“For me?” Ellen snickered in embarrassment. “Sorry. That was stupid. Of course it’s for me. Thanks.” She took it and smelled it. “What . . .”
“Gemma’s version of cappuccino. Danny got that machine for her. Can’t you hear it?”
“Where’s the foam?”
“Well, she doesn’t have that part down yet. But I though you would . . .”
“I do. Thanks.” Ellen sipped it. “Not bad.”
“Danny wants her to run the first ever Danny-Bucks.” Elliott twitched his head curiously. “Does that make sense?”
“Yes. Joe will not allot him the beans. The crops were bad but we’re expecting better.”
“Ours were fine,” Elliott stated.
“How . . . never mind.”
“What?”
“Well, how were your crops fine? Coffee beans take five years to mature. You haven’t been in existence that long.”
“It’s a long story,” Elliott explained. “Let’s just say three of our scouts lucked out with a green house in Mexico.” He winked. “They’ve been doing well ever since.”
“Maybe Joe will allot Danny the beans.” Ellen’s tone lacked her usual enthusiasm. “We’ll have to meet at the Danny-Bucks when I am in New Bowman.”
“I’d like that. How often will you come?”
“I’m going to try to come every other day. I have Containment here and the lab. Blue and I will be pulling the switch soon, so I’ll get a nice little break from Beginnings for a couple days.”
“Really? When?” Elliott asked.
“Soon. I know Andrea wants him to learn the clinic ropes here so I’ll man New Bowman and he’ll be here. Oh!”
“There it is.”
“There’s what?”
“I thought there was something wrong. You weren’t . . . perky. Sorry. ‘Oh’ what?”
“You and I could go to the movies when I’m in town.”
Elliott smiled. “I would really like that. Would your husband mind?”
Ellen’s mind drifted momentarily.
“Ellen?”
“I’m sorry. No, Elliott, he wouldn’t mind at all. In fact I may ask you to make me dinner again instead of eating at that mess hall thing you guys have.”
“I would enjoy that. I don’t cook for myself. I mean, why? Right?”
“Right.”
“Mom.” The little boy’s voice spoke deeply as Joey tugged on Ellen’s jeans.
Elliott laughed. “I cannot believe how much like Frank that boy looks.”
“Don’t he?” Ellen smiled and looked down to Joey. Marcus was with him. “What’s wrong?”
“We want to dunk Uncle Frank but they won’t give us the gun,”
“Bastards.” Ellen shook her head. “Do the team thing. You don’t need a gun. Marcus is big enough. Have him lift you up and you hit the target.”
“With what?” Joey asked.
“Your hand, head, whatever you think of first.”
“O.K., come on Marcus.” Joey gave a tug to Marcus who happily grunted and followed Joey in the direction of the dunking booth.
When Ellen turned back around to face Elliott, she saw the expression of shock on his face “Is it Marcus?” she inquired of Elliott’s demeanor. “It takes some time.”
“I’m being rude. Aren’t I? He’s just a child. I apologize.”
“No, don’t. In a little bit he’ll look just as normal to you as every other child. He really is just a normal little boy. Well, with the exception of the skin and of course the lack of hair and teeth. Then again, his verbal skills need some work and, not to mention, he has to be caged when he’s not with Joey. Hey, at least I got him to stop teaching my son to hunt rabbits with his bare hands. Of course you know Frank thinks that’s a really neat survival skill that Joey is . . .” Ellen stopped when she saw the dropped look on Elliott’s face. “My rambling will take some time to get used to as well.”
“Ramble. I . . . I enjoy it. I think.” He smiled.
“Wanna sit?” Ellen motioned to a table. Getting an agreeing nod from Elliott, Ellen, grateful for the change of subject her mind drastically needed, walked slowly with Elliott to the table where Joe and Andrea sat.
Henry huffed, verbally and visually. “Who is this guy?”
“Elliott.” Robbie answered from behind him. “Sgt. Ryder.”
Nick’s scream was shrill and loud and it ricocheted in Henry’s ear from the carrier strapped to Henry’s back. Henry spun around. “What did you do to him?”
