Baby
A great relationship is built on the bond you both share knowing each other's likes and dislikes and knowing what you both find joy in doing.
It was bound to happen one day, it wasn't as if they'd never planned for this eventuality when Shola was born or up until she was maybe 5 years old, but nothing had come up, so they'd never had to think about it. Needless to say, the people they'd been dependent on for their plan B had all moved on in their lives or were just too far away to be a plan B today, so Sam was sat having found himself in this dilemma.
Mercy had been on tour for the past two weeks leaving him to do the childcare of their 7 year old daughter, she was a 7 going on 17 year old handful at the best of times, if he'd thought Mercedes had an attitude, he was quickly realising he really hadn't seen anything yet. Their daughter was so opinionated it was hard for them to keep her under control, they were filled with fear at the prospect of taking her to functions, because they knew if they'd ever thought something bad about anyone, she was going to say it right out loud and be proud of herself about saying it.
The child had taken to calling Nanny Sue, Miss Sue of late and felt no way to be at the mall walking three steps behind the woman or announcing loudly "I'll sit in the back of the car then Miss Sue" in some fake deep southern accent, that would get everyone in hear shot looking at the two of them in disgust. It really depended on what they were learning at school as to what she'd come out with next. The one thing Shola never did was stick to the curriculum, even when there was no further reading she'd find it, always interested in her history from both sides, leaving her parents answering some serious questions maybe even 27 year olds didn't know to ask.
Sue had been given a month off a week ago, she'd had a message from her family saying her Mother wasn't well and she'd sat on that information for a few days until Mercy noticed how fretful she was and asked the question. When everything came out it wasn't looking good for her mother, so they didn't hesitate, she'd been loyal to them since Shola was 6 months old, they gave her four weeks off to look after her mom, with the possibility of an extension if she needed it, so in this crisis, she was out of the question.
He sat spinning his phone with his right hand, trying to find a way out, this had all been planned out Mercy was going to be away for 16 days promoting her new EP, most of it was travel but she'd be home in time to buy Shola's school uniform and get a week away as a family before she went back to school. Sam had a two month break to look forward to, he'd just finished promoting his new EP done a couple of videos for some of the songs and now after putting the work in, was having two months of pure family time before he started back.
So, it made sense to give Sue the time off right now, and for them to take on some of the hard work themselves. He was doing fine, even if he was saying it himself, meals were on time, washing and ironing nailed, Shola in bed every night ready for the call from her mom, a few days ago he actually sat back wondering why they actually needed a Nanny, and then this damn phone rings.
He stopped spinning the phone and clicked to take the call "Rachel" he rolled his eyes knowing she was about to invade his time "How can I help?" he asked looking at Shola as she stopped watching a repeat episode of Boss Baby on TV to give him that 'we all know what's going to happen next' look of hers, that always left him feeling guilty "I really can't do that right now" he took his eyes of Shola for a second, he could do without the guilt trip right now.
"Daddy" her face already cold, he looked into her eyes at 7 years of age it was sad that she already knew the tone of his voice when things were about to go south.
"It's okay sweetheart" he smiled at her, sitting forward to stroke her wavy dirty blond hair, pulling gently and playfully at her ponytail "Rachel, that can't happen, I've got Shola" he stood up and walked across the room, aware Shola was still watching him.
"Daddy" Shola got up and walked towards him, worry on her face.
"What?" his voice raised at the conversation happening over the phone, his arm reaching out to grab his daughter "It's alright sweetheart" he hugged her to him "Are you asking me to choose?" he snapped at Rachel, before hanging up and throwing the phone on the couch.
"Is everything alright Daddy?"
"Everything is fine sweetheart, were we about to make some cupcakes, yeah?" he smiled down at her "Come on, let's make a mess" they marched off towards the kitchen, he didn't look at her again for a while, her vibe was telling him she didn't believe a word of it.
They were happily mixing and baking in the kitchen, but his mind kept slipping back to the opportunity he was passing up on. The Ellen show had been something he'd always aspired to do they were offering more than an interview he was going to have one last bash at promoting his songs and with the competition now a days that wasn't something to be sneezed at.
