Joe (Beginnings Series Book 25)

by Jacqueline Druga

  *****

  Jason usually thought things through all the time. All the time. But why he didn’t think about the safety deposit box issue beforehand was beyond him. He thought he had it all worked out. Perfect. The bank in Bowman was still in existence. However, he had to deal with Ben from Fabrics to get into it. The old bank was the new coffee and poetry house, and Ben was in charge.

  It took some convincing, going back and forth with Ben. But after to agreeing to a twenty-dollar Unique Boutique purchase Ben let Jason through to the vault with the old safety deposit boxes.

  “I don’t know how you’re going to get into these boxes. They are locked. We’ve been dying to try forever.”

  Jason, smugly, raised a key.

  “How did you get that?” Ben asked.

  “You can say. I thought ahead.”

  Ben didn’t leave him alone to open the box, but it certainly was heavy.

  ‘Yes’, Jason thought, the book is in here. Of course, Jason was not pleasantly surprised when he opened the box.

  Two packages were in there. One from Nancy Reagan, and the other from the Reagan Foundation. Postmarked decades apart. After quickly skimming the return addresses, Jason scooped up his packages, thanked Ben and left. He’d find somewhere private to examine what he had.

  And he did. Then Jason went immediately back to the house where Dean was hiding.

  “Dean.” Jason called out like a parent.

  Dean was still sporting his tee shirt. Enthused he popped into the living room. “Did you go? Was it there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Excellent.”

  “Dean...”

  “Yes?”

  “Shall I start calling you, ‘Frank’?” Jason asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  Jason held up the packages. “What did you do?”

  *****

  It actually ended up being a perfect thing. At first Robbie was pissed off that Danny and Roy just walked into the clinic without holding the door, but as Robbie entered and saw no one around, he figured it worked in his favor.

  He carried Dan down the hall to the waiting room, which was empty, and he placed Dan on the couch. He propped up his feet, put a book on his chest, and took a good look.

  Dan appeared as if he had taken a nap, and then Robbie left him.

  He supposed there could be questions, but it was Dan. The last thing Dan would remember was seeing Robbie talking to a talking head then ended up in the clinic? Although it would make Dan seem a bit insane, it was Beginnings, so it was par for the course.

  Walking down the hall from the waiting room, he saw Andrea leaving an exam room.

  “Hey, Andrea.”

  “Robbie.” She smiled brightly. “What brings you to the clinic?”

  “I was here to see you.”

  “Here I am.”

  “Cool.” Robbie grinned. “But I didn’t see you now I have to go. I want to get a latte before the afternoon rush. See ya.” He darted a kiss to her cheek.

  “Robbie.”

  “Yeah,” he stopped with a squeak of his boots.

  “Could you be a dear and get me one.”

  He wanted to whine. Stomp his foot, and say no, he had to see his dad, but he was Robbie. “Sure, I’ll be right back.”

  “You are a sweetheart. I’ll make you brownies.”

  “You’re the best.”

  “Thank you baby.”

  Another smile, a nod and Robbie left. He’d rush, get the coffee, drop it off and hurry back to the trailer. He just wanted to spend time with Joe. Talk to him. Everything seemed to be getting in the way.

  *****

  She was humming a sweet tune, something Christian when she walked into the lab. “Dean, you’re back.” Andrea said brightly.

  Roy faced her. “And I have all those results for you.”

  “You are just a pip.” She grinned.

  “Thank you.”

  Roy handed the results to Andrea, she hummed as she read them.

  “You’re in a good mood. Something happen?” Roy asked.

  “No, no, just feeling the Holy Spirit.”

  Roy looked around. “Here?”

  “Everywhere.”

  “Wow. How come I don’t feel it?”

  “Dean. Really, you don’t live the Christian life.”

  “I don’t?”

  She chuckled. “I mean you haven’t let Jesus into your heart.”

  “How does he get there? I mean, I want to feel this Holy Spirit and be happy like you.”

  “But you don’t believe in God.”

  Roy gasped. “I do too.”

  “You do? Since when?”

