Chapter 31 Part Two

Summary: Sam and Mercedes go to Lima, and she learns more about her family; Aunt Josephine gets married.

Rating: Mature. Sex. Cursing.


Our Time

Six Months Later

Aunt Josephine stood in front of the full-length mirror, hands on hips, inspecting her appearance. Her hair was a mass of short, springy curls. She wore an orange evening gown from the 1950s. The dress had a full skirt and orange sequins on the straps. Mercedes sat on the bed watching her, smiling at how lovely she looked.

"Mercy?"

"Yes?"

"Hand me my perfume."

Mercedes rose from the bed. She grabbed the heart-shaped perfume bottle from the dresser and handed it to her. Aunt Josephine sprayed it on her neck and wrists. Then she put on her red lipstick and blush. Twirling around in front of the mirror, the skirt billowing out, she laughed aloud.

"Damn, Josephine, girl, you still got it."

"Was there ever any doubt?" Mercedes said, standing beside her, wearing a pale-yellow dress and a string of pearls.

"No, but I like saying it anyway," Aunt Josephine said, looking into the mirror. "Even though my pacemaker scar is showing." She touched the two-inch blemish on her otherwise flawless skin.

"Nobody will notice."

"Alfred likes my scars."

"I bet he does."

"Don't get sassy."

Mercedes kissed her cheek.

"You look beautiful."

"Thank you, baby. Now let's get this show on the road."

It was Aunt Josephine's wedding day, and Mercedes couldn't have been happier. In the beginning, she wasn't sure of what to make of Alfred Figgins. With his accented English and quiet mannerisms, he was unlike her previous boyfriends. Still, there was no mistake he loved Aunt Josephine; he even created a sandwich in her honor. It was a bestseller at the deli: the Josephine Supreme. The sandwich was sweet and spicy, with slices of ham and turkey and golden honey mustard. And a generous dash of cayenne pepper; because of what he liked to call "the fire" inside her. Before Aunt Josephine took Mercedes to raise her, she was married to a cop named Chester. She never spoke of her ex-husband except to say the less she said about him, the better. So Mercedes never pried but figured it was a terrible time in her life.

The wedding was in Alfred's backyard, which had an immaculate rose garden. Now that Aunt Josephine had moved in with Alfred, she developed a green thumb. She tended to the flowers, often filling the house with bouquets of roses. Alfred lived in the fancy neighborhood of Milk and Honey in the upper-class section of Lima. He had a white Colonial-style home with a wraparound porch. Mercedes didn't realize how wealthy he was until Aunt Josephine explained he didn't own just one deli. He owned an entire chain of deli shops throughout Ohio. And there was even talk of expanding to other states, making Figgins Deli a nationwide brand. He was a widow with one adult son named Calvin, a senior at Gallaudet University. When she discovered Calvin was deaf, Aunt Josephine took an American Sign Language class.

"You're glowing," Mercedes said, holding her hand.

"I know. I've never been this happy before."

"You deserve it."

Aunt Josephine's eyes welled up.

"He's special, you know? I– "

Mercedes hugged her close.

"I know. Believe me, I do."

A knock came on the door. Mercedes opened it, and Sam stood before her, all decked out in a black tuxedo with a lopsided grin on his face.

"Are you ladies ready?"

"Yes, we are." Aunt Josephine said, picking up her orange rose and blue delphinium bouquet.

"Alfred is one lucky man," Sam said, walking over to her, kissing her cheek, and offering her his arm.

"Honey, tell me something I don't already know," she said, looping her arm through his.

Mercedes kissed Sam.

"I'll see you two downstairs."


For the wedding procession, a pianist and cellist performed "A Thousand Years." While the music played, Abby, Lucy, and Rosy walked down a rose-petal path toward Alfred and the minister. They held replicas of Aunt Josephine's bouquet and wore pale yellow dresses with full skirts. Their hair was French braided and tied with yellow ribbons. Everyone sat in white wooden chairs. A light breeze blew, carrying the sweet scent of China roses through the air, and the sun shined bright. Matt and Jake followed behind the girls in tuxedos. Jake carried the rings on an orange silk embroidered pillow. Aunt Josephine wanted all the children to be in the wedding ceremony because she loved them so much.

Hiram and Sean sat in the front row. They looked dapper in their gray suits as they wiped their eyes with blue silk handkerchiefs. They loved Aunt Josephine as if she were their flesh and blood. Especially after the many late-night calls and shared grief after Rachel died. Mercedes walked down the path next with Alfred's older brother Arthur behind her. He was a tall, silver-haired man who walked with a slight limp because of a war injury. And then Aunt Josephine came last, clutching her bouquet, her arm linked with Sam's. It was his idea to give her away. Mercedes asked him why he offered to do it, and he said:

"I love her, and I know this will make her happy. I want to do it." Mercedes fell in love with Sam all over again when he said this early one morning in the kitchen. He was so nonchalant as he sipped his coffee and ate his blueberry muffin. His blonde hair was tousled, and the sunlight shone on his face. She leaned over, grabbed his face, kissing him as if she hadn't seen him in forever. Startled by her affection, Sam looked at her wide-eyed, muffin crumbs on his chin.