"Are you thinking about it?" Shola looked up at him asking the random question.
"Thinking about what sweetheart?"
"The call" she stopped licking the pan to ask.
"I'm thinking about mommy's call later" he grabbed some utensils to put in the dishwasher, keeping himself too busy for her to read.
"You were thinking about it" he could tell she was frowning with disappointment.
"Sweet…"
"Daddy it's your job, you're going to think about it" she stopped the lie from coming out his mouth.
"I promised mommy I'd look after you and that promise comes before anything else, plus I love spending time with you" he shut the dishwasher and walked over to her "And I promised you we were going to have a great time together so, I've finished thinking about it" he bent down to talk to her "Let's check the cakes and then you can force me to watch another episode of that Boss Baby thing".
"You pretend like I'm forcing you" she giggled.
They talked, ate, played, and swam the day away, Shola constantly reminding him of the phone call he needed to make, she was more like her mother than he wanted to admit, always pushing him to do what his heart told him to do.
Dinner time was no different, they'd spent the evening playing scrabble, he'd be spelling words she had no idea existed so most of the time would be spent with her on his tablet checking out words and every now and again he'd let her cheat or give a false word to lose some points. Hot chocolate delivered she knew it was nearing time for bed, there was never any problems in this department, Shola looked forward to her mommy's call every night while she was away, so she would always do everything she needed to, so it could happen. As much as she was her mother's daughter for her there was still nothing as painful or hurtful as her parents being upset with her and her not being ready for the call was definitely something to displease.
He'd bathed her, watched her do her moisturising routine, whatever that was about, it was just something she'd picked up from her mom, and settled her into her favourite baby boss beanbag, while he settled into the one with boss written all over it, another of his jokes. Finally settling down to read another chapter of her favourite bedtime story to him, she'd long done away with the rhymes and Cinderella stories, she was diving into the Roald Dahl series at a few pages a night.
"Poor Charlie, do you think he'll get a golden ticket?" he asked an all knowing Shola
"Course he will, look how thick the book is, it can't finish like that" she snapped at him, like he was a silly child.
"Sweetheart" he warned.
"Sorry Daddy" she patted her nightdress down and put her book on the beanbag "Could I get some water please?".
"Sure" he got up
"And maybe just one cupcake?" she gave him her naughty schoolchild look, it always worked on him
"Half of one" he caved in quickly, she'd been so fretful all day about the call from Brittany, he needed her to fall asleep stress free
"Thank you" she smiled, that smile that sent her eyes from his to her mother's and pushed her cheekbones out, making him fall in love with her all over again. She'd never been a hard child to like, even Sue had always seen the humour in the terrible things she'd done to her. However, lots of friends wasn't something Shola had afforded, she had a close kit of cousins, not by blood, but they had the same circle of friends from college and their children were it for her. There were maybe four children she talked about from school, but they never visited her, and she never asked to visit them, so they never pushed it
"Okay baby, I'll go get your cupcakes to show mommy, you get into bed ready" he left the room, grabbing her water, and his tablet on the way back through, for her call. Minutes later he was setting things up for her twenty minute conversation with her mom flicking the tablet on and logging into their chat room "Hi Babe" he smiled as her face flashed on the screen, she was already sat waiting for them to connect.
"Hi Babe, everything good?" Mercy's smile filled the screen and warmed his heart.
"I'll let the newscaster fill you in" he looked at Shola "As usual she's been waiting, so, we'll speak later".
"Okay, I'll see you just before the show" she blew him a kiss and watched him leave the two women in his life alone to talk "Hey Sweetie" her voice went into mom mode "What you been up to today?"
She sat excitedly listening to Shola's adventures for the day "And" the little girl moved closer to the screen when she finally finished with her adventures "Daddy had a call from Britt, he was hel…"
"Baby" Mercy stopped her from telling her he was hell of a mad, they were words she'd heard her mom say before so there was no shouting to be done there
"Sorry mom, but he was mad at her"
"He'll work it out" she assured their daughter "So what have you got planned for tomorrow?" she changed the subject it was clear Shola was worried.
