The Children's Afternoon
They were in casual yellow today, his shorts and T-shirt complementing hers replacing her usual high heels with summer sneakers and hip bag, ready for a day with the children.
"Mom, Dad" they heard as they entered the crowded food hall.
"We made them" he smiled at Mercy, as they stood still watching their children making a B line for them, Sam had given Ash and Russ his back in the day bowl hair cut, that he thought was cute, they didn't know any better, they'd seen a picture of him back then and thought it was cool to be like their Dad. Becky and Hanny on the other hand were embarrassed by it, and ordered a shape up. Eventually he'd agreed for Mike to take charge on their hair, they were coming towards him now with a more grown up look, maybe his serious Sam phase style, when he'd finally figured out what he was going to do with his life. "Nice" he grabbed Ash's shoulder.
"You like it?" Becky asked him "We sent pictures to Uncle Mike".
"You sent pictures of me to Uncle Mike?" he looked at her smiling "You had something to do with this didn't you?" he looked at Mercy.
"They didn't like it, the girls wouldn't own them, they asked me to help and keep you happy" she giggled "Plus this was another time I thought you were super handsome" she flickered her eyelashes at him.
"Ha" he chuckled "You guys are killing me, but I do like it" he tapped Russ' hair "Lunch" he stepped off, watching them all following him "And don't think I've forgotten about last night's secret you all kept from us" Becky and Hanny shared a look, knowing that meant trouble.
Sam and Mercy sat listening to their children's excitement about having all their cousins in one room last night, having breakfast with both sets of grandparents that morning, and attending their very first late night party.
"We want you to clear something up for us Dad" Hanny started what seemed like a serious conversation.
"What's that poppet?"
"This is never going to happen, we all know this" she looked at her sister "But say we were in a sinking ship" she rolled her eyes "Not this one, but a fake one".
"Hopefully not this one" he laughed.
"Who would you choose to save?"
"It this a who's your favourite question?" he looked at her asking "Because it sounds like you want me to solve another argument here".
"It's just one of those Hypo…" Hanny looked at Becky for the word.
"Thetical, hypothetical questions" Becky rolled her eyes at her annoying sister "Why do I always have to be her brain?" her eyes looked up asking herself.
"Okay, if I had to save anyone, I guess I'd have to save your Mom" he looked at Mercy smiling, even her jaw dropped at the answer "Because I know she wouldn't want to be saved until every one of you were safe, and I know I need to save her".
"So, Mom" Becky turned to her Mom ready to get some detail.
"Time for activities" Mercy held her hand up stopping the conversation "There are no boats sinking, not today anyway" she got up "Let's find something constructive to do with our time".
"What do you guys want to do first?" Sam asked jumping up to follow her.
"I saw ice skating on level 2 this morning, I thought that might be good" Becky suggested.
"Ice skating" Ash and Russ moaned in unison "That's so girly" those two tended to speak at the same time, mostly saying the same thing, but Sam and Mercy knowing their characters generally knew who was speaking for who, when they started that game.
"Well, we're all going to do it, and Russ you love skating" Mercy ruffled his hair and pulled him to her, laughing at Ash looking at his brother as if he'd just committed the biggest betrayal. They went down, got their boots and started on the ice "Hi" she smiled at seeing Tina and Artie with their children.
"You got roped in too" Tina laughed "Excuse Artie he went there last night".
"He does look at little green" Mercy laughed, hugging Junior while Sam picked Nicole up "But he kept up better than Mike, I was impressed".
"So was I if I'm honest, but he's woke up in a foul mood" she watched Mercy pinching Nicole's cheek asking her for a kiss.
"They all have their moods" Mercy rolled her eyes, smiling at Nicole for the kiss she'd just given "Rise above it" she looked at Tina "How were the girls, really?"
"Angels" Tina smiled
"Angels that broke my dang gaming TV" Artie hissed "But it's alright, I needed a new one" he rolled his eyes "So Hanny told me anyway, she's lucky she's my favourite Goddaughter" he smiled at her stood listening "I'm joking" he told her "It was really old, and it was on the floor waiting for the new one to be delivered" he looked at Sam about to burst a blood vessel.
