IT WAS NEARLY closing time at the deli and though Olivia hadn’t seen a customer for half an hour, she kept the open sign lit until the very last minute. She’d learned over the years that her patrons from the surrounding offices would often dash to the deli and buy up the last of the cookies and brownies for late-afternoon meetings. If there were any macarons or chocolate-chip cookies left, she kept the door unlocked while she cleaned the kitchen and dining area. Every penny in the restaurant business counted.
Olivia cleaned off the grill with a charcoal block, scraped off the residue and then wiped the surface until it glimmered. She’d already washed all her pots, pans, dishes and utensils, and put them in their proper places for tomorrow’s breakfast and lunch crowds.
She’d just picked up the broom to make the final sweep through the kitchen area when she heard her name.
“Olivia! Good. You’re still here.” Katia rushed into the deli with a wide smile.
“Hi, Katia.” Olivia glanced at the grill she’d just broken a sweat to clean. “Are you here for one of Austin’s grilled beef sandwiches?”
Katia followed Olivia’s gaze and chuckled. “Not after you’re all shut down.” She eyed the pastry display case. “But I will take those German chocolate brownies.”
“How many?”
“All of them. Everyone at the office loves them. Especially my boss, Jack. He never makes dessert for himself. Frankly, I think the only recipes he knows are for smoothies and his vegetable juice concoctions.”
Olivia grinned. “Very healthy. And admirable.”
“But no fun.” Katia laughed.
Olivia took out a bakery box and filled it with the seven remaining brownies. Katia reached into her purse for her wallet.
“The real reason I’m here, Olivia, is to find out if you play tennis.”
Olivia paused as she reached for Katia’s credit card. “Tennis? Not since high school.”
“But you were good, though, right?”
“How do you know that?” Olivia asked, swiping the card.
“Sarah told me. Mrs. Beabots confirmed it.” Katia’s smile shone with just a bit too much intrigue for Olivia’s comfort.
“No secret is safe in Indian Lake with those two living next door to each other.”
“Ah! So it’s true. Mrs. Beabots said you were city champ.”
“No big deal. It’s not like I went to State or anything.”
“Sarah said you’re very athletic and that you were more than amazing on the courts until you broke your ankle.” The transaction rang through and Katia put her credit card back in her wallet.
Olivia rolled her eyes as she closed the box. “It was a long time ago. I haven’t played much since then.” She shrugged. “I haven’t had the time. This place, plus planning weddings for certain friends I know...”
Olivia studied that certain friend as she handed her the brownies. Katia had an ulterior motive, judging by the too-broad smile and the overly bright gleam in her eyes. “Out with it, Katia. You want to change the wedding venue? You’re flying to Italy and getting married there, instead?”
“Actually, we are going to Italy—and France—for our honeymoon, but this has nothing to do with our wedding plans. I love all your ideas. I came to ask if you’d like to play tennis with me and Austin on Sunday evening. I’m making salmon afterward.”
Olivia cocked her head to the right and peered at Katia suspiciously. “Three for tennis?”
“Rafe makes it doubles,” Katia nearly squealed.
Olivia gaped at her. “Rafe. Hmm. So, whose idea was this?”
“Rafe’s. He’s going to call you.”
Olivia’s cell phone rang in her jeans pocket.
Katia’s eyes lit up. “That’s him!”
Olivia glared at her friend. “I need to have a very serious talk with you, Katia. After this call.”
“Sure. Fine.” She pointed at the cell phone. “Answer it. Say yes!”
Olivia picked up. “Hi, Rafe. How are you?”
She never took her eyes off Katia as she spoke with Rafe. Olivia had only known Katia for seven months or so, since she moved back to Indian Lake. Katia was a few years older than Olivia, so they’d never been acquaintances in school. Katia’s mother had been the McCrearys’ housekeeper, and from what Mrs. Beabots had told Olivia, Katia had been very much in love with Austin before her mother abruptly moved them to Chicago when Katia was sixteen. Austin had been devastated when she left and had developed a bit of a reputation as a recluse over the next decade. His only close friend was Rafe. Now that Katia had returned, she and Austin had rekindled their love for each other. It was a very romantic story. Olivia wondered if it was as romantic as the story she was building with Rafe.
