Fic: "I'll take a quiet life" (Twin Peaks)
Title: I'll take a quiet life
Author: arenotvalid aka smercy
Rating: PG equivalent
Fandom: Twin Peaks
Characters: Norma Jennings, Hank Jennings, The Log Lady, Harry Truman, Laura Palmer, Big Ed Hurley, Agent Cooper, Shelly Johnson.
Pairings: Norma/Hank, Norma/Ed
Genre: gen
Spoilers: vague spoilers for season 2
Disclaimer: I don't own "Twin Peaks" and I won't own "Twin Peaks" and I won't make any money from this.
Warnings: none
Word Count: about 3500
Status: one-shot, finished
Author's Note: written for matrithon, for the prompt "Norma Jennings, recipes"
Summary: Seven conversations that Norma has had over seven different foods.
-
Steak and Eggs
Norma Jennings loved one thing more than every other thing in her entire life, and that was her diner. She sat in one of the booths that she had picked (very comfortable) and rechecked the menu that she had designed (no typos), and was completely content. The Double R (her pick) was exactly as she wanted. She loved the paint, tile, countertops, uniforms, silverware, china, light fixtures, everything.
She sat in her new uniform in her booth, a week before the Double R was due to open, and smiled at her husband. Hank was smirking. Norma offered, "Do you want anything off of the menu?"
"Ooh," he said, with exaggerated glee. "Let me see. Golly, everything on this fine-looking menu looks so delicious!" That was sarcasm she was detecting. But Norma couldn't seem to care, checking the clock placement to make sure that everything was visible. "I think," Hank drawled, "That I will have the steak and eggs and a cup of coffee, please."
"That'll just be a few minutes," Norma said, pretending to mark it down on an invisible order pad. Being a waitress would be completely different when it was her diner. She almost skipped to the kitchen, which was already mostly stocked.
The cook that she had hired to do her recipes was gone for the night, and he had taken her recipe book with him, but she knew all of her recipes by heart, and could even make an omelet while blindfolded. Her diner was going to be a friendly place, somewhere like the Roadhouse, but where everyone could gather together. Neighbors and friends could go there with their children in the mornings and just have a well-cooked breakfast and a happy atmosphere. She couldn't wait.
Hank came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist in the way that she'd always hated. His breath was clammy on her neck, but the coffee was starting to percolate and smell up the whole kitchen. She was happy. "You know, Norma," Hank whispered, "I know that you love this place, and I also know that it's going to be a stressful first few months getting your business back up. I want to make sure that you know that you don't have to worry about making any profits for the first year or two. I can take care of us, I've already got some side jobs lined up."
"Thank you, Hank," Norma smiled. Soon, every day would be like this, but busier. She loved the smells and the sounds and the very idea of it.
Eggs sizzled appealingly in her skillet.
-
Cheeseburger
Margaret was one of the Double R's very first regulars. Most of the townspeople referred to her as "The Log Lady", but Norma couldn't bring herself to. Especially not when Margaret's log didn't bother anybody or anything, and even the children had stopped gawking. She'd been coming in to the diner since the second week, after having proclaimed the coffee "satisfactory" and the pie "good."
Margaret was slowly making her way though every item on the menu, trying it twice. Norma usually ended up taking her order, because the girls tended to consider her freaky and she never overtipped. "I'll have the cheeseburger, classic style, no side."
"Anything to drink?" By now, the script had been burned into her brain, but that didn't take any of the friendliness out of her voice.
"Water," Margaret said. She held the log in the way that indicated that she felt like chatting. "You took the chicken pot pie off the specials. That's Ed's favorite. Seems to me, those things might be related."
Twin Peaks was the most gossipy town, and it never leg to of anything, and sometimes Norma thought that if she didn't love it so much... Nevermind. "Ed and I haven't talked since the May Day jamboree at the Great Northern," she explained.
"You upset about that?" At least Margaret was forthright with her questions.
"I'm bothered by so many things," Norma sighed, since it was no use trying to lie to her, "Honestly, it's so much less than the way our dishwasher's been acting up, it's probably down around how I didn't get my newspaper at the door this morning. I'll go get this to the kitchen."
Margaret just nodded and resumed stroking her log.
Norma was so tired of everything that she did being assumed to be all about Ed. She had done plenty without him. She'd gotten her diner.
