Chapter 22
KARINA
The next morning after breakfast, Frankie pulls me aside and asks if I’d like to help her with inventory in the tasting room.
Of course I say yes. Having something to occupy my time, and knowing that I’m able to be useful to the winery, is a godsend.
Given everything that’s happened recently, my brain definitely needs a distraction. I’m sure Frankie feels the same.
The tasting room is closed today, and only minimal staff are on hand.
As much as I love the space when it’s full of guests and activity and bright chatter, it’s kind of nice having the place to ourselves.
As Frankie and I start labeling wine shelves for scanning, the rest of the staff are moving furniture around and deep cleaning.
Everyone seems to be enjoying the quiet.
Frankie seems a bit tense and withdrawn, but it’s obvious she’s determined to pour her energy into her job.
I can’t imagine how the stress of Dante nearly being shot compounded the strain she’s already under with Livvie still being gone.
But I’ve noticed that she and Dante have been absent from most of the family meals since the shooting, and I’m hoping it’s because they’re taking some time alone to deal with things in their own way.
“Each section we just put a barcode sticker on will need to be scanned separately,” she tells me, handing me a clipboard.
“First, you’ll scan the sticker on the shelf, and then you’ll count each bottle in that section.
After you type in the number of bottles, you just scan the sticker on the shelf again to close out that section.
And then check off the name on your list.”
“Got it,” I say.
“Kind of redundant with all the repetitive steps, I know, but it’s a lot more accurate to do inventory this way. Here’s your scanner, my dear.”
I take it from her and nod. The thing is basically a plastic gun with a small digital screen and a little keyboard attached.
She takes me to a back room and shows me where I’ll be starting.
My clipboard has a printout that lists each type of wine that’s stored in the tasting room, where it is located, and how many bottles were stocked at the beginning of the month.
The numbers we collect today will get entered in the inventory program the winery uses and help ensure that they’re stocking enough of each type of wine in the tasting room, and that there aren’t any discrepancies in their stock.
I get to work scanning, counting, scanning. It’s a bit repetitive, but I like it. It’s relaxing.
Meanwhile, Frankie’s on the other side of the room, blowing through shelves like nobody’s business.
She’s efficient and fast, which I guess comes with practice.
As for me, I’m still on my second row of bottles, because I’m constantly double-checking the labels to be sure I have the right wine so I don’t make a mistake.
Pretty soon, I start to get the hang of things, and the work becomes more effortless.
One of the other employees is humming lightly out in the hallway and the sound makes a pleasant backdrop.
It’s really nice having a job, even if it’s just assisting Frankie once in a while.
I never thought much about what I might want to do with my life while I was growing up.
It was always made clear to me that I’d be married off at some point and become somebody else’s problem.
Going to college full time, getting a job, having a career…
these things were never up for discussion.
Sure, I was allowed to take a college class or two online, but even though I enjoyed them, I knew they weren’t going to serve as building blocks to my future.
And my family thought of those courses as nothing more than a hobby.
At the end of the day, I was supposed to become Pietro’s wife and I was never encouraged to think about myself beyond that.
But doing this? This feels nice. I know Frankie could have gotten anyone to help her today, but she chose me. It makes me feel a little more confident in myself. Like…like I’m a person who has more to offer than just my family name or my body.
“How’s it going?” Frankie comes up next to me and peeks at the list on my clipboard. Of course, her own list is completely full of check marks.
“Bit of a learning curve, but I think I’ve got it. I figured accuracy was more important than speed.”
“Atta girl.” She smiles. “I can double-check your counts, if you like? But I trust you.”
“How about if I double-check everything, and if I have a question, I’ll let you know.”
“Perfect.”
She nods and is about to walk away.
“Wait, Frankie?” I press the clipboard to my chest and take a small breath. “I know you have a solid staff here, but…if there’s anything you need help with, you know…part time, full time, even just on a temporary basis…I’d be happy to jump in and learn. I mean, if you think I’d be good at it.”
I suddenly feel self-conscious and a little bit presumptuous, but Frankie’s smile puts me instantly at ease. She leans forward conspiratorially.
“Being a Bellanti wife is kind of boring, isn’t it?” She laughs. “Honestly, I figured you and Marco would still be in that honeymoon phase where you wouldn’t want to do anything but spend every waking second in his presence.”
“Yeah, no. That’s over.”
Her smile fades a little. “The honeymoon phase is just that, a phase. It has no determination on your long-term success as a couple. How you handle time apart, having your own lives and interests, and how you come back together at the end of the day is a way better gauge of your relationship than anything else. You really want a job, I’ll give you one. ”
“Thank you. Hopefully Marco will be as excited about it as I am. Did Dante ever object to you working here?”
“Ha!” She smirks. “Dante liked to pretend that I wasn’t more educated in wine than he is, but the truth is, if it wasn’t for me, this place never would’ve ended up the success it is today.
