The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

“Incredibly,” Mike stated. “Especially at first. Everyone who has seen you has said something. But the more I talk to you, the more I don’t think you look identical. You resemble her, yeah, but you’re not identical.”

  “I can see a resemblance.” Ellen laid the picture down. “Is that why you were so nervous around me?”

  “Yes,” Mike answered. “That’s why I apologize for invading your privacy.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “When I was debating on whether to carry you upstairs or let you stay on the couch, I found myself . . . . staring for a minute or two.”

  Ellen lowered her head with a soft smile. “That’s fine. I’ve been there. Sort of.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, when Frank was presumably dead . . .”

  “Presumably dead? Is this when Johnny shot him?”

  “No, he died then. He was shot by the Society and taken.”

  “But he didn’t die.”

  “He may have,” Ellen said. “It wouldn’t have been the first time and probably not the last.”

  “What is he? Invincible?”

  “Pretty much.” Ellen smiled. “He’s Frank. So anyhow, when he was gone, it was thought he was dead. I was devastated. In fact, after witnessing him being shot six times . . .”

  “Six times!” Mike sounded off surprised.

  “Yep. After that, when the UWA brought me home, I was catatonic. When I woke up, I grasped onto anything that reminded me of Frank. I developed a friendship with Elliott Ryder who looks amazingly like Frank. Even when Frank returned, I still hung out with Elliott because Elliott looked like Frank, was heroic like Frank, but was sensitive like no other man.”

  “So you fell for Elliott?”

  “In a way.” Ellen chuckled. “It’s hard to explain.

  “How does Frank feel about that?”

  “He’s adjusted to things a lot better than I thought he ever would but Dean, Dean won’t adjust.”

  “Your ex husband?”

  “Yeah. He’s resolved himself to only sharing me with Frank.”

  Mike nearly choked. “Sharing.”

  “Um,” Slightly embarrassed, Ellen stood up and walked to the coffee pot. “Things are different in Beginnings. There’s a new level of relationships. There has to be in this world. There aren’t many women and we’re fortunate that we haven’t any crimes against them with the way things work.” She held up the coffee pot. “More?”

  Mike shook his head. “No. I’m sorry you have to live like that.”

  “Don’t be.” Ellen returned to the table. “It’s not what you think. It’s not a physical thing, the sharing, as much as it is a companionship thing. It’s an allotment of time by one man to another, so they can have that closeness with a woman. That closeness with Elliott Ryder is a quiet evening talking, holding hands . . . that’s it.” She smiled collectedly. “Granted, I do have two men at one time . . .” Horrified, her eyes widened. “That’s not what I meant.”

  Mike chuckled. “I didn’t take it that way.”

  “Thanks.” Ellen returned to the table. “What I meat was, I sometimes have two relationships going, but they both aren’t physical. It’s not about sex. I wish at times it was. It would be easier but doing it this way makes it complicated because it’s about the heart. You spend your life thinking you can only love one person, then all of the sudden you really do love two.” She shrugged. “Right now . . .” She sighed out. “I’m single and loving it.”

  “No Frank?”

  “Frank’s a given. He’s a part of my life, always, and forever. Sometimes he’s a husband, sometimes he’s a friend. It depends. It’s just a given.”

  “I see.”

  “Mike? Did I mention I love sitting in a kitchen and talking?”

  “No,” Mike replied.

  “I do. I love it. I miss it. I haven’t had an eat-in kitchen for years. This is great. Thank you.”

  “Funny. You have it all in Beginnings and you’re thanking me for an eat-in kitchen?”

  “I don’t have one.” Ellen smiled. “Or quiet early morning conversation either.”

  “Yeah, this is nice.” Mike nodded. “Hey, wanna have a quiet early morning breakfast alone?”

  “I would love it.”

  “I’ll fix it.” Mike stood up. “It won’t take long.”

  “I’ll look at the pictures.”

  “Please.” Mike walked to the fridge. He paused when he opened it and looked over his shoulder. “Ellen, you, uh, thanked me for the eat-in kitchen. I just want to . . . I want to thank you too . . . for this.”

