Page 5 of She’s a Big Deal

Olivia was feeling proud of her latest creation. The sculptural minimalist piece had been a nice challenge for her. Though she loved rescuing pets, especially puppies, this was only voluntary part-time work. The bulk of her time was spent in her workshop on the outskirts of town, shaping big slabs of wood into bespoke furniture for her clients. This latest piece was an epoxy resin wooden table, intricately designed into a leaf, with strategic lines of natural amber and amethyst crystal carved along the surface to simulate the veins of the leaf. Olivia was extra-careful loading it into the back of her van for delivery, and even more so as she drove the twenty miles to the next town on a light dusting of snow. It was a bit early in the year for this, but she was pleased. She loved snow, the colder months, Christmas… And snuggling in front of the fire with a woman in her arms. Well. These days, it happened to be a puppy. She chuckled at the idea, surprising herself in a good way. Too long since she had been able to make light of such things, and it was nice. Dana might be right, after all. Perhaps it was time to get back in the saddle.

“Whoa…” Feeling the van go a little floaty around a bend, she reminded herself to slow down and focus. “Whatever you do, don’t crash the custom piece. ”

She made it safe and sound to her client’s house, a retired real estate broker from San Diego who’d made his fortune over there. He greeted her in the driveway with a friendly wave and a cup of hot chocolate.

“Ooh, thanks, Mr. Sorenson.” She laughed. “I could do with one of these.”

“The weather calls for it, I feel. Wonderful, isn’t it?”

“That’s why we moved to Vermont,” his wife pitched in with a happy smile. “California weather is great, but I grew tired of the fires, earthquakes, and staring at blue skies and palm trees for Christmas.”

“I’ve heard we should have an especially snowy one this year,” Olivia shared.

“Great!” they exclaimed in unison.

“And now,” Sorenson added, “let’s unload and take a look at this beauty.”

“Yes,” Olivia approved. “Let’s.”

Every piece was a unique design, and every client’s wishes and instructions were a little different. Olivia was always slightly nervous when she presented the final result. However, after so many years in the business, it was more a sense of anticipation than any real fear of disappointing. This being said, the couple’s initial silence when they first laid eyes on the table made her hold her breath. She relaxed when Sorenson finally whistled in appreciation, and his wife brought both hands to her chest in a similar gesture.

“Oh, my God! This is gorgeous! Jim, look at how intricate it is!”

“A real work of art,” he nodded.

“So much detail… So finely carved!” Mrs. Sorenson leaned close to observe an amber line streaking through the hardwood. “In credible. It looks just like lace!”

Sorenson shook Olivia’s hand with a smile. “You, my dear, are incredibly talented. Great job.”

“Thanks. I’m glad you both like it.”

“It’s a masterpiece!” Mrs. Sorenson beamed. “Exactly what I had in mind. Thank you, Olivia!”

Back on the road with a lovely feeling of satisfaction, Olivia turned the radio up. And sang along with the mushy Christmas songs all the way back to Red Falls.

◆◆◆

“Damn weather,” Grace muttered under her breath. “Surely it’s too early for this crap.”

And for the tired old Christmas songs playing on a loop on the radio as well! She switched it off and tried to settle her mood. The rental company at the airport had tried to set her up with a Tesla. She refused. Then, she argued and threatened when they told her that nothing else was available. Eventually, they produced a Ford Ranger with adequate snow tires. Now, she could drive on snow just fine… But she missed her Ferrari. Grace went straight from the airport to the hospital, only to be advised that Mrs. Sheridan had already been released. Nobody had bothered to keep her updated, which was no big surprise but still pissed her off some. The cardiologist was in the middle of a triple-bypass surgery, so Grace could not speak to her. And everyone else who had treated her aunt was currently off-shift. At least they’d let her go, so she must be okay. But if she is, why didn’t she call me? Grace made her way to her aunt’s house next, determined to find out what was going on. She parked on the street, stalked to the front door, and pressed the doorbell button. Glancing up to the corner, she was glad to find the door cam she’d had installed blinking green. Despite her protests that she did not require any of, ‘this kind of insane technology’, Charlie was using it. Grace smiled in affection and anticipation, though it faded rather quickly when a woman she did not know opened the door instead of her beloved aunt.

“Hi. Can I help you?”

She sounded right at home there. And boy… Grace blinked at her clothes. Well-worn work boots, loose jeans riding low on her hips, a white t-shirt, and the obligatory plaid shirt made her look like the front cover model of Butch Magazine. If there was such a thing, of course... But Grace suppressed a snort. All that was missing to complete the look was an axe slung over her shoulder. Did the woman attempt to look like a lumberjack? As she returned her gaze, nice and steady, it also occurred to Grace that she was extremely beautiful. Glossy dark hair, attractively short and windswept; a round, intelligent face; and sparkling chocolate-brown eyes, currently busy taking her in. Checking me out, Grace realized. She felt instantly annoyed at the realization, even though she was used to women looking at her that way, and had been doing exactly the same thing.

“Who the hell are you?” she inquired sharply.

The stranger raised an amused eyebrow. “I’m Olivia. And you?”

“That’s none of your—”

“Grace!”

The woman named Olivia shifted aside at the happy shriek behind her. In the next instant, Grace found herself embraced by a pair of warm, tight, familiar arms.

“Charlie—”

“Oh my goodness, child! You are here! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

“I tried to reach you at the hospital, but I guess no one told you.”

“Nope.”

“I left a message on your cell, too.”

“Oh, I think it’s probably dead.”

“Yeah. So I thought I’d just get over here and talk to you in person.”

“That’s my girl. Razor-sharp efficient as always.”

“Hmm.” Grace fixed her with an assessing gaze. “Why do you smell of freshly baked cookies?”

“Well, because I was baking some, of course.”

“Christ, Charlie. Didn’t you just have a heart attack?”

“Yes, dear, but it was only a minor one.”

The small woman with snow-white hair tied loosely at the back of her neck was dressed in gray sweatpants, thick slippers with tiny white reindeer over them, and an oversized Boston Bruins hoodie. Though she eyed her with a beaming smile, as always, Grace could see that she was pale, and her blue eyes lacked their lively glint. Her high-energy relative usually looked a lot younger than her seventy-five years of age… But not today, and it was a startling reminder for Grace that her aunt would not always be there.

“You should be resting,” she declared.

“That’s what I told her too,” the dark-haired woman stated with a smile, and Grace shot her a look.

“Olivia volunteered to take Jerry for a walk with her own puppy. She was just about to make us both a cup of tea, so now you can join us. Oh, Grace… I’m so glad you’re here.”

“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 the couch. 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. She just 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 wi den 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.”

Grace could not have sounded less enthusiastic if she tried. Olivia chuckled, amused and intrigued at the same time.

“Yeah, thanks, Ms. Michaels.”