"Come on" Junior held his hand out for Becky to grab "Let's skate" he stepped onto the ice to join her "Hanny" he stopped to hold his other hand out for her to grab.
"You don't mind if I take the boys out do you?" Artie asked their parents "Only Nicole's having none of it" he looked at her still clinging to her Uncle.
"I don't think she's going to let me go right now anyway" Sam laughed, watching Artie, Tina, and Mercy skate off with the children "Make this the last round" he called to Mercy half an hour later, smiling at the boys, who didn't want to go in the first place, protesting. "Get your brothers off the ice we'll do some shopping" he told the girls when they skated past, watching them skate across the ice, instead of around, to get to them.
He stood watching the girls make the situation irritating before Mercy looked over at him smiling, it was obvious she sussed out that he'd put that cat amongst the pigeons, she said something to Tina, and everyone made their way over to where he stood "Shopping?" she asked him "You do know what they're expecting?"
"I know what they're getting" he laughed handing Nicole over to Artie.
"Dad" Hanny and Becky turned into the synchronised twins, grabbing an arm each, rushing him on, ready for the spree, he smiled at Mercy, he knew their game, but they didn't know his, and she knew that.
"So" he announced when they got out the elevator on deck 5 "You can have one tribute T-shirt each, go shop" he watched the girls let him go and grabbed hold of Mercy walking out the elevator as they voiced their dislike at the situation. The souvenir shop was the biggest on the ship, it sat at the end of the row of boutiques and jewellery shops, you couldn't get to the other end without, walking through it.
The girls stopped at nearly every shop looking at clothes, jewellery, shoes, perfumes and books, Sam having his personal conversation with his wife all the way through, paying no attention to their hints and remarks "Right" he turned to look at them when they got to the souvenir shop "Find your t-shirts" he announced "And look after your brothers" he warned the girls before taking Mercy to the jewellery shop next door.
"That wasn't nice babe" she giggled at him as they walked into the shop.
"They're going to find out that life isn't always nice, rich and spoilt".
"You know they can be salty for days" she grabbed his arm "Thankfully we brought their presents yesterday".
"Depending on how they are after this they might not even get them" he signalled for a ring case "I was looking at this yesterday, what do you think?" he pointed to the silver Otis Jaxon chunky bracelet.
"You mean you saw me looking at that yesterday" she giggled.
"Yep" he smiled "And I wanted to say sorry for getting rat faced last night and for this morning, I thought that could be a start" he looked at it again. They wondered around the shop talking, looking, and trying on until they got back to the bracelet.
"Okay" she smiled "It's a start" they brought the gift and were about to leave the shop when they met up on Brittany, Matt, Rachel, and Quinn coming in "Grabbing a new wedding brick?" Sam asked Matt.
"Something like that, I never had a ring the first time, she's insisting on it for our new start" Matt laughed.
"And we're looking for something for our bracelets" Quinn told them holding her arm up.
"I was just about to ask" Mercy looked up to see Noah zooming through the crowds towards them.
"Can you tell we've spent most our time in the souvenir shop?" Rachel asked, laughing at their bags and his aeroplane threatening to perch on Quinn's head.
"Talking about souvenirs we left the children in there a while ago, got to go" Mercy told them walking off to collect the children and pay for their t-shirts.
"Where have you guys been?" sarcastically slipped out of Becky's mouth before she knew what was happening.
"If that's going to be your attitude you can put your t-shirt back" Sam snapped at her.
"Sorry" she quickly added knowing that with her Dad putting the t-shirt back wasn't going to be the last of it "I'm just a bit tired".
"How much is all that?" Sam asked the cashier before showing his wristband, and they all left the shop carrying their t-shirts in carrier bags "Next stop splash away bay" he laughed at the boys cheering, it was their turned to rush the girls on.
As he knew they would, their girls got to the splash area and found loungers, putting their carrier bags bunched up as pillows to sit and watch their brothers at play. They were worse than their Mom when it came to the hair thing, they actually had enough hair not to need weave, but they donned it anyway, wrapped their own hair up to wear shorter or longer wigs usually, but today they had their natural hair out and no way were they dealing with shrinkage at this time of the day.
