Letters passed more frequent after that saying things they both wanted to say, Sam's mood changed and so did the tone of their letters

My Love

When we're communicating like this I don't need long letters just honest feelings, I love when I get your letters reminding me every moment of the day that I have something to look forward to, that someone out there loves me for who I am and what I'm trying to do. Although we're so far apart right now you're still my favourite part of the day, when I'm under the covers reading your letters and getting that feeling we share by just being in each others company. Did I tell you lately I love you, sounds so nice to get that out the very thought (Ha)

I love my wife (Mrs Evans) PS I've sent something special for Christmas

He'd smile as he posted his letter of love knowing in a few days she'd be curled up in their bed reading it and thinking about him

My Love

Love is always on my mind when I think about you, you've been away so long I ache for your touch, the warmth of your hands, even just holding me in your arms while I sleep. The kisses you place on my lips, making me so very happy, I wished that present were you, I could use some you right now, the more time we spend apart the more I long for you but I also fear we'll be stranger to each other, I frown but I smile too as I remember that first time for us, hurry home so we can get married all over again (Ha)

I love you right back husband (Mr Evans)

Those last few months hadn't ended quick enough for Cedes she was wound up, on heat, nervous, feeling she'd have to start all over again with her husband, and excited for what she knew their nights would be filled with, one night to go and she couldn't sleep. They'd argued one night, when he'd called from base, because she was feeling lonely and somewhere in there she'd threatened to do something that would mean he wouldn't want to come back to her, he interpreted that as her sleeping with someone else and let slip that he was going to be home for Christmas. It wasn't what he'd wanted to happen but it done the trick, defused the argument in an instant as Cedes got into planning mode, well, plan she was getting enough food in so they wouldn't have to go outside for weeks.

He'd be turning up at the station at 3am and making his way home, she lay in bed wondering if he'd have changed, would he still love her, had he been faithful "Stop it" she rolled across her bed telling herself "He said he loves you, he asked you to wait" she took a deep breath sunk into his pillow and found sleep. The next morning she was up early, she'd got two jobs to do and her husband was coming in about 3am, she ran around almost on air getting things done, finishing her gig at 1.30am and rushing home to cook something for her husband.

She was in the kitchen cooking when she heard the door shut and knew he'd entered the house "Cedes" he shouted as he rushed towards the bedroom "Cedes" he shouted again before appearing at the doorway "God you're here" he smiled

"Where else am I going to be?" she looked over her shoulder asking him

"I missed you" he walked towards her saying she could hear him getting closer but she refused to turn to look at him, she was surprised she was still a little mad at him for leaving her so long, she felt his hand touch her hair to pull it back off her neck, tucking the lose strands behind her ear, heard his breath deep almost upset coming towards her, as much as she tried to fight the temptation she closed her eyes and went with the shiver it sent through her body "I missed you" he whispered in her ear before kissing her neck, so intimately she fell back onto his chest "Say you missed me too"

She turned her head to finally look at him and somehow her body followed without permission, she looked up into his eyes, and knew he was still her everything, his hand grabbed her face and trailed down her cheek to her lips his eyes watching his hand as it went, he played there far too long for her she was on fire, it had come from nowhere and everywhere, she could wait no longer, she reached up and pulled his mouth to hers, staying there for the longest time "I missed you" she finally said when she let him up and found his eyes again "I need my husband" she told him as he pulled her in and kissed her deeper

"Turn the oven off" he told her as his hands relaxed around her waist, he stood watching her do that before he picked her up and took her to bed

"I actually forgot it could be like that" he laughed as they lay exhausted in their bed

"Me too" she laughed looking across at him, happy she'd fallen in love with her husband all over again, she felt alive, tingly, happy, exhausted and loved "I love you Sam Evans" she told him when their eyes met

"I love you too Cedes Evans" he smiled pulling her to him "I never want to be away that long again"

"I agree" she looked up at him the smile fading from her face

"What's up?" he looked at her concerned asking

"Did you... I mean did you.. have you been seeing anyone?" she sat up asking

"No, we're married, I wouldn't do that" he sat up looking at her in disbelief

"Promise?"

"Absolutely, I wouldn't do that" he told her his face softening when he saw how insecure she was "I mean it when I say I love you Cedes, I need you to always know that"

"I know that" she smiled hugging into him as she sung their song 'The mere idea of you, the longing here for you, you'll never know how slow the moments go till I'm near to you'

"Believe me I do" he kissed her nose telling her, before they found sleep

1960

Christmas came and went and they were into 1960 there was great unrest as the country feared they were heading towards a crisis, Sam was busy reporting on what was happening at home and abroad, Cedes was scared for what this might mean for her brother, now 18 and more than fit to fight in this gruesome political upheaval that surely had nothing to do with common people. Later that year it was announced that The Congo crisis was real America supported opposing factions and already 40,000 people were said to have been killed. She knew for sure her fears for her brother had ground, when Sam got a letter telling him he needed to present for service, of course she wanted to fight it but the alternative was prison so there was no option, she waved him off and went home to cry for a week before she was called to help in the upkeep of the forces making any uniforms the soldiers needed.

