The Milburn Big Box Set

by Nancy McGovern

  7pm. That was right before Zoey had come to Nora’s. Perhaps even while she was driving on her way there.

  “She said something really weird. She said ‘a silver jacket doesn’t mean anything’. I have no idea what she was going on about, but—”

  “Wait, stop! A silver jacket?” Nora frowned at him. “What does that mean? Did you tell the sheriff?”

  Matt shook his head. “No. I mean, I forgot all about it until now, to be honest.”

  “What exactly did she say?”

  “I called her to ask where she was and she said, ‘I don’t know what to do. I just don’t. A silver jacket doesn’t mean anything, does it? I’m being silly. I don’t know where to go.’ I asked her to calm down and explain what she was talking about, but then she said she had to go and hung up.” Matt paused. “By 7:30, I was getting really worried, but she suddenly showed up at my place for dinner. She apologized for being late, said she had to mail a package. But that’s all she said.”

  “And the silver jacket? She didn’t mention it again?”

  Matt shook his head. “I asked her, but she said she was just being silly, apologized and sort of moved the conversation on. With Zoey, well, if she decided not to tell you something, that was that, you know? I didn’t press. Besides, I was in a romantic mood, and the moon was out. I just didn’t think about it.”

  Once again, Nora cursed herself for being so insensitive with Zoey. Zoey had trusted Nora enough to come to her for advice and, for some reason, had changed her mind, deciding she was being silly, and had gone back home. But Zoey hadn’t been silly. Somehow, that silver jacket was important. Nora wished she could turn back time. Five minutes. That’s all she would have needed — a five minute conversation and maybe Zoey would still be alive.

  *****

  Chapter 5

  Brownies

  By the time Nora got back home, the sun had almost set. She stepped into an empty kitchen and felt a wave of sadness as she saw Hazel’s still-unwashed cereal bowl sitting on the edge of the sink. Grace had headed back to her own home late last night, and Hazel had insisted on cleaning up after the party had finished. Yet Nora had let one bit of spilt milk annoy her. And then there was the callous way she’d dropped the news of Zoey’s death. She felt terrible.

  Deciding to make it up to her, Nora turned the knob on the oven. There was one thing that was always guaranteed to cheer Hazel up. One thing that had been present at every one of her twenty birthdays — Nora’s fudgy brownies. Like her mother, Hazel preferred brownies to cake.

  Noisily, Nora banged a saucepan on the stove and began rummaging around inside her fridge. Normally, she’d have used a whole bar of chocolate, but chocolates tended to disappear rapidly in her house. Rooting around the fridge, she found half a slab of white chocolate and half of a caramel bar. Shrugging, she decided it would have to do. She melted it with some butter in the saucepan, stirring continuously on a medium heat. Then, while the mixture was cooling, she pre-heated the oven.

  Her mind was blissfully blank as she mixed in the sugar and strained the flour into the batter. Zoey’s death, her fight with Hazel — if only all of life were as simple as baking brownies. Add in the right ingredients, and you can be confident in the result.

  Of course, life and parenting weren’t the same as baking. She’d put the exact same ingredients of love and care into Grace and Hazel, yet they’d turned out so different. Nora frowned. Not that she was comparing them — they’d both been unique and special to her since the day they were born. But still…while Nora felt relaxed and confident about Grace, Hazel always filled her up with anxiety. She was always into something.

  She remembered back when Hazel was about three. Nora had been chatting out in the backyard with Tina when she’d realized that Hazel had wandered off somewhere. They’d run into the house looking for her but finally found her in the backyard after all. Somehow in the space of two minutes, as the two friends talked, Hazel had found a big, empty garden pot and fallen in. Nora still smiled at the thought of Hazel’s chubby little toddler legs waving in the air as she sat patiently, waiting to be rescued.

  It seemed so funny now but, at the time, Nora had had nightmares wondering what if. Normally, you were supposed to be a more relaxed parent with your second child, and an anxiety ridden one with your first. So it was funny that it had worked out opposite for Nora. But Hazel had given Nora a lot more to worry about than Grace. Right from the start — she’d made her appearance a month early — she’d been a weak, sickly baby. Even as a teenager, she’d been quiet and reserved, preferring to spend time alone on a computer rather than make friends.