-
Chili
Sheriff Truman was the best of all of the officers that came to the Double R, always was polite and overtipped generously. He was good friends with Hank, but he never seemed to be able to come around for dinner, so his usual slice of pie was the closest she got.
Norma didn't mind keeping the place open a bit after hours, she sent the girls home and set another pot of coffee to brew. Hank was away, so he wouldn't mind. Harry looked exhausted, and there were visible tracks in his hair from running his hands through it. "I don't want you to have to make something up new for me, Norma. What have you got left?"
"Chili," she answered, because she hadn't gotten around to turning the crock pots off.
"Sounds perfect," he said. Norma didn't have to banter with him, oftentimes he just wanted to sit in peace. She was quiet as she got the chili from the stove, sprinkling some shredded cheese on top.
She wasn't exactly paying attention, so she didn't notice when her cardigan slipped down and exposed almost all of her neck. Harry was very observant, though. "Norma," he said, his voice perfectly calm and even, betraying nothing, "How'd you get that bruise?"
It wasn't like she could just explain to him. He was in some kind of club with Hank and Ed, and the whole thing would cause so much fuss and pain. "Oh," she said. "You know how we got that new power washer yesterday? I wasn't paying attention as I closed the lid and the edge of the handle came right down on my collarbone. Nothing serious, just a bit painful." Her smile was completely serene, revealing nothing.
"Sounds unpleasant," Harry returned. "Hopefully it will heal up soon." And he didn't say anything else while he ate the chili, and Norma busied herself with wiping down the counters.
Harry tipped 25%, and hovered in the doorway on his way out, hat tilted over his eyes. "You know, Norma, I'm always around if you want to talk. Just because we're busy doesn't mean we can't still be friendly."
"I know," Norma smiled. Harry waited by the door and caught her as she slipped on a snowbank, and she could feel the heat of his hand all the way through her coat.
-
French Toast
Meals on Wheels wasn't really any much more of a bother than any other thing, and since she had the most frequented restaurant in town it was only natural that Norma run it. She worked with a good group of kids, some of the best in town.
And Norma had always had a soft heart, so she couldn't help when she got attached to them like her waitresses. Laura Palmer was the best of everyone, always so compassionate and helpful.
But Laura walked in late, with dark under-eye circles so thick that they could be bruises. Laura was shivering, just a little. Norma waited for Laura to hang up her coat, and then pulled her aside. Oh, she looked like she hadn't been able to sleep all night.
Norma pressed a cup of fresh coffee into Laura's hands. "Rough night?"
"Yeah," Laura said, looking glumly at the floor. "Didn't get much sleep."
Well, Norma was able to tell exactly when a girl was in the middle of shit, and Laura looked exactly like that. "I'm going to have Amy pick up the first few stops on your route today," she said, leaving no room for argument. "You need to have some breakfast before anything else. On the house."
She pressed a menu into Laura's hands and made sure to keep an eye on her while she decided. Laura slowly nursed her cup of coffee like she was trying hard to make it last. Norma made sure to top off the cup as she came to get the order.
"French toast?" Laura looked a little bit unsure, swinging her feet at the booth.
"Coming right up," Norma said. It was a slow morning, so the order didn't take too long. She put some strawberries on top and ignored Shelly's questioning look.
Laura didn't eat the food so much as she pushed it around with her fork. Norma topped off her coffee again, and leaned over to murmur, "Laura, I hope you know that if you ever want to talk to me about anything, I'll always be around for you."
"Thanks, Norma," Laura weakly smiled. Norma could tell from Laura's tone of voice that she wouldn't take up the offer; she was very familiar with the secrets of troubled girls. But Laura did end up eating all of the breakfast, and she looked a little better as she left.
-
Raspberry Pie
Hank was in jail. Her husband was officially in jail, convicted and sentenced and not getting out for a very long time. The largest part of her couldn't believe that he would be so stupid as to drive drunk. He had friends in law enforcement, for God's sake. But he was gone, and she was alone and it was so very different.
Norma had shut down the diner, she knew the town would understand. But she still sat at table 6, just resting her face in her hands. Her business would be fine, she hadn't needed Hank's money in a long time. Her bed was going to be cold.