"Go get us all some ice cream" Mercy tried to lighten their mood, sat at the dip your toes in slushy bar next to the splash bay, trainers in hand waiting for her slushy, Sam had ordered.
Their lives were so busy when they weren't at home, she had no problem letting him be the man of the family when they were, she was a boss at work and most the time at home, but when he took over she loved it, she'd skip along like one of the children happy for someone else to make the decisions for a while.
"Aunt Snix" Hanny smiled walking towards the ice cream hut "Where's Finn?" the two of them looked around.
"Hi" she smiled hugged Becky who was closest to her "He'd taken Bryon into the splash bay, he's more of a kid than his brother" she laughed. "He's taking some of the children to see a movie later on, you should ask if you can go, help him out a bit".
"Sure" the two girls nodded eagerly, seeing free time looming in front of them, they quickly returned with the ice creams to ask the question.
"Sure" Mercy pipped up before Sam could say anything "Your Dad will make sure you all get there, and we'll pick you up at 21:30 to get you back to the suite".
"So early?" Becky moaned.
"There is an alternative" Sam told them.
"It's fine, 21:30 is fine" Hanny tapped her sister, closing the conversation.
They sat around watching the boys for a while, eating ice cream and drinking slushies until Sam decided it was time to move on again "Last stop before rest" he announced watching the boys dry themselves off, the sun was shining hot enough to get them dry within the hour "I've booked us a slot on the rock climb" he smiled to cheers, they all loved that activity, so much so they'd had a massive one built at home "Races" he encouraged them on. By the time they got to deck 13 their conversation had gone up an octave, they'd planned the races and the rewards so of course Sam was ready to go.
"It's a small one" Ash moaned looking up at the near 14 meter wall.
"We'll make it work" Sam assured him.
The girls went up and back down against the timer, coming in at just under a minute thirty the first time while the guys did it in an impressive one minute ten, best out of three turned into five, seven and was about to go for eleven, everyone getting slower when Kurt and Blaine turned up.
"Hi" Mercy smiled with relief, smiling at them having Dotty totally covered from head to toe with a baby shawl "Isn't she going to too hot?"
"The alternative is sun stroke, and we couldn't be locked in that cabin any longer" Blaine told them.
"It is hot" Sam agreed lifting the shawl to peep at the baby "Oh she's so cute" he smiled that, I'm amazed, smile of his at them "It was cooler down on deck 11 by the splash bay".
"We might try down there" Kurt told them turning to find the elevator "See you guys at dinner 19:30 at the seafood".
"Is that the plan?" Sam called after them, looking at Mercy.
"We just got the message from Gail" Blaine told them following Kurt "See you" he watched Sam and Mercy getting their phones out to check, nodding in agreement.
"Come on" Mercy hurried the children along, the casual dinner had suddenly turned into a formal event, and she needed time to sort herself out, and find something to wear.
"We've got plenty of time" Sam told her "We should have guessed that was going to happen, we barely caught up yesterday" he grabbed hold of her waist, pulling her to him "Stop stressing" he whispered in her ear, kissing her temple, she looked up at him giving a uncomfortable smile "What's up?"
"Nothing" she smiled, unwilling to share the feeling of unease that had just come over her, maybe that Bree bitch, was coming back for round two.
Level 10
They got out the escalator on deck 10, and watched the children run up towards the Royal Suite, the noise of their running the only sound "It's quiet down here" Sam commented.
"Very" Mercy replied "Guys quieten down" she called after them, watching them stop outside a door, it obviously opened because the children walked in "Hi" she smiled at Jane's head popping out the door.
"Hi" Jane smiled "Come on in, I was just about to practice my song for church next week, but the children woke up".
Mercy looked at Sam, excitement in her eyes as they followed Jane into the cabin, "Don't get excited Mom, Auntie was up learning us the words to 'this little light of mine' this morning, at godawful o'clock" Becky told her making her laugh at her daughter.
"I wouldn't have minded, but it wasn't even the one off that musical Dad likes" Hanny grabbed her Mom's arm.
"Poor soul" Mercy kissed her forehead "Don't put too much make up on, you know your Dad, and I know you two are thinking you're going to wear those skirts I brought you for Halloween, I'll still deny it" she held her finger up at them "Don't he's not in a good mood today".
