The Milburn Big Box Set

by Nancy McGovern

  “So, it’s done?” Tina asked as she wiped the counter. Nora sat in front of her, running a spoon along the edge of her coffee cup. She paused and dropped the spoon on her saucer.

  “Yep. It’s done. Harvey just messaged that he’s signed the papers. He’s heading over.”

  “Wow. So he’s really sold the firm! He’s finally taken the leap.”

  “Yeah. There’s no going back now.” Nora smiled. “I guess we’re both officially retired.”

  “I thought you’d look happier saying that.” Tina smiled. She cupped her chin in her hands and leaned over the counter. “Instead, you look a little sad. What’s up with you?”

  Nora sighed. Tina wasn’t her best friend for nothing - she could read her like an open book. “I guess…I just don’t know. It feels strange. Like…” She paused, unable to put it into words, then struggled forward. “I guess I always thought ‘real life’ was raising the girls while I worked the diner and Harvey sold real estate. You know? It defined us. Now, none of that exists anymore. I’m basically redundant here at the diner since my arthritis won’t let me cook regularly, the girls don’t need me or Harvey any more, and now Harvey’s selling off his company, too. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really happy he’s going to get a break after working so hard all his life. It’s just…what now? Do we just sit around and grow older and older?”

  Tina snorted. “Count on you to overthink things! Use your imagination, girl! Now you can go visit every exotic place you ever dreamed of visiting. You can take up hobbies you’d always had an interest in. You can meet old friends, you can drink wine at eleven in the morning if you want to! It’s freedom, baby! Get excited!”

  “Well, that’s exactly it,” Nora said. “Harvey and I, we liked the little life we built for ourselves. I liked the structure, the steadiness of it all. I know the entire world will think I’m an idiot but, the truth is, I just don’t know if I can handle that much freedom.”

  Tina rolled her eyes. “I hope I have problems like yours one day. Too much freedom, my foot! If someone told me I could wake up at noon on a weekday, I’d jump at the chance.”

  The door jingled and Harvey walked into the diner. Nora raised her eyebrows in surprise at the man who walked in right after him…Fred Bailey.

  Fred had been a longtime rival of Harvey’s, having started a competing firm in town. It didn’t help that, on a personal level, Harvey absolutely despised the man. He was everything Harvey was not - cunning, deceitful and unctuous. Fred Bailey was the kind of man who had a healthy opinion of himself and wasn’t afraid to share it.

  Ignoring Fred, Harvey walked up to Nora and gave her a peck on the cheek. Nora turned and searched his face. He seemed tired, yet pleased.

  “It’s done,” he told her. “Signed and sealed, no going back now. We’ll receive the money soon enough, and I have a farewell dinner planned with all the employees tonight. You feel up to it, right?”

  Nora nodded. “Of course. How are they all taking the news?”

  Harvey sighed. “They’re nervous. I promised them that no jobs would be lost in the transition and that helped. Still, a takeover means that the company culture will change. They’re wary.”

  “They loved having you as a boss.” Nora nodded. “I’d hate the change, too, if I were in their place.”

  “I did the right thing, didn’t I?” It was Harvey’s turn to search Nora’s face for reassurance. “I mean, the owner of Rolfe and Co promised he’d take care of the company like it was his own.”

  “Who is this mysterious Thomas Rolfe anyway?” Tina asked. “Nobody’s ever heard of the man.”

  “Seems like a good chap.” Harvey said laughing. “He’s British. The company’s from London.”

  Nora squeezed Harvey’s hand. “You did the right thing,” Nora said. “This had to happen sooner or later and you took care to sell to the right kind of people. That’s what matters.”

  Fred Bailey, who had slipped into a seat next to Nora, gave out a roar of laughter. “The right kind of people? If I was a sensitive man, I’d take that as an insult, Nora, considering Harvey flat out refused to even look at my offers.”

  Harvey’s smile was cold as he said, “No hard feelings, Bailey, but I simply didn’t think your way of doing things would work well with my firm.”

  “Ah, yes. The Nathaniel approach of People First.” Bailey snorted. “Me, I’m solidly for Profit First. That’s what keeps companies alive, you know. Not all this soft-edged nonsense. Your company could be twice as profitable if the right people ran it.”

