The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  Joe’s thoughts of morning smells stemmed from the oddity of the scent he took in that morning. Breakfast. It smelled fresh, warm, and it shouldn’t have been happening considering Joe lived with Frank and Frank was out of the house before Joe was even up.

  He moved slowly down the hall and into the living room. The view of the dining room table, Ellen who sat there, was the first thing he saw and. There was a plate before her. “Ellen.”

  “Morning, Joe.” Ellen smiled. “Coffee’s all ready for you.” She pointed to a cup at his seat. “Ashtray and the Hoi Times paper, too.”

  “Thanks.” Joe pulled out the chair. “What . . .”

  “Morning, Dad.” Frank walked in and laid a plate down for Joe.

  “What are you doing home, Frank? Aren’t you working?” Joe asked.

  “Yeah, but Dan’s covering for a little while. I wanted to have breakfast with Ellen.”

  “I see.” Joe took a sip of his coffee, set it down, then lit up a cigarette. “Arriving early, Ellen, or staying late?”

  Ellen snickered. “Staying late. I have to go.” She finished her coffee. “Joe, I know Denny and Katie come home today. I’ll be next door all day with Alex and Elliott if you need me.” She kissed him on the cheek.

  “Tell Elliott my prayers are with him,” Joe said.

  “I will.” She stepped back. “I have to go.”

  Frank moved with her. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

  Joe rolled his eyes. “Christ, it’s three feet away.”

  Waving his father off, Frank stopped at the door with Ellen. “I . . . I want to thank you for last night.”

  Bringing his mug to his lips, Joe stopped.

  Ellen smiled. “I should thank you too.”

  “It was just what I needed.” Frank kept his voice low.

  “Me, too.”

  Joe shook his head and sipped.

  “I won’t forget what you did. More than you realize it meant a lot. Especially knowing I can come to you when I reach that point of . . . of . . .” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “Frustration.”

  Almost ready to drink more coffee, Joe stopped again.

  “Frank,” Ellen said softly. “Just know, any time you reach that point, you can come to me, day or night. And if takes a repeat of last night we’ll do it.”

  “I know it didn’t seem like it, but I had a blast last night.”

  “I knew you liked it, despite how much you griped.”

  A crinkle of oddity hit Joe’s face.

  “El, I was terrible.”

  Joe’s eyes widened.

  “You were fine. How long has it been?”

  “A long time.”

  Sipping his coffee, and thinking ‘true’, Joe tilted his head with a nod.

  Frank smiled at Ellen. “You didn’t lose your touch.”

  “I’m the queen. Besides, you shined the last round, did you not?”

  “Yeah, but that was after five times at not doing well.”

  Joe mouthed the word ‘six’ in question.

  “I really have to get over there.” Ellen reached for the door. “Thanks again. If on your break you feel like stopping to see me at the house, we can have a short repeat. Maybe even pull Elliott into it to help take his mind off of things.”

  Joe’s mouth dropped open in disgust.

  “Is he any good?” Frank asked.

  “I don’t know.” Ellen answered. “Does it make a difference?”

  “Yeah. I don’t want you two double teaming me and then I feel . . .”

  Joe’s mug of coffee slammed on the table. “Will you two knock it off! Ellen, go home.”

  “I’m going.” She hurried and kissed Frank on the cheek. “But make sure if you do stop by for another challenge, you pick up your board. Our Scrabble is missing some letters.”

  “Got it.” Frank opened the door and watched her leave. He turned around to see Joe staring. “What?”

  “Scrabble?” Joe asked. “You were talking about Scrabble?”

  “Yeah. What did you . . . Oh.” Frank shook his head and walked to the table. “Fuckin dirty old man you are. Scrabble.” He sat down and grabbed his coffee.

  “Let me get this straight. You thank her. She thanks you. Ellen spends the night, all night, and you spend the entire night just playing Scrabble?”

  “Yeah.” Frank sipped his coffee with a pleased smile. “Yeah, we did.”

  ^^^^

  “You and Joey walk straight to school this time,” Dean warned Billy as he set his cereal before him.

  “Don’t blame me,” Billy said. “Joey wanders off and I have to find him. Usually he’s chasing animals with Marcus.”

