louis Vuitton. She bought very little, but she had a fun time looking. She never had time to shop when she was working, and she usually had more important things on her mind, like running her business, and the kind of problems that surfaced in trouble spots around the world. She had a personal shopper who knew what she liked and sent things to her home in Bedford for approval, and browsing now was a luxury. The only time she had to go through the boxes the personal shopper sent her was late at night.

The captain had sent a crew member to accompany her and carry her packages, and a car and driver to bring her back to the boat. It was a lazy day she thoroughly enjoyed, and when she got back, they had lunch waiting for her. And she spent the afternoon reading a novel, which was a luxury for her. She checked for e-mails from her office, and they were all about minor matters. She responded to them quickly and went back to her book. It was rare for her to have so much free time on vacation.

At six o’clock, after a massage and a shower, Olivia changed for dinner. She wore a pale lavender silk caftan, and indulged in a glass of champagne, while sitting on the deck. She had explored the boat so she could show her grandchildren when they arrived. And she knew how excited they would be about the water toys, especially Alex. She could hardly wait to see the kids. She was excited about their first stop, Portofino. She hadn’t been there since a weekend she had spent at the Hotel Splendido with Joe, after they opened their store near Milan. It was a charming port town, with quaint restaurants and a string of tiny shops. She was sure they’d all enjoy it. And it was spectacular at night, with an ancient church and a castle, beautifully lit up on the hills above.

The captain had told her that the boat was too big to get into port, and they would be tying up at some rocks just outside. It would be an easy trip into town by tender, and would only take a few minutes, and he said they could swim at night, while they were at anchor, if they chose. She was sure all the young people would love that. The trip she planned every summer was designed entirely for them, and she enjoyed it too.

Olivia had dinner in the outdoor dining area at eight o’clock, and by nine she was impatient for her children to arrive. The purser came to tell her that the flight had been on time, and then advised her when they were in the car. And then at last, just after ten, she saw John and Phillip’s car pull up with a luggage van behind it, and the five of them got out. They looked tired and a little rumpled, and then they broke into broad smiles and excited chatter when they saw the boat. And then they saw her leaning over the rail, and she waved with a happy smile. Amanda was wearing an enormous white hat, and Olivia couldn’t see her face. Alex bounded up the gangway, and both her sons followed, and her daughters-in-law brought up the rear. Amanda was wearing a dress, and looked impeccable despite the flight. Sarah was wearing cut-off denim shorts, a Princeton T-shirt, and sandals, with her wild frizzy hair and a nervous smile. She looked as though she felt shy, and Olivia knew that after a night on board, she’d relax. She always did. Amanda came on board looking as though she owned the yacht. And a moment later they were all around her, chattering animatedly, and her grandson gave her a huge hug, which she reciprocated with delight. Olivia always remembered how important her own mother had been to her children, and how powerful the bond between them was. She tried to emulate her as best she could, although she didn’t live with them, as Maribelle had. But she had a good relationship with her grandchildren, and always had.

“Wow! Grandma! This is some boat,” Alex said with a look of awe.

“Wait till I show you around!” Olivia promised, and put an arm around his shoulders. “They have lots and lots of water toys. We can take them out tomorrow.”

She had asked the chef to set out a buffet for them, and he had done a masterful job. There was sushi of all kinds, which she knew they loved, hot meats and cold ones, sliced chicken, many salads, assorted pastas, and an entire table of elegant desserts. It was a feast! The stewardess poured them champagne, and a few minutes after they had arrived, they were dining and talking, and totally revived after the trip. Even Sarah was more at ease once she started eating, and Alex had taken the chair next to his grandmother, and was telling her all the things he wanted to do. It all sounded like fun to her.

The newcomers stayed on deck until almost midnight, and then both couples went to their cabins. She saw a conspiratorial look pass between John and Sarah, and smiled to herself, knowing what it meant. The two of them could never keep their hands off each other, and it pleased her to see them so happy and their marriage solid. She and Joe had felt that way about each other for all their years together too. In fact, they had gotten closer over the years, and more in love. Their children and the business they had built together, and their profound respect for each other had been a powerful bond. In John and Sarah’s case, they were still like two college kids deeply in love. Olivia noticed Alex watching them as they went downstairs. He stayed to chat with his grandmother, and helped himself to some more dessert. The pastries were delicious, and there were a dozen flavors of sorbet. He had slept on the flight and said he wasn’t tired. It was six hours earlier for him, and he was in no hurry to go to bed. Olivia asked him what he’d been doing recently, and he told her about all the sports he was involved in, and he was hoping for early admission to Stanford in the coming months. She promised to visit him whenever she was on the West Coast, if he got in, and she went out there often to check their stores. Visiting their stores personally was a practice she had started thirty years before, and her travel schedule had never slowed.