When Norma looked up, Ed was at the front door, hand up like he was about to knock and couldn't quite bring himself to. She really did need a friend, so Norma walked over to let him in. He didn't say anything at first, didn't even look at her face.
His voice was all choked up. "Norma, I'm so sorry about everything you're going through. Hank was being stupid and you don't deserve to suffer for it."
"I know, Ed." She couldn't bring herself to say anything else. But after a few minutes, Norma realized that her pie was getting cold, so she stopped twirling the fork between her fingers and dug in.
It was raspberry, the only raspberry pie that she made all year. The recipe was good, but she couldn't bear to watch other people eat it. There was something about the color of the filling that looked exactly like blood, and she couldn't take it. Norma didn't offer the pie to Ed, but she'd get him another slice if he asked.
"You don't serve raspberry here," Ed remarked. "Not on the menu. And I only see you make it once a year or so."
"Mmmhmm," Norma replied, her mouth full of pie.
"In fact, you always eat it right around this time of year. Like it's an anniversary, but I don't remember anything important happening this time of year."
The words tumbled out of her mouth like all of her good sense and impulse control had broken. "The first time Hank hit me," she said.
All at once, Ed's whole body changed. First he went rigid with shock, then all of his muscles tightened with anger. Norma realized what she had said a good minute after it was too late to do anything about it. "He hit you," Ed whispered. "For how long?"
"Six years," she admitted. Ed look like he'd just been punched in the gut. All of the wind was right out of him, and Norma found that she couldn't stop talking. "I always thought that if he did hit me, that would be too much and I'd leave. But it wasn't. He wasn't frequent, and it wasn't too bad, and I'm all he's got in the world, Ed. I just couldn't leave and I can't even explain it."
Norma wasn't crying. She couldn't, she'd been all cried out. "So I have to remember how everything isn't alright. And that I survived it."
"You never said anything," Ed said, taking one of her hands. His fingers were so warm. "You could've told me. You know I would do anything for you."
"I know, Ed." That had been the problem. Hank wouldn't ever leave Twin Peaks, and neither would Ed, and Norma just couldn't. Something catastrophic would've happened, the town was just too tiny.
"I won't let him do it again," Ed promised.
They sat quietly for minutes that seemed shorter than they actually were, Norma eating her pie and Ed watching her eat it. And then Ed used his thumb to wipe a bit of filling that had dripped down the corner of her mouth. And his hand just stayed there, holding on to her face. Norma's eyes caught on Ed, who she'd loved as long as she'd been able to, and he kissed her.
It was just one kiss, warm and familiar, the kind of perfect that Norma had thought she would never have again. After, Ed smiled as kept his face close to hers, breath brushing all over her mouth. "I can't," she exclaimed all at once. "Not today, I can't do this today, Ed."
"Alright," Ed said, face looking like she had cut him open. He turned away, not complaining at all, so patient and kind. And the shape of him turning away in sadness was so heartbreakingly familiar. Norma couldn't stand it. His mouth was going to taste like pie and lipstick, and they were going to go home to separate beds and hers was empty, even though Norma had loved him for so long and been so good.
"Ed," she called with an embarrassingly shaky voice. "I'll be here tomorrow. Come and find me."
-
Freshly-Brewed Coffee
Agent Cooper had a quality about him that was not unlike Annie. He was a daydreamer, and he seemed almost too delicate for the regular world, and Norma had liked him immediately. Of course, his effusive praise for her coffee and pie had helped, but not enough to have much of an effect. She had lived with insufferable charmers for most all of her life, after all.
He liked his coffee stronger than most of her regulars did. Of course, a good chunk of her breakfast regulars came to the Double R because the coffee at the Great Northern was too strong. Agent Cooper came in for coffee regularly enough that Norma had started brewing a special extra-strong pot just for him.
He had changed out of his suit and into flannel and jeans since his last visit. It was chilly outside and his fingers were red, so Norma poured him an extra large cup. He grinned as he saw her, "Ah, there is no greater aroma than that of the freshly brewed joe. And your coffee is always bar-none, Norma. Exactly what I needed after a long afternoon of house-hunting."
Norma hoped that he knew that announcing anything like that in the middle of her diner was akin to standing in the center of town with a printed sign and megaphone, but he seemed like the type to understand that. And she was happy that he would be sticking around, everyone in Twin Peaks seemed like they felt safer once he arrived.
