CHAPTER 14
SUMMARY: Cooper and LaTonya's relationship blossoms. Sam and Mercedes have a visit with Aunt Josephine before the wedding.
RATING: Mature. Mild sexual situations. Cursing.
SO HAPPY TOGETHER
Cooper ended up staying with LaTonya for a few weeks. He felt at peace in her home. She never questioned why he stayed and he never offered an explanation. It was just a silent understanding between them. Every morning they took a long run together and then showered, had breakfast, and separated for a few hours to do whatever it was they needed to do; it was a natural routine that just sort of happened. LaTonya would retreat to her den, but she always left a warm pot of coffee for Cooper in the kitchen along with fresh rolls in case he wanted a snack. Cooper would play the piano or write in his journal. And in the afternoon, they would meet in the kitchen, and work together, with their laptops and phones side by side on the table. They would discuss current cases and she would set up appointments and do research and other duties that Cooper assigned to her.
He liked their work sessions, because they were always productive; and even though he still wasn't fond of her neighborhood, he had to admit that it was tranquil and had a certain charm to it. The neighbors regarded him with suspicion at first, and Cooper was happy that they did because that meant they were looking after LaTonya and he often worried about her safety. After easing the minds of the middle-aged married couple who lived next door and who described Latonya as a "sweet girl who shouldn't be corrupted by the likes of him," by speaking with them about his security company and assuring them he had no ill intentions, they stopped giving him the "evil eye" and even waved to he and LaTonya from their kitchen window when they went on their early morning runs. LaTonya felt that it was all rather endearing and amusing when Cooper related the incident to her; and he enjoyed telling the story only because he loved hearing her laugh.
One afternoon as they sat in the kitchen working, Cooper got a call from Sam.
"Hello Sam," he said, and then his next thought was something was wrong with Abby, "Is Abby ok?"
"Abby is fine, no worries there. I'm actually calling to ask if you would like to attend our wedding. It's going to be at my parents' house in Dusk Hollow."
"Isn't this usually done through a formal invitation in the mail?"
Sam laughed and said:
"You'll be getting one of those too. And you can bring a guest. I thought I would call you first because I know you travel a lot. Besides I only have your business address."
Cooper had several residences, so he said to Sam:
"Why don't you scan the invitation and send it to my personal email address. I'll reply and scan it and you'll get the PDF."
"Ok, if that's what works for you," Sam said, and Cooper could tell by the tone in his voice that he was puzzled by his request.
"Thank you. Since it will be at your parents' home, I suppose it will be a small affair?"
"That's what we're planning on, but my mother sometimes lets things get out of hand."
"I see."
"Well, I have to go pick up Abby, but I hope you can come. She's going to be a flower girl and I know she would be happy to see you."
"I'll give it careful consideration. What is the date?"
"February 14th."
"Valentine's Day."
"Yeah, it falls on a Saturday this year."
"Very well, thank you for the invitation. Once I get your email, I will respond."
"Thank you Cooper, take care."
"Good bye, Sam."
Cooper set the phone down and looked over at LaTonya who was stirring a pot of soup that was simmering on the stove; she belonged to a soup club and every month the women in the club got together and had homemade soup that one of them cooked; since it was her turn to host the meeting, she was trying out a new recipe as a "dress rehearsal" before actually serving a batch for the club members that weekend. At Cooper's suggestion, she decided to make a Ukrainian soup called borscht. The kitchen was filled with the rich aromas of dill, onions, cloves and marjoram, LaTonya hummed to herself as she sprinkled in a bit of salt; Cooper admired the jeans she wore because they fit her shapely, Coke bottle figure; and her long-sleeved peach jersey accentuated her slightly muscular arms and full bosom. Her hair was in a frizzy, curly ponytail. She looked at him.
"So that was Sam?"
"Uh, yes, it was," Cooper said, feeling funny about staring at her, "He invited me to his and Mercedes' wedding."
She put the lid back on the pot and sat down next to him at the table.
"I didn't even know they were engaged."
"I forgot to tell you."
"Are you going to go?"
"I hate weddings. I'm still recovering from Blaine's spectacle with the doves. But Sam says I should come because Abby will be a flower girl and it would mean a lot to her."
"Where will it be?"
"At his parents' house in Dusk Hollow."
"It might not be so bad."
"He said it would be small. And that I could bring a guest."
Cooper noticed how her face changed when he said this, but he couldn't quite place the expression, wishful maybe? He wasn't sure.
"I think you should go… for Abby."
"Then I'll go," he said, and turned his attention to his laptop, "Did you hear back from Paul today? He said he had some information about the Spelling case."
LaTonya frowned at him for a moment, but then she said:
"Not yet. I'll call him again."
"Please do. That Spelling case is priority. The surveillance equipment has been set up, correct?"
"Affirmative."
He smiled at her, giving her shoulder a squeeze.
"Excellent. I knew I could count on you."
LaTonya didn't smile back, her face remained expressionless.
"You're welcome. So what's next on the agenda?"
Cooper wondered why her demeanor suddenly changed, but he didn't want to upset her so he said, "I need background checks on the Simpson brothers and make an appointment for me with Senator Jenkins, he said he wanted to meet with me."
"Consider it done."
"Thank you," he said again and smiled once more. LaTonya gave him a curt nod in response and began typing away on her computer. The next few hours were spent in a rather awkward silence that Cooper couldn't figure out, what had brought all of this on? When it was time for lunch, they pushed aside their computers and LaTonya served him a bowl of borscht with a dollop of sour cream in the middle and a sprinkle of dill garnishing the rich red soup. It smelled so good that his mouth watered. She also baked some crescent rolls and she set them on the table on a glass plate. She poured them each a glass of lemonade and as they were about to eat, Cooper reached for her hand:
"How about we say grace first?"
LaTonya looked at him with surprise and set down her spoon; she squeezed his hand, a small smile forming on her plump, red lips.
"Ok."
They both closed their eyes and bowed their heads and Cooper said:
"Bless this food to our use, and us to thy service. Fill our hearts with grateful praise. Amen."
When they raised their heads and opened their eyes, LaTonya stared at him in amazement. Cooper continued to hold her hand, even though the prayer was over.
"What is it?"
"You've never wanted to say grace before."
"I used to a long time ago. Then I heard Sam do it, and it calmed me so I decided to start again."
"But you don't like – "
"Religion."
"Yes."
"I don't. But I am open to spirituality."
"I understand… I guess we should eat before it gets cold."
They let go of each other's hands and Cooper felt the loss of the warmth of her hand in his. The first spoonful of soup that Cooper tasted, flooded his taste buds with an array of flavors; and the herbs, beets and cabbage tasted marvelous.
"This is wonderful," he said as he took another spoonful, "Even better than what I had at that four star restaurant in Kiev."
"Thank you. I hope my club likes it."
"They will, and if they don't, you should find a new club; one that can actually appreciate fine cuisine."
"I will. I promise."
They didn't say much after that. Cooper never felt the need to constantly talk and LaTonya never insisted on idle chatter. However, the lingering worry of what happened earlier, hung over his head. He had somehow offended her, and he couldn't for the life of him, figure out what it was. When their workday ended around 5:00, Cooper suggested they go out to a movie to get out of the house.
"A movie?" LaTonya said as she shut her laptop, "First saying grace and now this. You're full of surprises today."
"I admit it's been a long time since I've been to the cinema."
"The fact that you call it the cinema says a lot."
"Do I sound old?"
"You sound like you remember when silent films became talkies."
Cooper laughed and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Ok, so I'm not hip. Anyway, I would like to get out, and I don't know where else to go."
"Actually, I think I know a place we can go that you'll like."
"And where would that be?"
"I saw in the paper today that tonight at the Spy Museum they are opening two new exhibits one is Spies Among Us and it's about code breaking in World War II and the other is called Exquisite Evil: 50 Years of James Bond Villains."
"The code breaking exhibit sounds interesting. But I've always considered James Bond to be a bit of a priss pot."
LaTonya rolled her eyes.
"Only you would say that about James Bond, he's the coolest of cool."
"Is he now?"
"Yes."
"So you like your men cool?"
"I like my men honest."
"What else?"
"Kind."
"And?"
"And intelligent."
"That's a very short list," Cooper said, and she looked away from him, avoiding his intense stare.
"I've never been one for long lists."
"So your man doesn't need to have his martini's shaken not stirred and use gadgets that won't exist until at least 100 years or more from my calculations."
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I don't' have fantasies. I like James Bond movies. They're frivolous and fun. You know what would be really awesome?"
"What's that?"
"I would love to see a Bond girl like me, an amputee. Somebody that can kick ass, and then James Bond falls madly in love with her."
This time when Cooper stared at her, he noticed that she didn't look away, but held his gaze, her dark eyes shined. Then she said:
"I'm crazy, huh?"
"No, not at all. I think that's a wonderful idea."
"Do you really think so?"
"Have I ever lied to you?"
"No."
"Well then, it sounds like we have plans for this evening. What time did you want to leave?"
"How about 6:30?"
"Ok."