When Alex finished eating, she took him to see the movie theater, which he loved, and the gym, and she had a crew member show them the rafts, floats, small sailboats, speedboats, and jet skis. They checked out the inflatable toys that they could ride on, which were all full of air and ready. There was one that looked like a giant banana and half a dozen people could ride it at the same time, if they could stay on it, as a crew member explained. That was the trick! There were three lovely small sailboats, half a dozen jet skis, and several speedboats. The family that owned the boat had everything they could have wanted. Alex could hardly wait to try it all. His eyes were huge as he took it all in, and then she laughed and asked him if he would take her on a jet ski with him.

“I’d love that, Grandma,” he said, grinning at her. “Tomorrow,” he promised. They both laughed, and he hugged her to seal the deal.

“I’m going to hold you to it,” she warned him. “I’ve always wanted to do that, and I’m scared to go by myself.”

“You’ve got it, Grandma.”

They went back on deck afterward, and at two o’clock Alex finally left to find his cabin. Olivia went with him and saw that his bags had been unpacked. There was an enormous TV screen in his room and a whole library of movies.

“Now don’t stay up all night. You don’t want to be exhausted tomorrow. You can sleep in, in the morning, but we’re going to leave at lunchtime, as soon as Liz and the girls get here. We’ll stop somewhere to swim and have lunch on the way to Portofino.”

“I want to try the banana thing with the girls. I saw that in a movie once, and it was really funny. Everyone kept falling off.”

“I don’t think I’ll volunteer for that one,” Olivia said, laughing with him, and a few minutes later, after hugging and kissing him again, Olivia left him in his cabin. He was already turning on the TV, to put in a movie, and she walked back to her own cabin with a happy smile. This was the perfect trip and boat for them, especially for Alex, who loved water sports so much. She didn’t know why, but she thought he looked worried while she was talking to him, or lonely. Something felt off to her, or maybe she had imagined it, and he was just nervous about applying to college. She felt sorry for him. Kids today had so much pressure to deal with. She had never talked to him about it, but she wondered if one day he would want to come into the business. At seventeen, it was too soon for him to know, and for her to ask. Sophie, on the other hand, at twenty-three, was dying to come to work for her, and had talked about it since she was a child. And Olivia was excited to have that happen. Her dream was that one day all of her grandchildren would work there, but she knew Carole never would. She wanted either to be an artist, or to work for her father and stepmother in film production. She had no interest whatsoever in business, unlike her sister, Sophie. And Alex was too young to know. She felt fortunate as it was to have her sons in the business. She and Joe had always wanted that to happen, and it had. She was happy that he had seen their dream come true before he died. Both boys had already been working for them when their father passed away. It had made them even more responsible at an early age, and she counted on them a great deal now, even though she still ran the show, and hoped to for a long time. But the three of them worked well together. It had brought them closer to her now as adults. They had The Factory in common.

When Olivia got back to her cabin, and went to bed, she lay thinking about her children and grandchildren for a long time. She was looking forward to spending time with them, and pleased that they had this fabulous vacation to look forward to.



In the morning, Olivia went on deck. Amanda was already presiding at the breakfast table. She was wearing pale blue silk shorts with a matching blouse, and a very pretty pale blue hat to match. Olivia was wearing white cotton slacks and a starched white blouse, her white hair was impeccably done, and she had had a manicure in the salon on the boat the day before. Amanda looked ready for anything. Sarah looked sleepy and disheveled when she came up. She said she had slept like a baby, and all three of the men in the family were still asleep. Olivia suspected that Alex had stayed up late watching movies in his room.

“I thought you might like to go shopping this morning,” Olivia said pleasantly to Amanda. “The stores are pretty fabulous in Monte Carlo. Liz won’t be here till about one o’clock, we’ll leave then, so you have all morning.”

“I’d love it.” Amanda beamed from ear to ear.

