The Milburn Big Box Set

by Nancy McGovern

  “I actually told them not to have her at the wedding,” Father Mackenzie said. “Unfortunately, Charlotte’s family put up too much of a fuss, so the evil twin stays. She’ll be relegated to the back of the hall though. Certainly not part of the wedding party.”

  Nora was worried. “Now Father, you don’t believe she’s really evil, do you? I mean… she won’t…”

  “I’ve told the maid of honor to keep an eye on her,” Father Mackenzie said. “But no, I don’t think is evil, per se. Attention seeking, yes. Evil, no. Still, if I were Charlotte, I would have done things a little differently.”

  Father Mackenzie opened the door of the house, and let Nora pass through. Inside, the warm mahogany interiors were decorated with a banner and several exotic flowers. Written on a blackboard was the timing for Charlotte and Jeremy’s rehearsal dinner.

  “You’re catering the wedding, aren’t you?” Father Mackenzie asked.

  “Actually, this is Tina’s project.” Nora couldn’t help but feel a little proud. “It surprises me sometimes how quickly that girl moves. I would have been happy with a small diner forever. But not Tina, she’s CEO material. All she talks about these days are growth and expansion.”

  Instead of looking happy, Father Mackenzie gave her a surprisingly calculating look. “Are you sure you’re entirely comfortable with that, Nora?”

  “What do you mean?” Nora asked.

  “Father Mackenzie! So sorry to keep you waiting.” Janina Engle, the owner of Legrand Manse, rubbed her hands together nervously as she came out of the side door. She was a blonde lady with a round face and delicate features, and Nora had often thought that she seemed part of the house, just as elegant as it. “I’ve been running around all day trying to get things just right. Between us, the bride’s mother is rather trying,” Janina said.

  “The bride herself is all right, though?” Father Mackenzie asked.

  “Oh, I don’t know what you said to her and Jeremy yesterday, but everyone is so relieved and happy. The bride and groom actually look relaxed,” Janina said. “Good thing, too. I was afraid they’d cancel out on us.”

  “Well, I suppose I’ll treat myself to an extra glass of champagne tonight.” Father Mackenzie smiled. “I’m here for the rehearsal, but I’d like to talk to Charlotte and Jeremy alone first.”

  “Sure,” Janina said. “Charlotte’s in the back gardens right now. She’ll hunt down Jeremy for you.”

  “All right. Take care then, Nora. Remember not to stress too much about the wedding now.” Father Mackenzie waved goodbye as he headed to the back. “And if you have any doubts, remember, Alastair Mackenzie is always at your service.”

  Nora waved at him too, but didn’t make any promises. She handed the check off to a very happy Janina, and made small talk with her about the catering the next day.

  “I heard the wedding cake is lilac colored?” Janina asked. “I love that. White cakes are so boring, I always thought. Be careful you spell Charlotte’s name right if you’re putting it on the cake. She had my head for it when I misspelled it on the blackboard.”

  “Well, there won’t be any names on her cake. As for colors, my own cake will be white, with lace frosting on it.” Nora smiled. “So I can’t say I agree. But I love the cake I’m making Charlotte, honestly. It’s three tiers, with white chocolate roses and buttercream frosting.”

  “So pretty.” Janina smiled. “You know, working in this business, weddings are an everyday affair to me now. A while ago, I noticed that I was actually getting bored and treating them as interchangeable affairs. So I decided to start noticing all the small ways in which each wedding is unique. It’s made a difference. I suppose I’ll remember this one for the lilac cake and all the drama.”

  At the mention of drama, the door opened again, and Janina’s son Wyatt walked in. Tall and broad, with shoulder length golden hair and a slight beard, Wyatt was well known around town as a ladies’ man. He’d started his own business more than once - a pet store, a gym, an amusement park, and even a bakery. But he always seemed to fail in a few years, and inevitably, he’d come back to live with his mother. Knowing him, Nora thought he’d get bored soon and run off to begin a new venture again. Right now, though, he seemed to be happy with his role as a handyman.

  “Hey pretty lady.” Wyatt winked at Nora. “Still set on Harvey? Come run away with me instead.”