As he took his shower, Cooper thought about LaTonya's wish to be a Bond girl, he thought it was a sweet fantasy but very much beneath her. She was much more than an alluring temptress whose only role was to look beautiful while holding a gun. Cooper thought LaTonya's heart, kindness and integrity was the source of her true beauty, which radiated from within. He doubted that she could see that, and this saddened him. She was confident to a point, yet there was something in her eyes, an uncertainty of her standing in the world that he glimpsed when she thought no one was paying attention. It was brief, and you had to be observing her to see it and know her mannerisms and common reactions, and Cooper knew those things, he collected data on her subconsciously, locking it away in his brain, piecing her together, and now he was gathering what kind of man she desired.
Cooper could admit that he was far from cool, but he was honest, and in his own way, he was kind, and he was intelligent. He finished his shower and quickly dried off. He stood in front of the mirror and looked at himself. Some women considered him handsome. His eyes sometimes threw people off because one eye was a slightly darker shade of blue than the other, a result of being born with heterochromia. Abby noticed that his eyes didn't match and she said she thought it was pretty; and something about her observation warmed his heart. And then there was the matter of his white blond hair, a shade that women often dyed their own hair to become the quintessential bombshell blonde; and he was often asked if he dyed his hair and was always met with disbelief when he said no, and it annoyed him that people were so ignorant to think that hair his color could not naturally grow from his head.
He had an aquiline nose or Roman nose as his mother called it, and a masculine, square chin. Overall, he looked rather Nordic. Since he worked out regularly, his body was hard and muscular. As he gazed at his reflection, he could honestly say that he wasn't displeased by his appearance, even though he knew there were many men that surpassed him in the looks department it did not affect his self-esteem one way or the other. He dabbed a little Tom Ford Tuscan Leather cologne on his wrists and neck and decided to wear a suit. When he was lounging around the house he wore sweats. LaTonya teased him that his "off the clock" attire was so out of character that she hoped his body wasn't invaded by aliens and she took his picture on her phone and sent it to his staff of investigators; everyone got a kick out of that because they only knew Cooper to wear suits. Paul Dill printed out the picture and framed it.
He put on his tailor made Italian navy wool suit, white shirt and royal blue tie, and went to the front door to wait for her, and a few moments later, she came down the hall, wearing a knee-length, peasant style long sleeved red dress and black leather cowboy boots. She had fluffed her hair out and wore a red satin headband, and gold bangle bracelets jangled from her wrists. She was slipping on one of her gold hoop earrings as she walked toward him. Cooper pointed to the boots.
"I see you got your prosthetist's seal of approval."
She looked down at her feet.
"Yes and I'm glad too. I really wanted these boots. Buying shoes can be a bitch sometimes, but at least my prosthetist isn't far from here."
While staying with LaTonya, he learned about the challenges that an amputee faced when purchasing shoes. The wrong shoes could make you feel unbalanced and could also lead to critical injuries. To avoid this, she always went to her prosthetist to evaluate her shoes. Many times she returned them to find something more suitable for her feet. Cooper got their coats from the closet near the front door, and as he helped her put on her parka, he smelled her perfume that had notes of bergamot, lemon, and ylang-ylang, a warm spicy scent that reminded him of an antique shop he used to go to in Chinatown, and the owner wore the same fragrance and every time she flipped her long, black hair, he would get a whiff of her perfume, but the scent smelled different on LaTonya, it was richer and bolder, and it was rather intoxicating like drinking a glass of red wine in front of a fireplace, that warm feeling in your belly. He reasoned that it was her body chemistry and then his mind turned to her body and as he helped her slip the other sleeve of her parka onto her arm, he wanted to stay close to her. He took a deep breath, inhaling that heady scent and stepped back as she zipped it up, oblivious to him staring at her. After he slipped on his coat, they walked out into the cold winter evening, the sky was black and clear and millions of stars twinkled above them. As they descended the stairs, he saw a few icy patches on the cement, and he offered her his arm and she took it for support. When they got to his shiny black Jaguar, he opened the door for her and when he got in and started the car, he said:
"You look lovely."
"Thank you. So do you.
"Lovely is hardly a word to describe me."
"I think it fits."
Cooper turned on the radio and they listened to a BBC Reith lecture about Stephen Hawking. He was enjoying the lecture that discussed black holes but then he wondered if LaTonya was bored and when he glanced at her; she was gazing out the window.
"We can listen to something else."
"This is fine."
"Are you sure?"
She touched his arm, giving it a squeeze.
"I like it."
Cooper nodded and continued listening to the lecture. When they arrived at the museum and parked, he quickly exited the car and went to the passenger side, opening the door for her. He liked that she didn't hop out of the car and waited for him to open the door; though he wasn't sure why. With their arms linked, they entered the museum that was somewhat crowded. In the entryway, there was a glass kiosk to buy tickets and check your coats. The overhead lights were bright white and blue, shining down on the glossy beige marble tiled floor. A small, pale woman with a mole on her chin sat behind the counter of the kiosk and greeted them with a smile.
"Hello, welcome to the Spy Museum, how may I help you?"
"Two tickets, please," Cooper said.
"And will you be checking your coats?"
Cooper looked at LaTonya.
"Do you want to keep your coat or check it?"
"Check it."
"We'll check our coats."
"Very well."
After he paid for the tickets and checked their coats, Cooper saw a large black sign hanging above the escalator a few feet away that said: "Prepare To Be Shaken and Stirred Exquisitely Evil: 50 Years of Bond Villains. First Floor."
"Come on," he said, walking toward the escalator, "the Bond exhibit is downstairs."
"I thought you would want to go to the World War II code breaking exhibit first," she said, leaning against him as they walked toward escalator, he felt her warmth, and he again smelled her perfume.
"I don't mind seeing James Bond first," he said, smiling at her.
The exhibit wasn't as ridiculous as Cooper had imagined. The first thing that got his attention was a gorgeous silver 1964 Aston Martin DB5 displayed behind a glass wall; it was from the movie Goldfinger. He and LaTonya stood and admired it.
"Now, that's a beauty," he said.
"I told you James Bond was cool," she said.
They looked at the entire exhibit. Various glass display cases featured costumes worn by Bond villains, weapons they used, and the original movie posters. There was also Ian Fleming display that showcased artifacts like his personal letters and photographs. LaTonya oohed and ahhed over everything, much to Cooper's delight, he liked seeing her so happy and animated, and she impressed him with her knowledge of all of the Bond films. When they stopped in front of a picture of an unusually tall man with metal teeth grinning at the camera, LaTonya said:
"That's Jaws."
"I thought Jaws was a shark."
She laughed and squeezed his arm.
"Jaws is the name of this villain. He's in the Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me."
"Interesting," Cooper said, staring at the photo, "He does look menacing."
"Thanks for walking around with me like this. I know this isn't your thing."
"I'm actually having a good time."
"Me too."
After they finished looking at the Bond exhibit, they went to the World War II code-breaking exhibit. Cooper enjoyed learning about the code breaking tactics even though a majority of the information he already knew, and it was nice to explain it to LaTonya, who listened to him attentively. There were pictures of captured spies on display and he was surprised to see that they had a part of the Type 97 Purple cipher machine that was used by the Japanese during the war.
"So what is this thing?" LaTonya asked pointing to what looked like a piece of useless machinery with its exposed multicolored wires and gray steel body.
"It's a fragment of a cryptographic machine. It's used to protect confidential information using codes and ciphers."
"With all of the stuff you know, you should write a book."
"Maybe I will someday, but I don't know who would read it."
"Plenty of people," she said as they left the exhibit and headed toward the escalator, "I would be the first in line to buy it."
"Oh you would?"
"Yes. Why are you surprised?"
"Because you've never shown any interest in cryptography."
"I know, but the way you explain everything makes it interesting."
"Really? Interesting is not something I'm used to being called."
"You're far from boring."
"Thank you. Are you ready to go?"
"Sure. Let me go to the restroom first."
"Ok."
When she left to go to the restroom, Cooper suddenly felt the loss of having her beside him; she wasn't exactly glued to his hip for the entire evening, but he felt her presence. When she returned, he placed his hand on her arm and said:
"Are you hungry?"
"I have a craving for something sweet. Why don't we go to More Than Just Ice Cream, it's just around the corner."
"Alright, and I could use a cup of coffee."
They went to the kiosk and picked up their coats and then walked to the restaurant. Cooper was glad it wasn't crowded and they were seated in a bright red and white striped booth, with plush leather seats. He had the urge to sit beside her but then he thought that would be weird so he sat across from her. The décor reminded him of the 1920's with the fake multicolored stained glass light fixtures that resembled Tiffany lamps hanging from the ceiling and the oil paintings of flapper dancers and men in tuxedos that adorned the cherry wood walls. As they perused the menu, he said:
"When we go to the wedding, I think I'm going to get a hotel room. I won't feel like driving home all the way from Dusk Hollow."
LaTonya peered at him over her bright red plastic menu.
"What?"
