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“Hey.” Olivia pulled her close and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Grace. Look at me.”

She did, her blue eyes dark and full of fury. “I did not lie to you, Olivia.”

“I never thought you had. Not for a second. You don’t have to tell me the story again. Just breathe, you’ve gone pale.”

“I’m fine.” Grace shot up again and started to pace. Olivia watched her, resigned to the fact that she obviously needed to deal with her anger in her own way. And it was not sitting down to be consoled. “If you’d told me at the house that he said this to you, I would have punched him in the face.”

“That’s why I didn’t. Didn’t want to ruin things for Charlie, for you, and everyone else.”

Grace fixed her with still-heated eyes. “You’re kind. But it’s not too late for me to drive to his place.”

“Don’t give him the satisfaction.”

“Hmm.” She growled through gritted teeth. “And wise, too.” Grace forced a smile, though it did not touch her eyes. “I don’t know what the hell’s wrong with Jeremy that he can never stand to see any of us happy and getting along.”

“He’s an angry guy. Sounds bitter too.”

“Yeah. He’s got some dark in him, for sure.”

“Leave it alone, Grace,” Olivia advised as she watched her run a hard hand through her hair, and pace some more. “I didn’t react outwardly when he told me, so he didn’t gethis fun there. He wanted us to be rattled. Don’t make his day by calling him to rant or going over there to punch him.”

Grace did look around the room as if she wanted to smash something.

“I guess he’s even more pissed because of the resort. There, he thought I was out of that picture for good, but somehow, I’m back. With the family on my side and our father’s approval, in charge of things once again. And he’s not.”

“How emasculating for him,” Olivia remarked with a light chuckle and was rewarded when Grace flashed a genuine smile this time.

“You bet.” Finally, she came to sit down. “I’m so sorry you had to deal with him on your own. I did not lie to you, Olivia. I would never do that.”

“Yes. I trust you on this.” Olivia kissed her gently. “Now don’t think about it anymore. Would you like to watch a movie? Lie down with me and relax?”

“I’m too wound up for that.”

“Well, Everett could do with a walk...”

“Great. I can put my new snowflake hat to the test.”

???

Grace did her best to let it go. This was only Jeremy, she thought. Forever manipulating and twisting things to amuse himself. He could turn nasty when he felt threatened. No doubt her return, albeit temporary, as she had no intention to make a takeover bid for the resort, had him feeling nervous. And Reece’s news, too… His own twin brother? Gay? Yeah, that must stick sideways in his throat. Olivia was right. She should definitely take the high road on this one, and let it go. And Grace really thought she had, until she fell asleep that night, and her mental barriers all went down. All of a sudden, she found herself back on that awful day. She knew she was dreaming at first. Then she became lost in the emotions of the memories. From the innocent joy of meeting her girlfriend on a pure, snowy Christmas Eve, to annoyance when the group of young men showed up. She felt the pain as they started to beat her up, and red-hot rage when she realized she did not stand a chance against so many. Such a cowardly bunch they were. Soon, her anger turned to fear. Not for her own self, as Jeremy tried to convince Olivia; but at the notion that she would not be able to defend her partner. And what would they do to Miriam when she was down for the count? Jeremy’s accusation had pushed the right button, indeed. Hit the raw part of herself that felt guilty for the death of her girlfriend, and manifested in the dream. Miriam had trusted her the same way Olivia said she did. And yet, Grace had failed her. She was not strong enough. Not fast enough.

“Grace!” Miriam screamed. “I did not want to die!”

Blood in the snow and all over Grace’s hands and face.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, her heart breaking. “I am so sorry!”

And now it was Olivia’s blood. And Olivia’s liquid brown eyes stared back at her. No anger. No screaming accusations. Olivia just looked so sad.

“Don’t go,” Grace cried to her. “Don’t leave me!”

“I’m sorry… I have to.”

“Olivia. No. Please!”

Stretches of dream time, her arms aching from the weight of her. Olivia… Miriam. Merged into one now.Dead. Gone.Though she knew this, Grace would not stop walking. In snow up to her knees, it felt like mud sucking at her heels. Dragging her downand costing her precious time as she carried her dying girlfriend to safety.Don’t go, Miri. I’ve got you now. You’re going to be okay.

“Grace?”