“Nothing,” Robbie answered “Oh look, are they huddling?”
Henry returned to staring at the table where Ellen and Elliott sat. “No they . . .” Another Nick’s scream rang out. “Robbie.” Henry spun back around. “Knock it off.”
“I’m not doing anything. Your kid is just fussy.”
“He is not. You’re pinching him or something.”
“Who me?”
Henry grunted and started to look back at Ellen. He stopped mid-turn spun around to see Robbie snatch his hand back quickly. “I knew it.”
“What?”
“Leave him alone.”
“Henry, you’re just pissed because Frank said it’s time to be a father.”
“Frank claimed him, Robbie, the moment he was born.”
“Frank still claims him,” Robbie said. “He just has too much going on right now, him and Dean both. They want you to . . . bond? Yeah, that’s it, with your son.”
“I have every intention of bonding with my son when he walks,” Henry defended.
“What? To school.”
“Ha-ha-ha. You think you’re so funny. First abusing my child . . .”
“Henry, don’t start to bitch. I’ll have to kick your ass, baby strapped to you or not.”
Henry stared at Robbie.
“Oh look, Henry. They’re kissing.” Robbie snickered.
Henry, believing Robbie, hurried and turned around only to spin, bumping the back carrier into Jess as he approached. Nick cried. Henry whined. Robbie laughed.
“I’m sorry,” Jess apologized. “I didn’t mean to make him cry.” Jess reached for the baby.
“Jess no!” Robbie warned. “If you know what’s good for you, don’t.”
Jess retracted his reach as Robbie walked away. “What’s the matter with your kid that I shouldn’t touch him?”
“Robbie’s being an asshole, instigating my baby and all.” Henry shook his head in disgust. “Like I need this. I am so busy and Frank just makes me take him. He says take him, Henry. What am I supposed to do with him? I’m always working.”
“Well, I can help. I love kids.” Jess held a finger in a playing manner to Nick. “Just let me know.”
Henry smiled.
“Fuck.”
Splash.
Nearly grunting, Frank emerged from the water, flung the wetness off his face, and climbed back on the bench. “I need a break!” he screamed out. “Hal! Don’t shoot that gun again!”
“What’s the matter, Frank?” Hal held the gun. “Can’t handle it.”
“You think you could?”
“A little water?” Hal snickered.
“A little water?” Frank came back. “I have been dunked twenty million fuckin times.”
“Quit whining.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t whine.” Frank held up his hand, trying to enjoy the short moment of ‘dry’. “After all, I have enough balls to sit up here and let my men take a shot at me. I’m giving them a little payback. You couldn’t handle it.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Hal lowered the gun, handed it to the man behind him, and walked toward the booth.
“Nothing,” Frank said innocently. “I just don’t think you have big enough balls to come off your Captain pedestal and climb on this bench and let your men take a crack at you. Of course I haven’t seen one of your men take a shot at me. It’s probably because they can’t shoot a gun. Then again, I am a true leader, someone my men look up to.” Frank
exhaled. “You on the other hand put yourself so high above . . .”
“Step down out of there,” Hal ordered.
“No, I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Frank. Get out.”
“O.K.” Frank shrugged. “If you insist.”
Hal took off his handgun and sword and laid them down by the ladder to the booth. He waited until a sopping wet Frank climbed down and then he climbed up. Once Hal was situated on the bench, he called to Frank who was walking away. “Line up my men, Frank.”
Frank turned around with a smile. “No fuckin way.” He snatched up the dart gun from the man who had it and Frank aimed quickly.
Ping.
“Shit.”
Splash.
“Ha.” Frank bit his bottom lip and aimed again.
Nick was too fussy. He reminded Jess so much of Henry especially the way his tiny body was so wiry. Balancing the baby in his arms, Jess walked over to what seemed to be the second most popular booth. Trish sat behind the counter with a clipboard.
“Are you signing up?” she asked with a smile. “Why do you have Nick?”
“it’s a long story. Signing up for what?”
“The first Beginnings bestselling novel,” Trish said. “Wanna sign up? There are only going to be so many in print.”
“Who wrote it?” Jess questioned.
