ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON TEN

Episode 75

Christmas dinner at the closed to the general public Richard and Nigel's took place in one of the two large spacious party rooms in the back.

The food had been prepared earlier by Jenessa , Glory , Nigel and Spencer in the state of the art restaurant kitchen and it was indeed a culinary feast. The four cooks did " put their foot in it " as the large highly polished oak wood table in the party room nearly groaned with platters and huge bowls of deep fried turkey , marinaded with brown sugar ham , collard greens with smoked ham hocks ( Jenessa's own special recipe ) , baked mac 'n cheese ,  candied yams , green bean casserole ,  shrimp and sausage gumbo and Jenessa's Granny's own cornbread dressing.  Matilda had even fixed a special Christmas drink popular in the UK  Wassail : a warm cider  with a blend of fruit and spices. She also made a special non labeled non alcoholic Wassail for the kids and others preferring not to indulge. During the dinner ,  and after the thankfully short prayer of  blessing by Reverend Joy Jones ,  Matilda had amused everyone ( except for Glory , Jenessa and Nicholas who ignored her for various reasons ) by recounting with a dramatic flair the pagan story that inspired the roots of Wassail ; apparently it was a tradition dating back to the fifth century with two things in common : Singing and drinking. 

" To wassail is to ensure a proper good harvest in the next season , " Matilda said merrily as she looked at Gerald HighTower with a flirty smile on her beautiful face. " It usually takes place on the twelfth night after Christmas but we are in the states so exceptions can be made ! But we must indeed sing , dance , and make merry ! " She laid her long slender manicured hand on Gerald's arm , saying , " I bet you will very much enjoy it , handsome sir. Drink up ! To your health , sir ! " 

Gerald flushed red at her attention and Alfred narrowed his own eyes at her but stayed silent. He didn't know why but he didn't like the woman paying so much attention to the headmaster. Couldn't she see he was a new widower and not up to just jumping back into things like dating? He assumed he wasn't up to it. Maybe he was. Although the thought of Gerald and Matilda as a couple he wasn't at all fond for some reason that he couldn't comprehend. 

Richie wolfed down dressing like it was going out of style and said , " That's pretty fire. Ain't it , Poke ? "

Lewis nodded as he worked on a turkey leg and tried to ignore Race Jr. who kept asking him quietly if he wanted to try out his new toys. Luci agreed as she reached for the homemade dinner rolls while Spencer's eyes went over to the travel crib in the corner of the room where Miracle slept on. " Yeah , " Luci said as she avoided the eyes of her mother Sylvia and stepfather Harvey , " I like stuff like that. I read a book once that said...... "

Harvey pursed his lips at the child he still regarded as just an abomination and a sinful mistake. He was wishing he had put his foot down and they had just gone to his family's house in South Carolina instead. He was very uncomfortable with all these ..... queer people. " Hush  , boy , " he said as he interrupted Luci rudely , waving a turkey leg in the air. " This is why we should not have children at the table.  Children should be seen and not heard. Especially children like you. "

Luci fell into silence and so did everyone else at the table until Lyle spoke up with , " I beg to differ , Mr. Cooper. As a teacher I believe all children should be allowed to speak freely about their viewpoints. " 

DuBuis nodded. " I agree. And , Harvey , if you continue to be rude to and misgender MY NIECE you can just leave right now. I'm sure we can fix you a to go plate. " He smiled widely and bitterly at the man. 

Jenessa shook her head. " DuBuis , that is rude. Just as rude as what you claim Harvey did. I'm sure he didn't mean to offend. Right , Harvey ? "

Harvey laughed. " I meant to be honest. Apparently that's a crime in this country today. We are just supposed to pretend that certain things are normal. " His eyes drifted to Lyle and Angel  as well as Spencer and DuBuis and Richard and Nigel and Luci. He even included Faith and Theodore in his polka dot bow tie in his razor sharp glare. " The bible says...... "

" The bible says to love thy neighbor and judge not lest ye be judged or with the same measure you shall be judged , " Joy said quietly from where she sat beside Faith whose own eyes she refused to meet out of sudden shyness. " I learned that in my divinity school studies at Harvard , sir. Where did you learn the word ? "