  Ropy fluttered his lips. “More so recently, I’ll tell you. I went to the church in Bowman.”

  “And were moved?”

  “Yes. Yes, is that the term?”

  “Yes! Yes!” Andrea shouted. “Sweet Jesus, Dean, you are a believer.”

  “I have even written a song.”

  “No,” Andrea exhaled her word. “Dean this is wonderful. Do you think you’ll start going to church.”

  “If it’ll make me sing like that.”

  “Sweet Jesus you’re a Christian now.” Andrea laid her hand on her chest and gasped. “Praise.”

  “Praise.”

  “Amen.”

  “Amen,” Roy repeated.

  “Pray with me now?” Andrea asked. “Like sealing the deal.”

  “Yes. That would be very good. Maybe then I can feel this Holy Spirit.”

  Andrea reached for his hands. Just as she did, Melissa knocked on the door.

  “Dr. Winters?” Melissa called out.

  “Yes, dear?” Andrea turned around.

  “I think we have a problem with Dan from Security.”

  “What’s going on?”

  Melissa breathed out, folded her arms and looked as if in debate.

  “Well?” Andrea asked impatiently. “I’m not Ronald Reagan. What’s going on?”

  Melissa said with a point backwards with her thumb. “I think we need to call Frank.”

  *****

  The Memoirs of Ronald Reagan. Hardback edition, autographed with a note from Nancy. That book, Jason expected. The other one he didn’t. It was with a note from Reagan’s family, saying that perhaps Jason wanted to see the book. The book released years after his death, was a diary that Ronald kept and had locked away until his death. He locked it away decades beforehand, before his disease took hold.

  The book was titled, ‘Reagan Diaries. The Man, the Myth, the Next Nostradamus.’

  Jason tossed the book on the table. “What did you do? Better yet, how much did you change? Hopefully not much.”

  “I don’t understand.” Dean hunched.

  “Dean. Reagan wrote this book in 1986, had it locked away in 1988. Sealed. It talks about how two visitors from the future told him of events, and other visions he had. Good thing for us, you didn’t mention the plague.”

  Dean raised his shoulders. “I did. But maybe he forgot.”

  “Dean, I can’t believe you told him things. What all did you tell him.”

  “Nothing major.”

  “September 11th wasn’t major.”

  “Ok, that one was major.”

  “Dean, I stopped at the Bowman Library to open this. After I skimmed through I asked the librarian what he knew of Ronald Reagan. Too young to even recall him, he said to me, ‘wasn’t that the famous psychic guy?’”

  “Jason … maybe he was confused.”

  “My thoughts exactly, so I approached someone older. Much older. Someone I was certain would know Ronald Reagan. So I asked him. And do you know what he said.”

  Dean shrugged. “He was the president.”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.”

  “No.” Jason shook his head. “He preceded it with he was the psychic who once was president. Dean, we have proceeded to take a great political mind, a champion of politics, a man famous for tearing down the wall of commu
nism and made him famous for predictions.”

  “Wow that sucks.”

  “Yes, it does.” Jason exhaled. “But I find it mildly amusing. Especially after reading some of the book. Seems we were two future men who visited him frequently.”

  “We visited him frequently?” Dean asked. “Do we plan to see him again?”

  Jason shrugged. “Who knows?” He lifted the book and started walking to the other room.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To see what all you told our guru former president.” Jason raised an eyebrow. “We’ll talk later.”

  *****

  What was up with the steaming thing at the bakery? Robbie made a mental note to tell Danny about it. Twice it clogged up on Gemma and fifteen minutes into getting two lattes, Robbie wanted to scream

  He would had left long before if he wasn’t getting one for Andrea. Trying to focus elsewhere other than on Gemma’s fumbling, Robbie spotted Frank walking into the clinic. That was a good thing; Frank was out of the way. Of course he may ask why he wasn’t at that meeting, but it probably wasn’t important, since no one tried to get a hold of his since.

  “Almost there now.” Gemma said. “Got the steamer steaming.”

  Robbie smiled. “Thanks.” A few more moments, drop off the coffee, then off to see his father. How long had he waited.

