"Spencer Adams is Held Over at the Logans"

"It's so good to see you!" Spencer exclaims before greeting longtime friend Michael Logan with a patented bear hug. Michael hadn't been looking all that forward to Spencer's visit but had agreed to play nice for the sake of his wife - whose history with Spencer extends just as far back as his.

Michael lets his body go limp as he gestures with the free part of his left arm for Doris to help him. She taps Spencer on the shoulder and says, "Down boy."

Now back on solid ground, Michael thanks Spencer and turns on his heel to the kitchen where dinner awaits. "Let's eat so you can go."

"Michael!" Doris snaps as she and Spencer follow Michael into the kitchen.

"What? The hour is getting late and I am sure he as important business to take care of very early in the morning." Michael goes to the cabinet and takes out three plates. He hands one to Spencer and another to Doris as she heads to the stove. He closes the cabinet door, opens the silverware drawer and pulls out a large spoon as well as a large fork.

"Spencer, I'll fix your plate." Doris offers as she unveils the pot of green beans with potatoes and pulls the foil away from the pork chops. Michael hands her a spoon for the green beans and potatoes as well as a fork for the pork chops.

As she prepares Spencer's plate, Michael glares at Spencer but addresses Doris. "What about my plate?"

Without looking up but with a smirk on her face Doris says, "You can fix your own. After all, you said earlier that Spencer is MY guest. He shouldn't have to lift a finger here."

"Doris, please. I feel at home here," Spencer responds.

Michael hands his empty plate to Spencer. "See? Spencer feels at home, which means he doesn't mind fixing his own plate."

Doris hands Spencer his plate of food. "I'll tell you what, Michael. I'll fix your plate if you fix mine." She takes the empty plate from Spencer's hand and gives it to Michael. Spencer laughs, shakes his head and takes his plate into the dining room.

Doris finishes making her plate and hands it to a sulking Michael. "You are such a brat," she says to him.

"Maybe so, but I still got you to fix my plate," he replies before blowing Doris an air kiss and heading into the dining room.

Michael sets his plate across from Spencer. Doris comes out with her plate and sets it at the head of the table between Michael and Spencer. She heads back to the kitchen to get three glasses out of the cabinet.

"Spencer, what would you like to drink?" Doris calls from the kitchen.

"Water. I'll get my glass from the living room," he replies as he gets up from the table and heads into the living room.

"Ok. Let me know if you need a refill."

Spencer checks his glass out as he picks it up from the coffee table in the living room. "I'm good. I didn't drink much."

"That reminds me. I have a Pepsi out there. Would you mind bringing it to the table?"

"Sure thing, Doris."

"Thanks, Spencer."

Spencer returns to the table at the same time as Doris, who hands Michael a glass of lemonade.

"Thank you, dear."

After a few moments of cutting and chewing, Spencer breaks the silence. "I've never seen you drink anything but lemonade or water."

"I drink a lot of tea too," Michael replies.

"I've become a total coffee junkie. At least three or four cups a day. If I were a still a smoker, those cups would be packs," Spencer jokes.

Doris chimes in. "I am so glad you quit. I don't know how you managed to play baseball as well as you did with all those cigarettes."

"It's just one vice for another. Do you remember those couple of months you spent with Professor Courvoisier?" Spencer asks.

Doris laughs embarrassingly. "Oh don't remind me. So much for social sororities. I couldn't get out of that fast enough. Could you imagine if I hadn't?"

"I did. Which is why Michael and I pushed for you to get out of it," Spencer recalls.

Doris laughs even harder. "You guys staged an intervention before it was even necessary!"

Spencer joins in the levity. "We didn't know it at the time but you were totally mocking us with your apologies and making amends. It was as if you were going through the fastest 12-step program right before our eyes."

Michael rolls his eyes as he focuses his energy on finishing the meal and getting through the evening as quickly as possible.

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"That was a great meal, Michael," Spencer raves as Michael begins to collect the empty plates from the table a short time later.

"Thanks, Spencer. Would you care for some dessert?"

"Not yet, but definitely before I leave."

Michael looks at the clock as he heads into the kitchen and rolls his eyes over the fact that he can't yet claim how late it is. "I'll brew some tea in the meantime."

"That sound great," Doris replies as she motions for Spencer to follow her into the living room. "Spencer and I will be in the living room," she calls out to the kitchen.

"Ok. I'll bring his coat, er -- his tea out there."

Doris rolls her eyes while she and Spencer sit on the couch. "It's silly for you to get a hotel room while you are here in Charlotte," she whispers. "We have plenty of room. Why don't you stay?"

