Promise, Commitment, Ring
Friday
"Hey Mercy did you hear the good news, well I say good but, Sam's gonna be a daddy" Tina said excitedly down the phone
"That's great he didn't call me, tell him congratulations, he must have changed his number I haven't heard from him for some time now" Mercy said as jolly as she could
"How are you doing down there in Canada?" she asked
"I'm fine T, no meaningful relationship as yet but I'm working on it" Mercy replied
"I thought you were seeing that singer guy from Jamaica?"
"I am, have been for a few years now but we're still trying to work out what we are you know, careers keep us apart and stuff" Mercy answered flatly
"Sounds rocky Mercy is it?"
"Not really but I'm beginning to wonder what it is, you know"
"Hindsight" Tina said pausing before she continued "If; and I say if mind" she giggled "Things had been different and Sam had asked would you have married him?"
"Truth?" she asked "In a heartbeat, but water under the bridge and all that" she giggled
"You'll sort it you always do" Tina said "Merc I've got another call coming in, we'll speak soon yeah take care" and then the phone went dead
Okay so he really has moved on, not just sex but unprotected sex with whoever; well Mercedes Jones you had your chances and you let it go so, get on with it girl chin up.
Mercedes had made some stupid promise about saving her virginity for him until she was thirty. After getting the tour gig with Beyoncé her Dad died, her only living relative, she went back to Lima Ohio buried him, sold the house, business and never looked back. She had kept in contact with everyone at first but life in the limelight, for them all, soon took its toll and contact became less and less until there was only Tina and Sam left for her to contact. About 7 months ago Mercy called Sam's phone and it was dead and since then she hadn't heard from him or about him except her impromptu information from Tina who was in Richmond, Virginia with Mike and their children.
So what are you doing with yourself Mercy Jones what's next, look at this relationship of yours get it started or ended but do something, you know what he is, are you going to deal with it now? because it's certain that Sam Evans ain't waiting around for you, all that crap about getting your first Grammy you got a second and a third and still never looked back what did you expect? Really; Really, did you just say that to yourself Mercy Jones "you thought he fuckin would" deluded bitch get it together you are looking fine, you're where you want to be career wise and you are with no other than Danny Ranks the smoothest brother this side of the bridge er "Who the fuck is Sam Evans" yes girl you go for it
Mercedes, closed her phone and got up with attitude, as she reached her car her phone rang
"Hey Boo what's up" Mercy said without looking at her phone, she didn't need to it was Danny's time to phone and he was like clockwork
"Oh Boo I guess you were expecting someone else sorry it's just me" Sam said on the other side of the phone
"Oh hi Sam, sorry about that I hear congratulations are in order, who's the daddy?" Mercy said genuinely meaning it
"Oh you heard already Tina's fast, yeah I'm going to be a dad, Deb wants us to get married but I'm in two minds I don't know that she measures up you know. We weren't really a …?"
"No I don't know actually Sam, she's having your baby and your trying to say you're not committed is that what I'm hearing"
"No it's not I'm committed to my child of course I am it's just, look I just called to say this girl was pregnant, I wanted to be the one to tell you" Sam said "I asked Tina to let me be the one but hey no one values any ones wishes nowadays"
"I value your wishes Sam and I wish you all the very best whatever you do look I've got to go I'm due at my gig" she said
"Oh Sorry Bye Mercy I er bye"
"Bye Sam"
God that was weird why did he feel he had to personally tell me himself, just the fucking sound of his voice and I'm thinking the impossible, he's got a baby coming Mercy sort your shit out. You need to get laid girl, quick I mean quick. What are you going to do now I mean what are you really going to do now your life just changed, you're not going to get Sam back, so you need to make a life for yourself.
Mercy was all about R&B now and due to sing at the local bar that night and felt a classic 'The One I Gave My Heart To' by Aaliyah fit her situation well. Once introduced Mercy dedicated her song to Aaliyah but in her heart she knew she was singing to herself about her current situation
The audience clapped and requested more songs as the night went on Mercy sang as requested but her heart wasn't there she needed to shout, cry, scream or punch something life was crap
"Hey girl, miss me?" Mercy heard from the front row in the audience, two songs away from closing, she knew the voice instinctively.
"Danny" she said looking to the side of the stage to get the nod to leave before stepping off the front of the stage and going to him for a well needed hug.
"I missed you girl" Danny said hugging her back
"God I missed you too" Mercy said, well maybe not you specifically but I need a hug a real big one right now she thought.
