The Post Sunday Experiment | COMPLETED 2020

Chapter 26

Walking swiftly after Ody as he exited the elevator, Eric did his best to inquire after the boy. By the look in Ody's eyes, it didn't take Eric long to know what was running through his mind. This was not the time to tell the boy, but he felt the boy needed to know what was running through his own mind as well if the two were to ever work together and do this right.

Eric took the boy by the wrist in a gentle yet a firm way. Not dragging but instead guiding him, Eric brought Ody down the halls and toward a dressing room full of protective equipment where he pulled him aside to speak to him.

"Listen, boy, we cannot do this." Eric looked Ody in the eyes as he spoke.

Ody didn't respond. Instead, he looked at the man with fury and pain stinging his brown eyes that hid behind long bangs.

"I need you on my side."

"I am on your side. Are you on mine?" Ody spoke through gritted teeth.

"Yes, but you have to listen to me."

"What is there to listen to?"

"Ody, I know why you don't like me."

"I never said I didn't like you," Ody whispered under his breath with contempt in his voice.

"My God, boy. I'm not stupid."

Seems like it sometimes. "Why is it that you think I dislike you, then?"

"Because you feel like I'm replacing your father. You see that as a treat."

Ody rolled his eyes. "You don't know me." Ody tried to keep his cool, but his shifty gaze directed to the floor proving Eric's point.

"I- I was you, Ody-"

"Will you stop saying that! You were never me! You didn't lose your father and watch everyone you know slowly disappear! You don't know half of it!"

"Shh, Ody, please, listen to me," sighed Eric. Ody looked away once again, "When I was fourteen, my father cheated on my mother. He had a woman named Alissa who would come over to 'hang out with him' as my father would say, on the nights my mother was hard at work to pay the bills." The man paused to take a deep breath before continuing.

"My father was a drunk and a coward. I watched my mother slowly learn about his indiscretions. She was heartbroken and tried to hang onto a marriage that was long gone. I knew she wanted nothing more than to leave but didn't have the time for a divorce or the money for lawyers." Eric looked away from Ody's face as he sighed.

"My father died of a heart attack. My mother forced me to move in with her and forget him. I watched her cry herself to sleep every night but put on a smile for me during the day. I watched her work twelve-hour shifts at work only to come home and insist on cooking dinner for me." Smiling at the memory, Eric continued.

"The woman was a fighter just like your mother Mae and I was just a lost boy. I can see it in your eyes as well, Ody. You do not know where to go and who to trust. Your mother does her best but is worn out and your sister does all she can to hold herself together but is just as broken as you are, boy.

"I want to help you, Ody. I know you do not like me and want Devlin instead and I will never seek to replace him but please, let me be there for Mae like my father was never for my mama. I am trying to help you. Please? I can only do this with your permission." Eric smiled down at the boy.

"What about your wife?"

"No one told you?" Eric sighed. "We went through with the divorce six months ago. She wanted it and I couldn't keep up with her, so we went through with it.

"Ody, I love your mother, I love your sister, and I'm sure in time, I'll get to know you. Please, let me help your family. No one was ever there for my mama and me. I'd hate to see that same thing happen to your family that's happened to mine."

Eric reached over and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and was happy that Ody didn't shrug it off. He hadn't said anything when he had called him his son again. Eric watched the boy closely as he waited for a response. He could see Ody turn his gaze from the floor once more.

For the first time, Ody looked into Eric's eyes with something that was not disdain, dislike, or even disgust. It wasn't exactly happiness either; it was pain. Tears threatened at Ody's eyes, but he did his best to hold them back. Devlin wouldn't have cried so he couldn't either.

"He's- really not coming back is he, Eric," Ody choked. He couldn't hold the tears back anymore. After his sixteen years of faking smiles and beating himself up, Ody let go.

"No. No, he's not coming back, Ody, but you know what? That is okay, Ody. Sometimes people leave us, and we don't know why at the time. Look around you, look where you and I are. Neither of us would be here if Devlin had not passed. You have to trust that there is a greater plan in it all.

"No one wants him gone and by God, I would give anything to have your father back for your sake if nothing else. Your father was a good man, a great man even. He loved you more than you could know."

There was a pause and Ody nodded. He wiped away his tear and sat up a little straighter.

"I don't expect you to let me into your life now, Ody. But please, as we go about this together, can you at least let me be a friend?" Eric smiled.

There was a pause and then Ody spoke. "I guess so." He smiled a little. It wasn't a forced smile concealing his anger this time. It was a smile of genuine happiness. He hadn't forgotten about how complicated his life was at that moment. He knew, deep down, that this was going to work out.

Life wasn't going to suddenly get better; it was going to be hard. Who was he kidding? What he was about to do was going to be the hardest thing ever. Chances are, he was not going to get over Devlin ever but that was okay. It was all okay.

The two put on their protective gear in the small room so they could blend into the scientists and doctors of the fifth basement. There was a kind of peace between them, an understanding. Standing up to leave, Ody looked into Eric's dark eyes.

"Are you ready?"