  “Well, let him chase. Get to school and tell Jenny about . . .” Dean turned his head to the front door opening.

  Ellen popped her head in first then slipped in. “Hey,” she said softly. “Morning.” She kicked off the large shoes she wore.

  Staring at Ellen, Dean set down the milk. “Everything, O.K.?”

  “Yeah.” Ellen nodded, walked up, and kissed Billy and Joey. “Where’s Nick?”

  “Henry came by and got him.”

  “What?” Ellen laughed. “Henry picked up his kid?”

  “Go figure.”

  “Dean.” Ellen walked to him. “How’s Elliott?”

  “He started feeling a little better around five,” Dean explained. “Right now I have him medicated.”

  “I felt so left out last night.”

  Dean nodded. “I knew that and I’m sorry. Trust me, I wouldn’t have had a problem with you helping Elliott, but he . . .”

  “I know,” Ellen exhaled. “So what now? Are you going to stop the treatments?”

  “What? No,” Dean answered and started walking backwards. “Billy, Joey, finish up.”

  “Dean?” Ellen followed him down the hall. “What do you mean, no. Last night . . .”

  “Last night was round one.” Dean stopped. “We knew it would get bad before it got better. This is what we have to do. All right?” He stepped closer to her. “He’ll be sick but he will be fine.”

  “I’m sorry. I just feel left in the dark.”

  “That’s understandable.”

  “Did you sleep?” Ellen asked.

  “Yeah, I caught a few. You?”

  “A few.” Ellen folded her arms. “Dean, I didn’t mean to be gone all night.”

  “El.” He laid his hand on her arm. “I knew you were upset last night and it was already late when you told me you were going over. I figured once you and Frank started talking, you’d be gone all night.”

  “So you’re not mad?”

  “No.” Dean shook his head. “I want to get ready to go, though.” He headed toward Josh’s room.

  “You aren’t going to ask me what happened?” Ellen followed him.

  “Frank and I have a ‘no kiss and tell’ agreement.”

  “So I shouldn’t tell you that we kissed.”

  Dean froze. He turned around in the door.

  “And that’s all.” Ellen walked to him. “One kiss,” she said softly. “You may not want to know, but I want you to know because I don’t want you thinking anymore happened.”

  “Thank you for that.”

  “Except Scrabble. We played a lot of Scrabble. Dean . . . without getting into details, Frank needed me there last night. He just needed me to be there.”

  “I understand.”

  “Good.” She took a breath. “All right. Why don’t I get dressed and then run to the clinic for today’s supplies. I’ll be on the day shift today.”

  “El.” Dean’s tone dropped. “Patrick is bringing over supplies for Alex and Elliott.”

  “Great.” Ellen smiled. “I don’t have to leave the house. I’ll just get things ready here.”

  “El, I need you to work in the cryo-lab and Clinic today.”

  “Are you working with Elliott and Alex?” Ellen asked.

  “No, Patrick is.” Dean replied with some apprehension.

>   “Dean, that’s dumb. Alex is our daughter . . .”

  “Patrick can handle her.”

  “What about Elliott?”

  Dean stared for a second then turned and walked into Josh’s room.

  “Dean?” Ellen trailed behind.

  “El, if you want to know.” He took a breath. “Elliott told me this morning that he’d prefer you not working with him while he’s receiving treatments.”

  “That’s insane.”

  “That’s what he wants.”

  “We’ll see about that.” Ellen turned.

  Dean reached out and stopped her. “El, I’m serious. He said he doesn’t want you around. If you being around is a bother or worry to him, then that is an emotional issue that can affect his treatment. I can’t have that. Understand? Against what I want to do, I’m pulling you.”

  “This is our project.”

  “I know.”

  “Elliott is my friend. We’re supposed to be close.”

  “I know.” Dean said. “It doesn’t make any sense to me. I asked if you did something wrong. He said no.” He shrugged.

  Her arms folded tighter to her body as her eye shifted about and her jaw tensed. “Doesn’t he know I want to do this with him?”

  “Yeah, he does. El, I tried to talk to him, but I’m not going to argue with him. He’s very sick right now.”

