"Can we switch from wipes to towels? I'll have some washing machines shipped in, but I don't like how many wipes we go through." Omisha placed her finger under the number on her weekly report.
"Yeah, I'll have Georgia go to the store to pick some up." Sam confirmed the switch as the sounds of his keyboard filled her ears.
It was almost 7pm and Winston had yet to come home, but she knew better than to worry herself. He was more than capable of taking care of himself and she'd been texting Oliver all day. After her conversation with Dean, she threw herself into work as that nagging feeling of guilt ate away at her.
"I think that should be all for today. I'll call you tomorrow and we can finish up the reports. Oh, did you hear back from Vurdu Pharmaceutical?" Omisha closed her laptop and stretched her legs before getting up from the couch to go prepare dinner.
"We did! They are currently drafting a contract for the requested medicines." The simple statement nearly made her jump in joy. If they agreed to their proposed terms, the shelter would have free access to all the medical supplies they'd need for patrons.
"Fuck yes! Thanks, Sam." Omisha smiled brightly as she pulled out pans.
"That was all you, Diane. None of this would have been possible without your diligence and intelligence. You're a blessing to these folks." The softness in Sam's tone filled her with joy that warmed her body and made her want to dance.
"You're too sweet." Pulling a pack of chicken out of the fridge, Omisha washed them before seasoning them to her liking. Once they were covered in the mix of brown and red seasonings, she lined them on a pan and slipped them into the oven.
"I'm just being real. Thank you for caring." The pair wished each other farewell before she tossed her phone on the island. Turning back to the stove, she began to search for the perfect sides. It wasn't long before she settled on brown rice, broccoli, and biscuits.
"Omisha!" She jumped at the booming voice of Winston, her spoon she'd been using to stir the rice now on the floor.
"I'm in the kitchen." Picking up the wood utensil, she placed it into the sink just as Winston came barreling into the kitchen. The anger on his face caused her eyes to widen in shock before he stormed closer and grabbed her arm.
"What'd you say to him?" He growled out.
"What are you talking about?" She spoke before her mind finally pieced together that he knew she'd talked to Dean.
"Don't play stupid." His grip loosened and he took a step back.
"I thought it was my phone, so I answered the call. We talked briefly." Turning back to the stove, she cut the heat off and moved each of the pots off the hot eyes.
"Bullshit, I know you enough to know you didn't keep it at 'how are you'. What'd you tell him?" Once again he grabbed her arm to make her face him. There was a strange look in his eyes that made her take a step back.
"He asked about you. About why you didn't want to talk." She muttered. If looks could kill, she'd be 6 feet under in a reinforced casket wrapped in chains.
"And what did you say?" Folding his arms across his chest, his body immediately became much larger and his gaze pierced through her. This was Thorn.
"Nothing. I told him when things are right, you'll speak to him. That's all." The timer went off letting her know the chicken was done. They eyed each other for a moment longer before she turned to pull the food out. Her mouth watered at the brown, crisp skin on the chicken and she could tell it would be juicy on the inside.
"I don't want you talking to him or any of them. Delete his number." Moving around her, he grabbed her phone and unlocked it before scrolling through her call log.
"It's not even saved." As she went to snatch the device back, he quickly grabbed her wrist and used it to keep her at arms length.
"It doesn't have to be saved. You're smart enough to memorize the number." His eyes flickered to her, a hint of amusement in them before he focused back on the device. Omisha rolled her eyes before attempting to pull her arm out of his grasp. Once he'd placed the device back on the counter, he used her wrist to pull her into his chest.
"I appreciate what you may be trying to do, but this is something I have to do on my own." His voice had softened and he wrapped her in his arms.
"I know, I know. Just give him a chance, please." The grip he had on her tightened at her words but he didn't respond. Pulling back, he laid his forehead to hers and softly held her face in his hands.
"You're all I got." He muttered, his lips brushing against hers. The rawness in his voice caused her heart to melt.
"I love you, Winston." She whispered to him as she pulled his body even closer to her own. In his embrace, no harm could come to them and all was right in the world.
