A New Order Page 10

  “Thank you.”

  “So, do you need to know anything?”

  “No. Not that I can think of, but I would like to hang out. I’ll take a break.”

  “Fantastic. Can you join Oliver and me for dinner.”

  “Yes, Yes, I can,” Dean said. “I would love that.”

  “Good.” William placed his hand on Dean’s back and led him away. “I made a wonderful crockpot concoction.”

  “I know.”

  “How?”

  “Um, Oliver told me. We have no secrets.,”

  Dean had no reason to tell his father he was at his house, or to tell him he had died years earlier. As he walked with his father, Dean absorbed it emotionally.

  It had been a long time since he walked with him, talked with him and spent time with William. Dean was going to enjoy every single second of having him back in his life.

  <><><><>

  It was an incredibly long day, and Henry was glad to see it come to an end. Actually, it was longer than any day in his life, considering he spent eight hours in Vegas. Henry was exhausted. He caught a small nap at Mechanics, but mostly he was awake and running around.

  He successfully avoided looking at the history comparison and would save it for after he got a good night’s sleep.

  When Joe called again to say the meetings were delayed indefinitely, Henry was glad. The only thing he had to do was get the vehicle ready for Jason, Catherine and Lars for the trip to Billings

  After leaving Mechanics, Henry stopped at the social hall. It was different, but he loved the changes. Marathon Bingo Saturday was a great change.

  He stayed, had some snacks, played a few games and won some Danny Bucks.

  But he was ready to go home.

  His legs hurt, his body ached, and by the time he walked in the front door, his boots were already off.

  He plopped on the couch, unable to move.

  He could smell the food cooking in the kitchen and he smiled.

  Hector had dinner started.

  It was Saturday and Henry’s day to cook, but Hector probably figured Henry would be too tired.

  He’d wait right there on the couch. In the meantime, he tilted back is head and closed his eyes.

  “Henry?” Hector called him.

  Henry opened his eyes and looked. Hector stood by the couch. “Hey,” Henry said.

  “Um, hey. What are you doing here?”

  “I was done. No meeting so here I am.”

  “Here you are,” Hector said. “Did I forget something?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Were we supposed to do something?”

  “Were we?” Henry asked. “Is that your passive aggressive way of telling me I forgot something.”

  “Wait. Stop.” Hector held up his hand. “I’m not … I … I’m confused. Why exactly are you here, in the house on the couch?”

  “I … live here?”

  “No, you don’t.”

  “I don’t?”

  “No, Henry, you don’t,” Hector said.

  “Aren’t we uh … you know … uh couple.”

  “I don’t think my wife would like that very much.”

  “Your wife?” Henry asked.

  “Hi, Henry.” Misha walked into the living room. “Are you here for dinner?”

  “Shit!” Henry jumped up. “I have to go. Sorry, but thanks. Sorry. Shit.” Henry raced out of the living room and straight from the house.

  NINETEEN

  They sat around the dining room table, coffee cups and some sort of cookie desert before them. William was relaxed, leaning back, legs crossed. “So, funny,” he said to Dean and Oliver. “Then when Oliver was six, you came home …” he lifted his head to the knock on the door.

  “Want me to get that?” Dean asked.

  “Please.”

  Dean placed down his napkin and walked to the door, opening it.

  Henry walked right in. “Oh, Dean you’re here. I was hoping you were.” He headed straight to the dining room.

  “Henry,” William said. “What brings you here.”

  “I’m starving, William do you have any food.”

  Oliver stood. “I’ll make you a plate, we have a ton left.”

  “Excellent, thank you.” Henry sat down.

  ‘Honestly, Henry,” Dean said. “Why are you here?”

  “I am not … home.” He raised his eyebrows. “I thought I would be, you know sitting on my couch, not in a place where Hector lived with Misha.”

  “Henry, my dad knows,” Dean said.

  Henry exhaled. “Oh Good. I’m homeless Dean. I don’t know where I lived.”

