ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON SIX

Episode 19

The still unopened bottle rested on his lap as he sat on the park bench. His hands cradled it like it was a precious newborn baby. It almost seemed to call out his name.

Daring him to just open it.

Drink it.

What would it hurt, Andrew? , he could almost hear it cooing at him.

He closed his eyes and then reopened them. He had turned off his phone. He could not face anyone.

He had always tried his level best to be a good man. A good friend. A good lawyer when he was a lawyer. A good son. A good brother. A good husband.

A good father?

He sighed deeply. Somewhere down the line he had obviously failed at it all. Or maybe just the husband and father part. He had to when his own daughter could say she hated him.

( " She's so beautiful, " a younger Andrew whispered as he held his pink blanketed newborn daughter in the hospital room as Doris smiled at them both. " I can't believe how beautiful she is. Daddy's precious little angel. Daddy loves you , baby! " Then he leaned over and gave his wife a kiss on the lips. " I love you too, darling. A son and now a daughter. You've made me the happiest man in the world. ")

He put his hand around the top of the bottle.

Come on. Just drink it. Who really cared? Aren't you tired? Just drink it. What would it hurt?

( " Young lady , you do realize the difference between a lie and the truth, don't you? " )

( " Yes , sir, but I don't tell lies. I'm a good girl.")

( " Did you ever see your father hit your mother on any occasion? " )

( " Yes , sir. Daddy hit Mommy a lot. " )

( Did your father ever on any occasion hit or abuse you, Lorraine? "

( " Yes. Daddy hurt me a lot. " )

( " No ! ," a younger Andrew screamed as he jumped up from the chair behind the table in the courtroom. " No ! I never ever hurt my wife or any of my children ! I would never ! I love my family. I love my children. " )

( " Mr. Norland, please sit back down and remain silent or I will remove you from these proceedings. " )

He started to unscrew the top from the whiskey bottle.

Then a hand touched his left shoulder.

He looked up and saw his son in law DuBuis.

DuBuis was not smiling. He actually looked a little mad but still concerned.

" Man ," DuBuis said. " What are you doing? Everyone is worried about you. Everyone. From your wife to my husband who happens to be your damn son. You can't just take off like this. " He waved his hand at the bottle Andrew held so reverently in his own hands. Then he sat down beside him on the bench. " And what the fuck is this here ? You been sober years. I know this shit was tough but it ain't worth this. What are you thinking? "

Andrew shook his head. " It wasn't the shooting. Although that was bad. Not used to bullets flying through the windows. "

DuBuis laughed wryly. "Grow up where I did it becomes old hat. What is up with you right now, Andrew? Talk to me. "

" Or me ," they heard Richard say as he approached them and the bench. He sat down on the other side of his father. " Dad. What is going on? "