ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON TEN

Episode 140

Nigel sneezed and wiped his nose with a Kleenex as he burrowed under the blanket in his bed. His skin  felt hot. Last time he took his temperature it was a low grade one; not too high but he still felt like crap on a stick. And his body hurt. He had taken one of those at home covid test things Richard hoarded through the house and it was negative thankfully so it was probably just a simple cold or maybe the flu. But whatever it was it was really aggravating his lupus flare. Flare , that's what the doctor called it. Flare. He was flaring. Yes. Flaring all over the bedroom with intense joint pain and fever and the headache from hell.

It was so bad that he had decided not to go into the restaurant that night. So bad that he had texted his father to say he wasn't sure if he would make dinner this Sunday. With an autoimmune illness he wasn't particularly keen on surrounding himself with more germs when he was already sick. And he didn't want to make anyone sick either. If he felt better he would go of course. He really did want to meet his older half brother Alexi in person although when he had called the cell phone number Nicholas had given him the man never answered. In fact Alexi had yet to return his voice mail message either. Nicholas had been disappointed but he tried to hide it and told him to just concentrate on getting better. And Jenessa had shown up earlier wearing a medical grade mask with a big pot of homemade chicken noodle soup. He was thankful for her visit and the soup although he hadn't been up to eating much. The kids were set for dinner though and were currently downstairs probably wolfing it up as he lay upstairs in bed feeling a pity feast coming on.

He sneezed again. He hated being sick. It was not bad enough having asthma and an allergy to bloody flowers of all things which meant they had had to remove the beautiful flower garden from front of the house once they moved in. And the damaged eye after that youthful fight. And the bitch lupus. Now, he thought as he cuddled under the blanket with one of their ever growing affectionate labradoodle dogs Queen, he had a cold.

He wanted Richard. But whenever he called his cell phone it kept going to voicemail. He hadn't left a message. He hated voicemail with a passion. And that new secretary of his husband, whatever her name was, they changed so much it was hard keeping up with names really, was so rude and said whenever he called that he was in " important" meetings or on a conference call etc etc etc. His lip poked out in a pout. Now he knew how Sarah had felt during the six years he had been Richard's gatekeeper secretary and she the wife. Tonight he felt like he was fighting for attention with a mistress. The law firm mistress. Maybe he was the mistress. And the firm the husband. Con of marrying a workaholic.

Richard had promised when they got married that he would be home at five every day. He had kept to it most days yes but the one night he needed him he was late. It was six thirty. Six thirty. And not even a call explaining why.

He did not want to be needy or cloying, he mused as he stroked the dog's silky fur wishing it were his husband's thick salt and pepper hair. He just wanted his husband. His eyes drifted shut with great fatigue. He needed his husband.

Lewis peeked into the open door and said softly," Nigel? Do you want soup now? It's really good. "

Nigel said slowly," No. I couldn't eat a thing right now. "

Lewis bit his lip and looked behind him at an equally worried Richie and Rebecca who held Tanisha's hand. " Ok. "

Rebecca whispered," Where is Daddy? Daddy Nigel needs him. "