“I think I’ll stay here. I have some reading I want to do,” Sarah said quietly, which was no surprise either. Sarah had no interest in shopping, and it showed.

“Maybe you’d like a massage in the spa,” Olivia suggested. She was an excellent cruise director, and her whole goal was for each of them to have fun, in the way they wanted to. There were no forced activities here. She wanted it to be paradise for them, not boot camp.

“Maybe I will,” Sarah said with a dreamy look, as she ordered an omelet for breakfast. There was something sinfully luxurious about being waited on hand and foot. She felt guilty about it, and had been genuinely upset by the first-class air tickets Olivia had bought for them, but sooner or later the pampering was very seductive. Olivia was enjoying it herself, although she rarely took time for self-indulgence in real life. But this was sheer heaven, even for her.

Olivia organized a driver and crew member to take Amanda shopping, and half an hour later both of her sons appeared, looking sleepy and relaxed. They were already talking about fishing, as they ordered eggs Benedict, and the steward handed each of them a copy of the Herald Tribune. Amanda was just leaving. Gold sandals and a gold beach bag had appeared to complete her outfit, and she was wearing small diamond earrings. She looked absolutely perfect leaving the yacht.

Alex was the last to join them, and admitted that he had watched two movies back to back and fallen asleep at five A.M. before the second one was over, but he was in good spirits. He could hardly wait for his cousins to arrive, and he and Olivia played gin rummy after breakfast. He beat her fair and square three times.

When Amanda came back from her shopping trip, she was carrying four shopping bags and wore a blissful expression. Phillip was waiting for her on deck, since John and Sarah had gone back to their room for a nap after breakfast. No one ever commented on their frequent disappearances, although Olivia always found them secretly amusing. Alex had glanced at her for a moment when they left, and said nothing. And Phillip was happy to see his wife—he’d been bored without her.

As they sat chatting, a car pulled up with a luggage van following it. And out stepped three spectacular-looking young women, as Alex gave a whoop of delight. It was Liz, Sophie, and Carole. The girls looked pretty and fresh, and as Liz joined them on deck, she was laughing. Her hair was a tangled mess, and she looked as though someone had been murdered in her lap.

“What happened to you?” Olivia looked at her in amazement and then kissed her. She was happy to see her.

“We hit turbulence and I spilled my Bloody Mary.” Amanda looked at her with obvious disapproval, and Olivia laughed. The mishap was so typical of her daughter. As a child, she always had something spilled all over her, and if anyone knocked over a glass at dinner, it was Liz. She was absentminded and clumsy, but lovable nonetheless.

“This is some boat, Mom!” Liz said, looking at the extraordinary elegance all around them.

“They have wristbands for you to wear, so you don’t get seasick,” her mother told her. “Apparently, they’re very effective. I asked them.” And with that, a stewardess handed some to Liz, and offered them to the others. No one else wanted them, but Liz put them on. “Why don’t you let them show you and the girls to your cabins, and then you can come back on deck? We’re going to leave in a few minutes. We’re going to have lunch somewhere where we can swim.” Olivia had worked it all out with the captain that morning. And a few minutes later Liz and the girls went downstairs. Alex offered to show them around. Olivia could hear the motor come on, and the deckhands were untying the ropes from the dock, and adjusting the fenders. Everyone was busy, as John and Sarah came back on deck, looking relaxed, with an arm around each other.

As they pulled out of port, everyone was on deck. Liz had changed her shorts and put a clean pair on, with a white T-shirt. The girls were talking excitedly with Alex, who was telling them about the inflatable banana they could ride on, and Amanda was telling Phillip how great the shops in Monaco were, and about the pretty things she’d bought. Olivia listened to the chatter all around her, and smiled to herself. This was precisely what she had wanted. They were all having a good time.

The captain gave them a brief safety demonstration in case of fire, or “man overboard.” He told them where the life jackets were in their cabins, and where the lifeboats were. And after that, they were ready to leave.

They all went to sit on the sundeck at the bow of the boat as the Lady Luck slipped gracefully out of port and headed toward Italy. They cruised for an hour, then they stopped and set anchor. The crew took the water toys out so anyone who wanted to could swim. And Olivia quietly reminded her grandson of his promise.

“Don’t forget my ride with you on the jet ski,” she said in a whisper, and he giggled like a little kid.