  Ellen looked up. A nod and smile of peacefulness passed between them.

  ^^^^

  An early morning meeting was never problem for Joe. He didn’t recommend them to people, but had them if he felt the problem or situation warranted an pre-caffeine dose meeting. The current one did, even thought it caused a slight twinge of a headache for Joe. The person requesting the meeting was one that Joe liked.

  “I understand your dilemma,” Joe stated. “I do. But do you think this is a problem, a real problem? I don’t but I understand your confusion.”

  “No, Pap.” Billy held up his finger. “It isn’t my confusion. It’s my Dad’s and uncle Frank’s.”

  Joe sighed out. “Bill.”

  “Pap. Look. If they are homosexual males, then they are homosexuals.”

  “Bill, I don’t think your dad and Frank are homosexuals.”

  “You haven’t been exposed to them like I have. What they show in the privacy of the home when Mom isn’t around. I don’t believe I need to be exposed to their sordid details.”

  “What? What are you talking about?’

  “Their romantic bickering.”

  Joe coughed. “Their what?”

  “It’s disrupting my sleep, my rest, you name it. They’re worse than a married couple. I think they’re confused on who they should be with. I need it to stop.”

  “Frank and Dean will never stop bickering.”

  “I don’t think they used to bicker like this,” Billy argued.

  “How is what they are doing different?” Joe asked then peered up when there was a knock on the door. “Come in.”

  First the door slowly opened then Jenny Matoose stuck her head in. “Morning, Joe. Oh, there you are, Billy.”

  Billy looked at his Mighty Hoi watch. “I still have six minutes.”

  “Oh.” Jenny walked in.

  “Were you looking for Billy?” Joe asked.

  “No, you,” Jenny answered. “I have to speak to you.” Jenny bit her lip trying to figure out how to delicately put it. She wondered how to ask Joe about the earthquake that destroyed part of the cryo-lab ask without scaring Billy.

  “What is it?” Joe asked.

  After a shift of her eyes to Billy, Jenny smiled awkwardly. “I’m concerned, Joe. I’m concerned about . . . about . . .”

  “About?”

  “Okay. I am sure you know . . . I ran into Frank and Dean at the cryo-lab yesterday. They were being secretive.”

  Joe raised one eyebrow to Billy, who nodded at him. “You don’t say?” Joe said.

  “I’m sure, as leader of the community, you know about the problem?” She said her last word with an up. “Those two are concealing. . .”

  “Before I make a comment, be more specific.”

  “I don’t want to upset Billy.”

  Billy interjected, “See, Pap, see.”

  “No, Bill, no. Go on. Jenny,” Joe encouraged.

  “To clue you in,” Jenny continued, “they are on unsteady ground and the floor dropped out beneath them.” She hunched, hoping she didn’t scare Billy.

  “Ah,” Joe nodded.

  “So you know.”

  “I’m . . . I’m just finding out.”

  After letting out a whew, Jenny dropped her head in relief. “I’m glad you know. I thought it was a secret.”

  “It is,” Joe said. “Not many know.”

  �
�Don’t you think they should, Joe? For the sake of the community, just so they are prepared.”

  “No,” Joe laughed.

  “Joe, this is a serious matter,” Jenny stated firmly. “Don’t you think people should be ready in case things fall apart? “

  ”Fall apart?”

  “It happened before. It can happen again. You know it. When it happened before, things got destroyed.”

  Joe nodded slowly. “True. But, Jenny, come on, don’t you think that’s over reacting?”

  “No, I saw it first-hand yesterday. I was with them down at the cryo-lab. I was there. I know. Things will fall apart.”

  “See, Pap, see,” Billy said.

  “Do you know about it, Billy?” Jenny asked.

  “Not much. I saw enough to concern me,” Billy answered. “What if it escapes and becomes a major split?”

  Jenny gasped.

  “Hold your horses.” Joe held up his hand. “The possibility of that is slim, very slim.”