"We want to go to the movies Mom" Becky kissed her cheek and walked off towards the bedroom.
"Seven twenty" Sam called after them, he was busy playing cars with David, Ash and Russ "Tyrone" he smiled at the man walking into the room "I didn't know you were here".
"Yeah I get the sun all the while, I just spent family time in here, I'm back on tour next week".
"Yeah, I get a week but Mercy's back on Tuesday".
"I still feel like there's something unsaid between us; do you get that feeling?" Tyrone looked at him sitting on the couch behind him.
"I used to want to say a lot, when I thought you were after my wife, but no, not in a long while".
"Good, I guess I've always thought I had some wrong thoughts about your wife and maybe I never said sorry, but I'm saying it now" he looked at the two women talking "I wouldn't swap Jane for anything or anyone in the world" he smiled at the sight.
"I know exactly how you feel" Sam looked up at Mercy laughing and talking away to her cousin "You coming to dinner later?"
"No, Dad's not doing too well, I'm going to spend some time with him, before I have to dip".
"I didn't expect him to look as bad as he did yesterday to be honest".
"Yeah, I can see his end is near, he keeps telling us, but it's still hard to think of a life without him in it, or of my mother without her husband".
"It's hard, there's going to be pressure, I can tell you that much".
"I'm feeling it already, I feel like I need to be strong for everyone, I mean, I'll be the man of the family, I've always stepped up when I could, but the old man was always there to put me back in my box" he laughed.
"I can't imagine you without a box" Sam smiled at him "But you've got Jane, that's one good thing".
"She's a true blessing" he smiled at his wife still talking to his cousin.
"We've got to go get dressed for dinner, see you later maybe?" Sam tapped David on the head and nodded at the boys "See you guys at nine thirty" he got up to grab his wife to leave "We've got to get dressed for dinner, see you later" he kissed Jane's cheek and grabbed Mercy's hand.
"Later Michael" Mercy waved, kissing Jane before they left.
"What's the matter?" Sam stood watching Mercy grab hold of her stomach, "Babe".
"Just a little cramp, I must have eaten something that doesn't agree with me".
"You've had nothing different to me, are you sure you're alright?"
"Either that, or somethings going down".
"We don't have to go tonight we can just rest up if you want".
"No, I want to go, see everyone, even if I don't eat anything".
"If you're sure" he waited for her to straighten up again before carrying on the journey "Hi" he smiled as the elevator opened revealing Mike, Santana and Myron, laughing as the boy dived at him.
"Hi, had a good afternoon?" Mike asked, watching his son make a decision about where he wanted to be.
"Time with the children is always good" Sam replied, "But Mercy's not feeling well so we might not be at dinner tonight".
"Oh" Santana looked at Mercy "You're not stressing about that stuff are you?"
"No" Mercy looked at her knowing she was talking about Brittany "All that's sorted".
"I thought it might be" Santana smiled, remembering her conversation with Brittany Thursday night
Matt & Brittany
"So, we're really doing this?" Matt fell onto the bed, happy with her choice of ring.
"You may not have liked it, but you do know there's only been Bree and you for the past two months" she sat next to him worried. "Hey" she caught his full attention, their eyes meeting to take in the seriousness of the conversation "You do?"
"You've never lied to me before, maybe told me after the fact, but yeah I know that" he smiled.
"There's a reason there are three diamonds in this replacement ring" she pointed to her new wedding band "In about six and a half months there's going to be three of us".
"Not this shit again, Britt I thought…"
"Matt" she stopped him talking "Three of us" she grabbed his t-shirt and pulled him to her "Me, you and baby makes three" she whispered.
"What?" he gasped, pulling away from her "Is this a joke?"
"No joke, I felt a bit funny so Wednesday morning, Santana suggested the test, I took it and here we are" she sat waiting for his reaction "What are you thinking?"
"That I hope I get to see my Grandchildren before this Mayan Apocalypse of yours" he laughed grabbing hold of her "This is everything I've ever wanted" he hugged her, pulling away sharply "Did you come back to me because of the baby?"