He was shouting at her over some kind of heavy equipment.
“Rafe, where on earth are you?”
“In the field on my tractor,” he said. “I’ll make this short. Austin and Katia want us to play tennis on Sunday. Are you free?”
“Yes, I’m free. But I don’t own a racket anymore, or shoes, and I—”
He cut her off. “I have a racket for you. Katia said you can borrow shoes from her. I think it would be fun and I really want to see you again. We’ll be working late every night, but Sunday evenings are mine. Say you can make it.”
“Yes, Rafe. But I’m very rusty with my game.”
“No worries. I’ll teach you. After all, I’m your riding coach now. Why not add tennis? See you at six.”
“Six,” she confirmed and then he hung up.
Olivia looked at Katia. “So was it really Rafe’s idea, or did you and Austin decide to invite us to play tennis together? Hmm. I’m just wondering, Katia, what made you think that Rafe and I would be suitable partners?”
Katia stared at her with faux innocence. “You wouldn’t accuse me of matchmaking, would you?”
“Sure I would. Spill.”
“Okay, Mrs. Beabots said that there might be something going on between you two, and Austin and I are so deliriously happy that we thought we could fan the flames a little. Rafe is always so busy and between you and me, he’s got some of that hermit thing going on...like Austin did until I came back. One of my priorities is to get Austin more involved outside his company and his new start-up in Scottsdale. Honestly, there is so much expansion at the plant that if I didn’t make plans for him, he’d sleep there.”
“I doubt that, Katia.”
“It’s true! That’s why I’m making him take two weeks in Europe with me. I wanted three, but it’s out of the question. The plant reorganization should be done around the time of the wedding. He’ll need a vacation by then.”
“Sounds like it.”
“In the meantime,” Katia continued, “I need to get you some tennis shoes and a tennis outfit.”
“I think I have an outfit somewhere in the back of my closet. I might even have shoes, and if I don’t, I’ll run down to the sporting goods store and get some.” She paused as she thought about the commitment she’d just made. Not only was she going to see Rafe again, but this was the first time they would be attending a social function as a couple, too. A couple. Olivia had to get used to that. She had never dated anyone long enough to be considered a couple, at least not since her freshman year, when she’d gone to a Christmas dance and then a spring formal with Don Shelly. She hadn’t thought about him in over a decade. She’d barely thought about tennis in that long, either.
Olivia wasn’t sure if it was coincidence, but she had a narrow streak of the recluse in her, as well. The struggle of building the clientele at the deli and the even more difficult task of amassing catering customers had consumed her life. What little spare time she had, she devoted to photography. Olivia wasn’t certain if she was a workaholic, but the state of her social life suggested she might be becoming one.
She hoped she was good for Rafe because she was beginning to see he was very good for her.
* * *
AUSTIN’S HOUSEKEEPER, DAISY, opened the door and greeted Olivia. “How nice to see you,” she said. “Everyone is out on the terrace. I was just making lemonade.”
“I’ll help you,” Olivia said reflexively. This was the first time she’d entered Austin’s home as a guest, not a caterer.
“You won’t be doing any such thing,” Daisy said, shutting the door as she stepped inside. “Katia has dinner under control and after your tennis match, your only job is to enjoy.” Daisy smiled as she led the way down the long hall, past the soaring staircase and into the kitchen that led to the backyard, the pool and the tennis courts.