"I'm not suggesting we stay in a room together," he said, worried that he somehow offended her, "I'm just letting you know in case you wanted to drive separately and go home that night."
"Cooper, you never even asked me to go."
"This afternoon I said I was going."
"Yes, but you didn't ask me to go with you."
Cooper realized she was right.
"Forgive me, I made an assumption. I'm sorry. I just figured you were coming with me."
LaTonya smiled at him.
"I like you like this."
"Like what?"
"Apologetic."
"I apologize to people."
"Sure you do, like once every half century."
"Will you go to the wedding with me?"
"I'd love to go. Thank you for the invitation."
"You're welcome. I hope I can bear it."
"You might have a good time," she said, as she began looking the menu again, "Life can surprise you."
"It already has," he said staring at her, wanting to stop but being unable to, she looked up and caught him staring.
"Do I have something on my face?"
"No, you look beautiful."
Even with her dark skin that looked like polished onyx, he could tell his compliment, affected her, and she was blushing. He surmised that "beautiful" was different from "lovely" which is what he called her earlier. Lovely could mean your sister or mother or dear old friend, but beautiful carried more weight, it was tinged with a different kind of affection, one that thrilled and scared him. Before she could respond, the waiter came and took their orders. Indeed, LaTonya was beautiful to him and he wanted her to know, even though it left him feeling vulnerable, he was glad the words flew out of his mouth and were released into the atmosphere. When the waiter left, she said:
"Thank you, Cooper."
"No, thank you for letting me stay these past few weeks."
"I like having the company."
"I like being with you."
LaTonya looked down at the table, he saw that brief flicker of doubt on her face.
"What is it?"
She didn't respond and only gave him a wary smile, and he sensed her pulling away from him. He placed both his hands on the table, with the palms facing up, and she stared at his hands, and then looked into his eyes, he never looked away and held her intense gaze; he had nothing to hide from her; he wanted her to see everything; his heartbeat sped up as he reached across the table, would she receive him? She slowly placed her hands in his and he intertwined their fingers.
"I don't know what this means," she said.
"I think you do."
"What happens next?"
"I don't know."
The waiter came with their desserts and coffee but neither one of them felt like eating so they got everything to go and went home. When they were inside the house, Cooper helped her with her coat, and as he hung it in the closet, LaTonya suddenly cried out in pain and clutched her leg.
Cooper grabbed her arm.
"LaTonya?"
"Phantom pain."
Without hesitation he picked her up and carried her to her bedroom, where he placed her on the bed.
"Do you have pain killers?"
"Yes, but I don't like to take them," she said as she began taking off her boots. She struggled with the boot on her prosthetic leg and Cooper helped her slide it off.
"Thank you, she said, leaning back against the headboard, "I'm going to massage it. No big deal."
She sat up a little straighter and was about to remove her leg, her face was contorted in pain but Cooper interceded, and slid down the purple sleeve art cover with glittering stars that covered her leg, and pressed the black pin at the bottom of the leg on the right hand side, and then slid the leg off.
"How did you know how to do that?" She asked.
"I've watched you."
She attempted to place her hands on her stump, and Cooper gently waved her away.
"Close your eyes and relax. I'll massage it. You're in too much pain to do it."
"I appreciate the offer, but I learned a certain technique from my physical therapist which really helps. I can do it," she said, but her words came out stilted as she worked through each wave of pain. He held her hand and squeezed it.
"Trust me. Close your eyes."
Tears fell from her eyes and it broke his heart.
"Cooper…"
"Sweetheart, trust me."
She nodded and he pushed up her red dress, trying to ignore the arousal he felt when he touched her beautiful ebony legs that reminded him of rich velvet; and he placed a pillow beneath her residual limb to elevate it. He learned how to perform traditional Chinese massage while he was living in Hong Kong. It was called Tui Na and it was the closest to Western style massage and was proven to help with all sorts of pain. As he massaged her stump that was severely scarred from the amputation, he recalled reading an article about a husband who hated touching his wife's residual limb after her amputation; he said it disgusted him. But Cooper didn't feel that way when touching LaTonya; it was just another part of her.
LaTonya's body responded to his ministrations immediately and he felt the tension ease away from her as he continued the massage, making his way up her stump and stopping at a point that he felt was safe; he wanted to respect her boundaries; they hadn't even kissed yet, and if her red dress was pushed up any further that was definitely dangerous territory.
"How are you feeling now?" He asked her.
"Much better."
His massage lasted until LaTonya fell asleep. He pulled her dress down and lifted her up, and covered her with the comforter on the bed. As he was about to leave, her eyes flew open.
"Cooper?"
"Yes?"
"Stay."
"Are you sure?"
"Please."
He wasn't sure what the invitation meant. Cooper was never good with innuendos. So he stood there in the doorway, feeling awkward like a teenager on a first date.
"I want you near me," she said.
He walked back into the room, closing the door behind him. He took off his suit and only left on his boxers and T-shirt.
"Could you help me with my dress?"
He unzipped her dress and pulled it over her head. She wore a white cotton bra and high waist panties. No fancy lace, silk, or satin, and for some reason, he found the simplicity of her underwear endearing.
"Where is your nightgown?"
"Over there," she said pointing to the chair in the corner of the room.
He picked up her long peach flannel nightgown that was thrown across the chair and sat beside her on the bed. She sat up and he helped her put it on, then he got back under the covers and turned off the lamp on the nightstand beside him. They lay facing each other and she cuddled up to him and he held her.
"Thank you," she said.
He leaned forward and they shared their first kiss; and he was surprised that LaTonya was awkward at first, and their noses bumped into each other, but there was so much emotion behind the kiss that it didn't matter, he grew bolder and slipped his tongue between her lips and she welcomed him inside; and when they pulled away from each other, he kissed her forehead.
"I'm staying," he whispered.
Staying. The word lingered between them. She smiled up at him, giving him a kiss on the cheek, and then closed her eyes, falling back to sleep. He held her in his arms, feeling the warmth of her body against his, smelling faint traces of her spicy perfume; his eyelids grew heavy and he fell asleep listening to her breathing.
GOOD INTENTIONS
"So you want to marry my niece?" Aunt Josephine asked Sam as he drove them to the house. He had just picked her up from the airport. Abby had a dentist appointment so Mercedes couldn't come.
"Yes ma'am."
"Humph, I don't know a thing about you. What do you do again?"
"I invest in real estate."
"Invest?"
"I flip houses and sell them. It's lucrative."
Aunt Josephine shifted about in her seat, trying to get comfortable. Her bulky green coat made her appear twice her size. Sam wondered why she would wear such a large coat that was obviously too big.
"You're self-employed?"
"That's right."
"How much do you love Mercedes?" She asked glancing over at him as he switched lanes.
"I love her with everything that I am."
"Abby too?"
"Yes, Abby too."
Aunt Josephine didn't say anything else for a long time and Sam wondered if she was asleep, he looked over at her and saw her staring out the window, finally she said:
"Thank you for protecting her from that crazy man. I never liked Shane's parents and to think they did what they did… anyway, thank you."
"I would do anything to protect Mercedes and Abby you don't have to thank me."
"Well, regardless of that, I still don't know how I feel about you. Just being honest. Mercedes and Abby are all I have."
"I understand."
"When she ran off like she did – I don't know. I'm feeling some kind of way I suppose."
"Mercedes needed a change," Sam said.
"I only want what's best for her and Abby. Change my foot. She had family and friends in Lima and – "
"Are you hungry?" Sam asked. He saw a Cracker Barrel restaurant up ahead and thought it would be a good place to sit and talk.
"They didn't feed us jack on the plane so yes."
"Me too. Let's stop and eat," Sam said and pulled into the parking lot of the Cracker Barrel once they reached the restaurant. When they got out of the car, Aunt Josephine tugged on his arm.
"I need a smoke."
"You smoke?"
"Sometimes," she said and rummaged through her big red purse and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, "I didn't think you wanted me to smoke in your car."
Sam only nodded and watched her light up a cigarette and take a drag. He never pegged her as a smoker, but then he didn't know her at all so nothing should have surprised him. The parking lot wasn't very full. He leaned against the car while she paced back and forth and smoked, the wind blowing through her black, curly haired shoulder length wig. Mercedes joked that her Aunt Josephine was a woman with a "million wigs." She wore them because she suffered from hair loss. She looked up at the overcast sky and said:
"Are there a lot of black folks in Bethel Rock?"
"There's enough, I think."
"Enough? What's that supposed to mean? You think there could be too many?"
"No I meant – "
She sighed and blew smoke into the cold air.
"It doesn't matter what you meant. I was just asking. Besides interracial couples can have problems in less diverse areas."
Sam was miffed at what she said because he knew she had no qualms about Puck and he wasn't black either. Aunt Josephine was from another time.
"She didn't have any problems with Puck."
Aunt Josephine looked at him, raising her eyebrows, a bit taken aback by his statement.
"Puck is half-black, so that's different."
He didn't bother questioning how any of this was relevant and stayed silent while she continued smoking her cigarette. Then she said:
"Puck's father and I went to high school together. I had a thing for him."
