TWO
BENEATH A FLUTTER of pink crab-apple blossoms floating on the spring breeze, Olivia opened a café umbrella to welcome her patrons to the street-side tables at Indian Lake Deli for breakfast. A pair of robins flew to their nest in the white flowering pear tree. Spring was Olivia’s favorite season. Winter storm windows were taken down and opened, tulips and daffodils filled the city planters and the tops rolled back on convertibles. Everything she saw and smelled was electric with promise. She always felt anticipation in the spring, but this season was different somehow. She could almost feel a burst of creative energy taking place inside her cells, igniting them into tiny, raging flares of ideas and dreams. She just hoped that this year they didn’t all suffocate by summer’s end like they usually did.
Before she thought herself into a downward spiral, Olivia took out the digital camera she always carried in her apron pocket and snapped a close-up shot of the robins in the tree. She caught the radiant and colorful male tilting his head toward the dowdy, demure-looking female. Their flirtatious behavior was nearly human, and the photo offered the kind of peek into the animal dimension that Olivia prided herself on.
Over the years, Olivia had been amazed at the glimpses of the natural world she’d captured on film. Butterflies in whirling masses around butterfly bushes. Spiders spinning opalescent webs. Dewdrops slipping off rose petals and onto the back of a crawling grasshopper. Iridescent dragonfly wings as the insects darted in and out of sunbeams.
Sometimes Olivia left her apartment long before dawn to go down to the lake. Or she came home late at night after taking sunset photos on Lake Michigan’s beach.
Olivia had logged many hours perfecting her photographic skills, but she had yet to do anything significant with them. For years she’d told herself she wasn’t good enough yet, or that her lack of formal training was a non-starter. Then she became critical of others’ work and realized that her photos were as good as those that were published. Sometimes they were even better. More insightful.
But Olivia was practical. She knew art and talent didn’t always pay the bills. To put food on the table and pay her rent, insurance premiums and car note, she had to keep her day job, working with her mother at the Indian Lake Deli.
Just as Olivia locked the green canvas umbrella in place, Sarah, Maddie, Liz and Katia walked up and hugged her. They plopped down in the matching green canvas folding chairs. Liz looked exhausted but radiant and was starting to show her pregnancy in her spring-green tunic.
“Olivia, we need a round of your raspberry iced tea,” Sarah said, pushing her blond hair away from her flushed face. “We’re pooped.”
“You can say that again,” Maddie groaned. “My cappuccino is good, but your teas are absolutely vital for people in our ragged condition.” She swiped her palm across her neck. “I’m so out of shape,” she said under her breath.
“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
