ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON THIRTEEN

Episode 182

Andrew swallowed a couple of aspirin dry as he approached the front door where someone was knocking briskly. He didn't know who it could be.

His sons?

Glory ?

Alfred ?

The girls, Faith and Joy , although they said they were coming over tonight with their stuff.

He looked through the peephole and groaned. It was him. The man that Richard had introduced to him at the courthouse. The one that Alice Rose said was his father.

Judge Bernard Arnett.

He ran a hand over his worn face as he wished that he hadn't drank as much last night at the nearby bar'n grill. He was getting too old for such nights, he laughed inwardly while opening the door to the elderly man.

Bernard stood there looking stern faced and proud shouldered as he said," Hello, son. "

Andrew shook his head. " I'm not your son. My father was Mason Norland. He was a good man who just chose a bad wife. " Then he stepped aside and let the man into the house.

Bernard smiled gingerly. " You've got spirit. Just like an Arnett. "

Andrew shut the door behind him. " I'm not an Arnett. I'm a Norland. Look. I don't want to be rude. But I'm sixty six years old. I've lived my entire life thinking I was one thing and believing it. And , now you're my father. She's my mother. My mother is , was , a madwoman who lied to me all my life and held me prisoner to protect that lie from the world. It's a lot. What do you want for me? A father's day card ? I can't. Not now. Maybe not ever. I loved my father. He loved me. "

He walked away from the old man towards the back of the house and then stopped suddenly with his shoulders stooped over.

Bernard was silent for a long period of time. Then he spoke again. " I don't expect anything. I stopped expecting a damn thing from life when I lost her. Your mother. Alice Rose Parks. She was beautiful when she was young and she's beautiful now. I loved her. Maybe I still do. I don't know........ We wanted you. We really did. "

Andrew turned to look at the old man.

" I wanted to marry her," Bernard continued on ," and I actually asked her. In our special gazebo spot. She said yes. I gave her my signet ring on a chain to wear around her neck. I couldn't afford a real ring. We were going to run off. I'd get a job. Lie that I was eighteen. I looked big for my age. We wanted to call you Edwin. But her parents found out. And ..... none of it happened. Unfortunately. She moved on with her life. " His voice trembled. " And mine froze in place. "

Andrew looked at his father.

Bernard looked at his son.

Then the front door opened and in came Glory holding her keys.

She stepped forward and said promptly," I don't care about your alone time. You can stay here with Faith and Joy if you want to but tonight you are going to eat dinner with Alfred, Gerald and myself at Gerald's. Seven. Don't be late. Cook hates late guests. "

Then , with a fiery look in her dark eyes, she turned around and left out the front door again, shutting it behind her firmly.

Andrew laughed. " That was my wife. Is my wife. I suppose she's your daughter in law too. "

Bernard laughed as well. " Lucky you. Son. "