Henry shook his head. “Try the other way.”
At the same time both of their heads tilted to the left.
“Henry, it isn’t going to work. She’ll know.”
“No she won’t. She hasn’t seen it in years. She probably forgot what it looked like and when you look at it like this, you can’t even tell.”
“Ellen is not going to look at the cabinet like Quasimodo. She’s going to notice Scarlet O’Hara’s arm is deformed and her nose is missing.” Dean reached for the statue and Henry stopped him. “We have to take this down before she gets home.”
“Dean, if we take it down then the whole thing will be off. This was the worst part. This cabinet and Ellen’s old knickknacks took us forever to make look good. It was worse than those stupid curtains Ben made for the kitchen. What was up with those?”
“They’re called valances, Henry. They just hang on top.”
“Oh.” Henry nodded. “No wonder. I thought we were short.” He shrugged. “I’d better get going. You heard Joe. They’re on their way.”
“Yeah.” Dean shuddered some in nervousness. “Thanks for all your help today.”
“No problem. It was fun doing this for El.” Henry walked to the entrance, put on his boots, and opened the door. He took one more look around the house which looked so perfect. “You did good. Good luck, Dean. She’ll love it.”
“Let’s hope.” Trying to look confident, Dean held up crossed fingers as he watched Henry leave. He walked to the door to make sure the outside light was on. As he turned around the curio, though in the far corner, caught his eye and so did the crooked Scarlet O’Hara. Dean moved to it, reached for the statue and stopped. He tilted his head to the left, looked, and then let the statue stay.
^^^^
It was dark as Robbie drove Ellen from the hanger across town and to the living section.
“El, I’ll take this bag of samples with me. We can have Dean look at it in the morning.”
“Sounds good. I’ll go too. We can do it before Frank’s service. Wait . . .”
“What.”
“Aren’t I going to Henry's because you just passed it.”
“No, you’re going home to Dean.”
“Well, you just passed that too.”
“No I didn’t.” Robbie slowed down so he could talk before the new row of houses came into view. “New housing was needed. Danny had a quick way to do it and Dean got his first. And well . . .”
“Oh my God” Ellen said in awe. “Houses.”
“Modular.” Robbie stopped the Jeep.
Ellen blinked as she looked at the long gray house on the end. The porch light lit the small wooden porch. “Is this Dean’s house?”
“Actually, it’s your house.” Robbie tapped on the steering wheel. “Yours, Dean’s, and all the kids.”
“Let him share it with Bev.”
“Oh cut it out,” Robbie told her. “You know as well as I do, Dean’s not involved with Bev. El . . .” Robbie dropped his voice to a whisper. “He has really worked hard on this. Go on.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Go on.”
As Ellen looked up to the house, she saw the front door open and Dean stood there waiting, so nervously. “Thanks Robbie.” Ellen stepped from the Jeep and waved as Robbie drove off. She turned back to the house when she heard the screen door shut. Dean stood on the porch. She couldn’t believe the house. She was speechless.
“Hey El.”
Ellen moved slowly to the porch, keeping her eyes on Dean.
Dean put his hands in his pockets. “How was the . . .” He was silenced by her kiss. Ellen’s arms went around his neck and pulled him to her. Dean’s hand immediately latched onto her and embraced Ellen as he kissed her. He let out a slight moan as the kiss ended and he held her tightly, her cheek to his. “I’m sorry about our fight.”
“I’m sorry too.”
Dean kissed her cheek and stepped back some. “Welcome um . . . welcome home, El.” He reached out and opened the screen door.
The moment Ellen stepped in with apprehension, she hesitated. “Oh Dean.” Her mouth dropped open as her feet slowly slipped from her shoes. “Oh Dean.” She stepped further into the living room. She walked to the couch and touched it. She looked at the pictures on the wall, the boarder, and the dining room table set for eight. “It’s ours?”
“Ours.” Dean walked in behind her and shut the door.
