The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20 Read online

  THE NEXT TEN

  Beginnings Series Books 11 – 20

  Jacqueline Druga

  The Next Ten

  Beginnings Books 11-20

  By Jacqueline Druga

  Copyright 2013, 2014, 2015 by Jacqueline Druga

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any person or persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Thank you so very much to Cindy P, Linda K., Kira and Bonnie for all your help with this collection

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  BOOK 11

  BOOK 12

  BOOK 13

  BOOK 14

  BOOK 15

  BOOK 16

  BOOK 17

  BOOK 18

  BOOK 19

  BOOK 20

  GLOSSARY ACCORDING TO FRANK

  IN RETROSPECT

  Beginnings Book 11

  Reflecting ...

  Once upon time, there was a little story, a story about a group of people who lived through a very tragic time. The world’s end. They were survivors who pulled together, rebuilt, and started their lives over. However, a few years are missing from the story. The building years. The years that made the people of Beginnings who they are. Explanations are needed and given. But just when you think you know the people of Beginnings so well, a crucial story error has occurred. Keep in mind, a few books back, it was Frank versus the Time Machine and Frank lost ... sort of.

  BEGINNINGS MONTANA

  October 2

  Present Day

  Robbie Slagel’s long thin fingers scratched then ran across his cropped, sweaty, messy blonde hair as he tried with diligence to keep the straightest of faces. His hand smeared the hard work dirt of his day across his face as his fist stopped before his tightly closed mouth. His eyes, glossy, stared with a squint to his big brother Frank as they sat in Frank’s security office.

  Frank gave an odd look, closing one of his dark eyes. He looked as if the world had delivered him a mystery. He bent his tall body down, looked under his desk, and then swiveled his chair quickly to the left and to the right. “Did you hear that, Robbie?” Frank placed his finger to his ear, pushing on it. “Kind of high, squawky and really annoying.”

  “Ha, ha, ha.” Dean Hayes stood next to Robbie with his arms folded. “Are you listening to ...”

  “There!” Frank tugged on his ear. “There it is again.”

  “Frank!” Dean snapped at him.

  Frank laughed and rocked back in his chair. “You know, Dean, I’m trying here. I’m trying not to embarrass you.”

  “Embarrass me?”

  “Yeah.” Frank nodded.

  “How do you figure, Frank?”

  “Well ...” Frank held out his hand. “You’ve obviously followed me in some sort of dependency need.” Frank rubbed his own chest. “I knew it would happen. It’s O.K., Dean.” Frank held out his hands. “We’re back in Beginnings. I’m still here to protect you.” Frank leaned into his desk.

  “You’re an asshole, Frank,” Dean quipped. “You keep forgetting I was the one who came out there after your big ass. But let me tell you something. You can’t pretend you don’t hear me.”

  “What?”

  “Really funny, but I want you out of my house,” Dean ordered. “Pack your things back up and get out. You cannot live there, Frank.”

  “Dean. I’m crushed. You invited me.”

  “I did no such thing.”

  “Did too.”

  “Frank!”

  “What?” Frank tried not to laugh.

  “This is not a joke.”

  Frank cleared his throat, shifted his eyes to Robbie and then back to Dean. “Living together is always serious. I like the house. I’m staying.” Frank cupped his hands behind his head and rocked back.

  Dean nodded his head, ran his fingers frantically through his dark blonde hair, and brought his hand down with a point. “Look ...”

  “Where?”

  “Frank.”

  Frank laughed. “Dean.” He stood up, towering over Dean. “I’m not going anywhere. I stay, so get used to it.”

  “You know, in that Frank pea size mind, you think it’s a perfect way to interfere in my and El’s marriage then ...”

  “It is,” Frank interrupted.

  Dean growled at him in anger. “It won’t happen.”

  “Already has.”

  “When.”

  “I’m living there.”

  “So.”

  “So you don’t think what happened yesterday between me and El won’t happen again.” Frank sat back down. “It will. How can she resist me?” Frank huffed out proudly and arrogantly to annoy Dean. “I am the love of her life.”

