The First Three Rules (20 page)

“The trouble you caused?”

“Yeah.”

“And they got away with it and sued? How is that even possible?”

“Small town, people stick together. Louis and Russell are both local boys with a lot of family. Besides, Rudy couldn’t testify.”

“Why not?”

“I asked Rudy what happened when he was in holding.” Ellis inhaled and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “He wet his pants. Right there, in front of me, he just pissed himself. You should have seen the look on his face. After that, there was no way I could ask him to relive that moment again.” Ellis leaned on the table. “If they ever locked Rudy up like that again, I don’t think he’d come out alive.”

“They won’t.”

Rest assured those two cops would never bother Ellis or Rudy again.

“Are you serious?” Jon stood from his seat on the couch.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re supposed to be resting.”

“I have been resting
.
” It seemed like all Ellis did was lay around, watching cartoons, sleep and eat. There were a few other things. Thinking about them made Ellis blush. He took his keys out of his pocket. “It’s seven miles. I’ll be fine.”

“You’re not driving.”

“I have to go to the store, we’re out of milk.” Among other things. Jon had to eat and Ellis was used to shopping for two people. What should have lasted two weeks, had been depleted in half that.

“Then I’ll drive.” Jon walked over and plucked the keys from his hand.

Ellis took them back. “You’ve been doing everything for me for days.”

“Then one more day won’t hurt.”

“We won’t all fit in the truck.”

“My car seats four.”

“Where are you going to stick the groceries?”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but it also has a trunk.” Jon stole the keys. “Let me get my shoes.”

It was senseless to argue. Jon
always
got what he wanted. Ellis forced the thoughts about the past nights from his head, otherwise he would have more than a blush to deal with. “C’mon Rudy, we’re going to the store.”

“But I like this part.”

“And you can watch it when we get back.” Thanks to the miracle of VHS they could watch it every day. They had watched it every day.

Rudy pulled one foot under him, then leaned forward on his knees.

“Some time today, Rudy.”

He stood and turned off the TV. “I need my coat.”

“It’s warm out, you don’t have to wear a coat.”

“What about a hat?”

“Hats are for winter time, like your coat.”

“But I like my hat.”

Ellis sighed and went to the closet. He dug out the bright blue stocking cap and gave it Rudy. Rudy grinned and put it on.

“C’mon Jon,” Rudy said. “We’re going to the store.” Ellis opened the door and Rudy headed for the truck.

“We’re taking Jon’s car.”

Rudy stopped a moment and stared at Jon’s car. He went over and opened the passenger door.

“I’m riding shot gun,” Ellis said.

Rudy closed the door and got in the back.

“You ready?” Ellis said. Jon finished stomping on his shoes. Ellis started out the door, but Jon pulled him back in. He cupped the back of Ellis’s head, pressed their mouths together and thrust his tongue deep.

Ellis panted against Jon’s lips. “Does that mean you’re breaking your vow of celibacy?” The blow jobs were nice, Jon’s hands on him were nice, but it had been nothing like the feel of the man inside him a couple of days ago.

“I wanted you to be able to sit down.”

“I’m fine.” He’d been tender the next morning but it was worth it.

“We’ll see.”

Ellis opened the door and they headed down the steps. When they got to the car, Rudy had a box in his hands and little white packages were all over the seat and floor board.

“Rudy?”

“I didn’t touch it!”

Ellis squinted at the mess, and then the box in Rudy’s hands. “Jon?”

He stood by the driver’s side door, fumbling with the keys.

“Why do you have tampons in the back of your car?”

Jon closed his eyes and his cheeks reddened. “Just get in.”

Ellis did. “You still haven’t explained why you have tampons in your car.” He bit his lip trying to cap the grin expanding on his face.

“I’ll explain later.”

Ellis put on his seat belt, then looked back to make sure Rudy was buckled in. He held a mangled tampon in his hand.

“What are you doing?” White cotton bits stuck to Rudy’s lips. “Jesus, Rudy are you eating those?”

“No.”

“Put it down.”

“But I like candy.”

“Those aren’t candy. Put it down.”

Rudy dropped it on the floor board.

“Now don’t touch them again.”

“Okay.”

Ellis turned back around.

From the backseat, Rudy said, “It wasn’t very good candy.”

Jon stared out the windshield like a man trying to ignore the world.

“Thanks to you, my brother is eating tampons.”

Jon started the car.

