Odds of Love: Past Wounds

Episode 3

" This operation he's having," Nigel said almost numbly as he sat  in a chair between Spencer in his wheelchair and DuBuis. Andrew and Glory had taken DuBuis's car back to the house to check on Luci when she got back home from school. Nobody wanted her coming back to an empty house.

Spencer said in a matter of fact voice," It's a coronary angioplasty. It takes place in a catheter lab not an operating room. They usually do it immediately after a heart attack. If everything goes right he should be able to go home the same day or the next day. According to what I have read. "

" Yeah, " Nigel said absently," that coronary thing. DuBuis , you're a doctor. How long does it take? "

DuBuis looked over Nigel's head at Spencer who was staring at his own hands blankly. " Generally speaking it takes between thirty minutes to two hours. "

Nigel swallowed hard. " How long has it been now? "

DuBuis hesitated before saying," Three hours."

                     ----------

Glory watched out the window at Andrew helping Luci with her homework on the back deck. She held her cell phone up to her ear.

" May I speak to Doris Van Burden please? "

A clear precise and cultured voice replied," This is Doris Van Burden. Whom might I inquire is calling? "

Glory hated her voice. So this was the woman who had had Andrew first. The one who had given him children. The one who had destroyed his life and left him in shattered pieces for years. Doris sounded like a bitch.

" This is Glory Norland. "

Doris replied sharply," Norland? Are you any relation to that awful middle class family of my silly ex husband? Is he dead? Hopefully. "

Glory really hated this woman. " No. Andrew is actually doing very well. He can run marathons. No. I'm calling about your son Richard. He has had a heart attack and is in surgery now. I , we , felt you should know. "

Doris laughed and the sound almost slapped Glory in the face. " Heart attack? I am amazed he actually has a heart. Who did you say you were again ? One of Andrew's sisters? Not the one with the overbite he wanted to put in our wedding party? "

Glory gritted her teeth and moved over to the kitchen table where she sat down. She suddenly felt so tired. " No. I'm not his sister. I'm his wife. "

Doris laughed again. " You must have been desperate to marry him. He lost his law license you know? For immoral behavior. "

Glory could feel the smugness over the phone and she was almost glad that she heard a knock at the front door. " So sorry, " she said crisply. " Someone is at the door. Must run and answer it. "

She hung up. " Bitch. "

She hurried off to answer the door. On the front porch stood an short slim young boy that reminded her oddly of Spencer. He was surrounded by mounds of luggage.

" Yes ? ," she asked. " May I help you? "

The boy said," This is where Dr. Sssspencer Norland -Lane lives ? It's what Google gave me. May I come in ? It's been an awful long plane ride. It took forever to get a cab here. I'm lucky I still had my credit card. I'm surprised Lorraine didn't terminate my use of it. "

Glory shook her head in a confused manner. " Excuse me? Young man, who exactly are you?"

The boy widened his eyes at her and licked his lips. " I'm Theodore Rochester. I'm Spencer's nephew. From California. My mother said she told him I was coming. Who are you? "