And I say that with absolutely intended conceitedness and self-serving boasting.
” Her eyes crinkle at the sides. “Seriously though, I went to school for this. In Tuscany.”
“Wow.”
“Yep. And winemaking is in my blood. Dante had his reservations, but once he saw me in action, my working was a nonissue. Besides, I’m not the kind of woman who can sit still.
If I’m not working, I’m dying slowly inside.
He learned the hard way that if he wants our relationship to work, he knows I need productive time away from him. ”
“I was never given the option of doing anything purposeful with my life. I know I already told you I’ve never had a job, but it wasn’t by choice. I’d flip burgers at this point if it gave me something to do. So any position you want to offer me, I’m in. I’ll work as hard as I can.”
“Why don’t you finish up that list and we’ll regroup for lunch in the back?”
Lunch? I hadn’t been expecting that. But who am I to object? “Sounds great.”
An hour later, I have my list completed with a double-check of all my counts. I’m satisfied that I didn’t miss a single thing the first time around, and after adding my signature to the bottom of the page, I bring my clipboard over to the desk and set it next to Frankie’s.
The side door opens, and Candi comes in. Her gaze immediately settles on me, her brows arching. “Newest Bellanti Vineyards employee?”
“Not quite yet. I’m just helping Frankie with inventory.”
“Is that Candi?” Frankie calls from the back. “Tell her to stay for lunch!”
“Can’t stay, alas!” Candi shouts. “Just brought by a purchase order for you to sign.”
Frankie appears with a plate of cheese and crackers in one hand. “Baby is hungry. Never mind me.” She shoves a wedge of cheese in her mouth and accepts the paper that Candi offers.
Candi leans against the counter, watching Frankie as she reads over the paperwork. There is true concern in the woman’s eyes. She must know how difficult things have been for Frankie.
“Is Armani around?” Candi asks casually.
Frankie shrugs. “I’m not sure what all he has going on today. You could stop by his office…”
“Nah. It’s fine. I’ll see him later.”
“Oh really.” This catches Frankie’s attention, and she raises a brow while popping a cracker in her mouth. “You two finally going on a date, then?”
“Not at all.” Candi retains a perfectly cool expression, though I do see a slight sparkle in her eyes. “You know I don’t date clients.”
Frankie snorts. “Yeah, well good luck with that. Armani is more than just another client.”
I look between the women. Is he? He’s a grade A jerk, as far as I’m concerned. But I must admit, I’m rather enjoying this gossip.
“If by ‘more than just another client’ you mean he’s infuriatingly sexy, charismatic, and also a little terrifying, then you’re right,” Candi admits. “But he’s still a client, so it’s a no-go.”
Frankie shrugs one shoulder and scribbles her signature across the purchase order. “I mean, I could always fire you and solve that problem.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Candi says, grinning.
“If I actually thought it might push you into his arms, I might,” Frankie says with a laugh. “You two have been circling each other for years. But fine, I’ll leave you alone. For now.”
The women go over one more detail on the paperwork, and then Frankie signs another page before handing it all back to Candi.
“Thanks for stopping by,” Frankie says.
“It was so good seeing you again,” I add.
“Of course.” Candi hesitates, and then asks quietly, “So…has there been any more news about Livvie yet?”
“No,” Frankie says. “Not a word.”
Candi nods and then pulls Frankie in for a hug. “I’m so sorry.”
Frankie shakes her head, sniffling into Candi’s shoulder.
“I feel so helpless,” she chokes out as Candi clucks soothingly at her.
I’m about to excuse myself and give Frankie some privacy, but then she looks over at me and gives me a wobbly smile.
“I’m just so glad I have the rest of my family around me, all in one piece.”
“Me too.” Candi releases Frankie and nods at me. “I can’t imagine what you went through with the shooting. Both of you. I am so glad the men are okay.”
The mood has become incredibly somber.
Frankie’s phone rings. She immediately steps back from us and pulls her phone out, eyes widening when she sees the screen. A sense of urgency comes over her as she answers.
“Mom?” There is a pause and then Frankie looks around the room. “What do you mean? Where are you?”
Frankie looks down at the phone and then puts it back to her ear as if she’s completely confused. “I don’t understand, you need to slow down for a sec.”
But then the door to the hallway flies open and an older blonde woman with gorgeous cheekbones, wearing a white blouse and a pair of artistically paint-splattered jeans, comes rushing in.
“Mom!” Frankie gasps, running over to her. “What are you doing here?”
“I got on the first flight out of New Orleans. I had to see you in person. Where is Dante? Where are the rest of the Bellantis? We need to do something!”
Frankie’s lips press into a tight line, as if she’s expecting the absolute worst news. “Mom. Take a deep breath. Tell me what happened.”
“They—they sent me a video,” Frankie’s mother explains, panic on her face.
“What? Who did?” Frankie asks.
“The Brunos. It’s Livvie.”