Austin’s home was one of the few old mansions in town that hadn’t been converted into apartments. It sat at the end of elegant Maple Avenue, still Olivia’s favorite street in town, on two immaculately landscaped acres. Austin’s family had come to Indian Lake not long after WWI, a working-class family in the burgeoning auto industry. Three generations later, Austin was redefining the family business again with his high-tech, waterproof cell phone and tablet screens, which had already been picked up by two major smartphone manufacturers. Olivia believed, along with a great many people in Indian Lake, that Austin’s new business would bring a new workforce to Indian Lake. It would also ensure that the lovely McCreary mansion would be maintained for another generation.
Just as Olivia reached the kitchen, Rafe came through the back door, flinging it wide and flashing a smile at her. “I was just coming in to see if you’d arrived.” He rushed over to hug her. “Wow, you look cute.”
“Thanks,” she said, glancing down at her white tennis skirt, navy V-neck sweater and her brand-new high-impact sport sneakers. She hadn’t worn the tennis outfit since her senior year. Shockingly, it was too big in the waist and she’d had to pin it to hold it up. Olivia hadn’t paid much attention to her weight over the years, but she figured that replacing her high school diet of hamburgers and French fries with veggie salads and low-fat recipes had resulted in a smaller frame. Olivia had tied her long hair back to keep it away from her face while delivering—she hoped—a mean backhand.
He took her hand and slid her arm through his. “I was really happy to learn that you played tennis. You didn’t tell me.”
“It didn’t come up. I sold my racket years ago.”
“I bet that was tough.”
“It was a fundraiser for a little boy who had leukemia. It was a good cause and he’s doing well now.”
Rafe squeezed her hand. “Admirable.”
They walked out the kitchen door to find Katia and Austin volleying a ball back and forth. Katia heard their voices and stopped to wave at Olivia just after she’d lobbed the ball back to Austin, who smashed it across the court and would have won a point.
“Katia!” Austin groaned. “The ball!”
Katia glanced at the bouncing ball and then smiled at Austin. “Come on, Olivia’s here.” She raced across the court and hugged Olivia. “I’m so glad you could come. You’ll save me from being annihilated.”
Austin walked up, took Olivia’s hand and air-kissed her cheek. “Don’t mind her. She’ll do anything to get off playing with me. I taught her to play when we were kids, but she never really took to it.”
Katia shook her head. “Listen, this is going to be a disaster. All three of you play like champions, and I’m just a novice. But I do love the sport,” she confessed.
Olivia splayed her hands apologetically. “I’m not sure I’m going to be any good at this. I haven’t played in years. I don’t have my old racket...”
“Oh!” Rafe strode over to the outdoor table, which was strewn with towels, cans of tennis balls and several rackets in zippered cases. Rafe picked up three rackets and jogged back to Olivia. “You can have your pick. Depending.”
“What are my choices?”
“I figured a Wilson juicer since we’re just playing doubles and it’s only for fun. No real competition going on here. It’s a shorter handle and since we’re playing doubles, most likely you won’t be shooting from the baseline or hitting a lot of powerful ground strokes.”
Olivia looked at the familiar rackets. She reached for the Wilson racket in his right hand. “This is a Burn. I used to use a racket like this because I am a baseline player.” She peered at him suspiciously. “How did you know that?”
Rafe glanced at the racket sheepishly. “I looked you up online after Mrs. Beabots told Katia that you could have gone to State.”
Olivia turned to Austin. “You didn’t tell him? So that means you didn’t know, either?”
“After I went to New York for prep school, I didn’t keep up on much of anything going on in Indian Lake. By the time I went to college, my tennis competition days were over.”
Olivia nodded. “I truly get that. I was the same way. As far as I was concerned it was just a part of my teen years.”
Rafe handed Olivia the Burn. “Let’s volley for a few minutes and work out the kinks. Just you and me. How’s that?”
“Good idea,” Olivia said.
Katia nudged Austin, “We’ll get some lemonade. Then we’ll play.”
Olivia walked toward the clay court. “I’ve never played on clay. This is the real deal, isn’t it?”
