The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

Henry lost his smile.

  “What’s going on, Dr. Dean?” Johnny asked.

  “Johnny, she’s up to her little tricks again,” Dean spoke. “She must of heard you two talking about coming over here when you were at the Social Hall.”

  “Funny,” Henry said sternly. “We’ve been over Jess’s house. Let’s go, Johnny. It seems we came at a bad time.”

  “No,” Johnny said. “Why is she here, Dr. Dean? Bev?” Johnny glared at her. “My step mother is not here. Why are you?”

  “To see Dean,” she answered.

  Johnny walked over, bent down to the floor, angrily picked up her shirt, and shoved it to her. “Did you see him? Good. Maybe you should go.”

  “Fine, it’s too crowded now anyhow.” Giggling, Bev shuffled to the door. “Bye, Dean.”

  When the door closed, Dean ran his hand down his face. “It was not what you think.”

  “I know,” Johnny said. “God, how many times does she pull this shit?” Shaking his head, Johnny nudged Henry. “Lighten up.”

  “Yeah.” Henry glared at Dean.

  Dean felt the uncomfortableness of Henry’s stares. “So what brings you two here?”

  “Oh!” Johnny spoke up beat and perky. “Wait until you see what we have to show you. You’re gonna love this. Henry, tell him.”

  “You know what.” Henry held up his hand. “I have to get back to Jess’s. My kid is there. I’ll, I’ll see you later.” Saying nothing more, Henry walked to the door and left.

  Johnny saw Dean staring. “Dr. Dean.” He snapped his fingers in front of Dean’s face.

  “Sorry. Nothing happened here, Johnny, but bet me Henry runs to Ellen.”

  “So tell her to run to me.” Johnny stayed ‘up’. “Hey, I’ve watched enough of Bev’s tricks. I fake dated her to get to know them. Right?” Johnny winked and moved to the couch.. “All right. I have this cool idea. This . . . you will love.”

  Dean let out a breath, his eyes still on the door, grateful he at least had Johnny in his corner. He walked over to the couch and joined Johnny, hoping what Johnny had to show him would take his mind off of everything.

  New Bowman, Montana

  Ellen was surrounded by the Slagel clan as they walked down the streets of New Bowman. Hal and Ellen were headed back to his place while Joe, Robbie, and Frank were going to the truck.

  “Boggle?” Hal asked Ellen.

  “You have Boggle?” Ellen smiled. “Sure.”

  “We’ll see if we can get Elliott to play.”

  “No!” Frank interrupted, sticking his face in between the walking pair.

  Ellen stopped. “Why can’t Elliott play? You won’t even be here.”

  “Uh . . . because .” Frank said.

  Hal rolled his eyes. “Will you please get off the man’s back. What has he done to you?”

  “Yeah, Frank,” Ellen asked him. “What has he done to you? Please don’t tell me you’re getting like Dean.”

  “Uh!” Frank did his shriek. “No. I just don’t trust him.”

  Hal slowed down, shaking his head as they approached the truck. “Go home, Frank.”

  Frank bit his bottom lip and glared at Hal. “I think I’ll walk Ellen to your pitiful apartment.”

  “Pitiful!” Hal snapped. “Why is my home pitiful? This ought to be good.”

  “Fuck, Hal, in the last place, you lived on top of an old pharmacy. Now you live on top of an old book store. You would think since you’re Mr. So-Called Leader, you would have the best house. Of course, you run this place and what ranking do you choose? Captain.”

  “Frank,” Hal squeaked out his name in irritation. “Where are you going with these insults?”

  “I don’t know but I know I’m going to walk Ellen to your place.” He turned around and looked back at Robbie and Joe. “Dad, do you mind?”

  “No, not at all.” Joe walked up to Ellen and kissed her on the cheek. “See you Thursday.”

  “Thursday. Thanks again.” Ellen kissed Joe, then reached her hand out and took Robbie’s. She winked at him and mouthed the words ‘goodnight’ before being yanked away and down the street by Frank. “Frank.”

  “What?”

  “Why . . .” Ellen felt him grab her hand and she stopped complaining. She just held tightly. They walked, with Hal leading the way, another half a block to the corner store where Hal’s apartment was. All three stopped by the building.

