Fear Of Falling

“What have you been doing?” Olivia asked, taking out her pad and pen from her apron.

“Walking. Fast walking, to be exact. Liz has to exercise every day—so says her ob-gyn,” Maddie explained.

“Yeah,” Liz grumbled, smoothing her long hair into a ponytail. “As if working the vineyard isn’t enough.”

“It’s not the right kind of exercise,” Katia interjected. “Half a dozen of my Chicago girlfriends have been where you are. Walking is mandatory. I should loan you my treadmill,” she said with a flick of her wrist as if the decision didn’t require any more discussion.

“Spare me!” Liz raised her hands in mock horror. “I walk my hills every day!” Liz looked at Olivia. “Who knew I would have so many mother hens?”

“You need us, Liz,” Olivia insisted.

Sarah snapped her head in agreement. “Besides, walking together is a great stress reducer for all of us. The best part is that it gets me out of the office.”

“Me, too,” Katia chimed in. “I swear I could easily miss the whole spring if it weren’t for you, Liz. Olivia, you better make that six teas. Gina and Charmaine are supposed to join us in a few minutes.”

“Where are they now?” Olivia asked.

“Gina’s meeting Charmaine at Kid’s Corner to pick out the linens for the nursery,” Liz said. “I assume they’re there now.”

“You’re a lucky girl, Liz.” Olivia winked. “Gina and Charmaine have the best taste in just about everything.”

“So true. They almost make me feel guilty. Gina has been so generous. I asked Sarah to design the nursery, but...”

Sarah threw up her hands. “But oh, no! Charmaine wouldn’t hear of it. She practically stole one of my best friend’s accounts from me. Just teasing. Charmaine was dying to do that nursery.”

Olivia nodded. “I get that.” Charmaine had never been married, and with no kids of her own, she had to be over the moon about it.

Sarah chuckled. “Her real problem was reining in her ideas. You should have seen her design boards.” Sarah slapped both palms on her cheeks. “It was like every kid’s fantasy—from castles and dragons to little sailboats flying to the moon.”

Liz lifted her eyes to Olivia. “I went with the sailboats, by the way. Over a vineyard, of course,” She beamed happily. “The ceiling has glow-in-the-dark stars with glittery comets. It’s adorable.”

“Sounds magical.” Olivia sighed. This was what spring was all about. Looking forward to changes and new perspectives. Liz was living proof that something unexpected and wonderful could happen at any minute. Last spring she was tending her new grapevines just like she did every year. Then boom! Gabe Barzonni trespassed on her land, she nearly shot him and now here was Liz, married to Gabe and having his baby. Olivia would swoon over the romance of it all, if she was the swooning type. Which she was not. Olivia was much too practical for rhapsodic thoughts.

Olivia smiled at Liz. “I’m so happy for you, Liz. Really happy.”

“Thanks, Olivia.” Liz squeezed Olivia’s hand then looked around the table. “Friends like you—all of you—are so rare. We’re all very lucky.”

“Yes, we are,” Katia said. “Moving back to Indian Lake was the best thing I ever did.”

Olivia nearly hooted. “No kidding! And we have you to thank for putting the smile back on Austin’s face. I’ve always liked him. My mom and I have catered in his home several times. He’s always been kind to us.” Olivia smiled. “We’re sure glad you’re here, Katia.”

“Thanks.” Katia returned Olivia’s smile.

Just then Liz’s cell phone chimed. She took it out of her pocket and checked the caller ID. “It’s Gabe. I gotta take this.”

“I’ll get the iced teas,” Olivia said, heading back inside the deli. She’d just stepped behind the pastry case when the phone rang. “Indian Lake Deli,” she answered.

At first she could barely understand the woman on the other end of the phone because she was crying so much. Olivia put her left hand over her left ear to shut out the din of voices inside the deli. “How can I help you?” Her mouth fell open as she realized it was Gina Barzonni. “Gina. Slow down. Tell me again what happened.”