“Oh Dean” Ellen spoke, breathy. “Did the furniture come with it?”
“Some.”
Ellen shook her head and walked to the dining room area. “A breakfast counter.” She pointed. “Oh look at this.” She turned around. “Nice curtains and what happened to my Scarlet O’Hara?”
“Henry dropped her.”
“I’m killing him. But right now . . .” She went into the kitchen. “Look at all this space.”
Dean listened to her from the dining room. He could hear her open and close things.
“A laundry room. No more steps. Your office.” Ellen came quickly from the kitchen. “You have a little office there.”
“Yes. And . . . I brought up one of the computers form the cryo-lab. I figure any data entry I have to do, I can do here. That way I’m home more.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. You know how the data entry holds me up.”
Ellen walked by Dean and ran her hand across his face.
“El, I take it you like it.”
“I love it. I love it.” She kissed him. “Do the kids like it?”
“Yeah but they think they’re a little far from their friends.” Dean laughed. “They’re in their rooms.”
“How many bedrooms.”
“Four. Two small, one medium, one large.”
“Four?” Ellen spoke with excitement. “This way?” She pointed to the hall off the living room.
“Yep.”
“How many bathrooms.”
“One and a half.” Dean followed as Ellen stopped at the first room. The door was closed. “Josh’s room.”
Ellen knocked, turned the knob, and pushed. The door stopped. “It’s stuck.”
“Wait.” Dean knocked on the door. “Josh, what are you doing?”
“My room,” Josh answered.
“Let us in.”
“It’s open.”
Dean tried the door and pushed. He peeked his head in and pulled it back out. “I’m killing him.”
Ellen peeked in and waved to Josh. She cringed at the room. The floor could not be seen. She stepped back in the hall. “How long have you lived here?”
“Four hours,” Dean said. “Josh, finish that room.”
“I thought he would live with Robbie or Joe since Frank’s not here.”
“El, Josh was a big part of Frank’s life. He was part of your family with him. You’re my family and he’ll be a part of what we have too.”
“Thank you.” She pointed to the next one. “Whose room?”
“Billy, and Joey’s and . . . well, Nick’s now.” Dean knocked and opened up the door. Alex, Billy and Joey sat on the floor of the larger room, playing a game. Nick was a sleep in the crib.
Ellen walked in and kissed her children. “Look at all the room in here. Who is on the top bunk?”
“Joey.” Alexandra answered as she moved her game piece.
Ellen squatted on the floor and looked at Dean. “Should he be on the top bunk? He could fall off and get hurt.”
“Joey?” Dean laughed. “Please, he’s in Slagel training.”
Ellen smiled and stood up. “Next room.”
“Alex’s.” Dean led her there and pushed on the open door. “Henry decorated it. He made pink paint.”
Ellen smiled as she peeked into the small bedroom. The walls were a very light pink and the trim was white. “Henry did this?”
“Yeah. Henry had plans for this house. I told him you probably wouldn’t mind. It’s not quite finished. We need to add more trim.”
“This house is perfect. I’m so excited.
” Ellen grinned widely. She saw the open door of the last room of the hall. She walked in. There wasn’t much furniture just a bed and two dressers. “Our room?”
“I’m hoping I don’t have to sleep on the couch. I will if that’s what you want.”
Ellen’s hand smoothed over the bedspread. “This is great, Dean.”
“I knew about this before what that all went down, went down. I didn’t know when you and Frank came back if you were still going to live with me or not. I know we had the understanding but, to be honest, I didn’t know who would be the person you lived with.”
“Were you hoping to win me over with this?”
“No.” Dean shook his head, then looked at her. “Maybe just a little.”
“You would have.” Ellen stepped to him. “I’m so materialistic.”
“I know.” Dean chuckled.
“I was in the old world too. Why do you think I stayed with Pete?”
“I knew this too. But . . . maybe that’s why I wanted to make this so different.” Dean held Ellen’s hand. “El, I have forever wanted to give you something no one else could.”
