Joe raised his eyes brows. “Oh boy. O.K. Henry, take him to the empty building five miles out. You know, the one we housed the scientists in. Let him have that as his personal lab.”
“Gotcha.” Henry walked over to the truck. “Come on, Jason.” Opening the truck door, Henry paused and returned to Joe. “Hey, Joe, I have a question on a personal level. Maybe you can help.”
“What’s that?” Joe asked.
“Jason… he implied that I may have a . . .” Henry dropped his voice to a whisper. “…a personality problem which effects my making friends. Do you think that’s true?”
Joe stared hard at Henry, but only for a second. “Yes.” With a quick smile and a pat to Henry’s arm, Joe walked away.
Henry’s mouth hung open even as he reached for the truck door.
“See, Henry.” Jason stated. “What did I tell you?”
Stunned, Henry slid in the truck. He hesitated before starting it. “I can’t believe this. I thought I was so nice. What should I do?”
“Since I foresaw the possibility of you eventually coming to me, a newcomer with an intelligent objective opinion, I took the liberty last bathroom break to . . .” Jason reached into his pocket. He pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Henry. “…make you a list. Like everything else you do, work on it until you get it right.”
^^^^
Warehouse four. Screwdriver in hand--again--Frank stared at the keypad, but this time he scratched his head. The keypad was fixed. His lips parted slightly, his head tilted and he spoke out loud to himself. “I thought . . . no. Yeah. Maybe this morning.” Finally it hit Frank. He stood upright. “George.” Placing the tool in his pocket, he moved from the building and turned the bend. As luck would have it, he saw George walking with Andrea. “George!” Frank called out, trotting to him.
George placed on a pleasant smile. “Hey, Frank. Something wrong?”
“Yeah.” Frank replied then nodded in acknowledgment to Andrea. “Yesterday, do you remember me fixing that keypad on warehouse four?”
“Absolutely.” George stated. “I was there when you finished up. Why?”
“Well . . .” Frank tossed his hands in the air. “My dad came down on me pretty hard today about it not being fixed. I knew I did, he insisted I didn’t, and when I believed I didn’t, I did.”
Andrea blinked slowly. “Frank, maybe your dad was confused and thought it was another warehouse. He’s been stressed. Heaven knows we get a little odd when we’re stressed.”
“Tell me about it.” Frank said. “He changed my name for the soldiers that are hitting us. I had a pretty good name, and he changed it to ELK.”
George looked up.
Frank shook his head. “I like SUT better. And don’t think I won’t use it. Right now, I’m appeasing him. But I won’t appease him about those reports.”
“What reports?” Andrea asked.
“I did two weeks’ worth of old reports. I put them on his desk. I know I did them cause look . . .” He held his middle finger to Andrea. “I still have the pencil dent.”
Andrea cleared her throat. “Well. Thank you for sharing. Maybe the reports got lost in the shuffle. He was busy today.”
Frank scoffed. “Awaiting a time machine," he said sarcastically.
Pretending to stand in Joe’s defense, George spoke up. “Some of us need those little outlets Frank.”
“Yeah. We do. I do. Bye.” He smiled and walked by George and Andrea without saying another word.
Andrea turned at the same time as George when Frank abruptly departed. Puzzled, she shrugged. “I guess we helped.”
George smiled. Andrea helped more than she realized, because so innocently, she was helping with his plan.
^^^^
How late was it? Ellen had been at containment situating the new survivors for so long, she actually felt like it had to be heading into morning. But she knew it wasn’t. The new survivors and the old survivors were wound up with tension between them and there still was a social skills class to go. Her legs hurt, her back hurt, and she felt like Henry, complaining so much in her mind. Standing in the skills room doorway, she leaned against the arch. She just wanted to go home.
And then she felt it, the air beneath her feet as her body was swept up. Only a minor shriek of surprise came from her before she was kissed quickly, saw Frank’s huge smile, and realized she was in his arms.
“Hey, El.” Frank turned her. “Look who’s here? Break time.”
