Australia
Mercy sat wiping her eyes she hadn't stopped crying in a week, Sam's Mom had passed and she was inconsolable. Sitting in the airport in Brisbane Australia she couldn't have felt further away from her family than she did right now. She'd got the terrible news last Friday just before she went on stage, Sam had called her crying and he didn't need to get the words out she just knew what he was not saying and he knew she understood him when she started crying too.
"Babe I'm on my way" she'd said when she finally calmed down
"No babe we'll wait for you to finish we can't afford to pay all that back" he said stopping his cry to sound really serious
"But I want to be there for you all, for me" she started crying again down the phone "Why am I being pushed out?" she asked
"Babe I'm not pushing you out, I just know we haven't got the money in the bank to not finish this tour, what with Dad last year and Mom now it's been financially draining for both of us, I'm sorry if it sounds that way but I'm thinking of us right now" he said begging her to understand "I so need you here right now Babe but I have to insist you finish the tour, nothing is going to happen until you get here next week, I promise" he finished
"I don't like this but I'll do it for you, for us, if that's what you want"
"It's what we need to happen right now babe and you know Mom would have said the same thing" he said
"You're right she would" Mercy smiled at the memory of her Mother
So she had cried at the beginning of every performance, letting the world know what she was giving up to be there and sang songs to support her grieving family. Her outbursts had made news as the strong woman who battled on, showing her dedication to her fans, her loyalty to her crew, her selflessness in giving her time, until today, today she was crying for herself. She had a two day journey to get through, crazy hotel hopping and these people she'd been with for over 4 months were being so sweet, they made her cry with their kindness
"Babe I'm at the airport just waiting to start off, I'll be there by Sunday late morning" she relayed to Sam "How's Dad?" she asked
"He's good we've had a lot of time together and, I guess because Mom was sick before and stuff, he'd done all his crying along the way"
"And Joe?" she asked
"He's already missing his grandma" Sam laughed "Wakes up every morning asking where his breakfast is"
"He's 12 years old who does he expect to make his breakfast?" she asked laughing too
"Grandma's Bacon Butty he wants nothing else and I'm not doing them, falling into his trap"
"Has Mom got there yet?"
"Yeah yesterday, and you can guess I was crying all day yesterday with her, she misses Dad and now for Mom to be gone as well" Sam said his voice breaking a bit at the end
"Don't babe I've only just stopped myself" Mercy said holding her eyes willing tears not to fall
"Ok I got to go cause I can't stop them" he braved out "Bye babe call me when you land" he said putting the phone down, as Mercy burst into tears again unable to speak. Her pain at the loss of her Dad, less than a year ago, was still there, she sat remembering that phone call, rushing around, the feeling of loneliness.
"It's our flight girl" Dexter; her agent, informed her and somehow she travelled from her chair to the plane and was in her seat wondering how she got there for a second before going back to her thoughts
Sam had been in Iceland when she got the news, doing his Plug for his comic series, broadening his arisen, capturing new minds, as he playfully called it, Joseph; their only child, was just getting into his I want to be who I am stage, and had decided to locks his hair and for those few weeks that was their biggest problem, until that phone call when her Mom informed her that her Dad's heart had just packed in and he'd gone, she was devastated. When she called Sam to give him the news he'd called her a liar, straight out, she was definitely offended by it but, he came back with something sweet and she knew he was in shock about the situation. He flew home got there 6 hours after her call but that was possible then they'd both been working for years previously and money was no object. Her Mom didn't fare well after her Dad passed and Mercy ended up taking 6 months off to look after her, that was a strain on Joe for school and stuff he had to move everything because Sam was still working all over the place promoting his business. He finally settled into school in Dallas and his Grandmas pushed so much attention into him he didn't have to lift a finger and for him a break from chores was always a holiday. She'd lost a lot of money at that time; cancelling tours, paying off contracts and staff and things and suddenly it wasn't so easy for Sam to just run back and forth they had bills to pay. After 6 months she'd negotiated with her Mom to come with her for a short tour just to get her out and about and it was only for a week but her Mom hated it and luckily Sam was around to fetch her back home. He'd just got to Canada to pick her up and planned on staying at home, in Los Angeles for a night, just to check on the house and stuff, when he got the call saying his Mom was ill and they ended up; her Mom, Jo and Sam, going home to Dallas that night. She'd followed on two nights later and was devastated at the news that her condition was terminal, Mercy feel asleep in her thoughts and the hum of the engine.
South Africa
"M" she heard being said over and over again
"What?" she asked vexed for having to wake up
"We landed you need to get off the plane" Dexter said laughing "You think you're at home, dealing with Sam" he said
"Where are we?" she asked
"First stop South Africa and its only 7 p.m. here so wake up" he said smiling at her
Mercy got up and stretched before grabbing her hand luggage from the overhead and following everyone else off the plane. Dexter shuffled her along because, as well as angry he knew Mercy must be tired she'd had 5 a.m. starts and 2 a.m. finishes for the past 6 weeks as well as the bereavement and, she never functioned right without contact with her man on a regular "I'll get you to the hotel and you can just flop yeah" he said as he guided her to the exit and into the waiting car.
