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Charlie chuckled. “Did you know she was in town?”

“No.” Olivia admitted the truth to her, miserably. “I had no idea until I bumped into Chloe, and she mentioned it.”

“When was that?”

“Just now. I just got home.”

“Ah.” Charlie nodded as if a bunch of things suddenly fell into place for her. “You know, she didn’t come to see me either. Said she was in a rush, lots of work, blah, blah, blah. Of course, I see right through her bullshit. She didn’t come because I would have made things difficult for her. Olivia, darling. Tell me what happened.”

“We broke up.” Her chest heaved painfully as she said the words. Dammit, it hurt so much. “We—” No, this wouldn’t be accurate, would it? “Grace broke up with me.”

“Proof that a whip-smart woman can be a magnificent fool as well, sometimes!” Charlie declared with a massive eye roll.

“I agree.”

“Don’t cry.” Charlie hugged her again, sounding very much like Grace when she was issuing commands. ”Just let me make you a cup of tea, and we’ll talk. Okay?”

“If you want. But I hate tea. And I don’t know what talking about it is going to achieve.”

“Coffee, then.”

“Charlie—”

“Ssh. Hush now, my girl, it’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.”

“It will be,” Charlie assured her softly, affectionately “Trust me; I know Grace.”

“So do I.” As they sat, Olivia blew air out in frustration and a good dose of heartbreak. “I know her very well. She’s so damn stubborn!”

“Did you tell her that?”

“Of course. Obstinate, like a stubborn mule.”

“Good for you.” Charlie smiled as she sipped her tea. “Bet she enjoyed that.”

“I think she did, actually. Go figure.”

“Sure. And it’s clear as day.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Her girlfriend, Miriam. You know, that young woman was very smart as well, and definitely no pushover. On the contrary, I think she was very good for Grace, the way she tempered her fiery streak somehow. Miriam never hesitated to stand up to her and tell her when she was pushing it too far.”

“I didn’t realize you knew Miriam.”

“Grace is like my child, so I made it my business to know, darling.”

“Did you know she was gay?”

“I always suspected. Anyway, I am telling you this because I do believe that Grace has been waiting her whole life to find a woman like Miriam. One she clicked with on a deeper level, and who would not be afraid to call her out on her bullshit.”

“Ah.” Olivia just shrugged. Sighed again, deep and hard.

“I believe this woman is you, darling. She told me she never knows what to expect with you.”

“Like this is a good thing?”