The Milburn Big Box Set

by Nancy McGovern

  Harvey wrinkled his nose right back at her, then bent down to briefly touch her forehead with his. “Come on, it’s past midnight. Shall we head home?” Harvey asked. “You need to drive, though, because I’m a little bit woozy.” He dangled his keys in front of her.

  Nora snatched them out of his hand and linked her arm in his. She turned to Jess. “You’re coming with us, right?”

  Jess shook her head. “No thanks. I’ll stay a bit longer. Don’t worry, I’ll find another ride.”

  “You sure?” Nora paused. “We could continue that conversation of ours.”

  “No, forget it. Really.” Jessica looked embarrassed. “I just talk nonsense when I’m drunk. I’m sobering up a bit and realizing it's no big deal. Have a good night, you two.”

  “Thanks. Bye, folks! Go Bulldogs!” Harvey pushed his fist into the air and a dozen people in the room shouted, “GO!” like it was a war cry.

  In the car, Harvey tossed his jacket into the backseat and leaned against the window as Nora drove. He gave a contented sigh as he fiddled with the radio.

  “Good game today, right?”

  “Good game, perfect party.” Nora smiled.

  “What’s up with Jess? I didn’t interrupt something, did I?” Harvey asked. “She looked really serious when I walked in.”

  “I think there’s something she wants to talk about,” Nora explained. “I’ll go drop by the boutique sometime.”

  “Two birds with one stone? I know you’ve been wanting a new dress for Hazel’s birthday party.” Harvey smirked.

  “Can you believe our youngest is turning twenty-seven?” Nora marveled. “They all grow up so fast.”

  “Maybe we can invite Jess. She was in Grace’s class, wasn’t she? I’m sure they’re friends.”

  “They were in the same class, but I don’t think Grace knew her too well,” Nora said, thinking of her older daughter. “Grace was more into playing her hockey and such while Jess hung with the cheerleaders.”

  Harvey shrugged. “Just an idea. By the way, I think I know what’s bothering Jess.”

  “What?”

  “I heard through the grapevine that her shop has loans she can’t pay off,” Harvey said. “That’s probably what she wanted to discuss with you. She’s probably upset about it.”

  “No…I’m pretty sure it was a personal matter she wanted to talk about,” Nora said. “But how do you know? About her boutique, I mean?”

  Harvey shrugged. “You don’t do business in this town without hearing a few things here and there.”

  True, Nora thought. The problem was that you never could tell if what you were hearing was the truth or just a rumor.

  *****

  Chapter 2

  The Mutiny

  From behind the counter, Nora polished a glass with a cloth while watching the townsfolk chat. The picture window of The Madness Diner showed a bleak world outside. A bare tree rustled its branches against the wind like an old man shaking his fists at a naughty young boy. The wind whipped around the block with thin snowflakes chasing it. Nora hadn’t slept too well after the party, but she was glad to be here at work and out of the house. On days this stark, one needed human company.

  Inside the diner, there was warmth and the yellow glow of light. Most folks were finishing work and dropping into the diner for a bite to eat or some coffee and chit chat. The gentle buzz of words filled the room as patrons spoke about last night’s game or the latest political scandal.

  “Coffee.” A woman sat down heavily on a counter stool. “A lot of it, please. With cream and sugar.”

  Nora smiled. “Hello to you, too, Natalie.”

  “Oh, please. After the day I’ve had, I’m in no mood for hellos,” Natalie grumbled. She was a solidly-built woman, with the eyes of a sage and the smile of an unruly young child. Her shoulders, usually thrown back with pride, were stooped today and even the bright-pink cardigan she wore couldn’t disguise the weariness in her expression.

  Nora poured her a hot cup of coffee and slid it over. “What happened? Tough client?”

  Starting out as a copywriter and illustrator, Natalie had built a small but well-known advertising firm that served clients throughout Milburn. Nora’s own husband, Harvey, had used Natalie's firm when starting a new project for his real estate business, and her fresh ideas had helped him drum up plenty of business. So Nora knew how hard Natalie worked - ideas came at all hours, and client’s demands never seemed to stop.

  “I wish it were a client.” Natalie said. “Clients come and go. I’m used to that kind of stress. This…this is different.”