"Jesus, woman, what's gotten into you?"

"You're amazing."

He smiled.

"Well, now, want to go upstairs, and I'll show you how amazing I can be?"

Mercedes smiled at the memory as she stood with the wedding party. Gazing at her beautiful Aunt Josephine, who did her best not to cry, Mercedes blinked away a few tears. Looking at his bride, his dark eyes misty, Alfred was mesmerized. Sam kissed Aunt Josephine on the cheek before releasing her.

He said to Alfred, "Take good care of her. We love her a lot."

Alfred nodded, giving Sam a hug.

"Of course."

After the minister spoke about the sanctity of marriage, they exchanged their vows. Alfred cleared his throat and said,

"My Josephine, you are a blessing and a treasure. I love you with all my heart, and for you, I will be the best husband and provider. You're the most beautiful flower in this garden."

Tears fell from Aunt Josephine's eyes, trickling down her cheeks, leaving a damp trail in her blush and foundation. She squeezed his hand as she stared into his eyes.

"Alfred, you came into my life when I wasn't even thinking about love or relationships. But I'm grateful it happened, and God or Fate or whatever brought us together. And I've never been happier. I love you and will be your best wife, friend, everything."

Through tears and long kisses, they exchanged rings and became husband and wife.

"My Josephine," Alfred said, kissing her. Aunt Josephine caressed his cheek.

"There's something else I want to say."

"What's that, love?"

Aunt Josephine gestured toward Calvin, who sat in the front row, beckoning him to come join them at the altar. The young man raised his eyebrows in surprise and walked over to them. From his mahogany skin to his dark, pensive eyes, he looked like Alfred.

Then Aunt Josephine started signing in ASL. Her hands shook a little, and sometimes she paused, ensuring she was getting it right. Mercedes wondered what she said. Because when she finished, Calvin cried, and he hugged her tight. Alfred cried too. She held Calvin as his tears flowed, pressing a tender kiss to his forehead. And everyone rejoiced.


The reception was in the sprawling backyard. They rented a big white canopy tent for the event and a portable dance floor and stage. Orange lace tablecloths covered the tables. Blue and orange candles in gold-rimmed glass holders were placed in the center of each table. Mercedes sang "Sweet Thing" for their first dance. Alfred and Aunt Josephine slow-danced to the soulful music, holding each other close. Mercedes put all her emotions into every lyric. She knew how much it meant to the newlyweds since that song played on the radio when they shared their first kiss. It was after a dinner date. The rain pattered on the windshield. The red stoplight illuminated their faces. Aunt Josephine said Alfred smelled like spicy cologne and chocolate.

"Girl, before I knew it, we were smooching! Aunt Josephine said to Mercedes on one snowy winter evening. They sat in the kitchen drinking hot cocoa spiked with Bailey's Irish Cream. Green silk scarves wrapped around their heads, protecting their hair. "I'm no stranger to kissing, but this was like thunder and lightning. I know it sounds corny, but it's true."

"It's not corny."

Aunt Josephine sighed.

"And Sweet Thing was playing on the radio."

"Is he your everything?"

"Mercy, stop."

"Is he?"

Aunt Josephine only sipped her cocoa, and Mercedes knew the answer.

As Mercedes drifted back from memory, she saw Sam in the audience. He stared at her, and she knew he loved this moment as much as she did.

Oh, sweet thing

Don't you know you're my everything?

Mercedes held the last notes on the last verse, amazing everyone around her. Even Aunt Josephine and Alfred stopped dancing to stare at her. They got lost in her voice. And when she finished, the applause was deafening. She stood there shocked because it wasn't what she expected. This was her gift to Aunt Josephine. She hoped she recaptured their first kiss in the Buick with rain and chocolate and spicy cologne…

Then Mercedes heard Sam whisper in her ear:

"Sweet Jesus, you're wonderful."

And he hugged her on stage, and all she felt was his warmth and breath and kisses…

When the fervor died down, and they stepped down from the stage, Abby, Matt, Lucy, Rosy, and Jake got up on stage together.

"May we have everyone's attention, please?" Abby said into the microphone.

"What's going on?" Mercedes whispered.

"Search me," Sam said.

Once she had everyone's attention, Abby continued:

"We love Aunt Josephine very much, and we're happy she's married to Uncle Alfred, and this is our wedding gift to them."

