The writing style for this chapter is different because it was originally written as the epilogue to NSIC (before I decided to continue it with a sequel.)
Day 11 (Sunday)
Sam was having a great day. Mercedes had sung in church and he couldn't take his eyes off her. Her singing blew the roof off. This girl's talents were totally underappreciated by Mr Schue and the rest of Glee club!
He'd been right. Her church had been just as he had imagined. There were only a couple of other white families there but they'd been welcomed so warmly it had taken them aback. It was as if they were already members of the congregation. They'd shared a row together with the Jones family. Mr Jones had sat in the corner with his wife. His mom sat next to Mrs Jones. Stacy and Stevie had both wanted to sit next to Mercedes so he had sat next to his mom so that Mercedes could have a child on each side of her. She had wanted to be near the aisle so that it would be easy for her to get up for her singing part. His father had left the motel early that morning as he did every Sunday. Sam couldn't remember the last time he'd bothered to come to church with them.
The music was as awesome as he had expected it to be, with a wide range of vocal types working together, and all getting a chance at a solo. The pastor was lively and energetic. He had to admit there'd had been times when he felt his head dropping in his church, especially after a hard week of school and multiple pizza shifts, but tiredness didn't even enter into his mind this morning and he found himself paying rapt attention.
It was a beautifully sunny day and the Jones family had walked to church. It was a short and pleasant walk back to their home. Mercedes was wearing a pastel purple halter 50s style summer dress with a sweetheart neckline and a full knee length skirt with shoes in a matching color. It came with a matching short sleeved bolero which she had worn in church (no bare shoulders) but she'd removed it as soon as they got outside and Sam was reminded of why he loved seeing her in dresses. He'd had to make sure he walked in front of her with Stevie so that he wouldn't be tempted to stare, or worse still, be caught staring Puckerman style!
At the house they were greeted by the most delicious smells. Chickens had been roasting in the oven while they were away and it was just a matter of finishing the prep for the side vegetables.
He smiled as he saw Mercedes singing quietly to herself while mashing sweet potatoes as he helped the children to set the table.
What got him the most was how friendly his mother and Mrs (please call me Alicia) Jones were with each other. They were talking together quietly while shelling peas. The two women were very similar physically. They were both of petite build, shorter even than Mercedes and slim. They probably wore the same size clothes although he could definitely see where Mercedes got her shapely backside from! And they both had dazzling smiles. He missed his mother's smiles. She didn't do it often anymore. Alicia's skin was flawless and if he didn't know who she was he probably wouldn't have put her a day over 28! And her eyes were the same wonderful big chocolate buttons as her daughter.
Mr (please call me Michael) Jones on the other hand, was a scary looking man. Sam remembered the surge of fear that had coursed through his veins the night of prom when he'd first met him. In stark contrast to his petite wife, he was tall, at least four inches taller than Sam, with a stocky build, a booming deep voice and a handshake stronger than a vice. Although his wife had an amazing smile, Mercedes had actually inherited his, complete with the dimples. Despite his appearance he radiated warmth, probably through years of having to put people at ease in the dentist's chair. But Sam was sure that if someone crossed him, the warmth would vanish at a moment's notice. And he never wanted to be that person who crossed him!
When all was prepared they sat around the table and Mr Jones took his wife's hand while he said grace. Again the kids had each wanted to sit next to Mercedes so Sam had ended up sitting between Stevie and Mr Jones. Despite the assurances, Sam just didn't feel comfortable addressing the man by his first name. It felt too disrespectful. And this was a man in who's good books he needed to remain. Any worries he may have had about topics of conversation were soon dispelled as they discussed their mutual love of all things sports.
Stacy clearly adored Mercedes, wanting everything on her plate to be identical to what her new friend had on hers and actually eating all of her vegetables because she saw Mercedes doing it. Stevie was happily shoveling food down like there was no tomorrow. Sam tried to gesture with his eyes for him to slow down, they didn't want the Jones family to think they didn't have any food at all! But it was no use. Besides, he had to admit, he food was amazing. There was only so much microwave mac'n'cheese and ramen noodles anyone could take before resenting it set in. And he was actually at the point where he missed eating such a variety of fresh vegetables at one sitting.
Conversation and laughter flowed around the table. Huge helpings of food were consumed by all and it was unanimously decided that they should take a break to make space before getting stuck into the cherry pie which Mercedes had made for dessert. At the back of his mind he'd worried that the kids would say or do something embarrassing but they were too in awe of the fun day they were having to remember the embarrassing conversation they'd had just before he left for New York. He forgot that children, unlike adults, have less of a tendency to overthink conversations once they'd passed.
The adults headed to the living room while the teens were left to wash and clear up, assisted by an eager Stacy and Stevie. Sam enjoyed the domestic time with Mercedes. Even with the kids around it was nice to just have some quiet relaxed time. Then, at Stacy's request they worked together to bake a batch of cookies to take back with them much to her mother's amusement when she came to the kitchen to see why the washing up was taking so long.
Sundays were traditionally a television free day in the Jones household (except for when her father was watching sports). So after returning to the table for obscenely large helpings of cherry pie and icecream (or just icecream in Stacy's case) they opted to play a game. Due to the numbers and the ages of the children Mercedes suggested Jenga which was clearly the correct decision.
Far too soon it was time to leave. Stacy had been too excited to take an afternoon nap and had yawned one too many times as well as becoming irritable and tearful.
Mercedes drove them back to the motel and watched as they entered the motel room, Christina carrying a Tupperware container with more than enough food for a full meal for the family the next day together with the fresh batch of cookies, Stevie proudly clutching the board game which they had been given and Sam, carrying a sleeping Stacy nestled in his arms. She jealously wished that she could be the girl in his arms at that moment. But not right now. They'd had the most beautiful first date during the week and that would have to keep them going until the next time.
They'd behaved perfectly during the day. Not ignoring each other but not singling each other out for too much attention either. It helped that they were never left completely alone at any point in the day. Just casual school friends. And her parents obviously liked Sam. That would make it easier when they break the news to their relatives.
Mercedes smiled to herself. Even though they had agreed to keep their relationship under wraps, she would never disrespect her parents by keeping them out of the loop for long. After all, they would need their support. And after the day they'd spent together, she was more than confident that parental support would be forthcoming from both sides.
As she pulled out of the parking lot and towards home, she had again had to suppress a squeal.
Mercedes Jones was one happy girl!
This was going to be a great summer!