  Jenny bobbed her head side to side. “Dean did say there wasn’t much of a chance of that happening. I asked.”

  “You asked?” Joe questioned.

  “Yes, it worried me, Joe. Even if it’s minor, imagine the impact it could have. It could very well shake up the community if things fall just a tad. You’re talking Security issues, medical, all concerns . . .”

  “I get your drift.”

  “Good. I just think the community might want to be prepared.”

  “You want to be the one to do this?” Joe asked.

  “It wouldn’t be easy. People may not want to believe it. But . . .” Jenny let out a sigh. “I would take the responsibility of spreading the word.”

  “You know what?” Joe sat back. “That might not be a bad idea. Maybe if the word gets out, it might bring Dean and Frank to their senses and they may try to halt the problem if they see another one coming.”

  Jenny nodded. “I’ll get on it right away.”

  “Good, and while you’re getting on that, can you get my grandson to school. Dean and Frank are on their way up for me to discuss this very problem and I’d rather not let them see you two.”

  “Right away, Joe.” Jenny held out her hand. “Come on, Billy.”

  With a slight scoff, Billy looked at her hand, “I’d rather not.”

  Jenny gave a scolding look.

  “I’ll just walk with you instead.” Billy stood up. “Thanks, Pap. I knew you’d handle this.”

  Joe winked and smiled. He waved when they walked out of his office, shaking his head in wonder.

  The ‘hold-on’ back hand Frank ejected at Dean to stop him from going further, nearly knocked the breath from him.

  “God, Frank.” Dean coughed. “What?”

  “Billy.”

  “What about him?” Dean asked.

  “Look.” Frank pointed, “Jenny’s walking him. He must have tried to skip school again.” Frank continued toward Joe’s office. “Man, where does he get that from? Not from me. He had to get it from you. I made the best out of my education.”

  “What!” Dean laughed. “And I didn’t? I’m a scientist, asshole.’

  “Hey, names.” Frank knocked on Joe’s door.

  “Come in,” Joe yelled.

  “Dad?” Frank stepped in first. “You wanted to see us?”

  “Shut the door.”

  Frank did.

  Thump.

  “Ow.”

  “Whoops.” Frank opened the door. “Sorry, Dean.”

  Dean walked in, rubbing his nose. “And you wonder why I just called you an asshole.”

  “When?”

  “Out there.”

  “Did I?” Frank asked.

  “Did you what?”

  “Wonder.”

  “Wonder what?” Dean questioned.

  “Enough!” Joe interrupted. “Sit.” He pointed to the two chairs.

  Frank sat down first. “Is this about Billy cutting school?”

  “No, not really. It has something to do with Billy, but not that.” Joe hesitated. “I feel really stupid bringing this up.”

  “As well as you should.” Frank nodded.

  “Frank!” Joe snapped. “I didn’t say it yet.”

  “Oh.”

  “Okay, back to my thought. Billy is worried. He’s getting upset because you two have been . . . you’ve been fighting weird.”

  Frank looked at Dean. “Are we fighting differently?”

  “You’ve been a little more on edge,” Dean answered.

  “True.” Frank shrugged. “It’s Ellen being out of town but I don’t think we’re being any different.”

  “No,” Joe tried again. “He says you guys are saying things that aren’t normal. He said something about discussing feet?”

  “Oh!” Frank laughed. “I remember.”

  “You do?” Dean asked.

  “Yeah, last night. He walked in right when you said you wanted to suck my toes.”

  “Yeah, I remember.” Dean laughed.

  “Holy Christ!” Joe said. “He heard that?’

  Dean shook his head with a smile. “He has impeccable timing.”

  Frank laughed. “It was funny.”

  “No!” Joe yelled. “It’s not funny. He doesn’t need to hear that nor does he need to hear you two fight about dinner.”

  “No.” Frank lifted a finger. “We don’t fight about dinner. I get a little mad after dinner.”

  Dean added, “No, you bitch, Frank.”

  “I do not,” Frank said, offended. “I just am stating fact.”

  “What fact is that?” Dean argued.

