ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON 14

Episode 18

" Marry you? ," Alice Rose asked in a hesitant voice that was edged with just the slightest hint of wonder as well as eagerness. She watched Bernard with wide eyes. Yes , she had meant it when she said she dearly loved Roger. They had been married for many many years and she had been a loyal military wife before he had passed in his sleep of a heart attack just a week after Easter four years ago. He had been a good man and part of her had been glad he had went painlessly and without knowing that Aiden would eventually be a divorced single father. For some odd reason Roger had liked that terrible Gary Rhodes. Probably because they both had been in the Armed Services. Yet over the years she had often thought of Bernard Arnett. Wondered occasionally whatever had become of him. Whether he had become a poet. Still had a motorcycle. Still enjoyed walks in the rain. Still had that dry wit of his. If he was still alive. She also wondered if he was married with more children and grandchildren. She had hated the thought of him being married. She had loathed his fictional wife. Because down deep she wanted to be his wife.

Bernard sighed deeply and looked every minute of his years as he smiled sadly at her. " Forgive me. I'm just an old old fool. I know it's foolish to ask such a thing of you, Alice Rose. We just met again. We're both different now. I'm very set in my ways. I'm hateful actually. " He laughed slightly. " Just ask anyone in this building. My court clerk can tell you stories and he clerked at the Supreme Court in his early days. "

Alice Rose shook her head. " Yes. "

Bernard ran his hands over his face in one dejected motion until her single word finally hit his mind like a giant boulder thrown off a cliff. " Excuse me? "

Alice Rose smiled brightly at him and touched his hand with her own. " I said yes. Yes , I will marry you, Bernard Arnett. But neither of us are spring chickens , you know , so don't expect a long engagement. "