The Ring
It was the last year of School for Mercedes and Sam, as usual they'd had their sing thing in the choir room, just like everyone else they was going to have to sing their goodbye song before saying what was next for them. On the one hand Mercy loved what was happening next in her life she'd bagged the lead part in the remake of One Love, a film about a church girl and a rastaman coming together to win a singing contest, she was playing Serena her co-star Kassa was being played by someone called Scarface, there was always going to be one. One of her pipe dreams had come true, but on the other hand she needed to go to Jamaica for it and that meant something completely different
It was only a week after Sam had proposed to her and of course she'd said yes, he's the love of her life, and seriously she knew from day one that he was the one so saying yes came easy. They were at a meal, with some of the others, when he asked her to take a walk with him, they ended up at Tom's Ice cream van, where they technically had their first eat together, it was closed that time of night, but they'd had their first kiss just 10 steps away from that van, he'd walked her the 10 steps away before he knelt down and asked her to marry him when they were ready, she was overwhelmed, he was nervous as hell but eventually they stopped gibbering and he heard her simply say yes. They didn't tell anyone remembering the frosty reception another couple had got when they announced theirs, they knew it wasn't happening until after they'd finished University so guessed they had plenty of time for announcements
The ring was made for her, it was beautiful, well it belonged to her Great Grandmother originally, and when Sam had asked for her hand her Mother had given him the ring asking him to use it as it belonged to Mercy anyway and the romantic stories fit. She told him how Mercy's Great Grandmother had met her Great Grandfather in school too but he'd gone off to war, and she'd stayed put waiting for him to return, on the promise of that ring, after seven long years of a relationship by letter he finally came home, they got married and had their family.
It was their plan too and nothing was going to stop that from happening, except of course, Mercy going off to be a star in the future after graduating from acting school, while Sam got his art off the ground, trying his hand at being a country singer in the meantime, he'd always wanted that for himself and somewhere in the middle of all that their lives would collide.
It was her turn and she hadn't had the chance to tell Sam anything yet she'd literally just got the text like seconds before entering the room, he knew she'd been for a few auditions but, they hadn't heard anything, she'd been super ratty because of that and he was bearing the blunt of her mood, so after she snapped at him this morning he'd stayed clear to give her some calm down time.
"Hi" she said as she stepped forward nervously, looking at Sam before speaking again "I maybe need to..."
"Mercy" Sam stepped forward concerned with her nervousness, especially in front of the guys in club that never happened "Can I have a word before you carry on?" he asked leaving his chair and grabbing her arm to everyone wooing when they left the room "Were you going to tell everyone?" he asked as soon as they got outside the room
"No" she spun round telling him
"Then what's up?"
"I got a reply from the audition at Buzz and I haven't told you yet, I was just a bit pissed that I was going to share that before I told you"
"That's great" he said hugging her "You're pleased yeah?"
"Yeah I'm pleased I guess, but it means going to LA straight away instead of near the beginning of the term"
"We can work with that can't we?"
"It's in the Caribbean" she looked at him saying
"What the part? for how long?"
"Maybe two months, that's through the summer"
"You have to do this" he grabbed her hand saying "We can't buckle at the first hurdle, come on babe"
"I don't know if I can be away from you for a whole two months" she laughed as he spun her ring around her finger looking between her and it, knowing she wanted him to offer
"It's the summer, I can come with you" he said tapping the ring making her look down and smile "But you need to take that off"
"I don't think you understand" she smiled nervously as she took the ring off and gave it to him "I'm going to Jamaica" she looked at him saying
"What you mean your Dad?" he asked
"He's my biological father Sam" she said rolling her eyes
"You know what I mean" he smiled "You need to do your song and then we can talk some more after" he said pulling her back into the choir room
"Hi Sorry about that" she said as they re-entered the room, Sam gave her a kiss and went back to his seat "I just needed to fill him in" she giggled "So I guess it's got to be Adele for me and this song tells my story in many ways so here's 'Remedy' by Adele for you guys and for me, we will always be our remedy" she smiled looking at the band for the music to start, looking at people around the room as she sung. "I've been offered a lead part in the remake of One Love and I accepted it, our parents don't know yet we just decided, it's in Jamaica, so we've got a tight summer schedule, I want to see where this goes, then it's back to UCLA" she told them as everyone cheered
"That song was beautiful and congratulations you deserve it" the others got up saying forming one of their famous group hugs
"Sam" Mr Schu shouted "Your Turn before you guys skirt off"
"Okay" he said going back to grab his guitar, coming back out playing the introduction to 'The First Time' by Lemar "This is a scary time for all of us I know, but for me it's exciting Mercy and I are going on our adventure together, both hoping to shine bright in this world and I guess this, for us marks the first day of the rest of our lives" he looked at her saying "But I want us all to make our lights shine so here's to us" he said before he started singing his contribution as everyone danced around, everyone hugged when he finished "I'll miss you guys" he said as they hugged "I'm off to UCLA to do Art and I hope to try my hand at Country music" he announced "But I have a 2 month holiday in Jamaica first" he laughed before grabbing hold of Mercy and finding the door
"Tomorrow" Mr Schu shouted as everyone left
"Will you come home with me to tell my parents?" she asked
"Sure, we can check her reaction, see if she says anything about your Biological" he smiled "That's what you really want to know isn't it?"