It was a life that was no life at all as letters expected failed to arrive, soldiers marched around the streets giving bad news to families about their fallen soldiers, mothers, sisters, wives and children crying every day and the work to help the fighting few still carried on, weeks turned into months then years as no end to this crisis could be seen. Then just as all hope was lost of ever hearing from Sam again a letter came, Cedes sat crying for the best part of a day, she'd had no idea what she was going to do next if he didn't come back, she was scared to open the letter for what he had to say maybe this was it the end, she saw night coming and finally got off the bed and made her way to the dining table picked the letter up and read it

Cedes

she read wondering why he hadn't said darling, sweetheart, my love, my dear wife or something like that, she looked around the room looking for the courage to carry on reading 'He always calls you Cedes' she reminded herself as her eyes fell back to the letter in her hand

It's literally been hell on earth and I really want to be home right now but the …..

"What the hell are all these black marks" she asked looking at a page full of writing scribbled out "He finally gets a letter through and they've scribbled every damn thing out" she searched the letter back and front as she spoke

Anyway enough of my problems, I love you just remember that, and that I'll be home soon – Sam

"Really" she threw the letter down telling it she was maybe more upset now than she was before she read the three lines out of maybe twenty they'd left unmarked

The barrage of letters that weren't letter went on for a while until all she was getting back was notes telling her he longed to be home and he loved her, she concluded that they were censoring her letters too, for his responses, and took to writing about work, the weather and home along with love, her lack of it and what he needed to do to fix that when he got back.

Cedes learned to become dependent on her friends down at the joint in his absence, they were a healthy bunch of friends that respected each other and had music in common. Of course there were opportunities for other relationships to flourish, that was always going to happen with some thirsty men seeing opportunity with all these neglected women around, but she was focused, she'd given up too much for this relationship and Sam had promised that would never happen, she respected that.

1965

Nearly five years and seven more almost letters later she sat with her lady friends, at her now day job, sowing uniforms and listening to the radio shocked when the announcement came telling them the crisis was finally over, they threw the sheets down and started dancing in the factory, Diana was up and coming by now along with others that had got on that R&B bandwagon. Black people were making themselves known which really wasn't going down well with some of the powers that be, which presented a tough time for many, payola; although illegal, was becoming a common avenue to get black people's sound heard. The music industry was being saturated by all different sounds, musically it was an exciting time, Cedes was excited by it, she found her calling, she really wanted to sing

There was no indication when Sam was actually going to arrive home, she just prayed daily and hoped for an answer, then one day she heard the door open, she actually collapsed when he came walking through the door of their apartment, she was in such anticipation for him coming back, he ran to pick her up off the kitchen floor and took her through to their bed, just watching her sleep was fulfilling one of his many dreams over these five years, he waited for her to come round before he gave her water and a smile "Hi" he grinned as she opened her eyes, happy to see them light up for him

"Hi" she smiled as she lay waiting for him to kiss her, concerned when he didn't

"I have something to say" he got up telling her a sadness overcoming his face as he looked back at her, she couldn't take her eyes off him her insides where a mess, she didn't even know what she was thinking right now

"Something... to say?" she asked as she watched him fidgeting, standing in front of her

"Yeah" he took his hat off his head and folded it in his hands still fidgeting with it as he looked back at her, his mind wondering whether this was the right thing to do "It's been five years" he rolled his eyes like that was something either of them needed to be reminded of

"I know" she looked at him saying

"And well I'm a man"

"And I'm a woman" she smiled swinging her legs as they dangled off the bed

"I'm sorry Cedes, there's been others, I slept with other women"

"You did what?" she looked up at him asking as tears sprung from somewhere

"I'm sorry, it's just well five years is a long time to..." he held his hand out wanting to touch her but unsure what she'd think of that right now

"Did they mean anything to you?"

"What?" he asked shocked "No they meant nothing, I was missing my wife"

"Did you get checked?"

"Yes, but I used protection anyway, they gave them to us, the officers I mean"

"I don't know what I feel" she got up and left the room telling him

He followed her out, watching her as she went back to the kitchen and carried on preparing their meal "Cedes we need to talk about ..."

"...Don't talk Sam" she banged about telling him

He'd prepared himself for this, he expected her mad to last a long time and he deserved it, he told himself that after every time he messed with one of those girls, but no matter how much he'd prepared himself what he felt now was one hundred times worse than he'd ever imagined. He sat wondering if any of it was worth it, slapping himself for his weakness, stealing looks at her when he thought she wasn't looking. Right now as he sat feeling like a total failure, knowing he'd hurt his wife in the worst way and that she was probably standing their regretting the day she'd agreed to be his wife, he couldn't think of anyone he wanted more, now or ever "I can't not talk Cedes" he finally got up to walk towards her saying "I know this thing I did is unforgiveable but I was in an impossible situation for five years"

"So was I" she turned to say

"What are you saying?" he stopped walking to ask

"I was in an impossible situation too"

"What you slept with someone?" he hadn't even thought of that being a possibility, how could he have been so naive

"Why, would it matter if I had?"

