The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

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  Dean had waded patiently through the meeting. He couldn’t remember a word Joe said. He was too busy going over in his mind what he would say to Ellen. When he saw her stand up, so did he. He followed her, catching her before she left. “Ellen. Can we talk?”

  Ellen stopped and turned around. “You want to talk?”

  “You seem surprised.”

  “I ... I am.” She moved closer to him. “I thought you wouldn’t talk to me again.”

  “No.” Dean shook his head with a smile. “Come here.” Taking her arm, he led her away from everyone. “I just want to say something and I hope you won’t tell me no.”

  “Go on.”

  “O.K., this is a small place, El. Really small. We have a baby coming and you and I are going to raise this baby together, one way or another. I would like for us to raise this baby on good terms. I’m not saying or asking you to be with me. In all honesty, I don’t think I can do that with you, but I’d like for us to be friends. There is no reason for us not to be close, as friends. We’ll be working together all the time and, with the baby, maybe being friends is the new start ...” Dean took a moment to shift his eyes to his father then back to Ellen. “A new start that maybe we need.”

  “Oh Dean.” Ellen softly breathed out his name. “I’d like that. I really would like that. I am so sorry about today. I really am.”

  “Let’s not talk about today.” Dean shook his head with one eye closed.

  “All right.” Ellen smiled. “Just know that I am so grateful that you don’t hate me.”

  “Hate you?” Dean chuckled. “Ellen, I can’t hate you. I love you.”

  Ellen’s arms folded even closer to her and she smiled more.

  “One more thing,” Dean said. “I know I said we wouldn’t discuss it, but this needs to be discussed. I was wrong for saying what I did today.”

  “But you were right.”

  “It doesn’t matter. Right or wrong, I shouldn’t have said those things to you about Frank ...”

  Whap! A hard banging sound rang out as Frank’s arm pummeled down as he slammed his hand against the wall, forming a separation between Dean and Ellen. Frank faced Dean. “You put that shit in her head?” His words were laced with rage.

  Dean just looked up at Frank.

  “Dean. My fuckin’ day has been miserable because you put that shit in her head?”

  “Deal with it, Frank,” Dean told him. “I told her how I felt.”

  “Bull shit!” Frank screamed. “You did that shit out of spite. You were jacked off because me and Ellen slept together today!” Frank stared long and hard down at Dean, growing more irritated at Dean’s shifting eyes.

  Ellen tapped Frank once on the back. “You were warned.” She marched over to Joe. “Excuse me, Joe.” She reached out to his shoulder harness and, before Joe realized it, Ellen grabbed his revolver.

  “Ellen!” Joe screamed. “Give me back my gun.”

  Frank heard this in his stare down with Dean. As he lowered his arm from the wall and turned around, he saw Ellen, gun aimed and pointed at him, marching his way. “El.”

  “I told you, you asshole.” Ellen clicked back the hammer and held out the revolver. Frank ducked along with everyone in the room when Ellen depressed the trigger, fired a shot, and seared a bullet Frank’s way. It hit hard into the wall behind where Frank and Dean stood. Wood splinters flew out.

  In one smooth motion, Frank pivoted his body, stood up, took one step to Ellen, and snatched the gun from her hand. “What the fuck is wrong with you!”

  Ellen only glared at Frank then stormed by him to the door. She opened it and barged out the same time Henry walked in.

  Henry looked around seeing everyone stand up. “What did I miss?”

  Frank slammed the gun into Joe’s hand and turned in anger when he saw Dean following Ellen. He reached out and stopped him. “Leave her alone, Dean! You’ve started enough trouble!”

  “Me!” Dean pulled away. “It was you, Frank. Maybe you’re the one who should leave her alone, not me.” Dean’s body flung with each word he said. “There’s a word in the English language. It’s called tact. Learn it!” With a full pivotal angry spin, Dean barged out past Henry.

  Henry shifted his eyes again. “Oh, it was good what I missed, wasn’t it?”