"Miss me enough to give me some tonight?" Danny asked
"Danny, promise, commitment, ring are all things I need to see from you before I give anything up"
"Mercy you know nobody save themselves anymore everybody wants to try before they buy" he laughed his thick Jamaican accent making his communication just about understandable to the untrained ear
"Mercy wants to buy before she tries every time Mr. Ranks. We have this conversation every time we meet up and then as quick as you get here you're gone" Mercy said
"A little bird told me you had a week off next week and I thought we could spend some time together see what this is, what do you say?" Danny asked Mercy
"I think that would be good I was thinking the same thing, not about the holiday, about what we are you know?"
"I'm on stage at 1.30 am but, I should be finished at 4 am and I'll be round in time for breakfast at 7 yeah?" Danny said
"I finish here at 2.30 a.m. so I might come see you, where are you?"
"It's more a man thing than anything I'll see you back at yours" he said
"Okay 7 then" she said giving Danny a kiss and leaving to return to the stage after the next act.
Danny's World
Danny walked into the dance, hailed up some of his brethrin and grabbed a spliff from one of his stage friends "Yes my youth Danny Ranks in the house" he said hyped up for the evening ahead of him.
At 1 am as stated Danny was on the stage rapping and singing, as he did girls alighted the stage and started girating to the music with him as he reciprocated, he bent one of the girls over and started backing her up as the riddim was suggesting. He was used to sharing a stage with various other artists who used the same riddim tracks to convey different messages.
"Here's my number Danny" the girl said giving him a piece of paper
"I don't need your number baby I'm coming home with you tonight" Danny said to the girls delight, and of course she didn't leave the stage or Danny's side for the rest of the night. Danny's show finished at about 2.15 and he left the club with said girl.
This was pretty much Danny's lifestyle, his career meant a lot to him and he craved to please everyone; physically, emotionally, mentally and practically.
He saw Mercy as a challenge that he wanted to conquer, he was getting her virginity and no one else. This week away was yet another attempt at getting her to give it up, Danny didn't play with sex there was no foreplay just sex and a spliff if she wanted more she would be the one working on this relationship, he was already giving as much as he could give, Mercy would learn that once he'd reeled her in.
Saturday
"Morning Baby" Danny said waking Mercy up with a kiss
"Morning, I was going to cook you breakfast you're early"
"Yeah I finished and just came straight"
"Danny its 5.45 am you been on it all this time?"
"You better believe I've been on it baby, it was mad tonight mad, I'm telling you I need more of that" Danny said excitedly
Mercy got up to start her morning ritual and Danny headed to the kitchen, when Mercy finally got to the Kitchen breakfast was already in flow "I thought I was doing that?" she asked
"Baby go back to bed I'll do breakfast today I'm still buzzin"
"I'll watch a master at work if you don't mind?"
"Not at all" he said placing a kiss on her forehead
They sat down to a hearty breakfast of fried dumpling, eggs, ackie & salt fish, plantain and bami with a bowl of fresh fruit pieces. Mercy ate some of the fried food but zoned in on the fruit "I love mango" she said sucking the juice off her fingers as she ate the last bite.
"That just decided where we're going on holiday; Jamaica, three edge sword really, you meet my family, I see my family and you can eat all the mango you want is mango season"
"Meet your family? What's brought that on?" Mercy asked shocked
"I'm not proposing girl, I'm just saying meet my family"
"Okay" Mercy said a bit more excited than she cared to show.
"So meeting the parents not a biggie I get it but, what is this Danny what are we doing here?"
"Eating breakfast and deciding on where to go on holiday Baby"
"No I mean where is this relationship going?"
"Nowhere very fast you not freeing up and I'm not pushing but time is passing, I might stray if this carries on" Danny said laughing
"Is that a possibility Danny, do you think I'm asking too much?"
"Hey I get kisses and that's fine for now but not forever baby" he said as Mercy started singing
"You've been crying your face is a mess, come in baby you can wipe your tears on my dress, she's hurt you again i can tell, oh i know that look so well, don't be shy you've been here before, pull your shoes lay down, and I will lock the door, and noone has to know, you've come here again, now it's me and you like it's always, been before" she sang wth a laugh
"Breakfast in bed, this is on me, you don't have to say you love me" he sang back at her laughing "You getting your sexy on baby?" he asked "You wanna put your front where your mouth is"
"When I give it up it's your mouth that will be where my front, as you call it, is" she replied laughing
"I tried to contact you yesterday and your phone was busy the four times I tried, who were you talking to?"
"What time?" Mercy asked knowing full well when just stalling for time
"About 5 before I got on the plane" Danny said
"Oh Tina and Sam maybe" Mercy said trying to sound as normal as possible
"Who's Sam?" Danny asked
"A school friend" Mercy said offering no further information
"So how come you keep in touch with Sam and not the gay guy or that Jewish girl you always talkin bout?"