"Of course it would matter"

"Why?" she smiled "Five years is a long time isn't it?" she reminded him

"Cedes what are you telling me?" he grabbed her to face him asking

"That I was in an impossible situation too" she looked into his eyes saying "And we won't speak of it ever again"

"And that's it?" he asked surprised that she was leaving it at that, he really wanted to know what his wife had been up to while he'd been away, and if he agreed this right now he was never going to know "Cedes" his voice verging on angry "What are you not telling me?"

"I'm not telling you anything, I've done nothing except sit and wait for you"

"So why..."

"Okay" she smiled opening her blouse slowly as she watched his face change from upset to aroused "Lets start again" she pulled the blouse off telling him, at that point he really didn't care what either of them had done in the past right now was all that counted and of course for the rest of their lives, she ran her finger along her breastbone running them down her body as he stood watching her skirt fall off as she unzipped it, she stood in front of him naked. He pulled her back into him and took her swollen nipple in his mouth, she was so in need of her husbands touch, whatever they needed to say to each other could wait until after this, she longed for this, as she lifted her hands to remove his jacket and watched as he quickly removed his clothes to stand in front of her naked too

"I have a treat for us, and I guess it's a sorry" he let her nipple go to tell her, pushing her back to sit on the kitchen table "This is my first time and I'm going from hearsay so forgive me if it's not right but we'll get time to perfect it" he told her as his hand went down her body and found what he was looking for

"God I missed you Sam" she gasped as she felt his hand search her insides, his mouth sending tingles through her nipples around her body "Wow" she gasped as he touched her sensitive spot making him smile as his mouth travelled down her stomach "What are you doing?" her eyes opened to look at him

"Our treat" he smiled as she saw his head getting seriously close to her pubic hair

"Sam" she shouted in protest seconds before his mouth attached itself to her spot and sucked just enough to send the most sensational shiver through her body "God" she gasped as minutes later she was ramming his face onto her, like her life depended on it, when he felt like he'd sucked the life out of her his head popped up with a smile

"I think I'm trying to say I'm sorry" he told her as she pulled him up she needed more

"That was indescribable, but I need my man" she told him as they got to being together again for the rest of the day and night

She woke up to him smiling down at her, he hadn't had a very good night, she'd woken several times watching him fighting the enemy in his sleep and at one point she'd mistakenly shaken him out of his nightmare which nearly resulted in him slapping her, he seemed to wake up but when he merely smiled, stroked her face and went back to sleep she lay not scared by weary. They'd been briefed about the after effects of conflict on their men, so she expected some aftermath and hoped that his booked sessions for counselling would help in the long run.

1966

The up side of the end of the crisis intervention for Sam and Cedes was that there were more couples like them emerging, she'd made friends with some of the local women through work, things weren't so strained for them, now going out together didn't draw so much attention in their parts. 10 months after arriving back home Sam had finally finished his counselling sessions and was lucky enough to get his job back at The Harold, he was happy

They were out shopping one Saturday afternoon, after just buying some new curtains, which Cedes knew were too big for the window, but Sam insisted on buying them anyway, and were on their way to get her another dress for his Editors ball coming up when Sam grabbed a cab

"Get in" he looked at her smiling as he spoke

"Where are we going?" she asked sending his smile back as she did as instructed

"You'll see" he jumped in after her and shut the door, handing the driver a piece of paper before the cab moved off

"What about my dress?"

"We have two weeks" he laughed "Relax" he dropped the few bags he had in his hand on the cab floor and put his arm around his wife as he sat back "I hope you'll like it" they drove for about 15 minutes following Sam's instruction before the cab came to a halt outside a white and grey single story house with a big bay window on the right as you looked at it about five steps leading up to the front door and a gate at the side indicating there was a garden attached. A beautiful leafy tree under the smaller window on the left of the door with a small porch across the left window "What do you think?" he asked stepping out the cab

"It's nice" she smiled as she came out the cab looking around at down the very clean street

"It has three bedrooms, a big living room, great kitchen and utility room, space for a car here and..."

"...We don't have a car" she looked at him saying

"Not yet" he smiled "What do you think?" he asked again as they walked towards the front door

"Why are you going to buy it?" she laughed

"I sort of already did"

"You did?" she gasped holding her chest "Can we afford this?" the front of the house alone bigger than her Grandma's house back in Jamaica

"We can afford it" he laughed guiding her up the stairs towards the front door and opening it revealing the open space leading to the living room to the right and small bedroom on the left, the bathroom behind the small bedroom, kitchen behind the living room and two further bedrooms down the hall "What do you think?" he asked when they arrived back at the front door

"I love our new home" she smiled grabbing him round the neck as she jumped, the ride home was all about the new furniture, curtains and carpets

They went out for a meal, which wasn't the norm for them and on the walk home decided to make a night of it, Cedes took him to The Shack, he'd never been there before, she'd never invited him, so now she was ready for this next step he was up for it.

"The music's sort of changed it's got a what we now call Rhythm and blues or R&B edge to it, I've been banging heads with a lot of up and coming artists" she looked at her hands telling him

"What are you not telling me?" he asked watching her fidget

"Noth..."