Mercy got in the hotel room and ran a bath, sat in it and cried again, this time she really didn't know why she was crying, she missed her Dad, her Mom was gone, her husband was hurting and she wasn't there for him, she missed him, she needed to see Joe, her Dad must be in pain and not letting it go and her Mom must be reliving everything again with all this. She lay in the bath until she felt like her eyes had dried up and ran some more hot water and lay back down "A night with absolutely nothing to do" she said as she played with the bubbles blowing them around "This is a treat Mercy Evans suck it up"
Unaware how much later it was, having woken to her phone ringing, she grabbed it "Hello" she said without looking at the face "Sorry Sam I fell asleep in the bath" she laughed "Ok I'm getting out now, yes now" she said rolling her eyes as she got out and grabbed her towel "I know" she said as Sam ranted on about just losing his Mom, what was she trying to do to him right now falling asleep in the bath, asking her what he was going to do without her too "Babe I'm sorry it won't happen again in fact I won't have another bath until I'm home" she said making him laugh
"Babe I miss you" he said through is laugh "Where are you now?"
"I'm standing in my hotel room naked with a towel round me that oops I just dropped" she said Sam could hear her smile down the phone
"Strange coz I'm standing in our third bedroom without towel too, I'm worried about a growth" he said seriously
"What a growth?" Mercy asked getting her serious head on
"Yeah it's not long come up and I thought I'd call you and see what you think"
"Sam get to the doctors how am I going to advise you on something I can't see?" she said almost angry
"I wanted you to feel it and let me know what you feel" he laughed
"Babe" Mercy said rolling her eyes as her brain got into gear and she knew what his growth was "You're talking about that part of jigsaw Sam that fits Mercy's jigsaw perfectly aren't you?"
"No jigsaw babe, only one fit and yes you are it" he laughed "Where are you?" he asked again
"I'm in South Africa" she replied "And no I'm not going to take pictures of anything for you I'm dead on my feet" she laughed
"I've got my sad face on Babe" he said sadly
"What do you want me to do Sam?" she said rolling her eyes, knowing she'd already given in
"Just a small one not far it will only take an hour" he perked up saying
"What?" she asked again
"Just go take a ride in the revolving cable car and take a film of it going round just once and that's it" he said fast
"Just a cable car ride?" Mercy confirmed
"Yeah for me please babe" he begged
"Ok just a picture going all the way round and you'll be satisfied?" she asked
"I will" he agreed making more small talk before they finished the call with the usual how's Jo, Dad, Mom and kisses
Mercy had dried while sitting talking to Sam and pulled on her underwear, sweats and sneakers threw her hair up in a bun grabbed her credit card, change, phone and left for the cable car. The taxi took her there she paid the fee, got in, took out her phone and waited for lift off as others came into the cabin it was big enough to walk around comfortably, a bit big for just going up to the next level she thought, but it was Africa and maybe they were used to tourists lot of them. She smiled to herself as she found a single seat and sat on it. About 10 minutes later the guide called out ready and along with everyone else she smiled an affirmative and got ready to take the pictures. 10 minutes into the ride and Mercy was concerned they hadn't reached all the way round yet and not much time left to go she stopped the footage thinking she'd get the rest on the way back down and sat looking out "Hold up" she said looking around her and seeing clouds "What the fuck, Sam Evans" she said grabbing onto the side of the cabin as she realised they were on their way past one mountain and must have been going up into the heavens. She could feel herself going into panic mode as the surety of death came to her, she was being physically lifted off earth and take to heaven and fuck she was still alive, or was she dead, did she drown in that fucking bath. Mercy only had her phone to record her assent and took it out to get every last bit of her time on earth before dropping it the ground for people to know what it was really like to die and go to heaven "I can't drop my phone, it's got Sam's voice on it and Joe's" she said still filming her assent 7 minutes later she was jolted to a holt and everyone clapped as they took pictures, gave kisses to each other. "Have we arrived?" she asked the older couple standing nearest to her
"We're at the top we've to get back down now" the older lady laughed "And we go faster" she said excitedly
"Keep your seat if it's your first time" her partner said to Mercy, as he made sure his wife was sitting
"Thank you" Mercy said sitting down as instructed 15 minutes later the bell went and the gates closed again this time more people were on the ride
"Get your phone out and just hold it up" a young girl said to her as she looked around to see everyone holding their phones to the window, she took hers out and did the same. The car went down with such speed Mercy held her breath at first but once she got the hang of the feeling she enjoyed it, the music was pumping everyone was bobbing to it with their camera's in their hands just taking a full circle view of the scenery
"I love you Sam Evans" Mercy shouted as she let herself go and laughed hard for the first time in a while and 10 minutes later she was back on the ground and in a taxi going back to her hotel room with a smile on her face 20 minutes after getting in she got a sapp from Sam "I love you too Mercy Evans" she fell asleep with her phone clung to her chest on the couch
"M" she heard that familiar voice saying again and lifted her head "Time to fly" Dexter informed her "40 minutes to taxi, I left you as long as I could" he smiled as he brought her coffee to her
"Thanks" she said as he placed it on the side table and turned to walk back out again
Three hours later she was sitting on another plane heading to Brazil, Sam heavy on her mind. He'd looked tired the last time she'd seen him and she'd got upset about him doing too much, he'd got rebellious Joe, Heartbroken Dad, Sick Mom, Grieving Mom and missing wife to deal with and did it all without complaints or anger, he'd spread himself that thin he was exhausted and she made him promise to take a break from his job for a while and she'd do this extra long gig to get some money in for a change. Dexter hadn't wasted time in finding her the gig in Australia, not her first choice if she'd had one, but the money was good and right now, that was the most important thing.
"Hi Babe" Mercy said down her phone as she checked and found Sam's name flashing
"Hi Mom" Joseph replied
"Sweetheart, just the voice I needed to hear, how are you?" she asked
"Dad's not good today, Grandad had a flip last night and Nan hasn't stopped since she got here" he said and she knew he was rolling his eyes
"And what about you sweetheart how are you feeling?"