"Really?"
"Yeah. His name was Dante Jackson. He was a fine chocolate brother with good hair, nice and curly, and he didn't even need a hot comb. But he never liked me like that."
Sam didn't know what to say so he let her talk.
"Anyway, after we graduated Dante went into the Army, and came back ten years later with a Jewish girlfriend named Sarah Puckerman and a baby named Noah. It wasn't until Noah was in high school that he wanted folks to call him Puck. Anyway, his parents were gonna get married but never did. They lived in Lima Heights. Puck was a cute baby … he and Mercedes used to play together when they were really little, like three years old and Puck would say he was gonna marry her and Mercedes would cry," she laughed at the memory and said, "Sorry for rambling. That's all in the past I suppose." She dropped the cigarette on the ground, and said, "Dante left Sarah for an older woman in Milk and Honey when Puck was ten."
"Oh."
"Come on, I have a hankering for a Country Boy Breakfast," she said and began walking toward the restaurant with Sam following behind her. He could care less about Puck's biography or the fact that he and Mercedes were once playmates. None of it mattered and he wondered why she felt compelled to tell him. When they went inside the restaurant, they were seated right away at a table near the window. The dark reddish brown-tiled floor shined and the pale green painted walls were covered with old-fashioned country memorabilia like antique lanterns and old photographs of early settlers from the 1800s. The air smelled like biscuits and gravy. A buxom ginger waitress gave them glasses of ice water and two menus, saying she would be back to take their orders in a few minutes and hurried away. Aunt Josephine guzzled down her water, and Sam saw that she was eying his glass so he said:
"Would you like my water? I'm not that thirsty."
"Thanks. My medication makes me drink like a camel," she said taking his water glass, "Please don't mention my smoking to Mercedes. She thinks I quit."
"Ok."
Sam looked at the menu while Aunt Josephine took out a compact and powdered her nose. When the waitress returned, she re-filled their water glasses and took their orders. Sam ordered a Sunrise Sampler and Aunt Josephine got the Country Boy Breakfast that she craved. Before the waitress left again, Aunt Josephine said to her:
"Honey, just leave that water pitcher here." The waitress smiled and set the pitcher on the table and left. While they waited for their food, Sam decided to lay everything on the line.
"I love Mercedes and Abby and I want us to be a family. I'm a good man and they will never want for anything. I'm smart, kind, and compassionate and I don't think any other man could ever love Mercedes the way I do. So I don't care about Puck or anyone else you deem worthy. I know my heart and it leads me to Mercedes every time."
Aunt Josephine stared at him and he could see his speech surprised her.
"I guess I preferred Puck because he's familiar that's all. He's Lima. He's home."
"He's also the past and Mercedes doesn't love him. She loves me."
Aunt Josephine sighed and nodded.
"I thought Puck would bring her home."
"Lima isn't home for her any more. Her home is with me. I respect you but I won't let you diminish anything that Mercedes and I feel for each other. Black, white, whatever, none of that matters to me, and I will fight anyone who gives us trouble. I'm marrying Mercedes regardless of how you or anyone else feels about it. Besides, Shane's lunatic parents are in Lima, that's the last place she should be."
Aunt Josephine poured herself another glass of water and Sam thought that if she kept drinking like that they would never make it home because they would have to keep stopping for her to go to the bathroom.
"I hear it in your voice how much you love Mercedes."
"I thank God every day she said yes."
For the first time that afternoon, Aunt Josephine smiled.
"My baby is special."
When the food arrived, Sam reached for Aunt Josephine's hand and said grace:
"Lord, we thank thee for all thy bounty. Amen."
Aunt Josephine stared at him and Sam wondered what she was thinking, but instead of asking her, he began eating his Sunrise Sampler and she dug into her Country Boy Breakfast. Neither spoke during the meal. When they were finished and the waitress dropped off the bill, Aunt Josephine took out her wallet, but Sam said told her to put it away.
"Don't worry about it."
"At least let me leave the tip."
"No, I insist. Are you ready to go?"
"Yes. I just need to use the restroom first," she said getting up from the table, "I'll be back in a few minutes.
"Take your time."
Sam paid the bill and left the tip while she was in the restroom. He sent a text to Mercedes telling her that they would be there in an hour and that they stopped off at the Cracker Barrel for lunch. She texted back that she hoped her Aunt Josephine didn't grill him too much and Sam reassured her that everything was fine. As Sam predicted, they made many bathroom stops while driving back to Bethel Rock. And a few times Aunt Josephine smoked a cigarette in some random parking lot while Sam waited for her in the car listening to 70s soul music on the radio. He was in the middle of singing "Betcha By Golly Wow," during her last smoking break, but when she got back in the car, she turned off the radio, and said to him:
"We need someone to walk Mercedes down the aisle. I think it should be me."
Sam hadn't yet told her about how he and Mercedes would walk down the aisle together, and now he worried she would object to the idea.
"Actually, we decided to walk down the aisle together."
"What kind of tradition is that?"
"One that's best for us," he said and turned the radio back on. She turned it back off.
"I have something to say."
"Ok."
"I know you talk a good game, but make no mistake, I'll be watching you. And if I even think for a second, that you're hurting my baby, there will be hell to pay, do you understand?"
"I wouldn't expect anything less," Sam said and turned the radio back on, lowering the volume. Josephine closed her eyes and fell asleep. When they got to the house, he shook her shoulder.
"Josephine, we're here."
She slowly opened her eyes and stretched, looking out the window at the house, she said:
"Needs a coat of paint."
Sam sighed, shaking his head. Aunt Josephine would probably find fault with a saint.
"I'm working on that."
He exited the car and went to the passenger side and opened her door, offering her his hand, which to his surprise, she took as she stepped out of the SUV. He went to the trunk and retrieved her luggage, and she held his arm as they walked toward the house. Once inside he flipped on the hall light and took her upstairs. Mercedes greeted them at the top of the stairs, and he figured she had seen them pull up in the driveway. He noticed that she changed out of her "around the house sweats" and put on jeans and a vibrant yellow V-neck sweater, her hair was twisted in a bun, much to his disappointment; he loved the wild, soft Afro she was wearing lately. She gave him a quick hug and kiss, and then hugged Aunt Josephine, who held Mercedes close to her heart.
"Baby, it's been too long," she said, "Where's my little Abby?"
"In the kitchen eating lunch, come on," Mercedes said leading her inside the apartment, with Sam lugging the suitcases behind them. Abby came running out of the kitchen and went directly to Aunt Josephine's open arms.
"My sugar pie, you've grown so much!"
Abby clung to Aunt Josephine and Sam saw for the first time how much the two of them missed each other and he felt a pang of regret that he hadn't insisted that she come to Tennessee sooner. As the mini-family reunion took place with Mercedes and Josephine talking at once and Abby scribbling notes, Sam took her luggage to the master bedroom. The week before, he took most of his stuff downstairs to his apartment, but now he wondered if it was all for naught simply because Aunt Josephine had to know that they were living together. When he came back to the living room all three of them were on the couch and Sam offered to make everyone coffee.
"I'll take mine black with two teaspoons of sugar," Aunt Josephine said and turned her attention to Abby.
"I can't believe how tall you are. And your hair looks beautiful."
"Sam did it," Mercedes said, looking over at him as he lingered in the doorway, "He's become quite good at styling her hair.
If Aunt Josephine was impressed she didn't show it; she only nodded, and changed the subject.
"After we have coffee, we should go to the store, I want to make Gullah Rice for dinner."
"But Sam was going to cook dinner," Mercedes said, "You're supposed to sit back and relax, and not slave in the kitchen."
"It's not slaving if you want to do it. Besides, it's Abby's favorite dish," she said, giving Abby a kiss on the forehead, "I miss cooking for you two. It gets lonely."
"Well, if it means that much to you, we can go to the market later on," Mercedes said and looked at Sam, "We'll have the pork chops tomorrow."
"Sure," he said and went into the kitchen. He listened to them chatting as he made the coffee, it was pleasant enough, though he noticed Mercedes' voice grew strained a few times, and that was to be expected; he could see they were happy to see each other, but underneath there were unresolved issues between them. After the coffee was done, he put the three mugs on a tray along with a carton of cream and a porcelain sugar dish filled with sugar and carried it out to the living room and set it on the coffee table. He fixed Aunt Josephine's coffee as she requested and handed her the mug, which she took from him and gave him a polite "thank you" and continued her conversation with Abby.
Sam sat down in the adjacent love seat since the couch was full and loved it when Mercedes got up from the couch and sat next to him. He kissed her on the lips before taking a sip of coffee and she held his hand and kissed it. Aunt Josephine watched them carefully, but he couldn't read anything in her eyes; he would hate to play poker with this woman because nothing in her demeanor gave her away. After she finished describing the cruise buffet and activities she said:
"The wedding invitations were beautiful."
"My sister Stacey owns a calligraphy business and she designed them," Sam said
"She's very talented."
"Thank you."