Agent Cooper gulped his coffee nearly halfway down in a few large swallows. It was like his throat had no sensation or something, kind of uncanny. Norma was right on hand for a quick refill. "Thank you, Norma." He smiled brilliantly. "Would you happen to have any recommendations for housing that you could share?"
She couldn't help the laugh, walking around to sit next to him. "I am just about the worst person to ask. I've lived in the same house for the last 20 years, and I lived in my parents house the whole time before that, and I didn't pick either."
He looked up from the local sports scores and at her face. "A lifer, like Harry. Do you ever wish that you had left?"
"Maybe for a few more vacations, but I couldn't ever live anywhere else. My whole life is here." Norma started refilling some salt shakers, because after all that time owning the place her hands couldn't stand to be idle.
Agent Cooper furrowed his eyebrows at her like she was one of his puzzles. "And you're happy here?"
He deserved honesty. "It took me a long time, but I am. I'm completely happy." Norma had her diner, she had Ed, enough money to comfortably live on, and she had good friends. And her salt shakers were finished, time for the sugar packets.
Agent Cooper gave her a conspiratorial wink, but subtle, and whispered, "Ed too."
Oh, Norma knew. It wasn't a well-kept secret.
-
French Fries
Shelly looked tired, and she'd spent the last few weeks getting worse and worse. Norma knew about Leo like she knew about Bobby, and she knew most all of Shelly's secrets. She was a good girl and a wonderful friend.
Norma wasn't exactly sure of what to do, but she did know that a fresh order of homemade french fries tended to make everything better.
The Double R was dead, and Shelly was taking her break in one of the booths when Norma came over with her enormous platter of french fries, lots of ketchup on the side. Norma had always preferred her fries plain.
Shelly looked miserably up at her, barely managing to muster a smile. "Shelly," Norma tried, keeping her voice very gentle. "I know that things are rough right now. You don't have to worry about things over here, not even a little bit."
Sometimes Norma had nightmares that she was stuck in the building with Shelly as it was set on fire, and they were both unable to move. The mornings after, Norma always had to hug her, just for a little while, to remember that it wasn't real and everything was safe.
Shelly blotted her eye with a napkin. "I don't know how to make things better, and I can't fix it, and I just. I wish it were easier, but it isn't."
Norma grabbed Shelly's hand, examining the chipped polish. "Now, you listen to me. There is no problem that you can't get out of. There is always another solution, even if you can't see it. Nothing is hopeless, and nothing says that you have to stay where you are." Shelly looked confused. "If you have to leave Twin Peaks, you do that. There is nothing that says that you have to stay, absolutely nothing forcing you to be here. You can be anywhere you want."
Shelly looked shocked, fry halfway to her mouth. "I couldn't just leave, Norma."
"That's what I thought. For so many years, I didn't even let it be an option, refused to think about it. But that was a mistake. You have to do what will make you happy, you have to decide and you need to consider all of your options to do be able to do that right." Norma paused, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "I've made a lot of mistakes, and even those didn't keep my life from turning out all right in the end. You have the chance to fix this now, without 20 years of wasted time."
"Norma," Shelly gasped, "You didn't waste your time!"
Norma resalted her fries and swallowed them quickly. "But I did. I spent so long just getting through each day, not even paying attention to what I did, barely enjoying anything. And it's far from the worst thing that could have happened, but you're better than that."
"I've wanted to be just like you for as long as I can remember," Shelly admitted. "You're much better than I am."
"Nonsense." Norma made sure that Shelly was listening, glaring for emphasis. "You are a wonderful girl and your whole life is ahead of you. Now, if you choose to wait for what you want, even if that's for 30 years, and that will be fine. But you don't have to, is what I'm saying. There's more to this world than Twin Peaks."
A customer entered the door, looked like Major Briggs. Shelly winced, and Norma quickly slid out of the booth. "You haven't ever left this town," Shelly called. "You wouldn't know." She sounded like she was about to burst into tears.
"I made my choice. Soon, you're going to make yours, and I will be here for you no matter what you do." Norma had wished that someone had told her that when she was Shelly's age.
But Norma was happy with what she had chosen: her diner, her regulars, Ed, all of it.
A diner couldn't make most people happy, but there was nowhere that Norma would rather be.
