And Then ... Farewell (Beginnings Series Book 22)

by Jacqueline Druga

  Gemma nodded. “I can make the arrangements. Just doesn’t seem right.” She exhaled. “Boy, I tell you, I thought nothing was going to stop this wedding.”

  “Neither did …” Andrea’s eyes shifted off as she drifted off into thought and heard Joe’s voice. Words from the night before.

  ‘Finally, after all these years. They’re doing it. Nothing is stopping them this time. I’ll make sure of it.’

  “Are you all right?”

  “Gemma, what time is it?” Andrea asked.

  “Three thirty, why?”

  Andrea nodded. “We have time.”

  “For?”

  “Get the crew together, go as normal. Get the word out. The wedding is still on.”

  “But I thought …”

  “So, did I,” Andrea said. “But that’s not the case. It can’t be the case. Will you do that for me?”

  “Yes, I will, but where are you going?”

  Andrea partially smiled. “I have a bride and groom to find and get ready.”

  The air of sadness with her was heavy, but she carried that burden better as she walked from the bakery. No sooner did she step from the building, did she see Frank and Hal getting ready to go into Containment.

  “Frank,” she called out.

  Frank stopped and turned toward her. “Hey, Andrea. Did you need someone to walk you home? Isn’t Robbie …?”

  “No. Wait.” She held up her hand and shook her head. “What are you doing now Frank?”

  “I have to take care of something in Containment. Why?”

  “You have to go home, get dressed and get ready. You, too Hal. I need you to find Robbie and Jimmy.”

  Hal was confused. “What are we getting ready for?”

  “The wedding.” Andrea said.

  Sadly, Frank shook his head. “There’s no wedding today, Andrea.”

  “Why?”

  “Why? Dad for one.”

  Andrea nodded with a pucker. “There’s not a person on this earth who feels less like celebrating, but I am not doing this for you, me, or anyone else. I am doing this for your father. Frank, he said to me last night. He said he wanted this to happen. How very much he wanted this to happen. He told me nothing was going to stop it.”

  “I don’t think he planned on passing away.”

  “And do you think that takes him from us spiritually?” She asked. “Sweet Jesus Frank, I feel him here. He’s everywhere. His exact words were he would make sure of it. Make sure nothing stopped this. He would not in a million years want to be the cause of this not occurring.”

  “He’s not,” Frank aid. “The person who took his life is.”

  Andrea stood a little taller. “And this should stop the wedding why? Because we don’t want to be happy? We don’t want to celebrate. That’s not your father. He will be tossing a fit up in heaven if he finds out you didn’t get married.”

  “I’ll get married some other time,” Frank said.

  “When?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Give me an answer. Give me a date. I’ll accept that and we’ll go from there.”

  “I don’t know, Andrea.” Frank said.

  “Well, I do. It’ll have to be delayed an hour, but it happens today. Got that?”

  Frank shook his head. “It can’t …”

  “It will. If I have to drag you there myself, you will get married today. We don’t have to have the reception of a lifetime. But your father would not want this death to stop this.”

  Hal said. “She’s right, Frank. If you feel guilty about it happening, then you should feel guiltier about it not. Dad will be there, just differently.”

  Frank closed his eyes. “I don’t know.”

  “I do,” Andrea said. “Today is the day to do this. Tomorrow our hurt may be too in the way. The next day will be filled with things we have to do. It was set for today, your father wanted it today. If anything, finish this dream for him. Do it.”

  A shift of his eyes, slow shake of his head and Frank drifted off into thought.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  From the end of the long church aisle, Frank looked more handsome than Ellen had ever seen him. Standing tall in his dress blues. Robbie at his side his, Jimmy next to Robbie.

  Hal’s arm looped through hers as he escorted Ellen the trip Joe should have been making.

  But it was Hal. Who better? Hal didn’t wear his pre plague dress uniform; he wore the new one fashioned after the Civil War. Sword to his side, no Bandana, though

  The ceremony was tear filled, short. There was something about Andrea. She allowed an empty seat next to her. No one was allowed to sit there. It was her symbolic ‘Joe’ seat. Instead of a wife in mourning, she sat up proudly and happy, watching the event that her husband didn’t want to miss. Andrea felt he wasn’t missing it at all.

