ODDS OF LOVE : ONE MOMENT

Episode 27

Later that night Faith was back on her bar stool at the cop bar , nursing her third whiskey and soda. She was surprised to see Nita Browne plop down on the stool next to her.

Nita waved her hand at the bartender, saying," Miller Lite. And some of those nachos with extra cheese. "

Faith took a sip from her drink , her dark eyes shielded like she still wore her sunglasses. " Sorry about today. "

Nita shrugged. " No problem. You a good cop, Lane. Just need to be less extra. You go on the streets being that extra we gonna end up giving your family a flag at your funeral. Speaking of funeral how you feeling about your girl? "

Faith was silent a long time but she kept drinking.

Nita continued on ," It ain't easy. Losing someone you love. Trust me. I understand that. I lost my wife a year ago. Breast cancer. She was my everything. "

Faith swallowed. " Sorry. Pamela is going to be laid to rest next week.  Wednesday. Hump day. She hated Wednesdays. I tried to call her mother. Text her. I can't. Don't know what to say. Maybe something like" sorry Mrs. Perkins but if I had left her alone she would still be alive today ". I don't know. "

The bartender placed Nita's beer and nachos in front of her. She nodded at him and opened the beer for a long swig. " Nothing you would say matters , Lane. "

Faith looked at Nita almost daringly. " I passed the detective exam. My family doesn't even know. I found out the night Pamela died. I never got to tell her. She wouldn't have been happy. She hated me being a cop. I loved her but I don't know if we would have lasted. I don't know. " She stole one of Nita's nachos with a mischievous wink and Nita just shook her braided head at her. " I got offers from your unit, Gang and Homicide. "

Nita crunched on a nacho loudly. " I know what I'm rooting for. What you picking? Homicide. Right ? The Best of the Best ? "

" I can't do what you do, Browne. All those rapes. It's bad enough dealing with it through Spencer. I straight up wanted to beat the fuck out of Sands today. Nah , Sex Crime ain't for me. I want danger. I want sharp edges. To remind me I'm still alive. I'm still here. "

Nita tapped her fingers against the beer bottle. " Gang , right? "

Faith smiled bitterly. She saw herself at her father's long ago funeral, staring at the flower draped casket. " No. Homicide. I start after labor day. I lost Pamela and gained a gold shield. "

Nita laughed harshly. " Yeah. I lost Daisy and gained an ulcer. I'd rather have Daisy back. "

Faith's phone beeped and she looked down at it. It was a text from Melinda.

Melinda: Wanna play Naked Twister? My place. I got margaritas.

Faith tapped out a response," Sure , why not?"

                 ----------

Richard Norland looked at himself in the mirror in Nigel's hospital bathroom. He looked exhausted and worried.

The accident.

Spencer's attack.

Nigel's blindness.

Being shot at.

And having some piece of shit come within spitting distance of the man he was getting too damn attached to.

It was a lot to deal with. And he was about to do it unprotected. He knew Nigel was not a fan of guns but he was glad he had the 45 at  home for self defense and protection. He didn't think Spencer's stalker would bother them in his own home but if the man did , if he came near Nigel again, if he harmed one precious hair on Nigel's head that would be the very last thing this son of a bitch ever dreamed of doing.

                       ----------

Spencer was sleeping when all of a sudden he was awakened by a tender kiss on his lips. A very familiar kiss that had him smiling even before his eyes opened.

DuBuis was kneeling beside the bed, holding a dozen red roses in his arms. " Hello , Sleeping Beauty. "

Spencer sat up in bed and motioned at the flowers. " Have I forgotten a societal important holiday like Valentine's Day or something? "

DuBuis laughed. " No. I just thought you would like flowers. No. I thought you deserved flowers. We can keep them in here so the cats won't mess with them. "

" I love you, DuBuis. "

" I love you too, Spencer. I've been falling down on protecting you and I'm sorry. "

Spencer leaned forward and whispered," Don't be ridiculous. You protect me every day. I just want to protect you. And Luci. And even the brother I never realized I loved. "

                      ---------

Kris looked over at her sleeping lover Skip Sands and for just a second she wondered.