  Nora laughed. “No thanks, Wyatt. I couldn’t handle all that excitement. I’m looking forward to a long, boring, happy life.”

  “Well, you’ve always been that kind of girl,” Wyatt agreed. “But making an honest man out of Harvey? Now there’s a feat I would have thought was impossible.”

  “About time you find some girl who’ll make an honest man out of you,” Janina said.

  Wyatt groaned, “Don’t start, mom.”

  “You’re nearly 30, Wyatt! By the time I was your age—”

  “Yes, yes, I know. You were married, had a dog, had a job, had three kids,” Wyatt said. “Heavens knows where you found the time to breathe.”

  “Well, if you’d take your nose out of your video games every once in a while, you’d find time too,” Janina pointed out.

  “Thanks, but no thanks,” Wyatt said. “I’m happier this way. I don’t think I’m meant for the whole domesticity bit. 7 out of 10 marriages are unhappy anyway, and those are the ones that survive.”

  Janina gave a little puff, and shook her head. “So cynical.”

  Wyatt leaned over and kissed her. “I’m not marrying anyone, Ma. My life plan is to make ten million, buy a boat, and then sail around Europe with a girl in every port. Timmy Jr says he’ll come with me if I hire him as valet.”

  “Well, if you’d stick to one business instead of treating your jobs like girls in a port, maybe you could achieve it too,” Janina said.

  “I should head back,” Nora said. The conversation had been friendly until now, but Janina’s last remark had more than a tinge of sourness in it, and Wyatt’s face had darkened in response. Shaking hands with Janina, Nora headed out, already busy thinking of the next item on her to-do list.

  A warm body bumped into her, and Nora nearly lost her footing. Quickly recovering, she looked up to find that it was Charlotte who had bumped her.

  “Charlotte, are you okay?”

  The girl just looked at her coldly and said, “Watch where you’re going!”

  “I...” Nora looked down at the girl’s hands, and the pale blue nail polish on them. It clicked suddenly. This was Eliza, not Charlotte. It was uncanny how alike they looked. Still, there was a hostility that radiated off Eliza which was entirely missing from Charlotte.

  “You dropped one of your nails in the diner yesterday,” Nora said suddenly. “These are fake, aren’t they?”

  “What? Weirdo. You’re fake.” Eliza tossed her hair and walked away, leaving Nora gaping at her. Well… that was a fun encounter. Nora wondered why some people had an aura that lingered like a bad smell, ruining your mood when you encountered them. In any case, she had no time to think about Eliza, and once back at the diner, she had no time to think of anything at all.

  The lunch special that day was the peanut butter and bacon burger. When Nora had first presented the idea to Tina, Tina had reacted as though she’d suggested heresy.

  “A burger,” Tina said, “isn’t just a burger, it’s an institution. It’s a tradition. It’s basic and it’s grand. You take a fresh sesame bun, you take a patty that’s been seasoned with pepper and salt, you add some greens and mayo, and maybe you slap on some cheese if you’re feeling fancy. But peanut butter? Nora, you’re crazy to even think it could work. It’s like adding vanilla ice cream to popcorn. They’re both special alone, and they’re terrible together. It just won’t work.”

  “Peanuts aren’t just for desserts and snacks,” Nora said. “In Indonesia, they’re added to meat and rice, and it works out wonderfully. Maybe it’s a flavor your palate is not used to yet, but trust me, this will be a hit.”


  “Well, we happen to live in Wyoming, and some people might have a peanut allergy,” Tina said. “So you see, this burger is literally murder. I refuse to allow it. When have you been to Indonesia anyway?”

  “I haven’t. I actually had a peanut-burger when I visited Cleveland.” Nora smiled. “Come on, Tina, give it a try.”

  In the end, she’d taken one bite, and loved it just as much as Nora did. Still, Nora was a little bit nervous, wondering whether the tastebuds of Milburn would approve. She reached the diner just before the lunch rush was scheduled to begin, and knew something was wrong almost as soon as she entered.

  Tina was behind the counter, manfully taking orders and relaying them, but her face was far paler than usual. Nora could tell she was trying her hardest to keep it together.

  “What’s up?” Nora asked, as she wore her apron. “You all right?”

  “I’m fine,” Tina said, biting her lip.

