The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Read online

  Silence.

  Humbled.

  Frank nodded once. “I’m sorry. You’re right.” He exhaled. “Be careful. Ok?”

  “I will.” Ellen stepped back.

  “El, wait.” Frank looked around, and then kissed Ellen quickly. “Be back before dark. It gets dangerous.”

  Ellen nodded, turned, and walked away.

  “I mean it.” Frank watched. Ellen had waved, joined Dean, and kept on going. Frustrated, he shook his head and stood there.

  Dairy, Ohio

  They were still there as Frank predicted, feisty, ornery and still bickering. But Joe and George didn’t mind their little visit to the three farmers in Dairy. In fact they were enjoying it, along with the fresh corn on the cob they served. They felt somewhat guilty for leaving Henry in the van. But they didn’t want to frighten their agricultural prospects.

  Joe felt stuffed. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and tossed it on the table. “That was excellent.” He huffed out a breath. “Now back to what we were saying. Right now, we’re gearing up to go check out the place.”

  Dirk sucked the corn from his teeth loudly as he spoke. “Are we one of them supply runs you mentioned?”

  George tilted his head with a smile. “You could say that.”

  “Now see.” Dirk pointed. “Here’s where I’m lost. You were the president. Ya think you’d thought of farmers.”

  “I did.” George said. “Well, agricultural experts. But, they died.”

  “Killed them did ya?” Dirk snickered.

  “Aw, Dirk.” Thelma whined “Why ya have to be like that to the man. Have some respect.”

  “Thelma.” Dirk snapped. “He ain’t the president no more. If he is, he got himself a sorry country and no one to vote. Probably win again.”

  Stan, the quiet one, finally spoke up. “I don’t think these men are here to listen to you two fight. They need an answer.”

  Thelma grumbled. “Got our own crop to worry about. How we gonna go all the way to Montana and run our fields here.”

  Dirk’s hand slammed on the table in annoyance. “Aw hush now, Thelma, you ain’t in that much of a stupor now are ya to think they’re gonna make us commute back and forth. Geez, Woman.”

  Joe hid back his laugh. “Actually, we want you three to live in our community. We’re trying to rebuild civilization ... eventually.”

  Thelma shook her head. “Don’t count on me having no children. I did that.”

  “Fifty million years ago,” Dirk insulted. “Can we leave her behind?”

  George turned to Joe with a look that all but said, ‘are we doing the right thing?’ But the three knew how to farm, and, eccentric or not, what they knew of farming was more than anyone sitting in Ashtonville. They needed them. And at very least, the three would be entertaining.

  Ashtonville, Connecticut

  William was surprised when he opened his front door. “Frank?”

  “It’s six-thirty.” Frank said in a not-so-happy manner.

  William glanced down to his watch. “That it is. Thank you. I was wondering if my watch was incorrect. Come inside.” William opened the door wider and Frank stepped in.

  “No, I’m not here as official time keeper. Where is your son?”

  “He’s not here.”

  “Did he get back?” Frank asked.

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Fuck. It’s almost dark. He has Ellen.”

  “I believe Ellen went with him.”

  “Still it’s …” Frank stopped when Andrea walked in to the living room from another area of the house. She held a plate of food. “Man, you make your rounds.”

  “Pardon me?” Andrea questioned, confused.

  Frank shook his head.

  William decided to clarify. “Frank is a bit concerned about Dean not returning.”

  Andrea waved out her hand. “Oh, I’m sure he’ll be here shortly. Why are you worried about Dean? He’s a big boy.”

  “Not Dean,” Frank replied. “Ellen.”

  “Well, she’s fine, Frank. She’s with Dean.” Andrea smiled.

  William cleared his throat. “I believe that’s what concerns Frank.”

  “Oh.” Andrea nodded. “I’m sure Dean can take care of her. Plus, Frank, Ellen’s been through …” Andrea sighed, “quite a tragedy. She needs someone right now to take her mind off of things.”