She put a pot of coffee on.
-
Author: arenotvalid aka smercy
Rating: PG equivalent
Fandom: Twin Peaks
Characters: Norma Jennings, Hank Jennings, The Log Lady, Harry Truman, Laura Palmer, Big Ed Hurley, Agent Cooper, Shelly Johnson.
Pairings: Norma/Hank, Norma/Ed
Genre: gen
Spoilers: vague spoilers for season 2
Disclaimer: I don't own "Twin Peaks" and I won't own "Twin Peaks" and I won't make any money from this.
Warnings: none
Word Count: about 3500
Status: one-shot, finished
Author's Note: written for matrithon, for the prompt "Norma Jennings, recipes"
Summary: Seven conversations that Norma has had over seven different foods.
-
Steak and Eggs
Norma Jennings loved one thing more than every other thing in her entire life, and that was her diner. She sat in one of the booths that she had picked (very comfortable) and rechecked the menu that she had designed (no typos), and was completely content. The Double R (her pick) was exactly as she wanted. She loved the paint, tile, countertops, uniforms, silverware, china, light fixtures, everything.
She sat in her new uniform in her booth, a week before the Double R was due to open, and smiled at her husband. Hank was smirking. Norma offered, "Do you want anything off of the menu?"
"Ooh," he said, with exaggerated glee. "Let me see. Golly, everything on this fine-looking menu looks so delicious!" That was sarcasm she was detecting. But Norma couldn't seem to care, checking the clock placement to make sure that everything was visible. "I think," Hank drawled, "That I will have the steak and eggs and a cup of coffee, please."
"That'll just be a few minutes," Norma said, pretending to mark it down on an invisible order pad. Being a waitress would be completely different when it was her diner. She almost skipped to the kitchen, which was already mostly stocked.
The cook that she had hired to do her recipes was gone for the night, and he had taken her recipe book with him, but she knew all of her recipes by heart, and could even make an omelet while blindfolded. Her diner was going to be a friendly place, somewhere like the Roadhouse, but where everyone could gather together. Neighbors and friends could go there with their children in the mornings and just have a well-cooked breakfast and a happy atmosphere. She couldn't wait.
Hank came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist in the way that she'd always hated. His breath was clammy on her neck, but the coffee was starting to percolate and smell up the whole kitchen. She was happy. "You know, Norma," Hank whispered, "I know that you love this place, and I also know that it's going to be a stressful first few months getting your business back up. I want to make sure that you know that you don't have to worry about making any profits for the first year or two. I can take care of us, I've already got some side jobs lined up."
"Thank you, Hank," Norma smiled. Soon, every day would be like this, but busier. She loved the smells and the sounds and the very idea of it.
Eggs sizzled appealingly in her skillet.
-
Cheeseburger
Margaret was one of the Double R's very first regulars. Most of the townspeople referred to her as "The Log Lady", but Norma couldn't bring herself to. Especially not when Margaret's log didn't bother anybody or anything, and even the children had stopped gawking. She'd been coming in to the diner since the second week, after having proclaimed the coffee "satisfactory" and the pie "good."
Margaret was slowly making her way though every item on the menu, trying it twice. Norma usually ended up taking her order, because the girls tended to consider her freaky and she never overtipped. "I'll have the cheeseburger, classic style, no side."
"Anything to drink?" By now, the script had been burned into her brain, but that didn't take any of the friendliness out of her voice.
"Water," Margaret said. She held the log in the way that indicated that she felt like chatting. "You took the chicken pot pie off the specials. That's Ed's favorite. Seems to me, those things might be related."
Twin Peaks was the most gossipy town, and it never leg to of anything, and sometimes Norma thought that if she didn't love it so much... Nevermind. "Ed and I haven't talked since the May Day jamboree at the Great Northern," she explained.
"You upset about that?" At least Margaret was forthright with her questions.
"I'm bothered by so many things," Norma sighed, since it was no use trying to lie to her, "Honestly, it's so much less than the way our dishwasher's been acting up, it's probably down around how I didn't get my newspaper at the door this morning. I'll go get this to the kitchen."
Margaret just nodded and resumed stroking her log.
Norma was so tired of everything that she did being assumed to be all about Ed. She had done plenty without him. She'd gotten her diner.