"Like I don't know what to do to make them all better" he said his voice exposing his upset
"Easy" Mercy said "Give your Dad a hug, Kiss your grandma and then hug her and Grandad just nudge him on the shoulder and when he looks at you smile" she said
"I tried hugging Dad already it didn't work" he replied
"Tell him it's from me as well, that will"
"Can I have one from you Mom?" he asked "It's been so long" he said his Dad's sad voice coming out
"I know sweetheart and I feel so bad about that" she said in her sad voice "But you know I love you and I'm invisible hugging you now"
"Mom" he laughed "I'm 13 nearly I know invisible hugs don't exist"
"Come on Joe you know by now my spirit gets everywhere" she laughed
"Ok I feel the hug Mom, I feel better for it too, I'm going to go deal with the others and I'll call back if it doesn't work" he laughed catching her kiss through the phone before putting it down
If there was nothing else that brought light to their world, Joe did, he made Mercy laugh being Sam and visa versa, he wasn't a naughty child either he very much sat back and took things in his stride, he didn't like lies and he never got them from his parents. Much like them he needed to know the facts to prepare himself for the worst and praise God when it didn't happen, he sung in the church choir most Sunday's when he was around the Grandparents mainly and he'd inherited his Dad's first guitar a while back and it was attached, literally attached, to his fingers. He'd got his Dad's frame but his Mom's chubby cheeks and, it was anyone's guess who he got the lips from but he definitely got them. His thick eyebrows and Mercy nose made him a cute combination of Samcedes and that uncut Blond hair of his that produced big curls in its length that he always kept tied back off his face made him look younger than his almost 13 years. Lover of singing, dancing; which he did better than his Dad, art and football Mercy knew she was going to have to display her true self more than once when girls started being his focus and, Sam had already had the respect talk with him at Mercy's request. Yeah if there was ever anything to be proud of in their life Mercy was confident they would both say Joe "Our light" she said looking at her phone before cosying in to get some well-earned shut eye as she pulled the blanket up to her neck "Love you all" she said as she closed her eye
"Mam your dinner" she heard jumping out of her sleep at the strange voice "Sorry Mam your dinner" she said again as Mercy straightened up and pulled her table towards her for the food to be left.
"Thank you" she said still sleepy, pushing the table aside to get up, grab her wash bag and visit the bathroom, coming back and eating her meal before settling in to watch the film and fall back to sleep hopefully but she was still awake 3 hours later when the plane landed.
Brazil
Now in Brazil, within the hour she was in yet again another hotel room having a shower, after her promise to Sam, and throwing herself on the bed, then she fell asleep for the longest time. She woke up feeling hungry and picked the hotel phone up to call room service to get something
"Arrh Mrs Evans, there's a note for you I'll have the bell boy bring it up" the person said in perfect English
"Ok" Mercy said forgetting she'd picked the phone up to order food "A note?" she questioned as she put the phone down.
When the door knocked she opened it, took the note with the usual pleasantries and rushed to open it "A Gifuerira Rubaiyat at 5 p.m." she read unable to get the pronunciation of the place "Sam" she smiled as she read "Table for Evans" grabbing her phone to look at the time "3.30" she said walking towards the bedroom emerging an hour later ready to eat leaving the room to grab a taxi and head towards the Gif place
"Table for Evans please" she said when she got there
"This way Mrs Evans" the Waiter said guiding her through "When are we going to have the pleasure of your voice in Brazil again?" he asked smiling
"Soon I hope" she said smiling back "You'll have to speak to Dexter about that" she said as the Wine Waiter poured her a glass of wine
"Mr Evans left specific instructions Mam" the Wine Waiter said smiling
"Oh he did, did he?" she asked as he nodded a yes as she tasted the wine and ok'ed it before her phone rang and she saw Sam's face come up "Hi Babe" she said with a smile in her voice
"Hi" he said "Do you have your ear phones with you?" he asked
"I always have them why?"
"Because we're having dinner and conversation together tonight" he announced "I just need to hear you talk today I've not had a good day babe"
Mercy didn't mention Joe's conversation, she just let him talk, and ask her about meaningless things she answered because she knew right now he needed the distraction as she sat sipping her wine "You ordered my favourite wine" she said laughing
"Yeah and my favourite food"
"So we're having burnt stakes?" she asked
"Well I'm having a burnt stake I'm in Dallas but you're having a 650gr Queen Stake to go with your Mimosa" he laughed "And you can have that any way you like"
Conversation was rife between the couple for about two hours as they ate, laughed and looked mad to everyone else in the restaurant. Finally Sam told Mercy there was a taxi waiting for her outside to take her back, thanked the chef, sent kisses and made promises for the night she got back, before their conversation was finished. There was no problem with sleep that night and Mercy was up at 5 a.m. long before Dexter came to wake her up
"Sign your nearly home" he laughed as he walked into the room to wake her up at 5.30 a.m. making her smile
"I'll be home today" she said her smile getting bigger
An hour later they were at the airport and two hours later she was on their way to Dallas while everyone else went to their own destinations. As she sat on the plane she couldn't help thinking about what Sam had ahead of him with his Dad, she remembered the drama when they were first told about Mom's condition and how Dad refused to hear anything, his insistence that they would go together as he refused to live without her and, Mom taking to him calmly demanding that he promise her that he would stay with us for as long as he possibly could because she didn't want her family to be left orphans. He'd finally agreed but Mercy couldn't help thinking he'd got his fingers crossed behind his back or something like that because it seemed too much of an easy task for Mom to achieve, but later on Mom laughed telling her she'd get the knack with time "Just remember what he does to you with his eyes you do it to him too, you'll win" she'd said Mercy laughed out loud remembering. She had her breakfast on the plane and just couldn't settle enough to get any sleep so she read the magazine, the signs around the plane, watched the TV listened to some radio and fidgeted all signs of getting closer to Sam