“Of course not, Grandma.”

Olivia went below to put on a bathing suit, and by the time she came back, the toys were ready, and there were crew members standing by in tenders to help them, or follow them on the jet skis. Someone had put on music, and her granddaughters were wearing the bottoms of their bikinis and nothing else and seemed completely unconcerned. Liz was wearing the top of hers, and her body looked spectacular as she dove into the water, and moments later everyone else followed suit. And by then Alex was sitting firmly astride the jet ski and held out a hand to his grandmother. She got on behind him with ease, as both her sons looked at her in horror. By then Liz and the girls were swimming toward a narrow beach, Sarah was sitting on the platform behind the boat, dangling her feet, and Amanda was debating about whether to get in.

“What are you doing?” Phillip called to his mother, as Alex started the engine of the jet ski.

“Taking a ride with Alex,” Olivia said with a broad grin as they took off at full speed, with a tender and a crew member following them. They kept a close watch on charter guests to make sure no one got hurt, and Alex had had to show a jet ski license to use the jet ski. Fortunately, he had had one since he was sixteen. He flew through the water with his grandmother behind him, holding tightly with her arms around his waist. She was loving every minute of it, and so was he, as Phillip and John looked at each other and shook their heads.

“If anyone had told me I’d see that one day, I wouldn’t have believed it. Why didn’t she do things like that with us when we were kids?” Phillip sounded wistful as he said it. This was not the mother he knew and remembered. This was someone else entirely.

“She was too busy,” John said simply, and then he went to convince Sarah to get in the water with him, while she took photographs of the scene. She and John were the family photographers, and the results were terrific. It was always fun looking at the pictures after the trip. She was a little overwhelmed by his family at first. They were a fairly overpowering group and this was a far cry from their familiar life in Princeton. But she was happy to see Alex having so much fun. And it helped her relax to take photographs of everyone. They were all in a great mood.

When Liz and the girls swam back from the beach, the three young people tried riding on the banana, pulled by one of the tenders, and they all fell off immediately, amid squeals of delighted laughter. The adults watched them from the deck, laughing too. It looked like fun to all of them. The three kids had all the exuberance and resilience of youth.

“We ought to try that sometime,” John said to his older brother, who grinned.

Amanda commented instantly, “Don’t count on me.” She had already changed to a dry bathing suit, and an enormous pink hat to shield her from the sun. Olivia was delighted by her ride on the jet ski, and Alex had promised to take her on it again.

They all had an enormous lunch, after which the crew pulled up anchor and they took off again, this time to head straight for Portofino. The plan was to arrive in time for dinner and go to a restaurant in the port. And they’d been told the shops would be open till midnight. There was something for all of them to look forward to.

As the Lady Luck cruised toward Italy at full speed, John and Sarah played Scrabble, the rest of them read or slept, and the kids went to watch a movie in the theater. Amanda decided to have a manicure, as Olivia had suggested, and they all looked happy and at ease. And after they played Scrabble, John did a few quick pencil sketches of Sarah’s face. He always returned with several sketchbooks full after their summer trips.

It was eight-thirty at night when they got to Portofino, and the crew tied up the enormous boat to the rocks, and dropped anchor. The tiny little port town was sparkling at them, and they all went to dress and get ready for dinner. They had a dinner reservation at nine-thirty at a restaurant the captain assured them was excellent.

They reassembled on the deck half an hour later, nibbled delicious hors d’oeuvres, and could hardly wait to get ashore and explore Portofino. A large tender took them in, and only a few minutes later they reached the dock, and three crew members accompanied them to the restaurant.

“I feel like visiting royalty,” Olivia giggled, and each of her granddaughters put an arm around her waist as they walked along. Alex walked along beside them, and Olivia’s three children followed at a distance, watching her with her grandchildren, and talking among themselves.

“Sometimes I wonder if we even know who she is. She’s so different than she used to be … with them …,” Phillip said as he watched his mother with her grandchildren. She was laughing and talking, and she looked happy and relaxed. He had no memories of her looking that way in his youth.

“I think she really enjoys the kids,” Liz said kindly. She was happy to see her daughters having fun with their grandmother. Her own relationship with her grandmother had always been so important to her—she was glad to see that her daughters could share something like that too.

“Why?” Phillip said, looking sour for a minute. “She never enjoyed us.”

