Monday
They got back to find even more pots cooking, apparently people were expecting food after the service too, Sam looked at Mercy, he wasn't only happy for Michael and the family leaving later, he was exhausted at not being able to think for a second since they'd arrived. "I'm going to try and get some rest" Mercy walked off leaving him stood with Micheal.
Sam went off to round up their wondering children, tasking them with helping Jane pack the cases, in the bedroom, ready for their trip, he wasn't used to them being around so many people and especially in another country.
He walked around the house taking in what was happening with the family, Anthea was busy coordinating the cooking in the large kitchen, about six women stood in various spaces getting things chopped, peeled, and seasoned. Grace was in there too, rolling her eyes at some woman, who was telling her she was cutting the food too big, and Briana was washing what looked like a barrel of meat, she seemed like she knew what was expected. He walked through the kitchen and into the living room to find more women singing, eyes closed, hands up in the air or banging tambourines, the noise reminding him of a concert going mad.
He walked through out into the yard where Spencer was helping with setting out tables and chairs, everyone keeping in high spirits, the only people missing in this was Uncle James and Dad, bringing him back to the reason they were all there. What the..." he looked on the back fence at the animal skins hung there "You guys killed fresh meat?" he asked Spencer.
"Well we don't have twenty four hour supermarkets in these parts, we keep stocked" he laughed "Everyone does it" he looked at Sam looking around the fences "I thought you were a country boy?"
"Not this country" he laughed.
"How's your Dad?" Spencer stopped working for a minute to ask.
"I haven't checked on him since I got back, I should..." he walked off to go do just that.
The noise and merriment going on hadn't stirred Dad, he was grieving for an irreplaceable loss, Sam peeped his head round the bedroom door to check, and found Leon sat there, he could tell Leon was past worried about his Dad, and holding his grief in to support him "Hey" Sam grabbed Leon's attention, he was watching his Dad breathe as he lay still in his memories "Come on, lets grab a drink" he ordered more than asked.
"I..." Leon tried to find an excuse.
"Come on" Sam waved his hand about calling him for encouragement, they walked through the house in silence, watching their Mom hurry off towards the bedroom at seeing Leon had left her husband alone, joining the men outside stacking beer and spirits on a table and fixing up chairs for the final farewell "Where's your head?" he asked him when they finally got to a quiet spot.
"I've never seen my Dad like this before, I'm frightened for him".
"He's just lost his brother, his only brother, of course you've never seen him like this before" he shook his shoulder "But your Mom's got him and he has us, so he'll be fine".
"Are you sure?"
"I've never lied to you before, have I?"
"No" Leon looked at him smiling "You never have" he bumped fists with him.
"At this point, all we can hope for, is that we who are left have just as much of a filled life as Uncle James had" he smiled at his little brother "And now you have to make plans about life with your new wife" he grinned "I can't believe you're there already" he grabbed his neck playfully, trying to cheer him up.
"Yeah man" Leon grinned "I'm still buzzed she said yeah".
"You should be, punching above the head with that one" he laughed.
"Like you've never done that" Leon laughed.
"Never know..."
"Until you try, yeah my big brother taught me that" he bumped fists with him "Thanks".
"For?" Sam looked at him wondering.
"I never knew I needed that break until you forced it".
"What can I say, big bro..."
"Knows best, yeah I got that" he got up "Are you not sick of always being right yet?" he laughed.
"When you've got a little brother to guide, you can't afford wrong turns".
"Thanks" he walked off to go see about his Dad again.
"Sam" Micheal called from across the yard "Come man" he signalled for him to get to him, it seemed their Dad was getting buried at home, he wasn't expecting to see a grave dug out with concreate base and sides, everything seemed ready "I need some words for the stone".
Sam wanted to ask what the hell, but he quickly realised Michael had no one else to ask, and to be sure, he had no clue himself "I really don't know, I didn't pay any attention to all that stuff for my Dad" he looked at his cousin turned friend panicked "Just speak from your heart, no one knew your Dad like you did".