"Yeah" she laughed as they jumped in his car and made their way to hers
"Mom" she shouted as she entered the house "Mom" she got to the kitchen door saying, standing listening to her hum that familiar song with no words for a second before she realised her Mom was looking at her waiting for conversation "I got a reply from Buzz they want me over there in like two weeks for 2 months and Sam's fine with it"
"Over where?" she asked drying her hands and walking towards her smiling
"Caribbean, Jamaica actually" she said waving the phone in her Mom's face
"Jamaica, that's so far away" her Mom said hugging her "But I'm pleased for you, I knew you could do this, didn't I say?" she held her away from her saying "You enjoy yourself out there just know University is high on your priorities when you get back"
"High" Sam confirmed laughing
"What did you say that song was called again Mom?"
"What song?"
"The one you were humming when I came in, you always hum it"
"There's no words to it just a tune from back in the day" she smiled "Your Dad will be pleased" she brushed her hair off her face saying, looking at her for a while before letting her go, touching Sam's chin and returning to the sink "Dinner in twenty" she told her as she walked
The following week that was it, school life was over, as everyone went off to find themselves in the big bad world "Bye" Sam said as he stood on the top step of the train bound for LA Mercy standing behind him waving frantically at their friends, they'd already found accommodation for University and needed to set up home in the next week because then they were away for 2 months and when they got back it was straight into study no real break, for Mercy anyway
"Bye guys we'll call" she shouted as the whistle went telling them the doors were about to shut
"Bye" they shouted back Finn, Rachel, Blaine, Kurt and Santana had already gone off to NYADA, Quinn had gone off to Yale University and Puck was in the Navy so that just left Brittany, Tina, Mike, Sugar and Artie waving all due to go their separate ways over the next few weeks.
"Gosh we did it" Sam sat in his seat saying as she wiped tears from her eyes
"Yeah and I miss everyone already" she hugged his arm saying
"And we'll be sunning it in a week" he said, happy in his voice
"We're going to make the most of this week babe" she smiled up at him
"You are so not wrong" he kissed her forehead saying "We're officially living together babe"
"Confession" she sat up telling him "I didn't tell my parent anything about looking for my father, I didn't want Mom stressing or Dad thinking I was off to replace him with this random guy" she said knowing Sam was going to go off at her
"Mercy" he looked at her saying with disappointment on his face, which quickly broke into a smile "I knew you wouldn't"
"You did not" she smirked at him
"I did so" he laughed hugging her "We'll tell them when you've got something, you might not even meet him"
"We will, I guess the first thing we need to do is make the bed"
"Okay bed and then make some friends" he smiled hugging her more
"I guess"
"That's not a guess babe that bed thing is going to happen" he lifted her chin to kiss her saying
A few hours later they were standing in their California flat which was as near to the University as they could get, maybe a ten minute walk on a nice day, once on campus it was another 15 minute walk to the Arts Department, they didn't mind they were young and this was an adventure they would carry for life. Obviously they weren't going to get the chance to look at the whole campus before they started, but they jumped right in there with their new found independence keen to start learning about their University, they'd reserved their books at the store, checked the bus route to their local clubs again, been to bed so many times that first night, it was going out of fashion settling into life together quickly, on the second day they agreed to go on campus, just to look "Mercy" he woke her up saying "It's time to go"
"We're only walking around babe" she half woke up telling him, fanning him off as she spoke "it's sleep time" she cupped his face saying as she turned over
"No sleep for you right now Missy, I'm buzzed" he laughed "And don't you dare say..."