Danny Hoi stepped into the conversation. “We sort of did.” Danny motioned his finger back and forth between himself and Trish. “What are you doing with Nick?”
“It’s a long story. You wrote it?” Jess asked.
Trish, with a tsk, waved her hand at Danny. “We edited it. It’s written anonymously. You know, to protect the identities of the author.”
“Names have been changed,” Danny added, “to protect the innocent. It’s all true.”
“All of it.” Trish nodded.
“Every single word,” Danny said.
Jess’ head was spinning. “Well if I get a chance I’ll sign up to buy . . .”
“You can only borrow it,” Trish corrected. “We’re just calling it a bestselling novel. It will actually be the best first novel ever.”
“You got it . . . hey.” Danny snapped his fingers. “Here.” He reached down to a tattered grouping of papers. “Here’s a sample of the first chapter. Sorry, it was read a lot today. Take a look.”
Jess’s eyes glanced down to the paper. He really wasn’t in the mood to read until he started then Jess handed the baby to Danny and sat down with the chapter.
“Hey El. Hey El . . . lee it,” Robbie snickered as he joined them. “What are you drinking?” He snatched up Ellen’s cup.
Joe rolled his eyes. “Can you be anymore rude? We’re in the middle of a conversation.”
Robbie laughed. “Conversation?” His eyes shifted quickly. “Shit. Oh . . . um, El?” Robbie reached inside his coat pocket. “I forgot to give this to you.” He pulled out Elliott’s letter. It looked worse than beaten. “El, it’s from El . . . lee it.”
Elliott eyes widened. “That . . . that . . . looked much better when I gave it to him.”
“Robbie?” Ellen held the letter with question. “What happened to this?”
“You name it. I sat on it, dropped it, wet . . .” Robbie fluttered his lips. “We got busy with the Savage thing you know. Sorry El, sorry El . . . lee it.”
“Robert.” Joe’s hand slammed on the table. “Why are you saying his name like that?”
“What way am I saying his name?” Robbie asked innocently.
Ellen saw it coming and leaned closer into Elliott. “Get ready. You’ve never experienced all the Slagels together have you? It’s a real treat.” She looked up to the kiss on her cheek. The smile went frigid. “Hey Dean.”
“Burr,” Robbie shuddered. “Was that a cold ‘hey Dean’ or was it me?”
Dean sat down at the table. “Is he becomong like Frank or is it me?”
“I was about to say the same thing,” Joe commented. “You should hear the way he’s been saying Elliott’s name. Then I ask him about it and he plays dumb.”
“He should take a SIP.” Frank sat down on the other side of Ellen. He hurriedly rubbed his wet goatee across her face with a smile as he set down his plate of food. “I’m fuckin starved, wet, and freezing. My balls are nonexistent.”
“Christ, Frank,” Joe complained. “Is that dinner conversation? Go get some dry clothes on.”
“Why? What are we talking about?”
Robbie pointed next to him. “Elliott.”
“Why are we talking about him?” Frank asked.
Ellen saw the panic on Elliott’s face. He was so confused about everything and the conversation that flew about. “This is yet another thing that takes time getting used to.”
“What?” Frank asked. “You probably were talking about me.”
Dean shook his head. “The world doesn’t revolve around you, Frank.”
“Oh, yeah, then why did everyone shut up when I sat down.”
Joe’s hand hit hard on the table. “Because you hog the entire goddamn conversation that’s why. If you . . . if you . . . if . . .” Joe’s eyes lifted.
“If I what? Fuck, Dad. Maybe you need to take a SIP.”
“What in the world?” Joe questioned when Hal, just as wet as Frank, sat down. “Why are you wet?”
Hal swung in a point to his brother. “Frank. He made me get in that booth, Dad. He pulled me up and humiliated me.”
“Frank!”
“What?” Frank looked clueless
“What the hell is the matter with you?” Joe scolded. “Your brother just got over that infection. You ought to have you goddamn head examined.”
“Ha,” Frank nodded. “I have.” He brought his fork to his mouth and blocked out his Dad’s bitching as he looked at Ellen. She was staring blankly. “El,” he whispered. “What’s wrong?”