The song "September" by Earth, Wind, and Fire played. Abby, Lucy, Matt, Rosy, and Jake performed a choreographed dance. It reminded Mercedes of a Bollywood movie. She couldn't believe the kids were performing a dance routine for Aunt Josephine and Alfred.

"How could they keep this a secret?" Sam said as he encircled her in his arms, hugging her from behind, swaying to the music.

"I don't know, but I'm glad they did. This is the best surprise!" Mercedes said.

Even little Rosy and Jake got the moves downright, and they were so cute. At the end of their routine, gold glitter confetti came down from the ceiling. It landed on all the kids, giving them a magical appearance. Cheers, applause, and ear-splitting whistles came after their performance. After taking their bows, the kids left the stage and went to Aunt Josephine and Alfred, who hugged them tightly.

"Oh, my babies can dance," Aunt Josephine said, kissing their cheeks. "Thank you so much for the gift!"

"So, you liked it?" they asked, glitter sparkling on their faces.

"I loved it!" Aunt Josephine said as she hugged them.

Mercedes, Sam, and Finn walked over to the kids, hugging and kissing them.

"How did you plan all of this?" Mercedes asked Abby as she brushed glitter from her nose.

"It wasn't easy. We had to tell Rosy and Jake that Santa wouldn't bring them any presents if they told the secret."

"And we practiced after school," Lucy said.

"I'm proud of you," Finn said, hugging Matt and Lucy.

"We did good, didn't we?" Rosy said as Sam picked her up while Mercedes picked up Jake.

"Yes, Rosy, you and Jake did good, and I'm right proud of you," Sam said.

"September is my jam," Aunt Josephine said. "Thank you again for such a wonderful gift."

"I love Earth, Wind, and Fire," Alfred said, holding Aunt Josephine's hand. "You children danced beautifully. Thank you."

"I remembered it was your favorite. That's why we chose that song." Matt said. His voice sounded like a cross between adolescent and manhood, cracking at odd times. At 14 years old, he had a growth spurt and was now a few inches taller than Lucy. Finn let him wear his hair long, and he kept it in a ponytail.

"Oh, Matty, you're such a sweetheart," Aunt Josephine said and kissed his forehead.

"I'm hungry," Finn said to no one in particular.

Alfred smiled and clapped his hands.

"Come, everyone, let's eat!"

OOO

The food was a mixture of Indian and American cuisine. There were mini vegetable samosas, butter chicken, and lamb curry for the Indian buffet. The American buffet included fried chicken, garlic butter steaks, and mashed potatoes. The three-tier vanilla wedding cake had pineapple filling and vermillion orange fondant frosting. Intricate gold henna designs covered the cake.

Sam and Mercedes enjoyed the food and just being with one another. The champagne went to Mercedes' head. She felt giddy and carefree. She pictured herself in a giant bubble floating above the wedding party. Now and then, she and Sam kissed. She tasted the sweet cake on his lips and felt the cool evening breeze blowing across her skin. The candlelight cast shadows on the tent walls and lace tablecloths. While stroking her cheek, Sam told her she was beautiful, and Mercedes melted. Jake and Rosy would interrupt these moments with their endless chatter, but somehow, the passion never diminished.

Lucy, Matt, and Abby were joined at the hip, laughing, joking, and hanging together. The trio sat with some other older kids at a nearby table. Now that they had returned from their ill-fated trip, Finn and the kids settled in Star Pride. They rented a three-bedroom house close to Sam and Mercedes. The families saw each other often.

Finn sat at a table with Hiram and Sean. His date sat beside him. Her name was Mandy, and she had a scarred face and curled blonde hair that reached her shoulders, and she smiled a lot. Mercedes knew little about her except that she had a son and lived in California. Finn assured her and Sam that they were only friends. But Mercedes felt an undercurrent of romance lingered between them. Matt and Lucy liked her.

After the reception, Mercedes and Sam settled into the guest bedroom in Alfred's house. The newlyweds were on their way to the Bahamas. After a big send-off with the guests blowing bubbles as they got into a limo, taking them to the airport. The kids were asleep down the hall.

Sam helped her take off her jewelry. He unfastened her opal pendant necklace, kissing her neck. Then he kissed her behind the ears as he removed her diamond teardrop earrings.

"Stand up," he said.

She did as he asked. He unzipped her dress, taking it off and leaving her in her bra and panties. Her delicate Chantilly lace underwear accentuated her full bosom and generous rear end. He hung up the dress and held her close, still clothed in his tuxedo; the orange rose corsage tickled her chest. Goosebumps formed on her skin, and she shivered.

"We've got tonight; who needs tomorrow…" Sam sang softly, feeling her heartbeat against his own. "I'm taking my time with you, Mrs. Hummel."

"Why?"

"Cause you're so jumpy."

"Jumpy?"

He smiled, kissing her, then letting his fingers drag across the damp lacy front of her panties.

