Blink of an Eye: Beginnings Series Book 8

by Jacqueline Druga

  “The back of my hand, Frank, that’s how the saying goes.”

  “Dean, knowing how long it was that you were without Ellen, I’m willing to bet you know the palm of your hand better than the back.”

  Dean grunted. “Why did I agree to torture myself like this?”

  “I don’t know. You tell me.” Frank smiled widely when the front door to his house opened. “Look who’s here. Sorry. The troops.”

  Henry looked tired as he toted, not only Nick in his arms, but Brian dangling from his hip. Alexandra and Billy ran in past Henry, and Joey came in through his legs. All of the ones who were self-mobile were also loud. “Help, Frank.”

  “Henry.” Frank shook his head. “I do this shit every day.”

  “It’s a well-known fact that you’re Superman, Frank. Help.”

  Shrugging Frank walked up to him. “Look at this shit. You got my kid dangling from your fuckin leg like a Christmas ornament.” Frank placed his arm around Brian’s waist and lifted him then smiled at Brian’s ‘Da-da’ and then he reached for Nick. “You have this newborn all bent back. Look at his head, Henry. All the blood is rushing there. He’s gonna end up stupid.” Frank backed up, kissed Brian, and extended him out to Dean. “Dean, can you hold him.”

  Dean felt the touching little hands of Brian, and he reached for the baby, taking him into his arms. He hugged him tightly.

  “Very good, Dean,” Frank commented as he set Nick in a baby seat. “Henry, where are you going?”

  Henry was trying to make an escape, but failed. “I have work to do.”

  “No, you don’t. You left it for Scott, remember? Besides, you agreed to help out this first day. Why don’t you want to?”

  “It’s not helping out Dean. It’s not you, Dean,” Henry told him. “It’s the kids. I just carried them all the way back here to your house, Frank. It was difficult. I have a headache, and I’m still sore from you beating me up.”

  “Knock it off about that shit.” Frank walked to the door and closed it. “Hang tight. If you don’t want to be around the kids, start dinner or something.”

  Henry pouted then whined, “All right.” He stomped his foot and went to the kitchen. For starters, that was the lesser of the two evils.

  “Henry’s gone. And ... hand over my kid.” Frank took Brian from Dean and immediately tickled the baby with his chin causing Brian to squeal. “Hey, Bri.” Frank kissed him. “How was Henry? Was he mean to you? Fuckin Henry.” Frank kissed the baby again, over and over. “I missed you. Yeah.” Brian grabbed hold of Frank’s nose. “Wanna go in your walker and hit everyone in the legs?” He took Brian over to the awaiting baby walker. “OK, Dean, I’m putting Brian in his mobile thing. Watch out for him when you’re wandering around the house for the next hour.”

  “Explain wandering around the house.”

  “You, Dean, are going to try to walk around the house and learn it. I’ll be with you. Hell, I’ll be nice and let you know if you’re gonna run over Brian or something like that.”

  “You want me just to walk around your house.”

  “Yeah. It’s like yours, only I have three bedrooms. No biggie, you should still have no problem. In fact this house should be your comfortable turf. The place that you’re secure with. You’ll know the setup, where everything is.”

  “You keep making it out like it’s so easy, Frank. Well it’s not.”

  “Then I’ll find out and you can shut me up. Right?”

  “What?” Dean asked.

  “Tomorrow after my morning rounds, you and I are spending the day together, or at least a few hours. I call it the BBB Day. Blind Buddy Bonding Day.”

  “I’m afraid to ask.”

  “Then don’t. Your first task on this first day together is taking your bag upstairs.” Frank handed Dean his bag. “I’m even being nice, Dean. I’m giving you my room while you’re here. Aren’t I nice?”

  “Swell.”

  “Just so you have pleasant thoughts,” Frank leaned closer whispering, “Ellen and I had sex in that bed you’re sleeping in.” Frank stepped back. “Oh, Dean, I’m smiling. You can take your stuff up. You know where my room is, don’t you? Top of the steps, to your right. If you follow the wall you’ll walk right into it. Of course don’t get to used to that wall. You should be able to get there without its guidance.” Frank turned Dean to face the steps. “You’re facing the staircase. Go about three feet and you’ll hit the railing.”

