ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON ELEVEN

Episode 46

" Thank you for allowing me to come by," Winston Arnett said as he sat on a chair in the large spacious cheerful kitchen of Spencer Norland - Lane.

The man he had betrayed by giving Skip Sands that plea bargain.

His half brother.

When he had first learned that Spencer was related to him and that his father had cheated on his precious mother he had been mad. He had hated this man who sat at the kitchen table in his wheelchair feeding an adorable baby girl whose smiling and cooing was starting to win his own heart. And he didn't even like children.

After almost a half hour of talking to Spencer he could not hate him. He actually enjoyed talking to the man. He really did know a lot and had varied interests. And it was freeing being able to talk about what happened to him with someone who actually understood. He could not talk to Joe about it. He just couldn't. Joe had been so tender lately. So sweet. But he just couldn't see himself opening up to him about that night. Not now. Maybe not ever.

Spencer looked from Miracle to Winston. " I offered to talk to you anytime you wanted. I meant it. " He cleaned off the baby's hands and face with her personal hypoallergenic wipes. " I know what you are going through. I hated you for the plea. I did. But I don't think you deserved anything that man did to you. Nobody deserves that. "

Winston looked at the refrigerator with the homework papers with bright red A's on it taped to the front of it. " I feel like I deserve it."

" I know. I did too. But my therapist gave me a lot of help dealing with it all. I realized me feeling like that was really letting him win. And I couldn't allow him to have that type of power over me. I can give you her number if you want it. "

" I don't think so. I can't see myself talking to a stranger about it. Although you essentially are a stranger. Yet you don't feel like a stranger. For some reason. "

Spencer sat back in his chair. " So you are gay. And with Joe Jacobs? I'm sorry. "

Winston laughed for the first time in a long time. " For being gay or being with Joe ? "

" Joe of course. "

Winston said ," He has his good moments. " Then he fell silent. " Yes. I'm gay. I can't believe I'm actually saying that out loud. I'm gay. "

" It gets easier. "

Winston hoped so. " May I..... hold the baby? "

Spencer hesitated. " Only if you promise not to run off with her. "

Winston was taken aback for a second until he saw the sudden twinkle in Spencer's blue eyes behind his glasses. " No worries there. My days of wanting to be a father are long behind me. "

Spencer lifted up the chortling Miracle and kissed her atop her head which was sprouting a little bit of springy red hair. Then he gently placed her in Winston's arms, saying," Miracle, meet your....... your...... Uncle Winston. "

Winston jerked slightly at the words " Uncle Winston" but the initial shock faded gradually as he held the child and was lost in her big blue- green eyes. " She's beautiful. You're a lucky man. "

Spencer smiled , thinking of his entire family. " I know I am. "