"Aunt Josephine, I can't wait for you to meet Sam's mother, Carol," Mercedes said, laying her head on Sam's shoulder, "She planned everything."
"That was nice of her."
"And she bought Lucy and Abby's dresses."
Aunt Josephine stirred her coffee and took a sip.
"I'm glad it's worked out for you," she said, but her voice sounded hollow and Sam sensed that she felt the opposite.
"I am too. And Rachel is going to do my hair and make-up."
"I could've helped you with that."
"She volunteered. No worries. I just want you to have a good time."
"By sitting and doing nothing?"
Abby tugged on Aunt Josephine's arm and handed her a note. Aunt Josephine read the note and smiled.
"Yes, Abby I would love to help you get ready for the wedding."
"Would anybody like more coffee?" Mercedes asked, rising from the couch.
Aunt Josephine handed her empty mug to Mercedes.
"I would."
Sam declined and decided to go downstairs for a while and let Mercedes and Aunt Josephine have some time alone together.
"I have some business to take care of, so I'm going downstairs," he said getting up with Mercedes and pulling her into a hug, "Call me if you need anything."
"Sure thing, sweetie," she said, giving him a peck on the cheek. Abby walked over to him and gave him a hug too, and he kissed the top of her head; "I'll be back soon. I love you."
Abby smiled up at him and hugged him again before returning to the couch. He said good-bye to Aunt Josephine and left. Once he was in his apartment, he fed George and Gracie and paid a few bills. He actually did have a few calls to make and after those were done, he went into his living room and watched the old sci-fi flick Lawnmower Man, and due to the stressful day, he fell asleep on the couch with George and Gracie curled up beside him.
OLD WOUNDS
"Don't you have a Shopper's Food Warehouse in this town?" Aunt Josephine asked Mercedes as they pulled into the parking lot of Whole Foods.
"Yes, but the produce sucks and its dirty."
"It was good enough for you back home."
Mercedes said nothing as she unbuckled her seatbelt and unlocked the doors. Aunt Josephine crossed her arms and stared at her.
"You've changed."
"I have?"
"You used to be quieter, less open."
"I'm in love."
"I found Sam's shaving cream in the bathroom."
"I'm sure you did… and you haven't quit smoking."
Aunt Josephine's face turned red.
"I've been trying."
"You said you quit."
"I didn't want you to worry."
Mercedes sighed and they got out of the car. They walked across the parking lot in silence. Aunt Josephine grabbed a cart at the entrance and then wheeled it inside as they entered the market. Mercedes took them to the produce section first where Aunt Josephine fussed about the price of carrots. She held up a bunch of carrots and shook them in anger.
"This is crazy. These carrots are not worth this price."
"Actually they are," Mercedes said, taking them from her and putting them in a plastic bag, "They're fresh and locally grown."
"Humph, be better just to grow your own."
"Sam and I plan on having a garden when we move."
"You're moving?" Aunt Josephine said as she pushed the cart toward the onions a few feet away, "When?"
"I don't know. We're looking for a house. We both want to have a home that we picked out ourselves together."
Aunt Josephine picked up two yellow onions and put them in a plastic bag. Mercedes was relieved that she didn't complain about the price since they were on sale.
"Are you staying in Tennessee?"
Mercedes shrugged as they walked over to the bell peppers across the aisle.
"Who knows? Anything is possible. You like Sam, don't you?"
"He seems nice. I mean I just met the man." Aunt Josephine said while inspecting a red bell pepper and dropping it into a plastic bag, "I don't know. All of this is so sudden. Why not wait?"
"For what?"
"Just wait. Feel this out."
"I know I belong with Sam there's nothing to feel out."
"I see… well, Abby seems to like him."
"She loves Sam as much as I do."
Mercedes directed Aunt Josephine over to the fresh herbs and got a few bunches of cilantro and parsley. Then she got a three heads of butter lettuce. As they left the produce section, Aunt Josephine said:
"I never talked to you about girl stuff."
"Huh?"
"When you were growing up, I was always working, then I got sick and well… I never showed you how to do girl things like picking out clothes and make up or how to walk in heels, what a mother should do."
"I figured it out."
"That's not the point. Over these past few months, I've been thinking about how you grew up. I forgot you were lonely. I was so fixed on paying bills I didn't have time for much else," she shook her head and said, "Now these Hummels are giving you a wedding and once again I failed you."
Mercedes placed her hand on her shoulder.
"You haven't failed anything. This was all Carol's idea. We were going to the Justice of the Peace."
"Mercy, you were always looking for a family weren't you?"
"That's not why I'm getting married."
"I think it is. First with Shane and now Sam."
"Shane's family left much to be desired."
"But you were able to start a family of your own with him. And Sam can give you sisters, mother and father. Don't think I didn't hear in your voice how much you like them."
"So I like his family, so what?"
"Is it the man or his family that you love?"
Mercedes balled her hands into fists and took a deep breath to calm down. Instead of responding, she walked over to the butcher counter, with Aunt Josephine following behind her, pushing the cart. Since she was a regular customer, the olive skinned middle-aged bald butcher named Salvador, knew her by name and he smiled when she approached the counter.
"Hello Mercedes," he said, "Where's Sam and Abby?"
"At home."
"And is this lovely woman your mother?" He said, nodding toward Aunt Josephine, "I see the resemblance."
Mercedes never thought she looked like her Aunt Josephine, who was much taller and big boned. Aunt Josephine smiled at Salvador.
"No, I'm her aunt. My name is Josephine. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise. I like your coat. Green is definitely your color."
Aunt Josephine laughed and Mercedes observed that it was the same way she laughed whenever her old boyfriend came around.
"Thank you, I know it's a little big, but green suits me."
"That it does," Salvador said and his gaze lingered on her for a moment. Mercedes cleared her throat.
"Could we have two pounds of Andouille sausage and two pounds of buffalo meat?"
"Oh, yes, certainly," Salvador said, snapping out of his trance, "Coming right up."
"Buffalo? I ain't eating buffalo," Aunt Josephine said while Salvador got Mercedes' order.
"It's good and Sam makes the best buffalo stew."
"Humph."
Salvador placed the raw meat on the scale.
"Josephine, buffalo is very good. Give it a chance. Red wine goes well with it."
"Does it?"
"It tastes like beef."
"I guess I could try it."
"I knew you were a woman of risk."
Aunt Josephine laughed again, and this time, she flipped the hair of her shiny black wig.
Salvador handed the two packages of meat to Mercedes.
"Anything else?"
"No, that's all, thank you Salvador."
"My pleasure," he said smiling at her but when he looked at Josephine, his smile was different, "And I must say it was a great pleasure, meeting you my dear."
"Thank you, Salvador, the pleasure is all mine."
Salvador blushed and busied himself wiping down the counter. The next stop they made was the canned soup aisle and Aunt Josephine asked Mercedes about Salvador.
"He's single right?"
"I think so."
"Nice gentleman. A real man. They don't make them like that any more."
Mercedes grabbed three cans of chicken broth and placed them in the cart.
"He's a good butcher."
"I'm not talking about butchering."
"Yeah."
"He knew how to talk to a lady. None of that "holla at you" mess that folks do nowadays."
"Sam is a gentleman."
"So we're back to him."
"Yes, we're back to him. He's my fiancé, remember?"
"Mercy – "
"I told you I loved him and you give me some psycho babble bullshit about how I'm only marrying him because I love the Hummels and want a family."
"You haven't known him very long."
"Who cares? If you saw how much he loves and protects me and Abby everyday, and how he stood by me through that whole Karofsky crisis, you wouldn't be questioning why I want to spend the rest of my life with him."
"If you had stayed in Lima, none of that would've happened."
"If I had stayed in Lima, I would've died. I hated that place. I was going nowhere fast. Shane was dead. Abby was in a shell. All I had was Puck, and that wasn't enough."
"You also had me. Why do you throw me aside like that?"
"I never throw you aside."
"Yes you do. Running off. Pouring your heart out to a strange family. Never calling."
"I had to have some space. I needed something. I don't know what. You suffocated me, always judging my choices. I couldn't breathe!"
"And now you can? Marrying a man you've known less than a year. Moving away with him to God knows where?"
"Why is it so hard for you to understand that we love each other? You did the same thing with Shane."
"And look at what happened? That worthless son of a bitch was a drug addict!"
Before Mercedes could stop herself, she slapped her Aunt Josephine across the face.
"How could you say that about Shane? Yes he had problems but we worked through them. That's the man I loved and he's Abby's father. He adored her and she loved him more than anything, sometimes I think even more than me. And you have the gall to stand there and berate him like that? Do you know how I grieved for him? How many nights I wanted him by my side? And all you can say is that he was a worthless son of a bitch and a drug addict?"
"He took you down an ugly path. You bought drugs for him. And then you tried them too; he was turning you into an addict. I saw it."
Mercedes stood there, her chest felt tight; she had to remember to breathe. Nobody knew she tried using oxycodone. Not even Sam.
"How did you know?"
