ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON THIRTEEN

Episode 96

" Mama ! , " Keisha Duncan snapped tersely as she swept into her family's cozy plant filled kitchen in their two story Hyattsville home. " Why did you let me oversleep ? This morning of all mornings too. I need to check on the cafe to make sure my workers haven't run it into the ground with me being so busy at that courthouse. And I need to check on Jamal. You know the doctor wants him to go to that Moss Center place on Friday for rehab. He's nervous about it. " So was she she actually , she thought as she looked vaguely at her elderly mother already dressed for the day and her other two children who were way too involved in whatever they were watching so eagerly on the small tv set that was perched on the counter between the coffeepot and the bread maker. DuBuis Lane and the doctor at the hospital both swore up and down that the facility was a good one and would help with what they called Jamal's traumatic brain injury from what that woman had done to him in the accident but she didn't know. She wasn't used to her kids being away from her at all. Justin still lived at home even though he was a freshman in college this semester. He wanted to live in a dorm next semester but she wasn't quite sure he was ready for all that mess. And Jamal was too shy even before the accident to be away from home long really. Now Nicole was different. She , even at twelve , was her overly confident brave one who never met a stranger and loved challenges. Like Jeremiah really. At least money wouldn't be an issue with that fancy trust that the rich White man Nicholas What's His Face had set up with Jeremiah. Not that she liked taking charity especially from people like him. 

Harriet shook her head at her daughter as Keisha shuffled over in her old comfortable bathrobe over her favorite nightie that proudly proclaimed WORLD's BEST MOM on the front and bunny slippers to pour a cup of hot black coffee in an effort to clear her still groggy head of sleep. "Shhh , little girl. Something done happened to that Angeletti woman at the jail. " 

Justin said as he shoveled cornflakes into his mouth and eagerly watched the television reporter that was before the county jail building talking faster than normal , " Yeah. They think she unalived herself. "

" Who cares ? , " Nicole mumbled as she listened to Lazarus Jones' podcast on her earbuds through her phone but even her big brown intelligent eyes drifted over to the tv. 

" What ? , " Keisha exclaimed in amazed wonder as she came over with the coffee to stare at the news report. "You gotta be kidding. " 

Then her phone rang from her robe pocket and she fished it out gradually even as she listened to the reporter. " Hello , " she said with a distracted air to her voice as she answered it.

It was Oscar Oswell , that oddly attractive assistant headmaster at the fancy rich private school who she had been talking to most nights since the day he had caught her outside the hospital crying over all this mess that woman started. The attractive , sweet and old fashioned White man who treated her like a lady and had her feeling a certain way that she thought she would never ever  feel  since Bullet Lane's old ashy ass. Not that she was going to date the man or anything. She had never dated a White man in her life. And , the man said he was bisexual too which she didn't know how she felt about really. People always said that bi men were just gay men that hadn't come out the closet so she didn't know if she even wanted to be a beard for him but the friendship was nice. Lord knew she needed a good friend right now with all this stuff going on in her life. 

" Keisha , my dear , have you heard the news about Dodie Angeletti ? Are you alright ? "

Taking a long deep sip of coffee as she took in the news report eagerly and drank in the welcome sound of his blessed voice she said , " I'm watching it now with my family. As for your second question...... I'm not sure about that yet. But I'm glad you called. The funeral for Dr. Kendall is on Friday. I need to get Jamal settled at Moss that day but I also wanted to show my respects to the Kendall family too. Ariel invited me. Would you mind going with me ? "

Harriet heard her daughter's hushed words and cut her dark eyes curiously over at her.

Oscar coughed rather endearingly in a nervous manner and said softly , " I was going to attend myself. Dr. HighTower is staying at the school that day and he asked me to represent Barrington at the funeral. Alan Kendall is a very popular student at the school and his injuries and father's passing have hit us all hard. I expect it is the same at your son's own school. But yes..... I would not mind accompanying you to the funeral. Not at all. "

Even as she watched the news report Keisha couldn't stop from smiling gently at the man's gentle words. Oscar could always make her smile. Even Bullet had not had that affect on her.