  “At what cost?” Harvey shot back. “Your employees aren’t very happy with you, your clients have had a lot to say, too.”

  “And, yet, I made millions in profit last year,” Bailey pointed out. “More than you, in fact.”

  “Money isn’t everything,” Harvey said.

  Bailey snorted. “Sure, keep telling yourself that.”

  Seeing Harvey’s irritation, Nora stepped in. “We’d better get going, sweetheart. We’ve got to get ready for that farewell dinner of yours.”

  “Ah…a farewell dinner. How sweet,” Fred Bailey mused. “You know what, Harvey old chap, I’m going to miss you. Say what you want about our differences, but there’s no denying that our little competition helped us keep an edge.”

  “I never competed with you, Bailey,” Harvey said. “I didn’t have the time.”

  Bailey shrugged. “You can play it that way if you like. All I’m saying is, personally, I needed that rivalry to keep me working hard. It’s going to be different now. No more competition.”

  Harvey smiled, very slightly. “Alright, Bailey. I guess I should be a good sport.” He stuck out his hand. “Good game, pal.”

  “Good game, indeed.” Bailey’s smile was almost smug as he shook Harvey’s hand. “So what would you two say to dinner at my place this Saturday? Call it a farewell dinner between two rivals.”

  Nora stared, surprised. Bailey had always been downright unpleasant, sneering at Harvey when the two met, or putting him down in subtle ways. At one point, years ago, when Harvey had won a client from under Bailey’s nose, he’d even tried to punch Harvey out. This offer was unusual, to say the least. But perhaps it was Bailey’s way of raising a white flag. Nora looked over at Harvey, who seemed equally surprised. His eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion, then his doubt fell away and a genuine smile spread over his face.

  “Sure. Why not?” Harvey said. “Dinner sounds good. We’ll be there.”

  “My place, 7pm sharp this Saturday.” Bailey nodded. “Don’t be late!”

  *****

  Chapter 3

  The Shell

  Harvey rolled up the sleeves on his Tattersall shirt and adjusted his collar in the mirror. In front of him, Nora applied the finishing touches of smokey makeup to her eyes. She’d chosen to wear a lilac dress with a dark jacket over it, and the diamond earrings Harvey had given her for their anniversary.

  “You think he’s up to something?” Harvey asked, patting the back pocket of his jeans to make sure his wallet was there.

  “Fred Bailey?” Nora raised an eyebrow.

  “Who else? I didn’t like that smug look on his face the other day.” Harvey sighed. “I don’t know why I accepted his invitation. He’s probably going to spend the evening crowing over me.”

  “Come on now, Harvey. You were giving him a chance. Let’s not second guess it.”

  “You’re right. After all, how bad can it be?” Harvey smiled. “Let’s go!”

  Fred’s house was outside town, quite a long drive from their own. Set in the middle of a meadow with a river running behind it, the house was long and low, made of gray stone. Its window shutters were painted a bright blue, now dulled by the sun, and its garden was impeccably manicured, with marigolds, violets and roses standing in regimented little squares beside a small koi pond. Two cypress trees stood guard at the Romanesque door, seeming almost disapproving as Harvey and Nora rang the doorbell.

  The door was flung op
en by an efficient looking woman in her 50s, who was looking over her shoulder and directing a remark to someone inside.

  “I’d like you to try!” she was saying with a laugh. She looked straight ahead at them and blinked in surprise. “What in the…Harvey?” she exclaimed.

  “Hey, Lillian.” Harvey smiled. “Have you met my wife, Nora? Nora, this is Lillian Harris, she’s head of public relations at Bailey’s. And probably the reason for their success, I’d say.”

  “Oh, you know how to flatter me. But it’s all untrue. Bailey’s is all Fred. He’s the reason it’s a success, I’m just along for the ride.” Still, modesty aside, Nora could see Lillian’s shoulders straighten and her smile brighten. “Welcome. I must say, I’m rather surprised Fred invited you here. No offense.”

  “None taken,” Harvey said. “We’re just as surprised as you, actually.”