Greg lifted his hand in a wave. “Sounds loud.” He pointed to the skills room then walked his brawny body into the area. Silence hit the moment he did.
Ellen, shocked, tried to look, but Frank carried her down the hall. “Frank? Where are we going?”
“To your office for an hour.”
“You aren’t trying something kinky in there? Are you?”
“Nope.” Frank pushed open the door with his foot. “How about romantic?” He set her down and saw the look. It was the one simple look that every husband loved to see. A glow of slight happiness on the wife’s face that confirmed their small gesture actually worked instead of pissing them off.
Ellen stepped into her office. A few candles were lit. Dinner was on her desk.
Frank pulled up a chair for her. “I knew you’d be hungry.”
“Frank. I don’t know what to say. What brought this on?” She sat down.
Walking around, Frank knelt before her. “In one instant today I realized something. You take a lot of my shit, but you never doubt me. Ever.” He grabbed her hands. “I just want you to know how much I appreciate having you in my life. I don’t tell you enough, I know. But know how grateful I am.” Frank brought his lips to her hand. “I waited a life time for us to be like this and I don’t want to let you go.”
A simple knock at the door broke the mood, along with the moment. George stepped in. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
Ellen looked around Frank. “Something wrong, George?”
“This can wait.” George, hands full, stepped back.
“Wait!” Frank called out and stood. “My reports!” He grabbed the stack of papers George had. “Where did you get these?”
“Your Dad’s office.” George sounded saddened. “When you told me and Andrea, I got to thinking. When I met with your dad, he did that subconscious thing. You know, talking, moving things, and I watched him move the stack to behind his desk. I had a hunch.” George lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “I don’t want you to think I was snooping. God knows your dad is tense enough as it is. And he has something on his mind.”
Ellen stood up. “George, we know it’s only concern. Thank you. Frank won’t mention you finding them. Will you Frank?”
From his reports, Frank looked up. “No. I won’t. And you’re right, George. He has something on his mind.” He set the reports down. “And he better get it off his mind because it’s affecting the way he runs things.”
At that second, it took everything George had to look full of empathy instead of happiness.
^^^^
The stack of reports were loud when Frank dropped them onto Joe’s coffee table.
Joe looked from them to Frank. “What’s this?”
“These are those reports.” Frank said strongly. “Reports I said I did.”
“Where did you find them?” Joe asked innocently.
“In your office. Behind your desk. Know anything about it?” Frank asked with edge.
“No, I haven’t . . .”
“Dad!” Frank engrossed in getting his thoughts out, didn’t see the glare upon his father’s face. “I put them on your desk! You moved them! Just like you didn’t check that keypad, because it was done!”
“I have had a lot of things on my mind. Maybe I messed up.” Joe said calmly.
“That’s it? You messed up?” Frank’s voice grew. “I sat there today and fuckin listened to you ream my ass out over something that was your fault, not mine!”
With a heavy hand, Joe pointed. “Don’t you dare take that tone w
ith me. I am your father!”
“That’s right.” Frank snapped. “And I never forget that. Ever. My entire life I have sat back and listened to you read me the riot act. And ninety-nine percent of the time I fucked up. But not this time, father or not . . . this time you’re wrong.” With one more angry glare, Frank spun on his heels and in a march, stormed from Joe’s home.
His hand moved to the stack and Joe, slowly and confused about it all, lifted the reports.
CHAPTER FIVE
Joe cringed when he heard the ‘whoa’ come from Henry just outside his office door, a result of Henry probably being barreled over by Frank who had stormed out. Behind his desk, Joe braced himself. He wasn’t in the mood for a Henry-style episode in the middle of morning bustle; he just had a ‘Frank’ one. Rubbing his eyes which were not only tired, but sporting dark circles as well, Joe looked up when his office door opened.
“Morning, Joe.” Henry closed the door. “What’s wrong with Frank?”
“Same thing that has been wrong with him for three days. He’s pissed at me. He comes in here explaining things like I’m senile and . . . and he took back his SUT-buster chart.”
