ODDS OF LOVE

Episode Fifteen

Seeing his own family and friends support him and Spencer so much made DuBuis sad. It reminded him just how different his family was from his husband's. Yes his family had been poor and working class before his mother married Santa Fats but they were rich in love. Nobody in the family ever suffered alone and everyone was accepted for who or what they were. Even his being gay. He knew some in the family did nor approve of what they still called his " lifestyle " but they never attacked him for it. Not to his face anyway. Except for Uncle RoyBoy when he got even drunker on some rotgut and lectured DuBuis on being " sinful " during Thanksgiving dinner once. Auntie Flo had laid her husband RoyBoy out and rumor had it had him on their sofa for three weeks. He still smiled too over Spencer turning the tables on RoyBoy by quoting scriptures like he was a fiery Baptist minister. Spencer used the word to show that his uncle's drinking was more sinful than their " lifestyle " . 

Spencer's family was not like his. Spencer had told him stories of growing up Norland. Some parts he envied. Like how his husband had had his own bedroom growing up. Like how Spencer had gone to sleep at night without hearing gunfire. He had once showed Spencer the old falling down Project W and on the drive he had demanded that Spencer keep the door on his side locked and the window rolled up. Spencer had looked like such an innocent child as he had gaped at the scantily clad hookers and baggy panted corner boys selling their product from Uncle Panther who was now sixty and the oldest living gangster around. Uncle Panther was slowing down though and letting his oldest son and DuBuis's cousin Bullet handle more of the " enterprise ". Panther was more of a CEO now. 

The Norlands were cold. Isolated. The mother , Doris , was not loving at all. She controlled her three children like pawns on a chessboard. She used her vast candy bar empire money and great influence as weapons. Both of the siblings tended to ignore Spencer although Richard did sent him cards on his birthday and Christmas. Richard had sent him a text message after they had gotten married which was interesting to say the least. It said , " I approve of your marriage to Spencer. Just like I did your friendship. He never had friends. He is special you know. And I don't mean the IQ. They tested him and he is high functioning autistic. Mother would not hear it though. She does not like imperfections of any kind. I am left handed but she made me write with my right hand. I grew used to it. Anyway I wish you both well. Please take care of him. " 

DuBuis grabbed hold of Spencer's limp pale but warm hand and squeezed it gently.

DuBuis was feeling a lot of anger these days. About Richard and the other Norlands not visiting , calling , texting. About Spencer being in a coma. About Spencer going to that damn store. About the cops not having one damn lead on the case. 

He couldn't see why anyone would hurt Spencer. Spencer thought he was a cold machine but that wasn't true. He loved to cook and was good at it. He loved to feed people especially DuBuis. He baked cookies and cakes for the elderly shut ins in their neighborhood especially Mrs. Klein next door. He and Mrs. Klein also bonded over Jeopardy. He would make up easy extra credit assignments for students that were on the verge of flunking his classes. He gladly met with any student outside class for tutoring.  It was Spencer who had found the then skinny timid Algebra and her kittens outside the house in a rain storm and taken them in the house. He smiled wistfully as he recalled Spencer tenderly bottle feeding one of the kittens that wasn't nursing good from Algebra. How could anyone hurt him ? 

( " He gave up the wallet and watch , " Faith said . " The credit cards. But not his wedding ring. He would not give up that ring , bro. Miss Mabel and the customer said he said no. The guy hit him with the gun and he said no. He tried to run away and hide and the bastard shot him in the back and head. He better hope and pray I don't find him. I might forget the law and just go for the order. " )

" You idiot. You moron. You foolish foolish man. God damn you. I would have gotten you another damn ring. Two damn rings. You are so much more important to me than a ring. I need you. I want you. I love you. You hear me ? I need you. I love you. You're my whole world. My life. If I lose you..... I already lost you..... Wake the fuck up. Wake. Up. Now. Yeah , you heard me. Enough of this being lazy. Wake up. I'm taking your skinny ass to Disney World. Magic Kingdom. Epcot. Animal Kingdom. You'll love it. I bet you will. I want a big picture of you with Goofy and Mickey. You can't miss that. Wake up. Wake up. Please God wake up. Come back to me. You silly madman genius. Please. I'm begging you. Please. Please come back to me. I love you. " 

Spencer's eyelids fluttered slightly and hope started to grow within DuBuis. 

" Yeah you hear me. Wake up. Now. I swear to God above , Spencer. On my father's grave. If you die I will never forgive you. You said you would never leave me. "