Dallas
Finally 6 hours later she landed in Dallas Airport and couldn't wait to get her bags and get to Sam. She was through check out within minutes and stood, with her trolley, waiting for her bags as her belly churned with excitement she was like a girl going on her first date, she finally grabbed her cases and made for the exit
Sam saw her before she saw him and called to her as he started walking towards her "Mercy" he said waving his hand as if he needed to he was already a head above everyone standing around him "Mercy" he said again as her face lit up and tears sprung to her eyes, she dropped her bags right where she was and ran to him "Mercy I missed you so bad" he said as he held her in his arms as she cried and hugged him back
Mercy got to a minute where she didn't actually know what she was crying for there was so much going on for them right now "How are you Sam, how you holding up?" she finally asked
"I have my down days like everyone else but, today's definitely an up day" he smiled at her
"I so missed you Babe, you just don't know" she said kissing him again
"Oh I think I do" he smiled as they let go of each other and Sam pushed her trolley while she clung back onto him
"What do I need to know about home before we get there?" she asked
"That Mom & Dad just left to take Joe to that Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza" he said wiggling his eyebrows
"Oh that JFK assassination place" Mercy confirmed as Sam nodded "That's hours" she said smiling at him as they got in the car
"Absolute hours and their going to call us to meet them for dinner when they've finished" he said turning on the ignition and heading to his parents home
They got in, went straight upstairs and stayed there for about 4 hours finally getting a call from their Dad, just as they exited the shower for the fourth time, at about 3.30 p.m. saying they'd meet in two hours at the YO Ranch Steakhouse
"Am I being selfish because I want to stay here and go again?" Mercy asked
"No your being attentive to my needs" he laughed
"Let me do that for you" she said walking into him and pushing him back on the bed
Eventually they got up and got dressed leaving themselves 40 minutes to make a 60 minute journey, laughing all the way which turned into a cry for Mercy when she finally saw her family; hugging, kissing, crying was done by everyone before any thought of food was approached by which time everyone was good and hungry. As usual when visiting their favourite eatery they ordered to share smoked sweet corn bisque, cream corn soup topped with wild boar bacon, cotija cheese, and cilantro oil which was delicious and the presentation was amazing. Followed by a house salad as Mercy ordered the Buffalo Strip to Sam's preference, which were presented beautifully and, tasted perfect, all very large portions so neither of them finished their meals or had room for desert. Totally stuffed and talked out they went back to Sam's parent's house, for night cap and sleep.
They had that night free before business started on the Monday morning with funeral arrangements, luckily Sam's Mom had spoken in great detail about her last wishes and they all knew pieces of the puzzle she'd left for them to work together in sorting that out. Mercy having been given the largest part as Mom really didn't think her Evans' boys were up to the task.
So the church, crematorium, undertakers, caterers, flowers, coffin, hair dressers, were all booked for Thursday of that week. Mercy and her Mom took the guys out shopping to get Orange shawl's and ties, that being Sam's Mom's colour, along with a dress for her to be buried in, which they all agreed and except for music everything else was sorted
"I know she wanted you to sing that song from her favourite film she loved that film" Sam said to Mercy as they stood in the kitchen drying the dishes
"Yeah I like that one too" she replied
"Dad" Joe came dashing into the kitchen saying "Granddad said I can sing if I want as long as it's appropriate" he shouted
"We'll see" Sam said laughing at his son's enthusiasm
The house was opened up that night and people came from all around to pay their respect to the family and get the information about the funeral. On Tuesday Aunt Jen turned up, Sam's Mom's sister with his cousin and his children making the house noisy but that was a welcome distraction and on Wednesday his twin Aunts on his Dad's side, Lynn and Sara with their families turned up and the house was bursting. There was a hell of a lot of singing before everyone finally went to bed with the event of the next day heavy on their minds
The Funeral
Mercy woke up that morning to an empty bed and looked around the room for a second wondering where she was, realising that Sam wasn't in the room she quickly got up and went in search of him. Looking in the bathroom, main bedroom where his Dad slept, Joe's room she moved a little faster at the prospect of him alone somewhere going over things in his head getting super anxious. She went back to her room, put her sweats on and went downstairs checking the main room and study on her way through to the kitchen to find him sitting on a stool talking to his cousin Beau
"Babe, I'm sorry I couldn't sleep and came down for a drink met up on this one and stopped for a chat sorry" he said when he saw the worry on Mercy's face
"It's fine I wasn't at panic just yet" she smiled as he held his hand out for her to come to him "Morning Beau" she said giving him a kiss when she came close before turning to Sam for more of the same but deeper
"I still can't get over the fact that Sam got himself someone like you, where's the justice" he laughed
"This is justice" Mercy said kissing Sam again "I'm his perfect fit" she giggled
"She's right" Sam said joining in with the laugh "And Donna's the perfect fit for you"
"She is that" Beau agreed "We're just a lucky family" he surmised as Joe made an appearance
"Morning child" Sam said holding his hand out for him to punch "How you holding up?"
"I'm fine Dad morning" he said bumping his fist and going in for a hug immediately going in for a kiss from his Mom and full hugging her. He held onto her for a long while and Mercy stood looking at Sam for answers as Sam and Beau carried on talking "It's ok Mom I'm alright, it's just that once Grandma gets hold of me today I'm not going to get the chance to hug you until tonight so I need to take as much as I need now" he said as Mercy pulled him in tighter with a smile on her face "And Dad and Granddad need you today anyway" he whispered in her ear as he let her go. Mercy looked at Sam as Joe spoke and Sam stopped for a second wondering whether to panic or not before Mercy grabbed hold of his arm and he flung it around her and pulled her in giving her the hot drink he'd poured for her.