"That's true" Michael sat in thought, Sam left him to it, the man had some big boots to fill, a conversation with him wasn't going to fix that
"One hour" someone shouted starting the count down to the eleventh hour, the house cleared fast, Sam and Michael stood watching everyone go off to get ready for the funeral. Jane and the children were busy packing cases, ready for their trip, Aunt Cynthia was getting a five minute quiet after her bath before she got ready to take this last walk with her husband, and Mom and Dad were still in the bedroom, hopefully getting ready too.
Sam made his way to the bedroom, smiling at seeing his wife's face in the mirror "You woke up?" he walked towards her
"I didn't get any sleep this house is noisy" she smiled
"How are you holding up?" Sam stood behind her clipping her white pearl necklace on.
"I can understand the rush, but it's exhausting, don't you think?" she watched him closing the clip before he looked back at her.
"Just take it easy for me babe, please"
"Hey" she grabbed his arm as he walked off "I needed you to be the solid one today, and you are" she reached up and kissed his lips "Thank you".
"For you, I can always be that" he kissed her back "Lets get the children ready" he pulled her with him.
Grace and Briani had been trying to help the children get dressed with little progress "Boys" Mercy went into the room cooling the noise, they must have thought all their birthdays had come at once, staying up to play computer games until they were tired. "Stop it" she clapped her hands, both of them threatening not to listen until they saw their Dad in the doorway, Hanny and Becky tittering at the catch.
"And no way are you girls wearing black, you're too young" Sam told his daughters
Soon everyone was standing at the top of the hill, in black and white, waiting for James to arrive. The beautiful white and gold horse drawn carriage arrived with the coffin, a single cross lay on the top of the box with red, gold and green ribbons enveloping white roses and a Jamaican flag at the centre of the cross. They all walked behind the cart to the church, people joining them as they made the journey, singing songs until they stopped outside the church.
The Funeral
There was a tremendous wail as James' coffin was lifted from the cart, Ash and Russ burst into tears with fright, while Becky and Hanny grabbed hold of their Aunt's hand a serious look of terror on their faces, everyone watching as the orderly line formed to follow the coffin into the small church about fifty yards up the road.
That too looked much like the studio, falling apart on the outside but inside there was a projector screen hanging on the front wall, a grand piano and a few instruments to the left of the alter, two steps lead to the small pulpit. It was small inside but when you took away family from England, a few of Michael's well-wishing friends and the drunk men maybe it was fit for purpose. The wooden pews too warn to give splinters, in fact they shone in places that had been well used, a hymn book on every seat and a warm smile coming from everyone who's eyes they met, made if comfortable and inviting.
They followed the coffin and sat behind the front row with the children, Leon, Briani, Grace and Spencer taking the next row, everyone kindly staying back until the family were seated before rushing to fill the other seats. "Family" the Mister called out quietening the church, Sam and Mercy looked at each other when he started talking, it was all they could do not to burst out laughing, this man was talking so fast they couldn't understand a word, the crowd letting out a 'praise the lord' or 'Amen' as he rambled on.
"Mercy" Michael turned to look at her about ten minutes in.
"What?" she leaned forward to hear what he had to say.
"He's asking if we'll all sing" Michael smiled "I know he talks fast".
"Oh, that wasn't the plan was it?" she jumped up grabbing Sam's hand following the others up to the front
"I struggled with what to say" Michael looked out at the crowd "The only thing I know to do for sure is sing, so I thought Pops liked to hear me sing, so here goes, it took him a while to get me to sing anything resembling gospel, but today I feel it" he smiled at his Mom "So here's a musical and visual tribute to Pops from us" he looked at his cousins 'Walk With Me' by Goldford
Micheal & Jane (Others): (Oh Oh Oh) Walk with me, I'll walk with you, down these troubled roads, we've stumbled into
We're all in this thing together, we're gonna make it through, if you walk with me, I'll walk with you
Leon & Briani (Others): Be there for me, I'll be there for you, when we're running out of hope, when we don't know what to do
Like a candle in the darkness, shining bright and true, be there for me, I'll be there for you
Micheal looked at his Mom, while the audience joined in as soon as they started the chorus, which was a godsend, only they turned it into a real gospel reggae type thing that Mercy only followed because she knew the words. Some turned to watch the pictorial offering, Mercy knew she'd never get through the song if she turned, but the smiles, frowns, and expressions of memory from the congregation, warmed her heart, she smiled at Michael knowing exactly what to do when the time came.