“She probably did, it was just different. She was younger, so were we. It’s easier when they’re not your kids,” Liz answered.

“Maybe,” Phillip conceded, but he looked unconvinced. This was not the mother he had known. This was someone entirely different, riding on jet skis, laughing and playing. He couldn’t recall a single instance of seeing her this way when he was a boy. Although she’d been around more when they were younger, as they got older, she had been either tired, busy, or away. All he remembered was his own grandmother, and his father, and a mother he now realized he had never known. He had felt cheated all his life, and seeing her this way made him feel more so. If she had had this to give, why hadn’t she given it to them?

Only Liz seemed to realize that maybe she had been different then, and more pressured by what she was trying to build. Liz recognized too that maybe some part of her had grown in the meantime. Too late for them, but not too late for her grandchildren at least. And as far as Liz was concerned, Granibelle had given them all the mothering they needed. But Phillip had wanted it from his own mother, and still resented her for what she hadn’t been able to give, or hadn’t had time to.

“I think she’s mellowing as she gets older,” John added, and Phillip shook his head again.

“I haven’t seen that in the office.”

But at least they were seeing it now. That was something.

They looked into the shops briefly, and Amanda wandered into a shoe store, and then Hermès, and then they all went to dinner, at a small friendly restaurant, with strolling guitarists serenading the guests. They were given a table on the terrace, and took their places randomly. The grandchildren seated themselves around Olivia, and she chatted animatedly with them until they ordered dinner. The pasta was delicious, and it was after midnight when they stopped for a gelato and wandered back to the dock, where the tender was waiting for them. The castle and the church were lit up high on twin hills, just as Olivia had remembered, and a few minutes later they were taken back to the boat. As soon as they reached it, they saw that the crew had set out hundreds of floating candles on the water. They looked like they were floating in chrysanthemums, and they had done it so that they could swim at night. The young people squealed with delight as soon as they saw it, and went to their cabins to change, and the adults waited on deck. It was a beautiful sight, and Phillip and John ordered cognac, while Amanda and Sarah drank champagne. Liz had gone below to change with her girls. And Olivia settled happily in a chair to watch the action.

As soon as the kids appeared, they dove into the water off the loading deck, and swam between the candles in the warm water. Liz was in the water with them, looking like a kid herself, and for an instant Olivia was tempted to join them. Being with them was like drinking from the fountain of youth. She hadn’t had this much fun in years. And the two couples sat happily on deck nearby, chatting quietly and enjoying the romantic scene. They could still see the church and the castle in the distance, and the candles on the water were magical.

Sarah and John were the first to go below to their cabin, even before the young people came out of the water, and Phillip and Amanda followed a few minutes later. And when Liz and the kids came out of the water, Olivia was waiting for them.

“That was so much fun,” Liz said, breathless.

“It looked like it,” her mother said, smiling at her, and a moment later all the kids were around them, dripping water on the deck. They had decided to change and watch a movie. Their time together was one long party. Olivia loved being on the fringes of it, and so did Liz.

“Are you tired, Mom?” she asked her. It had been a long day for all of them, and she and her girls had only arrived that morning. The others had benefited from a good night’s sleep.

“Not in the least,” Olivia said, looking relaxed. “I think I’ll go to bed now, though,” she said as she stood up. She’d had a wonderful day with her children and grandchildren. It was the whole purpose of the trip, and their first day together had certainly been a great success. She hoped the rest of the vacation would be too. Even Sarah had finally relaxed, and been lively and outspoken at dinner, and more like herself. The only one who never really changed or warmed up was Amanda, but they were all used to that, year after year. “Are you going to watch the movie with the kids?” Olivia asked Liz.

“No, I think I’ll work on my—” She stopped herself before she said “book,” and looked panicked as she glanced at her mother. She didn’t want to tell her about it. What was the point? What if, like everything else she’d ever done, it was no good? “Work on my beauty sleep,” she filled in. “The kids stay up way too late for me.”

“Me too,” Olivia said as they walked down to their cabins together. Olivia gently kissed her cheek, and wondered what she was really working on. She knew her older daughter better than that. She was sure she did not intend to work on her beauty sleep. She wondered if Liz was working on a new book. But she was wise enough not to ask questions. She kissed her goodnight, and walked on to her own cabin, pleased at how well everything had gone. It had been a very good first day indeed.