“Oh, bad day in quarantine.”
“I bet.” Frank set the wine down then sat down next to Henry on the couch. His eyes seemed to not want to leave that glass. He wanted so badly just to pick it up. His fingers tapped against each other for a little. Then he sat back, ran his hand down his face, and turned to Henry. “So it was bad then?”
“Yes. Dean and Ellen, all they do is bicker. Bicker, bicker, bicker.”
This made Frank smile, probably the first real smile all day. “Do they know what happened?”
“I told them.”
“And how is Ellen?”
“She seemed down, really down after hearing about Sara.”
“I figured as much.” Frank leaned forward. “I’m worried, Henry. I’m worried right now about her.”
“Why’s that, Frank?”
“Well, maybe it’s silly of me. No . . . no, it’s not. I guess as you know, she had a hard time facing it, and didn’t let any of us really know. I thought, because it stirred it in me, it stirred the memory in her.” Frank shrugged. “It’s making me feel down about it all over again. I guess I’m worried it will make Ellen feel down now too.”
“What?” Henry asked. “Down about what again?”
“You aren’t paying attention are you? Sara’s rape. Don’t think that’s gonna hit Ellen hard? Or am I thinking wrong. Maybe I’m thinking wrong.”
“You probably aren’t. “
“Right now I feel really bad. I feel like I’m living it all over again, finding out all over again. That pain is back, and I can only imagine what El is feeling. I’ll tell you, when I saw Sara, I got sick. I got sick because of what they did to her. And then, it was worse because I remembered what happened to Ellen. I don’t know, somehow, it became more real to me.”
“Frank?” Henry’s voice dropped. “What are you talking about? What happened to Ellen?”
Frank didn’t answer. He just stared at Henry’s clueless eyes. ‘Shit, he doesn’t know. He really doesn’t know.’. Frank cleared his throat. “Nothing, Henry.”
“No, Frank. Don’t say ‘nothing’. No. You can’t just start saying something and then shut up. What happened to her?”
“Henry . . .”
“No, Frank.” Henry’s voice rose emotionally and he closed his eyes, talking his thoughts out loud. “We were talking about Sara and what happened to . . . Frank.” Henry opened his eyes. “Oh my God, was Ellen raped?”
Frank only raised his eyes. “Henry, if she didn’t tell you, she probably doesn’t want anyone to know.”
“Oh my God.” Henry blinked in surprise. “She never mentioned it to me. Never. No wonder you feel so badly, Frank. No wonder you keep thinking of her.”
“You cannot tell her you know. You can’t.”
“I promise, I won’t. When did it happen? When you were kids?”
Frank shook his head, hesitating at first before answering. “It happened last year when she was in Colorado. Two SUTs were . . .”
“Two?” Henry was horrified. “It makes sense. She always talked about it as if she were trying to cover some kind of pain. She passed over it, if that makes sense.”
Frank nodded. “Pain that can easily come back.”
“Oh my God.” Henry spun from Frank and faced the other way.
“Henry, are you okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah. I will be. It’s just that …” Henry shook his head. “This is a shock.”
“If you don’t mind. I’m gonna take a walk, I may or may not go up to the mobile.”
“Go on, Frank. I have things here.”
“Thanks.”
Henry watched his friend sadly and hurriedly head to the door. He hoped a walk would make Frank feel better. Henry was pretty certain, after learning the news about Ellen, there was pretty much nothing that would help him. Knowing that Frank was gone, and knowing that he no longer had to be sober, Henry went to the kitchen to get his wine, because even though he didn’t show it to Frank, his just learned news about Ellen . . . pummeled him. It pummeled him in more ways than he could tell anyone.
<><><><>
Robbie was at wit’s end. He had all he could take and he couldn’t take it anymore. He was at the point where his blood nearly boiled and his ears felt hot. It no longer was amusing, it was Valium justified. On his last straw, he flung the covers off of him, charged from his room down the hall, threw open the trailer door, flung opened the lab door and bellowed out his announcement, “Shut the fuck up! Shut up! Both of you.”
