“Dean.” She stopped him. “You. I need to have a baby Dean, and I want you to father it.”
“Oh my God!” Dean exclaimed as his hand came to his head. “You can’t ask me that!”
“No one has to know.” She jumped from the stool and approached him. “You can artificially inseminate me . . .”
“No!”
“Dean we can do this.” She moved closer to him. “Who’s gonna know?”
“I’ll know. You’ll know.”
“And that’s all. Dean . . .” She placed her hands on his chest. “I’m asking you to help me. Look, it’s perfect. I’m ovulating. We’ll close the door. You go in the back . . .”
Dean’s shriek of shock shut her up. “No, Ellen. No.” He backed further away from her. Frazzled, he ran his hand through his hair.
“Why?”
“Well . . .” His words flubbed in nervousness. “Because. Because . . .” He fluttered his lips. “Because. There.” He saw her looking at him. He held up a finger. “And . . . it’s wrong. It’s deception.” He saw Ellen was not getting his point. With a calming breath, he led her to sit back down. “Think about what you are asking me. I can’t.”
“And I can’t believe you won’t help me.”
“El, besides the fact that the kid would never pass for a Slagel. I won’t father a child for you.”
“Fine.” Ellen shook her head. “Will you at least think about it?”
“El, I can’t . . .”After taking a second to get his thoughts together, he sat down next to her, and placed his hand over hers. “With all my heart I understand your mad rationalizing behind this, I do.”
“Dean, I wouldn’t even consider asking this if I didn’t think the time factor played an importance. It does. I don’t have another five years to wait for nature to say whoops. He needs this.”
Dean heard her words, and the desperation behind them. “Even if I slightly considered it, do you know what that means? I’ve wanted another baby myself. And you’re asking me to give up my flesh and blood to another man. Let alone a man I can’t stand. If I even did this, the pay-off for me would have to be huge. Huge.”
“Then you’re thinking about it?”
“El . . .”
“Then think about this. If you don’t help me. I’ll get someone who will. There are no women, it’ll be easy. And I’ll take the natural, not clinical route, if need be.”
Dean sprang up. “Hold that thought.” He backed up.
“But . . .”
“Just hold that thought.”
Ellen tilted her head in confusion as Dean raced from the lab.
^^^^
“I don’t know, Joe.” Andrea sat at her desk. She stared down to her hands that ran gently over her desk’s surface. “Why is it that I can talk to you?”
“You should be able to talk to Miguel. Maybe you’re just not trying.”
“I am, but he’s in as much pain as . . .”
“Joe!” Dean nearly cried out as he flew into Andrea’s office and stopped with a squeak of his tennis shoes. “Whoops. Sorry, you’re busy. I’ll come back.”
“What is it?” Joe turned in his chair. “You look upset.”
“We . . .” Dean took a breath. “I . . . we . . . Oh, boy.”
^^^^
Ellen’s mouth hung open as her eyes shifted angrily from Joe to Dean. “You dick!” She shouted then lunged her body hands first to Dean’s chest shoving him back. “I cannot believe you told my father on me.”
“In Dean’s defense.” Joe held up his hand. “He’s merely diverting trouble. What is going through your mind is wrong. You can’t do that to Frank. I can’t even believe that you’re thinking of it.”
“Don’t you think you guys are overreacting a bit? I just want to give him that baby.”
“That’s fine.” Joe’s hands moved as he talked. “But if it’s meant to be it will happen. If not, then there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“He needs to have the baby, Joe. He needs something good to happen to him.”
“I understand that. But he needs to have his baby. Not Dean’s.” He placed his hands on Ellen’s arm. “Are you understanding yet?”
“My intentions . . .”
“Are bad.” He rested his lips on the top of her head. “Your heart is in the right place. But to be blunt . . . your head was up your ass.” Joe waited for Ellen to finish gasping. “How in the world did you think you could pass off Dean’s kid for Frank’s? They are on opposite ends of the physical spectrum.”
“I guess you’re right.” Ellen said. “I wasn’t all that dumb though. I was considering Henry.”