  “Where did you live before you messed up time?” William asked.

  “With Hector. But he’s married. Where do I live now?”

  Oliver put the plate of food before him. “You’re two rows down,” Oliver told him. “Third townhouse on right.”

  “Oh! So I was right next door, I can pretend I was drunk. And this looks good, thank you Oliver.”

  Oliver turned his head when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get that.”

  “Why am I so popular tonight?” William asked.

  “Maybe it’s your cooking,” said Henry. “This is really good.”

  Oliver opened the door. “Oh, shoot,” he said when Frank and Chaka stood there.

  “I’d rather not,” Frank said, walking in.

  Oliver laughed. “You’re funny, Frank, I forgot how late it was. I’m finishing up desert and I’ll be right with you.”

  “I’ll have some.” Frank walked toward the dining room with Chaka. “You know Chaka, right?”

  Oliver nodded and then, surprising Dean, Frank and Henry, spoke Chaka’s language.

  “Whoa,” Frank said. “How do you know that.”

  “My, son is a linguistic genius,” William stated. “Can learn any language in a day.”

  Dean scoffed. “Really.”

  “Dino, you aren’t the only genius in this family.”

  “I didn’t think there was even such a thing as a linguistics genius.”

  “There is. He is.”

  Frank set down a bowl for Dean. “Here I brought you some Chinese food.”

  “Thanks, Frank.”

  “My cooking isn’t good enough,” William asked Dean.

  “I didn’t know I was having dinner with you.”

  “I brought him take out,” Frank said.

  “You want something to eat, Frank, before we go?” Oliver asked.

  “I’m good. Go where?” Frank asked.

  “Where we always go Saturday night.”

  “Oh, yeah. That’s right and that would be …..”

  “Frank my dad knows,” Dean said.

  “Knows what?” Frank asked.

  “That we messed up time.”

  “Oh,” Frank nodded. “He knows everything?”

  Dean nodded.

  “Wow. Whoa. William.” Frank nodded. “I’m impressed. You’re being better with Henry than Dean was.”

  “Better with Henry than Dean … why?” William asked.

  “Why?”

  “Why?”

  “Because he …” Suddenly Frank was blasted with a mental message from Dean. “Man, Dean don’t scream.”

  William shifted his eyes to Dean. “He didn’t say a word.”

  “No, he did not,” Frank said. “Oliver are you ready to go?”

  “Frank,” William calmly said his name. “I am better with Henry because he ….”

  “Because he … because he … doesn’t have a son anymore. In fact,” Frank spoke fast. “He doesn’t have a kid anymore.”

  “I don’t?” Henry asked.

  “You don’t,” Frank said. “Apparently El is no longer the town slut. You two didn’t have an affair. No affair. No Nick.”

  Henry exhaled loudly. “Oh, thank God.”

  Everyone looked at him with a ‘What?’

  “Not that I don’t like him. I do. I love Nick, But oh my God, Fran
k can you imagine. Hector takes care of him for me. I don’t have Hector.”

  William quickly looked at Henry. “Why is Hector taking care of your son.”

  “They're like husband and husband,” Frank replied.

  “You’re gay in the other time line?” William asked.

  “I’m not gay. I just live with Hector and am in a relationship.”

  “Gay,” Frank said. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. What is wrong I don’t have Joey, I have a daughter Joline. And she is a brute. You know how all kids are kinda cute? Not her. Man.”

  “Frank,” William scolded. “That is my granddaughter. Joline is beautiful.”

  Frank chuckled once, then stopped. “Yes.” He cleared his throat.

  “Dean,” William said. “Say something, he is talking about your daughter.”

  “How can I say something?” Dean asked. “I haven’t seen her.”

  “Oh, here.” Frank pulled out his phone. “I took a picture.” He showed it to Dean.

  “Oh, yeah.” Dean nodded. “I can see it.”

  “Sad,” Frank said.

  Oliver laughed. “You guys are so funny. I’m ready Frank.”

  “Good. What are we doing?”

