The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series

by Jacqueline Druga

  “That’s why I’m here, to wade it out with them. I’m glad you’re here. I really am.”

  “So am I. Did you bring anything, protection wise, in case things get bad?”

  “Yeah, my personal revolver and I have some hand guns in a brief case. We’re good.”

  Robbie tossed his cigarette and stared down at his half empty bottle of beer. “What do you need me to do? Anything tonight?”

  “Nope. It’s a watch and see. I’m pretty much going to stay glued to the set. This quarantine of the hospital in New York has taken up most of the airways. Once Kelly and the kids are asleep, I’m heading to one of the bigger towns to an all night grocer. I’m gonna stock up. If I’m right and New York shuts down soon, people will panic.”

  “And rightfully so. The CDC wouldn’t shut down a major metropolis unless it was bad.” Robbie finished off his beer. “O.K. since I’m not needed tonight.” He stood up, setting the bottle on the railing. “See ya.”

  “Where in the world are you going?”

  “Ellen’s.” He grabbed his cigarettes.

  “Ellen’s? What in God’s name for?”

  “I like her. I might as well make the best of the end of the world.”

  “What about her husband?”

  Robbie smiled as he walked backwards. “He’s very sick in bed.” He raised his eyebrows.

  “Now that is not right. That is just not right. You can’t be . . .“Joe saw his son ignore him and keep on walking. “Eh.” Giving up Joe grabbed for his Camel Filters and lit one more.

  <><><><>

  Ellen must have picked up and hung up the telephone twenty times. She’d take a breath, shake the nerves, look at the matchbook from the hotel, dial part of the number, then hang up and peered out to see if anyone was coming. “I can do this.” Her hand reached for the phone again when, from her view of the hall, she saw Josh and Johnny come down the steps. Quickly she pulled back her hand. “Josh, I thought you guys were upstairs for the night.”

  “We want to get a movie.”

  “Hurry up.” Ellen folded her arms, watching the two boys seem to take forever in the video cabinet. “Got one?”

  “Yep.” Josh ran in. “Can we have something to drink?”

  “Sure.” Ellen answered.

  “Can we take it upstairs?” Josh asked.

  “Josh, you know I don’t allow ...”She peeked at her watch, ten minutes after ten. “Yeah sure go ahead, but don’t spill. I cleaned your room really good last night.” She waited with anxiousness for the two boys to decide on their drink, open it, and go slowly upstairs. Holding off until the footsteps were above her head, Ellen looked at the matchbook. “I’m doing this.” She picked up the phone and dialed. “Twenty-three seventeen please.” With her heart racing with every ring, Ellen prepared to hang up.

  “Hello.” His voice sounded soft and groggy.

  “Dean?”

  “Ellen.” Suddenly it perked up. “You called.”

  “I told you I would. How was dinner with your father?”

  “Same as it always is. He picks on me, I nod.”

  “What are you doing now?” She asked.

  “Getting ready to go to bed. I have to golf early in the morning.”

  “You don’t strike me as a golfer.”

  “I’m not. So ... can you?” Dean asked.

  Ellen closed her eyes. “You mean meet you? Yes, I can. What time?”

  “This is great.” His voice smiled over the phone. “How about four? I can take you to dinner and we can have the evening.”

  “Four is good. Dean? Can I ask you something? What do you think about this quarantine at that hospital in New York?”

  “You aren’t worried about this, are you?” Dean asked. “Ellen, you’re a nurse. You know they do quarantines quite a bit.”

  “I know. But the CDC is involved and I just thought since this is your field …”

  “Exactly,” Dean stated. “And if it was something major, trust me, they would have called me in already. All right? Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Yes, tomorrow. Goodnight.” She started to hang up. “Dean? I’m really looking forward to seeing you.” With a smile and a glance at the matchbook, Ellen ended the call.

  The soft whisper voice in her ear, and the feeling of a body behind her made her jump and fumble the phone.

  She quickly turned around. “Robbie.”

  “Hey.” He smiled as he leaned in the doorway. “You really should lock your door. You never know who could just walk in here.”

  Half closing her eyes and shaking her head, Ellen set down the phone. “Obviously anything.”

  “So ... who’s Dean?”

  “Urn ... nobody.”