"A bit of me did, I wouldn't want you to miss out on any of this" she hugged her tummy "But I made my choice because I love you, I always have, with all my heart.." he leaned in and kissed her.
"I'm overwhelmed, happy, but overwhelmed" he touched her tummy "Thank you" he pulled her into him.
"Hi" Bree walked into the cabin interrupting their moment "Sorry am I interrupting something?" she looked at Brittany.
"No" Matt jumped in "We were just about to get ready for a dinner our friends set it up".
"I guess there's no point in me joining you guys then?"
"You could, but I wouldn't" Brittany warned her.
Dinner
Giovanni's
Sam and Mercy walked in not surprised to see everyone already waiting, they hadn't rushed because Mercy still wasn't feeling herself and he'd not wanted to go. He'd dropped the children off to Finn, happy to know Jane was going to be with them for a while, and gone back to fetch Mercy, they were only going to the other end of their deck tonight, so they took their time.
"Hi" they walked in seeing the question on everyone's face "How did you manage to get here before us?" Sam asked of Leon and Briani already seated.
"I'll give you two hi, everyone's starving, come on" Andrea fanned them to the table.
"You need to do your order, or you'll be eating half an hour behind us" Trevor told them, Mercy looked at Sam, sat down and picked her menu up, something was wrong.
"Is everything alright?" she looked across the table at her parents.
"Everything is fine, your Moms just having some digestive problems today" Trevor told her.
"So is Mercy" Sam let known before Mercy could stop him.
"I knew it" Andrea grabbed Trevor's arm, the two women looked at each other, knowing exactly what it meant.
"Uncle James" they looked at each other and jumped up, Trevor jumped up cussing at them in deep patois, demanding they take it back or stop it or something.
"Trevor" Andrea yelled at him, everyone stuck in their seats trying to understand what was happening, "This is happening, you can stay here and miss it or come now".
"What's happening?" Sam grabbed Mercy's arm asking.
"Uncle James it's his time, that's the ache" she told him, Sam didn't sit around to hear anymore, Michael had told him earlier he was scared, right now he was sitting there alone with the man, someone needed to support him, he grabbed Mercy's hand and flew towards the stairs.
They finally got to the cabin, and knocked the door, Cynthia let them in "I thought you were the doctor" she smiled hugging them as they walked in, Michael was knelt at James' bedside holding his hand, before the door could close Andrea and Trevor were stood there, Trevor already crying as his eyes met with his brother's weak ones.
"You remember?" James' weak voice just about audible.
"Returning the favour brother" Trevor knelt beside Tyrone, stroking his big brothers face.
The running story they'd always laughed about from childhood to adulthood was about to come true
Flashback
James was eleven when Trevor was born. James' version of the story had it that their Mother went into labour while their Dad was away from home, he was supposed to be in the field, the plan had always been for James to run and get his Father, call the local midwife on his way, and everyone should meet up at the house. Unfortunately for them, on that day, their Father had to go into Kingston to pay some land fees, while he was there something had broken out in the town, the riot police had stopped everything and everyone coming in or going out, everyone was locked in buildings until the place was safe.
James had nowhere to go, the local midwife was dealing with another birth, so he ran back home to tell his Mom the bad news, shocked when she started shouting instructions at him. It was the scariest day of his life and also the most beautiful, watching his little brother come into the world. James had always said he'd watched Trevor come into the world and he owed him enough to watch him leave it.
End of Flashback
"No midwife" James smiled.
"Parents waiting" Trevor told him, holding back the tears, aware of Jane being in the room "Sorry" he whispered realising she was praying.
"It's time" James looked at Michael, smiling as Cynthia grabbed his right hand to lay on the bed next to him "I love you all, and thank you for loving me too" he looked around the room, his eyes beggingly landing on Michael again.
"Couldn't help but love you, old man" Jane got up to read some words from the bible, it seemed like an age had passed before she stopped and looked at Michael, smiling at his Father's eyes not leaving his Mother's face etching every line in his memory, taking in his last memory of this world.
