ODDS OF LOVE : ONE MOMENT

Episode 36

This so called dinner was a mistake, Richard Norland thought as he helped Nigel put mustard on his hamburger. Any other time Nigel would have frowned upon the help , insisting that he could handle it, but Richard could see he was getting tired and with his dominant arm and hand in a sling maneuvering anything was a bit of a challenge for him. Richard knew how nervous Nigel had been about the dinner. His face and all. Richard didn't even see the burns anymore when he looked at the man but he could understand if they were off putting to others. Of course nobody's reaction was as bad as that of Joe Jacobs earlier. Even the older woman from next door and her grandson. They both had been shocked at seeing Nigel's appearance but to their credit they had recovered well. Although the boy was altogether too interested in Nigel's eye patch, asking nosy questions about what happened to his eye until his grandmother had hushed him up and Luci had distracted him with some new video game news she had seen online. But everyone else was very kind to Nigel especially Spencer which Richard was oddly grateful for.

Actually it was not a bad gathering, he relented mentally as he took a bite of a deviled egg. Even his first meeting with his father in forever. The man was older looking than his pictures on Facebook and seemed very gentle and shy. Like Spencer. He hadn't tried to hug him at least which Richard was happy about. Although Andrew's wife, his stepmother, Glory had almost suffocated him in an intense hug followed by several forehead kisses. She had been more gentle with Nigel because of his injuries and had even kissed him right on his burn marks. Richard didn't know how to take Glory. He wasn't used to public affection. Growing up Doris was not the most affectionate of parents. Although he did recall many hugs from their father, he thought as he watched the man discussing sports with DuBuis.

No. It was not that bad. Except for that woman.

DuBuis's sister Faith had shown up late and drunken. She smelled like she had taken a bath in gin. Nigel had stiffened when the woman had looked at him and laughed. He and Nigel had been the only one to witness the offense and Richard had allowed it to pass but if it happened again.......

Nigel was now telling everyone about the restaurant idea. He had been reluctant before when Richard had thought of it but gradually it had grown on him. Now Nigel was like a kid in a candy shop with unlimited money and it warmed Richard's supposed heart to see it. He made a mental note to call the real estate agent about that particular space. The sooner they got rolling on the project the better.

DuBuis was particularly interested in the restaurant especially when he found out that it was across from the Cafe J. Richard was surprised to discover that DuBuis and Jacobs had once dated. Not on Jacobs' part ; the man was a man slut after all. But he was stunned that DuBuis would have ever been interested in such a man. DuBuis joked that he and Spencer might have found their new future favorite restaurant. And Spencer even offered with a small smile his services doing the books if they needed. DuBuis told them to take the offer seriously because Spencer was already bored to death staying home since his shooting. And even when he returned to work at the college next semester teaching part time he would not be as busy as he was pre shooting.

" You mean the accident, don't you? ," Faith smirked as she ignored any and all food displayed on the almost groaning table on the deck in favor of a small silver flask she was not so discreetly sipping from. When she was not drinking beers from her brother's refrigerator. " That's what Spencer here calls it. The accident. Right, Math Boy ? "