ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON ELEVEN

Episode 128

" Welcome to the Barrington Academy Parents Teachers Association ! ," Flower Dennis said lightly as she stood before Spencer in his wheelchair among the small group of chatting expensively dressed women in one of the party rooms at Richard and Nigel's that night. He blinked his eyes behind his glasses twice in amazement as he stared back at the woman.

Flower was almost identical to Richard's second wife and Lewis' mother Tania. The only wife of his brother who made Spencer laugh as much as Nigel did. Tania had been slightly off at the best of times and a little scattered in thought with an assortment of interests devised to keep her less bored in life but she was still a good hearted woman who had cared about her then husband and son. She just didn't do well at being Richard's spouse. Not like Nigel did.

Flower smiled at him graciously and to his horror , because he still hated others touching him outside of DuBuis, leaned down to embrace him warmly and tightly. She smelled of homemade soap and incense. He could make himself tolerate it but he wasn't a fan. And especially not in public. And especially not with strangers.

He coughed from nervousness and not germs as he moved from her cloying grip and backed up his chair.

Flower laughed heartily.  " Oh don't worry, precious ! You'll get used to me ! Everyone does ! Eventually. My husband Zipp always says that. Well we're not technically married. We are devoted domestic partners in every way. I support his little video game business and he is equally helpful to my tea shoppe. I have a little place in the mall. I sell special blends that I design myself. Do you drink tea ? You must stop by. It's called Heavenly Teas. I love that name. Zippy and Diamond came up with it. They're so very very very creative.
I just use his last name because it has more clout with people. We don't believe in marriage. Not legal ones anyway. Why waste money on one day of expensive clothes and feeding people you really can't stand just to entice them to your wedding? Hmm. I think not. I approve of marriage equality. Don't get me wrong but down deep I wished they had made all relationships domestic partnerships. Even straight ones. It would cut down on divorce I bet. "

She winked at him with one of her big blue eyes with its glint of grey. Then ran her hands through her messy cloud of pure grey hair. She was too young for grey hair to Spencer , only maybe forties like himself and DuBuis , but it seemed to fit her. He stuttered out ," I suppose that particular proposal could have had been plausible but I feel......"

" So glad you could pop down. Especially after all the terrible going ons at your home recently. That dreadful man. Zipp and I don't watch television especially not news , too too depressing for us , but our housekeeper Connie gave us the 411 on it all when we had breakfast with her. Yes. We have breakfast with her every day. She never lets me clean the dishes though. Oh well. That's how I learn all the good gossip. Is not gossip fun ? Yes. Do hope your brother is well. "

" Richard is out of his coma but unfortunately he can't....."

" Wonderful ! Just marvelous. Hope his recovery goes well, darling. Now I am glad you are here. We need new blood to shake things up a bit as I said before. Which you and our surprise guest will definitely provide I know. You shall be our treasurer which I know you will be so good at with all your vast experience and knowledge. And our guest will make an excellent co president. Shhhh. It's a surprise. Cassandra the Dreadful doesn't know. Yet. " She laughed again. " So basically what we do is a little get together as we greet and chat with each other. Then we eat. And of course discuss school business. Cassandra is old fashioned about the school. I am not. I wish we could replace the secretary. Elizabeth is Cassandra's sister and she's like her little shadow. Barely talks unless she's agreeing with Cassandra about something. I do believe her husband and maybe her son Kyle intimidates her. Maybe even beats her but who knows what happens in even the best homes ? "

She eventually took a breath which a shellshocked Spencer was grateful for but only because her eyes spied their special guest walking through the door in a silky black shirt and tight black jeans and mirrored sunshades. And so did the other women who all  turned into a gaggle of giggling young girls more  similar to Luci and Rebecca in personality right before his increasingly wary eyes. They literally were jumping up and down and screeching while clapping their beringed manicured hands. Well except for the designer suited Cassandra Mayfield who looked like she had just eaten prunes.

As he turned his chair slightly around to get a better look Spencer also felt like screeching like a, what did the kids call it, fanboy.

Because the man who just walked in was Reese Malden.