  Hal opened the door that lead to the stairs to his apartment. “I don’t think you need to walk her any further, Frank.”

  “Night, Hal,” Frank said.

  “El?” Hal held the door open. “You coming?”

  “Night, Hal,” Frank said again.

  Ellen hid her smile. “Hal, I’ll be right up. One minute. Let me appease your brother.”

  Hal nodded. “Night, Frank.” He stepped inside, retracted his steps, and poked his head out. “Frank, she’s a married woman.”

  “When hasn’t she been? Night, Hal.” Frank flicked his hand in a wave to Hal and waited for the door to shut.

  “So,” Ellen breathed out.

  “So.”

  Ellen looked around Frank to the truck “Joe and Robbie are waiting.”

  “They can wait.”

  “What’s up?”

  “I just . . . I just wanted a minute with you.” Frank placed his hand on the archway behind Ellen. “I had a really good time tonight. It was fun.”

  “Yeah it was. I needed that. I really love all you guys a lot.” Ellen smiled.

  “El, so mushy. What’s up with that?”

  Ellen shook her head and it lowered some.

  Placing his fingers to her chin, Frank lifted her views to him. “You O.K.?”

  “Yes. Yes I am. But I’d better get up there. I don’t know if Alex is still awake or not.”

  “Why is she here with you?” Frank asked.

  “I don’t know. I wanted to bring her.” Ellen shrugged. “I wanted her with me. A mother daughter thing, I guess.”

  “I see. I just think it’s kind of odd, you know, you . . .” Frank’s view lifted in thought.

  “Frank? What is it?”

  “El.” Panic hit his face. “Something’s not going on with her is it?”

  “What?” Ellen chuckled.

  “Something didn’t happen to her. I mean, your moods, you coming here for two days, snatching her up out of . . .”

  “Frank,” Ellen covered his mouth. “Alex is fine. Nothing is going on with her. I wanted her with me. That’s all. She can miss school.”

  “O.K., just checking. Maybe I should go up and see her.” Frank took a step away.

  Ellen stopped him. “Go home. It’s getting late. Beginnings needs you.”

  “You’re right.” Frank looked over his shoulder at his father then back to Ellen. “You sure you’re fine?”

  “Positive.”

  “Because I just get this pulling here.” Frank placed his fist to his chest. “A gnawing like something is really wrong with . . .”

  “Frank. Go home. I’m fine. Call me.”

  “I will.” Frank leaned closer to her. “I really loved this night with you.”

  “You bitched at me.”

  “That doesn’t mean I didn’t love it.” Frank leaned down even closer.

  “Frank, what are you doing?”

  “Thanking you.” He moved his lips so close then when he was right before Ellen, he closed his eyes and brought his face closer. No lips to lips, Frank brushed his cheek against hers as he brought his lips near her ear. “Thank you,” he whispered in her ear and kissed her lightly. “I love you . . . know that.” After one more soft peck of a kiss, Frank stepped back, ran his fingers down her face, and winked. “Night.”

  Joe watched the goodbye between his son and Ellen from a distance, but mostly he watched Ellen. He looked for anything, a smile, peaceful look, anything that would tell him Frank was helping. Joe could only hope, but he was doing all that he could. He really could do no more. The truth was,
Joe knew Ellen’s mood and emotions hinged on one thing, the one thing, unlike everything else, Joe could not control . . . Dean.

  Beginnings, Montana

  Johnny’s hand quickly covered Bev’s mouth to silence her excited shriek. “Bev, if you keep being so noisy, I won’t let you over here.”

  “Sorry.” Bev, like a little girl, covered her mouth and held the phone. “How did you . . .”

  “It was hard.” Johnny nodded. “But luckily he never noticed I switched his phone. Of course, now I have to go over there and switch it back.” Johnny shrugged. “I’ll figure out something.”

  “What if the Clinic calls him?”

  “They’ll use the private line.”

  “What if Ellen calls that one?”

  “Then . . .” Johnny tossed his hands up. “It doesn’t work. Remember, this wasn’t planned, so if it happens, bonus.”

  “Bonus.” Bev cradled the phone in her hands as if it were a prized possession. “You were so good tonight.”

  “Wasn’t I?” Johnny chuckled. “You actually looked like you believed me.”

