ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON 15

Episode 106

" I'm glad you could make it today for lunch," Margaret Reilly said as she sat across from Aiden Norris at Percy's  on Wisconsin Avenue in Washington D.C. " I'm sorry I couldn't make it yesterday. "

Aiden looked up at her and smiled gently. He fidgeted with the wrapped silverware in his hand. " No problem. I'm sorry to hear about Nicholas Volkouv. And , his wife. How are they ? "

Margaret smiled faintly. " She's doing better than Nicky. " Her smile faded away from her attractive face. " He's still in a coma. The doctor says he has brain activity. He's just not... waking up. Yet. "

They both fell silent as the server approached them for their orders. She ordered a chef salad and a cup of raspberry tea while he chose a pulled pork sandwich and a cup of coffee. As the server went to put in the orders Margaret glanced back up at him and asked," So , you are my sister's son ? You look just like him. " The words were said in a straightforward and plainspoken manner but Aiden detected an odd edge underlying it. He didn't think she liked his father which he could understand. Daniel Norris was an acquired taste really. Growing up he had been in awe of his distant father who had seemed like some type of rock star to him. Daniel hadn't ever liked or understood his only son and Aiden had spent too much time trying to impress him. And , failing in many impressive ways.

Aiden replied," People say that. I don't really see it myself. So , I don't look like my mother? I guess not. I have the picture of her. So I can tell I don't. She has red hair and those eyes of yours. I have black hair and grey eyes. So , yeah. "

Margaret, after a long quiet moment while the server placed their drinks on the table , said," I can see her in you. The shyness in your eyes. The gentleness in your face. The slight stubborn set to your chin. I see Maeve in you." There was a soft wistfulness to her tone as she observed him carefully. " She is my twin. I'm ten minutes older than her and I always tried to protect her growing up. We all did. There was many of us born to my parents but she was the best of us all. We were inseparable. I miss her. "

Aiden furrowed his brow in bemusement. "You said she is your twin. The present tense. I thought my mother died. That's what your other sister told me. What you did. But I can't find a death certificate on her. Anywhere. How exactly did my mother die? I know it might be painful for you. I apologize if it is but I... I just need to know more about her. I've lived my whole life. Thirty six years. Not knowing who she is, what she was, how she lived, what she liked. Half of me I don't know. I need to know it. Not just for me either. I have a so....a daughter. I want my child to know all of her family history. "

Margaret sighed deeply. " Your mother is not dead. She's alive. But not alive in ways it counts. She.... She attempted suicide as a young girl. She tried to hang herself. They cut her down but she was without oxygen a long time. She has a deep amount of brain damage to the point that she is little more than broccoli in a chair. She lives in a hospital in the UK, and, no , I'm not telling you what hospital. I don't want her.... disturbed. By anyone. "

Aiden felt devastated. On one hand, he was happy to know that his mother was alive after all but to know the truth about her life now was incredibly difficult for his mind to comprehend. How she had came to be in this life......Was it....

" Was it because of me? Did she try to kill herself because of me? My father? "

At his trembling question, Margaret felt her heart soften towards him and she reached out to touch his hands which were gripped together tightly. " Yes. And no. It happened after our father took you from her and gave you to your father. She wanted you, Aiden. When l saw her holding you in her arms after your birth I had never seen her look so happy. She loved you already. And , you were such a beautiful baby. So sweet looking. So , yes it was the loss of you that broke her mind and drove her to the unthinkable but it was not because of you. If you understand me. "

Aiden wiped at his eyes suddenly and bit his lips self consciously. He looked around the restaurant in order to avoid his aunt's too , too knowing eyes. Then he saw someone he knew at a nearby table. And, so did Margaret.

It was Richard Norland having lunch, smiling and laughing with a slightly younger man than himself.

A man who wasn't Nigel.