ODDS OF LOVE

Episode Thirty Five

       

                                                                           ( Texts )

DuBuis : Your daughter arrived safe and sound. She is settling down in our guest room. 

Sylvia : My daughter is sleeping in her bedroom here. Thank you very much , twinkletoes. 

DuBuis : You know I'm talking about Luci , heifer. If Malcolm could see you today. 

Sylvia :  I do not claim that demon child anymore. Malcolm spoiled that boy way too much. Spare The Rod Spoil The Child I say. Harvey agrees. Malcolm was too permissive a parent. He spoiled him. He wouldn't even spank him. 

DuBuis : Oh so your husband believes in physical abuse huh ? 

Sylvia : Tell that spawn of Satan that we tossed all his trash out in the garbage can. Those ridiculous Japanese comic books. Those communist books. Sweet baby Jesus that boy was reading the Communist Manifesto ! What kind of reading material is that for a child ? I am glad to have it and him out of my home. 

DuBuis : Answer the question. Does your fucking husband abuse that child ?

Sylvia : It is not abuse. It is much needed discipline. We got spankings all the time when we were little , Mr. High and Mighty Doctor. That boy needs a firm hand. You and Steven will find that out soon. 

DuBuis : How exactly does he beat her ? With what ?

Sylvia : What are you trying to say ? Do not believe anything that child says. He lies. All the time. 

DuBuis : My eyes do not lie. I'm an ER doctor. I know abuse when I see it. I saw her legs in the shorts she was wearing. Those marks on her legs. I saw her back. She looked like she was whipped half  to death. I just finished doctoring a few spots that had not healed properly. One looked on verge of infection. I had to get an antibiotic for her. You're lucky I didn't call the cops in New Jersey. You are never getting that child back again. I promise you that. And you better hope I don't tell Faith.  If you touch Katrina that way I'll take her too. What the fuck is your problem ! 

Sylvia : I never laid a hand on that lying child. You can have that demon. And we don't discipline Katrina. She doesn't need it like Eddie.

DuBuis : If I ever see Harvey again I am kicking his ass. Trust that. 

Sylvia : Don't you dare threaten my husband. At least he is not stupid enough to get himself shot over a ring. Like Spencer. Yeah I know what happened. Faith told me. Now look at him. Just an useless crippled vegetable whose just your weird little burden. 

DuBuis : Keep my husband's name  out your mouth. I'm not texting or calling you again. We are done.  I just want you to sign over legal custody to me and Spencer. And I want it before school starts here. Goodbye. 

Sylvia lowered the cell phone with shaking hands. Her eyes were filled with furious rage and loathing. She swallowed hard and picked up her well worn bible. 

                                           ---------------------------------------------

DuBuis wanted to toss the cell phone across the living room but managed to restrain his own rage and anger because Luci suddenly appeared in the room. She wore a pair of bedraggled pajamas with little teddy bears on them and held tightly onto a battered stuffed bunny rabbit that Malcolm had given her at birth. She looked worried. 

" You ok , Luce ? " 

Luci blinked back tears. " I was gonna call and tell Katrina good night. But. My phone is turned off now. I guess Moms did it. Harvey always said it was a waste anyway. "

DuBuis shook his head. " Don't worry about that. Tomorrow I'm taking you to a doctor for a check up. The antibiotics I gave you are from from a tooth ache Spencer had long ago. I want to get more filled for you though. I can write that script myself. Spencer has an old iPhone he doesn't use anymore since he upgraded. We'll get you on our plan tomorrow.  And we'll go see Spencer. "

Luci smiled hesitantly. " Ok. Thanks , Uncle D. But Sol ? From next door ? He asked me to go to the Y tomorrow ? Will I have time ? Can I ? "

" Mrs. Klein's grandson ? Sure. He's a good kid. He doesn't have many friends. "

She lifted her little chin proudly. " Well he does now. "

DuBuis smiled at her. She was a good kid too , he thought. 

Luci smiled at him. " Night , Uncle D. "

" Good night , Luci. Sweet dreams , honey. "

                                   ---------------------------

Joe Jacobs : DuBuis isn't going for it. I have to say we ended on a rather difficult term.

Doris : I am not paying you a very generous sum to hear excuses. Get that boy away from my son. Any way you need to. 

                                  --------------------------------------

Doris : I might have an interesting problem for you to solve. As only you can.

Private Number : You know my rates.

Doris : The problem is Dr. DuBuis Lane. If my Plan A fails I will be in touch to activate Plan B. 

Private Number : And Plan B would be ?

Doris : He dies. Of course. 

Doris smiled as she reclined back against her plush bed pillows in her king sized bed. There was always more than one way to handle a problem. Especially since Richard was so useless.