"Sam" she whined "That's what you woke me up for really, isn't it?" she smiled grabbing his lips "I woke up for this Mr, make it worth my while" she giggled as he pulled her on top of him "Now it really is time to go" she said 90 minutes later "Come on get ready" she jumped up saying, an hour later they were sipping coffee walking across the campus towards the Arts Department
"What do you think it's going to be like?" he asked his face saying excitement but his voice saying terrified
"We're going to get on with everyone just give them some of your impressions and you'll crack it" she rubbed his back saying
"It's daunting" he smiled as some people walked towards them
"Just introduce me as Mercy, don't start saying anything else, I think it attracts the opposite sex you know, the challenge" she looked up saying seeing Sam laughing
"I love the way your jealous always comes out indirectly"
"I love the way you always know it" she giggled
"You can trust me you know that right?"
"We've had that conversation Sam I totally trust you, we wouldn't have signed up for this if I didn't" she looked at him saying "And you trust me right?"
"And you are?" the group stopped in front of them saying most with smiles on their faces
"Sam Evans" he looked at the guy talking to him saying
"And?" the same guy asked, looking at Mercy
"Mercedes Jones" she told him
"Freshman?" he asked, they nodded "My name's Thorn" he held his hand out saying "This is Ian, Nate and our hanger on Danni, she thinks she one of us" he smiled at her saying as she cut her eye at him "We were just heading to the cafe do you guys want to join us?" he asked as Sam and Mercy looked at each other
"Yeah sure" Sam said as they spun round to follow them, they walked the short distance across the yard to the cafe, full of students and eventually found a corner to sit in out the way
"Future reference" Nate said "You don't really make friends in here you just find a conversation that interests you and join in, you'll hear at the end when the next forum is and then just slot yourself in" he told them
"So which classes are you taking?" Danni finally came out of her trance like state to ask, staring at Sam all the while
"Art" Sam said
"And Music" Mercy reminded him knocking him, making him look at her "And music" she said again
"Yeah and music" Sam laughed "She's making me nervous keep staring like that" he told Mercy but everyone heard
"She does it to every man she sees" Ian told him as they all laughed
"Well you need to stop with the staring" Sam said surprising himself for being so forward "This is my fiancée sitting here and she bites" he laughed
"He's right I do" Mercy warned her, they sat for a while having conversation before Sam finally got up saying they were going to look around the campus and they'd see everyone in a couple of months, after Mercy explained they were off to the Caribbean, Ian talked them into a night out before they left exchanging contact details
They spent the rest of the week to themselves coming out for food, taking a look at the night life for a few nights and packing for the 8 week trip in front of them "My Mom sent an email saying she's booked us a guest house and someone will pick us up at the airport" Sam told her the day before they were due to fly
"I thought these people found us accommodation?"
"They did for you but I wasn't invited, so she cancelled theirs and booked us"
"Shit I didn't even think" she told him "Sorry"
"It's alright our parents still think we're babies thankfully" he laughed "Are we still meeting that lot from Uni for drinks this evening?"
"Yeah I guess, Nate sent a sapp didn't he?"
"Yeah" Sam said rolling his eyes "I swear that guy has the eye for you"
"You can talk with your fatal attraction on the loose" she laughed
"I'm glad I'm coming with you I think she could quickly become a problem"
"She's already a problem" she told him no longer laughing
"And if she's the same when we get back I'll shut it down I promise" he told her
"You know how we seal promises around here" she pulled him in saying
"Shit we didn't even get time to eat" Mercy said a while later as they rushed to get dressed to go meet these new friends of theirs
"Hi Danni, guys" Mercy said 40 minutes later as they stood outside the wine bar 7pm on the dot "Suggest we grab something to eat, karaoke one song each and then bed for the duration" she smiled, looking at Sam
"Like your plan" he said grabbing her hand, as they all walked into the bar
They had their night, did their thing and everything went to plan at 7am on Sunday morning they were standing at the airport waiting for check in, by 7.45am they were through into the boarding waiting lounge, and by 5pm, after delays, they were in Montego Bay Airport
Jamaica
They got off the plane and the heat was phenomenal, it was the height of summer, Sam was looking around for liquid and just at this second he really didn't care where that came from "Water?" he looked at one of the stewardesses that were on the plane with them asking
"Wait until you get to the shop inside don't drink anything from the hagglers" she advised
"Thanks" they smiled wondering how that was actually helping them right now, but suddenly too scared to not take that advice, they got through customs and stood looking at the mass of people coming towards them
"Don't let them touch your bags either, or you'll have to pay" the same lady told them "Is this your first time?" she asked
"Yeah I think someone supposed to meet us here" Mercy looked at her saying almost scared with the culture shock "Oh" she said smiling at the lady "I see our names" she told her nudging Sam before making their way over to it "Hi that's us" she said to the lady holding the card