  “Will you come with me?”

  “To my room?” Frank asked. “Dean, I didn’t know you felt that way.”

  “You’re an ass, Frank.”

  “Yep.”

  “Help me up there. OK.”

  “You really think you need help?”

  “Yes, Frank, I need help. You keep forgetting that,” Dean snapped.

  “OK, I’ll help. How?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You want me to hold your hand, Dean. Sure I’ll hold your hand.” Frank reached for Dean’s hand.

  Dean felt his touch and pulled away. “That’s not what I mean.”

  “Sorry. How about I place a reassuring grip on your shoulder like this?” Frank stood behind him and gripped Dean’s shoulder.

  “Frank.” Dean grew more annoyed.

  “Or you can hang on my arm like my prom date.”

  “Frank!”

  “Wait, I got it.” Frank snapped his finger. “I can carry you. Yeah, hell you’re little.”

  Just as Dean felt Frank’s hands touch for him, he jolted away. “Frank! Knock it off! Fine. You don’t want to help. Fine. Asshole!” Lifting his bag harshly, it swung out hitting Frank in the leg, and Dean walked forward.

  Frank folded his arms and chuckled as he watched Dean so mad, so upset. But no matter how mad Dean was at Frank, hitting him in the leg or not, Dean was walking up the steps and he was doing it alone.

  <><><><>

  Robbie didn’t expect to see his father when he walked into his home that early evening. “Hey, Dad.”

  “Robert.” Joe leaned forward, reports spread out on the coffee table as he read them. A cigarette burned in the ashtray, and Joe looked up at Robbie over the rims of his half-square glasses. “Are you done?”

  “Yep. Finished early. I came home to eat and ... don’t you have a social skills class tonight?”

  “Yep.” Joe shifted a paper.

  “Well I’m done with my work. Want me to take it?”

  “Nope.”

  “OK.” Robbie walked farther in. He sniffed loudly. “Dad.” He smiled. “What are you cooking? Man, that smells good.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Who is?”

  “Robbie!” Andrea’s cheerful voice called to him as she perkily walked from the kitchen. “Oh, sweetie, you are just in time.”

  Looking at his father, his mouth moving to the word ‘sweetie’, Robbie felt the sudden pinching on his cheek.

  “You’re staying to have dinner with us aren’t you?” Andrea asked. “Please tell me you’re staying. We have plenty.”

  “I uh ...”

  “I won’t take no for an answer.” She shook her finger at him.

  “I uh ... Dad, uh ...”

  Joe looked up. “Robert. You’ll eat.”

  Andrea smiled brightly. “Ah, Joe, isn’t this nice. We didn’t even expect Robbie home for dinner. Isn’t this nice? Robbie, you run along and wash up. Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes so we can feed your hungry father and shuffle him off to his social skills class he has in an hour.”

  Robbie’s mouth opened with a silent laugh. He swung his head to look down at his father. “A late social class? Is it because you previously had dinner plans?”

  “Robert.” Joe ignored him and kept reading.

  “Dad, I will be really glad to take over that class tonight so you can hang out after dinner.”

  “Robert. No.” Joe’s eyes rose again. “No.”

  Andrea giggled. “Isn’t your son sweet, Joe, offering to
help you out, knowing how long of a day he had shooting people and everything. Robbie, you are so sweet.”

  “Um ... thanks. But, Andrea, don’t ask me to play tonight. OK?”

  Andrea waved her hand, then covering her mouth she laughed. “Sunday I will. Anyhow, did Paul speak to you? He said you two would record that ‘Silly’ song for me. Isn’t that nice of Paul? Oh!” Andrea stepped back. “I have to get back to my dinner. You go get ready.” She stepped back, then stepped forward. “And ... I made brownies.”

  “Really, Andrea?” Robbie spoke so chipper. “Wow. Gosh. Gee thanks.”

  “Sweet.” She winked at him, and with a bright smile Andrea darted off to the kitchen.

  “Brownies? Dad?”

  “Don’t ask.”

  “Man.” Robbie looked down at his watch. “I’ll be back.” He headed to the door.

  “Robbie, dinner is in fifteen minutes. Where are you going?”

  “I have to share this with Frank while it’s still fresh on my mind. I’ll be back.”

