Danielle Steel
Sisters
© 2007
One tumultuous year.
One Manhattan brownstone.
And four very different young women…
To my mother Norma,
and to my incredibly wonderful fantastic most
fabulous in the entire world loving daughters:
Beatrix, Sam, Victoria, Vanessa, and Zara.
May you always, always, always be there for each
other, with tenderness, compassion, patience, loyalty,
and love. You are each the best gift that I have given
to the others.
And to Simon, Mia, Chiquita, Talulah, Gidget, and
Gracie, the absolutely best, most adorable, and most
beautiful dogs on the planet.
with all my love,
Mom/d.s.
Chapter 1
The photo shoot in the Place de la Concorde, in Paris, had been going since eight o'clock that morning. They had an area around one of the fountains cordoned off, and a bored-looking Parisian gendarme stood watching the proceedings. The model stood in the fountain for hours on end, jumping, splashing, laughing, her head thrown back in practiced glee, and each time she did it, she was convincing. She was wearing an evening gown hiked up to her knees, and a mink wrap. A powerful battery-operated fan blew her long blond hair out in a mane behind her.
Passersby stopped and stared, fascinated by the scene as a makeup artist in a tank top and shorts climbed in and out of the fountain to keep the model's makeup perfect. By noon, the model still looked like she was having a fabulous time, as she laughed with the photographer and his two assistants between shots as well as on camera. Cars slowed as they drove by, and two American teenagers stopped and stared in amazement as they strolled by and recognized her.