  Nora was prepping as she was thinking and soon the batter was done — a light-brown, gooey concoction that she was just barely able to resist licking. She popped it into the oven and soon the wonderful smell of chocolate and vanilla filled up her kitchen. Just as she was wiping her hands, the front door clicked open. She ran to the living room, hoping it was Hazel, but Harvey walked in instead.

  His face looked grim. “I talked to Hazel,” he said.

  “Where is she?” Nora asked.”

  “She’s staying over at Simone’s tonight with Amber,” Harvey explained.

  Nora nodded. Simone was a good friend of Nora’s and her younger daughter, Amber, had been Hazel’s best friend since they were little. “How did she sound?”

  “Upset. Really upset. I didn’t realize how close she and Zoey were.” Harvey loosened his tie and ran a hand through his hair.

  “I don’t know what to do,” Nora said.

  “Neither do I.” Harvey sighed. “It’s a pity about college. She sounds very sure that she never wants to go back.”

  “She’s so smart. If she’d only apply herself...” Nora shook her head. “I don’t understand what she’s thinking.”

  Harvey laughed. “No? I know someone who preferred the real world to college myself.” He raised his eyebrow at Nora.

  Nora bristled. “That was different. I had a career planned out since I was a kid. I wanted to be a chef. I wanted to own my own diner. Maybe I didn’t always get the best grades, but I always had a goal. That’s what worries me most about Hazel. She just seems so directionless.”

  Harvey shrugged. “She’s twenty. It’s okay to be directionless at twenty, isn’t it?”

  “Not in this day and age,” Nora said. “Things have changed. The world’s so competitive now. And she doesn’t understand the importance of working hard, of getting your ducks in a row. I wish…” Nora sighed. “I just want the best for her.”

  “I know.” Harvey walked up to Nora and drew her in a hug, then placed a kiss on the top of her head. “I want the same. But since she’s determined that college isn’t what’s best for her, I came up with a new plan.”

  Nora pulled away and raised an eyebrow. “What’s this?”

  “You can hire her down at the diner,” Harvey said. “I mean, you haven’t been able to work as chef since your carpal tunnel and Angela’s head chef now, but maybe you can teach Hazel your magic ways? Then, one day, when we’re long gone, Hazel can own and manage the Madness Diner.”

  Nora’s eyes lit up. “Wow. Just wow. How have I never thought of this before?”

  “She’s grown up helping out at the diner, so she should fit right in,” Harvey said. “Does that sound good?”

  “It sounds great!” Nora said, feeling the tension go out of her shoulders. “I mean, I’ve always wanted it, you know. Down the line, I always pictured Hazel taking over the diner, and maybe Grace running your real estate business. Or vice versa. It would just be so great to keep them in the family.”

  “Really?” Harvey laughed. “I always imagined selling my business off at sixty-five and spending the rest of my life by a pool with a margarita in hand.”

  Nora laughed. “Sixty-five is just five years from now. Are you really prepared to sell so soon?”

  Harvey paused and a curious look passed over his face. Nora was instantly alert. What was this? Ther
e was something he wasn’t telling her.

  “About that,” he said.

  “What is it?”

  “The truth is…I might not have a choice.” Pain flashed across his face for a second. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you, but—”

  The timer on the oven went off, but Nora stood right where she was, ignoring the incessant beeps. “Harvey, is something happening with the business?”

  She wondered how she’d missed his stress. Real estate had always been a risky game and, in their years of marriage, she and Harvey had seen good times and bad. Thanks to the income from her diner, and their tendency to be frugal, they’d always managed to tide over the bad times and enjoy the good ones without losing their heads either way. Surely, this would be the same.

  “You remember the big deal we were closing in Jackson Hole?” Harvey asked. “The long and short of it is that it fell through. We had a lot riding on it, and my company has a lot of debt accumulated now.” Harvey paused and raised an eyebrow toward the oven. “That thing’s been beeping for ages now. You sure you want to burn whatever it is you’ve made?”

  With a yelp, Nora rushed to take out the brownies and placed them on a rack to cool. Harvey looked over her shoulder. “Yum. For Hazel?”