  Joe gave a grunting goodbye to Robbie and returned to his work. His head lifted again when he heard Andrea humming that ‘Silly’ song, slow and blues-like, in the kitchen. Joe dropped his pencil, rubbed his eyes, and grabbed his cigarette. He wanted to politely tell her to knock it off, but he didn’t. That dinner smelled much too good to chance losing, all over Andrea’s singing. Doing something Joe was quite accustomed to in Beginnings, he blocked her out completely.

  <><><><>

  Clapping his hands together once loudly, Frank led Dean into a sitting position at the dining room table. “OK, Josh has Alex, Billy, and Joey at the playground. We can proceed.” Frank moved Dean’s chair closer to the table.

  Dean grunted when the table slammed into his gut.

  “Sorry. Too Close?”

  “Yes.”

  Frank moved him out again. “How’s that?”

  Dean extended his hands. Feeling air, he lowered them and felt more air. “Where’s the table, Frank?”

  Snickering, Frank put his chair closer again. “Sorry.”

  “All right, I’ve been walking around your house for over an hour. Tell me why we’re doing this? Why are you helping me eat? I can eat, Frank.”

  “Really? Then why wouldn’t you eat with your children. You told me and Henry you’d prefer to wait. Right?”

  “Right.”

  “Then that tells me you feel awkward about eating in front of them like this.”

  “I do. I get lost and drop my food.”

  “You’ll learn not to.”

  “Yes I will, eventually. You don’t have to show me.”

  “Ah, but I do.” Frank held up his hand. “Henry, hurry with heating that food. You, Dean, aren’t confident enough to eat with your own kids. That is just a minor thing too. The whole premise to overcoming any obstacle is confidence, which you lack. Contrary to what your hormones are telling you, sleeping with Ellen isn’t the way to build your confidence. Starting from scratch and learning how to do each task over again is the key.”

  “I get it.”

  “Get what?”

  “Why you’re having me move in here. You brought up me sleeping with Ellen. This is a ploy, Frank, isn’t it, to keep me away from Ellen at night.”

  “I don’t need to.” Frank looked at his watch. “Seems our new guy has taken that responsibility. But that’s a good idea, Dean. Thanks.” Frank’s eyes lifted to Henry who walked in the dining room holding a plate. “Henry’s in the room.”

  “Thanks.” Dean heard his plate being set down. “So Ellen is with the new guy now?”

  “Well, Ellen is at Containment so I guess she’s with the new guy.”

  “What’s he like?” Dean asked.

  “Different. Very nice and friendly guy. Don’t you think, Henry?”

  Henry stood on the other side of Dean. “I don’t trust him.”

  Dean was curious. “Why?”

  “I just don’t. He’s too nice, Dean. Too nice. I bet he’s some psycho in disguise.”

  “Frank?” Dean called to him. “What do you think?”

  “I told you, Dean, he’s a nice guy. Wait until you meet him. He’s smart, builds things, invents things, fixes things. I think Henry’s problem is he’s just jealous.”

  “Rightfully so,” Dean said. “I think I would be too.”

  “Guys!” Henry called out. “I am not jealous. Can we let Dean eat? He’s probably hungry.”

  Frank adjusted the plate in front of Dean. “All right, Dean. Now it’s one thing to eat your food, it’s another to know what you are eating. You want to be prepared to eat a soft food, because if you think you’re gonna eat something hard and you eat something soft, man, that can kill your jaw. Get it.” He waited for the nod. “Basic and simple. You set up your plate like it’s a face of a clock. Unless you’re eating pasta then you say piss on it. Anyhow, we have set your plate like a clock. You should always set it up the same way. Twelve o’clock is the bread, three is the vegetables, six is the meat, and nine is the potato. Got that?”

  “Twelve bread, three veggie, six meat, nine potato. Got it.”

  “Good. Go on and get the meat.”

  Dean reached to the side of the plate and grabbed his fork, he lifted it to the plate and dove in at six o’clock. He brought the full fork to his mouth and placed the contents in. “Aw, Frank.” Dean cringed. “You said six was meat. That was a green bean, not chicken.”