  “And what am I supposed to do? Sit back and watch a door.”

  “I’ll keep you posted as best as I can.”

  Through her nostrils, Ellen took a deep breath. “You keep me posted. Do you know how cold that sounds? It’s as if I’m not even a part of this. Keep me posted.” She shook her head. “I’m gonna get ready for the Clinic.” Turning to leave the room, Ellen stopped in the hall. She looked at the closed bedroom door and stepped to it. She listened to try to hear anything of Elliott coming from there, but she heard nothing. All she wanted to do was walk in that room, see how he was and insist, like it or not, she was going to be there, but she didn’t. Like Dean had said, if Elliott got too bogged down with worrying about Ellen being there, it could affect his treatment, and that was the last thing Ellen wanted to do. Knowing that, against what she wanted to do, Ellen walked away from the door.

  ^^^^

  Frank didn’t understand it. He was quite content with what he had planned. Fully utilizing the huge hole he blew into Beginnings, Frank was certain he had the world’s biggest bear trap. The gap in the earth was covered with branches that hid the eight steal jaws of death. Neatly over the laid down branches was what Frank called his ‘Goldilocks’ set up, three bowls of oatmeal, all doused with honey.

  Frank was positive the moment that bear got hungry, he would follow the scent and ‘whap’ he would get trapped. Figuring the steel clamps would cause excruciating pain, the scream of the bear would ring out alerting Frank and he wouldn’t have to run to the back gate to chase another deer.

  It was a ‘check occasionally’ trap and Frank had no plan to run up. He supposed his father heard something or had a gut instinct, because the moment Frank sat down to finally view the ‘mystery man’ disk, Joe screamed and yelled about the bear.

  Frank complained, especially when he arrived and saw nothing, but he didn’t complain for long. He knew the area behind that back gate well, the look, the feel and even the smell. When he smelled the rancid, damp fur-like smell, he was certain it wasn’t coming from a deer. It was the scent he had waited for, and Joe’s psychic ability was right.

  Knowing the bear had to be close, Frank had to secure his trophy. After peeking around to make sure he wasn’t seen, he pulled out the clincher from the inside of his leather jacket. It had been given to him by Dean. Frank was grateful for it because had Dean not given him that half of pint of blood to use, the wound on Frank’s forearm would never heal. Hoping the expiration of the body fluid didn’t matter, Frank ripped the plastic top open–like a Kool-aid pouch–with his teeth, and poured half down into the hole.

  The trap was ready. The scent was close. It was time to catch that bear. But there was one more thing Frank had to do . . . leave. Knowing there wasn’t any way a bear with half a brain was going to trot along for a free breakfast while Frank was standing there, he tucked the blood bag back into his coat and, whistling like he was up there doing something routine, Frank left the back gate region.

  ^^^^

  From the left and the right, Robbie and Danny both headed to the Mechanics building. Robbie stopped the moment he saw Danny and looked to his watch. “Hey, Dan, is my watch wrong? Am I early?”

  “No, I’m late.”

  “Shit.” Robbie shook his head. “Here I thought I could sneak off and hang somewhere for a little bit more.” He grabbed the door and stepped inside. The second he did, a stack of papers slammed down on the edge of the counter.

  “You’re late!” Henry blasted at Robbie. “We’re swamped.”

  “Sorry.” Robbie shrugged.

  Danny Hoi walked in. “Sorry, I’m late, Henry. I slept in.”

  “That’s O.K. “Henry said calmly to Danny. “I have your reqs in my office.”

  “Thanks.” Danny smiled. “I’ll go get them.” He flashed a snide grin to Robbie and walked to Henry’s office.

  “Whoa.” Robbie held up his hand. “Why do I get the riot act and he doesn’t?”

  “Because you have a reputation of being lazy and he doesn’t.”

  Robbie scoffed facially. “Fuck off. Just give me my work.”

  “I have no work for you,” Henry told him.

  “You just said we’re swamped,” Robbie came back.

  “I’ll do it.”

  “Why are you throwing yourself into the work all of the sudden?” Robbie asked.

  “Because I have a crew who doesn’t work.”

