ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON THIRTEEN

Episode 21

( " Mama will protect you always. " )

Jeremiah came into the hospital room with two styrofoam cups of black coffee in his hand.

His sister , Keisha , was beside Jamal's hospital bed , holding his hand , and staring at his sleeping young face. On the other side of the bed sat his other nephew , Justin , who was for once not playing on his phone but sitting and looking uncomfortably confused.

Their mother, Harriet , sat in another chair by the bed reading silently from their family bible.

And his niece, Nicole, the baby of the family at twelve, stood by the window in the room. She as usual was wearing her beloved airpods and listening to music or podcasts or whatever on her iPhone.

He stepped forward and handed one cup of coffee to his mother who looked up at him and took it with a smile.

" Oh , thank you, baby boy. I was just thinking about coffee. It won't be as good as your sister's though. I know that right. Never liked hospital food or drink. Remind me of your daddy. "

He smiled sadly and kissed her on her cheek. He knew this was especially tough on her. His father, Harold, had died of a stroke in this very hospital two years ago. Then his mother had sold all five of the family soul food restaurants and retired to a life of volunteering at the Baptist church and watching The Rich and The Beautiful. " I love you, Mama. "

She smiled and touched his face with her lined hand. " I love you too. Whether you Janice or Jeremiah. The doctor says he pulled through surgery good. He strong boy. He gonna be okay. He got the Lord on his side and the Duncan strength. More than he got from his deadbeat daddy anyway. Now I been thinking. I knew Jenessa Lane growing up , well she married that rich foreigner with the funny accent , but I still think of her as Lane, may she rest in peace with Marvin. Her boy DuBuis , he a good boy like you, he gay like Justin is and he married a White man whose in a wheelchair now. I remember her saying once, before she passed on mind you , that the White man's nephew had a friend of his own. Boy named Arnold... Austin.... Now what is it? I don't know what he called but I think he is the other boy that woman hit. "

Keisha said stiffly," His name is Alan Kendall. I saw his mother in the hallway. She seems nice. Her husband died and her son is in a coma. The boy may not walk again. They say he runs track. I remember a story in the paper about one of his track things. He's good."
Her voice trembled. " And they say Jamal might have brain damage in some way but they won't know until he wakes up. He's my smartest child. My bookworm. He loves to read. This should not have happened. To anyone. "

Jeremiah offered the remaining cup to his sister. Keisha stared at it with red rimmed brown eyes that were devastated and angry. " I don't want no shitty coffee. I want all three of my children to be whole and healthy and safe again. I want the bitch to suffer. "

Harriet shook her head of grey curls at her daughter. " Now , Keisha , we not like that. That's for God to determine. Her suffering. What we need to do is pray for Jamal and that Kendall boy. We need to stay positive and have faith. "

Keisha snapped," I don't want to hear about no God, Mama. God didn't protect nobody today. Nobody. I want that woman to pay. I want her in jail for a long time. And , Jeremiah, I want you to sue that skank. I want you to bankrupt her. And , Mama , I don't want to hear about your church either. The only minister talking sense is that Lazarus Jones with the big church in Landover. "

Harriet clicked her teeth disapprovingly. " Oh , that heathen. He ain't no real minister. He's full of hate. That's what he is. "

Keisha said firmly," Right now so am I. For Dodie Angeletti. I want her to pay. And pay. And pay. Jeremiah, that mentor of yours ? Your beloved Richard Norland ? He's a judge now. That's what you said. You said he is a hard ass and a straight shooter. Think he'll get this case? I want him to have it. I want that woman under the jail. "

" I'm not sure, sis. He's just been sworn in. Tomorrow is his first day on the bench but I'm not sure. "

Bliss Jones came in the door and quickly went to her fiance's side. He turned around and pulled her to his body in a tight hug, tears rolling down his face.