  “Oh?” Nora cupped her chin with both hands and leaned forward on the counter. “What happened?”

  “I…well…” Natalie’s eyes suddenly sharpened. “You know what? You’re the perfect person to ask. Maybe you can help us out.”

  “Us? Do you have a family issue?”

  “Who doesn’t? But, no, this isn’t about family. It’s about friends. My best friends,” Natalie said, shaking her head. “I mean, they’re who I go to when I want to escape stress, you know? The last thing I expected was to have a nuclear war break out in my knitting group!”

  “Hmm.” Nora whistled. “Is there trouble brewing with the Stitchin’ Witches?”

  Natalie nodded. The Stitchin’ Witches were a strange bunch. A group of thirty-something women addicted to knitting, they met up every Thursday, ostensibly to knit, but mostly to gossip. The group had even met at the diner several times, so Nora knew them all. For the most part, they were a jolly, raucous bunch led by Maybelle Abelard, Milburn’s most notorious prankster. They’d distinguished themselves by pulling off new pranks every April Fool’s Day. Last year, Maybelle and her gang had knitted a giant, fanged bat and rigged it onto the town founder’s statue. It was so life-like that many of the townsfolk had initially believed it was real.

  “So what’s the problem?” Nora asked. “I thought your group was…tight knit.”

  Natalie groaned at the joke and rolled her eyes.

  “Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.” Nora grinned. “What is it?”

  “Well, we all contribute a sum each year to the club,” Natalie said. “Mostly, we use it for snacks or a weekend away. But, this year, Jessica…you know Jess, the boutique owner, right? Well, this year she wanted to use the money to buy yarn and have us all knit hats for patients at the hospital,” Natalie said.

  “Sounds like a great plan,” Nora said.

  “Yeah, well…Maybelle didn’t think so. There’s a knitting competition in Jackson Hole next month, and she wants us all to take part. The money from our club could help with accommodations there, and it’d be a fun weekend away for us all. Plus if we win, we’d be in the papers and the first prize is a thousand dollars worth of yarn, which we could use for the hospital idea.”

  “If you win,” Nora pointed out.

  “If we win,” Natalie agreed. She sighed. “They’re both butting heads over it, basically.”

  “So put it to a vote,” Nora said.

  “Yeah, we did. Problem is, there’s only four of us.” Natalie grinned. “I sided with Maybelle, Jess and Brooke voted against. So, there you have it. Nobody will budge. It’s a deadlock.”

  “Well, you could just change your vote,” Nora pointed out.

  Natalie shifted uneasily and took a long sip of her coffee. “I would but…well, you know how Maybelle is.”

  “Actually, I don’t.” Nora grinned. “I mean, I know of her, but we’ve never really spoken beyond the most brief conversations.”

  “Well, May’s a fantastic best friend - she’s loyal and funny and all that. But she’s got a temper, and she’ll feel like I betrayed her.” Natalie rolled her eyes. “I know, super dramatic, but that’s how she is. She’s really big on loyalty. But now this has just boiled down into an ego battle now. May vs. Jess.”

  “Well…Jessica never struck me as someone with an ego. In fact, she’s always been really sweet. I remember last year, when I had a bad
flare up of my arthritis, she knitted me some mittens,” Nora said. “Maybe you can talk her into changing her mind? You could always do her idea next year?”

  “Ah…yes.” Natalie nodded. “But the thing is…I think Jess has a grudge against May. She’s refusing to back down.”

  “Oh?” Nora raised an eyebrow. That didn’t sound much like the Jess she knew.

  “Yeah. You know I was thinking - everyone around town knows you. Maybe you could talk to them?” Natalie asked. “I mean, you’re Milburn’s resident-detective, diner-owner and diplomat, right?” She grinned.

  Nora laughed. “That last one’s new to me.”

  “Maybe I’m exaggerating a little. But I was thinking maybe if you can just figure out what grudge Jess has against May, it’d help a lot.”

  Nora laughed. “Sure. Why not?”

  “Oh, thanks a bunch!” Natalie grinned, looking relieved. “Right now, May’s being all passive-aggressive with Jessie and Brooke and those two are being cold to May and, well, I just really can’t stand it! I thought we grew out of all this in middle school, but apparently not!”

  Nora laughed. “You guys have known each other forever, right?”