  “You don’t appreciate me.”

  “What!” Dean blasted.

  “Boys . . .”

  “No, Dean, I cook, I clean, I do all that. Can you ever come home, appreciate the hot meal waiting for you, and say thanks?”

  “I do.”

  “No, you do not.” Frank shook his head. “You’re never on time either. Can you ever be on time?”

  “I’m sorry. I have a community to cure.”

  “Boys.”

  “And I don’t have a community to protect/ We all have responsibilities, Dean. You can try to have dinner with us for once. When you don’t, I leave a nice plate waiting for you on the stove too.”

  “Boys . . .” Joe tried to intervene.

  “I always say thanks,” Dean stated.

  “Do you complement my meals and tell me they’re good? No.” Frank said strongly. “You know I would like to come home one day and find the house clean and food cooked.”

  “But I bathe those kids,” Dean defended. “I do bath and bed time.”

  “Ha!” Frank blasted. “You leave soap in their hair.”

  “I do not!”

  “Boys!” Joe screamed his loudest. “Listen to you two. Now, I don’t know if you are aware, but the entire community is concerned about this. They think this is a major issue.”

  “Fuck them,” Frank said. “It’s none of their fuckin business. How do they know anyhow?”

  Dean scoffed and shook his head.

  “What?” Frank asked.

  “If they know, it’s because you run around telling everyone our business. You whine,” Dean complained.

  “I do not.”

  “Do too. You whine. Like a woman.’

  “You lie!” Frank gasped. “I may bitch, not like a woman, but I bitch.”

  “To people in the community.”

  “Boys.”

  “To my men. They know. They say I shouldn’t do all I do for you.”

  “Please,” Dean snarled. “What do they know?”

  “Boys.”

  “They know you don’t appreciate me.”

  At that point Joe gave up and in usual fashion, just plopped his head to the desk with a whispering ‘why, why, why’.

  ^^^^

  Elliott believed there was something so artistic about using a quill pen. Of course, it was no longer known as the quill pen. It had since been revived
and renamed, like everything, the ‘Hoi Feather-tipped’. One, because Danny was the one who made use of those feathers other than stuffing pillows and two, Danny made the ink.

  Ink Elliott liked.

  It took him awhile to learn the art and technique, but he had it down pat. With the special pen, the special paper, and his early morning coffee, Elliott found a table off to the side in the mess hall where he sat alone. He was engrossed and focused on what he wrote.

  Dear Ellen,

  Eloquently written, Elliott smiled, dipped, and wrote.

  It is now day two since you’ve left. Of course, it’s been some time since . . .

  Elliott paused not only to dip, but to look up slightly at the scuff noise. He continued . . .

  you have spent an extended time at home. I can’t wait until you return for good. I . . .

  Stop. Look. Dip.

  . . .fully understand your responsibilities as a doctor but I miss those times when . . .

  Again, another pause. Only this time, after he peered to his left, then dipped, Elliott huffed.

  . . . you and I can schedule some time together alone. Our talks . . .

  Elliott brought a deep breath through his nostrils, placed the pen in the ink, slammed his hand slightly, and looked to his right.

  Hal, who had been pacing left to right, looked over Elliot’s shoulder and stopped. He grinned.

  “Captain . . . is there something you need?”

  “Have I missed something, Elliott?” Hal asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, has the postal service rekindled.”

  “No. Why?”

  “You’re writing a letter to a woman a thousand miles away.”

  “Yes. So?” Elliott snapped.

  “How do you suppose she will get it?”

  “Captain, I will hand it to her when she returns,” Elliott told him. “It is my way to tell her things when she is not here.”

  “I see. So why not wait until she returns home and tell her all at once. Good God, won’t that be a missed opportunity at quality . . . time.”

  Elliott turned in his seat. “I would say something about that comment but why did you accentuate the word ‘time’?”

  “You did.”

  “Excuse me?” Elliott was lost.

  Hal breathed out and sat down. “Perhaps it is the writer in me. I don’t know, but . . . you used the word time, or a derivative of, four times.”