Ellen shook her head with a fake smile.
Frank’s looked at her staring eyes and he caught where they stared. Bev. Quickly he turned back. “El. Did she . . .”
“Frank.” Ellen shook her head ‘no’.
Jess hated to do it, but he had to interrupt. Knowing it could be an invitation to a headache or insult, he walked up to the Slagel table, still holding Nick, and tapped Robbie on the shoulder. “We have to talk.”
Robbie turned around. “Why do you have Nick?”
“It’s a long story.” He walked to Dean and handed him the baby.
Dean looked oddly at Nick then Jess. “Why did you have the baby?”
“It’s a long story.” Jess, seemingly occupied, moved a little from the table.
Robbie stood up. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, boy.” Jess blew slowly from his mouth.
“What?”
“O.K.” Nervously, Jess ran his hand over the top of his head and spoke softly. “Does this mean anything to you? Listen carefully to how I say it. You may know it.” Jess paused and took a breath. “Seclusion. Nudity. No one but us. Kneeling before you with my hands on your hips, my lips on your . . .”
“Jess.” Robbie turned a deep shade of red and motioned his head back to the silent table who stared at them. “Why the hell are you saying something like that? This makes me look . . .”
“Robbie.” Jess smiled to the table. “I’m not directing those words to you. I’m quoting something I just read.”
“O.K.” Robbie nodded.
“Quoting.”
“O.K.”
“The new Beginnings Best Seller.”
Robbie laughed. “Man, is it a dirty novel?”
Jess nodded. “It’s called . . . Letters Afar - The Helen and Bobby story.”
“Letters a . . .” Robbie’s eyes bulged. “Seclusion. Nudity . . . oh shit!” Robbie spun to the table. “El . . . it . . . fuck.” He took a step but it turned into a nervous skip. He hurried back to the table, waved his hand, and took off again. “Fuck.”
There was quiet all around the table as they watched Robbie
make it to the book booth. Then with Frank’s comment of ‘I guess he wants to read it’, everyone continued in their talk.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The sounds of Robbie’s band, The Starters, carried in through the slightly cracked bathroom window. The same window Frank used to air out some of the steam, brought in music that made him smile. He paused in getting dressed and leaned against the wall a he listened to his little brother. He could see the community still celebrating strongly and the bonfires burning to add warmth on the cold night. Frank really wanted to be out there and he really wished he hadn’t missed the previous two and a half hours but he had to sleep. Night shift on Security was what he had to do, especially since the closer of the Savage camps hadn’t moved in days.
Frank’s hand reached up and slid the bathroom window shut, muffling the sound of the music completely. He had to get moving, finish getting dressed, and go to work. He planned to stop by the winding down celebration on his way, grab some food, say goodbye to the kids, see El for a minute, and annoy Dean. Really start his night on an ‘up’.
Tossing on his tee-shirt Frank ran his fingers through his hair as a means of a comb. He felt his face, wished he would have shaved, and then picked up his towel from the floor. He tossed it over the towel rack and walked from the bathroom. As he turned to go to his room, Frank’s heart dropped when he saw the blur of a movement sweep across Ellen and Dean’s room. As soon as he realized it wasn’t another ghost, Frank felt better. He saw it was Ellen. Opening his mouth to call out, he stopped when he reached her bedroom doorway and saw what she was doing.
Ellen stood before Dean’s dresser, her hands lifted each article of clothing. She carefully looked through the folds and replaced them neatly. Did she lose something? Did Dean forget something? Frank had to wonder.
Ellen didn’t know she was being watched. She was so consumed in her search. She shut the third drawer and moved to the last. Past experience in dealing with men told her to go to the bottom of the drawer so she did. There were Dean’s old pants. Her hand fumbled yet quickly searched out the four pockets. Nothing. She moved to the pair on top them. Right front pocket. Left front pocket, Back . . .Ellen paused. She felt a square shape. Debating, she pulled out her hand then stuck it back in. When she pulled the object from Dean’s pocket she saw it was a folded piece of paper. Ellen began to unfold the paper to read.
The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20 Page 63