  “Me and May? Pretty much,” Natalie confirmed. “May and I have been best friends since second grade. Jess moved to town when we were teens and we got to know her because we were all on the swim team together. Brooke and her husband, Peter, moved into town when we were all in our late twenties and she became a part of the group. In fact, the knitting group was her idea, originally.”

  “How long have you guys been knitting together?”

  “Five years now,” Natalie said. “We used to have other members, but nobody was as regular as the four of us. Still, if someone wants to join in for a session or two, they’re always welcome.”

  “Well,” Nora looked down at her hands, “I haven’t really had a bad arthritic flare up for a while now. I’m not sure if I can knit, though.”

  “That’s a pity. It’s so relaxing, you know? You’d love it. We chatter away, eat some goodies, drink some coffee, and our hands stay busy throughout. Well, it was relaxing. Before now.” Natalie looked glum.

  “Hey, don’t worry. Friends fight all the time. Usually, the argument ends just as fast as it began,” Nora said.

  “Not in this case,” Natalie retorted. “I think I’ll drown my sorrows with some more coffee, if you don’t mind.” She shook her cup at Nora, who refilled it. Eyeing the pie displayed on the counter, Natalie put a finger to her chin. “Maybe I should add some pie, too, if that’s possible.”

  Nora laughed. “I’d recommend it. Tina baked it earlier today.”

  Natalie took a closer look at the pie, which was vibrant green in color with a golden crust, and wrinkled her nose. “I’m not so sure. What is that, some new-age, healthy, spinach-y pie? I was in the mood for something sweet and decadent.”

  “This is pretty sweet and decadent,” Nora said. “Tina just took a trip to Japan and she’s come up with a Matcha and coconut pie.”

  “What’s Matcha?” Natalie asked.

  “It’s a powder formed from specially-grown green tea leaves,” Nora explained. “I love it, personally.”

  “And I love you!” Tina, Nora’s best friend and business partner, came bursting from the kitchen, a tray of food in hand. She blew a kiss at Nora, scurried away to serve the food, then hurried back to the counter.

  “What’s the gossip?” Tina asked, leaning back against the counter. “I haven’t seen Nat look so glum since her team lost the playoffs last season.”

  “We’re just trying to decide whether she wants a slice of that pie or not,” Nora said.

  “Yeah, I’m an out-of-the-box thinker at work but, when it comes to food, I like to keep it simple,” Natalie said. “Apple pie…sure. Blackberry pie…lovely. Pecan pie…eh, I’ll eat it if it’s in front of me. But a…what was it? Matcha Coconut? What were you thinking?!”

  “That’s the problem with people like you.” Tina swept her finger dramatically at Natalie. “Food shouldn’t just be about familiarity. There’s nothing wrong with stepping out of your comfort zone and letting your palate grow a bit!”

  Nora laughed. “Oh, please. You literally just made this so you could tell everyone who eats it about your time in Japan.”

  “Well…” Tina flushed. “Nothing wrong with that, either. I’ve traveled halfway across the globe. I deserve to talk about it for a little while.”

  “Alright, alright,” Natalie said, gesturing toward the pie. “Bring it on. I’ll eat the pie, I’ll hear your tale and, in return, Nora, you’re going to help me figure out the mystery of Jessie’s grudge.”

  “A new mystery?” Tina raised an eyebrow. “What’s this about? Did we have another murder in town? How come I haven’t heard about it?”

  “It’s nothing like that.” Nora laughed. “It’s just a spat between friends that I’m trying to peacefully resolve.”

  “Yeah, Tina. Don’t be so morbid,” Natalie said. “Murder?! Honestly, do you think we go about stabbing at each other with our knitting needles?”

  “Oh, is this the Stitchin’ Witches you’re talking about?” Tina asked. “Funny. I just served Jessie and Brooke earlier today.”

  “Jessie and Brooke were here?” Natalie looked surprised.

  “Sure. This morning. And they didn’t look too happy,” Tina said. “Didn’t sound too happy, either.”

  “What were they talking about?” Natalie asked eagerly.

  “Now now, young lady.” Tina waved her finger at Natalie once again. “You don’t think I go about eavesdropping on our wonderful, paying customers, do you?”

  “I don’t think anything.” Natalie winked. “I know you do. You’re notorious, Tina.”