Suddenly Michael burst out crying at his Father's hand letting go of his, his mouth suddenly dropping open, and the touch of a tear from his Mother's eyes dropping on his face not bringing a reaction, he knew he'd gone. Trevor and Michael held onto each other trying to be strong but failing miserably, Mercy grabbed hold of her Mother, unsure where to go next, before she turned and ran out the cabin "Has he…" Leon and Grace stood outside the door waiting for news.
"He's gone" Mercy just about got out before she ran off, she was feeling something she thought she'd buried years ago.
Sam was stuck to the floor, watching his Uncle take his last breath was painful, shocking even, this moment was so profound he wasn't even trying to force himself to leave, he knew Mercy had left the room, he also knew he needed to make sure she was alright, but he was pulled to this moment. The fixation was broken by the horrifying cries of Cynthia as the realisation of her husband leaving her set in, everyone jumped back in shock, watching as Michael reached across his Father's body and grabbed hold of the small frail woman. Sam knew he didn't need to be there for this, he signalled to Anthea he was leaving to find Mercy and left them to their deep grief.
"Where's Mercy?" he asked Leon as he got outside the cabin.
"She went that way" he pointed towards the stern of the ship, watching Sam walk off to find her.
He was walking fast, but his mind was going in slow motion, she knew what that pain was earlier, and maybe like her Mom she'd been wishing it away, now she'd be somewhere blaming herself for this. "Mercy where are you?" he wondered down the ship, looking in every corner, two hours later he was still no closer to finding his wife "Shit" he hissed at the time and having to fetch the children, rushing off to get them.
"Sam" Quinn caught up with him outside the cinema "How's Uncle James?"
"Sorry it's been hours, I'm looking for Mercy" he looked past her "He didn't make it I'm afraid, and I haven't seen her since".
"Did you check your cabin?"
"Yep, she's not answering her phone" he huffed "This isn't like her" he looked around "I was half hoping she'd come to collect the children".
"Jane will be busy, we'll take them if you like, you can keep looking".
"That would help, thanks" he hugged Quinn.
"Do you need us to help?"
"No, I don't think it's that serious, she'll just be overthinking things" their attention drawn by the children rushing out towards them. Sam went to Jane and Tyrone's cabin to get the children's night clothes, walked the excited children back to Quinn and Rachel's cabin and left shortly after making sure they were ready for bed.
Half an hour later on his third round of the entire ship, he found her sitting in the library on deck five, she'd obviously been crying, he expected it "Babe" she wiped her face looking up to see him stood there.
"I've been looking everywhere for you" he gasped relieved.
"I met up on Bree and her date, she actually apologised" she frowned "Moves fast that one".
"I was really worried babe"
"Sorry, I lost track of time" she forced a smile "I've never actually seen someone die before, it rocked me a bit, I was.."
"Thinking about your Dad, I know, so was I, about mine" he sat beside her.
"We missed all that you know?" she grabbed his hand "But it got me thinking about...".
"Let's not" he stopped her talking
"You're right, we need to focus on Michael, let's get all this over with first, I guess we'll need to extend our stay for the funeral".
"Will you be able to clear that?"
"I'll call first thing tomorrow and find out" there wasn't much leeway on a movie that had already hit a few obstacles, but she was going to have a good try at delaying for at least until after the funeral.
"Come on" he got up, grabbed her hand and left the library.
They got back to their Uncle's cabin in time to say goodbye before they took his body away "We're trying for 10am tomorrow for the funeral, Trevor and Andrea want to get everything done before we go, Cynthia and us are going with Michael for a few weeks, he can't cancel the contract, it would cost too much" Jane told them.
"When are you planning on leaving?" Sam asked.
"Everything should be finished by about three, so early evening" Jane told them.
"Okay"
"He's at peace now" Jane hugged them as she spoke. Sam looked at Mercy, worried life for them was going back to normal too quickly, but he knew it wasn't his place to say, so he stood quietly watching.
The evening farewell meal that was supposed to happen, obviously didn't, and things were so final now with Uncle James, it didn't seem right to have the full farewell celebrations they usually had, at the end of their meet ups. The farewell was heavy with condolences, for all the family. Sam and Mercy along with Mercy's family left the ship, that night, after explaining to the children what was happening, everyone packed while Sam called their private jet to collect them from Montego Bay late afternoon tomorrow.