  “I started to then I remembered it was an act. How about Henry totally forgetting you went to the Social Hall for another bottle?” Bev laughed and imitated Henry. “Funny. We were at Jess’s house all night.”

  “It really couldn’t have fallen into our laps any better. But I’ll tell you, I was sweating bullets hoping Ellen didn’t call while I was there.”

  “I bet.”

  “And speaking of bullets.” Johnny reached into his back pocket. He pulled out a cloth and unraveled it. Lying center of it was a paint pellet.

  “What’s that?” Bev asked.

  “You can say tonight I was handed a perfect way . . . to get rid of my father.” Johnny held the pellet up with a grin. “Johnny-blame-free.”

  New Bowman, Montana

  “Thank you so much, Elliott,” Ellen said, standing in Hal’s living room.

  “I have to say, I really enjoyed it,” Elliott told her. “It’s been a while since I was one on one with a child. She draws quite a bit.”

  “Yes she does,” Ellen said.

  “I’m not much on child rearing, so imagine my shock when I didn’t have to read her a story to get her to sleep. I was a little disappointed she fell asleep so early.”

  “She had school today so she was tired,” Ellen said.

  “Look.” Elliott pulled out a sheet of paper from his back pocket. “She drew me a picture. I hope you don’t mind me keeping it. Now Captain Slagel will not be the only one in New Bowman with refrigerator art.”

  Hal held up his finger. “But keep in mind I am her favorite person now. Not even her own father ranks up there with me.”

  Hal didn’t see Ellen lose her smile.

  Elliott knew why. “Um . . . did you know . . .” He paused to laugh. “Did you know she really does this wiggle thing when . . .”

  “She has to go to the bathroom?” Ellen finished his sentence. “Yes, I did.”

  Hal leaned into Ellen from behind and spoke with a soft voice to Elliott. “It’s inherited. So . . .” He stepped back. “Are you joining us, Elliott?”

  “I hate to intrude.”

  “No intrusion,” Hal said. “It’ll be fun and it’s still early.”

  Elliott looked up with a smile. “If you two don’t mind.”

  Ellen shook her head. “We’re glad you’re here.” She moved back. “I’m going to put on a pair of . . .” She stopped when she saw it on the table. “Is this the Dean list?” she asked Elliott.

  “That’s the one I told you about. He’s called quite a bit.”

  “And you wrote everything down.” Ellen snickered when she picked it up.

  “Dr. Hayes really doesn’t care for me much. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I hid anything from you.”

  “Thank you.” Ellen walked to the phone with the list in her hand. “I’ll just call him before we play.” She dialed the phone. It rung only once and a groggy Bev voice answered.

  “Hello.”

  Ellen beeped the phone off and pulled it from her ear. She stared at the receiver.

  “El?” Hal moved to her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Hal . . . Hal, could you call my home please. See . . . see who answers.”

  “Sure.” Hal took the phone. “Did you dial wrong?”

  “I hope.”

  Hal began to dial the phone. He placed it to his ear standing so assuredly. His lips parted and a look of ‘stunned’ hit him. “Who is this?”

  Click.

  Hal pulled the phone away and stared as Ellen did at it.

  “Hal?” Ellen questioned.

  “She . . . I mean he hung . . .”

  “Don’t bother.” Ellen stepped back.

  “El . . .”

  “I’m . . .” Ellen pointed to the little hallway. “I’m gonna change. Get the game ready. O.K.?” Placing on a fake smile, Ellen crumbled the ‘Dean-list’ in her hand and tossed it as she turned around and walked down the hall.

  Still holding the phone, Hal turned around and faced Elliott.

  “Captain? What is it?”

  Hal looked at his watch then set down the phone. “A woman answered.”

  For a split second Elliott closed his eyes. “There has to be a mistake.”

  “Yes. Yes there has to be. Because if there’s not.” Hal very calmly lowered his voice and leaned into Elliott. “I’m killing him.” With a quick raise of his eyebrows and a flash of a grin, Hal moved back. “I’ll get the game.”

