ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON THIRTEEN

Episode 38

Reese Malden sighed heavily and sat down at the grand piano in his Evergreen Acres home. He was trying to keep it altogether. Just like he had with his first partner Nick. With Eric it was more difficult. Eric Fletcher. The last man he would ever love. His heart was never going down that road again.

He looked at the silver framed picture of him and Eric on their wedding day that he had propped atop the piano. " I miss you, Viking. I love you. "

Then his fingers touched the keys of the piano and he began to play. And sing.

         " When life hits rock bottom. "

Dodie paced around the small cell she was being held by herself. Then she suddenly stopped moving and reached up with a balled up fist to rage at God. Then she just burst into tears that flowed down her cheeks. " I'm sorry," she whispered. " I'm sorry. I just want this nightmare to be over. I want my life back. "

            " When life turns so confusing and scary. "

Alan closed his eyes in his hospital bed. He wanted to cry but the tears would not leave him for some reason. He saw himself running across the track at Barrington as everyone cheered him on. One of the few things he was good at and enjoyed doing. He tried to move his feet in the hospital bed but couldn't. He saw his father turning around in the car to look at him , tell him something.

He wanted to cry but all he could do was scream. Which he did right there in the hospital bed in St. Paul's.

Ariel had been napping in the chair beside the bed with her head of tangled brown curly hair on Nicholas' shoulder as they held hands. At the sound of her son's screaming she jumped up with fright in her brown eyes.

Nicholas stood up and reached for the boy's hand and squeezed it. " It's going to be alright, son. "

  " When life becomes unfamiliar. "

Jamal opened his eyes and glanced over at his uncle who sat next to his bed. He opened his mouth and fought to remember what words he wanted to ask him. " Unc.... Jere... Jeremiah. Hungry. "

  " What I do is never enough. "

As she picked at a footlong meatball sub at the immense dining room table in Gerald and Alfred's dining room she watched the faces of her family.

Her son.

Her husband.

Her grandchildren.

Her future son in law.

And she thought about her daughter in a jail cell.

She put down the sub and began to cry. Alfred and Andrew put down their own food to each reach for her hands.

    " We need a hero. "

Richard stepped into the main hallway of his house , shutting the front door behind him. His eyes were troubled and his handsome face tense.

Then as he turned around he saw his four children running towards him to hug him tight. Even Richie who said smirkingly ," How was your first day, Judge Wide Load ? "

And his eyes caught sight of Nigel coming from the kitchen wearing his favorite "God Save The Queen"apron over a pair of faded blue jeans and an equally faded hard rock tee shirt.

" Made it in time," Nigel said cheerily. " I'm making your father's chili. Don't tell me if it's not as good. "

Richard felt his face soften and he smiled.

        Reese stopped singing abruptly. He looked at the picture. At Eric's smiling face. At his own. They were so happy. Why did it all end and way too fast ?

" You were my hero. You saved me in so many ways. I'm sorry I couldn't save you too. "

He began to cry the sobs of the anguished damned.

His niece Willow came up behind him and almost hesitantly touched him on his shaking shoulder. Willow bit her lip. " I'm sorry, Uncle Reese. I miss him too. "