"Morning" Aunt Jenn and Uncle Paul came in saying quite jolly
"Don't be fooled she's had her cry on all morning" Uncle Paul announced as Sam and Beau acknowledged what he'd said and everyone in the room echo'ed a good morning
"No sign on Paul Jr and Jackie yet then?" Aunt Jenn asked ignoring Uncle Paul's announcement "I swear those children bring breakfast to bed with them no normal person sleeps till after 7 a.m." she said doing a U-turn obviously to fetch the grandchildren children as everyone else carried on catching up. Five minutes late she returned with Danny and Demi, the six year old twins at her side smiling "They keep me alive" she announced
"Oh it's just a Grandma thing" Joe stated as if he only just then understood grand parenting
"Drink?" Sam asked as he got up
"Sit, son" Paul said as he walked towards the counter "This is my chore in the help brigade" he laughed as Sam sat back down and grabbed Mercy back into him
The twins and their grandparents were sitting, grandparents drinking coffee while feeding a Grandchild each when Jackie burst into the kitchen panicked "Mom; don't do that" she said frantic "I've been searching the house for my babies scared out my wits there's a swimming pool in the house" she said walking towards the children as she spoke and hugging Demi before calling Paul Jr to inform him she'd found them, before hugging Danny
"Morning everyone" Paul Jr came in saying as he kissed his Mom shook his Dad by the shoulders and man hugged Sam and Beau before kissing Mercy on the cheek ruffling Joe's hair and kissing his children before grabbing his wife "Can we say morning now" he laughed as he kissed her
"Sorry babe Morning" she said laughing through the kiss
"I hear more Jackie drama" Lynn came into the kitchen saying with a laugh "Morning family" she shouted as everyone shouted it back "Beau, Donna asked me to tell you to get your butt up the stairs and help with those babies of yours" she said grabbing him as he scooted past her "No morning kiss for your Mama?" she asked
"Sorry Mom" he said kissing her
"I swear when that girl says jump you just spin around and say how high" she said cutting her eye at him
"Mom" he said as if he was fed up of listening to her shit
"You'll think different when those little nibbles start to walk and you can get around with them, those two will be invading on your time with your grandchildren believe me" Sarah her twin sister came in saying
"Right now all I can see is her taking my only son away from me I'm having trouble getting past that" Lynn admitted
"Told you we should have had more" Tom walked in behind Clay, Sara's husband, saying as the patter of little feet following them in three very blond green eyed children Raven, Clay Jr and Michael Jr, Raven's dress being the only thing distinguishing her as a girl out of the three. As the Three year old twins turned the kitchen into a playground as Clay a serious looking 9 year old stood looking fed up of the noise
"You ok?" Joe asked him when he saw his face "Come on grab something to eat and we'll go chill" he said to him, making him perk up a bit
Sam sat looking on with a smile on his face, his Mom would have loved this all the family in one place, this was a rare sight. He sat back thinking about that summer back 15 years ago when Mercy and he had got married nearby and all the family had turned up then, no children but, there were a bit more than this because Mercy's family had descended too and that big brawl type argument just happened. Some bigot had made a remark at the bar they were at and her cousins had come out full on thug, he laughed at what that must have felt like for those bigots in the bar because surely they just expected her four cousins and maybe Mercy and her Dad to join in but the Evans clan got up too and they must have been 15 strong and everyone declared to be family he was so proud that day.
"They had to back down" Mercy said as Sam looked down at her wondering if he was talking
"What?" he asked
"They had to back down when the mighty Evans/Jones clan stepped up to them the last time we were all together" she smiled
"I was just thinking about that" he smiled
"Me too Mom would have loved this"
"She would"
"Where's that Dad of yours Sam?" Uncle Clay asked Jerking Sam out of his conversation and thoughts with Mercy
"I'll go see" he said jumping off the chair, dragging Mercy with him
"Silly question maybe but why are you two joined at the hip?" Uncle Tom asked them as they walked through the kitchen
"She's been on tour for four months just came back on Sunday Aunt Sara replied "Weren't you listening yesterday?"
"Apparently not Sweet" he said rolling his eyes with a smile
"Ok I'm reeling it in" she laughed kissing his cheek as they fed the grandchildren their breakfast
Dad's Bedroom
"Dad" Sam said as he knocked the door and waited for a response but got none "Dad" he knocked again and heard nothing
"Just go in" Mercy said getting anxious for a conversation she'd had with him previously as she grabbed the handle and opened the door once unlocked it opened freely exposing Sam's Dad sitting on the bed with his head in his hands
"Dad" Sam said again standing at the door looking at him, face wet with tears
"I can't do today son I'm sorry I just can't do today" he said finally crying like a baby all Sam could do was turn and walk away
Mercy took charge she walked into the room and sat on the bed beside her broken father-in-law "What can't you do today Dad?" she asked
"I can't sit there today and watch my wife's body turned to ashes and come home and sleep" he said looking at Mercy disgusted with himself "Listen to me this isn't even home anymore, she's not here and she was my home" he said moving his hands not knowing what to do with them
"Dad you must hear Mom today, I've heard her already and I wasn't the love of her life" Mercy said
"Yeah she told me to wake up this morning and be there for our son, daughter, grandson but she didn't tell me she loved me or this wasn't really happening or I wouldn't hurt anymore none of the stuff that really matters" he moaned making Mercy smile any other situation she'd have jeered him for bringing his Sam out
"Dad this morning Mom reminded me of the Clan fight we nearly had in the bar that time when Sam and I were getting married, remember that?" she asked giggling
"Yeah" he chuckled "I shit myself when I saw her get up, it got real for me, that I'd really have to defend it you know" he laughed "I asked her after why she got up" he told her
"What did she say?" Mercy asked
"She said she was happy to die if it meant her family were safe, and we laughed so hard, at her being a thug, we cried"
"Do you think we're safe Dad?"