“Henry?” Joe’s hands dropped from her arms. “Henry?”
“Yes. He has dark hair, he’s tall . . .”
“He’s Japanese. I know my son is not that bright at times, but he’d notice if his kid were Asian.”
“O.K. you have a point, Joe. I’ll drop the idea. But you . . .” She backed up and pointed to Dean. “Have a death wish. You are marked. You’ll regret this, Dr. ‘I should grow up I’m still a tattletale’ Hayes.” She moved to the lab door. “Trust me you will pay.”
Dean watched her leave then he looked to Joe who started to leave as well. “Joe, I’m sorry to drag you into this.”
“No. It’s fine. You came to me. Ellen couldn’t be anymore a daughter than if she were my flesh and blood. I needed to set her straight.” He started to walk again.
“What do you think about me coming to you though?” Dean questioned.
“What does it matter?”
“Well . . . you’re Joe.”
Hands in pockets, Joe stopped at the door. “Personally, I wouldn’t classify you as a tattletale.” He saw Dean smile. “I would of have used the word . . . snitch.” Joe nodded with a closed mouth. “Yeah, that’s more me.”
Dean threw his hands up in defeat when Joe walked from the lab.
^^^^
He was eighteen, but he looked more like a boy of thirteen lying in the hospital bed with a mild case of viral pneumonia. He slept while Andrea checked him. She ran her hand over his pale face which seemed to be in so much of a contrast to her dark complexion.
“You’ve taken an interest in him.” Miguel spoke softly from the boy’s door.
Andrea nodded, adjusted his covers, grabbed her chart and walked from the room. “Excuse me.”
“You’re mad at me.” Miguel spoke in his soft way.
“Yes. I am. Why are you here?”
“To see you. When I am home, you aren’t.”
Andrea raised her eyebrows. “Maybe you should take the hint.”
After closing his eyes briefly, Miguel chased after Andrea who had started to walk again. “I came to speak to you. There are supply runs that need to be made. I should go. But.... if you want me not to I . . .”
“That maybe for the best. Maybe some time apart.” Andrea said coldly.
“Why . . . why are you shutting me out?”
“The truth?” Andrea’s voice softened. “It isn’t because I don’t love you. It’s because when we got to Beginnings we set out to be a family. You, me, Denny and Katie. You were the core. You made us have meals together, read together, all of that. And now, you aren’t the core. You’re just a painful reminder to me of a ‘whole’ family I can’t have anymore. Right now, I’d really rather not have any painful reminders.” After giving a brief, sad, stare, Andrea turned and walked away.
Miguel’s head dropped.
^^^^
The loud metal bang outside of Joe’s office made him, George and Henry pause in their meeting, but not stop.
“Months.” Henry continued in what he was saying. “But that’s because I have other things on my mind.”
“Like?” Joe asked, hindering on the edge of his seat, worried that ‘the wall’ would be Henry’s answer.
Bang.
All three looked up, then shrugged.
“Joe.” Henry huffed out. “Things break down in the community. A
lways. I’ll do the best I can to get the transmitters and receivers posted but . . . It could take months.”
George didn’t let his sigh of relief seen. “Well, take your time Henry. Winter’s not that far. We don’t have security problems usually until April.”
Bang.
Just as Joe opened his mouth to speak, the banging happened again, only it was continuous. Slamming his hands on his desk, Joe stood up. “What the hell is that?” He walked around to his door, flung it open and stepped outside. “Frank!”
Mid kick, Frank set down his leg. “This thing is sticking out. What is it?”
“It’s aluminum siding you moron, and it’s my goddamn office building. Why are you kicking it!” Joe blasted.
“It was sticking out!” Frank stepped back. “It’s not anymore. I fixed it.”
Joe grunted. “Frank, did you stop by and see Ellen yet?”
“No. I didn’t understand the note you left me.” He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. “See.” He read it out loud. “Frank, you better go talk to Ellen about this baby situation. She’s trying to find a way to get pregnant. Talk to her. Dad.” Frank tossed his hand up and shook his head so confused.