  Elliot bounced slowly from heel to toe. He walked over to the crumbled paper on the floor and picked it up. He un-crinkled it and read the numerous times Dean called and the many emotional messages. There had to be an error. Certain of it, Elliott checked to see. Ellen was not in the hall,and the sounds of Hal making coffee came from the kitchen. He picked up the phone and dialed Ellen’s home, a number for some reason he knew by heart. Slowly he touched each number to make no mistake. It rang. Elliott listened. “I’m sorry. I’ve mis-dialed.” Closing his eyes, he hung up the phone.

  Beginnings, Montana

  Though Dean really tried to read the book as he lay on the couch, he kept falling asleep. But the awaited clicking of the opening front door jarred him not only awake, but to a sitting position. He set the book on the coffee table and straightened his hair.

  Frank saw this as he walked in. “Ah, Dean, how nice. You waited up.”

  “Hey, Frank.” There was nervousness to Dean as he stood up. “I was, uh, reading.”

  “O.K.” Frank moved to the kitchen. “You ought to check out the sample of that new book. It’s good.”

  “Did you just get back?” Dean asked.

  “Um . . . yes.” Frank raised his eyebrows. “Did you not see me walk in? Fuck and they call me mentally disabled.”

  “No, that’s not what I meant.” Dean leaned in the doorway of the kitchen as Frank rummaged through the fridge. “I mean back to Beginnings.”

  “Yeah, but I’m on my way out. I should have gotten some sleep this afternoon, but who knew.” He pulled a bowl from the refrigerator and sniffed. Cringing at the bad smell, he put it back.

  “So you were with Ellen the whole time?”

  “Yep.” Frank saw another bowl on the stove. He lifted the cover. “Why?”

  “She didn’t call. I’ve called her and she never called back.”

  “Oh. Well, I just dropped her off about a half hour ago. She was with us all night. Are these noodles? Did you make these for dinner?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can I take them for my lunch tonight?”

  “Sure.” Dean folded his arms. “So she was with her family all night.”

  “All night. Went to the Danny-plex and caught the classic film ‘The Birds’.” Frank took a small container from the cupboard. “Then we bowled, which El sucks at.”

  “Good.”

  “That’s what you say.”

  “No, I mean good that she
was with you guys. I thought . . . I thought she was with Sgt. Ryder.”

  “Nope. Dean . . .” Frank picked at a noodle as he dumped them into the new container. “These are good. Dean . . .” Frank closed the container. “You really have to stop worrying about this Sgt. Fuckin Ryder guy. Really.”

  “Are you sure/”

  “Yeah. El is not and won’t mess with him, guaranteed.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Dean asked.

  “One, he runs around with a pansy Civil War uniform. Two, he’s got nothing on me in the looks department. Four . . .”

  “Three.”

  “Huh?”

  “You skipped three.”

  Frank held up his hand. “Yeah, sorry. Three. Their names. I have to go.” Frank moved to the kitchen door and shut off the light. “Night.”

  “Frank.” Dean had a chuckled at him. “What about their names?”

  “Dean, think about it. Ellen wouldn’t marry you because she didn’t want to be Ellen Hayes. How would she like to be paired off with a man named Elliott? Elliott, Ellen. Say their names together three times fast. It can’t be done. It’s a sure sign they won’t be a couple.” Frank walked across the living room. “Kiss the kids for me.” He opened the door.

  “Frank, before you go, did Ellen say anything to you tonight?”

  “About?”

  “Anything.”

  “Dean, that’s a vague fuckin question. She said a lot. Specifics,” Frank said.

  “Us?”

  “You and me?”

  “No. Me and Ellen.”

  “No. Night.” Frank started to leave and he paused. “Why are you questioning me like this?”

  “I’m . . . I’m . . . Risking being a masochist right now . . .” Dean flung his hand through his hair. “I’m worried about us.”

  “You and me?”

  “No,” Dean nearly snapped. “Me and Ellen. Something’s not right. I think she’s being really different, but I don’t know if it’s my imagination.” Dean looked at Frank then closed his eyes. “I knew it. Forget it.”

  “Night.” With a wide grin, Frank left.

  “He laughs at my misery.” Dean tossed his hands up. “I asked for it.” Shaking his head, Dean stopped and smiled when he realized one thing. Yes, Frank may have enjoyed what was said, but Frank also eased Dean’s mind without knowing it. It had to be his imagination. If things were really bad, Frank of all people would have been the one Ellen went to.