"Just tell me" he sat up demanding

"I think, that's what I want to do too, sing"

"That's fine" he smiled "I understand that dream, I hope you make it a reality" he hugged her saying

They got inside the dark, misty club, Sam started coughing for all the smoking going on as some man played the hell out of his saxophone sweating buckets as girls stood in front of him jiving but it wasn't a jive he knew, this was so different from the clubs he was used to, couples were dotted around the dance floor bodies attached as they danced more provocatively than he was used to, while the single girls stood watching and rocking. Sam stood taking in the scene for a while before his attention turned to the bar to order drinks, Cedes was chatting away to people she was more than familiar with this being her place of work, he gave her the drink and told her he was going to find a table. He sat watching her move about the room, she was comfortable here, these were her people, she spoke her own language, made her jokes, shared her memories, it suddenly hit him that she'd given up so much to melt into his way of life and really he hadn't batted an eyelid enough to even think how the change might have affected her. He smiled as he remembered their journey to America the quiet, the sweat, the crying and then the singing "She didn't think twice about it either" he told himself as he watched her coming towards him "How do you feel?" he looked across the table at her asking

"At home" she smiled as she put her drink on the table and looked round at these people that made her feel like she had a home away from home "How do you feel?"

"Happy you're happy I guess"

"You guess?"

"I'm happy" he laughed as a man came up to her grabbing her hand

"Come dance and stop moping" he said smiling at Sam as he spoke

"Clifton this is Sam my husband" she pulled her hand away from him saying

"Sorry, she's always moping about, we just want to see her happy" Clifton told a very angry faced Sam

"I've got her now" Sam replied not bothering to shake this guys hand, he hadn't offered it anyway, he sat wondering if he was one of his wife's play things while he'd been away

"No Sam" she smiled as if she'd read his mind "I didn't do anything but wait while you were away" she grabbed his hand telling him, finally he could breathe again "These are my friends please be nice"

"Sing for me, let me see my wife in action" his eyes telling her he loved her and appreciated her telling him that, she was happy he was interested in what she wanted to do she got up and found the mic, dedicated her song to her husband in front of everyone, he really didn't expect such a public announcement but he was so proud she felt enough to do it, he held his chest as she brought tears to his eyes when she sung her version of their song 'The Very Thought Of You' by Natalie Cole to him in the club "You need to sing" he told her kissing her as she left the stage for his arms

After a few drinks Sam was ready for some dancing, Cedes took him on the floor and done her best, he smiled as he remembered the sweating guy on the stage, now here he was sweating, and trying to keep himself in check for the pressure Cedes was putting on him 'Remind me not to let her drink outside the house again' he sent himself a note saying, the night closing as they'd expected as they fell into bed and clung to each other

The following week Sam asked Cedes to meet him at Pineapples; a restaurant near his workplace offices, she jumped on the bus and made the journey smiling as she left the almost ghetto ridden area where they lived through suburbia and into the town centre, feeling the definite shift as people of her colour became less visible, she was so out of her depth. She got off the bus and made her way to the restaurant on Sam's instructions smiling when she saw him waiting there "Hi" she smiled looking around the room to assess how she needed to act

"Hi" he smiled kissing her cheek, chuckling at her pulling away and looking around "I really don't care what anyone thinks about us, they don't get to define us remember?"

"Yeah" she smiled sitting at the empty chair opposite him

"I want you to come meet my boss, I thought you're coming to the Editors ball next week and I don't need it to be all whispers and gossip for us, if they've got anything to say they get a week"

"Are you sure about this?"

"Positive, we want to change the world right?"

"Right"

"Come on lets do this we can come back for food after, I'm buzzed for this"

"Buzzed?"

"Yeah excited"

"You so called American's don't even speak English anymore" she laughed as they got up

Cedes had seen the building before she'd rode past it so many times when Sam had been away on some story, cursing the people inside it at taking her man away, she felt she knew every brick. Now she was getting to go inside and more over meet Sam's boss, he must have sensed her nerves he grabbed hold of her hand and squeezed it tight "They'll love you"

"They will?" she asked gasping as the doors opened to the gigantic lobby, people rushing around talking, laughing, reading everyone doing something, Sam gripped her hand and pulled her with him as he crossed the lobby and walked into the elevator up to the 25th floor, she felt dizzy at the thought of being so high, she looked up at Sam smiling 'It's just the thought of you, the very thought of you, my love' he hummed calming them down as the doors opened. She gasped at the sight this place looked even more busy than downstairs, she was stuck in a spot, her feet wouldn't move, she could see Sam looking at her but she couldn't move

"I'm here" he said as her eyes focused on him "I'm here" he told her pulling her again and this time she moved

People stood watching them walk through the office shocked when they stopped at Mr Wright's office door and Sam knocked it "Come in" they heard thunder through the office, Sam looked around grabbed the handle and pushed the door open

"Mr Wright" he smiled as he walked in "We, that is my wife and I" he looked at Cedes as he spoke "Wanted to forewarn you that well, we are who we are we make no excused for us and well... If you have objections to us attending the Editors ball together, I'll happily not attend"

"I will say Sam, you're very brave, you both are" he smiled at Cedes saying as he got up "Pleased to meet you Mrs Evans" he offered his hand for her to shake "But you're not the only interracial couple in the building and whoever thinks whatever can go to hell as far as I'm concerned"