This routine went both ways, if he were away he'd call every night to hear about her day and tell her some of what he'd done, it was their way of making sure she didn't get time to miss them. She hadn't asked for this life, and they'd foolishly thought they could slow down once she arrived, but they hadn't planned on starting up at full speed again just over a year ago.
Sam was in the living room contemplating the call, the decision was taken from him when his phone rang "Hi" he rolled his eyes at Britt on his back again "I haven't changed my mind, Mercy's away, the Nanny's had an emergency, it's me or no one, I'm going to have to pass if you can't get another date".
"I had to sell my damn soul to get you this spot Sam, you've always wanted to do this…"
"I know, but you know Shola comes first" he hissed down the phone.
"Ask Mercy to come home"
"What?" he gasped "Are you mad?"
"She knows how important this is to you, even if you don't" Brittany snapped at him.
"Don't you dare call her, I said no, and I mean it" he snapped back, knowing this woman was capable of anything.
"I won't call her" Brittany told him, closing the call.
He sat waiting for Shola to finish her call and find sleep before going in to collect his tablet, the evenings belonged to him and his wife, he had a private seat at the side stage, they'd be blowing each other kisses, as if they didn't know each other, after the show they'd sit talking until they fell asleep. Tonight, he knew she'd know there was something up if he knew his daughter, so he'd already decided he was going to come clean from the start, and then they'd deal with everything else after.
She was a brilliant mother and wife, even now when she was on stage for two hours, after rehearing for eight. With ease she found the time for Shola, entertained him every night, planned their day for them, taking the time to explain everything in an email, then sending a song that woke him up every morning in order for him to grant Shola's wishes. She was different to him, her head could be in the game and home at the same time, that was an art he hadn't mastered yet, he'd always been totally dependent on her organisational skills and she didn't seem to mind, they fit like that.
It had been nearly half an hour since Shola had finished her call, so he was sneaking in to grab his tablet and set up for the show, the screen buzzed the minute he finished setting up. "Hi babe" he accepted the call knowing who it was,
"Hi babe" the smile he needed beamed back at him.
"I need to say something straight off, it's not a thing, but I just think you maybe need to know" his eyes doing that no contact thing of his.
"What did she do?" Mercy rolled her eyes "She didn't even own up to it"
"No, it's not Shola, she's been great" he frowned "It's me"
"What's happened?"
"Worst case sinario?" he asked her.
"Worst case?" she looked at him puzzled "You slept with someone and broke our trust?" she looked at him still not willing to give her eye contact.
"Okay, maybe not worst case sinario" he looked into her eyes finally "I had a call from Britt this afternoon and again this evening, she's got me a gig on the Jacobson show, singing one of my songs too".
"Babe that's what you've always wanted to do" Mercy gasped elated for him.
"There's more…"
"Babe their calling me, I'll catch you after the show" she walked away from the tablet leaving it watching the stage "Wish me luck" her head popped back into view for a second
"You didn't tell me who you were honouring tonight" he reminded her
"It's a surprise, you'll like it" she giggled.
"Break a leg" he laughed at her making him watch all the way through tonight because he didn't know her cues, thinking it was serving him right for telling her about his dilemma before she got anything out.
Not too long after she was out on stage doing her thing, the production was into the 1980's era and she still hadn't made a solo performance, they were doing this play of soul through the ages thing, they usually started in the 1950s, where she'd find a little catchy do wop tune to deliver before moving into the 60s which was her second love, she'd always considered the 70s too commercial for her but the 80's was where she belonged, that was home for her if she wasn't creating her own vibe.
Tonight, they were sailing fast through the years, and nothing had jumped out at him as her signature piece "Oh" he gasped when he heard the first few chords to one of his favourite songs, he sat up smiling when she walked out on stage in a black evening gown type thing singing 'Get Here' by Oleta Adams
You can reach me by railway, you can reach me by trailway, you can reach me on an airplane, you can reach me with your mind
You can reach me by caravan, cross the desert like an Arab man, I don't care how you get here, just get here if you can
You can reach me by sailboat, climb a tree and swing rope to rope, take a sled and slide down slow, Into these arms of mine
You can jump on a speedy colt cross the border in a blaze of hope I don't care how you get here Just get here if you can
There was a reason for him liking the song, he'd always been familiar with it, but that evening almost nine years ago, he'd come home after five weeks on the road to a smiling Mercy, music playing in the background as she handed him a book "What's this?" he took it dropped his bags and grabbed hold of her lips.