  Robbie saw her fiddle with something in her hand. “What’s this?” He snatched up the matches.

  “Hey!” Ellen reached for them, but Robbie held them above her head.

  He laughed. “Ha! The Stamford Marriott?” He gave them back to her. “Ellen? Are you having an affair on Pete?”

  “No. Shh. Why would you say that?” She backed up. “You want something to drink?”

  “Yes. And you are.” Robbie followed her to the refrigerator. “First the nervousness, then you tell someone named Dean you look forward to seeing them, and you have matches from a hotel in another town. Ellen I’m crushed. You’re supposed to have the affair with me.”

  “I’m not having an affair, Robbie. I’m just ... I met him that’s all. If I have the affair, it will be with you.”

  “Excellent. Let’s start tonight.”

  “Let’s not.” Ellen opened the fridge. “What do you want to drink?” She bent in looking.

  “What do you have?” Robbie leaned against the island counter in her kitchen.

  “Milk, tea, Coke… and why am I listing the nonalcoholic beverages? You’re a Slagel.” She grabbed a beer and shut the fridge. “Here.”

  “Thanks.” He twisted off the cap. “So...who’s better looking, me or him?”

  “You, but he outranks you.”

  “An officer? No El, don’t tell me you’re having an affair with an officer.”

  “Robbie.” Ellen walked up to him. “Can we not talk about this? You’re here to visit. Let’s visit.”

  “Actually, I’m here to steal you from Pete. So let’s steal you from Pete.”

  “Great opportunity for you. He’s sick,” Ellen said.

  “Hey El, maybe he’ll get real sick and die and then you can play the grieving widow. We’ll get all his money and live in Seattle.”

  “Sure Robbie. That sounds like a plan. Hey, I’m hungry. You wanna get a pizza and watch a movie with me?”

  “Sounds like a date.” Robbie drank his beer and watched her take the pizza flyer from the fridge. As he did, the reality of why he was really in Ashtonville hit him. Suddenly a movie and pizza sounded better than ever, for if what his father thought was about to happen did, this could possibly be the last time he ever had an evening like this again.

  Sunday, May 31-6:00 a.m.

  Ashtonville, Connecticut

  Speaking softly to his father--so as not to wake up Ellen--Robbie set down the last of the blue plastic bags. “That’s it for this house.”

  “Yeah, I’m gonna go head over and put the rest in the storage at Kelly’s.” Joe stood with Robbie in the kitchen. “You put this away. She has that huge pantry.”

  “I know, I know.” Robbie lifted some of the bags.

  “Robbie, what’s going on? You didn’t come back to Kelly’s at all last night. Did you tell Ellen what’s going on? Was she upset? Was that why you stayed?”

  “Nah.” Robbie closed his eyes coming from out of the pantry. “I stayed because I’ve always like Ellen. And...she’s gonna need me here. Just like Kelly’s going to need you, she’ll need me. Pete is sick, Dad.”

  “But when I picked you up for shopping you said you didn’t know what was wrong with him.”

  “No I don’t, but don’t you t
hink it’s far too much of a coincidence that Pete works in New York and now he’s sick? So sick he hasn’t come out of that guest room all night?”

  “You’re probably right.” Joe opened the kitchen door. “I have to go to Kelly’s and get this away before she wakes up. Then I think I might tell her. How about you? When and what are you telling Ellen?”

  “I’ll tell her about the virus. I’ll let the news conference fill her in on the rest. I just want her to be prepared for it. Hearing it first from the conference will be too much of a shock.”

  “I think it will be a shock hearing it no matter what,” Joe stated. “When I heard that they quarantined New York, I was waiting for it, but it still was like a knife through me.” He quickly glanced at his watch. “I have to go.”

  “Dad, you aren’t mad that I’m staying here instead of Kelly’s, are you?”

  “No.” Joe shook his head. “You’re three streets over. I’ll see you. And...three streets over is a hell of a lot better than having you thousands of miles away.” With a patting hand, Joe tapped Robbie’s cheek. “I’m glad you’re with me.”

  “Me too. Thanks for bringing my bag over for me.”

  “That...” Joe pointed. “Is another issue. How are you going to explain to Ellen, let alone Pete, that you’re moving in?”

  “With everything that is going to happen, Dad, I don’t think that will even be brought up.”