  “Um, no, you look sick,” Nora said. “You look like you’re about to—”

  “Hey Tina, I’d like onion rings and chopped liver please,” Dr. Kurt said.

  Tina turned green, and excused herself, leaving Nora to handle the Doctor’s order. When she reappeared ten minutes later, she looked pale and ready to faint. Nora drew her aside and said, “That’s it. You’re packing up and I don’t want to see you here until Monday.”

  “I’m fine,” Tina said. “Really, I am.”

  “Tina, you are ill, and you can’t be working if you’re ill. It’s not just bad for you, it’s bad for the diner too.”

  “True.” Tina looked a little miserable. “But… tomorrow is Jeremy and Charlotte’s wedding. I’m supposed to head the catering.”

  “We’ll be fine,” Nora said. “I’ll shut the diner and take care of it.”

  “Maybe… maybe Bret or Angel could handle the diner?” Tina looked morose.

  “Not yet. They’re good, but they’re too inexperienced,” Nora said. “Don’t worry, Tina. It’ll be fine. Just go home and rest, all right?”

  “All right.” Tina sighed. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve been feeling this way for a week now. Every morning is the same story.”

  Nora’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes. Maybe I’ve developed some kind of weird allergy?”

  “Um, Tina...” Nora grabbed her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “Tina. You can’t be serious. Are you totally missing the obvious?”

  “What?” She looked confused.

  “You’ve been looking fatter since last month,” Nora said. “Your chin has rounded out a bit.”

  “Well hey, I try to work out.” Tina looked indignant. “It’s just hard in between the diner and our new catering venture and—”

  “Tina. You absolute dum-dum. Did you ever consider that you might be pregnant?”

  Tina gaped at her as if she were mad. “N-no,” she said, looking as though she were a deer caught in headlights.

  “Right, you’re going home now, and you’re dropping by a pharmacy first,” Nora said. “If it is what I think it is, we’ve got more than one reason to celebrate in the coming weeks!”

  *****

  Chapter 5

  Big News

  “Tina’s pregnant?” Karen gasped. She ran a hand through her pixie hair and looked at Nora wide-eyed.

  “You didn’t hear it from me.” Nora smiled.

  “I didn’t. I heard it from May Almand who heard it from Mrs. Mullally who, I’m told, overheard you shrieking with delight on the phone.” Karen gave a laugh and clapped her hands. “This is brilliant. I can’t believe she’s going to be a mom! Our Tina.”

  “She’s going to be fabulous,” Nora said. “I talked to Sam about it, and he said he wants a mini-clone of his wife, a sweet little daughter. Tina, on the other hand, wants Sam Jr. They’re so cute, both of them. They’re over the moon.”

  “I’ll say!” Karen sighed. “What is with the world? I feel I’ve barely started my life, and here are my friends, getting married and having babies.”

  “Sean said something similar the other day,” Nora said.

  “Oh, no,” Karen said. “Don’t give me that look, Nora.”

  “What look?” Nora asked innocently. “I’m just trying to put the final touches on this cake.”

  “I know perfectly well what you’re doing,” Karen said. “You’ve got weddings and babies on the brain.”

  “Me?” Nora gave her a mock look of horror. “No!”

  “I agreed to help you transport the cake to Charlotte’s, so don’t take advantage of me by lecturing me on Sean,” Karen said.

  “Hmm. Pretty defensive, aren’t we?” Nora smiled. She took a moment to appreciate the cake - three tiers of lilac colored buttercream frosting on the outside, with chocolate and jam layers inside, an almost sinfully delicious combination. She clicked a photo and sent it over to Tina, and got an instant text back:

  I want some too!

  “So, what’s the deal with you and Sean?” Nora asked. “You’re both broken up, you’re planning to move out of town, and yet, every time I turn around, the two of you are together. You have some weird on again, off again thing going on.”

  “It’s not that weird,” Karen said. “I was stubborn about leaving town, Sean was stubborn about staying, so we decided that’s that. We’re just enjoying each other’s company while we can, and there will be no hard feelings when I leave. We don’t want to be one of those couples who fights and hates each other after the break up.”

