ODDS OF LOVE : ONE MOMENT

Episode 39

The tension on the deck lessened a little as Andrew almost dragged a drunken laughing Faith into the house. Spencer squeezed his husband's hand and whispered to him ," I'm sorry. "

DuBuis said," I'm the one whose sorry. She attacked you and your family and I just let her. "

Glory stepped behind him and tried to massage the mounds of tension from his broad shoulders. " Don't be so hard on yourself, DuBuis. You're only human. Let Andrew talk to her. He relates. "

Then she leaned over and whispered in his ear," They haven't diagnosed you yet, have they ? "

DuBuis closed his eyes and tried to block out her voice and that of his father calling him a failure from his head.

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In the living room Faith and Andrew stood facing each other like two gunslingers in an old movie western.

" You're an alcoholic," Andrew said quietly. His handsome tanned and life weathered face wore a compassionate expression.

" Fuck you. I ain't no drunk. Like you. I just drink sometimes. I can........"

" Stop," he interrupted her with a knowing grin ," you can stop anytime you want to? Is that what you were about to say? Don't play with an old drunk. I've been exactly where you have been. When I lost my children......"

" When you abandoned your children," she shot out," you mean. You with your holier than me father knows best attitude can go fuck all the way off. I ain't nothing like you. "

Andrew's eyes, eyes so much like Richard's, showed great pain. " I'm not better than you. And I don't know best about anything. I'm just a man who spent years trapped in a bottle. I lost jobs because of it. I woke up in places I was not at first because of it. I spent time in jail cells because of it. I woke up next to people I couldn't even remember because of it. " He saw her literally flinch at his last statement. " You're already there, aren't you? Attack me if you want. I don't care. I don't know you and you don't know me. Attack me but you will not attack my sons. Or my son in law, your brother. " He leaned closer to her and she recognized the steel that was in his eyes behind his usual gentleness. " Spencer doesn't deserve it. DuBuis doesn't. Richard doesn't. Nigel certainly didn't deserve it. That young man looked so devastated when you hurt him. "

" I didn't hurt...."

Her voice trailed off and Andrew said," Attack me if you want. Say whatever you want to me. It's all true. No matter what happened years ago it's all true. I abandoned my children and I regret it all my remaining days on earth. I can help you. "

Faith staggered over to the sofa and collapsed on it , holding onto a big overstuffed pillow.

Richard stopped in the entryway to the living room. He had been concerned about his father even though Glory had kept saying that Andrew knew exactly what he was doing.

He could feel Andrew's eyes on his face. " I understand if you hate me, Richard. You were only eleven when I left. I'm so sorry for that. You were my son like Spencer was my son and Lorraine my daughter. I loved you all so much back then. I still love you all. I love you, Richard. "

Richard felt someone approach him from behind. Someone who slipped an arm around his body. It was Nigel who whispered softly," I said our goodbyes. Let's go home, ok ? "

Richard nodded and they left the house as Andrew turned back to Faith who was on the sofa looking sleepy.

" I can help, Faith," Andrew continued to speak. I've been on the wagon a long time. I can make you coffee right now. Get you a cab back home. Give you my contact information. Help you find AA meetings in the area. Listen. What ever you need I can help you with. But if you ever. " His face tightened. " If you ever attack my sons again I will end you. Take that anyway you want to. "

Faith curled up on the sofa and closed her eyes. Fuck this old man. " Can you bring Pam back so I can say sorry? "

Andrew sighed. " Unfortunately I can't do miracles. But I can be your sponsor if you truly want me to be. It's your choice though. "