"I know what you want."

"You do?"

Sam didn't answer her. He continued rubbing his fingers across the lace, not touching her, but it was arousing. Her breath hitched in her throat.

"Be good," Sam said, backing away from her and taking off his jacket.

She watched him, waiting, trying not to fidget. He didn't remove the rest of his clothes and sat on the bed, patting his lap.

"Come here."

She went to him and sat on his lap, and he cupped her breast.

"Sam – "

"Shhh," he said, "Behave."

"I am."

Sam raised his eyebrows, challenging her.

"Are you?"

"I need – "

"Be patient."

He nuzzled the nape of her neck, inhaling her scent.

"What are you wearing?"

"It's the perfume those weird North Star sisters made for me."

"Driving me crazy all day."

"I bet."

He touched the outer shell of her ear and stroked her ear lobe. She gasped, biting her lip.

"So sensitive," he said, caressing her inner wrist, giving it a gentle kiss.

She wiggled around on his lap, feeling the hardness trapped in his pants. She loved the teasing but felt frustrated. His rough hands ran down her chubby torso, squeezing the soft, pliant flesh. He tweaked her hard nipples, confined behind the lace barrier.

"Champagne, did you in?"

Mercedes nodded, unable to speak as Sam touched her between her thick thighs, kissing her neck. He eased her bra straps down, releasing her breasts, fondling them as she lay back against his chest. Feeling the smooth silk of his shirt on her skin, her legs opened wider, giving him access.

He squeezed her breasts, keeping her on edge as he slipped his hand beneath the waistband of her panties. He stroked her hairless mound and then found her clitoris and gave it a gentle tap. He kissed her neck, biting the skin a little before plunging his fingers inside her. Stroking her in a slow rhythm, he told her how beautiful and sexy she was, all spread out on his lap, so eager for him. Mercedes felt the pleasure build. And just as she was nearing the brink, Sam pulled his hand away, pushing her onto the bed.

Her breasts jiggled as she lay back, looking up at him. Her bra remained on, with the cups and straps pushed down. He pulled her panties to her knees, thrusting his fingers inside her again. Her state of partial undress felt like bondage. Her legs could only open so far, and the bra's underwire confined her bosom. Her hips gyrated in time to his fingers as he gazed down at her. Once again, Sam took her to the brink, but before she tumbled over, Sam replaced his fingers with his mouth. His tongue delved into her. He sucked her clit. Mercedes cried out, opening her legs, and grabbed at her breasts, squeezing her nipples. Then she came, harder than she ever had.

Sam took a taut nipple, sucking it between his plump lips. As she reveled in the bliss, he unzipped his pants, releasing his member. Mercedes wanted him inside her. Sam reached down and kissed her, and by now, her panties were around her ankles. Still, she didn't kick them off. She needed this flimsy restraint, the semblance of being tied up and under control. He slid inside her, rolling his narrow hips, his face flushed, his eyes glazed over. Then he "bottomed out," as he liked to say, totally lost it all and came, lying on top of her, breathing on her neck.

"Damn," he said.

They lay together in silence until he got up from the bed. He took off his shirt, tie, and pants, throwing the clothes on the floor and returning to bed. Wrapping his arms around Mercedes and kissing her. He was lean, firm, and muscular, and he had a perfect beach body. Mercedes often saw men and women ogle her husband. People doing double takes on the sidewalk when they were in town together. She felt proud whenever Sam kissed her in public, held her hand, or called her baby in front of God and everybody. And she loved those disappointed looks on his admirers' faces. Mercedes couldn't believe this man was hers sometimes, but he was, and she was grateful.

"I'm the lucky one," Sam said, catching her staring at his sculpted abs. "God blessed me with you."

She stared at him.

"How did you know what I was thinking?"

"Just a hunch," he said, his hand roaming over her hip, smacking her ass, making her butt cheeks shake.

Mercedes kissed his chest. Feeling bold, she said, "I want more."

Sam smiled.

"Now, Mrs. Hummel, is that proper?"

"Please, sir, might I have more?" She said in a horrible Oliver Twist accent.

"That's terrible," Sam said.

"Like you could do better."

"I could. But you quoted Oliver Twist. And we're in post-coitus or whatever."

Mercedes rose, straddling his thighs, grinding against him.

"You mean post-coital."

"That too," he said, his voice strained as she gyrated her hips.

She took hold of his hardening length and guided him inside her.

"Well, dick is in Dickens."

Sam laughed, then groaned.

"Very bad joke… damn, you feel good."

"I know."

She rode him slowly. Never taking her eyes from his until they came together, with Sam shaking beneath her, filling her up.


Later, they took a bubble bath and relaxed in the rose-scented water.

"Sam?"

"Hmm?"

"It's weird being here."

"How so?"