  “Right,” Nora said. “So no hard feelings at all? No anger, no bitterness?”

  “No.” Karen’s smile was a little too bright. “We’re both decent people, and we just want different things out of life right now.”

  Nora gave her a look, and Karen met it, but then looked away almost immediately. “The cake is awesome. I’m going to have to resist dipping my finger in the frosting,” Karen said.

  Nora gave her a look of horror. “You wouldn’t!”

  “I wouldn’t,” Karen agreed. “I’m pretty sure either the bride would murder me, or you would.”

  “I’m so glad they decided to go through with it,” Nora said. “I liked both Charlotte and Jeremy. They seem like a genuinely sweet couple.”

  “Well, you’re always an optimist,” Karen said. “I like them both myself, but personally, I thought they should take a little more time. I don’t think Charlotte’s fully over the incident yet.”

  “Your dress looks really pretty, by the way,” Nora said, nodding at Karen’s yellow sundress. “Perfect for a summer wedding.”

  “Thanks.” Karen smiled. “Sean loves this dress.”

  “Well, does the dress love Sean?” Nora asked. “Or rather, does the dress’ owner love Sean?”

  Karen groaned again, as they shifted the cake to her van. “Nora… you promised you won’t!”

  “I can’t help it,” Nora said. “Karen, Sean really loves you. You know that.”

  Karen’s lip curved to the side a little, but she didn’t say anything. Getting in the car, she put on her seat belt and waited for Nora to do the same.

  “You don’t believe me?” Nora asked. “That Sean loves you?”

  “Maybe he does.” Karen shrugged. “Can we please not talk about this?”

  “Why?” Nora asked. “Or is it that you don’t love him?”

  “Nora, forget it, all right? It’s complicated.”

  “It’s not, really,” Nora said. “Complicated was the relationship you had with JJ. Maybe it left no scars on you physically, but he hurt you badly. Sean’s not like that. Sean’s better than JJ in every way. So why are you so afraid to commit to him?”

  “Fine,” Karen agreed. “Sean is twice the man JJ was. I’ll give you that.”

  “But?” Nora asked.

  “But nothing,” Karen said. “I’m moving out of town, and I can’t make Sean move with me. So that’s that.”

  “He’ll miss you, and he won’t be the only one,” Nora sa
id. “You’ve got friends here, Karen.”

  “I know I do,” Karen said. “I’m your bridesmaid, remember?”

  “Exactly, I care for you. I know you care for me, and a lot of other people in town. So why do you feel the need to leave?”

  Karen said nothing, but her hands tightened on the wheel. She looked as though she were being backed against a wall, and Nora relented. Maybe there would be a time and place to talk to Karen about why she was running away from Milburn and Sean, but now was clearly the wrong time.

  “All right,” Nora said, “We’ll talk about it later. When do you plan to move?”

  “The day after your wedding, actually,” Karen said.

  “Karen...” Nora was about to protest, but Karen cut her short.

  “Oh, good. We’re here,” Karen said. “Let me help you out with that cake, okay?”

  Nora wanted to say more, but after that, there was hardly any time left. She, Bret and Angela were far too busy prepping the food. Nora had only worked for six months with Tina’s new hires, and most of the time, it was Tina who was supervising them, but she liked both Bret and Angela. Angela was a skinny hipster who seemed to exclusively wear plaid shirts and skinny jeans, whereas Bret was a plump, smiling boy barely out of his teens, who dressed in the loosest clothes possible. Nora mentally wondered whether to talk to Tina about getting uniforms, then decided that a dress code really didn’t matter as long as they did their work right.

  “Right, so the wedding cake should go out at approximately 12.15 pm,” Angela said. “We’ll set it up while Charlotte and Jeremy are doing their dance. The frosting is applied already, right?”

  “It’s decorated, don’t worry,” Bret said. “I can touch it up again if you like.”

  “Oh, please, I saw you sneaking some of the frosting from the fridge.” Angela poked an elbow into his ribs. “You’re just making excuses to eat more.”

  Bret turned red, and shook his head.

  “All right, are the prawns ready?” Nora asked. “I’ve checked with the guests and no one has an allergy to shellfish, but be careful they don’t contaminate the other dishes, all right?”