“You have some serious explaining to do.”

The blush was gone from Jon’s face by the time they arrived at the super store. It returned when Rudy got out of the car and half the box of tampons came with him. “Uh oh.” He stared down at the white packages.

Jon stopped at the rear bumper and clenched his eyes shut.

“C’mon, Jon,” Ellis laughed. “Don’t you want to help clean them up?”

The face Jon made was painful.

“I’ll do it.” Rudy picked up the tampons. When he’d tossed in the last one, he shut the door. “See. I told you I could pick them up.”

Ellis gave Rudy a pat on the shoulder. “You did. Thank you.”

Customers flowed in and out of the sliding doors. Rudy headed for the exit and Ellis guided him to the entrance. They wove through a couple of buggies and passed by a family with a screaming infant. Ellis pulled Rudy off to the side.

“What are the rules?” Ellis said.

Rudy’s gaze followed a buggy full of toys.

“Rudy, pay attention.”

Rudy looked at him.

“What are the rules?”

He twisted his hands near his chest. “Don’t talk to anyone.”

“And?”

“Don’t wander off.”

“What’s the most important one?”

Rudy scrunched up his face. Someone walked past carrying a bunch of balloons. He tracked them with his eyes.

Ellis took Rudy by the chin and pulled his face back around. “What’s the most important rule?”

“Don’t touch.”

“Good job.”

Rudy grinned.

Jon walked over with a buggy. “You ready?”

Ellis was and, for the first time, he didn’t feel on the verge of a panic attack while in public. No, it was more than that, he felt safe. Not just for himself, but for Rudy.

What would it be like to wake up with Jon every morning, to have someone to share the good and the bad? To feel important? To be wanted?

In a week, Jon had made Ellis feel more alive than he could ever remember.

They headed down the canned goods aisle. “What’s that look for?” Jon said.

“What look?”

“The one you were just giving me.”

Ellis picked at a crack in the plastic covering the buggy handle. “Sorry, I was just thinking.”

“About what?” How on earth did Jon make such an innocent question sound so suggestive?

Ellis grabbed a few cans of soup and put them in the cart. Jon was still staring at him when he turned back around. Two could play this game. Ellis said, “So, about those tampons.”

Jon’s eyes widened. He grabbed the buggy and shoved it forward. Ellis jogged to catch up.

Rudy hovered near the stacks of tuna cans. “We need tuna. I like tuna. Do you like tuna, Jon? Ellis makes the best tuna sandwiches. He puts green chips in them and mayonnaise. And green chips. I said that already. Ellis, what are—”

“Sweet relish.”

Rudy nodded. To Jon he said, “Ellis puts sweet relish in the tuna and mayonnaise and…” He pointed at a row of jars on the other side. “Mushrooms.”

“Not today, Rudy. It’s not in the budget.”

“But I’m not allergic. Please. Please. We can put back the tuna and get mushrooms instead.”

Jon cocked a smile. “He must really like mushrooms.”

“You have no idea.”

Rudy bounced on his toes next to the row of jars. Ellis motioned him back over. The last thing they needed was clean up on aisle nine.

“But…”

“Rudy.”

The soles of Rudy’s tennis shoes scuffed against the floor. He stopped beside Ellis, gaze still on the mushrooms.

Jon raised his eyebrows and cast a look at the jars.

Ellis shook his head. “They’re too expensive. Rudy will eat the whole jar in a sitting.”

“No, I won’t.”

“Hush.” He put Rudy’s hands on the side of the buggy. “Keep them there.”

“But…”

“No. Now let’s go.” Ellis reached the end of the aisle before he realized Jon wasn’t behind him. He looked back just as Jon walked up. He held a large jar of mushrooms in each hand.

“I’ll make pizza.” He wiggled the jars. “With extra mushrooms.”

Rudy said, “Jon’s my best friend in the whole world.”

Ellis stopped Rudy from reaching for the mushrooms as Jon put them in the buggy. “Just because he’s putting them on the pizza, doesn’t mean you can eat all the pizza.”

“But I can eat the mushrooms.”

“On your slices.”

“How many can I have?”

“Two.”

“That’s not very many.”

Jon clapped Rudy on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ll put extra-extra mushrooms on your pieces.”

Rudy grinned so wide, it made Ellis’s face hurt to look at him.

They turned up the cereal aisle.

“Any particular kind?” Jon said.