Dean and Ellen ceased their argument as soon as he shouted. They both looked at him.
“I’m supposed to be getting well. You’re driving me nuts!” Robbie grabbed his head. “Work, damn it. You’re a team. I am sick and tired of hearing the yelling. It is getting old and it’s childish. No one cares, El, which side goes up on a paper clip. Who cares, Dean, if Ellen hands aren’t on the home keys? Ellen, if he likes his hair parted on the left side, fuckin let it be. Why? Why are you two fighting over stupid fuckin shit like this? Why?”
Ellen began to answer, “Robbie, see we. . . .”
“I’ll tell you why!” Robbie shouted. “There’s something wrong with you two. Something really wrong! Now end it now. Separate or do your work quietly. Either way. Shut Up!”
After the initial shock wore off of Ellen, she faced Dean so snidely. “He’s right. We’ll separate. I’m going in the other trailer.”
“Oh no you don’t.” Dean raced out from behind the counter. “You have work to do.”
“No I don’t. I’m leaving.” She began to run for the mobile door. “Besides, I don’t want to be around you anymore. You suck!”
“Hey!” Dean dove at her, throwing his arm around her waist and dragging her back to him. “You’re staying put!”
“Robbie!” Ellen screamed. “He’s physically accosting me.” She struggled. “Beat him up.”
Robbie shook his head and moved to the door. “No way El, you guys are the same size. Fair fight. See ya.”
Ellen grunted in her struggle when Robbie left. “Let . . . me . . . go!”
“No.” Dean tried to pull her back. “I’m sick of this shit. Work.”
“Let me go . . . you prick.” With her last word, she kicked her foot back, nailing Dean in the shin then gave him an elbow shot to the gut. “Ha!” She fled for the door.
He caught his breath then jumped at the door too, getting there the same time as Ellen and blocking and latching the door. “Don’t try it. This is stupid. You’re here to work and fight or not fight. You’ll stay here!”
“I’m leaving. I’ll stand outside. It’s safe.” She spun around and ran toward the other door.
Before she could get too far, Dean reached out, grabbed the edge of her pants, and pulled at her.
“No.” She pulled away in a spin, facing him. “What is the matter with you?” Leaping out with both hands she landed them open on Dean’s chest, shoving him back. “Huh?”
Dean closed his mouth tightly growling. “Don’t hit me again, Ellen.”
“You hit me first.” She shoved him again.
“I said . . . don’t hit me again.”
“Tough. You hit me first.”
“El!”
“You.” Again, two hands out, she tossed them into him. “Hit me.” Before she could pull away, Dean grabbed hold of her hand, pulled Ellen forward to him, gripped behind her neck, and kissed her unexpectedly.
With a smack of his lips and an outward breath, Dean released her.
“You dick.” Ellen raised her hand in a slapping motion in such dramatic twenties movie fashion, only to have it halted as it launched for Dean. He held it tightly in his. “Dean, let go of my hand. I’m defending my honor.”
“Right, Ellen,” Dean spoke with sarcasm, letting go of her hand, placing both hands on her face, then kissing her again. He felt her lips tense at first, but then widen with his, parting for more intensity, and moving fast with speed of anticipation.
Ellen let out a sl
ight moan when Dean’s hands slipped under her hair, pulling her up and into him more as he kissed her. She had two choices at that moment, get even angrier, pull away, and chew his ass out, or continue to kiss him.
Her choice was partly taken away when her cell phone rang. It caused her to jump and back up.
Dean swiped his finger over his top lip and nodded at her.
After clearing her throat, Ellen answered. “Hello.”
“Hey,” Frank said soft.
“Frank?”
Dean rolled his eyes.
Ellen waved her hand at him and turned her back. “Frank, what’s going on?”
“You busy?”
“Um …” Hesitating, Ellen looked at Dean. “Am I busy? Uh, we’re about to start bunny blood taking.”
“Can Dean manage that alone, I really need to talk.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Just today. Everything on my mind. You know.”
“Yeah, I do. Where are you now?”
“I’m on my way to the social hall, but I’d rather come talk to you.”