  <><><><>

  May31 - 8:50 a.m.

  The shower felt good to Ellen, but not as much as the extra sleep she got. She was actually surprised that she was able to fall back to sleep, especially since Josh had awakened her to check on Pete, not to mention calling up Doc Breyer and find out there’s just something going around. But between the non-stop talking with Robbie over the two old movies, Ellen didn’t get to bed until late.

  Flinging her head upright from the bent down position, Ellen turned off her blow dryer and ran the brush through her hair as she stared at her refection in her bedroom mirror. She debated on straightening her hair then or waiting. She opted for waiting. She’d have to do it again anyhow before she went to meet Dean. Opening her bedroom door, she walked in the hallway. She pushed open the first bedroom door, slowly exposing her curled up daughter lying in her bed, sleeping. The covers were down some. Five year old Taylor’s blonde hair was all over the place. Walking up to her, Ellen lifted the covers and laid her lips on her daughter’s cheek. “Oh no.” She felt behind Taylor’s ear. Her daughter was so warm. “Shit. The Tylenol didn’t work. Poor baby.” Kissing her daughter again, Ellen decided to check on Josh. He too felt warm earlier in the morning and was complaining his head hurt. Shutting the bedroom door, she moved to Josh’s room. Josh and Johnny both were sleeping in the twin beds. Quietly, so as not to wake them, Ellen leaned down to Josh. As her lips felt the very warm skin of his cheek, he moaned just a little and rolled over. Shaking her head, Ellen turned to Johnny. Just to check, she kissed him also. He felt so cool compared to her kids. Thinking that Kelly was going to kill her if Johnny came down with something, Ellen knew as soon as Johnny awoke, she’d have to get him home.

  Leaving Josh’s room and stepping into the hall, Ellen heard him. Pete. His grumbling moan carried from the closed guest room door into the hall. Walking to the door, she tapped lightly. “Pete,” she whispered.

  “Ellen.” His moan was worse and he sounded as if he were gagging.

  “God, Pete, get a grip and quit being so loud. You’re going to wake the kids. You’re only sick for crying out loud.” Shaking her head in disgust at him and swearing under her breath about him getting the kids sick, Ellen’s thoughts moved to Dean and how she’d have to cancel their date for the evening. Maybe, she thought as she headed to the stairs, she could talk him into coming to her house. Hell, if Robbie Slagel could laugh and talk that loud and pass out on the couch, Dean certainly could come for a visit. If Pete woke up and saw him, that was easy. She would lie about who he was. Why not? Hadn’t Pete been doing that to her for years?”

  Halfway down the steps, two overpowering aromas hit her, coffee and bacon. Knowing that she didn’t have a Genie in her house, it had to be one person. Robbie.

  Ellen saw him standing at her stove when she walked in, and immediately went to the cupboard for a cup. “Morning.” She grabbed a cup, leaned to him to peek at what he cooked, and smiled. “Wow. Breakfast.”

  “Morning, El.” Taking her by surprise, Robbie kissed her softly on the lips.

  “Whoa. What was that for?”

  He shrugged and returned to cooking. “I wanted to, and it’s the least I can do. You let me sleep on your couch last night.”

  Pouring the coffee into her cup, Ellen watched him scramble the eggs. “What was I supposed to do? I shook you and shook you and you wouldn’t budge. You were out.”

  “Guess what, El?” Robbie smiled at her.

  “What?” She saw that ornery look on his face. “You weren’t sleeping were you?”

  “Nope. Grab me two plates.”

  “O.K.” Ellen opened the next cabinet. “This is great, Robbie. Coffee, food. I am impressed. I should let you sleep over more often. Need a job?”

  Robbie laughed as she set the plates next to the stove. “You know us Slagel men. We were brought up self sufficient. We cook, we clean…”

  “...and are very mean.” She sipped.

  “That too.” He turned off the burner and stared at her.

  “What’s wrong? I look terrible don’t I? I didn’t do my hair.”

  Robbie snickered. “No not at all.” He paused in the reach for the plates. “Hey El. Let’s fool around.”

  Totally shocked and laughing, Ellen nearly choked on her coffee. “What? Why would you say that?”

  “I’ve always wanted to fool around with you. Let’s do it.”

