ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON THIRTEEN

Episode 128

The old lady didn't look  deranged. Fluffy, yes. Like that nosy old woman from the old Agatha Christie mystery books come alive. All she needed was some knitting needles and a bag of yarn with her. She looked harmless and really very sweet. She looked like the stereotype of a grandmother. He could even smell the scent of homemade cookies wafting off her as she stood in his and Glory's hallway wearing a pullover sweater that proudly proclaimed " World's Best Grandma" on the front of it , comfortable blue denim jeans and sturdy walking shoes with tight laces.

" Excuse me, ma'am? ," Andrew asked carefully as he observed the woman. Who was she? He had never seen this woman in his life. And she certainly wasn't his mother who currently was terrorizing her bridge club in Manassas. Had she wandered away from a nursing home perhaps? Did she possibly have dementia, the poor thing? " Are you okay? Do you need me to call someone for you? "

Alice Rose laughed softly. " I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't have just blurt it out like that. My husband Roger always said I spoke first and thought later. " Her voice turned wistful as she spoke of her husband. " I know this has to be a shock, son , but it's true. I am your mother and if we can maybe sit down somewhere I can explain it all to you. "

Andrew shook his head in confusion. " We can have a seat in the living room but..... I don't think we have anything to talk about. You're not my mother. My mother is Edie Norland. My father was Mason Norland. I grew up in Virginia. "

As he lead her to the living room and settled her down upon the sofa he picked up his cell phone, debating whether to call Richard or DuBuis for assistance. Especially DuBuis. Perhaps the woman needed medical attention. Had she had a stroke? She didn't appear confused though. Just scatterbrained in a mildly sweet way.

Suddenly he remembered the good manners that his mother had practically drilled into him over the many years he had lived with her and his father. " Would you like something to drink? Tea ? Coffee? " He tried to recall if there were any pastries in the kitchen. Glory was more the baker than himself but since the cancer treatments had begun she had cooked and baked less of course. Her health had approved more lately though so with occasional bursts of energy she actually had done a bit more in the kitchen. " I think I have lemon bars in the kitchen if you are hungry. "

Alice Rose smiled fondly at him and patted his leg through his jeans as he sat next to her. " Maybe later, dear , but now I think you should hear my story. " She took a deep breath and exhaled it before beginning to speak again. " It was the fifties. It was different than now. Very different but the same in a lot of ways. I was fourteen when I had you. My family didn't approve of my beau back then. Bernie was sweet but a bit wild as well. He had a motorcycle. " Suddenly she laughed and he saw a change creeping over her face slowly. She seemed to become so much more younger than her current years and wrinkles and liver spots claimed. Her eyes took on a special light as they seemed to go somewhere he couldn't see or follow her.

" Bernie's family was richer than my own. Oh , we weren't poor. No. My father was a veterinarian and my mother a housewife. What they call a stay at home mother now. Chester and Gretchen Parks. Those were your grandparents. They're gone now. Daddy died of a heart attack. Mother had a stroke a week after Daddy passed away. They lived a long time and very much loved each other so it wasn't really sad to me when they passed. I was happy they were together again. They were always together it seemed like. It often made my siblings jealous really. I had two brothers and a sister. They're gone too. But my Bernie ..... his family was prominent. His father was mayor. His uncle was the district attorney. Another uncle was a judge. Bernie didn't want to be in politics or law though. He wrote poetry. He wrote beautiful poems. Anyway the time was different as I said. You either married or you gave the baby up back then. There was no middle ground. We were only fourteen. We wanted to run off and get married. We wanted you. But when my parents found out they sent me to a special school for unwed mothers. They told everyone I was recovering from polio or maybe it was TB. I can't exactly remember which right now but it doesn't matter I suppose. Then after they took you they sent me to a boarding school. Oh , they couldn't really afford it but it was paid for by the Arnetts to keep me from Bernie. "

Andrew sat up straighter on the sofa , his grey eyes narrowed at the older woman he had been listening to so intently. " Arnett ? As in Reilly Arnett ? "

The Reilly Arnett that had had an affair with his first wife Doris...... who was really the father of his son Spencer...... those Arnetts......

Alice Rose said gently," That was Bernie's family name. Arnett. Your father is Bernard Arnett. It's been years since I have seen him. I don't even know if he's alive now. "

Andrew's mind flashed suddenly to the very old man that had been in the courtroom earlier next to Richard.

( " Dad , this is Chief Judge Bernard Arnett. Judge Arnett , this is my father Andrew Norland. " )

Andrew's hand went up to his chest which was beating so fast. Faster than normal. This could not be true. None of it. He was not adopted. His parents had not ever told him....... And he certainly wasn't a damn Arnett !

He looked at the elderly woman who smiled back with both gentleness and uncertainty as she watched him. " I'm sorry, ma'am , Mrs. Norris , but I am not your son. You are mistaken. You are not my mother. Please leave my home. "