  Tina looked genuinely mortified. “I am?”

  “I-” Natalie’s phone began buzzing. She looked at the screen and rolled her eyes. “This is a client. Would you excuse me? Actually, I think I’ll skip the pie and just pay for the coffee.” She dug in her pocket, drew out a dollar and nodded at Nora as she left.

  “Huh?” Tina frowned as Natalie left.

  “What?” Nora asked.

  Through the window they saw Natalie walk to her car, phone pressed against one ear. Her eyebrows were drawn together and she was scowling as she reversed her car out of the parking lot and sped away, with the phone still between her shoulder and ear.

  “Just seems funny that she lied to us,” Tina said.

  “Lied?” Nora looked at Tina sharply.

  “That wasn’t a client who called her,” Tina said. “I glanced at the phone as she picked up. The contact was saved as 'Babe'. Now who do you suppose that is?”

  “Natalie’s not married, is she?” Nora asked.

  “Nope. She was dating some guy named Charlie from Jackson Hole for a while,” Tina said. “I know her friends absolutely hated him. Apparently he kept mooching off Natalie and never held down a job. Total bum. So, finally, she dumped him awhile ago. She’s been single for a few months now. Think she’s got a new mystery boyfriend?”

  “Maybe,” Nora considered. “He can’t stay a mystery for too long. Not here in Milburn.”

  “That’s true.” Tina laughed. “Speaking of which, I did eavesdrop on Brooke and Jessie earlier today.”

  “Of course, you did. Anything interesting?” Nora asked.

  “Ohhhh, yes,” Tina said, excited about spreading the gossip. “Jess was saying, 'I think a mutiny’s in order, don’t you?' and Brooke was nodding along. They both kept quiet after that till I was far away. I guess my reputation as a snoop really has gotten around.”

  “A mutiny?” Nora tapped her chin with a finger. “Funny choice of word, don’t you think?”

  Tina shrugged, “Well, as long as they aren’t planning to take over the diner in a military coup, I don’t care what the mutiny’s about!”

  Laughing, she and Nora carried on with their tasks, forgetting their conversation with Natalie as the diner got busier
. That is, until later, when the conversation came back to haunt them both.

  *****

  Chapter 3

  Ripples In The Water

  Instead of heading back home that afternoon, Nora went to her gym. In a fit of determination, she’d joined about seven months earlier, and then promptly forgotten to ever go. It was only when she got a bill nudging her to pay next year’s fees that she’d woken up and decided to actually use the facilities she’d paid for. In the locker room, she quickly changed into a dark swimsuit and tucked her hair into a cap. The gym had a beautiful, heated pool that was nearly always deserted this time of day.

  Nora ducked underwater, swam a few laps and then floated onto her back, enjoying the water’s gentle embrace. Her youngest daughter, Hazel, had phoned her earlier and Nora’s mind was filled with a to-do list for Hazel’s upcoming birthday party.

  “Remember, Mom, nothing fancy. Ok? Just the four of us and a few friends over for dinner,” Hazel had warned her. “I mean, I’m turning twenty-seven. It’s time to get mature and all that.”

  “Mature doesn’t mean boring,” Nora had countered. “Twenty-seven’s a special age.”

  “Save all that energy for Kaylee’s birthday party. She’s still a kid, I’m not,” Hazel had said, laughing.

  But to Nora, she was and she always would be. As she floated in the water, Nora planned the birthday cake in her head. Hazel loved coconut cream cakes. Or maybe she could just make macaroons instead. Hazel loved those, too. Or both! Then there were the classics, like the Victorian sponge cake with jam that Hazel so loved. So many choices… Nora took a deep breath and righted herself.

  She saw that another woman was in the pool, practicing her strokes at the far end. As Nora began to swim towards the shallow side, the woman quickly swam up to her.

  “Hey, Mrs. Nathaniel.” Brooke Welsh smiled up at her.

  “Brooke!” Nora smiled back. Brooke and Peter were friends of Harvey’s. Peter was a dynamic, young lawyer, specializing in environmental issues, and there were rumors around town that he was planning to run for mayor soon. As for Brooke, when she wasn’t knitting with the Stitchin’ Witches or looking after her two young children, she was on the school board, helping sort out Milburn’s educational system.