"Didn't know they still did that" Sam laughed as they walked towards her
"Water" she handed them bottles saying "We have a car waiting, my name is Sylvia" she told them as she helped with the bags "You'll be staying at my guest house while your here, I have no rules as such" she laughed looking at them
"That's fine" Mercy responded, Sam struggling a bit more than her to understand the accent
"So you've come to sing?" Sylvia asked her
"Yeah, they say they like my sound" she giggled
"Mind it's only your sound they like, the men out here have silk tongues" she told her looking at her seriously "That's not a joke"
"He's my fiancé actually" Mercy looked at Sam saying
"Don't tell them that, it just makes it more fun for them, the chase I mean" Sylvia told her laughing, just twenty minutes later they were standing in the very large lounge at The Village Garden, Sylvia's guest house "It has all the amenities you would want, there's a maid for washing, cleaning and cooking just order and a pool out back open all hours"
"Thank you" Mercy said as she walked them through the house to the back opening the door to a lavish suite with bathroom, mini bar and of course bed
"So this is home for the next maybe 2 months?" Sam asked
"Call it whatever you want" Sylvia laughed "But I hope we make it feel like that for you guys"
"Feels like it could be home" Mercy surprised herself saying
"So you've got a date with Buzz?" Sylvia asked "He's a pussycat despite how he acts, just bring him some rum" she laughed "And they'll try to change you into what they want but resist" she warned
"I will" Mercy laughed as she sat on the bed
"I'll leave you to it, evening meal anytime up to 7pm" she said as she walked out the door
Mercy was excited "Is this place nice or what?"
"Yeah, sweet" Sam laughed "So while your busy acting I'll go about finding your Biological shall I?"
"Joke right?"
"Yeah bad one by the sounds of it" he commented "Should we get dinner?" he asked changing the subject, which they did, they didn't see much more of outside that first night it was full of excitement and exhaustion
Monday morning bright and early they were up to make the mile journey to the recording company to meet her new boss for 2 months, they walked in to hear music playing a beat Mercy wasn't familiar with, an alright voice singing over it "Welcome" a voice came at them saying, there were a few men sitting around so it was hard to know which one had spoken "Welcome" the voice said again and Mercy zoned in on this ragged looking man, in designer threads with a serious bad hair day going on
"Thank you" she said back suddenly comfortable in the environment "I'm looking for Buzz" she told them, Sam was in love with all the guitars lined up around the wall, he was in heaven his head moving from one to the other, his face lighting up with every look
"That's me" the older man in the arm chair sitting at the mixer board said smiling, his hair in dreadlocks, his vest hanging way past his waist and shorts that looked like he'd slept in them, his sandals loosely sitting around his feet "You must be Mercedes?" he asked getting up "Like you time keeping" he grabbed her hand saying
"Yes I am" she said finally smiling "And this is Sam my fiancé" she told Buzz nudging Sam to look at the man
"Sorry" Sam looked at him saying "I'm into guitars and I love your collection" he said looking back up on the wall, Buzz laughed
"Sorry about the male dominance in here, everybody wants a hit you know, and free spots are between 7 and 9 every morning" Buzz said in his thick Jamaican accent "Sit, listen" he almost ordered as she found a seat and sat, while Sam sat on the arm of the chair she occupied, the same rhythm played for the whole two hours while these men came up and freestyled on the track some were really good but a lot were very bad and Buzz let them know it
"Right" he suddenly said and the music stopped "Now go find something to do let me get on with my day job" he told everyone before looking at Mercy "Except you, you're my day job today" he laughed "Meet the rest of the cast" he said going around naming them all as they smiled, hugged or waved depending on accessibility "These are just the one's that are singing and most of them have been doing their parts for a while now" Mercy thought she was going to sing one of the soundtrack tunes, she'd been preparing them for weeks, but was shocked when Buzz stuck some words in front of her and told her to feel the music that started playing. She'd never actually done that before, she was being asked to step out of her box on this one. "We have three weeks to get all the music done before filming starts" he informed her "Trevor will be in later you can meet him, he's the producer of the whole thing"
The days were running fast, Mercy thought she was just going to go in sing the songs first time, do her part, then afterwards promote the film for a short while then walk back into her life, but they actually wanted to change the songs, and her sound, no matter how many times she tried to feel the song they changed the mood of it and she was left wondering what the hell she was doing here losing herself, she felt like crying. She got home and flung her bag on the bed angry at another non-productive day. Sam was truly on holiday, he'd gone into work with her for the first few days but soon got bored of that and started hanging out at the pool, and draining the local bar
"Sam" she said when he finally got back to their room, she'd finished early and he was shocked to see her there
"Mercy" he said "What's up?"