-
Chili
Sheriff Truman was the best of all of the officers that came to the Double R, always was polite and overtipped generously. He was good friends with Hank, but he never seemed to be able to come around for dinner, so his usual slice of pie was the closest she got.
Norma didn't mind keeping the place open a bit after hours, she sent the girls home and set another pot of coffee to brew. Hank was away, so he wouldn't mind. Harry looked exhausted, and there were visible tracks in his hair from running his hands through it. "I don't want you to have to make something up new for me, Norma. What have you got left?"
"Chili," she answered, because she hadn't gotten around to turning the crock pots off.
"Sounds perfect," he said. Norma didn't have to banter with him, oftentimes he just wanted to sit in peace. She was quiet as she got the chili from the stove, sprinkling some shredded cheese on top.
She wasn't exactly paying attention, so she didn't notice when her cardigan slipped down and exposed almost all of her neck. Harry was very observant, though. "Norma," he said, his voice perfectly calm and even, betraying nothing, "How'd you get that bruise?"
It wasn't like she could just explain to him. He was in some kind of club with Hank and Ed, and the whole thing would cause so much fuss and pain. "Oh," she said. "You know how we got that new power washer yesterday? I wasn't paying attention as I closed the lid and the edge of the handle came right down on my collarbone. Nothing serious, just a bit painful." Her smile was completely serene, revealing nothing.
"Sounds unpleasant," Harry returned. "Hopefully it will heal up soon." And he didn't say anything else while he ate the chili, and Norma busied herself with wiping down the counters.
Harry tipped 25%, and hovered in the doorway on his way out, hat tilted over his eyes. "You know, Norma, I'm always around if you want to talk. Just because we're busy doesn't mean we can't still be friendly."
"I know," Norma smiled. Harry waited by the door and caught her as she slipped on a snowbank, and she could feel the heat of his hand all the way through her coat.
-
French Toast
Meals on Wheels wasn't really any much more of a bother than any other thing, and since she had the most frequented restaurant in town it was only natural that Norma run it. She worked with a good group of kids, some of the best in town.
And Norma had always had a soft heart, so she couldn't help when she got attached to them like her waitresses. Laura Palmer was the best of everyone, always so compassionate and helpful.
But Laura walked in late, with dark under-eye circles so thick that they could be bruises. Laura was shivering, just a little. Norma waited for Laura to hang up her coat, and then pulled her aside. Oh, she looked like she hadn't been able to sleep all night.
Norma pressed a cup of fresh coffee into Laura's hands. "Rough night?"
"Yeah," Laura said, looking glumly at the floor. "Didn't get much sleep."
Well, Norma was able to tell exactly when a girl was in the middle of shit, and Laura looked exactly like that. "I'm going to have Amy pick up the first few stops on your route today," she said, leaving no room for argument. "You need to have some breakfast before anything else. On the house."
She pressed a menu into Laura's hands and made sure to keep an eye on her while she decided. Laura slowly nursed her cup of coffee like she was trying hard to make it last. Norma made sure to top off the cup as she came to get the order.
"French toast?" Laura looked a little bit unsure, swinging her feet at the booth.
"Coming right up," Norma said. It was a slow morning, so the order didn't take too long. She put some strawberries on top and ignored Shelly's questioning look.
Laura didn't eat the food so much as she pushed it around with her fork. Norma topped off her coffee again, and leaned over to murmur, "Laura, I hope you know that if you ever want to talk to me about anything, I'll always be around for you."
"Thanks, Norma," Laura weakly smiled. Norma could tell from Laura's tone of voice that she wouldn't take up the offer; she was very familiar with the secrets of troubled girls. But Laura did end up eating all of the breakfast, and she looked a little better as she left.
-
Raspberry Pie
Hank was in jail. Her husband was officially in jail, convicted and sentenced and not getting out for a very long time. The largest part of her couldn't believe that he would be so stupid as to drive drunk. He had friends in law enforcement, for God's sake. But he was gone, and she was alone and it was so very different.
Norma had shut down the diner, she knew the town would understand. But she still sat at table 6, just resting her face in her hands. Her business would be fine, she hadn't needed Hank's money in a long time. Her bed was going to be cold.
When Norma looked up, Ed was at the front door, hand up like he was about to knock and couldn't quite bring himself to. She really did need a friend, so Norma walked over to let him in. He didn't say anything at first, didn't even look at her face.
