Page 120 of Only Just Begun

“I didn’t tell anyone. This is private to me, and no one else’s business.”

“Wrong.”

She looked at the jut of his jaw. “Why are you angry?”

“You work out in my gym and you didn’t tell me about your condition.”

“You work out in his gym, dear? You never told us that,” Aunt Sarah said. “How nice of you to let her, Ted.”

“Very nice, and so good for you, Mandy. Especially considering your little health issue,” Mr. Goldhirsh added.

“You knew?”

“I did.” Mr. Goldhirsh didn’t look intimidated by Ted’s obvious anger. “Mandy and I have always talked.”

“She should have told me about this. Should she even be working out? What if she fainted and I didn’t know why? What if she fell off the treadmill!”

“You’re overreacting.” Mandy tried to calm him down. She wasn’t entirely sure where his anger was coming from. Being a diabetic was her problem, not his.

“Living a fit and healthy lifestyle is what Mandy needs,” Mr. Goldhirsh said. Her aunts nodded their agreement. They’d been after Mandy for years to get fit.

“They can hear you on the other side of town, Teddy Bear.” Joe Trainer arrived. “What’s the problem here?” His eyes found Mandy. “What’s going on?” He bent at the waist and patted Buzz, who made that little whuffling sound Mandy loved.

Ted got to his feet, still glaring at Mandy.

“The problem here is that Mandy’s a diabetic and fainted because she hasn’t eaten enough food today. Added to that, she never told me, and I have to say I’m pretty pissed about it.”

“Not sure why she would have told you when she never told me,” Joe said, frowning down at Mandy. “What’s the deal with that?”

“I didn’t tell anyone,” Mandy defended herself. “I don’t often share details about myself with others.”

“And that’s meant to be an excuse?” Ted demanded.

“Because you’re an open book,” Mandy muttered.

“Are you feeling okay now? Can I get you anything?” Joe interrupted her and Ted.

“I’m good now that I have food, thanks, Joe.”

“How have you hidden that from everyone?” Joe asked her. “I doubt Rory knows or she’d have told Jack, who would have told me.”

“Knows what? Does someone know something I don’t?” Rory arrived, and Mandy had a feeling of impending doom.

“Nothing,” Mandy said quickly.

“Mandy fainted because she’s a type 2 diabetic,” Ted said in a flat, emotionless voice.

“What!” Rory shrieked. “And you didn’t tell me?”

“She’s also working out in my gym,” Ted gritted out. “Like I’ve already explained, anything could have happened, and I wouldn’t have been clued in as to why she’d fainted.”

“I don’t just randomly faint.” Mandy fought the frustration rising inside her. Now that she had food, she was starting to feel better. “It doesn’t make me abnormal. I manage it, and usually that’s all it needs. Today I forgot to eat.”

“Good on you, Mandy, for going to the gym,” Joe said. “That’s got to help if you’re a diabetic. But I’m still ticked off you didn’t tell me.”

“The point is, Joe—”

“We got that point when you explained it twice, Ted,” Aunt Sarah interrupted.

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