  For a brief moment in the day of tragedy, there was some happiness, as two hundred people packed in the church to witness Frank and Ellen get married.

  ****

  Only one Frank email? George was surprised. Usually he received updates from Frank about the progress of the uplink. He did so the day before. His typical, “Henry doesn’t think it exists. Still searching.” Emails made George think Frank used a template, but knowing Frank, George knew Frank typed each one fresh.

  He chuckled at the previous days email stating ‘Typo on page 46’. And even though it should have irritated him, he made him shake his head in amusement at Frank’s typical ending of, ‘you still suck, sincerely, Frank.’

  But there was only one and that shocked George. There was an email from Danny Hoi, and George opened it.

  More than the lack of Frank hate mails and chain letters was the content of that brief Danny Hoi gram.

  It barreled George back.

  “Because it affects you as leader of the Society, and the impending alliance should this country go to war, you need to know Joe Slagel passed away before noon today.”

  George’s insides dropped.

  Joe Slagel dead?

  For the years he dreamed of the event, never did he imagine the feeling he had at that moment.

  He simply typed his reply of, “Thank you for informing me’ and hit send.

  George thought about it. He had to say something to Beginnings, to the Slagel’s. Would his words be welcomed? He didn’t know. But he did know one thing. Like with the old world, email was cold and informal. And with that thought, and the feeling he had to say something, write something to them, George pulled forth a notepad and began to scribe.

  ****

  Although he had the freedom to walk around Creedville, Johnny felt like a prisoner. Even more so when Lars arrived to tell him about his grandfather.

  There was a bay window in the living room of the apartment Johnny and Tigger shared. Johnny sat in the window well portion looking out. His finger tracing the pane of glass as Lars stood a few feet away.

  “I’m sorry,” Lars said. “Truly I am.”

  “Do we know what happened?”

  “No. The only witness is unconscious at this time.”

  Johnny stared out. “And my dad is still getting married?”

  “They ... they should be married by now. Andrea insisted.”

  “What about a funeral Lars? Are they having one?”

  “They are having a memorial service Tuesday afternoon. Immediate burial. Visitors can pay their respects to him at the Lincoln Hall; it’s an auditorium in Bowman. It’s open to everyone.”

  Johnny sighed out. “Except me.”

  “I’m sorry for that.”

  “No, I caused this myself. Tumor or not.” Johnny looked out into the streets. The Creedville residents moved about in the darkness as if it were the middle of the day. The only time they could ago out. “At least I know I won’t be the only one not going.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Them.” Johnny pointed. “Creedvillians.”

  “I believe a lot of them will be attending. Danny has arranged bus
service.”

  “But they can’t go out in the daylight.”

  “Yes, they can, but they cover themselves in all black from head to toe.”

  “They cover them …” Johnny’s words trailed. He looked out the window and back to Lars. “Head to toe?”

  “All black. Yes. Hoods.”

  “Lars.” Johnny grew bright. “I can go.”

  “Johnny, I don’t see how. You aren’t permitted in…” Lars paused. “Unless they don’t know.”

  “If you won’t tell I won’t.”

  “Only because you need to do this. To have this final resolution. If I don’t know it’s you, how can I say a word?”

  “Thanks, Lars.”

  “Don’t thank me. I’m doing nothing.”

  Johnny nodded. The bright look subsided and was replaced with his sadness, he then returned to staring out the window.

  ****

  People filed into the fire hall at a normal energy, neither up nor down, just there. They chatted, and the sound of individuals talking filled the air with the hint of background music.

  Danny had programmed all the music ahead of time and it was just a hit and play thing.

  Until everyone was taking their seats and ‘That’s Life’ by Frank Sinatra played.

  It brought silence to the room.

  Joe’s song.

  After it was done playing, Danny turned down the music and grabbed the microphone.