Micheal & Everyone: Whoa, everything, (is gonna be, gonna be, gonna be alright) everything, is gonna be alright (alright)
Cause you and me got better days coming, (yeah, everything, is gonna be alright)
Sam & Mercy: Walk with me, I'll walk with you (oh)
I know the rain of today, will bring tomorrow's bloom, when we can't see where we're going (oh)
Where the world is coming to, you walk with me, I'll walk with you
Spencer & Grace (everyone): Gonna be alright (walk with me) gonna be alright (I will walk with you) gonna be alright (alright)
Everything (oh, walk with me) gonna be alright (and I will walk with you)
Is gonna be, everything Is gonna be, gonna be, gonna be alright, everything Is gonna be alright
Gonna be, gonna be, gonna be alright, baby gonna be alright gonna be alright gonna be alright
Michael: Walk with me and I will walk with you
"Was that alright?" Michael asked Sam as they made their way back to their seats.
"Perfect" he smiled
Lots of tributes followed, then Trevor took the stage to do his brother's eulogy, he had a lifetime of memories to share about their childhood, Micheal happy and satisfied he'd found the words and a musical tribute for his father, before the service closed with a reading from Jane, Aunt Cynthia clung onto Andrea the whole time, in silence. They followed the men carrying the coffin all the way to James' final resting place, a few words were said, the body went down, dirt was thrown and then more singing as the men donned spades and sealed the tomb covering the hole, until it looked like a beautiful monument, while the women sang.
Finally, there was only the head stone to be engraved, everyone stood in silence for a short while "Well Pops, we did our best" Tyrone hugged his Mom.
"He wanted to rest quick, we did quick" she leaned her head on her son's arm "Thank you".
"Come on Mama, let's get you some rest" he stepped off with her under his arm "Jane" he called nodding for her to follow "Sam" he got their attention nodding the same
"I've got you" Sam grabbed a shaky looking Mercy, the whole thing had been too much for her, if he was willing to admit it, it was too much for both of them, there were too many memories they were trying to bury, trying to avoid to make life livable "It's alright, I've got her" he alerted Leon and Spencer rushing towards them. They'd both made out they'd thought about their Dad's when they knew this feeling was closer to home, but she was right a cruse ship, or even a funeral, wasn't the right place to start raking that stuff up.
Flashback
The boys had just past 3 years old, they knew it was their fertile time but, lust had prevailed, Mercy knew the signs as soon as they presented, and not wanting to create the situation she had the last time and break a promise she told him straight away. For a day they were happy basking in the joy of their family extending, but by the morning Sam was sat on the edge of their bed when she woke up, she didn't even need to guess, she knew what he was thinking because she had just woken from the nightmare of it.
"What are we going to do?" she looked at him expecting a decision by this morning.
"You know what I'm thinking Babe, but it's your choice" he got up angry at the situation "I've got to get to the studio" he rushed out of their bedroom.
"Sam" she called after him, waiting for him to look at her "This isn't the answer to anything, we need to make a decision, fast and stick to it".
"What do you want to do?" he looked at her, his face begging her to choose them, she didn't answer, he left the room and walked out the house tormented.
The day went by with phone silence, they both had a lot to think about and whatever was going to be said needed to be honest, they knew that much. He came home just after the children had gone to bed, his eyes red with tears, his heart paining for the conversation he needed to have. Mercy walked in the room with two plates of food in her hand "I know we're not in the mood for this, but we need to talk" she sat down beside him and put the plates on the table. "Don't judge me Sam but I can't go through all that again, I'm sorry".
"Neither can I" he turned to look at her "I'm sorry too".
"So we're agreed?" she looked at him, he looked stunned for having let the words pass his lips "I'll call a clinic" she grabbed her phone.