  “What happened yesterday, Frank?” Dean asked. “You came home.”

  “Dean, we had our little reunion.” Frank winked at Robbie.

  “You didn’t sleep with her, Frank.”

  “Did too.”

  “You did not. Ellen told me.”

  “She lied.”

  “Why would she lie?” Dean grew more irritated by the minute

  “To protect your Dean little-man sexual ego. She’s sensitive like that.”

  “And you’re being like this to piss me off.”

  “It’s working.”

  “No.” Dean held up his hand. “I won’t let it. In fact ...” Dean took a breath. “I’m not going to play this game.” Dean looked at Frank, who stared so smugly, rocking back and forth in his chair, then at Robbie who stared ahead, red faced. “Frank.” Dean calmed his voice. “You are more than welcome to stay at my home. In fact, my wife and I will be more than happy to have you.”

  “You mean ...” Frank pointed. “My lover.”

  Dean flashed a grin. “Whatever.”

  An interruption and a means to an end, the door to Frank’s office opened and Hal Slagel walked in. “Hey Frank, I’m here for the brothers meeting. Hi Dean. Are you staying?”

  Dean let out a short huff of a laugh. “No, Hal. I don’t believe I’m in the mood to be outnumbered and drown in a vat of testosterone produce by the over arrogant, over confident, oversized Slagel men of this community.” With a quick turn of his body and an air of hostility, Dean stormed by Hal, barged out of the office and slammed the door.

  Hal titled his head and looked curiously at the door. “What’s up with him?”

  “He hates you,” Frank stated.

  “He does not,” Hal argued.

  “Does too.” Frank rocked. “He was just in here saying, ‘God Frank, do something about Hal. He sucks.”

  Hal rolled his eyes and sat down in a chair next to Robbie. “You’re still starting trouble, Frank.”

  “Me?” Frank laughed. “Tell him, Robbie. Do I start trouble around here?”

  “Never,” Robbie answered.

  “See.” Frank held out his hand.

  Hal swayed his head. “And you’re still defending him.”

  “He doesn’t need to,” Frank said. “And ... just for your information, Hal. This isn’t a repeat of when we were kids. You can’t get me in trouble around here, so don’t think you can. People here love me.”

  Hal laughed. “I’m sure and besides, Frank, I’ve matured, unlike some people.”

  “Meaning?” Frank raised one eyebrow.

  “Meaning you,” Hal told him.

  “Now see, why would you say that?” Frank shook his head with an innocent look.

  “Well, for one thing.” Hal held up his hand. “Cole, a man in this community, just died an hour ago and you w
ere more concerned with finding a new home.”

  “Yeah. So.”

  “Yeah so?” Hal’s shook his head in disbelief. “So, should you show some remorse?”

  “Frank?” Robbie looked innocently up. “He’s right.”

  “He is.”

  “Shall we have a moment for Cole?” Robbie asked.

  “I think we should.” Frank folded his hands and looked at Hal. “A moment for Cole.”

  Robbie lowered his head. “A moment for Cole.”

  “Moment’s over.” Frank sprang his head up and grabbed a cloth sack. “Sunflower seeds.” He held the bag out to Robbie and Hal. “We have lots to catch up on.”

  Hal tossed his hands up in the air. “I give up.”

  Robbie reached into the sack. “Hey Frank. I’ve been practicing.”

  “Let me see.” Frank motioned his head up and grabbed the tin wastepaper basket, sliding it more toward Robbie. “Go on.”

  Hal looked in wonder at them as he watched Robbie shove a handful of sunflower seeds in his mouth. “What are you ...”

  Ping ... ping ... ping ... ping. Robbie spit the sunflower seeds in the trash can.

  Frank laughed loudly. “Man, that sucks. Watch the master.”

  Robbie nudged Hal. “Watch this. This is hysterical.”

