Page 26 of She’s a Big Deal

Olivia quickly got the measure of everyone. Mark was a friendly guy, a smart lawyer type, head over heels in love with his wife. Chloe looked like a dimmer, toned-down version of her sister. She may rely a bit too much on bling to shine, though Olivia was sure the diamonds on her ears, gold rings, and bangles that she wore were all real. With her sharp suit and immaculate make-up, Chloe struck her as a wannabe glitzy CEO, perhaps the type who had to work at it to compensate for a weaker personality. Not like Grace, whose air of command shimmered around her like power flowed in her veins instead of the regular red stuff. Still, Chloe seemed like she would be okay if one bothered to scratch under the surface a little. She greeted Olivia with a smile.

“Ms. Bianchi. Nice to meet you. I hear you’re teaching our Charlie to cook more plant-based recipes?”

“That’s right.”

Oliva was both pleased and relieved when the woman did not immediately start to scream that plants feel pain too, or ask why she wasn’t dead yet from lack of adequate protein.

“I’ve been thinking of going vegan for a little while now,” she offered instead. “It just feels so complicated! Perhaps you wouldn’t mind giving me a few tips as well.”

“I would love to. I know it can be a bit overwhelming when you’re starting out, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. I’ll be happy to help you.”

Chloe blinked as if she’d not expected such an instant offer of help; and perhaps even friendship.

“Great. Thanks!” She smiled again as tension visibly left her shoulders.

Chloe threw a quick glance at her sister, who was talking to Mark and Charlie in front of the Christmas tree, then back at her with a telling look in her eyes that made Olivia think she must be imagining them together. She did not comment. All in all, it was pretty funny. Jeremy arrived as they were all sharing drinks and lively conversation. Dressed in a tux, with another elegant woman on his arm, though not the same as on the night of the awards, he eyed the room with practiced, ruthless efficiency. Olivia noticed a hush as he walked up to Grace, and everyone discreetly turned to see what would happen. She stood close, eager to remind her lover that she was not alone. Grace clasped her hand with a gentle squeeze of acknowledgment.

“Merry Christmas, Jeremy.”

“Yeah, bah humbug,” he replied and slid his eyes toward her. “You’re the artist.”

Olivia was surprised he’d heard of her, though he slathered the word with enough disdain to let her know he must not be a fan. Or care. She smiled in return, remembering Grace’s advice not to take anything personally.

“I am indeed. How do you do, Mr. Michaels.” She’d draw the line at telling him it was a pleasure to see him again.

When it became obvious he would not introduce her, Grace extended a hand to the dark-haired woman with him.

“Hi.” She offered a smile. “I’m Grace.”

“Kylee.” The woman smiled briefly and shyly, then looked to Jeremy clearly for direction.

So, he must be the controlling type with his partners, Olivia figured. Not that much of a surprise from the things Grace had told her. She was not sorry when he simply left his date there and went to speak to his brother. Charlie, Olivia noticed, was not shy about grabbing him for a bear hug.

“Okay?” she murmured when Chloe stepped in to engage Kylee in conversation.

“Yes.” Grace kept her eyes fixed on the twins. “I don’t want to leave Reece on his own with Jeremy for too long if I can help it.”

“Charlie is with him now, look.”

Her friend had one arm laced around his waist while Reece rested his comfortably around her shoulders. Charlie was giving no sign of wanting to budge.

“That’s good,” Grace nodded. She turned to her, blue eyes warming as they settled onto hers. “I’m really glad you’re here. Thank you for coming.”

“I’m glad to be here. I want to kiss you, Grace.”

“Then do it,” her lover grinned. “Jeremy’s watching.”

Olivia chuckled and went right ahead. She kept it brief and reasonable, not wanting to overly provoke and offend anybody, but it was great to be a bit daring like this, and Grace clearly appreciated it. The patriarch of the family made his appearance shortly after. He was tall and lean. Olivia noted that his eyebrows had not grown back yet from his recent chemo treatment, but other than that, he did not look like it had taken too much of a toll on him. Charlie hugged her brother for a long time, and they stood together for a few more minutes, talking privately. Then, John Michaels headed their way.

“Do you want me to—”

“No. You can stay,” Grace murmured.

Olivia nodded, and she just took a couple of steps aside to give them space. Michaels did not glance at her or anyone else as he walked up to his eldest child.

“Grace.” Unsmiling, he looked her straight in the eye. “It’s been a while.”

It had to be said that he had an excellent poker face. Olivia had no idea what may be going on inside his head from his tone of voice, either. He did not sound angry or sad; he was just authoritative in that quiet way Grace also had to be. If he was happy to see her, he sure did not give it away.

“Father.” She nodded in reply. “Long enough, I thought.”

As Michaels put one hand on her shoulder, across the room, Olivia noticed Charlie smile.

“Yes. Long enough. Sorry I couldn’t meet with you in New York when you asked. Perhaps you will give me a few minutes of your time after lunch?”

“It would be nice, yes.”

Both turned to her at the same time. From the subtle shine in Grace’s eyes, Olivia guessed this first chat must have gone as well or even better than she expected.

“And you must be Olivia,” Michaels said with a charming smile which also surprised her. She could see where Grace got her charisma. “Charlie told me a lot about you. Welcome to our home.”

“Thank you, sir.”

She shook the hand that he offered and wished him a happy Christmas. At which point he glanced back at his daughter with a cocked eyebrow.

“Yes, I think we will manage that.”