  “I’m sorry …” Danny said. “I was going to turn that off, but then I remembered …” A brief smile, sad, but there, graced Danny’s face. “I remember the day Joe came to me about the music.” Danny looked at Frank and Ellen who sat at the head table. “He said.”

  He flashed back in his mind while recanting the story.

  “Frank said you’re in charge of music,” Joe said, catching Danny while he worked on the jukebox in the Social Hall a few afternoons earlier.

  Danny peeked out from behind the box. “Um, yeah, I’m providing music compliments of Hoi Entertainment.”

  “Hoi Entertainment. Would this be the same supplier that does our jukebox?”

  “Updating it now, Joe.” Danny grinned.

  “Good. So, you’ll what? Stand there, what? Spin the records.”

  “Records?” Danny chuckled. “Disks. Actually, I’m going to burn a bunch of compilations and let it go.”

  Joe nodded. “Good. Good. I expect two Frank Sinatra songs an hour.” Joe turned and started walking away.

  “Whoa. Wait.” Danny rushed from behind the jukebox. “It’s Frank and Ellen’s wedding. Joe, I love you, but Frank said no Frank Sinatra.”

  “He did, did he?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, I’m in charge of Frank so put in Sinatra.”

  “All due respect Joe, it’s his wedding.”

  “And all due respect, Danny I paid for this wedding.”

  Danny looked curiously at Joe. Then he chuckled. “Joe, please, it’s a community efforts how can you say you paid for it?”

  “Frank’s my son, right,” Joe said. “More than you realize I have been paying for it.”

  Chuckles filled the room, a good fill of laughter over Danny’s story.

  “Laughter is the best medicine,” Danny said. “When we’re sad or down, we can easily laugh because we’re already on such an emotional level. When that song came on, I cringed. I thought, Oh man, that’s Joe’s song. That is Joe’s song. But then I thought of that day that made me put that song on that disk. And I smiled, because Joe made me laugh that day. He always made me laugh when he spoke about Frank. Frank, Ellen, you guys gave him so much enjoyment. You think you irritated your dad, Frank. Well, I think he loved every second of it, and loved giving it back. I’m glad we’re having this wedding today. For both of you, all of us and especially for Joe.”

  Just as he was about to set the microphone down, Dan from Security raised his hand. “May I?” He called across the room, the squeezing through the chairs made his way to the DJ table. He held out his hand for the microphone.

  Danny handed it to him.

  “Thanks,” Dan said. “I’m not one for speaking. And I hope you don’t mind. When that song played. It stopped me, but it also made me smile for the first time all day. Don’t get me wrong, I smiled at your wedding. But I was sad, like all of you, over Joe. But that song …it was Joe. And when Danny told that story, it made me laugh. I thought. Wow, we’re here to celebrate. Yet, all of us are so down about Joe. Rightfully so. Why not smile. Why not laugh. Joe would want that so … I would like to share a moment. Frank, do you remember all those times I had you radio me when you were on your way to the Social Hall?”

  “Yes,” Frank said. “So we could meet up.”

  “No,” Dan said. “I was already there. Your dad would get into these moods and want to irritate you. So, when you radioed, he’d have it all set up that he would get this big sex talk together with Jason, just so you’d hear when you walked in. Or he’d set it up ahead of time to have Josephine give you a hard time. He plotted and planned that so much. Including the one time Josephine was lying on the bar naked from the waist up.”

  “My dad said he didn’t notice,” Frank said.

  “You’re dad put her there to watch you deal with it.” Dan smiled. “Had to share. That’s all.” He started to hand the microphone back.

  “Wait,” Paul called out. “If I may?” He walked to the table and took the microphone.” He started to speak, stopped, chuckled for a second then rubbed his brow. “I was working out in the fields back when Miguel was still with us. And Miguel came to me and told me Joe needed to see me pronto in his office. Well, we all know, getting called to Joe’s office is like getting called to the principal. I raced through my mind on what I did, what was wrong, and when I walked in, Frank and Joe both sat there. Joe told me that Frank was putting me on underdeveloped watch. Which meant overnight, sitting in the undeveloped region catching nothing. I asked if it was a punishment and Joe told me incentive. To learn Frank Sinatra. ‘That’s Life’ was the first song I learned.” He began to hand the microphone back.