“The kind with no marshmallows,” Rudy said.

“Really? Wh—”

Ellis put a hand on Jon’s arm. “Don’t ask. Please don’t ask. I’ll tell you later.”

“Okay. No marshmallows.” Jon grabbed a box. “How about these?”

“Nope,” Rudy said.

Jon looked at the box. “No marshmallows.”

“The box is yellow.”

“And a yellow box is bad?”

“I don’t like yellow.” Rudy took the box from Jon’s hands.

“Only the box is yellow not the cereal.”

“Then why is it in a yellow box?”

Ellis pinched the bridge of his nose. Why did buying a stupid box of cereal have to be so difficult?

“Here.” Jon picked up another box. “No marshmallows, no yellow box.” He showed Rudy. “Will this do?”

“Does it have a prize?”

Jon turned the box over. Before he could answer Rudy’s question, Ellis took the box and put it in the buggy. “Yes. It has a prize.”

“What kind?”

“The surprise kind.” Ellis put the yellow box back. Two older women flicked a look at him and then Jon. Ellis recognized their faces, but he didn’t know their names.

They exchanged whispers. The one with the beehive hair sneered.

Did they know? Was it that obvious? And did Jon notice how they stared? What if he did and he was ashamed? A knot formed in Ellis’s stomach.

“Ellis!” George Marsh headed up the aisle, smile on his face. “Good grief, it’s been months since I’ve gotten a chance to see you. I’ve been meaning to stop by and check on you and Rudy.”

Ellis had been twelve the last time he couldn’t look George in the eye.

Rudy bellowed George’s name and went right at him with his arms wide. At the last second, he put his arms down. “Most important rule. Don’t touch.” Rudy stuffed his hands in his pockets.

“A good rule to have.” George clapped Rudy on the shoulder. “You behaving yourself?”

“Yes.” He glanced at Ellis and bit his lip. “Most of the time.”

George laughed.

“Who’s your friend?”

For a second or two, Ellis had no idea who George was talking about, then he realized Jon had stepped up behind him. There was concern in his expression and he seemed to be sizing George up. And he did the same to Jon, only instead of suspicion, there was a glint in his eye, like he approved.

“This is Jon Foster,” Ellis said.” Jon, this is Sheriff Marsh.”

“Retired Sheriff.” He extended his hand and they shook.

“Ellis has said some good things about you.”

“What? Nothing bad?”

“Not yet.”

“Must be losing my touch. So, you new to Gilford?”

“Sort of. Moved here a almost three months ago.”

“Are you state patrol or a city cop?”

Jon’s eyebrows went up.

George waved a hand. “You got that look.”

“Look?”

“Yeah.” He laughed. “The one that says everyone is a potential suspect.”

“Actually, I’m a marshal.”

George’s mouth curled. “So you’re the guy who made Louis and Russell piss their boots.”

“Sorry?”

“Whole town is talking about it. Although, I suspect the version I heard was a bit embellished. Unless of course, you really did pick up their car and throw it at them.”

“Excuse me?”

George leaned in close to Ellis. “The hazards of getting the town gossip from your six year old grandson.” When he stepped back, he flicked a look over Ellis’s face. “You doing okay?”

“Fine. We’re fine.” Ellis tried hard to keep the tremor out of his voice.

“How’d you get the shiner and the busted lip?”

Before Ellis could make up something, Rudy said, “Lenny hit him.”

“That true?”

“It was just a misunderstanding.” Ellis tried to push Rudy back to the buggy.

Rudy dug his feet in. “But I like George. He’s my friend.”

“Just stand over here, okay?”

“Jon’s my friend too.” Rudy grinned at George. “Jon stays in Ellis’s room.”

“Rudy!” Ellis’s heart slammed in his chest and his face went so hot that his eyes watered. He squeezed Rudy’s arm.

Rudy’s face crumbled. “Ow.”

“Stand over there, now.”

“That hurts.”

Ellis squeezed harder. “Now, Rudy. And be quiet.”

“But…”

“Do it!”

Rudy shuffled up beside the buggy. Ellis wasn’t sure he could turn around. A husband and wife stood by the oatmeal. Both of them made a face and walked away. Did they hear? Of course, they did.

Jon put a hand on Ellis’s arm. He almost shook him off. This wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t even Rudy’s fault. He turned around, fully expecting the same kind of disapproving look from George. It wasn’t there.