"I didn't he contacted me, he got my contact from Tina, and I told you Kurt was gay once; why do you keep referring to him as that his name is Kurt" Mercy said wanting this not to get too much more personal
"I'm not digging or nothing but why is this Sam contacting you?" he asked ignoring her comment about Kurt
"His wife is having a baby and he was spreading the news" Mercy said which seemed to stop the line of questioning. He would never know that Sam wasn't married and by the time he did then Sam would be married.
"Oh good for him, seems he's got everything you want?"
"Not everything" Mercy said giving Danny a kiss and a smile
"Just made another decision baby" Danny said jumping up and pulling Mercy to him
"What?"
"Jamaica, tonight, get packed" Danny said
"What do you mean get packed we didn't make any decisions Danny"
"I made a decision baby, please pack, I need you to meet my family asap"
Mercy went to her room packing her suitcase thinking 'I had nothing to do with this decision is this really how life would be with Danny? I don't think it's what I want, will he let me carry on with my singing? will he let me be me?' 'how many times has he called your name today Mercy keep a check on that and seek advice. Why didn't he at least try to get into your knickers when you were singing that song start checking him girl actions speak louder than words remember Daddy taught you that watch him.' "I'm checking it Daddy" she said looking up to the heavens
Mercy came out packed and ready for the off "Ready" she said to Danny
"Come on then" he said walking towards the door "Keys, phone" he said to Mercy, but it could have been to anyone
'No help with the bags, I had to get my own phone and keys without a spare hand as he saw and fuck he's sitting in the car so I guess I'm loading myself 'I'm checking it daddy' she thought
"I've just got to go collect my things and we're gone" Danny said as Mercy got in the car
"Oh I need to free up mine but you leave your things at home safe?" Mercy said laughing
"I always carry my things with me Baby, never know when you might need them you know?" Danny said grabbing his package
"No I don't" Mercy said wondering 'Giving it away really Danny Ranks'
They got to the airport and Mercy struggled with her bags while Danny carried a small hand luggage stroller type case and his overnight bag in the other hand
"Okay Danny I wasn't going to say anything but grab a bag man can you see me here?" Mercy said out of frustration more than anything else
"You should say Baby I assumed you were fine"
Mercy went to respond to the comment but thought better of it, not wanting a full scale row in the middle of the airport, they could both be vocal when they needed to. The plane ride was quiet as Danny hadn't slept since the night before and Mercy woke him up when they landed 4 hours later
"What hotel are we staying in?" she asked as they stepped off the plane
"We're going to stay with my people baby" Danny replied
"What you mean with your people do I know them? Do they know me? No way Danny I want a hotel like now I'm not going anywhere else"
"You can stay right here or come with me to my yard to sleep" Danny said and she knew he wasn't joking. Mercy went with him to his parent's home that night, got introduced and after a short chat and drinks went to bed. Not really getting any sleep for listening to the night animals and wondering who was lurking in the bushes that surounded this single floor three bedroom property out in the Country, Danny's voice almost shouting above everyone's until somehow, sleep found her
Sunday
The next morning she was up as early as the rest of the household but Danny had already gone out, she waited all day for him to return, making small talk and feeling awkward, at about 7 pm she was about to go back to bed when the door burst open and Danny came in with two other men saying
"Baby these two are like my brothers, they grew up with me and I trust them with my life, this is my girl" he said looking at her finally
"Mercy; pleased to meet you both, you look the worse for wear Danny" she said as he was clearly drunk
"They've been plying me with drink Baby it's not my thing you know"
"Yeah I know, how did you get here gentlemen?" she asked
"Car Miss Mercy"
"Hold up a minute please" she went to the bedroom, got dressed and collected her still packed case and asked them for a lift to the nearest hotel
"What you saying Danny should we take her?" his friend Bee said
"Yes I, she's mad right now but I'll sort it tomorrow, take her" he said
"Come"Bee said to Mercy "Which hotel?" he turned to Danny asking
"The best one Bee please, just give my name, I'll call them or call me and I'll sort it yeah"
"Alright later"
"Later" Danny said to his friends
"Baby see you tomorrow yeah?" Danny said she didn't even acknowledge that he had spoken but left walking behind the two men, known only as Danny's friends
Mercy was dropped off and booked into the Sandals Royal Plantation about a 40 minute drive from where she was down near Discovery Bay. She was shown up to her room and sat for a while just thinking about nothing until she decided to go look around the complex, that was her favourite thing about travelling looking around, after being locked in a box for the day she needed to spread her wings so to speak.