  Pacifying in a kidding manner, Ellen walked to the kitchen table. “Sure, Robbie. We’ll just have our breakfast and we’ll sneak into the pantry. It locks, you know. We’ll fool around in there while your nephew sleeps up stairs and my soon to be ex-husband and children are all sick in bed.” She heard the loud slam of the flying pan, as it dropped from his hand to the stove’s surface. “I was kidding, Robbie. Joking? Like you.”

  He didn’t turn around.

  “Robbie? What’s wrong? Did you burn yourself?”

  “El?” He finally faced her. “The kids are sick?” he asked somberly.

  “Yes. How do you like that?” She sat down. “Fuckin Pete brings something home. They both have fevers. I called Doc Breyer this morning and he said he was out all night on flu calls. Probably was Pete. He infected everyone in Ashtonville at that little league game last night.” She saw how serious Robbie was as he set down their plates. “What happened to that arrogant smile you always have? They have the flu, Robbie. Which… if you don’t want it, you’d better stay away. I’m worried right now about Johnny. He’s not warm and…”

  “How are you feeling, El?” Robbie sat down.

  “Me? I’m fine.” She picked up her fork. “This looks great. I never catch what the kids catch. I think it’s a mother thing so you can stay well enough to take care of your family.” Ellen began to eat and noticed Robbie wasn’t. “Eat before yours gets cold.”

  Robbie grabbed a strip of bacon. “El? When did you have first contact with Pete?”

  “A long time ago, Robbie, you know that.” She laughed as if he were being silly. “In Vegas, when Frank and Kelly got …”

  “No.” Robbie snickered. “This weekend. When were you in contact with him?”

  “Friday when he came home from work—late. Kelly had to take the kids to the game.”

  “Did you kiss him or touch him at all?” Robbie continued asking her.

  “Hell no. I haven’t kissed Pete in forever.” She saw the arrogant smile on his face. “I knew that would get you. I did steal the Coke he was drinking—bastard didn’t get me one.”

  “And you aren’t sick. Not at all?”

  “Robbi
e eat. And no, I’m not sick. You are really too worried about this.” Ellen ate her eggs. “Oh, ketchup.” She stood.

  “For what?”

  “My bacon.” She walked to the refrigerator. “Out. I have some in the pantry.”

  “El, wait, before you go …”

  “Robbie?” Ellen turned from the open pantry door. “Why is my pantry so stocked? Did you go shopping?” She stepped inside. “Ten pounds of coffee? I like coffee but not that much. Was it on sale or something, I know how you Slagels get. Spam? What’s up with the Spam?” She chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten that in my life. Twinkles would have been nice, Robbie. And what’s …” She stopped when she saw the huge box of batteries. “Robbie?” She saw him sitting at the table. He had pushed his plate ahead of him, his hand covered his face. Quickly Ellen raced back into the pantry, checking out everything he bought. Her heart dropped when she stepped out, he still looked the same. “You’re here in Ashtonville with Joe. It’s, it’s that Slagel contingency plan, isn’t it? The food, batteries, bottled water. Robbie?” She hurried to the table.

  “How do you know about the plan?”

  “Frank told me years ago. Robbie, are we getting attacked? Should we head to the mountains? What?”

  “Ellen.” He grabbed her hand as she sat down.

  “What do you know?” She saw the hesitation on his face. “Tell me. What do you know?”

  “There’s a news conference on today that will explain it all. It’s on in about fifteen minutes. I wanted to tell you before you saw it.” He scooted his chair closer to her, holding both of his hands over hers. “There’s a virus, El. It’s bad. It was released intentionally in New York. We think it’s airborne. They’ve shut down New York. They did it last night but it’s too late. So many people have left the city by now that something of this magnitude would …”

  “No.” Ellen said strongly. “You’re wrong.”

  “No Ellen I’m …”

  “You’re wrong.” She stood. “And I’ll prove it to you. I’ll prove it to you.” She scurried around for her purse, pulled out her billfold and the matchbook she tucked in there. “This will prove you wrong.” She held them up. “He’s a virologist the top in the Army.” She searched out her phone. “If something like this is happening, he’ll know.” Grabbing the phone, she began to dial. “Room twenty-three, seventeen please.”