  “Does anyone else chuckle …” Henry stood up. “Chuckle and laugh about Joe and Karaoke. He got so upset when we started it. Complained and complained. Yet, how many nights did he get drunk, order Paul to let him sing and he’d stay on stage singing Frank Sinatra until everyone got annoyed and left.”

  “That’s …” Jason stood up. “Not entirely how it went. See, Joe was never drunk when he did that. He pretended. For two reasons. One it used to irk Frank. Two it would get everyone annoyed enough to stop singing Karaoke.”

  Gemma stood. “But Joe had a wonderful singing voice.”

  Silence.

  “Okay, maybe not wonderful. Decent,” She corrected. “Better than Franks.”

  Everyone laughed.

  After a raise of his hand, John Matoose walked forward with Jenny. “We’d both like to say something if that’s okay, Frank and Ellen. I mean since this is your wedding.”

  Ellen smiled slightly, “It’s fine, please.”

  John spoke first. “Here’s probably something you don’t know. When the plague happened, when we made the trip out here to check out the Garfield Project, one night Joe was talking. He was saying how he believed he was blessed that you and Ellen both survived. How … he believed it was fate finally allowing you guys to see where you belong. You didn’t do things right before, he had said, but they have the chance now and that makes me happy. Joe was happy about you two being together.”

  Jenny took the microphone. “I saw Joe this morning. He stopped at the bakery to check on the cake and to get a coffee. I had made cookies and was bringing them in about the same time. We were …” she sighed. “We were talking about the wedding and the interview with the kids. He was so happy about today. It just reminded me of the day Brian was born. How he came in to see me and was glowing. I had just had Caroline and he... he told me to make sure I mention the baby’s weight to Frank just to irr
itate him. But that was Joe, he loved to get you going Frank and he loved to fight with you. Actually, both of you. Actually … hmm, everyone.” Jenny smiled.

  As Jenny handed the mic back, from the head table, Ellen waved to Danny for the microphone. Frank looked shocked.

  “I’d like to ask those of you are who wanting to speak …” Ellen said. “To stop saying ‘If I may’. Of course you may. We don’t mind. Any of us. This is the greatest gift right now. To hear these stories about Joe, and to laugh, because it’s so hard right now not to be sad. None of us would be here if it wasn’t for Joe. Up here, we aren’t the only ones who lost a father today, all of you did too. So please …eat, drink, talk of Joe, and make everyone in this room smile. Bring us all back to life. Thank you.”

  For the first time there was applause, and as Ellen sat back down, Frank grabbed her hand and kissed her. Danny retrieved it and Andrea intervened.

  “My …” She sighed out. “I want to thank all of you for being here. I know when Gemma and I ran amuck passing the word that the wedding was still on, a lot of you were shocked. You couldn’t believe we’d having the wedding so soon after Joe’s tragedy. Joe wanted this to take place. He told me right here last night it will not be stopped. I can’t let the man down. He was the love of my life. The love of all our lives. I just need you to all know that we’re not having this without Joe. He’s here. Right here next to me. I can feel him.” She smiled and handed the microphone to Danny.

  Dean intercepted. “From listening to everyone, there’s one opinion we all share. Joe loved to get people going. He had this keen ability to know people, and to know what buttons to push. But he also had this keen ability to remain rationally calm until … it came to Frank. Sorry Frank.” Dean chuckled. “He’d come into our lab El, and how many times did he put his hands in his pocket, nod his head and tell us we’re just sick. And he said it like that. You people are sick. Fix it, and then he’d send in Frank. Do you remember you two when El and I tried to hide the fact that we captured Bub the savage. Frank smelled him, Joe remained factual and calm, and irritated. His meetings, too, the ones that way awry …” Dean shook his head. “No one is going to tell me that he didn’t love it. That’s why he invited so many people and had so many. I know what it’s like to lose a great father … today I felt like I lost another great father …. I did.”