"Nothing really you know how I am when things don't go my way" she laughed
"Hang in there"
"What you up to?"
"Just out having a drink and stuff with the new people across the way" he laughed "There's this girl over there, I think she thinks her lucks in, Goldie her name is apparently"
"Are you shitting me?" Mercy spun round asking, Sam didn't think she'd take that so serious, he jumped up to calm it down a bit but she held her arm out telling him not to get near her
"Mercy" he said moving her hand anyway and pulling her to him "What's wrong?" he asked as he hugged her "Hey" he lifted her face saying "I know, in the past, I might have given you cause to think anything was possible from me, but that all changed the day I asked you to be mine and you said yes" he looked into her eyes saying "I want you to trust me with your heart babe" he told her making her smile
"This damn song for the play they want me to sing, it's not me" she told him as she started crying obviously frustrated for being brought out of her comfort zone "I've watched the film before and it's supposed to be spiritual songs but they want dance hall stuff and I guess if I needed to I could find it but I really don't want to be labelled as that kind of singer"
"Stick to your guns on this Mercy"
"I wish I could but I feel if I carry on this way I'll lose the role, and you know I don't want that"
"The answer will come it always does" he hugged her tighter saying
Mercy got to the recording studio the next day to find the usual morning sinario going on and stood waiting for these impromptu auditions to finish so she could get on with whatever they needed her to do and get out of there, vexation on her face "Mercy we need that song finishing today I need to get this done before filming and we've already wasted a week" Buzz told her "I need your heart in this today" he warned
"Yeah my heart" she nodded going into the booth
"Okay give it your all" he told her as the tune started and she started singing her version of '20 to Life' by Cherine Anderson "That's a wrap, where did you get that passion from" Buzz asked, she smiled watching him Buzz "You got the accent" he smiled
"I guess I understood the song" she smiled "Finally" she came out the booth and fell straight into Sam's arms
"Mercedes" Buzz called after her "I'm sending that to Trevor later"
"Okay, Tomorrow" she waved as they left
The next day Mercy went to the studio as usual "This man here liked your sound Mercedes" Buzz said nodding to a grey haired man smiling back at her "He heard that R&B song you sung the first day" he laughed
"Yes I thought it was fresh but your man doesn't agree with me" he laughed "Tea everyone calls me Tea same as the hot drink" he said holding his hand out "I hear you're our new Serena?"
"Yes" Mercy said shyly, this man had his hair up in a red gold and green knitted hat, he was a small framed man with a hard face, hard life all over it, but his threads were immaculate and his smile lit the room up, Mercy felt a warmth towards him
"He's come to do a mix on a rhythm that's been going around for years, this guys been trying to find some words that the rhythm creator will like, it's an ongoing challenge" Buzz laughed "I've got a few guys coming in just after the 9am rush these next few days, some legends, you should come listen" he told her, Mercy didn't need telling twice she sat in the studio watching all the conversations going on and finally Tea was in the booth listening to something in his headphones "You ready to go" Buzz shouted in a very thick Jamaican accent
"Ready" he said as Mercy heard the tune her Mom hummed for as long as she'd known coming out of the speakers, she stood just staring not thinking, but over thinking what was happening right now am I looking at my Father, had he struggled all these years finding words to put to this melody he'd created for my Mother, for me, was this my song, she stood up in anticipation of the words that were going to leave this man's lips and hoped to find an answer in his first verse as Tea sung 'Getting Closer' by Coco Tea his voice was like silk compared to his look, and he didn't sing rough music like she'd expected this was a love song 'What he'll always love Mom, what broke them up, why did he leave, he's begging her to come back, isn't he?' suddenly the singing stopped, she knew she had to act quick
"Mr Tea" she walked into the booth saying "I like the rhythm, it's not my genre but I really like it" she smiled "My parents listen to that kind of music"
"Thank you young lady" he smiled at her "I could do with hearing some of your music and I don't mean that stuff Buzz has you singing" he laughed
"Any time"
"Well I'm here now" he looked at Buzz saying
"Buzz?" she asked as they both looked at him for the go ahead
"Sure" he finally said
"Okay" Mercy smiled making her way to the booth to sing one of her many songs in her reputable list of R&B showstoppers, she set her phone in the pod and sung her rendition of 'Take Me' by Leela James as everyone sat about listening
"Buzz I can't believe you're not using that sound" Tea told him
"I love the sound man it just don't fit the movie" he laughed
"It's a remake isn't it music's changed" Tea told him smiling at Mercy
"Tea" she looked around saying, aware everyone was listening to the conversation "Have you ever been to America?"
