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?”
“I’ll go over to her house. I’ll call Luke from my cell. Charmaine, too.”
Olivia hugged each of her friends one more time and as they walked off in separate directions, she was struck with the significance of the moment. In one way or another, big and small, they’d each been touched by Angelo’s life...and now death. Maddie and Liz had married his sons. Katia’s fiancé, Austin, was Rafe Barzonni’s best friend. Though Olivia didn’t know Angelo all that well, her best friends were part of his family now and that affected her. Olivia had always believed that all living organisms were connected, somehow. This sad event was a kind of proof.
The rupture in her friends’ world was overtaking them. And the tragedy touched Olivia, too. But Angelo was an inspiration, and Olivia couldn’t help but wonder whether there was a lesson in the life he’d lived.
Olivia dreamed of taking her photography skills and talent to the next level, but she’d never done much about it. She left her ability buried and untried, never giving it a chance to flourish. Angelo had never compromised on his ambition, working dawn till dusk to achieve his goals and build a legacy.
She went back inside the deli, taking out her pad to begin making a list of what they’d need to cater the funeral. She could ponder the meaning of Angelo’s death on her life, but this coming week would be brutal and heart-wrenching for her friends. She could only hope to give them support and words of solace. She would be the loving friend they needed.
THE DAY OF Angelo Barzonni’s funeral dinner sounded like the clanging of requiem bells as Olivia and Julia slammed pots, pans and metal trays into the back of their eight-year-old Chevrolet minivan. With her hair shoved into a tight knot on top of her head, wearing little makeup and comfortable black leggings, a chef’s jacket and running shoes, Olivia’s only concession to fashion were the gold hoop earrings in her ears.
“Did you get the copper chafing dish and the Sterno?” Julia asked.
“Yes. Did you remember the warming tray and the plug?”
Her mother’s dark eyes grew wide. “The plug. I never remember the plug.”
“I taped it to the back of the tray after we catered the Halsteads’ brunch last Sunday. I just wanted to make sure it was there.”
Julia turned the heavy electronic tray over. “Here!”
“Great. Also, I packed the three-tiered epergne for my macarons and napoleon pastries. The gingerbread cookies are in tins, and I’ll put those in the scoops of cinnamon ice cream right before we serve the desserts.”
Julia looked around the inside of the van. “Where’s the chocolate mousse?”
Olivia