Henry looked to the bare spot behind the file cabinet. “That wasn’t very nice.”
“No. So . . .” Joe leaned back. “…what’s up?”
“Oh.” Henry stood straight. “Before we begin.” He cleared his throat. “My, you look well today.”
“Huh?”
“How are you doing today, Joe?” Henry asked.
“Fine and yourself?” Joe asked with suspicion.
“Fine, thank you. I am not going to complain about you today.” Henry spoke almost forced. “I’m doing something nice. I am working in containment so you don’t have to.”
“Henry. What the hell . . .”
“Hey, Joe.” Dean walked in. “I wanted to give you the requisitions before I disappear into the cryo-lab today.” He set them on Joe’s desk and shivered off the chill from just coming in. He turned. “Hey, Henry.”
“Hi, Dean. My, you’re looking well today.”
The corner of Dean’s mouth rose. “Um, thanks.”
“How are you? I’m fine, you know. I am not going to complain about you today. I am doing something nice. I’m working containment so El doesn’t have to.”
Dean chuckled. “Good to hear. See ya.” With a wave to Joe and Henry, Dean took off.
Dean’s exit brought Greg’s entrance. It was a typical morning, and no surprise to Joe. Everyone always went in and out before the day got underway. “Morning, Joe.” Greg stated. “I have last night’s round reports.” He walked to the desk. “Hey, Henry.”
Joe looked up to Henry. He waited. He dreaded.
“Morning, Greg.” Henry responded. “My, you’re looking well today. How are you? I am . . .”
“Henry!” Joe yelled. He had enough. “Why the hell are you acting like a drone?”
“Excuse me?” Henry was so confused.
“The sudden niceties. You never act like that and you never ask Greg how he’s doing," Joe said.
“I’m trying a personality change” Henry said. “A couple days ago Jason gave me this informative list.” He pulled it from his pocket.
Joe reached across the desk and snatched it from Henry’s hand. He read it. “Always compliment. Ask people how they are. Respond nicely. Show you care. Do not insult or complain. Do something nice for people.” Joe dropped the list. “These are suggestions, not explicit instructions.”
“Oh.” Henry seemed surprised. “But still, Joe, don’t you think if I apply myself, follow those suggestions, people will like me and I’ll make friends?” Henry waited and didn’t get an answer. “Joe?” he waved his hand. “You have a lot on your mind.” He turned to Greg. “Greg, what do you think?”
Greg gave Henry the answer. With a loud burst of laughter, Greg walked from Joe’s office.
^^^^
The day was going well for George. It was a warm day for the end of September and Frank was treating Joe like a two-year old when he dropped things off. Joe hated it. George loved it. And, though sick, he came up with another way to stress out Joe. Knowing there was no way to get Ellen to fight with Joe, George came up with another way. Stress Ellen out. Make her paranoid. And he found it time to implement, when he saw Ellen walking from the living section.
Ellen was in awe. It was a simple note. After years of marriage to Pete, years of living with Dean, and how long with Frank, it was the first ‘thanks for taking time for me last night’ note she ever received. The act of lovemaking was so commonplace in marriage and relationships that Ellen couldn’t recall ever being thanked for it. It made her smile.
“Ellen.” George called her name so close.
Ellen looked up from the note. “Hey, George.”
“You look happy,” he complimented.
“I do? I guess I am.” Ellen said.
“Glowing,” George stated. “In fact, you’ve even put on a little weight. Looks good on you.” He hid his snicker. “You sure you aren’t hiding a pregnancy from us?”
Weight gain? Glow? Ellen’s eyes widened. They were things that didn’t transpire right way in a pregnancy. “Shit. I mean thanks. No. I’m not. See ya.” Hurrying and placing the note away, Ellen moved quickly to the clinic.
George watched her and gloated. However, had George realized the chain of events he had started, he would have gloated even more.