"Yes a few times, I have a huge following over there" he laughed "Maybe nearing 20 years ago or so I did my first gig there"
"Did you ever go to Ohio?"
"Yeah I think, it was so long ago I can't remember every little town"
"It's a state" she laughed
"Maybe it's one to put on my to do list" he laughed with her saying
"Maybe"
"I'll be back in the week with a crew to knock something up I got in my head, all day" he told Buzz as he was walking away kissing Mercy's hand
"I'll see you again Father" she told him
"Look she's even learning the lingo for you" Tea laughed "Stop trying to change her Buzz, warning one" he laughed stopping at the door to look at her "She reminds me of someone but I can't catch who" he said thinking as he left 'That's going to be my Mom' she thought
"He's right it is a singing competition" Buzz said looking at Mercy as he spoke "We'll see" he laughed "I'm guessing that man you're singing about is Sam?"
"You guess correct" she looked at him saying knowing what was coming next "Don't even broach it we both have eyes" she laughed
"Okay" he said holding his hands up
"Tomorrow" Mercy said leaving the studio as she took her phone out to call Sam and let him know what had happened
"What you didn't ask him?" he asked excited over the phone
"What was I supposed to say Tea I think you're my Father?" she asked "I did say something like see you Father or something like that and he didn't bat an eyelid and then he said I reminded him of someone, he's back in next week so I'll drop some more hints"
Monday morning week two and Mercy was on hot bricks waiting for Tea to turn up again, Sam had talked her into telling her Mom's story in conversation and she just needed it to be over and done so she knew either way "Morning" she said as she walked in to the familiar crowd of men trying their luck, they acknowledged her and moved to make space for her to sit down "Thanks"
"I've got someone coming in at 9am so we'll have to drop back a bit but it might be good for you to stay and watch"
"Okay" she said getting settled in
"Greetings" A tall brown skinned man walked in saying with a harem following him "Finally found some words to that tune and I know you're going to like it Buzz, it's got that lovers feel everyone knows me for" Sanchez told him
"Who are all these people?" Buzz asked looking around "Get them out, I need space" he told him "This is Mercedes by the way she's playing Serena in One Love"
"Good luck it's a tough spot to fill" Sanchez said laughing
"I'm guessing it is, but I'll do my best" she replied
"American?" he asked
"Yeah" Mercy smiled very taken by this handsome guy in his cotton suit, cream shirt to match and sandals looking all sweet
"How you getting on singing Reggae?"
"Still trying" she laughed
"I lived in America for a while some time back, couldn't take the politics about my music so I came back here, nearly twenty years ago now" he said taking his coat off as he headed towards the booth, more than half his people gone outside already
There it is again, it could be this one she thought as that tune started again and he started to sing his version 'Now That You're Here' by Sanchez and his voice is as smooth as I'd expect it, I could see Mom falling for someone like him' she sat thinking as she got into the song I could sound like him' she smiled and he lived in America nearly twenty years ago I feel it's closer to him than Tea she nodded making her decision
"It's a good mix" Buzz said when he finally closed the beat down "I can see that version, but I've got one more to listen to, so no decision yet" he told Sanchez
"Okay, seeing as you're making me wait to hear you say yes give me a two hour slot and we'll call it quits" he told him
"I got this young lady waiting to put her tune down too" Buzz said pointing at Mercy
All she could think was she needed to keep him here as long as possible so she could pluck the courage up to ask him some intrusive questions "Not a problem" she told the men looking at her
Suddenly there were loads of people in the booth men and woman, Mercy didn't understand what was happening and Buzz obviously saw the look on her face smiling he said "It's a Riddim mix" like she was going to understand what that was "Lots of artists singing their lyrics on one tune one after the other straight through" he told her "This one's called the No Woman No Cry or In this Together Riddim" he told her as she sat back listening to all this talent coming through the mic, suddenly and from nowhere she was dancing to the beat, the difference between this session and 7 – 9 session was all these people knew what they were doing, making the music enjoyable and having a good time doing it, she was in dance hall and having a damn good time 'This has to be my Father' she smiled as she watched "Tea" she said when she saw him step forward and do just as good a job as Sanchez "Damn this is hard"
Mercy went ahead and did her session after that, the afternoon ending with Buzz telling her he was going to talk to the producers about the genre, now she was buzzed "Sam" she shouted as soon as she got in, finding him sitting on the couch staring at the TV looking bored "Sam what's up?" she asked
"Nothing it's just getting a bit boring and that Damn Goldie" he told her
"Do you want to go back home? do you want me to have a word with her"
"No but I'll probably spend the day with you tomorrow, can that happen?"