  Joe saw Frank lunging toward the door. With a charge for Frank, Joe twitched his head. “Robbie.”

  Robbie hurried ahead and stopped Frank.

  Frank pulled his arms harshly from his little brother who held on with diligence.

  Joe laid his hand on Frank’s chest. “Settle down.”

  “I’m going after her.”

  “You will do no such thing. You hear me. You won’t! Now calm down first, then you can talk to her.”

  “Dad!” Frank tried to forge ahead.

  “Frank!” Joe shoved him back some. “Sit down right now and calm down before I throw your big ass in a goddamn chair and calm you down myself! Do it!” Joe waited. “Now!”

  Frank whipped his arm from Robbie’s hold with such a force his body actually turned. He ran his hand over his head, looked at Joe, then at Robbie. Like a scolded child, he stomped over, squealed out a chair, and harshly plopped down.

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  Three rows back in the darkness was where Ellen had to stop. Her schoolgirl type giggles carried through the deadened streets of the empty living section. She bent over some, one leg crossed over her other and her hand on her stomach. “Stop.” She told Dean as she caught her breath.

  “You O.K.?” Dean asked.

  “Yeah. I have to stop laughing or I’ll pee my pants.” She giggled again, took a breath, and stood up straight. “O.K., I’m O.K., now.”

  Dean gave a weird look to her. “Is that normal?”

  “For the women in my family, yes, so if we end up having a daughter, get used to it.”

  “I’d like to have a daughter.” Dean held his hands behind his back as they strolled slowly.

  “Really? I would think you would want a son.”

  “A daughter.” Dean shook his head.

  “Of course, we could go into the lab and create one like your father said we made this one.” Ellen stopped walking. “Oh I can’t talk about that anymore. It makes me laugh too hard.”

  “My father really doesn’t like me.”

  “Yes he does. He loves you. William is wonderful, Dean. He is going to be such a good grandfather.”

  “I think so too.” Dean agreed. They neared their row of houses.

  “Thank you for this walk. I really enjoyed it.”

  “I’m glad I could make you smile.” Dean stopped between their two houses and faced her. “I think I’m going to enjoy being your friend.”

  Ellen’s eyes cased his face. “I would have enjoyed being more, Dean. Really I would ...”

  “Ellen.” Dean shook his head.

  “Frank has this control over me. He always has. But just know, I’m going to do everything in my power not to let him anymore.”

  “O.K.” Dean nodded and spoke softly yet he really conveyed a tone of ‘yeah sure’.

  “Thanks for this night.”

  “You’re welcome for this night. We’d better get in. I want to get an early start setting things ... . shit.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  Dean’s head dropped.

  Ellen looked behind her. Frank was walking toward them.

  “Want me to stay with you?”

  Ellen smiled. “How chivalrous, but no, I can handle him. Besides, Robbie’s in the house. He’ll beat up Frank.”

  “You think he can?” Dean tilted his head.

  “No, but Robbie thinks he can so that’s half the battle. Good night.”

  “Night.” Dean glanced up before stepping to his house. He took in the look of ‘waiting’ on Frank’s face as Frank watched them. “I’ll get you in the morning.”

  “Sounds good.” Ellen began to turn and Dean grabbed her hand.


  “Night, El.” He leaned into her and kissed her on the cheek.

  The words whispered from her. “Night, Dean.” Ellen froze. She watched Dean walk back into his house. She reached up, touching her cheek and turned around.

  “Aw how sweet.” Frank said with sarcasm.

  Ellen ignored him and walked to her steps.

  “El, I heard you laughing.”

  “That’s because something funny was said.” She reached for her door.

  “From Dean?” Frank mocked.

  “Frank!” Ellen spun around. “What is it that you want?”

  “In. Thank you.” He nudged her into the house as he stepped up behind her.

  Ellen grunted and stepped into the living room.

  “Hey Frank.” Robbie came down the steps, holding his acoustic guitar. “Check me out. I can play as loud as I want. Wanna hear?”