Olivia was stunned by the news. Angelo was dead. Heart attack. Gina was planning a funeral for Saturday, five days from now, because one of her sisters was flying in from Sicily. Gina wanted a formal sit-down luncheon after the burial, and she wanted Olivia and her mother, Julia, to handle the entire event. She promised to call the next day to go over details, but she needed to make sure that Olivia was free at such late notice.

“I’m so, so sorry to hear all this, Gina. I had no idea Angelo was sick. Don’t worry about a thing,” Olivia assured her. “We’ll put together some ideas and I’ll call you tomorrow. You take care of yourself. This is a very stressful time, and I know your entire family will be leaning on you.”

Olivia hung up and glanced out to the window. From the stricken looks on her friends’ faces, she guessed Gabe had just called Liz with the news. Liz was still on the phone, nodding and looking compassionately at Maddie, now her sister-in-law. Sarah was holding Liz’s hand. Katia’s expression was solemn.

Olivia rushed back outside to be with them. Maddie’s phone rang just as she reached the table. She answered it, rose and walked to the curb to have privacy while she spoke to her husband.

“Liz, I’m so sorry,” Olivia said once Liz hung up, standing over her friend and putting her arm around her shoulder. “How is Gabe?”

Sarah glanced up at Olivia. “You were inside. How did you hear about it?”

“That was Gina on the phone.”

“How did she sound?”

“Devastated. I could barely make out what she was saying.”

Liz nodded. “Gabe said he was worried about her. I guess he should be.”

Olivia had to agree. “She told me the funeral and burial are set for Saturday. She wants me and Mom to cater the luncheon. I’m in shock. You must be, too, Liz. And Maddie. Angelo seemed so healthy to me.”

“To be honest, Nate told us that Angelo had several heart issues, but he just wouldn’t take care of himself,” Liz explained sadly.

Maddie hung up her phone and came back to the table. She looked at Olivia. “Nate was in surgery since nearly daybreak. He just got the news from Rafe. Nate told me he’s been expecting this exact thing to happen, but he’s still shocked. I don’t think there is any way we can prepare ourselves for something like this.”

Olivia couldn’t help thinking that only a few minutes ago, she’d sensed that something was about to change and that her life was about to alter its course. She shivered. To Olivia, Angelo Barzonni was a legend, the immigrant from the streets of Sicily who came to Indian Lake and built one of the most successful family-owned farms in the Midwest. She admired him. He’d taken the raw fabric of his life and created a mini-dynasty with his wife and four sons. Olivia could feel the void opening up in Indian Lake with his passing, like a rip in the universe. Already, she could tell that a lot would change with his death.

“Maddie, I’m so very sorry. Please tell Nate I’m praying for the whole family.”

“I will.”

Katia took out her phone. “I should call Austin. He needs to be with Rafe. They’re so close, and I’m sure this is devastating for Rafe.”

Maddie’s gaze swung to Katia. “I hadn’t thought about that. Rafe will be the most affected. Nate always said Rafe was Angelo’s favorite. And Rafe and Mica were the last ones left on the farm. They’ve been sharing Gabe’s duties since the wedding.”

Liz pressed her hand to her forehead. “I feel so sorry for all of them. They were a close family. I can’t imagine what it would be like if my grandfather—”

“Don’t even go there,” Olivia admonished her. “Sam is fine, and he does see Nate when he’s supposed to.”

Liz nodded glumly.

“I just had a thought,” Maddie said to Olivia. “Could you do me a favor and put together a tray of sandwiches and maybe a bowl of potato salad—the yogurt kind Nate likes—so I could take it out to the farm? It’s my bet people will be stopping by all day today.”

“All week, you mean. Sure. Absolutely.” Olivia went over to hug Maddie.

Liz rose. “I better go. Gabe’s going to meet me at the farm. You want to drive with me, Maddie?” she asked her sister-in-law.

“Sure.” Maddie paused and looked at Sarah. “Will you tell Mrs. Beabots or do you want me to call her?”