Lunch went well, with everyone making a concerted effort to keep it that way. It also started with a bombshell that made Charlie well up in joy and even had John Michaels looking somewhat genuinely happy. The second they were all sitting around the table, Chloe sprung up again with a beaming smile on her face and announced that she had something to say.

“Mark and I… We are pregnant!” she declared.

In the boisterous congratulations that ensued, Olivia clearly heard Jeremy spit, ‘Hope it’s a boy’, but no one paid attention to him. She also noticed Grace raising her eyebrows at Reece and shooting him a look. He shook his head and mouthed, ‘Later’. Toward the end of the meal, when Olivia did not recall this little moment between them, he clinked his dessert spoon against the side of his glass. As all eyes turned to him, and Reece pushed to his feet, Grace took her hand under the table.

“What is it, son?” Michaels inquired. “You pregnant too?”

Though this was said in good humor, it still elicited a mean snigger from Jeremy. But it seemed a perfect launching point for Reece, who ignored his brother and just flew with it.

“Not pregnant, no.” He flashed a smile around the table. “I just want you all to know something important about me that I kept suppressed for many years. It’s not healthy to continue to deny it. And also, I like the man I am. So… I’m gay.”

◆◆◆

Grace stared threateningly enough at Jeremy across the table to stop him from launching into a furious tirade but he still threw his napkin over his plate and left the table with a resounding ‘Fuck that!’. Undeterred, and beaming with love, Charlie was the first one to stand up and raise her glass of champagne .

“To Reece!” she declared. “I love you so much, darling. And you are a fine man indeed!”

Everyone joined in the toast but their father, though Grace assumed his mild shake of the head and resigned grunt, ‘Huh’ , was about as good as they could expect. Better than what he’d dished out to her on the day he found out she was a lesbian, for sure. She met him after lunch, as he’d offered, in his plush office that smelled of old leather and polished mahogany wood.

“It’s good news about Chloe,” he started.

“Yes, very good.”

He poured whisky into two tumblers and passed one to her, then sat heavily into his chair.

“How are you doing?” she asked, noting he looked tired.

“Fine,” he grumbled with a shrug. “My doctors tell me I’m doing well. Just seventy-seven years old.”

“Ah… Yes.”

“So. Reece, uh?”

Grace gave a shrug of her own and just matched his style of conversation. “Yeah. Reece.”

He smiled faintly as she sipped her drink. “How long have you known?”

“Not long. I forced him to talk to me about the rest, and he opened up about being gay too. I don’t know if he told you, but I’ve offered him a job in Miami.”

“No, he didn’t. Working for you?”

“Yes. I think he needs to clear his mind, find his own way.”

“Without Jeremy to hound him, you mean?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”

“Right. I agree with you.”

“Really?” She could not hide her amazement, and a touch of healthy suspicion as well .

“Yes.” He chuckled. “I think you’ll find age and perspective go hand in hand.” When she just pressed her lips together and said nothing, he sighed. “At least for me, it seems. Reece will be welcome back here anytime he wants.”

“You should tell him that yourself.”

“I will. Does it make you bitter?”

“What?”

“That I will accept him as he is, when I rejected you?”

She shrugged. “It makes me grateful that you learned.”

“I approve of what you are doing for the resort as well. You always had more business sense than all the rest of your siblings put together.”

He asked about her own company and complimented her on the Excelsior deal. She found she didn’t have much to say to him in return, an obvious consequence of their lack of contact over the years. It was a bit sad, but she could not find it in her to feel sorry. He did not apologize, or tell her that he wished he’d done things differently. Not that she expected or needed that. But he thanked her again for having the intelligence and wisdom to get in touch, as he put it.

“It meant a lot to Charlie,” she said.

“Yes. I know.”

He turned to the window, and she supposed that was the end of it. Charlie’s warmth, in contrast, was like a blast of pure sunshine.

“Thank you, darling. Thank you so, so much!” She enfolded her in a tight, smiling embrace.

“Sorry Jeremy stormed out, but…”

“Nothing you could do about that,” her aunt assured. “And it wouldn’t be a real family lunch without a little show of temper from a childish kid. ”

Grace laughed and snorted at that. “Yes. That’s one way to describe him.”

“I talked to Reece and told him I am fully behind him.”

“He’ll treasure that. Thanks, Charlie.”

“Of course! Now, I’m going to sit and chat with my brother for a while. If you want to take Olivia home, I’ll catch a ride back with Chloe later.”

“Okay, great. I will, then. I love you.”

“I love you too, baby. Merry Christmas!”

Perhaps because her own emotions ran a little high, Grace did not immediately notice anything wrong with her lover. But then, it struck her, as Olivia showed her through her workshop for the first time, that she seemed to lack her usual spark.

“Everything okay?” she prompted.

“Sure.” But her eyes had gone strangely flat, and she looked away quickly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Really. Let me show you the—”

“Olivia.” Grace stood in front of her and took her face gently in her hands. Now it occurred to her that she looked shaken. “Did something happen?” she repeated in concern. Then pretty much guessed it. “Did Jeremy have a go at you?”

“While you were in your father’s office,” Olivia admitted. “I know not to take it to heart, but he cornered me and—”

“What?” Grace roared, fury rising. “If he hurt you, I’ll—”

“No, no. It’s okay. He didn’t hurt me physically, but he said hurtful things about you.”

“Gosh, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

“It’s not your fault. And he was just pushing buttons.”

Grace noted her reluctance. So she pushed harder. “Tell me what he said, Olivia.”