Dennis having a husband that died of cancer before season one makes far too much sense. The fuggly hair cut is growing back from the solidarity shave to match his husband, he’s broke not only due to medschool but also the medical bills, his husband had been the main breadwinner so when he became terminal and then died dennis could keep up with their house payments. He had gotten his theology degree, but watching his husband’s sickness continue to worsen his belief in godd wanned. And he turned all that devotion towards the people that were trying their damnedest to save the love of his life and decided to pivote careers.
After watching Amy drop Dennis off at work. Jack tries to say something about developing a relationship with the greiving widow of a patient wasn’t healthy for either of them, dennis kind of snaps a bit, because no matter how many times he keeps saying they’re just friends and he likes the farm no one is actually listening to him.
“Didn’t you get lonely after the love of your life died? I know I fucking did.” (and for drama lets say this is also the anniversary of his husband’s death) and Dennis starts crying… not loud or even dramatic, but in the way that its clear he still thinks he’s got a stiff upper lip and is saving face until he feels the first tear drop from his chin.
Jack practically abducts dennis from work and both widowers have a very sad, but also cathartic day of being able to talk to someone that understands. They start a Widor club and Amy is inducted into it pretty soon and they each help the other when no one else really understands. Jack finds himself as some kind of Widower-Elder making sure these two kids don’t drown in their grief at their more recent losses.