"Thank you Sir" he smiled, there was a bit more conversation before they left the office with Cedes making a promise not to be a stranger, they had their meal and chatted happy that they'd broken another barrier they thought they had "I can't believe how much he liked you" he sat across from her smiling

"He was impressed I guess"

"I was impressed, you just keep making me love you more" he grabbed her hand across the able telling her

"Sam" she smiled as their fingers intermingled "You have no idea how much more I love you"

The following week was taken up with preparations for the Ball, they were overwhelmed with the support they received from his colleagues and their wives and also to see how many interracial couples there were of all denominations, every mix you could think of was represented in that room. Someone commented it wasn't surprising as reporter travelled all over the world for news and had more access to different cultures, races and classes than nearly any other profession at this time.

Life went on like that for a while, they moved into their new home brought all their new furniture, Sam was back doing local work away on Wednesdays and Sundays, so those days Cedes sung at the bar and things were good.

They were sitting watching TV one evening when Cedes became restless again "What's the matter?" Sam asked fed up with her moving about as he tried to get into the film

"I need a conversation" she turned to look at him

"What do you want to talk about?" he picked his drink up asking before he took a sip

"A baby" she announced as she watched him choke on his drink "Can we have a baby?"

"I didn't know you wanted children, I mean do you think we're ready for that?"

"Yeah, I think we're ready for that" she smiled back "We're nearly thirty"

"I need time to think about it"

"Fine" she smiled, happy at not getting a no straight away

Sam smiled that she was willing to wait for his answer, he already had it, he wanted children, he wanted children with her, he just never knew how to ask her to do something like that without her feeling she was being pressured or expected to procreate "I'd love a baby" he whispered in her ear

"You would?" she turned smiling at him "You played me didn't you?" she tickled him asking

"I did" he laughed "I can't wait to have our babies" he giggled as he wriggled out of her grip "Can we start..." was all he got out before Cedes covered his mouth with hers, the next few months was all about baby making, every available minute was focused. On her visit to the doctors in month five after her cycle missed they were past happy when they were told she was pregnant.

1967

The first trimester was sickly, the second was argumentative and the third was sleepy, but they survived and when their beautiful baby boy was born, loosely curled brown hair with blond streaks through them, hardly any eyebrows, nose flat cross its clef, wide green eyes and the plumpest lips you'd ever find on a baby, as he stretched his arms came out and seemed to find another joint they were so long, and his legs did the same. They fell in love instantly and after her week in hospital they went home with their new family to get into family life.

"Sam" Cedes nudged him in the night as she heard Dwight moaning "Sam, it's your turn" she poked him saying "Give him his water"

"Okay" he jumped out of his sleep telling her disorientated, Dwight was still waking up for a feed each night and they were trying to break him out of it, if Cedes got up she was going to give in and breast feed him so Sam had said he'd do the night feed with water. Cedes was happy for the rest, their son had her breast feeding him nearly every two hours during the day and at three months she had no choice but to give in to his demands, Sam wanted his wife to himself and was keen to at least get him sleeping through the night

They were happy for a while in their little family bubble, but there was something missing for them, it was unspoken but they knew how each other felt, they had this new person the joy of their lives and no one to really share him with, they were fine when it was just the two of them they knew their roots, made their choice even, but now Dwight Kane Evans was in the picture he needed to know his roots too.

It had been 11 years since they'd left Jamaica, her Mom crying, her Dad angry, they hadn't set foot back in Tennessee either since the dreadful change your name thing with his parents, it had been hard, through some of their rough times, not to have a parent to turn to but they'd managed, found that in other places, they'd even learned to deal with a part of them constantly feeling lonely.

He'd come in from work and smiled as he made his way through the hall at the silence in the house, this was rare especially with 9 month old Dwight crawling around the house, he was used to hearing Cedes following Dwight around, saving the ornaments she loved so much. He popped his head round the living room door expecting to see it empty and saw her flipping her Grandma's pearls around her fingers, he knew what needed to be done, the following week he booked their tickets, got a holiday week from work for around Christmas and sat back with the surprise in his head.

His wife needed her family right now, he needed his if he'd openly admit it, but he was scared about facing his, until he knew with conviction that they weren't going to reject their child he couldn't face them, he'd end up doing someone some damage so it was best to stay away from them. He'd promised her the day they left that they'd make it back and after all this time he was financially able to fulfil that promise, he needed to give his family every opportunity to be truly happy. Dwight would be nearly 1 year old by then so travel was possible, he knew Cedes wouldn't fight him on this in fact he expected at least a kiss

"Hey" he smiled as she came through the door, she was back singing at the club, she was actually the main act now, others had got up and made it global but Cedes sort of put her family first and decided, on her own, that the baby was their priority. At times Sam felt that had something to do with the rejection from her family but he never questioned it, he just made sure he was home in time for Dwight's bedtime every night, and that his wife was happy when she went to bed, that was working for him.