  *****

  “Hysterical, Frank, just hysterical,” Melissa said in a rushed voice, urging Frank to the lab. “We found him passed out in the waiting room. He has no idea how he got there and only wants to speak to you. Thank God I called you, huh?”

  “When did this start?”

  “We don’t know.”

  “If this is a medical emergency, why is he in the lab?”

  “We couldn’t find anything wrong with him other than …”

  “Hysterical.”

  “Yep.” Melissa reached for the door. “Good luck.”

  “Thanks.”

  She opened the lab door.

  Dan sat on a stool, Andrea holding his hand, while Roy kind of leaned on the counter, elbows down, staring at Dan in some sort of bewilderment.

  “There, there,” Andrea patted his hand. “Frank’s here now.”

  “Frank!” Dan stood, his legs wobbled. “Oh my God.” He gripped on to Frank, holding tight around his waist, head pressed to his chest. “Oh my God.”

  “It’s all right,” Frank said looking to Andrea and mouthing the words, ‘What the fuck’?

  Dan was shaking.

  “Dan.” Frank called his name. Waited. Nothing. “Dan.” Again no response. “Fuck! Dan! Knock it off!”

  “Frank!” Andrea scolded. “Be compassionate.”

  “Sorry.” Frank said.

  Roy snickered.

  Dan backed off. “I’m sorry, Frank. I’ll pull it together.”

  “Please. Have a seat.”

  Dan took in a deep breath and sat down. “I’m traumatized.”

  “Obviously.”

  “Frank,” Again Andrea scolded.

  Dan held up his hand. “I saw his ghost.”

  “Who?” Frank asked.

  “Your father.”

  “Sweet Jesus.” Andrea placed her hand palms to heaven.

  “My father’s ghost scared you this bad?” Frank asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Did he look that bad?”

  “I don’t know Frank. It’s made me doubt the beyond.”

  Frank scratched his head. “I’m lost.”

  “Ok, Joe blew up, right.”

  “Yeah.” Frank nodded.

  “All that’s left for him to wander around with is … is … is …” Dan burst. “His head. He is a head in the afterlife.”

  “A head in the afterlife?” Frank asked for clarification.

  “Yes.”

  “A head of what?”

  “Himself.”

  “He’s a head of himself in the afterlife. Was he in a race with himself?”

  “Huh?” Dan looked up confused.

  “You said he was ahead of himself.”

  “Not ahead as in ahead, but a head as in a head.” Dan paused. “He has no body Frank only a head.”

  “Fuck.”

  “Yeah. A floating head.”

  “Fuck.”

  “Sweet Jesus.”

  “What kind of head, a full head, old head.”

  “His head.” Dan said.

  “Fuck.”

  “Sweet Jesus.”

  “I saw him and that’s the last I recall. Ask him.” Dan pointed.

  “Who?” Frank asked.

  “Robbie. He saw.”

  Robbie turned around. “What’s going on?” He walked into the lab and handed Andrea her coffee.

  Roy explained. “Seems Dan has seen the ghost of Joe but only a floating head.”

  “Really? Cool.” Robbie nodded. “Ok, I’m out of here.” He turned.

  “Wait.” Frank called out.

  Robbie stopped. “What?”

  “Dan said you saw.”

  “He saw,” Dan blurted out emotionally.

  “I saw what?”

  “Dad’s floating head.”

  “Frank.” Robbie dropped his voice to a whisper. “I thought I made it clear I never opened the coffin just the tomb.”

  “Sweet Jesus!” Andrea screamed. “You broke into your father’s grave.”

  “Sorry.” Robbie shrugged.

  “No,” Dan said. “Today, you were talking to Joe’s floating head.”

  Frank turned to him. “You were?”

  “When?” Robbie asked. “Because if I were, I’d know it.”

  Dan explained, “At the trailer. I came to give you a ride.”

  “I uh, I didn’t call you for a ride.” Robbie said. “I walked back.” His head cocked when Roy cleared his throat.

  Frank asked. “If you were at the trailer, how did you get here?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “But your jeep is out front.” Frank said.