  “Bullshit. Everyone works for you,” Robbie snapped. “Now give me the work I have to do. My Dad said I have to be here.”

  “Tell Joe I don’t need you.”

  “Nope.” Robbie reached across the counter and grabbed a piece of paper. He handed it to Henry.

  “What’s this for?” Henry looked at the paper.

  “Write me an excuse. My father won’t believe me.”

  “See even your father knows your reputation.”

  “Henry.” Robbie tried to stay calm. “Write the note so I can give it to my dad and tell him Frank needs me in Security. Then . . .” Robbie snickered. “I’ll tell Frank my dad needs me and I’ll go sleep.”

  “See.” Henry tossed the paper at Robbie.

  “You know, you have a real problem with me.” Robbie leaned toward Henry.

  “Yeah I do. Do you want to know why I can’t take you lately?”

  “Lately?” Robbie laughed. “All right. Tell me why you can’t take me lately.”

  “Because of Andrea.”

  “What!”

  “You heard me. The woman’s gone, Robbie. She was like a mother to you and you walk around here as if you could care less. You laugh, joke around, and pretend she meant nothing and that’s wrong.”

  Stone cold seriousness hit Robbie. “Listen to me, you shit. Don’t you even presume to tell me how I should or should not act. You got that? Now I won’t stand here and waste my time arguing with you when you’re nothing but a little fuckin bitch lately.” Robbie shook his head and turned toward the door. “No wonder Hector’s the only one who talks to you.” Before Robbie could take another step, he felt the hard hit to his lower back and found himself slamming face first into the closed door.

  The connection of his nose and the door’s surface stung and it took him by surprise, but not as much as the shot Henry delivered in the form of a punch to Robbie’s kidneys. He cringed, more in anger than in pain. Just when Henry thought he’d take advantage of a stunned Robbie, he made his mistake.

  Turning Robbie to face him opened Henry up. The instant Robbie saw Henry raise his fist, he seized the opportunity. With rage, Robbie quickly reached out, cupped Henry’s face and with the force of his o
utrage, in the same moment Robbie stepped from the door, he brought Henry into it.

  Wham!

  The back of Henry’s head ricocheted off the door and his eyes rolled. It was a hand exchange for Robbie only. Releasing Henry’s face, Robbie gripped Henry’s neck, lifted him up, held him to the door and, with his right fist rolled tight, Robbie nailed Henry with everything he had. Biting his bottom lip, eyes focused on Henry, Robbie revved back again.

  “No!” Danny Hoi shouted firmly as he grabbed Robbie’s hand. “No. Stop. Right now. Enough.”

  Still holding Henry, Robbie stepped to him slowly and leaned his face close to his. “Don’t you ever take a cheap shot at me again. Ever.”

  Henry fell to the floor with Robbie’s release.

  Huffing and wiping the blood from his nose, Robbie reached for the door. He spoke with a graveling rage. “This goes way beyond you not liking how I grieve, Henry. This shit, this over the edge shit you’re pulling, is nothing but your guilt.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Henry staggered to a stand.

  “You know exactly what it means.” Robbie opened the door. “When did you start getting like this? Withdrawing? I’ll tell you. When Bev was killed. Why don’t you save my father and brother the trouble and just confess to it. Trust me, Henry, after this, that little secret you wanted me to keep about seeing you outside of Bev’s house that night is not gonna be a secret anymore. It just makes me wonder what other little secrets are locked in the tormented Henry mind.” After one more glare, Robbie stormed out.

  Danny stood with his hands in his pockets, rocking from heel to toe. He moved an inch to Henry. “You know, if you feel like unloading those secrets, you can come to me.”

  A quick cold look was what Henry gave Danny and then he too stormed out.

  Danny looked at the just slammed door. “Maybe not.” He shrugged. “Back to those reqs.” He turned and went back to Henry’s office to what he was doing before he had to be the hero and break up the fight.

  ^^^^

  “But, Dad.” Billy sat on a stool in the Clinic lab, his legs swinging back and forth.

  “No, but, Bill . . .” Dean turned and faced him. “I’m busy. Go back to school. This is what I do. That is what you do.”