“Okay, well, pull over,” she said.

“I am pulled over,” I lied. “Tell me.”

She paused for a moment, and I thought I heard her whisper something to Rathe, but she muffled the receiver with her hand. I was about to demand she tell me again when her hand moved, and she sighed into the phone. “Mattia had a heart attack last night… and he, he didn’t make it. Greta’s with her kids and the restaurant is obviously closed today and well, Jacque wasn’t sure when or if it would be opened up again. Heath told me to call you, then he rushed out the door. He was meeting Jacque at Grandezzas to close things up properly for an extended time. The food and all, you know.” She stopped talking.

I then pulled off the road. I felt numb. The world outside rushed by with life while I sat there in the silence of my car. I said nothing because I couldn’t. I was trying to let the words I’d heard sink in, even though I was struggling to understand them. Or accept them. I’d just seen Mattia a few days ago. He’d been jolly and laughing. Greta had been telling me that her oldest daughter was expecting again. This time a girl. He’d then made a joke about his offspring breeding like rabbits, and Greta had slapped his arm, smiling at his comment. She loved her children, but she adored her grandchildren. They both did.

I heard Margo saying something more, but I didn’t hear her. It was as if she was talking through a muffled phone again. I couldn’t focus on her words to understand them. A tear fell from my cheek onto my hand. I glanced down at the wetness and more fell, splashing as they hit my hands that were clenched in my lap.

“Catalina?” Rathe’s voice was deep and smooth as it met my ear. I blinked but continued to stare at my tears as they fell. I heard him though. I wasn’t sure I could ever not hear him. When he spoke, all my senses snapped to attention. Damn him for that. His voice was nice. Soothing. That was odd, wasn’t it? That I was soothed by his voice. “Catalina!” he said my name again, and this time, he sounded worried.

“Yes,” I replied, my voice was raspy.

“Are you pulled over?” His voice was firm and there was an edge to it.

“Yes,” I replied. Was he angry about something?

“Good. Stay there. I’ll have Margo drive me to your location. Don’t drive. Promise me that.”

I didn’t ask him why. I understood. “Okay,” I agreed.

“We are headed to her car right now. She said you’re only ten minutes away,” he told me.

“Okay,” I said again.