Their mutual attraction is instantaneous, but can she deal with his dark and shady past or will old family scars and secrets stop her from trusting him and keep them apart forever?
They are opposites in every way. Can they find happiness together despite their major differences?
Twists and turns at every corner heighten the suspense in this cozy village mystery.
In this new and exciting chapter in the many lifetimes of our eternal lovers and soulmates, they find each other again. In every new lifetime, fate tends to keep them apart until they’re ready to face the obstacles and handle the burning yet beautiful emotions of love.
Too Many Cooks
“Yes, sir.”
“And do not bother me with this nonsense again!”
“Yes, sir.”
“Why is it suddenly SO bloody difficult to find suitable, decent, dependable domestic help? My father never had any trouble finding or keeping suitable staff. Are the whole lot of these new domestics slow on the uptake?”
“I believe so, sir.”
“They’d all rather be on the dole than work for a decent wage.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What the hell has happened to this country?”
“I have no idea, sir.”
“Thank you, Edwards. I’ll not be needing you for the rest of the evening. Get some rest. You look tired, Bernard. See you in the morning.”
Bernard Edwards gave Mr. MacKalvey a slight nod and disappeared down the hallway and into his room. It was harder and harder to find suitable, decent household help because Mr. Kenneth MacKalvey was becoming more and more demanding, increasingly irritable, and terribly unpleasant. Bernard remembered a discussion with a former employee, the sweet, wonderful, Italian cook, Loretta Colavita.
“Bernardo, does he think he owns us? He is so critical! Nothing is ever to his satisfaction. He is never pleased with anything. He never smiles anymore. He’s never happy. I hardly recognize the wonderful gentleman who hired me years ago. What the hell happened to him? He nitpicks about every tiny thing we do. He wants constant perfection. And then he goes on and on like some nag of an old woman. He can be so mean and vindictive. He treats us all like pond scum. He’s nasty.”
“I know, Loretta. I think he must be a very sad man on the inside.”
“Yeah, well, on the outside, too.”
“I’m so sorry to see you go, my dear. You are a terrific cook. And you are… delightful company. You are truly a wonderful woman and… and a joy to be around. And I… I…” he stopped himself.
“Well, I’d rather scrub toilets in a men’s prison for the criminally insane than stay in the same house with the likes of that foul bastard and cook for him one more day. If I cook him one more meal, I swear it will be laced with arsenic. Goodbye to you, my dear sweet Bernardo, and good luck to you, too. When are you going to get disgusted enough to leave that miserable fart all alone, which is what he truly deserves?”
“Oh, dear Loretta, I’m afraid it’s not that easy. I’ve been with his family since I was a child. You could say we grew up together.”
“Except that one in there, he never grew up. He’s still a mean-spirited rich boy, who has lost his charm, if he ever HAD any charm in the first place. Which I am beginning to doubt.”
“Oh, that’s not true, dear Loretta. He’s a good man.”
“I know, I know. I’m just so angry with him at the moment.”
“He will regret this day, I assure you, and he will beg you to come back. Goodbye, my dear Loretta. And until that day comes, I shall miss you. Terribly.” Bernard gave her a hug.
“Well, until that cold day in hell comes, I shall miss you, too, sweet man,” said Loretta, kissing one cheek, and then the other. She patted his cheek. She looked deep into his eyes. And the exceptional Loretta Colavita left MacKalvey House. Bernard waved as he watched her car pull out of the driveway and disappear down the long road toward town. Days passed.
“I miss Loretta Colavita, sir,” Bernard sighed
“Damn it, Edwards! I know you do! I saw the way you mooned after her. I heard her call you ‘Bernardo’ and ‘sweet man’. I saw her fuss all over you when you caught a cold or complained about a sore throat. I miss her, too,” he sighed, “very much. So let’s not go getting so attached to the next cook, what do you say?”
“Yes, sir.”
NOTE FROM CAROL:
Dear Gentle Readers,
MacKalvey House is a great story about a young, bright, brave American girl who takes a trip to a quaint, little British village and decides to stay. She meets an attractive, older man with a shady past. He's an art critic and an author. She's read his books and is a big fan.
This story has twists and turns and lovable characters. But it gets very little love! I don't know why.
If you haven't read MacKalvey House, give it a try.
Stay safe, stay well,
Carol
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