ODDS OF LOVE SEASON TWELVE

Episode 152

Sunday September 14 , 2025

" Gerald , put me back down , put me down," Alfred said in between laughing as he was carried into the foyer by Gerald. " You'll kill your back ! "

Dawson stopped in the middle of the long elegant foyer in his ever usual rumpled black suit and scuffed dark shoes. He shook his wizened old head at the two men he regarded in his heart as his " boys ". Andrew and Glory did their own head shaking and laughing as they came into the house behind Gerald with Alfred ; Andrew with Alfred's steel framed walker Stan and Glory with her son's suitcase in one hand and his backpack on her own back.

As Andrew unfolded out Stan Gerald placed a still laughing Alfred back on his sneakered feet and helped him steady himself until he had Stan back again.

Gerald teased wryly," Isn't the groom allowed to carry his gorgeous bride over the threshold? "

Alfred shot his partner a dirty look as Gerald aimed a sudden kiss to his lips. Alfred responded to the kiss as he moved carefully towards the older man but as they broke apart afterwards he shook his head at him, saying," We are not married, you crazy man, and I am not a bride if we were. I am a man. In case you were wondering. "

Gerald smiled widely at him hunched over his walker. " Oh , I very much am aware that you are a man, Alfred , my dear teacher. Very much so. " He traced the side of Alfred's face with his fingers and the man's bronzed skin flushed beneath his touch. " Welcome to your new home. "

Andrew laughed as he took the suitcase and backpack from his wife who looked tired but still had a slight twinkle in her own dark eyes as she watched her son and his boyfriend. " Now , now, hold off on the honeymoon until we leave. How are you doing, Dawson? You look well. "

Dawson smiled slightly and nodded at him briskly. " Thank you very much for asking, Mr. Norland, sir. You and Mrs. Norland also look well. "

Glory said merrily ," From your lips to God's ears, Dawson. " Then , as she leaned on her husband's strong body for support , she looked over the elegance of the house as they followed Gerald and Alfred into the dark paneled antique filled living room. " Please, don't let me bump into anything and break it," she whispered to her husband. " I don't think even the Giadello compound was this nice. Oh my dear , is that a Ming vase ? "

Andrew kissed her on her cheek as he helped her sit on the overstuffed sofa with the big plush pillows. " I was going to ask you the same thing," he whispered back while sitting beside her. " I still remember when I first married Doris and we moved into the fancy Van Burden estate in Virginia. I accidentally fell against a Chippendale desk and accidentally scratched it or something, it's been so long I can barely remember. I do remember Doris screaming so loud I was pretty sure I was going to be removed from the house although I wasn't totally certain it would be on my own steam. I like Gerald but I feel for our son living in what can only be called a museum. I think it's actually a little more fancier than most museums I've ever been in before. What do our grandchildren call it ? Extra? "

Glory laughed softly as she watched with a lot of approval Alfred kissing and hugging Gerald HighTower. She remembered Gerald's comment about carrying her only son over threshold and silently prayed that such an event would come true for real with them.

And that she would live to see it.

Suddenly she saw behind her son and Gerald a faint image of her mother dying in the hospital bed with her family surrounding her. Her hand went up to her flattened chest and her body shivered instinctively.

Andrew looked at her with concern. " Are you okay, darling? Do you need a blanket? "

Alfred heard his stepfather and turned to his mother abruptly, his walker scraping on the oak wood floor gracelessly as he did it. " Momma , are you okay? Do you need something to drink? I don't want you overwhelming yourself right now. "

Gerald agreed. " Yes. Definitely rest yourself. Dawson, please have cook bring out some hot fresh coffee and refreshments. My cook is a jewel. She actually has perfected scones as a healthier treat. She threatens to quit every day but I adore her. "

Alfred moved slowly to the sofa where he sat beside his mother with worried eyes. " I'm glad for the cook. I can't cook a thing. Remember, Momma , when you tried to teach Dodie and myself to cook when we were teens? Dodie dropped a cast iron skillet on her foot and I burnt water. "

Glory shook her head while laughing. " It wasn't that bad, dear. You two did manage to prepare a pretty decent chef salad for dinner that night. "

No , Alfred mused. It was not that bad. At least until his father had found out he was actually cooking. Franco had been enjoying it when he thought it was Dodie's creation but as soon as he discovered Alfred's involvement in it he had turned up his nose and refused to eat another bite.

( " Just because you are what you are doesn't mean you can't at least pretend to be a man , Alfred," Franco had shouted as he threw the salad bowl contents in the trash can in the kitchen. " Frocio ! ")