  “No,” Frank told him then saw Robbie getting ready to play anyway. “Robbie! Don’t play!” Frank pointed.

  Ellen smacked down Frank’s pointing hand. “Don’t you yell at him in his own home.”

  “Yeah!” Robbie reiterated. “My own home. My house, Frank.” Robbie winked. “We’re living in sin. Jealous?”

  “Robbie,” Frank snapped, “I thought you told me a few minutes ago you had someplace to be.”

  “Actually I do.” Robbie moved to the door. “I have a date with the hood of a Jeep. Gonna sit there, kick back, get into the apocalyptic mood, and play ‘Eve of Destruction’. Cool huh?” He opened the door. “Night. See you in a bit.”

  Ellen stared at Frank for a minute. “So you told Robbie to get out of his own house.”

  “I have to talk to you.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about.”

  “Maybe you don’t have anything to say but I certainly do.” Frank grabbed her hand and led her to the couch. “Could you sit down, please?”

  “No.”

  “Fuck El, why do you have to be like this? Can you sit?”

  “I’m not talking.” She plopped down on the couch,

  “You don’t have to.” Frank reached into his back pocket and pulled out four sheets of notebook paper.

  Ellen saw they had writing on him. “I certainly hope you aren’t gonna say all that to me.”

  “I am. So shut up and listen.”

  “I can’t believe you had to write it ...”

  “El!” Frank snapped. “Shut up!”

  Ellen crossed her leg, swung it back and forth, glared her face, and folded her arms.

  “All right.” Frank held the paper in front of him. He cleared his throat. “Your favorite color is black. You got your first period late in life at the age of thirteen. Your aunt Carla bought you your first bra. Your first boyfriend’s name was Greg Swanson. That was when you were seven. You lost your virginity to me at eighteen. You dyed your hair purple when you were fourteen. You graduated from Pitt with a 3.25 average. You love spaghetti sauce but you hate spaghetti noodles ...”

  “Frank.”

  “Shush. I’m not done.” Frank shifted pages. “You love old movies but hate Westerns, all but the ‘Horse Soldier’ which you loved to watch with my brother Hal. You saw it, last count, ninety-four times ...”

  “Frank.” Ellen stopped swinging her leg. “What are you doing?”

  Frank held up his hand. “You wear a size seven and a half shoe and a size three jeans. You’ll say you were a thirty-six bra ...” Frank winked. “I know better. In fact everyone knows better. Your favorite singer of all time is Frank Sinatra but your favorite song is ‘He Ain’t Heavy. He’s my Brother’. You learned to dance by watching old episodes of American Bandstand ...”

  “Frank.” Ellen leaned forward softening her voice. “What is all this about?”

  “You. And I’m not done.” Frank shifted to the next sheet. “In fact I ran out of paper. My dad wouldn’t give me anymore.” He held up the sheets. “For the longest time you had reoccurring nightmares about pygmies.” Frank snickered. “That’s funny. You still have a copy of ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ which you borrowed from the library when you were nine and never ...”

  “Frank. Stop. Why are you rattling all this off?”

  “Cause I wanna show you that I know you. I know everything about you. I even know that you probably did that stupid ‘I have to go to the bathroom’ dance when you were out there laughing with Dean. You said I didn’t know you. I want to prove I do. I need to show you I do.” He handed Ellen the sheets. “If it’s not on there, ask me. Ask me anything, El. Anything at all. I know it.”

  Ellen swallowed harshly, looking at Frank as he neared her.

  Frank dropped down to his knees before her, laying his hands on her legs. “There hasn’t been a day in my life that I didn’t think of you or remember something we did together. I could be a thousand miles away from you, and I have, and I would know if you’re happy or sad. And I know ... I know when I’ve hurt you. I’m sorry that things got messed up and I hurt you. I never meant that. I swear to you, I swear with everything I am, I didn’t use you. I never had and never will. I just needed to be with you because I need you.” Frank leaned his weight against her knees. “Tell me, El, tell me you aren’t putting me behind you. Please tell me that.”