Joe snatched the note from his hand. “Where are you lost, Frank?”
“Why do I need to talk to her. She should find a way. She has this problem getting . . .”
“No, Frank, you idiot.” Joe smacked him with the note. “You have the problem. Your wife was running around this community looking for ways to give you a baby. And I have news for you, none of them involves, let’s say . . . your sperm.”
Seriously, Frank stared down at his father lost. “O.K.”
Grumbling, Joe stepped back. “Think about it.” He tossed the note to Frank and went into his office. Upon his shutting of the door he heard the snickering of Georg and Henry. “Was it me?”
Henry, holding up his hand, stood. “Joe, if I may. Do you think it was a good idea to tell Frank that?”
“Henry, please.” Joe scoffed. “If he figures it out. It will be more of a reality slap than anything else. How bad will he be about it?”
The screech of the peeling out jeep was all the answer Joe needed. With panicked looks, and zero hesitation, Joe, George and Henry flew from the office.
^^^^
“Ellen!” Frank’s chesty call carried through the hall of the containment into her office.
His strong voice went through her, snapping her attention from what she was doing. Ellen’s heart beat fast from the sudden jump start. “Shit.”
“El!”
It grew closer, Ellen felt as if she were in some sort of horror movie waiting for the inevitable moment. She braced herself.
“El!” Frank blasted as he stood in the doorway. “What the fuck are you up to, run . . . Uh!”
“Huh?” Ellen sprang from her chair confused. Was it her imagination or did Frank just sail sideways at an incredibly high speed away from her door. She heard the loud thump, followed by his grunts. She rushed to the hall.
“Get off me!” Frank yelled, his huge body underneath the ones of Joe, George and Henry.
Ellen giggled seeing council in some sort of football game in the hall. “That’s cute.” She went back in her office.
“Now!” Frank yelled.
Joe, closest to Frank’s ear, spoke. “Are you calm?”
“No.” Frank snapped. “I got a wiry neurotic man and two old guys on my fuckin' back in the hall! How the hell am I suppose to be! Off!”
Slowly with apprehension they lifted.
“Thank you.” Frank stood up. “Wanna tell me what that’s about?”
Joe looked to George and Henry. “Thanks. I can handle it now.” He waited until they started to leave and then he turned back to Frank. “I had to stop you before you got out of control.”
“Did you think to just yell, hey Frank stop?”
“Would you have?”
“No.”
Joe pointed to Ellen’s office. “Let’s go in there and talk.”
Frank raised his arms. “That’s why I’m here!” Shaking his head he walked into Ellen’s office. “And stop!” He scolded at her laughing. “You and I have to talk. Right now. What the . . .”
“Frank!” Joe yelled. “Sit. Ellen. Leave.”
“O.K.” Ellen hurried from behind her desk, flew from the office and shut the door.
“Sit.” Joe instructed again, pulling a chair for Frank.
“I think you guys dislocated my shoulder.” Frank rubbed his arm as he sat. “Now, you wanna tell me what’s up? You send me here and you tackle me. What is this pick on Frank day?”
“No, I sent you hear to talk to your wife. Not scream at her. That shit is wrong, Frank. You can’t be coming in here blasting your emotions out on her.” Joe leaned down talking to him.
“You told me what she did. Did you think I’d let that go?” Frank tried to get up again, but Joe shoved him back in the chair. “And will you quit pushing me around please?”
“No. Because if I have to tie you up, you’ll listen to what I am telling you. Clear?”
“Yes . . . clear.” Frank ran his hand over his head and propped his elbow on the arm of the chair.
“Now let me explain something to you, you big, dumb-ass, hard headed, son of a bitch. I did not tell you about Ellen to have you come in here and blast her. I told you about your wife so you can do something about what you did to cause it.”
“Me?” For some reason Frank was shocked to hear that.
“Yes you.” Calmer, Joe stepped back and sat on the edge of Ellen’s desk.
“She’s the one Dad who’s out asking every guy in the community to knock her up because she doesn’t think I can do it.”