"Aunt Josephine and I used to drive through Milk and Honey and dream about living here and now she does live here. I guess things come full circle."

"I'm happy for her."

"Me too."

Then she heard his stomach grumble.

"Hungry?"

"Very."

"Let's finish up here and get something to eat."

"What are you in the mood for?" He asked as he glided the soapy washcloth across her breasts, "Did you want to go out or stay in?"

"Go out. I know a place open 24 hours, and they have the best breakfast."

"Cool," he said, hugging her and dropping the washcloth into the murky water. "You outdid yourself tonight."

"I sang a song," she said, turning her head to look at him, and he kissed her.

"Forget being humble; you owned that stage."

"Ok, I owned that shit, didn't I?"

"Damn, right."

They finished bathing, and as they dried off, they needed each other. So they made love again in the dimly lit bedroom. When they left the house, it was four o'clock in the morning. Mercedes was glad Alfred's sister Grace and her cousin Janine were also staying at the house. Otherwise, she and Sam couldn't have gone out to eat. As they drove along the familiar streets, Mercedes felt happy, sad, and hopeful. The Lima Baptist Church stood proud in the early morning light, solemn and foreboding. Though she thought of Shane, she remembered Easter Sunday as a kid with Aunt Josephine. That's when she wore a lacy pink dress and white gloves. They had brunch in the church basement. Sister Annabelle Frasier would serve her famous buttermilk biscuits with honey butter. And sister Mary Lou Jenkins served her delicious open-faced breakfast pie. It was made of eggs, cheese, sausage, onions, and potatoes. Mercedes remembered Reverend Tann's long-winded blessings. By the time he said amen, everyone was starving.

"Baby, are you alright?" Sam asked, taking her hand and kissing it.

"I'm good. Just thinking, that's all."

Sam nodded and turned on the radio, and they listened to the news until they got to Sula's. The cheerful little restaurant hadn't changed much since Mercedes was a child. The front of the building was still painted robin's egg blue. The yellow heart-shaped sign remained unchanged. Sula's name was still written across it in pink cursive letters.

Mercedes recalled many Sunday mornings at Sula's with Aunt Josephine. They often ate a late breakfast of pancakes and bacon in the blue vinyl booth near the window. The owner's name was Sula Payne. She would always chat with Mercedes and Aunt Josephine whenever she could. She was a tall, slim, dark-skinned black woman who never failed to ask Mercedes when she would cut an album. Years later, Aunt Josephine told her that Sula often insisted the meals were "on the house." This didn't surprise Mercedes because they struggled when she was growing up. She remembered Aunt Josephine saying that Sula's niece, Eva, now owned the restaurant. She stopped coming because the restaurant's soul died with Sula.

"Cute little place," Sam said.

"I used to come here as a kid," Mercedes said.

The sun was rising on the horizon, and a few mourning doves were cooing in the nearby trees. Sam took her by the hand as they walked into the restaurant. The place was empty. An older bald black man wearing a white apron stood at the counter as he filled the glass salt and pepper shakers.

"Hello folks, take a seat anywhere you like, and I'll be right with you." His gaze lingered on Mercedes for a moment, and he said, "Are you related to Abilene Freeman?"

Mercedes raised her eyebrows.

"She's my mother."

"You're as pretty as Abilene. We went to high school together. I'm Shadrack Brown, but folks call me Shad for short," he said, walking over to them, holding out his hand. And as Mercedes shook it, she noticed a black cross tattoo on his wrist.

"I'm Mercedes Hummel, and this is my husband, Sam.

Shad then looked over his shoulder and called out toward the kitchen.

"Nel, come here."

The kitchen door swung open, and a petite black woman with a big auburn Afro walked out. She wore a blue apron with Sula's emblazoned across the front. She looked at Mercedes, and her eyes widened.

"You look just like Abilene."

"It's her daughter," Shad said. "That's why I called you out here."

Mercedes offered her hand to Nel.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Mercedes, and this is my husband, Sam."

Instead of shaking her hand, Nel hugged her.

"Your mother was my best friend in high school."

"She was?"

"Yes, she was so proud of you. Loved you to death. She always raved about you in her letters while I was away in the Navy. Talking about your first words and smile, sending me your baby pictures. When she and your father died, they stationed me in Japan, and I only came back to Lima to help run Sula's with Eva."

Mercedes didn't know what to say. The news overwhelmed her. It turned her mother into a real person and not just a woman in an old photo. She became real. Aunt Josephine never shared stuff like that with Mercedes. Since she was fifteen years older than Abilene, she was more like a second mother to her than a sister. Mercedes sat down in a nearby booth.

Sam sat next to Mercedes and squeezed her hand.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine," she said.

Nel looked concerned.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"It's fine. You did nothing wrong. You see, I don't know much about my parents. Aunt Josephine raised me, and it was too painful for her to talk about the past. I never asked her many questions because I didn't want to hurt her."