"Just" he grabbed her hand to stop her dialling "Just give it a few days".
"Whatever you need, but I'll do whatever we need to do babe" she grabbed his hand.
"Okay" he got up and left the room, he'd just made the decision to get rid of his baby, it was the toughest decision he'd ever had to make, and he did it in a split second, because if the alternative was another 2 years of what they'd just been through it would kill them and he knew in his heart he'd always choose them.
Two days later they were still sitting on this decision, they'd both already made it, but had waited long enough for the guilt of it all to set in. Each day that went by Mercy was getting attached to this child inside her, no doubt Sam was feeling the same, but for him a termination was so final. He walked into the house that night trying to avoid her eyes, the feeling of guilt, the awkward conversation, it was well after midnight and she was supposed to be in bed, but she was sat in their studio waiting for him when he walked in.
This is pissing me off now, what the fuck are we doing about this?" Mercy stood up hissing at him "Look at me" she flopped back on the couch crying "It's started already".
"Okay, we'll do it" he walked towards her, pained at seeing his wife in such a state "I just feel so guilty".
"So, do I, but we…" she looked at him.
"I know babe, I don't think we'll survive that either" he looked over at his guitar "Okay, let's book it and see how we feel".
That four days of wait had brought them together, closer than they'd expected, there were lots of conversations, about feelings, faith, and family. They both knew what they were giving up, how hard this was going to be to live with, and that they could only speak to each other about it. Three days after the consultation the deed was done, they were somewhat lighter for a few days and then suddenly the cloud came, filled with guilt, shame, and regret, Sam was the one that went to a really dark place.
That song 'Solid' by Savannah Re came out of that time, they were living a double life one for the world and the other in private, with not even their family and friends to support them, it was hard for them to write, Mercy was left coping with four children and a broken man, she was trying to pull him back, and thankfully it worked, but the fans would never know that the one in trouble emotionally at that time was him, not her.
They'd just finished listening to the debut seconds before their phones started buzzing "I've got a feeling this will get better" he smiled some six months later looking at her sat getting dressed in her lime green gown, to collect her award for the album.
"Then there's you babe" she smiled looking back at him through her mirror.
"Promise me there'll always be us" he stood in front of her asking, still looking frail
"There'll be us forever babe" she kissed his forehead "Smile for me" she cupped his face "We'll get through this, I promise"
"I told you that song was going to get you to this place" he smiled.
"I love you babe, I promise, I love us, we're solid" she pulled his face to hers and kissed him again.
End of Flashback
The house was already full when they took the short walk back, food was already being served and the drinks table was half empty, Michael was right when he said they needed to move fast, these people were consuming money quicker than he was making it right now. They got to the bedroom and sat down "Babe" he tried to start something.
"Please Sam, can we leave it, just until we get this over with?"
"Yeah sure, I was just going to say we need to deal with this"
"I'm sorry I lied"
"I did too, because I didn't want to hurt you"
"What are we like?" she touched his face endearingly "I think that's you" they sat listening to Micheal calling his name through the house.
"I better go" he kissed her and got up "Just stay still for a minute will you please babe?"
"Don't worry about me babe".
Micheal had called him to give him two plates of food "Mercy hasn't eaten all day, she needs sustenance".
"Thanks" Sam nodded "Could I..."
"All the children have had something already" Michel confirmed
Sam took the food back to Mercy, they sat eating and talking about the funeral, until their children appeared, they all lay in silence, just taking in their family, it wasn't very often they got these moments when none of them had absolutely nothing else to do, they fell asleep in the moment.
"Hey" Grace walked into their room waking everyone up "We've got to go"
"What time is it?" Sam shielded his eyes from the sun.
"It's one o'clock, we've got to be ready by three"
"Thanks Amazing" he sat up looking at his family scattered around the bed.
They got up to more food, ate again and then started getting washed and dressed ready for their journey. Leon and Briani said their goodbyes and went off to deliver their pending wedding news to her parents in Spanish Town, she was excited while Leon looked horrified, apparently the woman had five brothers all older who were eager to meet him.