“Bull shit. That’s not why she did it. Somewhere in Ellen’s warped sense of thinking, she was doing it for you. And she wasn’t walking up to every man in the community asking them to knock her up. She went to Dean to get him to impregnate her . . . scientifically or something like that.”
“Dean?!” Frank’s hand clutched to the arm of the chair. “She went to Dean? Of all people. That really pisses me off that she went to him. And she wanted to pass his kid off as mine? Didn’t she think I’d notice? Shit, he’s like four foot.”
“And that’s not the best one.” Joe folded his arms. “If Dean didn’t do it, she wanted to see if Henry would donate the . . . you know.”
“Henry?” Frank blew from his mouth and shook his head. “At least he’s tall and has dark hair, I may not have noticed at first.”
Joe grunted and smacked himself in the forehead. “Getting off that subject.” He brought his hand down to his son’s shoulder. “Look, I have sat back long enough. I have to tell you now. Your behavior is what caused this. You have been obsessed with having another baby since you and Ellen lost yours. And your mood, and rage, is adding to the pressure that you two are feeling. Both of you think this kid is gonna change everything. It may take it away for the moment Frank, but the only thing that’s gonna make it better is you dealing with it.”
“I’m dealing with it.”
“The hell you are.” Joe’s voice rose. “This is dealing with it? This pouting, ranting shit that you’re doing? It’s not dealing with it Frank, it’s making it worse.”
“You can’t sit there and judge the way I act. You don’t know what I’m going though.”
“You don’t think?”
“No I don’t. You didn’t do it.”
“Bull shit.” Joe stood up. “I might as well have done it. I gave the order. We, Frank, you and I did it. We thought because Robbie was our family, that it was our responsibility to take care of it. And we did. But you’re forgetting one thing. Robbie was my son.” Joe brought his thumb to his heart. “My son Frank. Flesh and blood I created. You don’t think with that comes a tremendous amount of guilt? You don’t think I felt what you are feeling, and couple that with the fact that I too was responsible for my own son’s death? It killed me. Killed me.” Jo
e stepped back and let his blood pressure settle. “But I dealt with it right away. I didn’t try to forget what happened or act like it never did. Every time I thought of Robbie, I saw that little boy playing baseball and it broke my heart. I had to go through a process, the same one you have to. And now I can think of Robbie and not want to kill myself over it. I know what you’re feeling Frank.” Joe’s hand rested on Frank’s. “I felt it. And you will get through it. You have to face it, deal with it, and get over it.”
“I can’t.”
“You can. The first step is your wife. Go to Ellen, tell her is that the baby doesn’t mean as much to you as she does. Get that off her mind. And second, you tell her the truth. Tell her what really happened in the warehouse. Let her help you deal with it, truly understand what you’re going through.”
“I appreciate the fatherly advice, but I have to handle this my own way. Telling my wife what happened is not an option. But . . . I’ll talk to her about the baby issue.”
“Good boy.” Joe gave a pat to Frank’s cheek and followed it up with a kiss. “I’ll get her.” He moved to the door. “No yelling. Or I’ll kick your ass.”
Frank rolled his eyes in sarcasm then stood when his father left. He told himself he would be calm, but the moment Ellen, looking timid, walked in, everything changed.
“Frank.” She spoke innocently. “Look, Joe told me . . .” She stopped speaking when Frank’s finger went to her lips.
Frank moved by her, poked his head through the door, saw his father wasn’t there, then he slammed it. “What the hell were you up to?”
“You promised Joe you wouldn’t yell at me. Don’t.”
“Don’t?” He stepped to her. “How could you do it? You’re killing me El, killing me. Do you not know how that made me feel? I want a baby, yes. And granted, I’ve been pushy about it. But!” His voice crept up but he caught it before it got out of control. “Do you think for one second, you running around having someone else donate is the way to make me feel better.”
“Absolutely not.” Ellen shook her head. “No. It isn’t. And I think you should know Frank, before you get yourself in an uproar about me. You should know the truth.”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 83