“Nothing like it, if you ask me. I joke with Austin all the time that the main reason he’s my friend is because of his clay courts.” Rafe laughed as he bounced a tennis ball off the face of his racket. “Try that racket and let me know if you like it. You can use mine if you don’t.”
Olivia spun the racket and checked its balance. The grip was perfect and the leather grabbed her fingers in just the right grooves. She swung it with a wide downward stroke and then pivoted and took a practice backhand. “This racket is brand-new,” she said as she went to meet him at the net. “You didn’t buy it just for...?”
He twirled his racket in his hand. “I had a feeling we might want to play more than once. A lot, maybe.”
Olivia couldn’t stop the smile that burst from her heart and found its home on her lips. “Oh, you did?”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.” Rafe took his stance and readied to serve the ball to Olivia. “You ready?”
“Sure,” she answered, leaning forward, feeling her calf muscles tense as she lifted each foot, making sure she was ready to pounce in whatever direction he sent the ball.
Rafe’s serve was perfect. When Olivia swung, the ball hit the edge of her racket and fell straight in front of her as if it had deflated. “Rats,” she groaned and picked up the ball. “I told you I was rusty.”
“It’s okay. You serve it back to me. You’ll get your sea legs back.”
“I hope so, for your sake,” she joked as she stepped behind the baseline. Olivia threw the ball up in the air a couple of times before she got the feel of the racket, the ball and the clay court under her feet. Everything about it felt familiar, yet foreign at the same time. The ball seemed to descend in slow motion. She waited for it to drop to the precise point it needed to occupy for her to hit it with her racket’s sweet spot. The muscles in her biceps tensed with determination, and she swung at the ball, delivering one of the most textbook-accurate serves of her life.
As Rafe lobbed the ball over the net, every subtlety of the game came back to her. She remembered the sound of her high school tennis coach’s voice. She remembered that she had a tendency to pull short when she should follow through with her swing. She hit the ball back to Rafe. He volleyed back to her.
Olivia dashed to the left side of the court, where Rafe was trying to make a point, but she shot low from near the baseline and scooped the ball back to him, short and just over the net, where he almost fell to catch her return.
Rafe missed the shot.
Victory jolted through Olivia like lightning. Raising both arms in the air, she jumped and shouted with glee.
Austin and Katia applauded her from the corner of the terrace. Rafe stuck his racket under his arm and did the same.
“Great going, Olivia!” Rafe came around the net to where she was standing. Without any warning, he put his right arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“That’s my girl,” he said proudly and kissed her soundly. With a wide smile and his arm still around her waist, he turned to Austin and Katia. “Want to wager who’s going to win this match?”
Olivia went stiff in Rafe’s arm. His comment was a simple, ordinary social witticism. She knew he had no hidden agenda. He didn’t intend to bet his life savings on this tennis match; he probably didn’t even mean it literally. She should take a vote of confidence from his comment. She should realize that he was impressed with her skills. Instead, she’d let her fear take over.
Olivia beat back her phobia as if she was delivering a smash serve to her opponent. She softened her shoulders and allowed herself to feel the comfort of Rafe’s strong hand as he massaged the back of her neck. She smiled at him and when he looked at her, she brightened with the wink he gave her.
He seemed so at ease with her. How she envied that. Whenever she was around him, she felt like a bottle rocket about to blow. Rafe was conscientious, a hard worker and loyal to his family and friends. She liked to think she possessed these qualities, as well.
The difference was that Rafe was born into a strong family unit, or at least as strong as one could be. Olivia’s life had been exactly like Rafe’s until her father had betrayed them. The schism in her family had scarred her deeply.
Her growing feelings for Rafe made her realize she had to find a way to confront her past, conquer and bury it. Olivia didn’t want to spend even one more day of her life bracing against an invisible foe whose only purpose was to kill her joy. No matter how reassuring and kind Rafe was, Olivia alone was responsible for her own happiness.