"My mother mentioned that Josephine became your guardian in one of her letters to me," Nel said.

"I know we've only met, and it's a lot to ask, but could you tell me everything you remember about my parents?"

"Of course we can," Shad said. "I'll make us all some coffee. I'm sure you folks could use it."

"Thank you," Sam said. "Do you have any sweet rolls?"

"Sure do," Shad said. "Just took some out of the oven; they should be cool now."

While Shad got the refreshments, Nel asked if they lived in Lima.

"No, we're only visiting," Sam said. "Josephine got married this weekend."

"You don't say? That's wonderful. It's strange to be back after all these years, but Eva struggled with the restaurant, and I wanted a fresh start, so here I am."

"I can relate to the fresh start," Mercedes said, "Except instead of coming back to Lima, I left."

"Two different directions for the same destination," Nel said. The early morning light shined on her hair. She paused. "You know, hearing your voice, seeing your face… brings everything back."

Shad came out with a tray of sweet rolls, coffee, cream, and sugar and set it on the table.

"There you go," he said as he sat down next to Nel. "Everyone help yourselves."

Mercedes took a bite into one of the golden-glazed sweet rolls. "This is beyond delicious," she said.

Nel beamed.

"Why, thank you. It's an old family recipe. I'm glad you like it."

Sam poured some cream into his coffee.

"So, you both went to high school with her mother. How long ago was that?"

Shad's eyes grew soft as he recalled the past.

"It was over 35 years ago. I had a crush on Abilene, but she only had eyes for Jude Jones. Makes sense cause he only had eyes for her. It was tragic to hear they died when I came back to Lima a few years ago. I left town after high school. But what I remember is how popular Abilene was. She was a talented dancer and could sing too. Loved to go bike riding. I remember Abilene mentioning her sister Josephine, but I never met her."

"We were cheerleaders together," Nel said. "We cut up something fierce. Abilene was the life of every party. Her family didn't have much money, so she made a lot of her own clothes. She was a wizard with the sewing machine. Hell, her clothes were better than anything you could buy off the rack. Shad was so moon-eyed over her."

"I wasn't the only one," Shadrack said, stirring his coffee. "A lot of guys wanted Abilene.

Eva nodded.

"She didn't want for gentleman callers, as my grandma used to say. But Jude Jones was it for her."

"Tell me about my father," Mercedes said.

"Jude was funny as hell," Shad said, "Class clown all the way. Loved Abilene something fierce. We were on the basketball team together, and all of us hung out at Tastee Freeze after school every day."

"Jude worked a lot, always hustling," Nel said.

"I remember the last time I saw them was at a graduation party at Slade Schwartz's house."

"Who is Slade Schwartz?"

"Oh, someone we went to high school with. Her family had money, and they lived in Milk and Honey. She was a looker. You know, she reminded me of that model, Beverly Johnson. She threw a graduation party for our class."

"I forgot about that party," Nel said. "Remember how their basement was all pastel pink and blue with flamingo pictures on the walls? And those blue neon lights? Looked like Miami Vice."

Shad laughed.

"Sure do. How could I forget that? Anyway, it was late, and most people had left the party. Abilene said she was going to community college since money was tight. We were sitting on a big pink couch, and Kraftwerk's Tour De France was on the stereo. Abilene thought this was the jam and was bopping to it, and it pissed Jude off because he wanted to listen to Whodini. And they argued about it," Shad laughed, shaking his head, "But Abilene wouldn't give in. She turned up the volume. Then Slade said their fighting was killing the mood, and she put on Tender Love by the Force MDs. She knew it was Jude and Abilene's song, and of course, they stopped fighting and got all lovey-dovey."

"If it weren't for the Force MDs, you wouldn't be here," Nel said, laughing, "That song was their love jones."

"Really?" Mercedes said.

"Yes, ma'am. You need to thank that quiet storm jam for your conception."

"I wasn't expecting that tidbit of information, but thanks for sharing," Mercedes said.

"Anyway," Shad said, "We had a lot of fun that night. We ate these fancy fried dumplings and drank sake. Slade's dad was a big-shot executive who did a lot of business in Japan. So at the party, she served all this Japanese food. I remember it being a great night. Everybody laughing and dancing, but I knew it was the end."

"The end of what?"

"The end of being carefree. No more prom or skipping school or drive-in movies. Just things were changing. I knew she was going to marry Jude. They never said it out loud. But I knew."

Shad got quiet. He stared into his coffee mug, lost in thought, then said, "That's the last time I saw them alive. I left town after graduation. I'll always remember how they looked at each other like no one else in the world existed."

Sam picked up Mercedes' hand and kissed it.

"We understand," he said.

"The way you two carry on reminds me of them," Shad said.

