ODDS OF LOVE

Episode Thirty Seven

   The next few days passed by in relative peace. Even the normally hot and humid temperature for a Maryland summer had eased itself into down a notch to a fairly reasonable eighty five degrees in the shade. DuBuis was getting used to balancing his new normal of a life which included daily visits with Luci to see Spencer at the rehab center , working at the hospital and rearing Luci. 

Yes , he was having trouble sleeping at night without Spencer next to him. 

Yes , he was taking a lot of extra strength headache pills with his coffee in the morning to ward off the ghastly headache that visited him almost as soon as he woke up. 

The headaches started the minute the crew of rowdy potbellied men had arrived at their house to construct the ramps and do other handicapped accessible work. But it was worth it if he meant his husband would be back home sooner rather than later. Back home where he belonged. Luci had helped him move his and Spencer's stuff to the new bedroom that was once the dining room. The old dining room set they no longer had space for Faith had taken off his hands since her apartment was still just barely furnished outside of a living room sofa and the bedroom. And Luci had burst into happy tears when she saw the surprise gift DuBuis had gotten for her own room : a new princess like single bed with big plush heart shaped pillows and a hot pink blanket. Just like the one he had seen her looking at with undisguised want one day they had been at the Mall At Prince Georges. Mark and Scout were also building her a sturdy bookcase for her room. And every last book that Sylvia had thrown away DuBuis had let Luci buy from the local independent bookstore. Including the communist one.  Luci was equally thrilled when now six month pregnant Susan Mullins and Faith and oddly enough Pamela Perkins from the rehab home had showed up one night unexpectedly to have a " Girls Only " ( no DuBuis allowed so he went to see Spencer alone )  painting party which involved painting her new bedroom her favorite color of a dusky pink and gossiping. Before he had left DuBuis had seen his little sister in the hallway kissing Pammy and it left him with many questions and the hope that Faith was finally going to settle herself down a little. 

Luci was beginning to adjust to her new home. She was still overly cautious about wearing her beloved makeup and nail polish around the house until DuBuis had outright addressed it with her. He told her point blank that he had no issues with her wearing makeup or nail polish as long as she did not expect him to wear it too. That had set her off laughing. She still clung to her little brown fringed faux leather bag that she refused to say what exactly she had in it. She even slept with it , her small hands clutching it tight like it was a life line or something. Her new best friend Sol was a regular visitor to the house as well. DuBuis approved of the friendship because it made Luci so happy. Her face literally lit up whenever she saw Sol Klein. And his did as well when he looked at her. Her wounds were healing quickly thanks to the antibiotics that he prescribed. Sylvia had indeed terminated her own parental rights and transferred legal guardianship to DuBuis and Spencer. Spencer was even talking about wanting to adopt Luci and had even messaged his lawyer brother Richard about it. Luci had also called her grandmother in Florida and haltingly told her that she was transgender. Nessa's only response was , " I don't care what you are. I just know I love you , my beautiful baby. "  As for his husband DuBuis was almost awe struck by the tight bond between Luci and Spencer. Spencer had always claimed to never want children even when DuBuis had casually discussed adoption in the past. Spencer had always thought he would make an awful father but DuBuis knew that wasn't true. Spencer was very gentle and understanding with Luci and Luci was extremely protective of Spencer. During their visits to Spencer he often just sat back and quietly watched as Spencer and Luci chatted avidly and watched TV with Spencer's roommate Hank. 

Life was good. 

It would be better though if his ex lover Joe  would stop sending him texts and flowers and unwanted gifts. DuBuis had not told anyone about Joe resurfacing in his life. Even Spencer. Especially not Spencer. Of all his ex lovers Joe was the one that Spencer had taken the very strongest dislike to.  He was a little embarrassed about it and very curious about why the man was expressing interest again after so many years.  He resolved to find a way to make Joe stop once and for all. Joe was his past and needed to stay there. Life was showing DuBuis more and more that that he was right when he asked  Spencer to marry him. His present and his future belonged to only one man. Dr. Spencer Norland - Lane who had renamed his new motorized wheelchair Slow Ass 2.