  They stepped into the hall, which connected the two wings of the house. A spiral staircase stood at one end with a replica of a Roman statue of Aphrodite under it. The hall was checkered with black and white marble, with a purple and gold carpet running the length of it. A little too rich for Nora’s tastes but, clearly, Fred was proud of his home. On the walls were photos of Fred shaking hands with various politicians and celebrities, including one huge picture in a gilded frame showing him beaming and shaking hands with President George W. Bush. Above them, a crystal chandelier sparkled and sent out delicate golden light.

  “What do you think?” Lillian asked, smiling, catching Harvey’s glance.

  “It’s…something.” Harvey laughed. “Fred knows how to spend his money, no doubt.”

  “It has a woman’s touch, though,” Nora mused. She’d noticed the lace tablecloth upon a walnut chest, the delicate fringe on the carpet and the potted money plants near the entrance. “I thought Fred was a bachelor.”

  Lillian looked surprised. “Good eye. Fred is single…now. But his ex-wife, Dana, helped him decorate a lot of this.”

  Lillian scanned Nora the way she had undoubtedly scanned many a business document - taking in the important points and dismissing the minutiae. Nora returned her interest. Lillian was trim with a square, no-nonsense jaw and a well-cut bob of blonde hair. She was almost as tall as Harvey, standing just an inch below six feet, and her blue eyes seemed to be made of one part ice.

  The ice in her eyes deepened a little as another woman approached them. Nora knew Adriana Clarey from the yoga classes she occasionally attended. Adriana’s lithe figure would easily contort into positions that Nora could never even attempt. Today, she wore a skintight, burgundy bandage-dress and had her dark hair falling free around her shoulders.

  “Oh, hell-o,” Adriana drawled. “You’re here right on time. Freddy’s late, as usual! He’s still upstairs getting dressed, would you believe it? Just like him! Won’t you come in? Lillian, make them some drinks, won’t you?”

  Nora saw Lillian’s nostrils flare at being treated like a servant, and jumped in. “I’ll come and help. Thanks so much for showing us around.”

  Mollified, Lillian led Nora down a large hall to the left. As soon as they were out of earshot, Lillian said, “Thanks. I know you just came along to make me feel a bit better about being bossed around by Fred’s little sugar-baby.”

  “Oh, don’t hold back.” Nora laughed. “Tell me what you really feel.”

  Lillian gave her a chagrined smile. “Yeah, I guess I could go a little easier on her. But, honestly, Nora…I can’t stand it! She’s so insecure about Fred that she actually believes I’m a threat to her. Me! Talk about projection! Fred wouldn’t even look at another woman, while Adriana flirts with anything on two legs.”

  Nora smiled. “Have you and Fred known each other long?”

  “Very long. I was actually friends with Fred’s wife. Poor Dana. He divorced her some time ago, and she had to leave town. Personally, I’ve never even considered Fred as a romantic prospect. I’m very happy with my Billy. Besides, even if I were single, I know better than that. A career woman has to watch her reputation more than a Victorian spinster. One whiff of me having an affair with the boss and nobody would ever take me seriously again.”

  Nora nodded. “It’s clear your work is important to you.”

  “It’s everything to me.” Lillian’s smile softened. “My mother stayed at home and raised me because she came from a rather old-fashioned family. But she always encouraged me to go out and rule the world if I could. I think she’d be so proud of what I’ve achieved so far. Not that my husband and kids aren’t important to me, but my career’s the one thing in the world that’s my very own.”

  Nora nodded. She knew the feeling. Or, rather, she’d known it once, years and years ago when she’d struggled to establish her diner. This was what she was missing now - Nora told herself - this spark, this excitement of wrestling with something and creating meaningful work.

  “We’ve got a pretty full bar here. What would you and Harvey like?” Lillian led Nora into a beautiful billiard room and opened up a walnut closet lined with bottles.

  Like the rest of Fred Bailey’s home, the room was huge. A pool table stood bang in the center and on one side was a professional bar setup while the other held cocktail tables and comfortable-looking chairs. The granite counter on the bar was lined neatly with square, crystal glasses.

  “Harvey’s fond of Whiskey, neat. I’ll be driving home so I’ll stick to a cola.” Nora smiled.

  Lillian plucked a decanter out of the lined bottles and held it up to the light, admiring it. “Yep. This is good stuff. I don’t mind pouring one for myself, as well.”