"I guess" she smiled jumping on him for her kiss "Lets go to bed"
"That's not going to lift my mood Mercy" he laughed
"It will lift what I need lifting right now" she smiled at him
"Hot mess" he laughed getting up anyway "I am in a better mood" he laughed some 40 minutes later as they lay in bed "It could get better" he looked at her saying
"I don't need telling twice" she laughed
Later that evening she told him about the events of the day and the prospect of another Biological being in the running "We'll have half of Jamaica lined up by the end of this film" he laughed
"I'm too scared to confront them, I think it's easier to ask Mom" she told him nervously
"Chicken" he tickled her saying
"I think there's another one coming in tomorrow I heard Lofty talking"
"I'll ask if you want"
"No let's see this next one and then I swear, I'll have the conversation with all of them somehow" she told him
"I've been trying to get hold of the original copy of this film you're doing I can't get it anywhere" he told her as she looked on suspiciously, she hadn't really told him anything about it other than she was in a singing competition, and there was a hell of a lot more
"I'll see what I can do" she told him, intention being the opposite
The next morning, there was another singer in the studio waiting for the 7 - 9 auditions to finished when they walked in "Sam, Mercedes" Buzz said as they walked in by way of an hello
"Buzz" Sam said smiling with himself for getting into the way of the land
"Morning" Mercy smiled at Sam's attempt at brotherhood
"This is Beres he's the last one on that rhythm everyone's been trying at"
"Hi" Mercy said
"Our new Serena" Beres smiled getting up to greet them both "Nice to meet you both" he said
"You too" she smiled, this man was her Father she knew it, there was something there she saw it in his eyes as he looked at her, his eyes where her eyes, this was him, and she hadn't even heard him sing yet "Have you ever been to America?" she asked
"Yes several times, I've done shows there and I lived there for a while years back, well not lived but I camped out in parts for a while" he laughed
"Anywhere near Ohio?"
"I don't think so, No" he looked up wondering as he spoke "No, not that I recall"
"Come on Beres lets get this show on the road" Buzz called as he stopped the current rhythm and the booth emptied
"Back in a bit" he smiled walking away from them
"Sam I think this is him" she whispered
"Why?" Sam asked oblivious to any connection Mercy might have felt, he was looking at the guitars again, still marvelled
"Because" she said looking up at what he was looking at before diverting her eyes back to Beres as the music started
"We'll do this on the first take" Buzz said through the mic as Beres gave him a thumbs up and pressed the headphones to his ears as he started singing 'Love Means Never To Say I'm Sorry' by Beres Hammond
'He could have done with a shave for a start but his face was kind, his hands look like he's used to hard work with maybe wood and his eye are mine' I keep thinking that. 'He's casual but smart and he looks like at some point in his life he'd carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, maybe that was the heartbreak from leaving me, but his voice was to die for so smooth, so deep and with so much feeling, all traits I have' she smiled before she realised he was looking straight back at her and she smiled
"You like the tune?" he asked when he'd finished
"Yeah my..."
"Beres come back tomorrow, we have lots to talk about" Buzz suddenly butted in saying as Mercy looked at him for interrupting her to see Trevor standing in the doorway
"Why is my star not recording?" Trevor asked as Buzz looked at Mercy
"She's just going in now" he said his eyes telling Mercy to move
Mercy moved towards the booth, downhearted because she was about to drop the bomb on Beres and Buzz had blocked her "Bye" she said to Beres as they crossed paths
"Mr Spears" Sam said when the room emptied leaving just Buzz, Trevor and him sitting "Would it be possible to get a copy of the original film, I've not seen it before?"