"Goodnight Miss" someone shouted from the bar and she waved to them without stopping "destination beach" she said to herself. She walked past the BBQ, the Stake House, the Pool bar and the Jerk Centre before seeing the actual beach "Wow" was the only word she could find for the view that she encountered when she got there. When she finally got her thoughts back she heard music playing in the background country Music to be precise "Of all the times to be hearing country music" she said to herself "I'm trying to fucking forget" she said looking up to the heavens for help.
That country sound soon drew her in and she was humming along to the tune as she recognised the familiar melody of one of Sam's songs "I'm trying to forget" she said again looking up to the heavens for help. She went to get up and caught herself "where are you going Miss Jones you are not interested in country anymore, stop it" she said to herself , telling herself to sit back down.
10 minutes went by and she was still being called she finally got up and started walking towards the music, which stopped for a while. Mercy was at the bar when she heard a familiar voice over the mic "Sammy" she said with her last full breath as she spun around to see him about to start singing on the stage in the hotel she had just booked into. She spun back round grabbed the drink on the bar and downed it in one gulp "damn, fill me up again bartender"
"Hey good evening Ladies and Gentlemen I'm Chord and I'm gonna bring a little more country up in here for you all again tonight, as you all know, I get a little melancholy when I sing country because I miss two things home as in Texas and home as in the arms of the woman I love, she left a long time ago and took everything I am with her yep, I have no life now but I don't regret loving her, she gave sorry gives me life you know?" he asked the crowd as if everyone should understand that "This particular song is for her because she thinkks she's happy right now, but should I ever see her again I mean to tell her she's not, until she's with me that is" he laughed "I can see her hazel brown eyes staring at me right now too" he smiled before putting his serious on "anyway wherever you may be, whoever your with Miss Jones this is for you, and I hope your wishing he was me" he said before starting his version of the song 'Blue ain't your Colour' by Keith Urban
Mercedes sat wit her back to the stage, listening to the words, looking at her hands, what was she supposed to do with that he has a girlfriend and a baby on the way, what the hell is he doing here singing songs about his feelings for her "Hot mess" she said to a laugh coming from directly in front of her
"Haven't heard that one since the last time you said it" Sam said still laughing "Go on, of all the bars in all the towns da da da…"
"We haven't communicated for over 5 years face to face and at least a year electronically and now I see you and speak to you on the phone in less than 2 days are you tracking me Sam?" she asked with a laugh
"If I was tracking you, you'd know about it" he replied "so what are you doing here"
"I'm here on holiday with my boyfriend but he's been acting like a prat so I left him with his parents and I'm spending the night here"
"Oh is this em Dave, Dan I know it's a D" he said
"Danny yeah" she clarified "What are you doing here?"
"I got this gig and needed to get away, let's just say it's a god send "
"How long for" they both said at once
"Two weeks" Sam said
"One week" Mercy said "Then back to work"
"I don't need to ask how that's going I hear your music all over the place and I've got all your albums" he said
"Ditto"
"Do you want to do a jam for old time sake Mercy, music and all that?"
"Does it have to be country Sam, I feel like you're reeling me in?" she laughed
"Not really but it is a country night"
"Okay country it is then" she said getting up to follow him to the stage
"Hey guys just as luck would have it I've bumped into one of my old friends at the bar, how often does that happen? well anyway she's agreed to sing a song with me and she's let me choose, you all would know her as a R&B, singer but her heart always belonged to country, as in me, before they took over her and this will prove it Ladies and Gentlemen please welcome Miss Mercy Jones" Sam said to applause from the crowd and the band started playing at his instruction.
"I'll take this first bit and we'll adlib the rest we're good at that" he said
"We were good at that like unmentionable years ago Sam behave"
"Go for it Mercy, I love you when you pout" he said smiling, strumming his guitar as he started singing their version of 'The Fighter' by Keith Urban & Carrie Underwood
The audience applaud and banged the table as Mercy and Sam had an awkward hug on stage, "guys I know this is a big ask but I got to go speak to this lady for a hot minute this is Miss Jones folks and you know I've been singing about her the past two nights" Sam said to Mercy's shock as he carried on leading her off the stage.
Sam's Dressing Room
Once they were in Sam's dressing room Mercy stood looking at him for a while 'he was still as handsome as ever maybe a haircut and a shave at some point but she knew he got like that sometimes usually when he was lost or out of his depth and as a rule she was always generally there to put him back together. No he was still very eatable very handsome Sam I am who ate lots of her on a regular basis and now after all that oral sex, X-rated kisses and words they had shared this was an awkward moment for them'.