"I'd like to think we are, I know I love you for loving my son so much, for giving us our beautiful grandson, he's the light of our life you know, and just for being you my Amazingly, beautiful, talented, Bubbly loveable daughter" he said grabbing hold of her hand "All I can see now is Rose almost falling off that damn chair laughing yeah she's happy" he said squeezing Mercy's hand
"Well we want to keep her that way so get your thug saving ass up and get some food in you, your family is in the kitchen" she said nudging him on the shoulder and smiling as he looked at her
"I feel better already" he smiled looking at her as she pulled him up by the hand she was holding and led him out into the hall
"I got to check on Sam" she said as they passed their room door letting go of his hand and watching him walk down the stairs before turning to go to their room
"Sam" she called out as she saw him sitting on the bed making him turn to look at her
"How is he?" he asked
"He's fine just had bit of a wobble and he's very grateful for us" she said grabbing him for a hug "I don't intend on leaving you again today Mr Evans so pull me up if I do" she giggled
"I guess Mom and Dad have you over a barrel on that one" he replied
"No you have me over a barrel on that one" she corrected him
"Thanks babe but I will come and find you if I need you, we know this"
"We do" she said as he hugged her back for a short while
"Breakfast" he said pulling himself up "I'm guessing everyone else has finished now and there's space" he laughed as they went down the stairs and back to the kitchen
"Morning" Donna shouted over the noise of the children crying, eating or just making noise for the hell of it
"Morning" Sam and Mercy sang as Mercy went in for a hug kissing 10 month old twin baby's Ben and Brea's heads on the way through
"Ben's nearly walking now" Donna announced proudly "Brea stands sometimes but not for long" she added as everyone did their appropriate smiles and made comments and stuff
"Hi Guys" Sam said grabbing two plates and sharing some breakfast for Mercy and he before grabbing two forks and sitting at the table with Nicky & Diane; Clay Jr's parents and Jenna & Michael, Raven and Michael Jr's parents
"It's time for Mom to get up now I'll just get her" Mercy said to Sam as she left the kitchen and arrived back minutes later "She's with Joe and Clay Jr" she said as she sat to finish eating her breakfast
"Is everything sorted?" Aunt Jenn asked nodding a yes
"It is Aunt Jenn" Mercy replied smiling
Once breakfast was finished everyone sort of drifted off to have some quiet time to think about the day Mercy assumed, checking on her Mom to find she was with Dad in the Orangery just holding hands and could have been praying. At 10 a.m. the stylist arrived and things started to get real for some as crying could be heard all over the house periodically, Mercy distracting Sam by making him paint her toenails for the occasion "don't smudge or blotch" she warned him before he started and he was taking this serious putting all his concentration into getting it right, there weren't many occasions Mercy had let him loose on her makeup and he was out to impress, as he sat in front of her in his sweats while the stylist did her hair. Within the hour they were both dressed and checking on Joe, who was very smartly rehearsing his song in the mirror, Mercy smiled as she saw him doing that, "Practice makes perfect baby" she said as he spun round to see them standing there "But you do know with our gene's there is no failure in the voice area don't you?" she smiled
"I know I just want to be perfect for Grandma" he said
"Son you are perfect for Grandma, she wouldn't want it any other way and, even if you do mess up, just see her sitting there still proud shouting that's my grandbaby" Sam laughed
"Yeah like she used to roll at your cry face" Joe said to his Dad laughing "When is your Dad gonna be a man about his wife she'd say" he said in his best Grandma voice making them all laugh
"Mom ain't gone nowhere she's standing here" Mercy laughed hugging Joe
"Come on lets go hold these weepers up" Joe said grabbing his Mom's hand and looking up at her as his Dad walked in front pulling her to signal that he was talking about his Dad too, making her giggle
"What?" Sam turned saying at the noise "I know you were talking about me too Son" he smiled ruffling his hair
"One of these days all the drama in this family will be over and we can get back to the dreads conversation, then you won't be able to do that" Joe laughed saying as his parents looked at each other
40 minutes later and they were all standing in the foyer waiting for the hearse to arrive, straightening things up, pacing the floor, Uncle Clay even had a cigarette in his mouth not lit but he had it. Then suddenly the white car could be seen in the distance coming and everyone went to stand outside for the arrival of Rose Samantha Evan with a coffin length cross made of orange roses covering her resting place
Jenn broke down first and was closely followed by Dan, Sam, Mercy and then it just seemed like a free for all after that nobody sure of how long that went on for but Mercy remembered being tapped by the undertaker and Sam and her regaining order and arranging seating in the cars. They arrived at the Church for the private service where they had her blessed, singing one hymn before carrying on to the Crematorium for a full public celebration of her life.