Their embrace was interrupted by the shrill ringing of a phone. Omisha separated herself from him to see that it was her phone- the familiar number causing her breathing to hitch. Before she could decline the call, Winston reached around her and picked up the phone.
His face was set in a concentrated look before he pressed the green button and placed the phone to his ear. Omisha seemed to be stuck in place as the deep voice of Dean echoed from the phone.
"H-hi, Dean." Winston muttered after he'd cleared his throat. She could see his free hand shaking so she placed her hand in his to steady it. Bringing it to her lips, she laid soft kisses to his scarred knuckles.
"Yeah, it's really me." His eyes never left her own and she could see them slowly become more glossy.
"I-" a harsh breathe left him as he attempted to piece together a sentence. It warmed her to know he was trying and she stepped closer to rub his back in reassurance. His eyebrows pulled together in contemplation as he stared down at her.
"I...I miss you and William." The unshed tears raced down his cheeks and Omisha softly wiped them away before they could reach his chin. His grip on her tightened and he closed his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah I'd like that." His voice cracked before he turned his head to the ceiling to stop more tears. From the way his Adam's apple bobbed in his throat, she could tell it was getting more difficult to speak.
"Okay, yeah. I'll text you the address." They said goodbye to one another before he pulled her fully into his chest. As his body shook with silent cries, Omisha whispered words of reassurance into his ear- her hand cradling his head.
"You did so good, baby. I'm so proud of you." She muttered as she rubbed his back and kissed the side of his head. A few minutes passed before he scooped her into his arms and walked them upstairs.
Gently sitting her on the bed, he kicked off his boots and undressed before climbing on top of her. Omisha stroked his head as he laid on her stomach, his hands lifting her before tightly wrapping around her waist. Once he'd fallen asleep, she managed to wiggle from his embrace and make her way back to the kitchen. By now the food had gone cold so she simply placed it into storage containers and put them in the fridge.
As silently as possible, she cleaned the dishes and placed them back in their respective places. Once she'd finished she sat on the couch, her phone in hand. Opening the device, she bit her lips as Odessa crossed her mind. She still hadn't stopped texting Omisha to see if she was okay. Her finger hovered over the contact, Winston's strength causing her to be inspired.
"Omisha!? Hi! I'm sorry, please I'm so sorry." Her frantic voice filled the line and Omisha was reminded of all the times they'd sat laughing. Their ability to get along hadn't been strange to her in the beginning but as Omisha found herself more comfortable around the woman, it became scary.
"I know, I know." She muttered as tears stung her eyes. It wasn't fair to be upset with Odessa.
"It was never my intention to hurt you, I promise. We got along so well and I finally felt like I had my little sister back. I'm so sorry." Odessa's voice cracked as she poured out her emotions.
"I was so scared, Odessa." Omisha let her head hang low as tears raced down her cheeks. "I've lived a life that had never allowed someone to get close to me. For years I'd had my guard up because J had conditioned me to believe everyone was out to get me. He'd nearly groomed me into an emotionless monster."
"You're more than that, Omisha. What he branded you as will never define what your heart is truly made of." Odessa's voice soothed her and she wrapped her arms around herself.
"I'm sorry he took your father from you. If I could go back and stop him, I would have." Omisha shook her head as her heart began to ache for Odessa's loss. J's selfishness had taken away her father and nearly caused their mother to kill herself. It made her feel better to know she'd filled his face with bullets.
"I'm sorry he took your innocence from you. He didn't deserve to have someone like you by his side. If he was still here, I'm sure we'd do a great job tag teaming his ass." The statement caused Omisha to chuckle despite the tears that still raced down her cheeks.
"I want to start over. No more secrets, no more lies, no more disguises." Omisha muttered into the phone. The sound of footsteps caused her to wipe her cheeks quickly.
"I'd really like that." Odessa hummed back as Winston sat next to Omisha. His eyes searched hers before he threw his arm around her and pulled her into his chest. A kiss was placed to her forehead before he laid his head against hers.
"I have to go. I'll call you tomorrow." The pair ended the call and Omisha held her breathe as she called Sudana.
"Hello?" The screaming of James could be heard in the background and Omisha smiled as the tiny face popped into her head.
"Hi, mama."
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