  Nora’s attention was caught by a large painting to the side of the bar. It was a small, oil on canvas and fairly simple - rectangular bands in luminous colors, a bright orange sandwiched between shades of gray and blue.

  “Is that…is that an actual Rothko?” Nora gasped. “His paintings sell for—”

  “Millions, I know.” Lillian grinned. “This one is only somewhere in the hundreds of thousands, though. But Fred loves it.”

  “Personally, I think it’s overrated. But Dad’s gaga over it, so that’s what matters. Dad’s a man with expensive tastes - cars, paintings…women.” A man in his late 20s walked in, empty glass in hand. Tall and skinny, he had a mane of black hair curling around his angular face and cat-like green eyes that never quite revealed their true emotions. His mouth curled into a slight smile that Nora could only think of as sarcastic. He helped himself to a rather large shot of whiskey and smiled at Nora. “Hey. I’m Rowan. Fred Bailey’s son and disappointment. You’re Hazel’s mom, right? She was in school with me.”

  Nora didn’t know how to counter this self-deprecation, so she replied with a smile and introduced herself.

  “Easy, Rowan,” Lillian warned. “That’s your third.”

  “Please, Lillian. I need it if I’m going to sit through an evening of Dad and Adriana cooing at each other. I can’t believe Dad, of all people, was idiot enough to fall for her charms. You’d think he was smarter than that.” Rowan groaned. Lillian pursed her lips but didn’t object as Rowan took a sip of his glass and smacked his lips. “Good stuff,” he said.

  “What’s taking so long?” Adriana and Harvey walked into the room and Nora couldn’t help but be a little annoyed at the casual way Adriana had draped herself all over Harvey. “Harvey’s dying of thirst, Lillian. I do wish you’d be a little more considerate.”

  Lillian took a deep breath and looked like she was about to explode.

  “I’m fine, honestly.” Harvey looked downright alarmed at being the cause of Lillian’s humiliation as he tried to subtly shift out of Adriana’s grasp.

  There was a sharp clap and a whistle. Everyone turned around and Fred Bailey walked in, looking very pleased with himself.

  “So! Everyone’s here!” He clapped his hands once more and grinned broadly. “Good. Good. I see you’ve already polished off quite a bit of my Laphroaig, eh?”

  “That’s Rowan’s doing.” Adriana sni
ffed.

  Rowan glowered at her and sipped his whiskey defiantly. “Well, why not? What’s Dad’s is mine, right?” he said.

  Adriana’s eyes narrowed, though she didn’t say a word. Fred let out a booming laugh. “Sure it is! You’re my one and only son, aren’t you?”

  “Maybe we should move to the dining room?” Lillian asked. “I believe Martha’s laid the food on the table already.”

  “Where is Martha anyway?” Adriana asked.

  “Oh, I told her to take off once she was done serving the food,” Fred said. “I wanted it to be just us tonight. I have an announcement to make and I don’t want any extra ears around.”

  “Announcement?” Adriana looked confused and her cheeks began to flush. “I see.” She glanced down quickly at her hand, at the bare ring finger, and then back up again at Fred, her face glowing.

  Nora could see hope light up her eyes. So, Adriana was angling for a proposal. What did the others think of that? Rowan finished off his whiskey in one large gulp and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He looked a little unsteady on his feet. Lillian put a hand on his shoulder, supporting him.

  But Nora was confused. If Fred was proposing to Adriana, why on earth would he want she and Harvey to be there? They weren’t friends - far from it- and Fred had made it clear that this announcement was private. She caught Harvey’s eye and saw that he was equally confused. He gave her the most infinitesimal of shrugs, as if to say, Let’s see how it plays out.

  Fred ushered them all into the dining room. Whatever his announcement was, there was not a trace of nervousness in his face. He looked eager, excited even.

  They were soon seated and Rowan asked impatiently, “Well? What’s the announcement, Dad?”

  “All in good time, all in good time. Let’s eat first.” Fred smiled. “We’ve got a fine roast for dinner and, afterwards, I’m going to treat you to some ice-cream imported all the way from Switzerland. Plus…wine! How does that sound?”