" All rise for the honorable Judge Richard Norland ," the bailiff declared as everyone in the courtroom of Richard Norland on his first day back at work after the shooting rose to their feet promptly. All their eyes went over to the opened doorway......where nobody walked through especially not the judge himself in his flowing black robes.
Court Clerk Betsy Burns glanced over at the doorway from her desk with a growing alarm on her dark brown face. It was not like Richard to be late to court, she thought with much worry as she stood up and hurried from the courtroom with her destination being his own chambers. She knew he had been oddly cranky and irritable that morning when he arrived. Something about Sunday dinner at his father's with Lewis being postponed because Lewis was sick with a cold or something. Was he himself feeling sickly as well ? She and his husband Nigel had shared confidential concerns between themselves that he was returning to work way too soon. Were they right?
Betsy knocked on his chambers door. No answer. Her brow furrowed. She knocked again louder , calling out, " Judge Norland ! Time for court ! '
No answer.
Betsy , with worry increasing within her, decided to open the door and head inside. Where she discovered an unusual sight for Judge Richard Norland.
Richard was still seated in his tall black leather chair behind his organized desk. And, from the sounds coming out of his mouth, he was..... asleep.
" Judge Norland ! ," she retorted in a louder than normal voice that she usually only used for her own disobedient children. " Wake up now! "
Richard's eyes slowly opened and he sat up in his chair. He looked at his clerk and smiled in a rather goofy manner at her. " Hello , Bets. How are you today? "
Betsy sighed. " I'd be better if you got your behind to court which is currently in session. You are late, Judge Norland. "
Richard laughed and stood up casually. He swept over to the short rounded Black woman and gave her a shocking kiss on her cheek. " Oh , chill out , Bets. It's just a little cat nap. You sound like Nigel. "
Then he went outside to the courtroom while whistling what sounded like the theme of the Rebel show.
YOU ARE READING
ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON 15
General FictionThe ongoing original soap opera about the disabled math genius and former professor Dr. Spencer Norland - Lane , his doctor husband DuBuis Lane and their assorted family , friends and enemies in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area. Diverse. Mult...
