ODDS OF LOVE

Episode Forty Four

Spencer sat in his wheelchair  outside on one of the rehab center patios , looking at the prettiest rose garden he had ever seen in his whole life. Yet he wasn't really seeing the flowers. He was too busy replaying the phone conversation with his father. The things his father had finally told him. Years too later. Or was it ? , he asked himself. Part of him didn't want to believe it. Yet a bigger part , the more rational part , the part that knew his mother sensed it was all true. 

That bitch. She stole his father. She stole his damn childhood. He hated her with every fiber of his being. 

His father had asked him and DuBuis and Luci to come to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving this year with him and ..... his wife. With his ..... stepmother. He had a stepmother. And two stepsiblings. His father was in Pennsylvania. His father did love him. He had always loved him. Andrew Norland hadn't abandoned him. Not really. 

Because of the damn chair Spencer didn't feel comfortable being in a strange house for the holidays so he had did something so out of the ordinary for himself. He should have asked his husband first. But before he knew what he was saying he had asked his father to instead come to Thanksgiving in Maryland. With him and his family. He had almost been expecting rejection but instead heard , " I would be so honored , son ". 

His cell phone rang. He looked down at it. Faith. " Yes ? , " he answered. 

" Spencer , don't want to panic you , " Faith said briskly , " but I got a 911 report from your house. Me and my partner are heading there right now. I tried to call DuBuis but he's not answering. I'll call you back when I know more. Keep the faith , bro. "

Spencer almost felt his heart stop. " What ? What's going on at my house ? , " he demanded to know. But it met deaf ears. His sister in law had already hung up. Faith Lane was in her police woman mode. 

He swallowed his sudden terror back harshly. His family....... He was about to dial his husband's number quickly when a warm and firm hand touched his shoulder from behind. He looked up and was astonished to see his brother Richard standing there , looking oddly concerned and sad in his expensive suit. Behind him was his secretary Nigel who was tapping on his own cell phone. Richard had not visited him in such a long time. Even before the accident. 

" What's happening at your house ? , " Richard asked. " Is everything alright , brother ? "

Nigel looked up from his phone and over at the  two brothers who stared at each other. His employer had asked him to come with him today and he didn't know exactly why. He felt slightly uncomfortable. It wasn't his place as an employee to be here in a family situation but he hadn't been able to say no. Nigel could never say no to this man. He really should just quit and go about his life. Forget the straight man he had fallen in love with. But he couldn't. He didn't think he would ever be able to.