After a few moments of silence, Mercedes said:

"What were my father's parents like? I know they died before I was born."

Nel and Shad looked at each other. Mercedes wondered if they knew something else.

"What is it?"

"Well, I…"Shad began, then Nel interrupted him.

"Jude's parents left him at a neighbor's house when he was eight. They said they were going to the store and would be back in an hour, but they never came back."

"That's awful."

"I know. Their neighbors were an older couple, Clark and Matilda Jones, who owned a barbershop. They had no idea Jude's parents were going to abandon him and tried to find his parents. They went to the police, but they weren't any help. The cop said CPS would come and put him in foster care if they didn't take him in, so they kept him and adopted him."

"So, my father was adopted? What happened to Clark and Matilda Jones?"

"Mr. Jones died of lung cancer on Jude's twenty-first birthday. He always had a cigarette dangling from his mouth. Good guy, though," Nel said, and Mrs. Jones died in a car accident a year later. A drunk driver hit her. Such a sweet woman. She was always smiling and was so kindhearted."

"Did my father ever say what his last name was before his adoption?"

Shad poured more cream into his coffee as he tried to remember.

"Yeah, he did. He said it was Washington."

"Really?" Mercedes asked, thinking of Franchesca Washington, her doppelgänger from the past.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"I can't believe this," Mercedes said, "I know this sounds crazy but I think we might've found his biological family."

"What? How?" Nel said.

"It's a long story," Sam said, squeezing Mercedes' hand.

"We got nothing but time," Shad said, picking up another sweet roll and biting into it.

So, Sam and Mercedes told the story of Thad and Franny and the restoration of their house in Star Pride. Shad and Nel listened with great interest, never interrupting. Though Nel held her hand to her heart and whispered "Sweet Jesus" upon hearing about their murder. When they finished telling the story, Shad said:

"You believe this might be Jude's family?"

"Yes," Mercedes said, nodding. "When I met one of Franny's relatives, it shocked her how much I looked like Franny. She asked if I was sure that I didn't have any Washington blood. I said no, but now I'm not so sure. I'll have to get a DNA test."

"I'll be damned," Shad said, "What are the odds?"

"I wonder why nobody ever told me this before. I'm sure Aunt Josephine knew he was adopted."

Shad sighed.

"She wouldn't have known. Trust me. Jude didn't tell us until our senior year that he was adopted. He kept it a secret because it hurt him something awful that his parents abandoned him. Made him feel like he had done something terrible for them to leave him like that."

"But nothing stays secret in Lima." Mercedes said, "I mean, there had to be some kind of gossip."

"He didn't grow up here," Nel said, "He and the Jones' moved here from Kentucky during our sophomore year. As far as everyone knew. Those were his parents."

Mercedes poured another cup of coffee.

"Did he ever try to find them?"

"No. He always said they were dead to him. I don't think he ever got over being abandoned." Shad said.

"Thank you so much for telling me everything about my parents. They don't seem like strangers anymore."

"Hey, do you think it's possible that I'm related to Thad?" Sam asked.

"You could be," Mercedes said.

"If you're both related to Thad and Franny, you should write a book," Nel said, "Because all this is unreal."

Shad scooted out of the booth.

"You're right, Nel." He said. "Now, I'm going to get these folks a couple of menus. I know y'all want something more than sweet rolls and coffee for breakfast."

Nel got up as well.

"I'll go fire up the grill."

Shad returned with two pink plastic menus and glasses of ice water and orange juice.

"It's fresh squeezed from the best Valencia oranges out of Florida," he said, setting the glasses in front of them. "Oh, Mercedes, with all this excitement and reminiscing, I forgot to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"I guess you're the little girl mentioned on the menu."

"Huh?"

"Check out the dish called Sticky Taters under the side orders."

"Oh, my goodness, I forgot all about Sticky Taters," Mercedes said as she read about the dish on the menu. It said a five-year-old girl named Mercedes gave the side dish its unique name. She chuckled and showed Sam.

"Look," she said, "I'm famous."

Sam smiled as he read the description.

"You're a Lima celebrity. How'd that happen?"

Mercedes laughed.

"When I was a little girl, I always wanted cheesy fried potatoes, but I didn't call them that. I called them Sticky Taters because they were all stuck together with cheese," she said. "And Sula thought that was the funniest thing in the world, so she named them Sticky Taters. They were so good. Crispy and golden with melted cheddar and a little onion and garlic."

"It's a customer favorite," Shad said. "We still use the same recipe."

"I'm getting some," Sam said.

"Take your time with the menu," Shad said. "I need to do some more food prep. I'll be back soon."

It didn't take long to decide, and Sam ordered Sula's Sunrise when Shad returned. It included two eggs, grits, buttermilk biscuits, hickory-smoked bacon, and a German sausage called goetta, which was made with beef, pork, steel-cut oats, and spices. He also got a large order of Sticky Taters to share between them.