  She nodded. “Never mind that now. What about your company?”

  “Well, I got an offer, a really good offer, from a rival of ours,” Harvey said. “I don’t know…it’s not the first time things have been tight, but I feel like I’m tired of it all. I’m seriously considering taking the money. If we invested it well, I think it’d be enough for us to retire on comfortably.”

  “But?” Nora prodded.

  “But it’d mean letting go of Nathaniel Real Estate,” Harvey said, suddenly unsure. “I don’t know. I feel healthy and fit and I don’t know if I could retire so early.”

  Nora nodded. Real estate development wasn’t just a job for Harvey. He’d always been a bit of a gambler and for him the real fun was in the how the game was played. He’d spent nearly forty years in the field now and, if he quit…what was he going to do?

  Six months ago, Nora herself had gone through a similar crisis when her carpal tunnel had finally grown too painful. She’d realized that for her own health, she’d need to stop being a full-time chef. Ever since, she’d been at a bit of a loose end. Tina’s job had always been to manage the diner, and she did that wonderfully well. She didn’t really need Nora’s help with that. And Angela, Nora’s assistant, had taken over duties as head chef just as easily. So, even though Nora was a partner at the diner, she felt superfluous now. Plus, she missed the action.

  Harvey seemed to read her mind, because he nodded. “Yes. Exactly. I’ve been watching you these last months. Everyone says that retirement should be fun. But I don’t think it’s making you happy. You were already happy, doing your job and raising the kids.”

  “And now, both have slipped away from me somehow.” Nora gave him a bittersweet smile. “True. Plus, you were always more of a workaholic, Harvey. I really don’t know what you’ll do with your time.”

  Harvey grinned. “Yeah. Work’s always been a big part of my life.”

  “When did you get the offer? Don’t make up your mind too quickly,” Nora said.

  “I got the offer yesterday, but I didn’t want to ruin the mood on your birthday,” Harvey said. “You’re right. There’s no hurry, really. I’ll think about it.”

  “Who made the offer?” Nora asked.

  “Percy Morris,” Harvey said.

  “Oh. Oh, no.” Nora paused. “Harvey, are you really planning to sell your darling company to your biggest rival?”

  Harvey sighed. “I don’t know. There’s just so much to think about. For now…” he plucked one of the still-warm brownies from the rack and took a bite. “For now, I’ll let my stomach do the thinking. These are amazing.”

  “Help yourself.” Nora sighed. “I’m not sure when Hazel will be back, or if she’ll even want to eat them. I’m really worried, Harvey. She was so upset earlier today that she was shaking.”

  “She’ll be fine,” Harvey said. “Once the shock wears off, she’ll be our sweet, little Hazel again. Okay? Nothing bad’s going to happen.”

  But Nora wasn’t so sure of that. Her skin was tight and her nerves on alert. A storm was brewing in her little corner of existence. Every instinct told her so.

  *****

  Chapter 6

  Behind The Door

  Nora had baked a lot more brownies than she’d expected and the next morning, before heading to the diner, she decided to go see Mrs. Mullally first. She drove up the familiar street, feeling a tinge of nostalgia, as always, on seeing the sunny yellow house she’d spent quite a few years in. Mrs. Mullally had been more than a landlady. She’d ended up becoming like family to Nora.

  She was sitting on the porch when Nora drove up, her wrinkled hands looking strangely out of place as they clutched a brand new tablet.

  “Hello there.” She waved at Nora cheerfully. “Look at the little geegaw my grand-nephew bought me!”

  Nora leaned down and pecked both her cheeks, then admired the smooth, metallic body of the tablet. “Nice! Latest model, I see. Welcome to the digital world, Mrs. M. Finally.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I still think there’s nothing wrong with paper and a pen,” Mrs. Mullally said. “But, look, this thing can hold a thousand books at once! And movies!”

  “You’ll be an addict in no time, I’m sure.” A woman stepped out onto the porch, smiling. Ronnie Shepherd was in her early thirties but already there were lines on her face and deep, dark circles under her eyes. Nora sympathized, remembering what having a four-year-old and a two-year-old had been like.

