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“So am I.” Grace forgot about the stranger for a moment as she led her aunt to the living room and sat her down on thecouch. Jerry, her cocker spaniel, and a small puppy, indeed, were fast asleep in Jerry’s basket. Grace ignored them both. She did not mind pets, but she was not dog-mad as some people were. “So, tell me,” she prompted. “What happened? And how are you doing?”

“I’m fine, but I’d been feeling a bit tired of late,” her aunt admitted. “Achy, and with a lingering headache for a few days. You know?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I put it down to the change in season, and maybe pushing myself a bit too hard in the garden, prepping for winter. I was at the store the other day when I started to feel really weird. Dizzy. My chest got very tight, and I lost my breath. I blacked out for a moment… Not long, just a couple of seconds. But it was scary.”

“I bet it was.” Grace gently squeezed her hands. “How long were you in the hospital?”

“Just overnight.”

“I’m sorry it took me longer than that to get here.”

“Don’t be, Grace, darling. I know how busy you are with all your contracts, and I wouldn’t have asked. I was going to call you today and explain everything. Did our stubborn Chloe beat me to it?”

“Yes.”

“Ah. Well, I told her not to. I didn’t want you to worry until I had a chance to talk to you myself.”

“For once, I’m glad she didn’t listen. Come on, Charlie, how serious is it?”

“Luckily, just a mild heart issue. No surgery required.”

“That’s a relief.” Grace exhaled.

“Yes. They gave me drugs at the hospital to break down a tiny clot and restore blood flow. My doctor said I’ll be fine. Shejust recommended I do a bit more exercise.”

Grace glanced at the high-tech exercise bike in the corner of the room, which was currently being used as an additional coat hanger.

“Yeah,” she smirked. “That’s why I bought you this damn thing.”

“And I am grateful.” Charlie nodded with a sheepish grin. “Really. I know I’ll feel a lot more motivated to spend time on it now.”

“That’s good, although bound not to last very long if you ask me.” Grace could not help herself. “You know, it has nothing to do with motivation.”

“Oh?”

“That’s right. It’s about discipline, pure and simple.” She ignored the woman’s amused chuckle in the background. Why was she still hanging around? Didn’t she have dogs to walk? Trees to fell? Or something? “What else did your doctor advise?” she asked. “Anything at all?”

“Yes,” Charlie nodded. “She said I should probably adopt more of a plant-based diet. Olivia was just giving me some tips about that when you arrived. She’s a vegan.”

Ah. Grace suppressed another snort, in polite deference to her aunt, who seemed to really like the younger woman. But yes, the vegan thing fitted the overall image.

“We could get you a personal trainer to help you stay on track with your fitness routine,” she offered.

“Oh, I can’t afford it, love.”

“I’ll pay for it, of course. And for a professional nutritionist as well. Unless that’s what you are, Ms…” Grace raised a sharp eyebrow in the woman’s direction. Noticed her dark eyes widen ever so slightly.

???

So, this was the famous Grace Michaels? Phew! She radiated such fierce energy that Olivia was a little surprised the windows had not shattered. It was a bit of an exaggeration, for sure, but still… She could feel the vibe nice and strong. She had heard a lot about the successful designer from Charlie’s own mouth. Obviously, the reverse must not be true.

“It’s Bianchi,” she answered. “Feel free to call me Olivia.” When Grace simply stared in expectant silence, she remembered the question. ”No, I’m not a nutritionist. I just love cooking and cruelty-free food.”

“Olivia is an artist, Grace,” Charlie offered warmly while a daring Everett cautiously went to sniff at the woman’s expensive-looking shoes. “She also volunteers part-time at the vet office to rescue abandoned pets.”

“I see. Good for you.”