ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON 14

Episode 113

" Some old lady dropped off a coconut cake," Nettie Jean sniffed as she sat down on the sofa in the living room with a chipped plate that had a large slice of said cake on it. She sighed, thinking of her Jonah and their poor fatherless baby, before picking up the cake to take a huge bite. She didn't feel up to eating but she knew she needed to keep up her strength with the baby and all. She needed to find a time to tell her family the news even though they couldn't know who the daddy really was.

Bubba Joe sat on Jonah's old recliner chair, eating another slice of cake, watching the Price Is Right on the tv set. " It's pretty good. That old Black lady can cook. Although all the ones I done known can bake their asses off. That one had a pretty nice ass on her too. Name was Harriet , I think it was. Or Henrietta. Or something. Nice lady anyway. Said she knows his family through the church."

Nettie Jean licked her lips in enjoyment of the cake as she finished it off. " That man next door came over with some chocolate chip cookies. Pretty sure they come from a bakery or something. What man can bake? It was the handicap one. I had to go get them on the lawn because we ain't got no ramp for him to get up on. He's nice enough fellow. Don't know why LuLu don't like him. He gave her a ride to the hospital and everything. "

Bubba Joe snorted," I can see him baking. Them types usually do. Where your poor grieving sister at ? She shouldn't be running around in her state of being. "

Nettie Jean pursed her lips in much disgust as she laid the plate on the cluttered coffee table. Her older sister wasn't acting like she was grieving. Hardly. She had heard LuLu whistling earlier as she was searching their bedroom for the life insurance paperwork she swore Jonah had gotten a while back. He was so responsible and a good provider, she thought with tears filling her big eyes. " She ain't grieving, Daddy. And, she went out to walk that damn noisy pig. Now if the pig died she'd be sad I bet ya. Her own husband though. Surprised that brother of his ain't been by. " The cute arrogant one that she couldn't believe was really gay as a two dollar bill. What a waste, she mused as she heard a knock at the door. It sounded demanding.

She glanced over at her father who was washing down the finished cake with a bottle of beer as he watched the game show. Bubba Joe said casually," Better go see who that is before they wake them grandkids up. And, grab me nother slice of cake and couple them queer cookies. "

Nettie Jean rolled her eyes and stood up with her hand on her flat belly as though comforting Jonah's baby from the tragic loss of being fatherless. Then she moved along to open the door. When she did she saw the largest Black woman of an elderly age on the front porch that she had ever seen in her life. Wearing a thick black woolen coat and a huge dark hat with big plastic cherries bouncing off it. And , she was with several other Black women of a similar age , all dressed similar and holding Tupperware containers that smelled heavenly.

" Where are my poor grandbabies? ," the first woman said firmly in a big booming voice as she stepped into the hallway followed by the others. " And , that silly unbaptized White woman my Jonah married? My poor,  poor Jonah ! "

" That poor boy , " the other women moaned from behind her.

Nettie Jean widened her eyes and asked cautiously," Are y'all related to Jonah ? "

The first woman almost glared at her with her narrowed shrewdly intelligent dark brown eyes. " Of course I am ! I am his mother ! At the church they call me Mother Simms because I'm the first lady of the church but my name is Mrs. Alberta Simms. Who are you?"