“You have.”
“What was that.”
“The Harvard Sweatshirt.”
Dean bit his bottom lip. “O.K., bigger than that. When I found out Joe was authorizing modular homes because Danny told him they erected easier and had more room than the townhouses, I had to do something special with the one I got.”
“So Danny picked you the best one?” Ellen nodded slowly. “What do you owe him?”
“Excuse me?”
“I know Danny. What’s he want?”
Dean held up his finger with an open mouth. “See there’s the problem. He hasn’t named his price. I signed a favor slip though.”
“One of many. He has a whole folder.” Ellen kissed him. “Thank you for this. I can’t tell you how this makes me feel.”
“I’m hoping you feel secure.” His fingers reached out and ran down her face. “So much as happened this past month, too much. We've had a lot of loss and heartbreak. You’ve gone through a lot. I guess for you, for me and for these kids, all of them, I wanted something stable and secure because in this world, an ‘old world’ normal life is so hard to come by.”
“So now we have a home with room where we can all live.”
“And eat.” Dean pointed back. “Dinner’s done. I invited everyone over. It’s the Slagel Sunday dinner you know. I hope you’re ready for it.”
“I’m ready for all of this.” Ellen started to follow Dean down the hall. “Dean? Can I invite the women over for a moon lodge meeting.”
Dean stopped walking. “Um . . .”
“You said ‘old world’ normal. Dean, I always had people over.”
“O.K., just forewarn me, all right.”
“I will.” She moved quickly behind Dean. “Oh, Dean, don’t get your hopes up. Bev won’t be invited.”
Dean spun around, opened his mouth to say something, shook his head, kissed Ellen, and walked to the kitchen.
^^^^
“East.” Robbie explained as he sat with Joe. A map was spread out across Joe’s dining room table. “Definitely east. The tire tracks led that way however, the road was maintained going north too. My guess is they went straight across South Dakota. But how far, I don’t know. There was a lot of blood. They had to take Frank somewhere to get help.”
“If that is Frank’s blood,” Joe said. “I guess Dean will tell us that tomorrow.”
“I want him to tell us now, but tonight is not a good night.”
“No it isn’t. Anyhow, we can’t send anyone out until we get a cover story.”
“Are we still going with a run?”
“Yep,” Joe agreed. “We just have to come up with what kind. Sending Jess is a good idea. He can keep us posted if he sees any clues that they stopped somewhere with Frank.”
“I say we shoot for Tuesday morning.”
“Tuesday morning is good.” Joe folded the map. “It’s gonna be tough. I’d like to start them at the Anderson farm, but it’ll be a tough cover up if we do that.”
“I’ll think of something.”
Joe reached over patting Robbie on the cheek. “Good job.”
“Tell me that after Dean tells us it was Frank’s blood.”
“I’m telling you now. I’m proud of ya’.” Joe stood up, leaned down, and kissed Robbie on the head. “Speaking of Dean, let’s go. You coming to dinner?”
“Yeah. Did Andrea make desert?”
“Yes,” Joe said. “She’s over there now. I’m surprised she hasn’t called.”
Robbie rose from his seat. “You think there’s enough to invite Jess over?”
Joe stopped walking. “Why?”
“Well, I feel bad that we have this big family thing every week and he’s alone.”
“Isn’t that sensitive of you?” Joe said sarcastically.
“I’m a sensitive guy.” Robbie stood, straight and proud.
“Just don’t let me discover how sensitive you really are.”
“Huh?” Robbie asked baffled as he watched his father move to the door.
“Nothing. Go get your uh . . . buddy.”
“Thanks.” Robbie met up with Joe and walked out with him. “Meet you there.”
Joe watched his son dart the other direction and then headed to the street that led through the living section. He stopped when he saw a small hole that was dug on the corner,. “What in Christ’s name?” The hole looked as if it were drilled. Joe peered into the deep hole as he squatted down.
“If you reach real far, Bugs Bunny might pop up.”