Falmouth
They got to Uncle's house and Michael went straight to the drink cabinet, pouring drinks for everyone, Jane sat sipping coffee, while they all sat listening to stories of Uncle James' life. A lot of people came through the house that night, some with food, drink or just a hug, but they came to show their respects, the pots went on and food was preparing to be cooked all through the night. The women sat around singing songs of redemption while the men played domino's, cards or stood about talking laughing and drinking.
It turned out Michael wanted the funeral quickly, before the tabloids got hold of the story and flooded the family's grief with propaganda, Mercy shared a looked with Sam as they sat listening to his reasons, knowing this man as Tyrone, didn't take a crap without publicity, he was obviously hurting, bad.
"What do you say we go into the studio and hit out a tune for the funeral?" he turned to Mercy then looking at Sam "I just have so much to say and I was hoping you'd be inspirational" he looked back at his Mom.
"I'd love to honour Uncle" she smiled grabbing his hand.
"I'll look after things here" Sam looked back at his father-in-law, he was more intoxicated tonight than he'd ever remembered seeing him.
"They'll be fine, all hands on deck my man" he looked around "Come on let's do this" he got up and walked over to Jane, they had a conversation and a kiss before he left her watching him walk away.
The studio was no more than a ten minute walk away from the house, and sure enough there were people already in there doing their thing, happy to see Michael and sad at his news "Sorry, we need the studio for about two hours" he told the listening crowd. He hadn't mentioned that the studio he'd talked about for many years now, actually belonged to him, the building was pretty standard for the area, shack like with a few chairs outside, just one booth, a small mixer room and records plastered on the wall along with pictures of familiar faces. "We're in good company" he pointed at the pictures of Denis Brown and Ken Boothe taking pride of place on the wall, they'd always professed that Mr Boothe was some family member, but there was no proof.
"Yeah" Sam smiled sitting down to see what was happening next.
Michael started telling stories of him and his Dad, it was like his mind had opened up with all these ideas he wanted to get into this one song, talking about laughing, crying, working, family, his Dad's friends, events he remembered, Mercy looked at Sam wondering who was going to stop him "I think.." she looked at Sam.
"Have you got something?" Michael asked.
"Yeah" she smiled.
"You two are quick" he looked at Sam.
"At what?" Sam asked concerned.
"Lyrics" Michael laughed "By the way, Leon brought those lyrics you asked him to work on down here a few weeks ago, we did something really cool with it".
"You did?" Sam asked surprised "He never said".
"So, neither did I" he threw him a disc that was sat on the mixer "And I didn't give you that either" he smiled "That's Spencer, Leon and me, superstar gold" he smiled.
"For the funeral, I think you should put all those memories you talked about on screen, and sing something traditional while the pictures show, memories of the family, you know everyone, we were always taking pictures, it could be something for Auntie to watch when she needs to" Mercy suggested.
"That sounds pretty cool to me" Sam told him.
"I want it to be perfect" Michael told them, taking his phone out, before he left the room. "So" he walked back into the studio "Let's go home, get the pictures together, ask everyone to bring what they have, and set it up" he suggested.
"There are an awful lot of people back there, is that traditional?" Sam looked at Mercy wondering if he'd asked a silly question, while he slid the disc into his pocket "Only we haven't actually had anyone pass since we've been together, I don't know how these things work".
"Very traditional, and usually for 9 nights, people just pass by eat, drink, talk, and pay their respects, until the ninth night and then it's usually the funeral the following day" Michael told them "Mom can't cope with it, so we're all going away after the funeral, she's putting a brave face on, and Jane, we just need some time".
"Of, course" Mercy nodded knowingly.
"And so are you, for the record" Sam told him "Have you guys got somewhere to stay, you could come to us, the house is big enough to get lost in, even with the children in it?"
"I've got a little hide out in Berkeley, we're good there, but thanks anyway" Michael knocked fists with him "I guess we better get back, get some rest ready for the morning" he got up, brushed the tobacco off his trousers and pulled Mercy up off the couch, "Thanks" he smiled at her.
Sam was just happy Michael had realised he needed some think time and chosen to take it with them.