"I know you Mercy, you acted different. The light in your eyes was gone."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"You wouldn't listen to me. And I admit that I never liked Shane and every time I suggested you leave him, you shut me out. I didn't want to lose you completely. So I asked Puck to keep an eye on you."
"You what?"
"When he first came back to town and he ran into you, he came by for a visit. I told him I that I hardly saw you. He told me he wanted to be in your life again and that he would get you back. I wanted that to happen because I always felt you two should be together even after you broke up. And then I asked him to watch over you, which he did."
"I can't believe you did that."
"What else could I do? You pushed me out of your life. You stopped opening up to me. And the few times that I saw you that year, it was like you were floating. I knew it was drugs."
"Did Puck know?"
"Yes, he knew. He said he could help and he did. You stopped taking them."
Mercedes hated to admit that Puck was part of the reason she stopped taking oxycodone. She wasn't using the drug very long because even though it numbed the pain that had become a part of her life, it was also the reason for it. And when she came down from the high, she always felt worse. When Puck gave her that much needed attention and reminded her of her worth, the oxycodone wasn't what she wanted.
"I don't love Puck."
"I know you don't. You done told me enough."
"Despite what happened with Shane, I don't regret marrying him. He was a good man. The choices I made for myself were mine alone."
"I'm sorry for what I said about him."
"Don't ever do it again," Mercedes said, glaring at her, "And if you can't accept Sam in my life, I'm driving you to the airport tonight."
Aunt Josephine clutched the handle of the shopping cart and looked down at the floor, her shoulders slumped.
"I did my best with you. Nobody gave me shit. Your Mama and Daddy didn't have shit either. Living in that rundown house. No heat. That's what started the fire. A damn space heater. Then you get grown. Pushing me away. Saying I don't respect your choices and all I did was my best. I couldn't give you a family or bake cookies or paint your nails or tell you about your period… all I could give you was my best so that's what I did. If that's what makes me so horrible, what makes you hate me - so be it. I'm tired of fighting."
"I don't hate you."
"You could've fooled me. Seems like every damn person you meet can give you everything I can't. Where was Carol when you had the flu and I couldn't miss my shift at work? Where was Shane when I had to get up at 4 AM every morning to take those extra cleaning jobs before going to my nursing job? Where were they? Where was Sam when our car broke down and we took two buses just to get to the market? Do you know what sacrifices I made for you? Do you? I had dreams too. Then my sister is killed and you need a home and there wasn't nobody stepping up. They were going to leave you in foster care; did you know that?
"No, who – "
"Leroy, Shayla, Bill, all of them good for nothing siblings of mine were like, 'We can't take her. Put her up for adoption. Put her in foster homes. None of them were worth shit. I was a waitress with a one-bedroom apartment and I took you and raised you. I love you, Mercy. I always have and I always will. No matter how much you think I'm trying to hurt you, I'm not. I love you. I love you in the only way I know how."
Aunt Josephine started crying. Mercedes went to her and put her arms around her, hugging her.
"I'm sorry, Aunt Josephine. I do love you and I know you did your best. I'm sorry for hitting you and I'm sorry for pushing you away. I couldn't stay in Lima. I'll never love Puck, not in the way he wants me to. I'm grateful you took me in and raised me; I really am, but I have to live my life the best way for me, not for you or anybody else. You can't control my choices or me, and I don't need your judgment. But don't ever think that because I'm welcoming other people in my life that it means that you don't matter, because you do matter. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have accomplished anything. You're a part of me regardless of who I love."
They hugged each other a long time in the middle of the canned soup aisle, until a shopping cart bumped into Mercedes and they had move aside for the annoyed woman trying to pass through. When she was gone, Mercedes said:
"Let's go home."
ooo
That night after they ate Aunt Josephine's Gullah Rice for dinner, which Sam couldn't stop raving about, the family piled into the SUV and they went to see the latest house that Sam had flipped on the other side of town. They stopped at Starbucks first and got coffee and hot chocolate then drove about twenty minutes until they got to the house. Mercedes was impressed with the two-story gray stone farmhouse with pent eaves between the stories; it was surrounded by quite a bit of land. She was proud of Sam's work, because he took such pride in what he did and he she loved how he would talk so passionately about it.
"I'm putting it on the market tomorrow," he said, as he unlocked the door.
As they entered the house, the first thing Mercedes noticed in the living room was the old-fashioned paneled fireplace wall and the exposed ceiling beams. Aunt Josephine's eyes roamed about the room, taking it all in as she sipped her big white cup of coffee.
"This is nice. I really like the fireplace," Aunt Josephine said, nodding her head. "It reminds me of Little House on the Prairie."
"This is a replica of how fireplaces were designed in the 18th century," Sam said, his boots creaking across the dark hardwood floor as he walked over to the fireplace and touched the mantle, "I had to do some research to get it right."
"I like the tall windows," Mercedes said, touching the gleaming glass; he went over to her and he put his arm around her, kissing her forehead, "Yeah, they look like you."
Abby pointed the ceiling.
"So you like the ceiling beams?" Sam asked her.
Abby nodded and smiled.
He gave them a tour of the rest of the house, giving details of how he and his crew replaced, rebuilt and repaired everything.
When they were finished, and he locked up everything, Aunt Josephine said:
"Thank you for the tour."
"You're welcome."
"You did a good job."
"Thank you."
"What do you think you'll make off it?"
"It's hard to say. But I know it will be an easy sell. Folks around here like history and this house brings back the past."
"I'm impressed."
Mercedes could see that Aunt Josephine's compliment meant a lot to him; by the way he blushed, as they walked back to the car, holding hands, the moonlight shining down on them.
"I'm coming down to your place tonight," she whispered in his ear.
"But what about – "
"She knows."
Sam chuckled and opened the door for her and Aunt Josephine before getting in the car. On the way home everyone chatted about the house and the wedding and Mercedes felt hopeful that somehow things would work out in the end.
BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON
Mercedes woke up in Sam's arms, both of them were naked underneath the covers, and she smiled thinking about how as soon as she came to his apartment; they almost made love in the hallway, because it had been a while since they had intercourse. She peeled back the covers, grabbed her robe off the floor and went to the long window seat across from the bed and sat down, opening the gauze ivory curtains to gaze at the full moon that shined in the black sky like a glowing ball of silver white light. She thought about everything she was grateful for and the fight she had with Aunt Josephine, and was thankful all of their feelings were out in the open, and now they could move forward and heal.
"Schätzchen?"
She looked up and saw Sam with disheveled hair, standing there nude, rubbing his eyes. He looked ethereal, almost unreal, with his pale skin and muscles illuminated by the moonlight.
"I didn't mean to wake you."
"It's ok. What are you doing?"
"Looking at the moon."
He sat down on the opposite end and patted his lap.
"Come keep me warm."
"You know could put your robe on."
"My way is more fun."
She laughed and switched sides, sitting on his lap and he banded his arms around her.
"Beautiful night."
"It is."
"Are things ok with you and Aunt Josephine?"
"They will be. Stuff like this takes time, you know?"
"Yeah."
For a while they sat in silence, lost in their own thoughts. Until she lay back against his chest and his hand slipped beneath her robe, cupping her heavy breast and pinching her nipple. Mercedes gasped a little.
"Sam."
"You're hard to resist."
He fondled both breasts and she laid back and enjoyed it and then he untied the belt of her robe, letting his hands run up and down her torso, his fingers dipping into her womanhood, teasing her. Mercedes stood up and let her robe fall to the floor, returning to his lap, she guided him inside her, and slowly began to ride him. He squeezed her butt cheeks as she bounced on top of him and suckled her big, firm breasts. It wasn't long before they both came and he held her tight while her body shook in his arms, his seed filling her up and running down her thick thighs. He kissed her.
"It feels like home inside you."
Mercedes rested her head on his shoulder.
"I know what you mean."
He released her hair from its twisted bun, and sunk his fingers into her tightly coiled curls and kinks, massaging her scalp.
"If you need to talk about what happened this afternoon, I'm here to listen."
Mercedes understood that Sam's intentions were unselfish and pure, but she wasn't ready to talk about her argument with Aunt Josephine. It was too fresh and soon to dredge up and analyze.
"It's still an open wound, but when I'm ready, I will."
"Ok," he said, stroking her smooth back, "I love you, Mercedes Hummel."
She kissed his shoulder.
"We're not married yet."
"Just trying it out. I like how it sounds."
"Me too."
HASTE TO THE WEDDING
The day of the wedding came quicker than Mercedes had anticipated. Aunt Josephine's visit kept her mind occupied and while she knew it was approaching, the two weeks vanished and now she sat in Stacey's bedroom in front of her cherry wood vanity, wearing bridal lingerie which Sam picked out and left outside her bedroom door that morning with a wax sealed note handwritten on metallic gold paper in Sterling style calligraphy:
Dear Mercedes,
First of all, I love you. Second of all, I love you. And third of all, I love you. I can't wait for you to be my wife and to have you and Abby in my life forever. Since I won't see your wedding dress until the ceremony, at least I can know what you're wearing underneath. So please wear this lingerie today. It's beautiful, sexy, and delicate just like you. I love you, Mrs. Hummel (yes, I know we're not married yet, but I love saying it!).