  Ellen closed her eyes. “Ah Frank.” Her hand lifted and laid on his head. She ran her hand down his face. “God! What you do to me.”

  So innocently, head down some, Frank raised his dark eyes with a puppy dog look. “I’m sorry we fought.”

  Ellen hesitated as she looked at him. “And I’m sorry ... I’m sorry I tried to kill you.”

  Frank winked. “That’s O.K., I’ll let that one go.” He smiled slightly. “Truce?”

  Ellen took a breath. “Truce.”

  Bringing himself up some, Frank moved more into her. He brought his hands to her face and kissed her softly. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Keeping his lips close, Frank bred a laugh from Ellen when he nudged against her legs, separating them some and then taking advantage of that. Laying his hands behind her head and gripping to the back of the couch, Frank leaned his body into Ellen, mouth parted and they began to kiss, but not for long. Stopping, both Frank and Ellen’s head swayed to the door and they laughed when Robbie’s loud guitar playing and raspy singing in the distance echoed out. Following it, almost just as loud, was Henry’s bitching that he hated that song. The more Henry griped, the more Robbie played and sang, despite the fact that a ping pong match of ‘shut up, no you shut up’ between the two men laced every verse and every chorus of the song.

  A Pause ...

  PRESENT DAY

  Beginnings, Montana

  October 2

  Ping.

  Frank nodded impressed to Robbie. “Good shot.”

  Ping-ping.

  “Yes.” Frank rocked in his chair. “See Hal, I knew you’d get it. Ha.”

  Hal licked his lips. “Those are salty.”

  Robbie raised one eyebrow up and down. “They’re uh ... sunflower seeds, Hal.”

  Hal rolled his eyes. “Anyhow, getting back. So how did those bikers get into Beginnings that first day?”

  “Fuckin’ Henry,” Frank said.

  “Yeah, fuckin’ Henry in mine too.” Robbie added.

  Hal looked lost. “Henry let them in?”

  Robbie answered. “No. In my time frame he shut down the perimeters to save on energy.”

  “Yeah.” Frank nodded. “And um ... he knew they were out there but he said, ‘Frank will protect us’.”

  “Twenty of them?” Hal asked.

  “Twenty,” Robbie reiterated, “at least in my time frame recollection. Frank?”

  “Thirty in mine.” Frank winked. “Fuckin’ animals riding in here trying to pillage.”

  “How ...” Hal seemed so baffled. “How did you get them all Frank, if Robbie wasn’t there to take them on with you?”

  “Alone,” Frank sniffed. “Yep, everyone else was afraid. Dean hid like
a fuckin’ baby.”

  Dean’s head swayed to his right to look at Frank. “God, Frank, could you lie anymore?”

  “What?” Frank looked clueless.

  “You’re lying,” Dean said. “Hal, he’s lying. Robbie is too. Go check History. I would think even without History being started, someone would have documented the fact that a pack of wild bikers came through and raided Beginnings Montana the first day.”

  “Really Dean.” Hal huffed. “Why would my brothers lie to me?”

  “They’re assholes.”

  “Hey!” Frank blasted. “And you’re lying, Dean.”

  “I am not.”

  “Yes you are. You’re trying to cover up the fact that your little man ass was hiding, shivering while I had to save the day.”

  “Frank!” Dean scolded and calmed himself. “If you’re not lying, where was Joe?”

  Very seriously Frank looked at Dean. “Hiding.”

  “Hiding?” Dean laughed. “Joe was hiding? Joe?”

  “Yeah. Robbie? Did Dad hide in yours too?” Frank asked.

  “In a closet,” Robbie nodded.

  “See Dean.” Frank pointed.

  “No, Frank, no ‘see Dean’. Joe hid? Right. Hal, when have you ever known your father to hide from trouble? If this so called bikers from hell story is true, Joe would have been out there with his sons enjoying that sick Slagel ritual of taking lives.”