"Hey" she walked over to him for her usual kiss "I'm tired" she sat next to him saying "And I know it's been a while for us but I really need to sleep, do you mind"

"No" he laughed "But I do need a word"

"One word" she lay her head on the back of the couch telling him

"Home"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"We're going" he laughed "That's two words"

"I don't get it we're going home, we're sitting here" she lifted her head telling him

"Jamaica I promised we'd make it back regular and I guess this is me making good on a promise"

"When?"

"Christmas for a week"

"God Sam" she said kissing him long and hard "Thank you" she lay on his chest smiling "But what will we do if they reject Dwight, I'd never forgive them?" she jumped up asking

"Then we'd walk away knowing we'd done our bit"

"Fine" she smiled "Lets go to bed" she jumped up grabbing his hand

"I thought you were tired?"

"I am but you can still hold me, I want to make you feel loved up husband" she giggled

"Then just tell me" he pulled her back towards him saying

She looked up at him as he pressed her against his chest holding her hand behind her back as he pulled her to him, his eyes glistening with anticipation like he'd never heard her say it before, at this moment she didn't feel those three little words merited what she felt inside "I don't even want to think about what life would be like without you in it, your my soulmate, I can't believe how perfect we are for each other, I'd known you for a day and I fell so hard and truth be told I've never stopped falling, I'm in love with you Sam Evans and it's a love like no other, it's forever"

"I know in my heart I'll never love anyone as much as I love you, you leave me breathless" he grabbed her lips telling her, she actually forgot she was tired that night, but she remembered in the morning when she woke up late for work, Sam laughed and offered to stay home with Dwight for her to rush off. He got him ready for nursery and finished his day later.

A week later they were on their way to the station to get to the airport, sitting waiting to board their flight he looked at her fretting for what she was about to meet, 'I see your face in every flower, your eyes in stars above, it's just the thought of you the very thought of you, my love' he hummed as he pulled her closer to him "I love you, we love you" he looked at Dwight telling her

"I know, it's just now I'm making this trip, I miss them"

"I know"

"I don't know if I can take the rejection all over again"

"I know"

They got on their flight and made the 3 hour trip over to Jamaica booking into the Jamaica Inn a very different atmosphere to the one they left some nearing 12 years ago. It now had black and white visitors from all over the world, staying in rooms side by side "Hello" they heard as they went to push the key into their family suite

"Miss Flo" Cedes turned smiling at the woman "We're visiting nothings wrong" she giggled as she walked towards the woman for a hug "Nice to see you"

"Nice to see you too girl, family woman now I see" she acknowledged softly pinching Dwight's cheek

"Yeah" she looked at her son proudly saying "His name's Dwight"

"Hello Dwight" Flo said playing with his hand for a while before she left them to unpack and get settled in

"You know everyone in Jamaica knows we're here now don't you?" she laughed telling Sam

"Everybody" he looked at her nodding his head

They sat around for a while, talking about how they were going to approach her parents, what would happen in the event of rejection and even talking her down from the possibility of slapping her Mom back. Dwight was getting restless so Sam suggested they take him for a walk around the complex, to tire him out so he'd sleep later, he was running around confidently now, so they just needed four pairs of eyes and swift feet to catch him.

"Come on then" Cedes jeered as she watched Sam getting Dwight ready trying to create a cool look with his green shorts, white vest and Green and white summer cap

"Tell Mommy we're coming" he smiled at him as he confirmed he was looking slick before they stepped out "Evans men are ready to walk the line with Evans woman" he saluted as he grabbed Dwight's hand and walked towards Cedes to grab her hand too and leave the room.

They got in the foyer and laughed as Dwight wriggled his hand away from his Daddy's and ran off "Dwight" Sam shouted running after his son who seemed to have picked up speed with space, leaving Cedes standing watching them

"Cedes" she heard as she watched her husband and child in chase, turning as she gasped to see her parents standing in the doorway of the hotel "Flo told us you were here" her Dad told her in response to her shocked look

"Oh" she said looking back in the direction Sam had left to go in to see him standing looking at the poolside "I'm... I've got to get Sam" she stepped off saying, her parents followed her "Sam" she gasped when she got to him "My parents ..." she got out looking at his face to see shock "What's up?" she asked as she watched her parents coming towards them

"My parents" he said looking at the pool, she turned to look in his eyeline to see his parents sitting laughing with another couple

"Sam" her Father shouted across the room as everyone looked round, Sam was looking at his parents so he saw their reaction when they turned and saw him standing there, he expected them to turn back to their conversation and pretend as they'd said that he was dead but they came moving towards him.

"Cedes" he turned to her saying "We're not ready for this" he grabbed her hand saying

"Protect Dwight" she ordered as Sam let her hand go for seconds to pick him up before grabbing her again

"I'm here" he looked at her saying

"I'm here" she smiled back at him

Everything seemed to be happening all at the same time in slow motion, but still there was no time to do anything they just had to stand and watch the two sets of parents coming towards them.