  Roy interjected. “He drove.”

  Frank looked at him. “He drove?”

  “I drove?” Dan asked.

  “I saw him. I was walking in when he pulled up. He drove.”

  Robbie made eye contact with Roy, Roy winked.

  Roy continued. “Robbie do you know what he’s talking about?”

  “No. Not at all. My dad’s floating head?” Robbie fluttered his lips. “Nope, I’d remember that.”

  “Strange. Along with the loss of time, memory, seeing things. Any headaches lately, Dan?” Roy asked.

  “Come to think of it, yeah.” Dan nodded.

  “Sweet Jesus. Jimmy has been complaining of headaches.” Andrea said. “I wonder if he’s having memory loss.”

  Frank snapped his finger. “He is.”

  “He is?” Robbie asked.

  “He is. He fixed the ALS3 and doesn’t remember doing so?”

  “He fixed it? When?” Robbie asked.

  “Don’t know. He doesn’t even know he got it working yet. I found it. Wait till he finds out.”

  “Wow. Cool.” Robbie nodded impressed. “Bet that tells a lot.”

  “A lot more than you know. Since you didn’t show up.”

  “I had to walk.”

  “I came to get you,” Dan said. “I wish I hadn’t.”

  “Dean?” Andrea asked. “What are you thinking?”

  “Simple. I was worried, hoping it would pass, but it sounds to me like we may be having a few cases of … of …”

  “Of?” Andrea asked.

  “A brain virus.” Roy nodded.

  “What’s it called?”

  “Gosh,” Roy fluttered his lips. “Modula oblongata Hypo …desamen … tray …a chica ….titis.”

  Everyone blurted out a ‘Huh?’

  Roy smiled a tightly closed mouth.

  Andrea asked, spilling out the word smoothly, “Modula Oblongata Hypodesamentrayachictitis?”

  “Fuck.” Frank looked at her. “You sa
id that well.”

  “Yes.” Roy said. “Modula Oblongata Hypodesamentrayachictitis. It’s a strange form of virus that strikes through testosterone every twenty-seven years. This is the year.”

  “Sweet Jesus.”

  “Am I gonna die?” Dan asked.

  “Nah, it’ll pass. Some antibiotics, aspirin and rest. You’ll be good to go and won’t have delusions or loss of memory.”

  Dan exhaled. “Are you sure.”

  “Positive.”

  “Praise.” Andrea whispered. “Well now that’s all better. Dan let’s go check your blood pressure and get you some pills.” She helped Dan from the stool.

  “Thanks Andrea. Thanks Frank.” He looked at Robbie. “Sorry I dragged you into my delusion.”

  “No problem.”

  “I’m gonna head out too,” Frank said. “Catch me later little brother.” He gave a swat to Robbie’s arm. “I have some things to talk to you about.”

  “Got it.”

  Frank walked out behind Andrea and Dan. Robbie after looking a few times, for his latte, found it, lifted it and began to leave.

  “Hold it.” Roy called.

  “Yeah.” Robbie asked, almost at the door.

  “Make some time for me, too. Because a floating head. We need to talk.”

  “I think so.” Robbie sipped his latte. “We really do.” A raise of his cup, another sip and Robbie walked out.

  *****

  ‘Ah, peace,” Hal didn’t know why he thought that way every time he pulled back home into Bowman. Usually the euphoric feel lasted briefly, and then something, someone from Beginnings rained on his sunny home parade.

  Most of the time it was Elliott.

  It was a serious stressful situation, not Frank induced or Beginnings induced that made Hal want to seek out solace. He avoided the mess hall and went directly with Elliott to his office.

  Something that required his sleeping on it even though bed was quite a few hours away.

  Elliott chuckled, causing Hal to look up while rubbing his temple.

  “What, Elliott?”

  “You’re still stuck on the sleep on it thing. You haven’t said a word about it, I can see it in your face.”

  “What is my brother thinking?”

  “He’s thinking that the Great War doesn’t start for months. That this is too small to be part of the Great War. That these soldiers up north are a diversion or are just waiting for a moment.”