It seemed like some elaborate get away plan, their bags were already in the waiting minibuses, Michael done one last wonder around the house and twenty minutes later, he was locking the electric gates and pressing some buttons, they sat in the minibuses watching the shutters go down as the house closed, it felt as if all the rush of the last twenty four hours had never happened, then they were on their way to the airport.
The ride to the airport started out quiet, reflective, everyone had that feeling you get when you're leaving your favourite holiday destination, like you're leaving home for a scary future, but this time they sat in the realisation that future visits would never be the same because James would be missing. "Remember that song I was singing when we met?" Michael turned to ask Mercy.
"I remember we met on set, but I don't actually remember a song" Mercy smiled at him.
"We actually met in the music studio" he laughed
"We did?" Mercy asked puzzled.
"And there was me thinking I'd made a lasting impression" he looked at Sam "All in my damn head"
"That head of yours" Sam laughed.
"I remember I'd told my Dad that day that I was going to the studio, he was like, fe real?" he laughed "I was walking down Sunset Strip feeling so American on my third week in the country, slaving at getting a decent record deal signed with Sony" he rolled his eyes "Dad was a big influence on that day, he told me to never forget my roots, give thanks to the creator, and give my all" he smiled to himself.
"And what happened?" Grace asked.
"I walked into this room full of white collars, that wasn't what I was expecting, I mean I'd watched hustle and flow, you know that movie right?" he looked at Sam.
"Terrance Howard?"
"Yeah" he laughed "That's what I was expecting, but what I got, I knew straight away I had to change my game, I mean I was about to sing some Usher song, and I could see on their faces, they were expecting an Usher song. My Dad's voice came into my head telling me roots, creator, my all and 'Remember Me' by Tarrus Riley came out my mouth without me even asking it to".
"That's a good song" Jane smiled at him.
"It was a good song, it did it for me anyway, but I was singing that song when Mercy walked into the studio, apparently she'd got a song she needed someone to duet with her, and unbeknown to me, I was auditioning for the part. she whispered in some guys ear, smiled at me for a second and left"
"Okay" some guy shouted stopping me dead "She was looking for an R&B artist, he's not him"
"I do R&B" I told them, watching them all disappear, two months later I sang R&B knowing what you were looking for and got the spot" he laughed.
"I remember that day" Mercy smiled "If I'd have known we were kin, there would have been no question" she giggled
"But you went with that Guy and did that version of 'Beneath Your Beautiful' by Labrinth & Emeli Sande not bragging but I would have done that better" Michael laughed
"Maybe" Mercy smiled at him
"Talking about deals, you haven't called Steven yet have you" Sam nudged Mercy once the minibus got quiet again.
"It's an eight hour flight, I'll get back in plenty of time".
"Call him" he handed her his phone, she knew her husband, she took the phone and made the uncomfortable call, agreeing to get there by Wednesday morning.
Los Angeles
They'd spent the time on the plane listening to stories about Uncle James, everyone was trying to enjoy the happy memories of his life instead of those last few hours. Mercy, finally got to spend some quality time with her Dad, enough to reassure him that everything was going to be alright, and that Uncle James had lived a full and happy life and he was there for the end of it, just like they'd always wanted, he'd done his job and he needed to be proud.
"Can we take the children with us now, they were coming next week anyway, I really need them around me right now" Trevor asked Mercy.
"I..." she looked across at Sam, this was his week with the children and it went without say he had plans "Let me clear that" she got up "Sam" she sat next to him, ready for the resistance.
"Yeah, I was going to suggest it, Ash and Russ haven't stopped talking about going since he showed them the snow trick" he looked at her "Plus he needs them, I can see that".
"Are you sure, I mean you had plans and everything?"
"Positive, I don't want to see him hurting either".
"Thanks Babe" she kissed his cheek, getting up to speak to her Dad.
"Hey" Sam pulled her back "Don't thank me, he'd my Dad too remember?"
"I know" she smiled, going off to see her Dad, Sam smiled when their Dad's face lit up, happy he'd helped to create it.
