PRAISE FOR DANIELLE STEEL'S
THE GIFT“AS A DANIELLE STEEL ADMIRER, I CONSIDER THIS BOOK TO BE HER FINEST. … A quiet, unforgettable series of family portraits … a book of reality and substance, a book of moral and truth, a book of love and supreme sacrifice.”—
THE COTTAGE HEARTBEAT THE KISS MESSAGE FROM NAM LEAP OF FAITH DADDY LONE EAGLE STAR JOURNEY ZOYA THE HOUSE ON HOPE STREET KALEIDOSCOPE THE WEDDING FINE THINGS IRRESISTIBLE FORCES WANDERLUST GRANNY DAN SECRETS BITTERSWEET FAMILY ALBUM MIRROR IMAGE FULL CIRCLE HIS BRIGHT LIGHT: THE STORY OF NICK TRAINA CHANGES THE KLONE AND I THURSTON HOUSE THE LONG ROAD HOME CROSSINGS THE GHOST ONCE IN A LIFETIME SPECIAL DELIVERY A PERFECT STRANGER THE RANCH REMEMBRANCE SILENT HONOR PALOMINO MALICE LOVE: POEMS FIVE DAYS IN PARIS THE RING LIGHTNING LOVING WINGS TO LOVE AGAIN THE GIFT SUMMER'S END ACCIDENT SEASON OF PASSION VANISHED THE PROMISE MIXED BLESSINGS NOW AND FOREVER JEWELS PASSION'S PROMISE NO GREATER LOVE GOING HOME Visit the Danielle Steel Web Site at:www.daniellesteel.comDELL PUBLISHING
To the gifts in my life, my husband, John, and all of my children, and to the angels who have passed through my life, quickly or over time, and the blessings they've brought me. With all my love,
d.s.
Annie Whittaker loved everything about Christmas. She loved the weather, and the trees, brightly lit on everyone's front lawn, and the Santas outlined in lights on the roofs of people's houses. She loved the carols, and waiting for Santa Claus to come, going skating and drinking hot chocolate afterwards, and stringing popcorn with her mother and sitting wide-eyed afterwards looking at how beautiful their Christmas tree was, all lit up. Her mother just let her sit there in the glow of it, her five-year-old face filled with wonder.
Elizabeth Whittaker was forty-one when Annie was born and she came as a surprise. Elizabeth had long since given up the dream of having another baby. They had tried for years before, Tommy was ten by then, and they had finally made their peace with having only one child. Tommy was a great kid, and Liz and John had always felt lucky. He played football, and baseball with the Little League, and he was the star of the ice hockey team every winter. He was a good boy, and he did everything he was supposed to do, he did well in school, was loving to them, and still there was enough mischief in him to reassure them that he was normal. He was by no means the perfect child, but he was a good boy. He had blond hair like Liz, and sharp blue eyes like his father. He had a good sense of humor and a fine mind, and after the initial shock, he seemed to adjust to the idea of having a baby sister.
And for the past five and a half years, since she'd been born, he thought the sun rose and set on Annie. She was a wispy little thing with a big grin, and a giggle that rang out in the house every time she and Tommy were together. She waited anxiously for him to come home from school every day, and then they sat eating cookies and drinking milk in the kitchen. Liz had changed to substitute teaching, instead of working full-time after Annie was born. She said she wanted to enjoy every minute of her last baby. And she had. They were together constantly.