“I would too. Come on up. Meet ya at the window.” Ellen disconnected the call.
“El.” Dean stated her name.
“He sounds bad, Dean. He doesn’t take losing people well. Henry told me earlier that Johnny was really mean to Frank.”
“Why is that?” Dean asked. “He’s been like that a lot lately with Frank.”
“I don’t know.” Ellen shrugged. “Maybe it’s an identity thing? He wants to be his own person and everyone compares him to Frank. Hell, even I do.”
“That makes sense. So he’s coming up to talk.”
“Through the window. It was either that or the social hall.”
“Ah.” Dean nodded with an exhale. “Well talking to you is better. I’ll go start the blind bunny venipuncture. Don’t be too long, I don’t want to miss and kill too many bunnies.”
Ellen held up her hand with a smile. “I promise. And thank you for understanding.”
“Hey who am I to say anything about someone needing you.”
“We have a few minutes until he gets here. Want me to get you started and help?”
“You know what?” Dean held out his hand. “I’d love for you to do that.”
After a wink then a quick kiss, Dean led Ellen to the back lab.
Ellen placed her hands under his lab coat and onto Dean’s back, sliding her fingers up in a digging grip as they kissed and their bodies pressed closer.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
JULY 23
Ellen knew someone had to be there when she arrived back at Frank’s house. Though most of the house was dark, a light from the dining room let her know before she even walked into the house that someone was up an about. At least she hoped. She thought she would be expected. She never imagined that she wouldn’t be heard when she walked into the house. Nor did she even imagine both Henry and Frank were still there. Even though it was still minutes before six am, she thought for sure one of them would have left for their job. But they hadn’t. They stood at the dining room table, and as Ellen watched quietly, unnoticed, she saw little Nick laying on the table before them.
Frank shook his head. “No, Henry, what did you do to him?” He picked up Nick.
“I fixed his hair,” Henry said with a smile.
“You can’t do this with his hair, and why did you bathe him anyhow. I bathed him last night.”
“He threw up, Frank,” Henry stated. “I didn’t want him to smell. Besides, look how good I bathed him.”
Frank breathed slowly through his nostrils, looking at the abundance of black hair not only parted in the middle, but lying flat and combed back too. “God, Henry.” Frank picked the baby comb. “You can’t make a baby look like this. He looks ridiculous.”
“Oh no, Frank. He looks cute.”
With a grunt, Frank lifted the comb. “Look at all this hair. What the fuck do you have in your genes anyhow? Fuck. I thought I was hairy.” He reached over and pulled out Henry’s tee shirt. “You don’t have any body hair. What the hell, Henry? Did all your hair genes go to the baby’s head.”
“That isn’t very nice, Frank. He just has lots of hair.”
“You just have to comb softly, not fuckin stylish like. He’s a baby.” Frank placed the comb in Nick’s hair and tried to comb it. The moment the comb entered the black hair, it stuck and wouldn’t move. It was as if the comb hit a brick wall. “What . . .” Frank made a struggling face and tried to comb the hair some more. “What is in his hair?”
“Hair Hold.”
“Hair Hold?” Frank tossed the comb on the table. “What is Hair Hold?”
“You know, it’s that stuff we make, that woman use to hold their hair styles in place. It’s made from fruit. It’s like the old-world hair styling gels.”
“It’s like fuckin glue.” Frank tried to lift the hair. “It won’t move. How much did you put on him?”
“A lot, Frank. He has terrible hair. You can’t do anything with it.”
“He’s a baby!” Frank tried not to yell. “You’re not supposed to worry if he has good or bad hair days.”
“Now see, I have to disagree. It’s never too early to start worrying about your hair. Maybe if we train it now it won’t get out of control when he gets older.”
“Maybe if we train you now… Besides, I’m shaving this kid’s head as soon as he gets older. He isn’t walking around with a big black rag mop on his head. Of course now, thanks to you, it’s a fuckin helmet. Here, wash it out.” As Frank went to hand Henry the baby, he smiled when he saw Ellen. “El.”