  Loud, hard and rapid. It sounded like a machine gun when Frank released his mouth full of sunflower seeds into the tin wastepaper can.

  Robbie laughed with his whole body. “God, I wish I could do that.”

  Hal seemed aghast. “This is the skill our big brother has taught you? Robbie, please. This is not amusing. It’s foul. And you ...” Hal looked back to Frank. “You can’t find anything better to do than aim sunflower seeds into a trash can?”

  “Oh yeah. Sure I can.” Frank grinned.

  Hal closed his eyes when a wet sunflower seed landed on him. “Funny. Real funny, Frank. I thought this was a brothers get together, not a rehashing of old ‘pick on Hal’ times. No wonder Dean was so upset when he left here.”

  “Dean was upset because you came in.” Frank nodded. “I told you that. Besides, Dean has always been uptight since day one. Hasn’t he, Robbie?”

  “Yep. I like him though. But he’s always uptight. He has this thing about us.” Robbie shrugged.

  Hal shifted his eyes from brother to brother. “I suppose neither of you two ever did anything to upset him.”

  Frank closed his mouth and shook his head. “Never. Not in my recollection.”

  Robbie held up a finger. “Yeah. But Frank, your recollections are different than anyone else’s. Remember, you fucked up time.”

  “A little. Not much. It couldn’t have been that bad. You’re here.” Frank motioned his hand out.

  “True.” Robbie nodded. “And, in my recollection, Dean has always been uptight.”

  “Mr. Know it all,” Frank said.

  “Yeah.” Robbie agreed.

  “Pitiful,” Hal stated. “The man is a brilliant scientist and you two tear him apart.”

  Frank gasped dramatically. “We do not. Do we Robbie?”

  “No. Actually Hal, we treat him with the utmost respect,” Robbie explained. “He scoffs at our attempts at friendship and has since day one.”

  Hal just looked so offended. “Robbie, you’ll just say anything that Frank wants you to.”

  “I look up to Frank. He’s my hero.”

  “I’m his hero.” Frank grinned. “I have been since day one. In fact ...” Frank pressed his finger to his own temple. “Aren’t I everyone’s hero?”

  “Yep.” Robbie nodded. “Have been since ...”

  “Day one.” Hal finished Robbie’s statement. “Now are we going to catch up or are we going to praise Frank?”

  Frank laughed. “Praise me.”

  “I have to,” Robbie defended. “I missed him. He was gone a while.”

  “He was gone a month.” Hal snapped. “A month. I was gone for seven years and you don’t praise me.”

  “There you have it.” Frank held out his hand. “He didn’t miss you.”

  “I missed you, Hal.” Robbie reached out and patted Hal on the back. “We both missed you.”

  Frank smiled and spoke with seriousness. “Yeah, we did. It’s really great to be together again, isn’t it? And ... that’s why we’re here. To not only catch up, but just hang back and be brothers again. Because brother ...” Frank winked and leaned into his desk with a proud look. “It’s been a hell of a long time. Welcome to Beginnings. Or ...” He leaned back in his chair. “As many people call it around here ... Frank’s world.”

  BOOK ONE

  IN RETROSPECT ... THE FIRST YEAR

  The Arrival

  CHAPTER ONE

  August 20

  The Plane

  “Christ.” Joe complained, rubbing his eyes and adjusting himself in the seat of the plane.

  “What’s the matter, Joe?” Andrea asked as she glanced up from her Bible.

  “If I could have anymore of a headache, I’d swear I was having a stroke.”

  “Stress?”

  “You could say that.” Again, Joe shifted in his seat. “I have Ellen throwing up, Frank laughing because she’s throwing up, Dean getting irritated because Frank’s laughing, and Robbie who’s instigating. Not to mention, that this plane has been taking a nose dive every few minutes causing Henry to scream. This is not ... this is not a good start to our departure to our new home. Nor is it a sign of good things to come.”

  Andrea reached her hand over and tapped Joe on the knee. “Relax. Take a breath. It shouldn’t be much longer until we get there, Joe. Read with me.” She extended her Bible over his way.