  “She has me.” Frank said.

  “Yes, but you have Johnny. Ellen needs someone on a different level. From what she has told me, she’s not had a very good life with her husband. Maybe she needs a different type of companionship.”

  “She got that from me for years.”

  Andrea smiled politely. “But that’s different, Frank.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  “Yes, it is. You … you were married.” Andrea nodded.

  “And … your point is?” Frank asked.

  Andrea’s mouth dropped open in her speechless state. She inhaled, looked at William, and then cleared her throat. “I’m going in the other room.” She turned and walked out.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Frank asked.

  William took Frank by the arm. “Nothing. Just like there is nothing for you to worry about. In fact, they probably returned and just didn’t tell me,” William said as he led Frank to the door.

  “You might be right. I’ll check the clinic.”

  “You do that.”

  “Thanks.” Frank opened the door.

  “Oh, and Frank, if they aren’t back, I’m sure they’re close to pulling into Ashtonville now. Ok?” When he received a nod from Frank, William smiled politely and bid him goodnight. He closed the door.

  “Is he gone?” Andrea asked.

  “Yes, it’s safe.” William said.

  “Are you worried about Dean and Ellen, William?”

  “Not at this moment.” William replied. “I worry about when they return.” He glanced back at the door in reference to his concerns over Frank.

  ^^^^

  Ellen sat perched upon a large rock. Her knees bent up close to her chest, and her arms folded around them. She stared out into the ocean as a slight breeze came back to her, blowing softly though her hair. The last of the day’s light reflected off the water, giving it a silent, shimmering appearance.

  “Hey.” Dean called from behind. “We’re all done, are you hungry?”

  “Starved.”

  “I’ll be back.” He ran to Joe’s SUV which sat poised above them and returned a few moments later. “Here.” He held wine glasses in front of her. “Hold these.”

  Ellen took them. “You brought wine?”

  “Well.” Dean sat down next to her, he had a brown bag. “I brought dinner.” He pulled the bottle of wine from the bag, put it between his legs, and opened it. “Hold the glasses.” He began to pour it.

  “Dean?”

  “Yes?”

  “You weren’t like counting on some romantic interlude, were you?” Ellen joked and nudged him.

  “No.” Dean began to blush. “Stop. You’re embarrassing me.”

  “We did have that moment of weakness in Doc Breyer’s lab.”

  Dean inhaled then released the breath in a heavy sigh. “I know.”

  “It wasn’t bad.” Ellen whispered.

  “I … know.” Dean winked. “But you and I discussed that and …”

  “Frank.”

  “Frank.” Dean said. “Tonight, though, I knew that the beach would be the last stop we would make, and I thought it would be a nice change of pace to have dinner here, that’s all. Honestly, I’m not trying to …”

  “Seduce me?”

  “No,” Dean sat the bottle down and took his glass from Ellen. “Get killed while trying to seduce you.”

  “Frank.” Ellen shook her head and peeked in the bag. “So … what did you bring?”

  Dean smiled. “Here, hold my glass again.” He handed his wine to Ellen then opened the bag and reached in. “We have bread.” He placed the two sma
ll loaves between them. “Smoked sausage, processed cheese, that stuff lasts forever. I also have olives, and pudding for desert. Complete with utensils.”

  “Mustard?”

  “Little packets.” Dean held them up.

  “My goodness, Dean. It’s a beach picnic.”

  “I tried.”

  “This is very nice, thank you.” Ellen spoke softly resting her head against her knees.

  “You’re welcome.” Dean stared at her for a second, reached out his hand, and ran the back of his fingers gently down her face. He smiled with a shivering breath and returned to getting their dinner ready. “Anyhow . . . I figure we would need something nice after visiting New York.”

  Ellen cringed. “That was awful. Of course, we didn’t get into the heart of it, but we were close enough. It was like something from out of a science fiction movie.”

  Dean handed Ellen her sandwich. “I have news for you; life right now is something from out of a science fiction movie. Eat up.”