Mercedes ordered Plum's Pancake Platter, which came with grits, smoked ham, and eggs. Mercedes remembered Plum was Sula's black cat, with one gold eye and one green eye. Despite warnings from the health inspector, Sula let her roam around the diner like a New York bodega cat. Plum purred against the customer's legs for table scraps and pats on her soft, furry head.

Mercedes looked around the diner and relived memories. Every Sunday morning, Sula greeted them wearing her frilly pink apron. Then she took them to their favorite booth. Sula always asked Mercedes what she learned in Sunday school. She often hid quarters and folded dollar bills under the napkin holder for Mercedes to find.

Gazing at the old Seeburg jukebox, Mercedes recalled standing on her tiptoes to put in a quarter. She always played number 45; the Diana Ross hit "Upside Down." It was Aunt Josephine's favorite song. They would dance together in the middle of the diner while the customers clapped. It felt good to sit there, reminiscing because not all memories were painful; they could be joyous too.

Mercedes wished Aunt Josephine was there to share memories when their food arrived. She noticed they even used the same bright pink plates. The dishes always reminded her of Aunt Josephine's pink tulip quilt. After she and Sam said grace, she took a picture of their meal, then took her first bite of the mouthwatering food. She closed her eyes and savored the golden, fluffy pancakes drizzled in sweet maple syrup. tasting even better than her childhood memories. The pancakes had a distinct vanilla flavor that she never tasted in any other pancakes except at Sula's. Aunt Josephine told Mercedes that Sula put vanilla bean in the batter with a few drops of almond extract.

The Sticky Taters were delicious. They were crispy fried and covered with melted sharp cheddar cheese and sweet onions. The warm, earthy flavor of minced garlic also added to the wonderful flavor. Sula had wanted to be a chef but could never afford culinary school. She learned by watching cooking shows and reading many cookbooks. Mercedes figured that since Sula died, she must have passed on her recipes to Eva. Sam raved about his meal and vowed to make Sticky Taters when they returned to Kentucky. He also had nothing but praise for the goetta.

"This is even better than my grandfather's goetta. It has a little more spice and salt," he said, cutting into the browned sausage patty and eating another bite, "So good."

"Most people outside of Ohio don't even know what goetta is." She said, stealing a sausage patty from his plate, "And here you are, an expert."

"It's my German roots, remember?"

"Ah yes, how could I forget," she said as she ate the sausage, "This was a staple in our house growing up."

"It was?"

"Yeah, Aunt Josephine would make it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner when things got tight. It was cheap and filling, and we loved the stuff. We would have it with fried potatoes or grits. Sometimes she added pan gravy too."

After their meal, they lingered at the table, laughing and talking with Shad and Nel. Mercedes shared pictures of Abby, Rosy, and Jake. Though they hated to go, they had to because the kids would be up soon and hungry too. When Sam tried to pay for the meal, Shad and Nel refused to accept his money.

"This was on the house," Nel said, handing him a big brown paper bag. "And I also packed full meals for your children. There's extra goetta and Sticky Taters in there too."

"You didn't have to do that," Mercedes said.

"We know you two don't have the energy to cook for three kids when you get home. Consider it a gift. Besides, you gave us the gift of remembering Jude and Abilene. We're so happy to have met you and Sam."

Mercedes hugged Nel and Shad, blinking back a few tears.

"Thank you," she said.

"Don't be a stranger," Shad said, "Come back anytime."

"We will," Sam said.


As Sam drove them back to the house, he said, "Do you think I'm related to Thad?"

Mercedes glanced over at him.

"Anything is possible. Why don't you get a DNA test too?"

"Alright, I will. And if we're related to them. Then we should — "

"Write a book," Mercedes said, laughing, as she rolled down the window, letting in the fresh morning air.

"Think the kids are up?"

"If not, they will be soon."

"How are you feeling?"

"Happy. Grateful. A little shocked. I mean I just found out some major information about my parents."

"Yeah, that was wild."

"But you know, I love how they loved each other. It warms my heart."

"And they loved you very much."

"Yeah, I never doubted it. But - "

"But hearing it from people who knew them is different."

"Right."

At a stoplight, Mercedes leaned over, grabbed Sam's face, and kissed him. The car behind them started honking when the light turned green.

"What was that for?" Sam said a bit dazed from the passionate kiss that came out of nowhere.

"Can't a wife show a little affection?"

"That wasn't a little affection. Trying to start me up for something?" He said, grinning at her.

"No, I love you, that's all."

"Of course you do. I'm lovable."

"Oh, God."

"You know it's true. Mrs. Hummel."

"I know, Mr. Hummel."

"I love you too."


Author's Note: Thank you for reading my story. I have a few more chapters to go.