  “I baked some brownies and thought maybe you guys would like them.” Nora handed the tray over to Ronnie, whose eyes immediately lit up. “Oh, thank you. I’d invite you in but, honestly, the house is a real mess right now. I was in the middle of mopping up. It’s better if you just stay out here on the porch with Mrs. M.”

  “Zoey used to work for you, too, right?” Nora asked.

  Ronnie sighed and nodded. “So sad, what happened. A heart attack at only sixty.”

  “Police haven’t confirmed that yet,” Mrs. Mullally said, her voice sharp. “We don’t know what happened.”

  “But of course it was a heart attack, Aunt,” Ronnie said. “Tom said so, and he’d know. Deputy James is one of his best friends.”

  “Deputy James still has a big mouth, I see.” Mrs. M. sighed. “When I was a teacher, he was one of those kids who just couldn’t sit still or stay quiet for a single second. Hyperactive.”

  “He’s still the same, that’s for sure.” Nora smiled. “When did you last see Zoey, Ronnie?”

  “Oh, yesterday,” Ronnie said. “She used to come on Tuesdays and Fridays as a rule, but she was sick on Friday and came a day later instead.” She clapped a mouth over her hand. “Oh, she was sick on Friday! Maybe that was a sign. If only we’d spotted it...”

  “What time did she come over?” Nora asked.

  “Around four, I think. Right after she finished at the Morrises,” Ronnie replied. “She worked for an hour, then took off. The usual.”

  “Did she seem...” Nora let her words trail off deliberately.

  “I didn’t think she looked sick at all, if that’s what you mean,” Ronnie said, “In fact, she seemed to be the picture of health to me. Isn’t that right, Aunt?”

  “Oh, I was sleeping then, dear,” Mrs. Mullally said. “I didn’t even hear her come in. You know how deeply I sleep these days.”

  “Oh, that’s right, your afternoon nap.” Ronnie looked almost envious at the prospect of sleep. “Well, like I said, she didn’t seem sick at all. If I’d only known, maybe...” Ronnie shook her head. “Then again, death doesn’t always send you warnings, I suppose. It just happens.” Her eyes teared up a little. “Strange, isn’t it? I would never have guessed that it would be the last I’d see her. Poor Zoey.”

&nb
sp; “But that wasn’t the last time you saw her,” Mrs. M. chimed in. “You were talking to her at the party. Nora’s party. She left really quickly, but she was there initially, remember?”

  “Oh, right.” Ronnie looked irritated. “I suppose that’s right.”

  “What did you talk about?” Nora asked.

  “Just...” Ronnie shrugged, “small talk. I don’t really remember.”

  “You seemed agitated,” Mrs. Mullally said. “I remember wondering if everything was ok.”

  Ronnie looked at her watch. “Oh, look at the time. It’s time for your medicines, Auntie M. Let’s go in, shall we? Nora, thank you so much for the brownies. I’m sure we’ll love them.”

  “Oh, it was no problem,” Nora said, suspicious. Then, stalling for time, she asked, “Do you think I could get a glass of water?”

  “Well…” Ronnie hesitated, “sure. I’ll bring it out here for you.”

  “I could just get it myself if you’re busy,” Nora said. “I know my way around the house, you know. Mrs. Mullally and I had a lot of good times in that kitchen.”

  “Ah, the wonderful cakes you used to bake.” Mrs. Mullally sniffed the air. “I can almost smell them now.”

  “I’ll bring the water out to you,” Ronnie snipped, and turned away. She slammed the door behind her a little roughly and Mrs. Mullally looked startled. She gave Nora a sharp look. “Do you think I said something that upset our Ronnie?” she asked.

  “Did she really look agitated while talking to Zoey?” Nora asked.

  Mrs. Mullally nodded. “I can’t see that well anymore, but I was close enough that I could tell. Ronnie wasn’t very happy and, for that matter, Zoey didn’t exactly look pleased, either.”

  Interesting. Nora wondered why. “How is Ronnie? And how is her husband?” she asked Mrs. Mullally. “They take good care of you, right?”

  “They do, dear. Don’t you worry about me,” Mrs. Mullally said. “Tom’s a good boy. He cares for his old aunt. Can’t say that about everyone these days. It was really good of him to move in here with me, and he’s really good about taking me to the doctors regularly.”