People said their piece, sang songs, said kind words to the family and lots of hugs and kisses before the family segment of the celebration started
"Thank you all for coming out today to help us celebrate the life of Mom" Sam said as he stood in front of the crowd on the beautiful Lakeside Pavilion overlooking the gardens his family had visited so many times as a child and he with Mercy and his own family "Mom used to bring me here as a child, stand on that very spot" he said pointing to where her coffin rested "And say look at he wonders of the Lord, this must be what heaven looks like" he smiled "So for me this is where my Mom is right here walking around in heaven" he laughed "Rose Samantha Evans (Nee Gould) born to Mary & Stan Gould in Scotland England, in 1960, went to various schools with her entertaining parents until she finally earned a place in St Andrews University needless to say her background in Finance was well grounded that being one of the top five Universities in Scotland. She migrated to America Dallas in 1980 after meeting my Dad at University and falling in love, she used her financial head in every aspect of her life and ours" he said laughing "But that wasn't all she was about I might sound bias to some but to those that know her she was the best person, colleague, financial advisor, woman, friend, sister, wife, mom and Grandma in the world" he smiled at Mercy "I think I just described my wife but anyway" he said making the crowd smile "Except the grandma bit" he added "Mom was a laugher she loved to laugh and that passed to everyone around her as soon as she started you just had to join in but there was one thing she didn't laugh about and that was us her family she was fierce about her family and they were super protective of her. I was remembering this morning her thug move when Mercy's family came up against it with the town bigots and that made me smile as I remembered my Mom protecting and the look on my dad's face when he realised he'd really have to front up to those guys because he couldn't let them touch her" he laughed as did everyone "Anyway, Mom met up again with Dad in September of 1980 still in love and they got married in August 1982, I popped into their lives in 1984 and that concluded our family, she worked for most of her life, because she wanted to, she's gone ahead leaving behind Daniel her husband, me Sam, her sister Jenn, Mercy her daughter-in-law" he looked up smiling again "She'd kill me for saying that, Mercy's her Daughter for all intents and purposes" he said as the crowd laughed "And the light of her life her grandson Joseph, she will be sadly missed but never forgotten" he said folding his paperwork that he'd said nothing from as everyone clapped and he went back to his seat.
"I got permission from Grandad to sing for Grandma" Joe jumped up saying "I promised my Grandma that I'd be brave when this day came but I can't not cry so this is me not crying for you Grandma" he said nodding to the guy to start the music as he sang a segment of 'Song cry' by August Alsina (Clean Version)
Sometimes I get emotional and I can't seem to find the way I'm s'posed to go
And all these so-called people that I'm s'posed to know they be the main ones
Smile up in your face, but behind your back they hate, so I hope you know
You ain't the only reason I'm emotional, my tears fall like water so that I can grow
Not like I was before, tryna make a change, I need something more
Chorus
I can't hold back these tears let me cry they say a man ain't supposed to cry
So I'm a let the song cry I'm a let my soul cry through these words
I need to try to free my mind, sometimes I need to cry just to ease my hurt
But when I let the song cry hope you don't think I still won't ride for mine
Every rose needs the rain sometimes, but know that you can dry your eyes this time
Let the song cry
What am I supposed to do? Hold it all together when I think of you?
In my heart I'm thinking you were gone too soon, may you rest in peace, yet I can't sleep
It's my point of view, got me in a state of mind, I'm so confused
Crying raindrops so that I can bloom, so what am I to do?
Chorus
Mercy was holding her breath for most of that song waiting to see if Joe was going to thug it out his Grandmother would have still been clapping and praising him up not understanding a word of what he was saying but this definitely was not the time or the place. Sam seemed quite relaxed about the whole thing and it seemed like only her and Tom sort of knew where this song could go, relief set in when the music came to an abrupt end as Joe announced "The rest of it isn't appropriate" a bit wet faced and he went straight to his Grandma who gave him hugs
"Ok" Mercy said getting up following her very mild heart attack "Mom loved singing she loved doing it listening to it playing it everything and I remember bringing her to tears with my version of this just before Sam and I got married, she told me, no demanded, that I sing it here and now so this is for you Mom" she said looking out at the garden in front of her before looking up "Family can you back me up" she asked as all the women in the family jumped up and went forward unaware of what they were expected to back up. They settled in and agreed they'd do backing before the music started and some started crying immediately as Mercy started singing 'I'm missing you' by Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight & Chaka Khan
Not a dry eye in the house as they sang and hugged "She had taste" Jenn said when they finished, making everyone laugh or smile at the plain fact that she really did
"Hi everyone, and as Sam said thank you all for coming to help us celebrate Rose's life, I miss her terribly, always have even when she went shopping, this pain is intolerable, I'm held together by those three" he said pointing at Sam, Mercy and Joe "And a promise I made to Rose to look after them in her absence, if I hadn't promised her that I'd be gladly jumping in the fire with her today" he said looking at Sam "I don't know what else to say other than I need my wife so bad I could die" he said before he started crying making the whole room sombre as those that weren't crying for him cried with him "I have a song" he said drying his eyes "Sam will you sing this for me please?" he asked as a crying Sam got up and went to his Dad, hugging him before taking the sheet of paper off him
Looking at his Dad's song choice, he looked at Mercy who indicated for him to do as he'd been told, before taking a guitar standing on its stand near the drums and started strumming 'I still miss you' by Keith Anderson
Everyone was openly crying at the song, the feelings as Sam looked up to see a crying Mercy and broke himself "The congregation will rise as we send Rose on her journey to her final resting place" the Minister announced as the fire flame noise overwhelmed the room and everyone clung onto someone as the rollers started moving ahead
"The song" Jenn shouted as the Minister nodded the go ahead and Jenn instructed the music to start as they started singing to Dan and the children
"I Won't Let Go" by Rascal Flatts
Paul & Jenn: It's like a storm That cuts a path It breaks your will It feels like that
Paul Jr & Jackie: You think you're lost But you're not lost on your own you're not alone
Chorus (All)
I will stand by you I will help you through when you've done all you can do, and you can't cope
I will dry your eyes I will fight your fight I will hold you tight (first chorus: And I won't let go)
Sara & Clay: It hurts my heart to see you cry I know it's dark this part of life
Nicky & Diane: Oh it finds us all and we're too small, to stop the rain oh but when it rains
Chorus
Tom & Lynn: And I won't let you fall Don't be afraid to fall I'm right here to catch you
Beau & Donna: I won't let you down It won't get you down you're gonna make it Yeah I know you can make it
Jenna & Michael: Cause I will stand by you I will help you through When you've done all you can do and you can't cope
Sam, Mercy, Clarisse & Joe : And I will dry your eyes I will fight your fight I will hold you tight and I won't let go
Oh I'm gonna hold you and I won't let go, won't let you go
All: No I won't
Everyone grabbed hold of someone as the second set of rollers started and Sam and Dan instinctively touched the coffin almost willing it not to move, looking at each other as they stood facing each other one hand on their Mother, Wife and the other clenched both men fighting their anger for this woman they loved unconditionally leaving them to fend for themselves after a minimum of 36 years.