Joe’s eyes rolled and then he looked over his shoulder and up to Danny. “Hello Danny.” Joe stood up.
“Walking to Dean’s? I am. I was invited.”
“Is it a party?’
“Yeah.” Danny walked with Joe. “Did you like the hole?”
“It’s a hole and do you know who in the hell is digging . . .” Joe stopped at the next row of house. “Another hole?”
“There’s a hole on every corner.”
“Somehow I have a feeling you know why.”
“I do. I dug them.”
“What?” Joe halted and faced Danny. “Why are you digging holes?
“O.K., I was going to ask you about it tonight.”
“It’s a little late, don’t you think?”
“Not about the holes. The meeting.”
“What meeting?”
“The one I want to have with you first thing in the morning.”
“Tomorrow is not a good day. Tomorrow is Frank’s memorial service.” Joe picked up his pace but slowed down at the next row when he saw another hole.
“Yeah, I know but I think you may like it. Can we meet?”
“Early,” Joe answered.
“Five O.K.?” Danny asked,.
“Not that early. I’m still in my pajamas at five.”
“I don’t mind.”
“Danny.” Joe rubbed his eyes. “Are you always so perky?”
“Always. They call me Mr. Perky Joe. Of course, they also call me Mr. Resourceful and now the Hero Guy. Did you know that?”
Joe just nodded and put his mind on getting to Dean and Ellen’s. He knew Danny rambled about something. As they walked he heard the name ‘Bruce Lee’ once or twice but Joe paid no mind to Danny, because he was sure he’d hear it all again, only with more detail and a different angle. That was just Danny.
^^^^
Their bedroom was lit by the light the crept through the partially closed bathroom door. Laying next to Ellen, Dean pulled her closer to him and felt her bare back pressed against his bare chest. He brought his lips to her shoulder, then slid them up to her cheek. “You O.K.?” He whispered.
“Yeah, just thinking.”
“May I ask what about?”
“I’d rather not say.”
“Why?” Dean kissed her again.
“Because it has nothing to do with what
just happened here and I don’t want you to think that it was on my mind while we made love.”
“I won’t think that. I know your mind goes a mile a minute afterward. Talk to me.”
Ellen rolled onto her back and looked at Dean who propped his elbow on her pillow and rested his face in his hand. His other hand played with a strand of her hair.
“El. Talk.”
“I was thinking about Frank.”
“Oh.”
“Not in the capacity you think. See, today when we went to the farm, we found a trail of blood that led to the woods. We also found tire tracks.”
“You didn’t tell me this.”
“We were gonna wait until tomorrow. We took samples from the start of the trail until the end and tomorrow we want you to test it to see if it’s Frank’s. If it is, it’s proof that they took him and he had to be alive because why would they take him if he wasn’t.”
“This is heavy on your mind,” Dean said.
“Yeah.” Ellen nodded. “It’s an answer I guess. I don’t know.”
“And you’ll feel better once you know?”
“Yeah. So just ignore the mood, O.K.?” Ellen kissed Dean’s non-responsive lips as he stared out. “What’s wrong?”
Dean slid back from her and slipped from under the covers. He sat on the edge of the bed, grabbed his Levi’s and put them on.
“Dean. I’m sorry.”
“El.” Dean shook his head and turned on the light. He squinted as he made his way across the bedroom to his dresser. He picked up the phone and turned back to look at Ellen who sat up in bed, holding the covers to her chest. Dean dialed. He sniffled and ran his hand through his messy hair. “Hey Robbie, it’s Dean. Sorry to bother you. El, says you guys got some samples today and I can’t sleep. Would you mind if I ran down there and picked them up . . . thanks. I’ll be right there.” Dean hung up.
“Dean.” Ellen watched him toss on a shirt. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Yeah I do.” He moved to the bed and kissed her. “You need me to do this and I don’t mind at all. Besides, I’m curious too.”
“Are you going to the lab?”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 382