^^^^
Frank sat in his office, looking over the list of men he had on his security team. He was trying with diligence to come up with a work schedule for the upcoming Beginnings Day. Every other year it wasn’t so difficult, but with the SUTs seemingly making a daily appearance, Frank had to figure out how to keep the community safe. Plus, he had to give all of the men a chance to enjoy the day they celebrate as their sort of Thanksgiving. It was giving Frank a headache. He just wanted to say screw it. Frank lifted his head from his work when he felt the coldness of the air from his office door opened. John Matoose walked in. “John? What are you doing here?”
“Working.” John hung up his jacket and shook his arms to shake the slight chill he felt.
Frank looked at his watch. “It’s only four o’clock.”
“I know.” John sat down across from Frank. “But, Jenny is menstrual.” John noticed the agreeing cringe of Frank’s face. “I had to get out of there. So, I thought maybe you’d like to see your wife. Hopefully you’ll have better luck.”
“As a matter of fact.” Frank tossed down the pencil. “I would.” He handed John the schedule. “Can you give this a look over? It’s a special schedule for Beginnings Day. I’m trying to make sure everyone gets to be there, but I need full staff.”
John sniffed and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you.” Frank walked to the door. “And uh, John. Thanks a lot. This is perfect. I’ve been trying lately to really make things special.”
John stood up walking to Frank’s side of the desk. “Have fun.”
“I will. Thanks again.” Frank opened the door, and like a kid, took off running.
The noise level in containment was astronomical as Frank buzzed himself in. Wondering if Ellen had lost control, he quickly headed to the skills room where the noise was coming from. When he stepped in, Henry lingered in the corner, while the large group of survivors seemed to be in an intense game of Win, Lose, or Draw. “Henry?”
“Hey, Frank.” Slumping and drained of enthusiasm, Henry looked up. My, you’re looking well today.”
“Thank you. I’m feeling well today. Where’s my wife?”
“She and Dean are in the cryo-lab today. Did you forget?”
“Shit. Yeah. Thanks Henry. I’ll head down there.”
Henry returned his view to the sad game that happened in the room. “No, no, no. No dirty pictures.”
He was going to surprise her. Though Ellen probably wouldn’t see it as that, Frank did. He could hear t
heir whispering voices as he approached the lab door. It was open and he didn’t need to knock. A few feet before the doors, he heard what they were saying. It caused Frank to stop.
“Ellen, there is no way you are pregnant to those guards. If you were the HCG levels would be there,” Dean explained.
Frank didn’t go in. He felt bad, truly bad that she would even have to be concerned with that.
“And you’re sure, Dean?” Ellen asked. “What if I just got pregnant?”
“It’s too early to tell.”
Frank chuckled out in the hall. He had no medical knowledge and even he knew it was too early to detect a pregnancy in Ellen. He and she had only just started being intimate again.
“Dean, what if I am pregnant?” Ellen came off worried. “George says I’m glowing.”
“Not to insult you, but you look the same to me, El. But . . . if you are, you are,” Dean replied.
“Dean . . . you know the time frame we’re talking about. Oh my God, what if it’s yours?”
No! She didn’t just say that. No! Frank knew there had to be a mistake. He had to have heard wrong.
“Ellen to be honest I highly doubt you’re pregnant. But if you are, then chances are it’s mine. I won’t let it go.”
Confirmation given. Frank closed his eyes. His chest felt heavy from the breath he held so deeply, so intensely. As he released it, his heart literarily dropped. He felt as if the firm concrete he stood on suddenly weakened and he began to sink both physically and emotionally. Tilting his head with his eyes closed, Frank clenched his fist, and walked away.
^^^^
Frank could feel the pounding of his heart strongly at the base of his neck. It grew with each step he took towards his home. His face felt hot, and the heat grew the closer to his door he got. No, this can’t be happening. His breath was short and heavy as he walked into his house. He slammed the door, looking around a place so familiar, yet Frank felt lost. He was helpless and his hands shook. He kept closing his eyes, pulling his fist closely to the sides of his shaking head. Wishing it wasn’t true, wishing it was a nightmare. Knowing in his gut it wasn’t.
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 130