His voice was all choked up. "Norma, I'm so sorry about everything you're going through. Hank was being stupid and you don't deserve to suffer for it."
"I know, Ed." She couldn't bring herself to say anything else. But after a few minutes, Norma realized that her pie was getting cold, so she stopped twirling the fork between her fingers and dug in.
It was raspberry, the only raspberry pie that she made all year. The recipe was good, but she couldn't bear to watch other people eat it. There was something about the color of the filling that looked exactly like blood, and she couldn't take it. Norma didn't offer the pie to Ed, but she'd get him another slice if he asked.
"You don't serve raspberry here," Ed remarked. "Not on the menu. And I only see you make it once a year or so."
"Mmmhmm," Norma replied, her mouth full of pie.
"In fact, you always eat it right around this time of year. Like it's an anniversary, but I don't remember anything important happening this time of year."
The words tumbled out of her mouth like all of her good sense and impulse control had broken. "The first time Hank hit me," she said.
All at once, Ed's whole body changed. First he went rigid with shock, then all of his muscles tightened with anger. Norma realized what she had said a good minute after it was too late to do anything about it. "He hit you," Ed whispered. "For how long?"
"Six years," she admitted. Ed look like he'd just been punched in the gut. All of the wind was right out of him, and Norma found that she couldn't stop talking. "I always thought that if he did hit me, that would be too much and I'd leave. But it wasn't. He wasn't frequent, and it wasn't too bad, and I'm all he's got in the world, Ed. I just couldn't leave and I can't even explain it."
Norma wasn't crying. She couldn't, she'd been all cried out. "So I have to remember how everything isn't alright. And that I survived it."
"You never said anything," Ed said, taking one of her hands. His fingers were so warm. "You could've told me. You know I would do anything for you."
"I know, Ed." That had been the problem. Hank wouldn't ever leave Twin Peaks, and neither would Ed, and Norma just couldn't. Something catastrophic would've happened, the town was just too tiny.
"I won't let him do it again," Ed promised.
They sat quietly for minutes that seemed shorter than they actually were, Norma eating her pie and Ed watching her eat it. And then Ed used his thumb to wipe a bit of filling that had dripped down the corner of her mouth. And his hand just stayed there, holding on to her face. Norma's eyes caught on Ed, who she'd loved as long as she'd been able to, and he kissed her.
It was just one kiss, warm and familiar, the kind of perfect that Norma had thought she would never have again. After, Ed smiled as kept his face close to hers, breath brushing all over her mouth. "I can't," she exclaimed all at once. "Not today, I can't do this today, Ed."
"Alright," Ed said, face looking like she had cut him open. He turned away, not complaining at all, so patient and kind. And the shape of him turning away in sadness was so heartbreakingly familiar. Norma couldn't stand it. His mouth was going to taste like pie and lipstick, and they were going to go home to separate beds and hers was empty, even though Norma had loved him for so long and been so good.
"Ed," she called with an embarrassingly shaky voice. "I'll be here tomorrow. Come and find me."
-
Freshly-Brewed Coffee
Agent Cooper had a quality about him that was not unlike Annie. He was a daydreamer, and he seemed almost too delicate for the regular world, and Norma had liked him immediately. Of course, his effusive praise for her coffee and pie had helped, but not enough to have much of an effect. She had lived with insufferable charmers for most all of her life, after all.
He liked his coffee stronger than most of her regulars did. Of course, a good chunk of her breakfast regulars came to the Double R because the coffee at the Great Northern was too strong. Agent Cooper came in for coffee regularly enough that Norma had started brewing a special extra-strong pot just for him.
He had changed out of his suit and into flannel and jeans since his last visit. It was chilly outside and his fingers were red, so Norma poured him an extra large cup. He grinned as he saw her, "Ah, there is no greater aroma than that of the freshly brewed joe. And your coffee is always bar-none, Norma. Exactly what I needed after a long afternoon of house-hunting."
Norma hoped that he knew that announcing anything like that in the middle of her diner was akin to standing in the center of town with a printed sign and megaphone, but he seemed like the type to understand that. And she was happy that he would be sticking around, everyone in Twin Peaks seemed like they felt safer once he arrived.