  “Thanks.” Ellen began to eat but suddenly turned to stare at the ocean.

  “El?” he snapped his finger before her. “Something wrong.”

  “No, uh, why?” She returned from the daze and took a bite.

  “I lost you for a moment.”

  “Oh, it’s nothing.” Ellen continued to eat. “I was just remembering how many times I used to bring my kids out here, they loved it. I always hated all the sand and the mess. Now what I wouldn’t give to do it just one more time.”

  “What I wouldn’t give to have done it once.”

  Ellen looked at him. “What do you mean? Haven’t you ever been to the ocean?”

  “Oh, sure.” Dean stretched out his legs. “I don’t mean that. I mean, you know, to have a kid, and watch him or her play, to have that child look at you like no other person ever could. Hold your hand, say they love you and really mean it. That’s something I never had and probably never will. I’m sorry, am I being insensitive?”

  “No, not at all. Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “Making me feel fortunate for having that instead of sorry for losing it.”

  “Well, you’re welcome.”

  There was a silent moment, and then Ellen turned to him. “Dean? Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Yesterday, I was going through a lot of my kids’ things. Pictures. Poems they wrote. Stuff like that. Just looking and remembering. Getting a smile here and there, instead of sadness.”

  “That sounds nice.”

  “It was. Anyhow, I started …” Ellen paused. “Never mind. This is gonna sound silly.”

  “What? What is?”

  After hesitating, Ellen continued, “I was thinking about something. I want your opinion on two things.”

  “Shoot. What are they?”

  “Be honest with me. I was thinking that I don’t want to spend the rest of my life without a child. Eventually, maybe even soon, I’d like to have a child.”

  A peaceful look smoothed Dean’s face. “That unconditional love and the look that only a child can give to his parents.”

  “Exactly. I mean nothing will ever replace Taylor and Josh. But to fill emptiness in my life, a child could. So do you think I’m wrong for thinking that, and do you think it’s too soon to think that?”

  “No, Ellen.” Dean shook his head. “There’s no normal time frame on anything because there’s no normal anymore. Plus, what better incentive to survive and move on than to have someone depend on you and love you so much.”

  Ellen gave a gentle smile. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. So … what does Frank have to say about that?”

  After a flutter of her lips, Ellen chuckled. “I didn’t say anything to Frank. Not yet. I wanted to get the opinion of someone who wouldn’t base it on a preconceived notion of who I am.”

  “That’s an odd comment.”

  “Well, think about it. Frank’s known me forever. He’ll base his opinion of my wanting a child on the woman he knew before the plague.”

  “Is the pre-plague Ellen that different from this Ellen?”

  “How can she not be?”

  Dean stared for a moment. “True. Then I guess I’m getting to know this one.”

  “That makes two of us.” The wind blew and Ellen shivered.

  Dean saw this. “You’re cold. It is getting chilly. You wanna head home?”

  “Am I boring you?”

  “No, I love the dinner and conversation. It’s just that it’s …” Dean nodded and shivered.

  “Cold.” Ellen chuckled. “Hey, I got an idea. I’m not ready to head back yet. Not just yet. How about …” She looked behind her.

  “The truck?” Dean asked.

  Ellen nodded.

  “Sounds great. We can see the ocean and be warm. Let’s go,” Dean said.

  They didn’t waste time. Quickly they gathered up the items and moved them to Joe’s SUV. They stayed at the beach for a long time finishing their meal while watching the ocean, sometimes silent, sometimes talking about their childhoods.

  After Dean and Ellen finished, they packed up and headed back, taking it very slow on the dark roads. It took them longer than they would have liked to get home. But with no electricity, there were no road lights. By no means was it entirely late when they returned, just dark. After they unloaded the supplies into the clinic, they returned Joe’s SUV, parking it in front of the house where Joe lived.

  Dean turned the key, shutting off the ignition. “I’ll run these up to Frank.” He clutched them in his hand.

