ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON 15

Episode 7

" Richie and Tanisha's social worker called me today," Nigel said as he sat down beside Richard's hospital bed. Richard was busy emailing Bernard about his returning to work on Monday as well as texting his brother Spencer and also Jeremiah about Luci and Nicole but he still lifted his glance away from his multitasking to look at his husband's tired face.

As Nigel took his feet from his canvas deck shoes , leaned back in the chair and stretched out his legs Richard asked urgently," Is there a problem? "

Nigel shook his head. " Not with the kids staying with us. Not really. The social worker just wanted to let me know that she found a link to that girl with Richie and Tanisha. "

" That girl? Who? "

Nigel closed his eye and touched his eye patch in an oddly anxious movement. " Tina Green. She's Richard Jenkins Sr. 's daughter from a previous relationship. "

Richard froze in his bed, still holding his phone loosely. His foster children were related to the girl who had shot him.......

" What? Do they know this girl? It wasn't in the initial report. "

Nigel opened his eye. " I asked Richie about her. He didn't want to talk about it. He just said they didn't associate with her and her mum much. At all really. The social worker said the girl's own mother was a waitress who was killed in a carjacking when Tina was only six. Apparently Richard Sr. didn't want her or maybe it was Richie and Tanisha's mum that didn't so she ended up between the mum's family and foster homes in PG county. It's a tragic upbringing but it doesn't justify what she did. "

Richard sighed. " No. It doesn't. It also doesn't have anything to do with Richie or Tanisha. How are Luci , Nicole and Susan Mullins doing? Do you know? "

Nigel was the one sighing this time. " Luci and Nicole are doing alright for kids shot in the chest and back. Spencer is stronger than I thought he would be and DuBuis is a wreck right now. Keisha and Jeremiah are basically DuBuis right now. Understandable. And , Susan......"

Richard waited with growing unease as the pain increased within his body. His fingers began to push for more morphine.

Nigel continued on softly as he closed his eye once more," The doctors think..... They think she's..... brain dead. "