"Sam" the two men said at the same time, he was still frozen, they both were but it was Cedes who sprung to life first

"Hello" she looked at the four parents saying "This is Dwight our son" she looked at Sam standing with Dwight in his hand saying

Sam took his unspoken cue and followed it up with "Dwight Kane Evans" he announced as all four looked at their grandchild "And I didn't force Cedes to have him, we love each other, we just thought you needed to know that Dwight existed and he needed to know you guys existed too"

"We'd love you to be involved but we understand if you don't want to be" Cedes told them as she watched their Mom's walking towards them

"You first" Sam's Mom told Cedes Mom as she stretched her hands out to take hold of her grandson, she cried as she held him and kissed his face repeatedly before handing him over for Sam's Mom to do the same before passing Dwight over to his Grandfather Evans

"Handsome young man" he smiled kissing his forehead telling Sam and Cedes before passing him on to Grandfather Jones, Sam gasped he couldn't believe he'd just witnessed his racist father kiss his son and say nice things about him to boot

"He's definitely a Jones" Cedes Dad laughed as he held him up in the air making him laugh, and Cedes smile at a vision she'd longed to see

"Can we sit down?" Sam's Mom asked, looking around for an empty table, and pointing to one when she found it, they all moved off to fill the seats

"We didn't expect this" Sam told them as he sat down pulling a chair closer to him for Cedes to sit in, as he watched Dwight bouncing on his Grandfather's knee

"First off I guess I should mind my manners and say pleased to meet you Mr & Mrs …?"

"Jones" Cedes Dad jumped up "It's Ida and Moses Jones"

"And we're Mr & Mrs Evans but Daniel and Ann to you" Daniel smiled as he offered his hand telling them "So we've become a family?" he looked at Dwight telling everyone as he riffled his hair, Sam and Cedes looked at each other baffled "Son" he suddenly turned to Sam addressing "We had some really harsh words with you the last time we met and in all honestly I truly regret every word I said but most of all the ones that banished you from your home"

"And Cedes" Ann butted in "I'm truly sorry for the comments I made about your colour, and insinuating that you were not worthy of our son"

"We thought you went to go live with Sam's family, I had no idea you were alone" Ida gasped as she came to her realisation

"And I'm sorry for disrespecting you Sam" Moses shook his hand telling him, looking back at Sam's blank face, he was still in shock about the whole thing "When you came to her Grandma's house" he reminded him

"Yes I know when" he looked at him replying "I'm just trying to take in all this change of heart stuff" he giggle nervously

"And to you too Cedes, for what I said that led to you leaving your home" he smiled at her saying "We'd like you all to come to our house for evening meal, if it's not too much out your way?" he asked

Cedes looked at Sam with a glow in her eyes she longed to see her Grandma and cousins, who were obviously all big people now "Can we?"

"Of course" he grabbed her hand telling her "Give us a couple of hours and well be there, just to sort Dwight out" he turned to her Dad saying "Mom, Dad you up for it?" he turned to his parents asking, suddenly realising it had been over 11 years since he'd used those words, to them anyway, before he realised whatever was going on in Cedes head wasn't good, she hadn't mention any of them by name yet "Are you alright Cedes?" he shook her hand asking

"Yeah" she gave him as an unconvincing reply

"Will you excuse us for a minute?" he got up looking around the parents asking pulling Cedes to go with him

"Bring Dwight" she told him

"He'll be alright" he pulled her with him telling her

"Bring Dwight" she said a bit louder dragging her hand away from him, he looked around the table, smiled at her Dad and took Dwight from him before grabbing her hand and walking off with them

"What's all that about?" he asked looking around the bar and pool as he spoke

"They banished us from our homes, told us we were as good as dead to them and for 11 years they were happy to live that way, what the hell changed, why do your parents love your little black baby now, why is my Dad even acknowledging you now, I don't understand, I need to know why it took them this long, if they really have had a change of heart, why? this is all too much and now they want to leave a perfectly good restaurant here and go eat at their house, something is wrong"

"What are you saying?" he looked at Dwight before looking back at her "They want to poison us?"

"No I don't think it's anything like that, I just need to know why everyone's changed their minds about us, something just doesn't feel right"

"Okay let me handle this" he looked back at their parents telling her as they walked back towards the table they all sat at "So" Sam said rather loudly as they sat back down "We've walked away once before and we can do that again if need be, we live a comfortable life, we both work and we still have love so if this is another attempt of getting us to see sense it needs to stop now"

"I feel ashamed" Moses told them without being prompted "After you left Mama had a word or two to say to me, to us actually, and we remembered how I came from St Ann's over to Montego Bay to get this fine young girl" he hugged her Mom telling her "Plucked her straight out of your Grandma's house and I didn't even stop to ask any questions" he laughed "She reminded me there was always two sides to any story and I didn't listen to yours, I just went ahead laying the law down as I'm used to doing and getting it all wrong"

"Very wrong" Ida butted in "Before I could stop him giving you that ultimatum it was out, and I had to stand by him he's my husband, your father"

"She cried for nearly 6 months didn't speak to me for nearly 2 years and I thought I'd brought our marriage to it's end" he touched foreheads with her saying "Then your Grandma passed and we had no go between anymore, I was devastated"

"Grandma died?" Cedes burst into tears asking

"Grandma Jones yeah, she'd had a good life you knew she was ill"

"Oh yeah I did I still expected to see her before she passed"

"Then of course we went back to your other Grandma's after the funeral, she was bitter"