"Do you think Michael will mind?" Spencer whispers back.

"Why would he?" Doris asks.

"Doris, I'm not exactly his favorite person."

"Oh that's just Michael being Michael."

"He's been Michael for quite some time, Doris."

"That doesn't mean he doesn't want you here."

"It also doesn't mean he'll think it a good idea to force my company on him."

"Force? Spencer, come on. Don't worry about Michael. He'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" Spencer asks just before his phone rings. "It's Ajay. I'll take this outside."

While Spencer makes his way down the stairs to the foyer and out the door, Doris sashays into the kitchen toward Michael and puts his arm around him. "I have a great idea," she prefaces.

"I do too. It's called the Hampton Inn," Michael says adamantly as he takes the cake out of its box for dessert.

"Why can't he just stay here?" Doris asks, pulling back her arm and placing them on her hips.

"Wasn't dinner enough?"

"Michael, this is ridiculous. We don't get to see Spencer very often. Why should he have to stay in a hotel while he's town?"

"Fine. He can stay here. I'll stay in a hotel."

Spencer returns from outside. "Suit yourself," she says to Michael. "Spencer, take the guest bedroom downstairs. You'll have more privacy there," Doris informs him as he makes his way up the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Thanks, Doris. Michael, I really appreciate you letting me crash here tonight. Hotels aren't as exciting once you start cashing in frequent lodger points."

Doris and Spencer share a laugh while Michael walks around them and takes the cake into the dining room. "Why does this cake say 'Happy Workaversary'?" he asks from the dining room.

"It fits. Michael can be a lot of work sometimes," Doris says to Spencer before leading him into the living room.

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Michael wakes up in the middle of the night, tip-toes out of his bedroom and down the hallway into the kitchen. When Michael flicks the light on, he finds Spencer seated at the dining room table nursing a drink. Michael surveys the scene for a moment before taking a class out the cupboard, going to the refrigerator and pouring himself a glass of water.

"What have I ever done to you?" Spencer asks with his back toward Michael.

"How did you know it was me?"

"Doris would have asked me if something was wrong - because she cares."

"What makes you think I don't care?" Michael asks before taking a sip.

"Dude, you didn't exactly welcome me here with open arms."

"Spencer, I do that with everybody. I just don't like people anymore."

"Michael, you've treated me like this since college."

"So shouldn't you be used to it by now?"

"One would think, but it's always bothered me. Doris never understood it and I figured that some things were better left un-asked but I really want to know."

"Do we have to have to this conversation at 2:30 in the morning?"

"Well, you are up at 2:30 in the morning so it must be bothering you too."

"I see your delusions haven't faded with age."

"Just answer the question."

Michael makes his way from in front of the refrigerator to a chair at the table next to Spencer. "The only thing you've ever done to me is you just being you."

"Then what's with the animosity?"

"It's simple. You make me feel inferior."

"What? That's ridiculous."

"It's true. I've always prided myself on having a certain level of confidence in myself. Then you came along in college, Doris developed this huge crush on you and I was left feeling like the last one picked for dodgeball. You outshined me in the two areas where I had any level of talent - radio and writing. You couldn't just be a singer-dancer-actor-athlete. You had to be a regular guest on my talk show because they loved your energy and share my column in the creative arts magazine because they loved your artwork. Worst of all, you are so damn nice - which makes it really hard to dislike you even though I really don't. And that's why I do."

Spencer considers this for a moment. "But Michael, shouldn't you be over most of this by now?

"I should, but every time you come around and every time your name is brought up I get taken back there."

"Why?"

"Spencer, in case you hadn't noticed, you are a pretty charmed individual living a pretty charmed life - a life I didn't pursue."

"You wanted to be a actor?"

"No, but since both outlets attributed my success to you, I assumed I couldn't make it without you so went into a field I knew you wouldn't -- education. Don't get me wrong, I love my life and I love my family but there is this lingering feeling that I should be living the kind of life you are."

"Interesting you say that."

"Don't tell me you want to live my life."

"Michael, you are married to the woman I've always loved. You are living the life I always wanted but put on hold until I made it as an actor. That was over twenty years ago. I didn't think it would take this long to forge a career. I got the son I always wanted but he deserved better than to be the result of a drunken one-nighter. I still want what you have. I've always wanted to be the kind of person you are. Believe it or not, I actually hate being so nice all the time."

Michael laughs. "Why didn't you ever tell me any this?"

"I could ask you the same thing. Besides, what difference would it have made?"

"If I had known you equally envious of me, I might have let you have Doris. She can be a lot of work, you know."