Forever

He needs help

Alex had heard of Normans violent outburst from Normas descriptions, but he had never seen one for himself. He would have never thought that when he did a social visit to the new family in town, a couple years later he would this effected by them. Never did he imagine he would be outside face to face with her son, as he advanced towards him with an axe.
"Don't you think your mother deserves a man in her life?" An attempt to reason with Norman only resulted in more misunderstanding and violence.
"Put the axe down Norman", he was used to de-escalating situations being the sheriff- but this was different. He couldn't protect himself if he wanted to, it would forever hurt Norma if he laid a hand on her son. Norman didn't listen, "I hate you!, I hate you! I hate you!"
He stammered as he wailed the axe into the shed.
Alex didn't know what to do, but he knew with certainty he couldn't leave Norma in this house by herself. Norman was behaving much too violently. Although Alex was used to dealing with crazy people, he was always dumbfounded on how to handle this teenage psycho.

Norman finally calmed down and dropped the axe, Alex was relieved. Norman rushed to the front door and ran up to his room, slamming the door behind him. Norma sat up from the dining table and looked worriedly up the stairs. Alex could see the concern on her face.
"I'm staying here tonight, I'm not leaving you alone with him."
Norma peered up at him. Every time he looked into her eyes his heart sped up a little. He loved this women, he would do anything for her.

"We'll do you need to get anything from your house?" Norma questioned him.

"No I'll just stay on the couch, I'll just wear these clothes in tomorrow".

"Okay, thank you Alex".

Although he was married to her, he felt like a teenage boy every time she said his name. He always tried to be stoic but Norma always managed to make him loose his guard.

A restless night of sleep came to an end when Norma leaned over his body and awoke him.
"Good morning Alex, how did you sleep?" She somberly spoke as a smile creeped across her face.
"A couch from the 1970s isn't exactly my bed of choice" he smirked gently.
"Well you could have joined me in my bed, I never said you had to sleep on the couch- you made that decision yourself."
He sat up, Norma had prepared coffee for both of them and set it out on the coffee table.

"You're up early" he spoke quietly.

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep. I was worried about Norman. I just- I don't know Alex, I feel like everything I do is wrong. I put him in Pine View with the hope he would get better; but based off last night it seems that was a failure too." She took a sip of her coffee, defeat written on her face.
"Norma, I know you don't want to hear this but Norman needs help. A couple weeks at pine view is not enough, he needs to be re-admitted. I care too much about you to watch the life get  drained from your eyes."

This offended Norma.

"How dare you think my son would ever hurt me? You will never understand the relationship we have. You just won't. I know he needs help Alex, do you think I don't know that by now?"

He never quite understood how Norma managed to get so defensive so quickly. He wasn't mad at her, she just couldn't see the bigger picture.

"Okay Norma. He is your son, not mine. But I will not leave you alone in this house with him. I will stay down here or in the motel if it means you're safe."

Alex didn't see the purpose of fighting with her, she was stubborn. But he was stubborn too, so letting her win was difficult. Especially knowing the consequences it could have.

Norma rolled her eyes and buried her nose in the mug. She didn't like how Alex thought Norman would hurt her. In fact she hated it.

They didn't speak another word until Alex got up and left for work.

"Bye Norma, I'll- uh- I'll see you later okay?"

"Yeah okay" she said softly, exhausted.

He turned and walked out the door. He got in his SUV and started it up. He could see Norma wave goodbye from the front door. He was madly in love with this woman. As much of a difficulty it was to be with her, he wouldn't have it any other way.