ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON ELEVEN

Episode 17

Joe had stepped out to head to the house so he could be there and let in the special house cleaners Faith had recommended. Winston had been surprised that his lover had been able to get someone there this soon but when he asked him the man had just winked at him saucily and said," Money talks in all realms of life. My father hates me but my grandparents loved me and I love the trust funds they left behind". Then he had kissed Winston tenderly on the mouth , looked at him for a long time and told him he loved him and would be back before he confidently left the room.

Winston could still feel the man's lips on his even in his absence, could still smell Joe's tangy cologne and also felt so lonely without him by his side. It was a private room Joe had arranged for him until he was released for home so he had no roommate to talk to. And he knew nobody would visit him. He had no friends. Just acquaintances and after his disbarment they had all drifted away from him. After his calls had gone unanswered. It had amazed him that he had actually gotten a concerned text asking how he was feeling from Detective Nita Browne. It amazed him more that Nigel Norland had also texted him , saying " Sorry for what happened to you. Richard and I hope you recover well. " He hadn't responded to either text because he didn't know what to say. Probably for the best. It wasn't like any of these people were destined to be friends with him. Especially the Norlands. He still had not called Richard to apologize. He didn't really know what to say to the man. He probably never would. And he was still slightly upset the man had before told the State Attorney and the bar association about his little paternity switch which lead to him losing his livelihood. Since the man had gotten his daughter back he didn't feel all that had been necessary. In his mind Richard's actions were purely vindictive in motivation.

He shifted to get a more comfortable position in the bed and switched on the wall mounted tv , flipping channels from one to another until he found Antique Roadshow on PBS. He settled down to watch one of his favorite shows. It reminded him of his mother. She had once loved antiquing in some cozy out of the way shop for a unique treasure or such. Watching the show made him feel closer to his dead mother Eleanor.

He almost didn't answer his phone when it rang. Especially when he saw who it was.

Spencer. What did he want? He had not heard from his.... half brother since he had apologized. He hadn't expected to hear from him. He had apologized because deep down he felt like he needed to. It had been a genuine apology but he didn't particularly need a response in return. The DNA said they were related but he couldn't quite accept it as fact. After all when his father cheated on his beloved mother with Doris and made her pregnant Eleanor was also pregnant. With him. That rankled at him.

He finally answered it , saying," Hello? "

Spencer was very hesitant in his own response. " I.... I just wanted to say I accept your apology. "

Winston's hand tightened on the phone as his other one muted the tv just as an older couple was showing off the porcelain doll that had been in their family generations. " That's.... good of you. Big of you. "

There was a long pause. So long he wondered if the man , his brother, had hung up. Then Spencer spoke again. " You made a stupid plea deal. You really did. And you shouldn't have hurt my brother the way you did. But DuBuis always says the past should stay in the past. What that man did to you was horrible. I'm sorry he hurt you. " He paused again. " You belong to a special club now. One that none of us want to be in. I'm sorry about that too. If you.... ever require the need to..... talk about what happened to you..... I am here for you. If you ever need to talk. "

Then he hung up abruptly leaving Winston in a state of speechless shock.