  “Working on your sermon. We do every Saturday.”

  “Oh, awesome. I have like fifteen seconds started already.”

  “That’s more than normal.” Oliver kissed William on the cheek. “I won’t be late.”

  Dean stood as well. “I have to get back to work. Thank you, dad. This was great.”

  William nodded.

  Dean walked to the door with Frank, Chaka and Oliver and looked back once more at William before he left.

  William stared at Henry. “Why are you still here?”

  “Where else am I supposed to go?”

  “Maybe home. To your wife Lyla.”

  “I … I have a wife?”

  William nodded. “Beautiful woman. Probably home worried sick and pacing the floors waiting on you.”

  “I have a wife?”

  “Yes.”

  Henry jumped up. “Thanks William for the food. I have to get home.”

  William watched as Henry flew out the door and then he sat back.

  Peace at last. Even though he wanted to be a fly on the wall when Henry raced into his house and realized there was no wife named Lyla.

  TWENTY

  “And it wasn’t very nice,” Henry said to Dean in the clinic lab.

  “A huh,” Dean replied, focusing on his work.

  “I’m serious, Dean.”

  “Henry did you get up at …” Dean looked at his watch. “Seven AM to complain about my dad.”

  “That and watch Frank’s sermon. It’ll be on every television.”

  “So I’ve heard. Won’t this town be surprised that he’d not the highly religious Frank they’re used to.”

  “Oh, I think he’ll pull it off. Just like your father pulled off that lie.”

  Dean exhaled.

  “No, Dean, don’t huff. I believed him. I went home. I wanted to meet my wife. I was so excited. And do you know what I found?”

  “No, what?”

  “Richie.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Yeah, Dean, he’s my room mate.”

  “What do you want me to do about it?” Dean asked.

  “He’s your father. You have to say something to him.”

  “Okay, I will.”

  “Thank you.” Henry’s hand dropped to the counter and he stood. “That’s all I wanted.” He walked to the door and stopped. “Dean, do you know anything about this time trip Lars and Catherine are taking?”

  “Just that they’re getting antibiotics,” Dean replied. “They should be back soon. Are you worried?”

  “A little. I mean, they didn’t get history discs, they didn’t take Jason, hell they didn’t even take a time assurance with them. You know, like me.”

  Dean peered at Henry through the tops of his eyes. “And we all know how well someone like you assured no changes in time.”

  “Not fair.’

  “I call it like I see it, and Henry, honestly. They went to get Antibiotics from the past. Short trip. Back and forth,” Dean said. “Not everyone needs to play with the HG Well and traipse about in time, And if anyone will be straight forward and stick to the mission, it’s those two.”

  “So you think they just stuck to the plan, no time sight seeing.”

  “None. Trust me,” Dean said. “The thought probably never even crossed their minds.”

  <><><><>

  It was probably better to Catherine than anything she remembered, the vanilla flavor of hand packed ice cream. Even though Beginnings made it, it was nothing like the original thing. The popcorn as well. She geeked out over trying the first ice cream cone and cotton candy. Lars was more excited about the hot dog.

  They didn’t worry too much about getting sick, because in 1904 there really weren’t any preservatives. It was close to what they had in Beginnings.

  It was deemed the biggest, game changing World’s fair. So many inventions came out of it, that was why they decided to pay it a visit.

  They spent twenty dollars and back then, that was a lot of money. They picked up clothes from a museum and spent nearly four days in 1904, even had their picture taken.

  Then again, they wouldn’t show anyone.

  The weather was warm as they strolled arm and arm.

  “What would happen if we never went back?” Catherine asked.

  “Nothing,” Lars replied, “The future hasn’t happened?”

  “This is true.”

  “And … if we stayed, imagine, what we could do for diseases,” Lars said.

  “Children wouldn’t have to die,” Catherine said.

  “We could give advice on how to stop the great depression.”

  “The inventions here would be nothing.” Catherine stopped walking.

  “What? You’re not suggesting we stay, are you?”