Mercy and Joe looked at each other knowing what they needed to do, Mercy grabbed Sam's fisted hand as he looked to his side seeing his wife standing there needing his comfort, he un-balled him fist and grabbed her hand as she balled into him for a hug, he looked at his hand for only a second before removing it from the coffin and hugging his wife. Joe went about pulling at his Granddad's hand wanting him to bend down to listen to him "What's up GS?" he asked bending down to listen as Joe whispered "What did you say squirt?" he asked him bending some more
"Let Grandma go" he whispered as his granddad hugged him
"I will if you will" he said turning to look at the coffin he'd just let go to see it travelling down the rollers as the curtains closed for the machine to do its business, frozen as he realised she'd gone
Everyone cried hard as the noise of the machine got louder indicating it was doing its job, as Jenn, who obviously couldn't take the noise anymore, started singing some church songs to drown out the noise and others joined in, they eventually left the hall and went out into the gardens to wait for the ashes before going back to the house for refreshments.
Three hours later they were back at home, everyone cried out with Rose's ashes on the mantelpiece holding pride of place, some sipping tea, other drinking beer and some soft drinks
"Mercy" Sam shouted across the veranda as everyone looked on, carrying on when he got her attention "I need a divorce" he said making Mercy look at him questioningly "No way could I go through that, I think I need to start getting used to you not being around from now"
"More wise cracks like that Mr Evans Junior and that little fantasy might just be a reality" Mercy said not laughing
"Shit" Sam said making his cousins laugh "Too far" he said getting up to go see Mercy "Babe" he said walking towards her "Public apology" he shouted "I'm sorry" he said seriously "Babe" he said again as Mercy slowly turned round with the biggest grin on her face
"I don't have a poker face" she laughed tapping his chest "Serves you right for using the D word" she said giving him a side eye
"I know you know I was seriously joking on that one" he said pulling her in and kissing her forehead "Thank you for today babe you've been my rock as always" he said in her ear
"You mine" she said reaching up to kiss him on the lips "Mom's staying for a while so, I thought we could take the opportunity to visit" Mercy said
"Visit?" he asked
"We need to go see if our house is still standing" Mercy said
"You want to see if the house is alright, I want to see my wife running around that particular house, naked and me in hot pursuit" he laughed
"I miss our house" Mercy said leaning into him as he put his arms across her chest
"I missed my wife" he said making her look at him
"Remember when one of our missed you sessions went just that tiny bit wrong" she said laughing as she looked at Sam
"God yes, when Mom came in and she must have seen us but she acted like we were just standing there talking or something finished her sentence and walked away"
"So embarrassing"
"As you were, she shouted as she left, we didn't try that again with the door unlocked" he said
"We didn't even at home sometimes when they visited we locked the door" Mercy said holding in her laugh
"She was just never phased was she?" Sam commented
"Never, she'd say do you think I was born this big?" Mercy laughed "And she'd give me tips" she added
"Tips?" he asked
"Yeah tips you know what gets you Evan's men going and stuff" Mercy shared
"And there was me thinking we had a natural connection" he laughed
"Oh we have that, it's the keeping it alive stuff she gave me" she grinned
"You keep me alive babe, just you nothing else" he said spinning her around to kiss her deep "Mom's always going to be around isn't she in everything we do, say, think everything?"
"She is" was all Mercy could say
"I think that's what she told me today" he said considering how things went "Yeah it was a good day" he said as they walked back out onto the patio to see Dad and Joe engrossed in something as Mom sat watching them "He'll be alright" Sam said hugging Mercy
"We'll be alright" Mercy said as she let Sam go to go hug her Dad and he went and hugged his Mom, sitting on the swing chair his Mom was sitting on
"So Dad" Sam shouted over as his Dad got up to move closer sitting on the swing chair with them as Mercy sat by Sam "How are you feeling now the dreaded day is nearly over?" he asked
"I'm feeling blessed, I can feel your Mom around me and I'm fine with that, knowing she's not far" he said as Joe jumped on his Dad's lap
"And you" Sam said playfully pinching Joe's ear "Did very well today that song was perfect and you helped Granddad let go"
"Thanks" Joe said as his Mom placed a kiss on his forehead "I think Grandma's still here making us all do what we need to do to stay a family and work through this and we've each taken on a bit of her roll" he said as everyone sat thinking on what he'd said as, Dan looked at Sam and ruffled his hair as they smiled with each other giving a knowing look for what his Dad was saying
"You can say it Dad" Sam said
"I love you son" Dan said touching Sam's cheek
"I love you too Dad"
"Arrh I love you too Dad, Granddad now let's have some music" Joe said, breaking the emotional moment and making everyone laugh
"There's Rose right there" Clarisse; Mercy's Mom said, as they all smiled knowing that to be true
THE END