"They're asleep, poor mite's, they've been up practically twenty four hours" Mercy sat back next to Sam, looking at the boys fast asleep "The girls are sleeping too" she looked in the seats behind them "So you're going to be home alone for a week?" she picked his arm up and threw it around her neck.
"I guess our old sex toys will have lots of time for the next few weeks" he whispered in her ear, snuggling in smiling
"Please not the chat again" Becky pipped up, letting them know, her eyes were closed but she wasn't sleeping
"Becky" Hanny moaned "Now they're gonna get worse".
"It's going to, not gonna young lady" Sam giggled.
"Did you hear that, he called us ladies" Becky sat up excited.
"Figure of speech, for someone getting above themselves" Sam looked into Hanny's eyes to get her full attention.
"Sleep" Hanny nudged her sister, making Sam and Mercy laughed at the speed their faces went into sleep mode.
Their plane, after two meals and lots of refreshments, finally landed in Sonoma Airport they took some time out to get their parents, the children, Grace, Micheal, Jane and Aunt Cynthia into their car for the final part of their journey home. "Finally" Mercy looked at Sam smiling "It's been the best and the worst weekend ever".
"Definitely didn't figure it was going to end with a funeral" Sam helped her back on the plane to make the short journey to LAX.
"Can we have this time to just have this conversation, real quick" he asked as they sat waiting to take off.
"I guess we have nowhere else to be, no ears" she looked around "I'm nowhere near over it, as I think you know, I just don't want to hurt your feelings because you went to a really dark place".
"Guilt, that's where I went, and you hide it well, but every time I look at you, when you don't know I'm looking, I know you're regretting our move, and I blame myself for you feeling that, because I said yes".
"I don't blame you Sam" she grabbed his hand "I love you, and I know we did the right thing, it was us, not you, but they were a part of you and me, who could have looked like Becky, Hanny, Ash or Russ and we'll never know, and I guess that's what I think about, who they would have been" she smiled at him "And yes I think about them sometimes, I'm sure you do too, but I'm content with what we have and who we are, there is no blame".
"I don't know what to replace this guilt feeling with".
"Love, compassion, patience, being my dork"
"You being my Diva" he laughed.
"Maybe I could drop in a little of my world renowned encouragement, or was that nag until I get you to do what I want" she giggled.
"Same thing" he laughed "Promise we'll always talk about stuff, instead of making it build a wedge between us".
"No matter how painful" she lay her head on his arm, they must have been tired, because they fell asleep, waking only when they felt the wheels touch the ground. The transfer to the car was smooth, it was something they were used to doing
"Edward" Sam smiled at their driver.
"Sir, Madam" he nodded at them as he opened the door, bringing Sam and Mercy back to their life, that was something they liked about getting away, they could forget for a while that they weren't average. Life could be simple and they could have friends around, who liked them for being them, their children had freedom and they were just plain Sam and Mercy "The roads are clear Sir, it should be a twenty five minute trip" he informed them closing the door, seconds later the car was on it's way.
"I know you have that disc close, let's have a listen" Mercy laughed laying in his arms
"I know you know I'm dying to hear it" he laughed "But we promised no work till we got home".
"Practically there" she pointed at the road ahead, watching him take it out his man bag and pass it to the driver to slide it into the player, they sat back listening.
All: We don't need gravity, Spencer: Nah baby, Tyrone: Ooo
Leon (Spencer & Tyrone): Be careful, if you love me, I came here, to make you see
Spencer (Leon & Tyrone): That there's levels, are you ready (are you ready) I'm so ancient, there's more to me.
Tyrone (Spencer & Leon): With you by my side, we can cause some disruption all up in the sky, we go high like it's nothing
Sure to cause an eruption, while I'm going deep in, now that you're open to explore, baby, I got you (Ooh)
[Chorus]
Spencer (Leon & Tyrone)
Let's take this trip, we don't need no rocket ship, on our way to Mars (on our way to Mars), on our way to Mars
I'll give you air, it's gon' take your breath away (on our way to Mars) on our way to Mars
I know you really want to leave, the way you holding me (holding me, yeah)
All we need is love, we don't need gravity (we don't need gravity) let's take this trip, we don't need no rocket ship
Oh, on our way to Mars.