Love you forever,
Sam
The bridal lingerie was in a gold box with the words Just Once Bridal Boutique written across it in shimmering gold script letters. Inside the box, between sheets of lilac perfumed pale gold lace tissue paper was a white lace and satin bustier with garters, white lace trim satin bikini cut panties, and white lace top sheer stockings. Mercedes thought it was both risqué and tasteful, and the moment she put on the lingerie she felt incredibly beautiful and desirable, and she couldn't wait for Sam to see her in it, especially on their first night as husband and wife.
"Sam probably wants you to only wear this for the wedding," Stacey said as she pulled her stockings over her big legs, "You look really hot right now."
Rachel plugged up her curling iron and set it on the edge of the vanity table. She looked like a teenager wearing a long red Garfield nightgown with her hair in a ponytail.
"I hardly think that's appropriate attire for a wedding ceremony," she said.
"I'm only joking, Rachel, lighten up."
Rachel pursed her lips and sighed.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you. I always get nervous at weddings."
"But it's not your wedding," Mercedes said looking up at her, "Everything will be fine."
Rachel smiled and leaned down, giving Mercedes a hug and kiss on the cheek.
"You're right. It's my OCD kicking in. Don't worry. Now, how would you like your hair?"
"Style it the way you did for my first date with Sam."
"Long, cascading curls it is."
"Thank you, Rachel. I really appreciate this."
"I'm happy to do it. Sam's a better man with you."
"I second that," Stacey said, "You should've seen how happy he was to show me the lingerie when he asked me to handwrite the note for him, he was like a kid on Christmas."
Mercedes laughed as Rachel combed through her freshly washed and blow-dried hair.
"I'm a lucky woman."
"He's a lucky man," Rachel said.
Just then Helen walked out of the bathroom dressed in a knee length, long-sleeved teal dress, her auburn hair hung down her back in rippling waves. She looked lovely.
"Helen, you're stunning in that dress," Mercedes said, "That color brings out your eyes."
"Thank you, how are you holding up?" she said as she sat on the bed.
"I'm fine. I just want to get it over with. I'm glad Carol did everything."
Someone knocked on the door. Stacey put on her bathrobe and went to open it. It was Aunt Josephine, looking very sophisticated in an A-line tea-length scarlet red satin mother of the bride dress, with a red satin jacket embroidered with roses; and a red satin ribbon hat with a pulled up brim and decorated with red fabric roses sat atop her head. She smelled like Chanel No. 5.
"Hello everybody, I just came to check on my baby," she said, breezing into the room and giving Mercedes a hug, "Do you need me to do anything?"
"No, but stay anyway. I want you here."
Aunt Josephine's eyes welled up a bit and Stacey found her a chair so she could sit beside Mercedes at the vanity table.
As Rachel began to curl Mercedes' hair, she looked at Aunt Josephine and smiled.
"You look beautiful Ms. Jones. Very regal."
"Honey, call me Josephine, Ms. Jones sounds so old, and I ain't old yet."
The women joked and talked together. Aunt Josephine made them all laugh with her silly stories about life and Mercedes realized just how much time was wasted shutting out the only mother she knew; and she was thankful that she was sharing this day with her. Then another knock came at the door; this time Helen answered it, and it was Carol with Lucy and Abby. Carol was still in her pink terrycloth bathrobe, her hair in curlers, but the girls were dressed in their royal blue flower girl dresses and they looked adorable; the dresses were made of taffeta and were sleeveless with a V-neckline and had delicate embroidered flowers on the overlay and a wide, pleated satin waistband with a big fabric blue rose attached to it. Both of them had the same French braided hairstyle with royal blue ribbons intertwined into the braids.
"Oh, you two look so beautiful," Mercedes said, "Come give me a hug."
The girls ran over to Mercedes giving her a hug.
"Carol, you did such a good job with finding these dresses. They're perfect."
"It wasn't any trouble at all."
"I like that we have the same hair," Lucy said, putting her arm around Abby, "It makes us sisters."
Abby nodded in agreement.
"You're sisters regardless of your hair," Rachel said, "And you both look gorgeous."
"Mom, you need to get a move on," Stacey said, zipping up her forest green empire waist dress, "We don't want you late for the wedding. That would be embarrassing."
"Don't fret, I'll be ready. Come along girls, let the women finish getting ready."
Mercedes gave Abby and Lucy a kiss good-bye and they left with Carol.
"I know what your plans are tonight," Aunt Josephine said, looking at Mercedes' lingerie.
"Sam gave it to her this morning," Stacey said, smoothing out her dress, "He's got plans alright."
Mercedes felt a little embarrassed but shook it off because what else would they be doing on their wedding night? Rachel finished her hair and Aunt Josephine was very impressed with the results.
"Did you used to work in a salon?"
"No, I just like doing hair. It's a hobby."
"It looks beautiful. Thank you," Mercedes said, giving her a hug.
"You're welcome. Now, let's do your make up."
After her make-up was finished, Aunt Josephine helped her put on her wedding dress. When she was completely ready, the women stood back and admired her.
"Only you could make a royal blue wedding dress work, I love the silver sequins" Aunt Josephine said, dabbing her eyes with a tissue, "You look gorgeous, baby."
After many hugs and kisses from Aunt Josephine and the others, Mercedes was ready to get the show on the road.
ooo
Sam looked at himself in the mirror. He wore an expensive two-piece Ermenegildo Zegna black wool tuxedo with a satin-silk lapel. Cooper sent it to him in the mail, though he wasn't sure why, but he appreciated the gesture. It looked good on him. Kurt stood beside him with Carrie in his arms, a white burping cloth was flung over his shoulder and she was still in her yellow bunny pajamas due to the late start they got that morning.
"I can't believe he gave you something so expensive. It's not like your close friends. And how could he possibly know your measurements?"
"My brother can be generous," Blaine said from the bed where he sat shining his shoes, "I know he's different but he is capable of giving gifts."
"I wasn't implying that he wasn't capable of kind gestures," Kurt said, "I was just saying it's a little odd."
"I like Cooper," Sam said, staring at his reflection, "And I appreciate his gift. It was a nice thing to do."
Kurt sat next to Blaine on the bed.
"How much money does your brother have anyway?"
"I don't know. Why does it matter?"
Carrie began to cry and Kurt picked up her neon pink diaper bag from off the floor and got out her bottle, he put it in her mouth and she began to suck hungrily; "You're ravenous today", he said looking down at her.
Moments later Finn walked into the room with Stevie trailing behind him. Both of them were dressed in dark suits.
"Hey guys, we have an hour before the ceremony starts," Finn said and looked at Sam, "Cooper sends his regards."
"Thanks."
"Yeah, he brought a date. She's pretty. I think she has a false leg."
Blaine's eyes grew wide.
"My brother brought a date?"
"Why are you surprised?"
"Finn, my brother doesn't, well he's…"
"Is he gay?" Finn asked, clearly confused
"No, he's not gay. I just can't picture him on a date."
"Dude, that makes zero sense," Stevie said, sitting down in a chair near the window.
"I know it doesn't. But you don't know him like I do."
"You two better get your suits on," Sam said to Kurt and Blaine who were in their matching purple bathrobes and slippers. Their hair was still damp from their shower.
"I have to finish feeding Carrie," Kurt said.
"I'll feed Carrie and get her dressed," Stevie said, rising from his chair and going over to Kurt, who handed the baby to him.
"Thanks, Stevie," Kurt said.
Finn looked at Sam like a proud father.
"I'm so happy for you. Mercedes is quite a catch. I love that she's going to be a part of our family."
"Thanks, man, me too," Sam said, hugging his brother, "I'm truly blessed."
"Are you nervous?" Stevie asked him as he settled down on the bed and continued to feed Carrie her bottle.
"No, I'm just excited. We were meant to be together. She's the one."
"You bet she is," Kurt said, slipping off his robe and unzipping the gray garment bag that contained his suit for the wedding.
A few minutes later, Burt walked into the room looking dapper in his gray wool three- piece suit. He walked over to Sam, hugging him.
"How are you holding up?"
"I couldn't be better."
"Good. Your mother and I are just, well we're just so grateful you made it through that darkness, you know? You hung on and I've never thanked God more for bringing you back to us and giving you Mercedes."
Sam began to cry and hugged his father again.
"Thank you, Papa. I love you."
"I love you too, son."
Soon all the Hummel men were in a group hug and Sam once again felt blessed for having such a wonderful life and family.
ooo
When Sam saw Mercedes in her royal blue wedding dress for the first time; he was speechless.
"Mercedes…"
"Do you like it?" she asked him, turning around so he could get a full view, the taffeta swishing about her legs. The tiny silver flower sequins sparkled like stars against the blue fabric, her hair hung down her back in long, loose curls just like on their first date. The dress pushed up her full bosom making her abundant cleavage look tastefully enticing without spilling over the top of the dress like an ill-fitting bra; and Sam thought of the satin lingerie she wore underneath and became aroused.