"I've been busy" she grinned at him walking over to the couch to sit down "Read it" she ordered watching him throw his jacket over the couch to sit down "Aloud" she ordered.
"You know this isn't what I need to be doing right now?" he frowned at her, opening the book
"Humour me" she giggled.
"We knew this journey wasn't always going to be easy, but you've stuck by my side since day one, I no longer live for myself I live for us and our connection" he looked at her "That's nice babe" he kissed her for the complement "I live for you too"
"Thank you" she looked at the book meaning for him to carry on.
"You fascinate, thrill, excite and inspire me, you calm me down when I need it and for that you're simply amazing, I hope we spend our entire lives together showing each other just how much we love each other" he looked up at her overwhelmed at her words "Deep and beautiful" he hugged her.
"I thought so" she smiled
"Never could I imagine that someone like you would fall in love with me" he read "I'm sure that's the over way around" he smiled, before looking back at the book "I'm grateful that things worked out the way they did because now I'm married to my best friend, lover and soulmate, I love you so much" he didn't say anything this time he just turned the page, noticing in the quiet that this song was playing.
"Last one" she looked up at him smiling
"Out of the billions of people on this planet, our paths crossed, and we fell in love, you're the perfect husband to my wife, we've reached another peak, so I guess it's time for us to learn to share what with have together with another human, congratulations…" he looked at her shocked "Seriously?" he gasped, "I'm going to be a daddy"
He looked at her again, was she telling him something like that again, he was happy enough if that were the case, Shola was past a blessing, to be blessed with two would be amazing.
I don't care, I don't care I need you right here now I need you right here, right now
Right by my side (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) I don't care how you get here Get here if you can
The show finally finished, and Mercy got back to her dressing room asking the usual questions about her performance, there was never any notes she was perfection on sticks. "So, what's this with Brittany?" she sat listening to his dilemma "Be honest Babe, what do you want to do?"
"If life were very different I'd be jumping at the chance, you know that babe, but it isn't, so I guess I have to pass on this one, it will come around again soon"
"Are you sure?" she sat watching him, knowing his lips were saying something different to his heart "Take Shola out the equation Babe, what do you want to do?"
"The interview" he finally looked into her eyes "But I can give it up for her".
"Leave it with me, when have you got to be there?"
"Babe, I can bin it this once".
"But I don't want you to" she looked at him "You wouldn't let me miss out would you?" He sat looking at her both of them already knowing the answer to that "Just give me an hour or so, and I'll get back to you".
"Are you sure about this?"
"As sure as I am in knowing what you need to do to be you".
"I'm so lucky to have you" he smiled at her.
"We're blessed to have each other babe" she blew him a kiss, saying bye.
True to her word she called back within the hour to let him know that Rachel was in LA tomorrow night and would be able to take Shola with her for a few days, she'd booked a car to take her across town to collect their daughter when she got back, and his flight was booked for 10pm on Friday night along with the name of his hotel.
"What would I do without you babe?".
"Do you expect me to answer that?" she laughed.
"I know there's no me without you"
"I'll be home on Monday, and I've put your daddy time with Shola in your diary for both nights, I really don't know how we're going to fit two in".
"So, you were telling me something with that song" he laughed.
"How do you feel about it?"
"Bring it on" he laughed "Britt's not going to like this slow down again".
"Well Britt's not a part of our family is she" Mercy giggled.
"I guess not".
"You better go pack your stuff and get Shola's done first thing in the morning, Rachel's not sure what time she'll get in".
"Okay" he smiled, more excited than he cared to show right now.
"Oh Babe" she looked at the screen "We're not pregnant yet, but I'm happy you want to start trying again".
"As soon as we're back home?"
"I guess we'll need to put Shola to bed first, but yes" she giggled.
"Super excited" he laughed.
"Got to go babe, love you" she blew him a kiss.
"Love you too babe, goodnight".
"Goodnight" they both brushed the screen with their fingertips before the call closed.