Spencer (Tyrone): You don't need them when you come (you don't need them when you come) just hop on my rockets up (ohh my rocket)
Tyrone (Spencer): Bounce up and down rotate that axis, girl you can drop it low like a comet do some damage
Leon (Spencer & Tyrone): With you by my side we can cause some disruption, (I'll open the sky we go high like it's nothing)
Sure to cause an eruption while I'm going deep in, now that you're open to explore baby I got you, (Oooo).
Chorus
Leon (Spencer & Tyrone)
Leon: Don't hold nothing back for me Spencer: Don't wait for me girl I want you to go
Tyrone: I'll float through your galaxy All: So now that we're here girl listen to your soul
Chorus.
Tyrone (Spencer & Leon) 'Mars' by Mario
"Wow" Sam filled the silence, as the song ended "The words are mine, but those guys really brought it to life".
"The words are ours, I can't believe you took our Freaky Fridays bedroom games and turned them into a damn song" she giggled
"Nobody knows that except us" he laughed
"I'm so jealous though, that should have been my song, I love it".
"Technically it is your song" he laughed "There's being in love, then there's love, then there's us, remember?"
"I remember all the way to mars" she smiled cuddling into the seat and pressing play to listen to the song again "You're an absolute genius, you know that right?"
"I know I love you seeing me that way".
"Did I ever tell you I was calling dibs on your sexy?"
"A long time ago Mrs Evans" he laughed.
"We're going to get tonight aren't we?" he asked, seeing her head was already in the script
"Sorry babe" she frowned
"An hour?"
"I've got the script and..."
"Just one hour?"
"Don't beg Evans, you leave me no choice, that's not fair" she rolled her eyes.
"One hour?" he asked cheekily.
"I'll give you two hours tops".
"I'll take those three" he kissed her quickly.
"Then..."
"Then there's us" he grabbed hold of her hand.
Both (Mercy): If we met in another life (Met in another life), if we met on a different street (Oh)
Would you still be walking this direction?, would we still be walking at the same speed?
Would we still put up a fight? would you still make time for me? I hope so (I hope so) I hope so, oh, oh, oh, oh
Both: I don't wanna leave your mind to wander, I'll surround you, make you feel sure
Got desire to make this right, cause every single night, I wanna feel your soul
I wanna grow old with you, make the most with you, that's the goal
I wanna grow old with you, make the most with you
"That's definitely the goal" he leaned back in his seat listening to her sing the last few words.
Mercy: Oh-oh, wanna feel your soul, that's the goal. 'Make The Most' by Lonr & H.E.R.
"Okay" she sat up "Reasons we love each other, we need to find fifteen this year, no duplicates" she warned "You first"
"Because you picked me" he laughed.
"Because you teach our children the craziest things".
"Because even when you're mad at me your eyes smile".
"Because you don't just tell me you love me, you show it too".
"Because if all I ever had was you, that would be enough" he kissed her forehead.
"Was that six?"
"Five"
"Because you really are the calm to my damn crazy" she laughed.
"Oh, because you love my family, even though one of them is totally crazy" he laughed.
"That's true" she laughed "Because you're a hard worker"
"So are you" he smiled "And your hot, so there's that"
"Because your hugs make me feel so much better" she snuggled into him
"Because you always smell good".
"So do you" she leaned up and kissed him "Because you always kiss my forehead and make it feel so intimate" she giggled
"Because you make the ordinary, extraordinary".
"Because you always make time for just the two of us".
"Best till last" he laughed "Because you're about to give me the hottest sex to date Mrs Evans" he told her as the car pulled up outside their home.
"You always pick the best reasons" she giggled as the car door swung open.
"Welcome home Sir, Madam" the driver smiled.
"I think we can make that three hours maybe five?" Mercy smiled.
"No arguments from me" he grabbed her hand.