ODDS OF LOVE: SEASON SEVEN

Episode 33

Spencer missed his husband. He missed his family. He missed his house.

But, he thought to himself as he played with his phone out of boredom in the guest room, he could not go back. DuBuis did not want him there. He could not. He had told him to go away. To leave. And why wouldn't he? , his mind taunted him cruelly. Who could ever really love someone like him? He might be incredibly intelligent but he knew how the world saw him. It saw him like he was some cold unfeeling inhumane computer.

Maybe he was. He loved DuBuis. He loved their surrogate daughter Luci. He was even starting to care for Theodore even though the boy reminded him of himself and it was disconcerting to him. It was like seeing himself in a mirror when he looked at the young boy and that was very disturbing. But maybe it was better if he stayed away. Obviously DuBuis had recognized in him his failings , his weaknesses , and that was why he had told him to leave.

Mother was right. The lessons she had drummed into his head as he grew up now made sense to him. She was right. He was incapable of being loved. And when he loved others he just ended up destroying it somehow.

To stop the thoughts from continuing to echo within his head he decided to listen to music on Pandora. He saw a song by one of his and DuBuis's favorite singers Rebel. It was actually from the man's latest album. He clicked on the song link and the bedroom was suddenly filled with the rock singer's gravelly voice crooning a tune of lost love and missed dreams.

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The silence in the kitchen as DuBuis ate delivery Chinese food with his inlaws, Luci and Theodore was almost overwhelming. All tried not to look at the empty spot beside where DuBuis sat.

Spencer's spot.

Luci was ignoring her beef and broccoli as she angrily tapped on her cell phone.

Theodore listlessly picked through his orange chicken.

Andrew seemed down hearted as Glory fed him a bit of her own sweet and sour chicken. It seemed to perk him up slightly as he smiled at her and offered her a sample of his sweet and spicy shrimp.

" Yum ," she said as she swallowed it. Then leaned forward to press a tender kiss on his forehead.

DuBuis turned away from their affection. He missed his husband. He wished that Spencer would answer his phone and text messages from him. Space didn't mean they could not talk to each other. Did it ?

He felt irritated all of a sudden. " Luci, put the phone away. It's dinner time. We don't do phones at the table. You know that. "

Luci looked at him with just as much irritation in her eyes. " That's an Uncle Spencer rule. And he is not here. Because of you ! You made him leave ! Sometimes I hate you ! "

DuBuis felt his heart breaking even more at his niece's words even as his eyes chilled. " Better cool your attitude, little girl. Ok ? You are not talking to me like that in my own home. "

Luci jumped up with her phone in hand. " What you going to do! Send me back to New Jersey! Send me away like you did Uncle Spencer! Guess what! Moms still doesn't want me and never will! Because I am a freak! "

Then she raced out of the kitchen, leaving the rest of them startled. Both Andrew and DuBuis rose up from their chairs to follow her but Glory shook her head at them. She sternly said," Leave her be. Give her the space Spencer says he needs. Even children are entitled to their feelings. "

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" St. Paul's Hospital Center," droned on the hospital operator. " How can I connect your call ? "

Hank hesitated before saying warily," Get me the room of Austin Anderson. "

" One second, sir. "

He waited as it started to ring and as he did his courage was starting to fail him. It had been years. He had sent the man away. Angel had left. Why would Angel ever want to hear from him now?

He was about to hang up and go back to reading the obituaries when all of a sudden he heard a voice on the line.

" Yes ? ," he heard Angel say in a weary pained voice that opened up doors that he thought was locked - bolted - forever. " Who is this? "

" Are you ok? ," he asked quietly.

There was such a long pause that he was afraid they had been disconnected. Or maybe Angel had hung up the phone.

Then he heard," Hank ? Is that really you? You fucking bastard. "