"We have plenty of time for that Sam," she said, gazing up at him, smiling.
"How did you - "
"I know that wild look in your eyes."
Sam hugged her.
"You're my blue angel." Then he began to sing softly in her ear as he waltzed with her around the waiting parlor of the Marquis Ballroom. Carol decided to forgo having the wedding at the house and was able to rent the ballroom due to a last minute cancellation.
Did you ever see a dream dancing? Well, I did
Did you ever see a dream romancing? Well, I did
Did you ever see heaven right in your arms, saying, "I love you, I do"
Well, the dream that was walking and the dream that was talking
And the heaven in my arms was you…
When he stopped singing, they just stood there holding each other. Mercedes whispered:
"That was a beautiful song."
"Grandpa Hummel used to sing it."
He leaned down and kissed her.
"You're the only thing in my life that makes sense."
"I love you."
"And I love you. Are you ready to walk down that aisle together?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," she said, picking up her bouquet of blue roses from off of the table, and looping her arm through his.
ooo
When Mercedes heard the first few notes of At Last playing, that was their cue to leave the waiting parlor and go to the great hall for the ceremony, she clung to Sam's arm, and he kissed her cheek.
"You're my dream, schätzchen."
They walked down the hall and the two hired ushers dressed in black tuxedos opened the heavy ballroom doors and Sam and Mercedes walked down the aisle, following the trail of blue rose petals left behind by Abby and Lucy who stood at the front of the room with the minister from the Hummels' church; his name was Reverend Johnson, and he was a tall, older gentleman with white hair and glasses. The marble floors shined under the light of the crystal chandeliers that hung from the ceiling. The guests sat in golden chiavari chairs. A string quartet was in the corner playing At Last. By the time they reached the front, Mercedes felt like she was in someone else's dream; none of it felt real until she saw Aunt Josephine bawling in the front row near the lectern, her scarlet red dress standing out among the sea of less vibrant colors that everyone else wore for the occasion.
Mercedes was glad that Carol respected their wishes not to have a traditional wedding party with the exception of flower girls; she and Sam felt the ceremony didn't quite fit the conventional way; though they couldn't explain why, it was something they felt in their hearts, and as they stood before Reverend Johnson about to become husband and wife, she knew they made the right decision. As Mercedes listened to Reverend Johnson's soft voice drone on about holy matrimony, her eyes never left Sam's, and they gazed at each other, reading each other the way they had so many times before, in their bedroom, facing each other in the yellow glow of candlelight.
I have no idea what this man is saying. But you look beautiful.
I'm scared.
Breathe with me.
Together they breathed in and out, in timed synchronization, concentrating on the other's energy.
I'm right here with you angel.
I know. I forgot I get stage fright.
I love you.
I love you too.
Keep breathing.
I am.
I see you.
Just like those icicles?
Even better than that.
Mercedes calmed down, gazing into Sam's eyes, following the rising and falling of his chest. Then she heard Reverend Johnson say:
"Now, Samuel will recite his vows to Mercedes."
Sam reached into the pocket of his suit and pulled out a crumpled up sheet of notebook paper.
"I'm not much of a writer. But this is how I feel," he cleared his throat and read from the piece of paper in his hand, his voice cracking a bit, "Mercedes, when you and Abby came to my house on that snowy day to look at the apartment, I knew my life had changed forever. When I saw you break down and cry in my living room, my first instinct was to protect you and take your pain away, and that feeling has never gone away. Everyday I discovered something new about you, it was like finding a hidden treasure; how you like to make ice cream from a fresh snow fall, the way you take the time to listen to my crazy stories about my family and remember every single one, the patience you show for your students is amazing; and how you believe in me and love me for who I am, takes my breath away. Each day with you is a gift from God. We've seen each other through horrible times and we've laughed, loved, and lived together, and it's been the most wonderful journey I have ever taken in my life. Loving you has made me grateful to be alive, and waking up each day knowing you are in my life, fills me with so much joy, I can't even describe it. I don't want this journey to end until we meet our Maker. I love you so very much, Mercedes. I am honored and blessed to become your husband and I promise to give all that I am and I will love, protect, provide and care for you and Abby for the rest of our lives together."
Sam was crying and so was Mercedes. She reached out and touched his cheeks, wiping away the tears.
"I love you so much," she whispered.
"Before we continue with Mercedes' vows, would Abby please come forward and stand next to her mother?
Mercedes was startled. She had no idea what was going on. Why did Abby have to stand next to her? She looked at Sam. He leaned over and whispered.
"Wait and see."
Abby walked over to her mother and stood next to her, clutching the basket of blue rose petals. She looked up at her mother, her face confused. Mercedes could only shrug, having no explanation for the turn of event. Sam pulled another sheet of paper out of his pocket and kneeled in front of Abby.
"Abby you are a very special little girl. You're not only smart and beautiful. But you're kind hearted and generous just like your mother and one day you will blossom into a wonderful woman. When I fell in love with your mother, I also grew to love you too, and you're in my heart as much as she is. I will never try to replace your father. But I will be the best father to you that I can and we can build houses together, watch birds, and cook pancakes on Sunday mornings. I'll be there for all of your firsts: your first kiss, your first date, your first job, and your first heartbreak, all of it. I'll go to all of your PTA meetings and help you study for big exams; but most of all, I promise to always be there for you whenever you need me and I will protect you. I love you, Sugar Plum and I have something for you," he said and he nodded at Reverend Johnson who handed him a small black box, which he took and gave to Abby, "Here," he said.
Abby opened the box and smiled. Inside was a solid gold heart shaped locket with an emerald in the center of the heart; she took it out of the box and Sam helped her put it on.
"This is something that symbolizes our family and my dedication to you and your mother, go ahead and open the locket."
Abby opened up the locket and inside was a picture of her and Shane at the park; he's sitting on a wooden bench in front of the fountain and she's on his lap, wearing a red baseball cap on her head and both of them had on overalls; and on the right side was a picture of her, Sam, and Mercedes standing on the gray stone steps in front of the Bethel Rock Community Church, all dressed up in their Sunday best. Sam chose that picture because when Tina took it for them; it was the first time he felt like they were a family.
Abby opened her arms and hugged him tight and tears ran down Sam's cheeks. He knew in his heart he would love this little girl for the rest of his life. He kissed the top of her head, and she gazed up at him, her eyes had tears in them too and then it happened: Abby spoke.
"I love you, Sam."
Her voice was small and strained. But Sam heard it and by God it was the most beautiful sound he ever did hear. Mercedes dropped her bouquet and kneeled in front of Abby.
"Baby?"
"Mommy," she said, "Mommy…"
Mercedes wrapped her arms around Abby, crying and shaking and Sam hugged her as well. It was too much for him and he could see it shook Mercedes to her core. Reverend Johnson stood there dumbfounded. Suddenly Sam remembered they were in the middle of a ceremony and Mercedes has not yet said her vows to him. He stood up wiping his eyes.
"Mercedes, you need to – "
She glanced up at him, wiping her eyes, her arms still around Abby.
"Yes, of course with all of the excitement, I forgot" she said, kissing Abby's cheek. "Go back to your spot. Mommy has to say her vows."
Abby nodded and walked back to her place next to Lucy, whose mouth hung open as she watched her sister speak for the first time. The two girls hugged and Lucy couldn't stop smiling. Sam broke the wedding tradition and kissed Mercedes before permission was granted from the minister, whispering to her:
"Are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Just shocked."
"I don't have any words for what just happened."
"Neither do I. But thank God it did."
They returned to their places in front of Reverend Johnson and Mercedes grabbed Sam's hands, gripping them in her own. She stared into his eyes:
"Sam, what just happened shows that you were meant to be my husband. Your love, kindness, support, and generous spirit made our lives richer and opened my heart when I thought I had to keep it closed. You were so patient with me, never pushing me, but always there to listen, hold my hand and give me strength to face another day. That day we met, you opened your heart to a total stranger and her daughter, and knowing our circumstances, you loved me and Abby anyway, and now I can't even imagine waking up everyday and not have you by my side. I promise to love, support, honor, and give you my everything for the rest of our lives. I can't wait to grow old with you, to face new adventures with you, to live with you in the quiet moments that slip by when nobody notices, and to raise Abby with you. I don't want this journey to end until are spirits are joined in Heaven, and even then I believe it will keep going. Sam you are my heart. I love you and I am so blessed and grateful to be your wife."
Sam couldn't stop crying as Mercedes said her vows to him and neither could she. When she was finished, Reverend Johnson said.
"You may now exchange rings."
Sam and Mercedes exchanged gold wedding bands. Next, Reverend Johnson said.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride."
Sam kissed Mercedes with everything he had, holding her close, feeling her body press against his. Now they were bound together. She was his wife, partner, blue angel… and he couldn't express his joy enough, it came through his tears and his fierce hug, he never thought he could love someone as much as he loved Mercedes; and he was thankful that God put her in his path.
END NOTES: Thank you for reading! The next chapter will continue with the reception.