ODDS OF LOVE : ONE MOMENT

Episode 11

Spencer was worried that night.

It was not just what had occurred in his living room the previous night. Although he was trying his very level best to just forget it.

Except for his family looking at him and treating him even by email and texts like he was some fragile porcelain doll that was about to topple off the shelf and crash to the floor below in a million shattered pieces.

Except for the detective from Sex Crimes that kept calling him to " inquire" if he was ready to discuss more about what had happened. She wouldn't take no for an answer.

Except  for Skip Sands who just wouldn't leave him alone. It was beginning to remind him of college. Skip had been the same then. He had been the type to create little obsessions for himself. And apparently, he thought as he smiled quietly as his husband and niece both complimented him on the seafood gumbo he had made for dinner that night, apparently he was the new obsession. Spencer's eyes lowered behind the back up glasses he hated with every fiber of his being. He missed his old glasses. He didn't deal well with any sort of change.

No. He was worried because when he had casually mentioned that he had filled out a Barrington Academy application for Luci and sent it in online that Luci's reaction had not been as expected.

" What! ," she had practically sputtered which wasn't all that good since she had had just placed a mouthful of food in her mouth. She quickly chewed and swallowed it before taking a sip of her strawberry milk.

DuBuis said," It's a good school, Luci. And it won't have teachers who misgender you at parent teacher meetings. "

Spencer nodded and idly noticed that his husband was back to drinking beer with dinner. It had dropped off for a bit but apparently tonight he had felt the need for two, no , three beers. He idly wondered if DuBuis was developing a drinking issue. Then he shook that thought off. What was the odds of that ever happening? " Yes ," he agreed. " And they most likely have wheel chair access to parents and students alike. The Hyattsville school is not far from us and they have buses. Richard just sent me an email. He spoke to the headmaster there and there's a opening actually available for this school term you can have. And Richard said there's a full diversity scholarship available for you. "

DuBuis laughed and finished off his beer. " That's good. I saw what tuition is at that place. "

Spencer continued on ," Richard said you could actually start after labor day. Isn't that wonderful? "

To Spencer it was wonderful because it would get his ward and surrogate daughter out of the access of Skip Sands. He didn't trust Skip. If he found out that the detective was apparently still looking into what happened what would Skip do? Suddenly he was not as hungry anymore as he pushed back his still full plate of food. If he was just him he may consider talking to Nita Browne but he was not just him. He would die if anything happened to DuBuis or Luci. Even Richard who actually was acting like he liked him lately. 

" I'm not going," Luci said stubbornly. She didn't like Mr. Sands and a lot of the kids there at her current school but everyone there wasn't bad. Like Ami Woo who had been assigned as her chemistry partner in science class. She was kinda funny even though she was obsessed with Manga and graphic novels to the point she wanted to create one when she was older. And the most important reason was that she didn't want to leave Sol behind. He would be all alone at the school without her. It was hard enough that his grandmother still didn't want her coming to their house after school or Sol coming here. Sure she was sorry about what had happened to Spencer but that didn't change the fact that she continued to blame them for her grandson being in trouble. In fact Sol had texted her earlier that his grandmother was really grumpy today after the court hearing. It had mainly been to tell what Jim was charged with and all in kiddy court. Jim hadn't even been there. They had streamed him in from the hospital. Sol said Jim might be in kiddy prison until he was eighteen. Since he was sixteen now Luci didn't think that was enough time. After all he had shot her aunt and been involved in shooting one of her uncles. So screw him really. But she would never tell Sol that.

Spencer pursed his lips. " You're going. It'll be better for you. You'll see. "

Safer definitely, he wanted to say but didn't.

Luci snapped," You mean like it's better for you to talk to the cops about what happened yesterday! Which it is  but you won't. Uncle Spencer, that is really hypocritical. "

Spencer's mouth fell open in shock.

DuBuis shook his head at his niece. " That's not right. Apologize to your uncle, Luci. Right now. "

Luci shook her head now. " No. I'm not running away from my school. I have friends..... Ok I have one friend there. And I'm not losing him ! "

She dropped her fork on the plate and jumped up from the table. Then she proceeded to race out of the room.  They heard her feet running up the stairs and then her door slamming shut.

They looked at each other.

DuBuis muttered," Well ,  that went great. "

Spencer said crisply," She is going. And that is final. "