  Joe shifted from the Good Book to Andrea. “No.” He swayed his head. “Excuse me.”

  “Sick?”

  “Yes and tired,” Joe grumbled as he moved up the aisle. The plane tilted drastically to the right, breeding a Henry scream. He paused when he reached the front of the plane where William sat alone, reading a book. “How do you do it?”

  William peered up. “Do what?”

  “Stay so calm all the time.”

  “Years of practice. I’ve learned to block everything out,” William told him. “Besides, I’ve got great incentive to stay calm.”

  “What’s that?”

  Lowering his half square glasses and peering over top, William shifted his body and pointed back to Dean. “You’ve not see it yet. That is so high strung. I just picture him in one of his hissy fits and I think to myself, do I want to look like that? No.” William shook his head and returned to sitting normally in his chair. “And I just calm myself right back down.”

  Joe immediately glanced back at Frank and shuddered. He let out a breath and laid his hand on William’s shoulder. “Thank you for the advice. I never thought of that. I will now.” He moved onward to the cockpit. Reaching for the door, he felt the plane shift to the left. Joe had to hold on. As he pushed the door open, he heard the sound of laughing children, Johnny and Denny. “George.” Joe tried to not really snap his name out.

  “Hi Joe.” George turned around.

  “Pap!” Johnny called out excitedly. “Look, George is teaching me how to fly a plane.”

  “Yeah.” Joe squinted and rubbed his eyes. “I see that.”

  “He’s doing well.” George smiled. “He’s gonna be the next generation’s pilot. I think I’ll really start teaching him next year.”

  “If we don’t crash in the mean time.”

  George laughed. “Were fine.”

  “You are. I understand you’re just trying to amuse the kids,” Joe said. “But unfortunately, Johnny’s ‘I’m a kid who’s flying a plane like my video game’ antics aren’t boding well with everyone back there. Can we just ease up on the tilting and nose diving, please?”

  “Sure, Joe.” George nodded.

  “Sorry Pap-Pap.” Johnny hunched.

  George turned back around in his seat after Joe had left. “Sorry about that, Johnny.”
/>   “That’s O.K.” Johnny sulked some in the chair, his hands reaching up and touching--barely touching--the copilot’s controls.

  “It probably was that last nose dive I did that did it. Don’t worry about it.” George patted Johnny’s knee. “We’re getting choppers. Now those things ...” George smiled. “Those things are fun.” He winked. “I’ll take you up in one.”

  “Promise?” Johnny’s face lit up.

  “Promise.” George smiled assuredly.

  <><><><>

  Miguel Sanchez was a burly man, but not as tall as he gave the appearance of being. He had been a truck driver for over twenty years with long salt and pepper hair he always kept in a ponytail. The three hours of the flight had been a quiet one for Miguel. Sitting alone, thinking of his family and a new beginning in Beginnings. But his nerves started to twitch within his stomach and, after the silence, he needed to speak to someone. He weighed his options as he looked around the plane. He could have gone and spoken to Maggie, a motherly woman but instead he chose Andrea. There was just something about Andrea that struck Miguel. It had since he first saw her. But like with every woman he encountered, every time he tried to talk, he became tongue tied. Miguel thought his English was bad enough as it was.

  Taking a chance that it was a closed-in place and, since Andrea had a window seat and couldn’t easily get up and run from him, he made his way to her. “May I sit?”

  “Certainly.” Andrea smiled and closed the book.

  “I know Mr. Slagel is sitting here.”

  “Oh Joe?” Andrea peeked up. “Looks like he’s speaking to William now. Sweet Jesus, I hope a calm man like William can get through to Joe. He is so uptight.”

  “Mr. Slagel has taken responsibility. I think he’ll be better when we get there. Don’t you?”

  “Hopefully.”

  “Enjoying your read?” Miguel pointed to the Bible.

  Andrea moaned with a nod. “Always. Actually I’m reading from the book of Lamentations.”