  “Absolutely not. I’m a woman.”

  “Okay.”

  “I can’t even vote for another fifteen years.”

  “My God, you’re right. What do you say we enjoy one more round of food and head for those antibiotics.”

  “Yes. Beginnings is counting on us. Thankfully, we’re traveling through time,” Catherine said. “Nothing can get screwed up while we’re gone.”

  <><><><>

  Frank wasn’t dressed the way those in Beginnings usually expected him to dress as the town preacher during Sunday service. In fact, he didn’t dress up at all.

  He stood behind a podium at Hoi Studios, looking from his notes to the camera.

  Oliver sat in a directors chair, legs crossed, going over the script right along as Frank read it nodding with approval. It was something they had done since Frank was the moral authority in Beginnings

  “There will be a God searching party this week. We’ll all go out together to find God. During these troubled times, again ... what do we need to do?” Frank asked. “That’s right. Find God. We lost him. Okay, I get that. But we will find him again. I know it. Finding him within ourselves, which ... would be pretty difficult but stranger things have happened. I mean …”

  Oliver winced and shook his head. “Stick to the script,” he whispered.

  Frank gave a thumbs up. “Okay back to what I was saying. Oh, yeah, there it is. Redemption is a find away. Forgiveness is right there. The win to this great war that we face … is there if we find God. Find the truth when you find God. We can erase …” Frank paused and grinned, “Yeah we can. Erase the sins of the past. Okay.” Frank held up his hand. “Give me a second.” He turned around,

  “Frank, what are you dong?” Oliver asked.

  Frank faced the camera again and leaned into the podium. “So look at me. Really look at me. I need all of you to listen. You listening?”

  “Frank,” Oliver whispered and cringed again. Frank going off script was never good.

 
; “I suck,” Frank said.

  <><><><>

  Hal had just taken a sip of coffee when he spat it out involuntarily. “He what?”

  “Actually I don’t suck, Hal, does, but now that I have your attention,” Frank said. “I think you as Beginnings, Bowman, Jordan and all the places need to know somethings. I’m human. I know you think I am some sort of God. I am. But I’m not. I swear. Yeah. Fuck.”

  Hal’s eyes widened.

  “You know how we did that little time trip thing or maybe you didn’t know. We did a time trip thing.”

  “What is my brother doing?” Hal said to Elliott.

  “Captain, I have no idea.”

  “Dean screwed it up,” Frank said. “Henry too. You don’t know it, because to you it’s always been normal. But to us, everything is different. Some of you, didn’t even exist.”

  Hal stood up.

  “Captain, where are you going?” Elliott asked.

  “I am going to try to call someone to pull the plug on this.”

  “Don’t you want to know what he’s going to say.”

  “Of course, I do. But I worry more about the effect of what he wants to say is going to have.” Hal walked to his office door and left.

  “I tried,” Frank said. “I tried, you know to stop it.”

  <><><><>

  “Jesus Christ.” Joe winced when everyone that gathered in the hall watching, started mumbling and groaning. He went for a drink, but found it to be church. So he stayed, and snuck a drink.

  “Catherine didn’t exist,” Frank said. “We met her on the time trip. I said, ‘Dean, don’t tell her about the plague.’ But he did. She found a way to be safe and married Lars. Which is not a bad thing. I don’t think anyone else would marry Lars. And then Henry. I said, “Henry don’t sleep with that woman. She’s Dean’s mom. But the fucking 'what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas thing hit him.' The glitz, the glam, who the fuck knows.”

  “Oh my God.” Joe stood up from his seat at the bar and inched his way to the door.

  “And there you have Oliver. Sorry. Henry’s your dad.” Frank exhaled. “Man that felt good. Now I know you’re mad, but if you just look at me…”

  “Son of a bitch bastard.” Joe couldn’t listen anymore, he stepped outside. He was ready to kill Frank. Absolutely kick his ass. What was he thinking? He had to brace for the aftermath. A few steps away from the social hall he stopped.