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Come on, babe, we’re almost there!

“Grace.”

No. Don’t leave me.Desperation now, because deep down, Grace already knew.Miriam.Olivia!

???

“Grace!” Olivia yelled at her for the third time. “Wake up now!”

They had gone for a soothing walk, or so she really hoped it had been. Two and a bit easy miles which proved too much for little Everett. So, Grace tucked him safely inside the front of her jacket, where he promptly dozed off.

“I’m kinda jealous now,” Olivia joked and got her lover to laugh again.

“Catch you up when we get home,” Grace promised.

Olivia kept one arm locked tightly around hers while they walked the snowy streets. They talked about Miami. About her own work. And Grace’s new design ideas for the Excelsior chain. Anything but touchy, painful topics. Back at the house, she lit a fire in the bedroom and pulled on a nightshirt.

“What are you doing?” Grace protested.

“Oh, yeah.” Olivia chuckled and she got rid of the shirt. “Good point.”

They caught up, as promised, and fell asleep in each other’s arms. Just after three A.M., a single scream wrenched Olivia out of a deep slumber. She jerked upright, her heart pounding, and dove for the light. Her puppy, in his basket in the corner of the room, whimpered softly when she looked at him. Olivia blinkedhard, relieved to find no intruder in the room. Even so, not all was well. Grace sat staring at the wall with a far-away look in her eyes and tears running down her face. When Olivia reached out to touch her arm, she found her to be as hard and rigid as a piece of steel.

“You’re having a nightmare. Hey Grace?” She knelt in front of her and managed to turn her slightly toward her. “Look at me.”

Grace stared right through her at something only she could see. Trembling. “Don’t go.”

“I’m here,” Olivia assured her.

“Don’t.” The look in her eyes was pure misery.

“I am right here in front of you.” Insisting, Olivia took her face in both hands. “Look at me. Wake up, Grace, that’s enough now!”

She was cold, her breath coming out in ragged bursts. For sure it was a frightening moment, not being able to bring her back from this. At a loss, Olivia just wrapped her arms around her and held her close. She gripped tighter when Grace tried to push her back, even as she repeated those two words.Don’t go.

“It’s okay. Just a dream. Wake up, Grace, you’re okay.”

Olivia kept whispering gently to her until she felt a slight change in her body. She was not so tense now, and the shaking was not as bad.

“Olivia?” Grace asked in a raw, broken voice.

“Yes.” Olivia squeezed her gently. “Right here.” Okay, she was back, eyes focused fully on hers now through a remaining sheen of tears. Olivia ran her fingers through her tousled hair and kissed her softly on the lips. “Bad one, huh?”

Grace swallowed twice, hard. “Yeah.”

“You can tell me if you think it would help. You don’t haveto, but…”

A fresh wave of pain made the tears sparkle. “I dreamt of the attack again.”

Of course...Courtesy of your stupid brother, Olivia reflected in frustration. She kept silent about that, aware that a rush of anger from her was the last thing Grace probably needed at this point.

“I’ll get you some water,” she offered instead but turned back sharply at her next sentence.

“I failed, you know.”

“What do you mean?”

“I didn’t protect you.”