  “I can do that.” Ellen said and took them. “If he’s up, he’s probably expecting me to stop in.”

  “Yeah, probably.” Dean lowered his head. “Um . . .” His hand tapped on the steering wheel. “Good job today.” He looked at her.

  “Even though it was work, I had fun.” Ellen gave a half smile. “Dean? I appreciate after the work part was done that we talked about things. I want you to know that. Ok?”

  “Ok.” He reached for the door handle.

  “And.”

  Dean stopped in his reach.

  She was silent.

  “And?”

  “And...” Ellen turned in her seat to face him. “And you didn’t have to be so nice tonight. You took my mind off of things for a little while.”

  “I’m glad,” Dean said quietly.

  “Yeah, me too. I want you to know.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll uh, I’ll always remember tonight. Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  She leaned over to him, kissing him on the cheek. But Ellen didn’t pull back as quickly as she darted in. Slowly, she inched away, then she and Dean locked into a quiet stare.

  But that was all that happened. Frank’s hand hit the door causing both of them to jolt. After a chuckle, Ellen quickly opened the car door. “Frank, you scared me.”

  “Good.” Frank tried peeking into the car. “What was going on?”

  “Oh, we were just saying goodbye.”

  Frank stared as Dean stepped from the car.

  “In fact,” Ellen said. “I was just bringing...”

  “Where have you been?” he asked loudly.

  “What?” Ellen laughed some. “Ok, I’ve been out with...”

  “This is not a joke, El. Don’t you realize that things are a lot different out there? It’s dark.”

  “Frank, I know...”

  Dean closed the car door, approaching the two. “What’s up?”

  “What’s up?” Frank looked at him. “Let me ask you a question, Dean. While you had her out there running around doing air samples or what have you, did you even think to bring any type of protection? A weapon?”

  “Of course I did.” Dean blew off Frank’s attitude. “I brought a revolver.”

  “Do you know how to use it?”

  Dean chuckled. “I should hope I do. I’ve been in the Army for ten years.”

  “Then the Army didn’t teach yo
u jack shit,” Frank blasted him. “Do you not realize we don’t have any idea what’s left out there? Didn’t it occur to you that you shouldn’t be running around all over the place let alone when it’s dark out? You should have ...”

  “Hey!” Dean raised his voice at him. “Who in the hell do you think you’re talking to? I’m not some peon of yours. I’m not some idiot who doesn’t know anything. I don’t . . .” Dean raised his hand as he calmed himself. “I don’t appreciate you speaking to me like that. And I don’t appreciate you insinuating I can’t take care of myself or Ellen.” He stepped back. “Goodnight, Ellen. Thanks for all your help today.”

  Ellen looked at Frank then followed Dean. “Dean, wait.” She caught up to him. “I’m sorry about Frank.”

  “Don’t apologize for him.” Dean shook his head.

  “Please understand that he’s going through a bad time right now, all right?” She folded her arms.

  “Yes, well, so are you.” Dean raised his eyebrows and stared at her for a moment. “I’m letting it go. Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you in the morning?” His hand rested comfortingly on her folded arms. “Bright and early? We have a lot to start on.”

  “Bright and early.” Ellen watched Dean place his hands in his pockets as he turned and walked slowly away. She shifted her eyes to Frank who moved right next to her. Calmly she faced him. “Goodnight, Frank.”

  “El, wait.” He took hold of her arm. “I just worry.”

  “Worry about what?” Ellen pulled away abruptly.

  “Losing you.”

  “That’s absurd.”

  “You think?”

  Ellen paused.

  “El, come on.” Frank stepped to her “You spend so much time with him. I know you guys created this bond when he was working on helping Taylor. I know this. That’s what scares me.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, Frank.”

  “You’re not acting like it.”

  “Frank … Where am I supposed to go? Huh? Do you actually think, after all these years, when we finally have a chance to be together the way we’re supposed to be, that I would … I don’t know … up and go to one of the few remaining other males.”