  “Yeah I know.” Frank snickered. “I was kidding.” He rotated the plate. “Go on, it’s fixed.” He saw the hesitation in Dean. “No, I’m serious, it’s fixed.”

  “You have a warped sense of humor.” Dean started to eat.

  Henry watched Dean’s slow indulgence and then he looked to Frank. “What’s next to work on tonight, Frank?”

  “Hide and go seek,” Frank answered. “I’m gonna test Dean on how well he’s learning the house. I’ll send him after things, work on his perception. El gave me something she wants him to work on. She said she might be here when he’s ready, but I doubt it. I think she’s hanging out for a while with the new guy. Dean.” Frank tapped him on the shoulder. “Ellen was doing that tossing of her head and flipping her hair thing.”

  “Already?” Dean stated as he ate. “With a Survivor?”

  Henry folded his arms. “Funny, Frank. I’m not letting you get to me. So ... go on.”

  “Oh yeah. That’s about it. Of course we have to work on Dean’s shaving.” Frank grabbed Dean’s chin and swayed Dean’s head back and forth. “Yeah, he’s in need of a good shave.”

  Henry was a little shocked by this. “You’re gonna give a blind man a sharp object.”

  “Oh sure. I’ll be there, Henry, to make sure nothing goes wrong. But then again, I want to be there first and see it if it does.” Frank winked. “How’s it going down there, Dean?”

  Feeling like a child being watched by his parents, Dean ate. He was way too hungry to stop eating just because Frank got on his last nerve. He listened to Frank and Henry ramble on. He chuckled at how dense Henry was being about what Frank was doing to him with Danny. Dean could have opened his mouth to Henry and enlightened him, but instead he opted to open his mouth for food.

  Without knocking, and bitching loudly as he did, Robbie walked into Frank’s house. “Frank, whatever you do, don’t go over to Dad’s. It’s like the fuckin Twilight Zone over there. Andrea, she’s possessed by something or other, making dinner, baking brownies. I swear, Frank.” Robbie walked into the dining room. “I swear if she’s gonna be hanging around all the time, I’ll have to make Dad give me my own place. I should have my own place. I’m thirty-three years old, right? Why are you guys watching Dean eat? Hasn’t he been a good boy? Dean, are you not eating all your vegetables?” He saw Dean drop his head down to the plate. “Oh I get it. You’re finally both mad at Dean for last night and now you’re punishing him by making him eat Ellen’s cooking.”

  “Robbie.” Frank interrupted Robbie’s rambling. �
��How come you’re here?”

  “To bitch. I had to bitch and tell you about Andrea. Why? You want me to leave?”

  “Yes.” Frank nodded.

  “Why?” Robbie asked.

  “None of your business.”

  “Is there something I don’t know about you three?” He didn’t get an answer. “OK, I see that I’m not welcome. Just know you were warned out of the goodness of my heart about not going over to Dad’s. But I’ll tell you, Dad’s, even with Andrea bopping along, singing, cooking, and baking, I’m thinking it’s a lot less weird than this house. Three grown men huddled at the dining room table, one of them eats while the others watch closely. People talk about things that I do. I’m out of here. At least my entrance was more received at Dad’s.” Robbie started to walk to the door. “Even if it was by whacked-out Andrea.” He stopped midstride. “Oh, Dean?”

  Worried and not wanting to make Robbie think he was blowing him off, Dean raised his head.

  “Dean, I fixed the disposal in the mobile lab.”

  “Good. Thanks.”

  “Yeah found your problem.” Robbie reached into his back pocket. “Did you lose a penlight? It must have fallen down there. Here, Catch.” Robbie tossed Dean the pen and it sailed across the room beaming Dean in the forehead. “Dean, you were supposed to catch it, or make an attempt at it, not sit there and be a target.” He noticed Dean still stared forward and the snicker on Robbie’s face left him. “What’s going on? I know something is going on. Never do you three hang out together unless you did something and you’re trying to figure out a way to cover it up.” Robbie had to wonder at that moment if they really thought he was that stupid that he couldn’t see through the fact that something was going on. “That’s it, isn’t it?” He walked back into the dining room. “You guys are way too quiet right now not to know something you want no one else to know. What is it? What did you do?”

  Frank looked at Henry’s face, so at a loss. Then he looked down at Dean. “Dean?”