Ellen took a step closer. “I thought for sure someone would have been outside of quarantine waiting for my release.”
Before Frank could fully hand him the baby, Henry made his escape and hurried to Ellen. “You’re out early. You weren’t supposed to get out until this afternoon.”
“Dean finished the test. Robbie’s fine. The virus is completely gone and his blood samples show he is now immune so we waited the twelve hours and came home.”
Henry put his arms around her in a quick hug. “This is so great. You’re home. Look Frank, Ellen’s home.”
Frank tried to act cool about it. “I see. And look Henry, here’s your kid with the hard hair.”
“I see,” Henry said and looked back to Ellen. “I’m glad you’re out. I’ll stop back here today and move my stuff back home.”
“Are you leaving, Henry? I just got here.” Ellen asked.
“I know but if I go now, El, I can get my stuff done. Otherwise, if I start late, I’ll finish late.”
“O.K.” Ellen said with some disappointment. “You go on. I’ll get the kids off.”
“Thanks.” Henry kissed her on the cheek. “Bye Frank.”
“Henry!” Frank held up Nick. “His hair.”
Henry gave a thumbs up.
Ellen called out to him before he left. “Henry? Joe said since we’re out the meeting is moved to eleven. He said Frank will be in that area at that time.”
“Got it.” Henry started to leave again.
“Henry?” Ellen called to him again. “One more thing.” She waited for him to look back. “Jenny called me last night. She said you haven’t been to see Ben. Cole leaves in five days. You have to let Ben measure you.”
“Tomorrow El, I promise. O.K.?” Henry smiled. “I’ll stop at the mobile or containment to see you later.”
“Henry I . . .” The door closed and Ellen threw her hands up in the air. “Frank? Why is he in such a hurry?”
Frank walked to Ellen. “Probably to avoid getting out of fixing Nick’s hair back. Besides he’s always in a hurry. Check out Nick.”
Ellen tried not to laugh when she looked at the ‘Alfalfa from the Rascals’ looking baby. “Oh shit.” She reached her hand to Nick's hair, felt the hardness of it, and then laughed. “Oh shit.”
“See what I’ve been dealing with. Bad El, he’s bad.” Frank started to hand her the baby but stopp
ed. He looked at her. “Glad you’re out.” He winked and leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m really glad you’re out. Because now . . .” Frank gave her Nick. “He’s yours.” Before Ellen could return him, Frank stepped back.
“Look at him Frank,” Ellen whined. “How much stuff did he put in his hair?” Ellen knocked on the solid hair. “What made Henry think of putting this stuff in his hair?”
“Probably the same thing that made Henry think that if he put three diapers on Nick at one time he wouldn’t have to change him so often.”
Ellen’s eyes immediately shifted up. “He didn’t.”
“Yesterday.”
“Shit.”
“It gets better.”
“Oh no.”
“Oh yeah.” Frank nodded. “At least he put a diaper on Nick. I get home last night and Brian is without one.”
“Why wouldn’t he put a diaper on Brian? He knows Brian’s still a baby.”
“True.” Frank held up his finger. “But according to Henry, or Henry thinking, Brian’s wearing a diaper was more of a choice than a necessity. So Henry figured it was getting disgusting and it was time for Brian to stop being so lazy. I guess somehow Henry thought Brian just didn’t want to use the toilet and he decided to force him along.”
“Henry decided to toilet train Brian?”
“Now see, that’s was my first reaction.” Frank told her. “I came home and said, ‘wow, Henry, he’s a little young, but a good thought trying to toilet train him’ and guess what Henry said. He said. ‘Toilet train? You mean you have to train them to use the toilet?’”
“Oh no.”
“Oh yes.”
“You think he’ll ever learn?” Ellen asked.
“At first I did,” Frank answered. “But now . . . Nah. He’s too busy to learn. He never wanted to have full responsibility in the first place and you know it. That’s just not Henry and you can’t hold it against him either.”
“I don’t.” Ellen adjusted Nick. “I can’t hold the baby against me either. His hair hurts my chin.”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 274