"Bitter?" Cedes asked unclear

"She wasn't happy with the way things had gone she started spouting stuff about, knowing the difference between right and wrong, us trying to bring back the past and being no better than those people that were fighting to keep us segregated" he looked at Sam's parents telling everyone"

"She told us stuff about Sam we didn't even bother to ask" Ida looked at him saying "About your hurt for what your forefathers had done, your fight against all the injustice in the world, and reminded us there was always two sides to every story"

"Of course by this time you'd gone overseas, we had no way of contacting any of you"

"We seemed to have been fighting the battle from the other side of the fence" Ann told everyone as all heads turned towards her "After what you did, your Dad might have gone along with it but it was me, I was terrified of what my family would say about it and so I guess he fought my corner"

"I knew what your Mom stood to lose in you doing something like that, I had nothing to lose just you and I chose to keep your Mom happy instead of standing by my only son"

"What did you have to lose?" Sam asked puzzled

"My parents, I feared losing my family they were all I had..."

"... So you chose them over your own son?" Sam shouted at her

"No I chose me over you, I chose me" she cried "And I'm ashamed, sorry and not even worthy to be called your Mother but I still love you Sam"

"I could have done with hearing that 12 years ago, we both could have" he spat feeling Cedes grab his hand and knew he had to calm down, he was holding Dwight "So what changed your mind, did the whole family die or something?"

"Mom and Dad did, I told Zeb, Pete and Grace about you two finally, told them they could think what they wanted I didn't care, being away from you was all too painful "

"We heard from your cousin Trudy's husband that there was a Sam Evans working for the Herold in Delaware, he works in the Dallas branch, pulled some strings and found out it was you and that you'd taken time off to come here, the hotel was a total guess"

"You looked for us?"

"Yes" his Dad replied he wasn't about to apologise for doing that

Sam looked at Cedes for a while, trying to make out what she was thinking before he saw a smile on her face "Okay lets get some drinks" he announced as his Dad's hand went up to attract a waiter and order the drinks

"Could we get dinner at yours tomorrow Mom, it's getting late for Dwight and he needs routine?" Cedes asked

"Sure we could eat here if you like"

"That would be good" Cedes smiled "I recommend the Shed, it's got the freshest fish" she laughed "I used to work here" she told Sam's parents

Dwight's routine went out the window that night as they sat talking through their evening meal and beyond, watching Dwight while Sam and Cedes went off for a dance just round the corner before Sam came back to get them all for a dance and they ended the night, with Dwight fast asleep in Grandma Evans' lap before they took their leave and found their room to put their son to sleep.

The week was a bit of a whirlpool, Cedes learned that her brother had gotten married and moved to Gambia to be with his wife's family, of course her grandma Jones had passed two years after she left, and her Grandpa Douglas was seriously ill. They took the next day out to go see him, introducing the family to Dwight which built her Grandpa up a bit, but by the time they were ready to leave they could see the deterioration in his health.

"You have your Grandma's eyes" he touched her face telling her "You're as beautiful as she ever was" he told her bringing tears to Cedes eyes, she knew this was his last days, gone was the man that went into the fields from morning till night so his family could have a descent meal each day.

"Once a man twice a child" her Grandma muttered as she sat quietly in the chair next to his bed, waiting for her life partner of nearly 70 years to leave her alone in this world, they had one more rough day of visits with him before they left

Sam heard of his cousin Ben's demise in the crisis battles and how his Uncle Seth had become ill over the loss of his only son, his parents anguish of not knowing what was happening to him during that time, breakfasts at the hotel, lunch's at some relatives house or with Sam's parents, dinners with everyone that could make it to the hotel and suppers alone every night, and soon their 7 days were up and it was time to leave.

The last night they took Sam's parents up on their offer to watch Dwight while he slept and went to the local hotel disco, that drank, danced and sang the night away, it had been a while since they'd been able to just enjoy each others company "Oh I love this song" Sam grabbed her hand saying as they moved around with him singing in her ear his version of 'Some Kind Of Wonderful' by Michael Buble a few more cocktails and Sam was remembering yet again why he wasn't to let his wife drink when she went out "Time to go" he grabbed her saying just before she climbed the table to do some crazy moves to some lovers rock music that was playing, he could have got into it himself but someone had to be the responsible one

They got back to their room and relieved his parents before falling into bed, the one up side of her drinking this much was he would never know what was going to happen next, she got real experimental sometimes

It was a tearful, but happy goodbye the next day as everyone left, after getting their family back with an unspoken acceptance Sam and Cedes sat on the plane happy, Dwight slept in Sam's lap as he hugged Cedes both smiling as they hummed 'And foolish though it may seem to me it's everything' they smiled, laughing as they caught each other singing the same thought

'It's just the thought you' Sam sung looking in her eyes

'The very thought of you' she sang looking back at him

'My love' they both sang as Cedes rested her head on his chest, finally an accepted blended family

"We won our war" Cedes smiled up at him

"We did" he kissed her lips saying "Now we need to get him ready to fight his war" they looked down at Dwight saying

"By the time he knows about it he'll have an army behind him" Cedes laughed

"The very thought" he laughed

THE END