Agent Cooper gulped his coffee nearly halfway down in a few large swallows. It was like his throat had no sensation or something, kind of uncanny. Norma was right on hand for a quick refill. "Thank you, Norma." He smiled brilliantly. "Would you happen to have any recommendations for housing that you could share?"
She couldn't help the laugh, walking around to sit next to him. "I am just about the worst person to ask. I've lived in the same house for the last 20 years, and I lived in my parents house the whole time before that, and I didn't pick either."
He looked up from the local sports scores and at her face. "A lifer, like Harry. Do you ever wish that you had left?"
"Maybe for a few more vacations, but I couldn't ever live anywhere else. My whole life is here." Norma started refilling some salt shakers, because after all that time owning the place her hands couldn't stand to be idle.
Agent Cooper furrowed his eyebrows at her like she was one of his puzzles. "And you're happy here?"
He deserved honesty. "It took me a long time, but I am. I'm completely happy." Norma had her diner, she had Ed, enough money to comfortably live on, and she had good friends. And her salt shakers were finished, time for the sugar packets.
Agent Cooper gave her a conspiratorial wink, but subtle, and whispered, "Ed too."
Oh, Norma knew. It wasn't a well-kept secret.
-
French Fries
Shelly looked tired, and she'd spent the last few weeks getting worse and worse. Norma knew about Leo like she knew about Bobby, and she knew most all of Shelly's secrets. She was a good girl and a wonderful friend.
Norma wasn't exactly sure of what to do, but she did know that a fresh order of homemade french fries tended to make everything better.
The Double R was dead, and Shelly was taking her break in one of the booths when Norma came over with her enormous platter of french fries, lots of ketchup on the side. Norma had always preferred her fries plain.
Shelly looked miserably up at her, barely managing to muster a smile. "Shelly," Norma tried, keeping her voice very gentle. "I know that things are rough right now. You don't have to worry about things over here, not even a little bit."
Sometimes Norma had nightmares that she was stuck in the building with Shelly as it was set on fire, and they were both unable to move. The mornings after, Norma always had to hug her, just for a little while, to remember that it wasn't real and everything was safe.
Shelly blotted her eye with a napkin. "I don't know how to make things better, and I can't fix it, and I just. I wish it were easier, but it isn't."
Norma grabbed Shelly's hand, examining the chipped polish. "Now, you listen to me. There is no problem that you can't get out of. There is always another solution, even if you can't see it. Nothing is hopeless, and nothing says that you have to stay where you are." Shelly looked confused. "If you have to leave Twin Peaks, you do that. There is nothing that says that you have to stay, absolutely nothing forcing you to be here. You can be anywhere you want."
Shelly looked shocked, fry halfway to her mouth. "I couldn't just leave, Norma."
"That's what I thought. For so many years, I didn't even let it be an option, refused to think about it. But that was a mistake. You have to do what will make you happy, you have to decide and you need to consider all of your options to do be able to do that right." Norma paused, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "I've made a lot of mistakes, and even those didn't keep my life from turning out all right in the end. You have the chance to fix this now, without 20 years of wasted time."
"Norma," Shelly gasped, "You didn't waste your time!"
Norma resalted her fries and swallowed them quickly. "But I did. I spent so long just getting through each day, not even paying attention to what I did, barely enjoying anything. And it's far from the worst thing that could have happened, but you're better than that."
"I've wanted to be just like you for as long as I can remember," Shelly admitted. "You're much better than I am."
"Nonsense." Norma made sure that Shelly was listening, glaring for emphasis. "You are a wonderful girl and your whole life is ahead of you. Now, if you choose to wait for what you want, even if that's for 30 years, and that will be fine. But you don't have to, is what I'm saying. There's more to this world than Twin Peaks."
A customer entered the door, looked like Major Briggs. Shelly winced, and Norma quickly slid out of the booth. "You haven't ever left this town," Shelly called. "You wouldn't know." She sounded like she was about to burst into tears.
"I made my choice. Soon, you're going to make yours, and I will be here for you no matter what you do." Norma had wished that someone had told her that when she was Shelly's age.
But Norma was happy with what she had chosen: her diner, her regulars, Ed, all of it.
A diner couldn't make most people happy, but there was nowhere that Norma would rather be.
She put a pot of coffee on.
-