At the same time Sam stood there thinking 'she's here she's actually here and you have fuck all to say, I just want to kiss her to tell, hell show her I want her, need her even, she's doing that thing with her hands when she's stopping herself from doing something I wonder if she wants to kiss me too, god she is so fucking eatable I need to taste her, so now we have a what? Awkward moment? Never, say something dork anything'
"Mercy I just wanted to say a proper hello to you, and just catch up really, if you're staying here maybe we could meet for say lunch tomorrow and have a proper catch up what do you say?" Sam asked
"Yeah that would be good Sam, I'd love to hear about Lima and what's happening with everyone" Mercy replied
"I'm not in Lima anymore I don't really see anyone I'm in Texas mostly and I spend a lot of time in Europe, Vegas and Memphis, if I'm honest I live on the road"
"Sam you need to get back out there what am I paying you for?" The Manager shouted through the door
"Can we meet about 12.30 pm then for lunch at the Stake house is that okay?" he asked
"Yeah that's fine" she said and then he was out the door and Mercy was left standing in his dressing room, as she looked around she saw photos of his family, Stacey and Stevie were grown and looked like they were at college. His parents looked as young as they ever were, and then there it was in a frame a picture of Mercy and he on the sofa in New York, just playing around and him touching her cheek looking on with such love Mercy filled up remembering the day.
Sam was cool with the no sex thing he'd said as much months earlier with the candles and kisses, she was just starting her mall tour sessions, he had that modeling shoot that evening, then that damn photographer had kissed him so she finished it there and then told him she would always love him with promises, and it wasn't a lie, because she would he was her soul mate, her other half. She had promised him that when she was ready she'd give him a call and he had held her to that. When Mercy heard that Sam was depressed she told him she had met someone, fallen in love and slept with him and he shouldn't wait for her any longer.
Sam's World
Sam fell in love with Mercy the first day of school and if he was truthful to himself everything he had done since that day has been to get her or to please her. He had never lied to her, never willingly upset her and always thought of her as his other half. He had relationships during school with other people but he had been upfront about them and as far as he was concerned that meant she always knew his heart belonged to her. Sam told her as much when against all odds she turned up in New York and they lived together experimenting sexually to fever pitch and promising each other that actual sex would be reserved for them alone.
He went into a tailspin when Mercy called and told him she had found another soul mate and had actually had sex with him and was indeed in love, he started drinking, smoking and tried to sleep around but as much as he tried Sam could never go all the way with any girl his heart and his body belonged to Mercy, she became an obsession. Eventually he decided that he needed to leave her alone to live her life and he broke all ties with her and dived into his singing and writing country music, mostly about his lost love but it made him money and he could live. He returned to college and got a degree in business and soon started buying into lucrative businesses with the money his grandfather had left him and the family before he knew it he was self-employed and doing well he made his first million in the first 6 months and things financially got better for him. Slowly he began to pull himself out of his funk as he started hooking up with the GF again and inevitably his focus became Mercy again
He had not long gotten in touch with the GF and started pulling himself together again, when Jessie called him about a hotel in Jamaica needing a country singer for two weeks. He welcomed the opportunity to go, as some random nobody had just informed him she was pregnant and all he could think was he'd lost Mercy now for good, he kept telling himself she was already gone but his mind wasn't taking that in, there was this baby that had been conceived and all he could think of was Mercy
Contact
Mercy heard that Sam went feet first into a string of relationships that were meaningless and frequently cried to Blaine and Kurt about the situation. Sam went into a deeper funk before the cutting off of the phone from her and she just assumed that was part of his healing process and left him to it, she'd deal with that when the time came .
Now he's here and she didn't even want to run in fact if he'd have said come to my room and we'll talk all night she would have done it "Damn you Evans you've still got a hold of my damn heart and by the looks of it I've still got yours"
Mercy eventually reached her hotel room opened the door and went in leaned against the door and breathed for the first time in a long while, she has seen Sam again.
After Sam finished his show he got to his hotel room opened the door went in and leaned against the door with a smile on his face, he could breathe, he had seen Mercy again
Mercy came out of her, lost you moment, and decide to go to bed, it wasn't until she was actually in bed that she remembered that Danny was coming to the hotel the next day "Shit" she spat out "I don't want to cancel Sam because that's just wrong but do I really want the Ranks drama he's gonna bring it and I ain't forgetting Sam's drama holy crap she thought putting her head under the duvet "I'll deal with that tomorrow" she said writing herself an imaginary note.