"Yeah sure" he smiled "Buzz give him a copy" Buzz smiled to himself before reaching under the counter for a box finally passing him a copy of the film
"Enjoy" he said as Sam looked at him, eyes narrowed
Serena and Kassa sung their last song together, with a brilliant choir behind them, Trevor listened to the other two songs she'd sung and she was free to go "I've got a copy of the film" Sam told her as they left the studio "You start filming next week don't you?" he asked side eyeing her "Have you seen it before?"
"Yeah a while ago, well I checked it out before I sent the app in" she smiled
So after dinner they sat in their room and watched the original film of the remake Mercy was doing, Mercy laying across his lap, she really didn't need to see his face on this "So you're actually falling in love with Kassa, that's what the damn things about the singing things secondary" he looked down at her saying when the film finished
"Well..."
"Mercy" he flicked her off him saying as he got up off the bed, standing ready to shout "You deceived me on this, you made out it was about winning a fucking singing competition"
"So what, you'd have said no, is that what you're telling me?" she kneeled up asking him
"No you just didn't come straight with all this, and yeah now I'm pissed" he sat on the bed saying "I've been smiling with him, eating food with him and all that time I didn't know he was going to be making out with my fiancé, how do you think that makes me feel?"
"I think" she crawled to him saying "That you just hit the nail on the head there babe, your fiancé" she said kissing him "We know what this is don't we?"
"A job" he rolled his eyes saying
"I've got nothing to hide, you can come on set every damn day if you want"
"Oh I want believe me" he laughed as she pushing him backwards onto the bed with her kiss, and the night was theirs
"Technically I've finished in the studio but I heard Buzz tell Beres to come back this morning and I really need to ask him some questions, I know I promised the beach this morning but can we pass by?" she asked at they got dressed, their first in the week date since they'd been in Jamaica
"10 Minutes maximum" he warned "here" he said giving her, her engagement ring back
"I know you're marking your territory, I don't have a problem with that I do it all the time" she laughed putting it on
"That sounds so he man, I just want everyone to know we're serious" he laughed kissing her
"I love you too babe" she giggled
"So lets go find your Biological" he grabbed her hand saying "You're not going to chicken out are you?"
"I'll test the waters" she laughed
"You're going to chicken out" he hugged her saying
They walked into the studio to a surprised Buzz "Didn't expect to see you guys this morning, I haven't booked anything, your done as far as Trevor's concerned"
"Morning" Mercy smiled "Yeah we know I just heard you tell Beres to come back and I was curious"
"Decision day today" Buzz jumped up saying "Tea" he said moving towards the door as he entered "Greetings brethren" he hugged him in saying
"Greetings" he smiled "Mercedes" he said surprised as he hugged her too and fist bumped Sam "Decision day" he rubbed his hands saying
"It is" Sanchez walked in saying his morning greeting much like Tea's
Beres was the last to arrive, the most regal of the trio, he said greetings followed with a lot of other stuff ending with Selassi I and everyone said something back Mercy was lost in it all, they were talking so fast "Mercedes and ..." he asked hugging her as he spoke
"This is Sam my fiancé" she smiled as he stepped forward and shook this man's hand seeing why Mercy was wishing it was him
"Fiancé" he almost shouted "I didn't see a ring?" he questioned
"Oh" Mercy said holding her hand up grateful she'd worn it today "It was my Great Grandmothers" she smiled
"Beautiful" Beres said looking at Sanchez and Tea who came in for a look
"Yeah Beautiful" they echoed
"Lucky Man" he looked up at Sam saying as he shook his hand
"Business" Buzz shouted catching everyone's attention "I've listened to all of them again the cut is fine but I don't think I can distinguish between them brethren" he smiled "They all say good things, so I guess we'll put them out and see what happens" Buzz said
"Fine" Sanchez said getting up to leave as the others did the same
"Can I have a word guys?" Mercy asked
"Can we make it another time, I've got another studio to be at like twenty minutes ago" Tea said jumping up too
"I'm busy too" Beres said following everyone else out "Later Buzz" he hailed "Next week" he told Mercy as they all left
She was deflated, they'd just left without even pretending to want to listen to what she had to say "It's not like you didn't try" Sam told her hugging her "We'll catch them before we leave, I promise" she just looked up at him defeated
The following week Mercy started filming, so evenings were filled with learning lines and days were filled with her two fiancés and a fancy man only one being the real deal. Sam walked about with a red face most of the time, reciting to himself obviously that Mercy was only acting, in the second week he started to smile a bit more and by week three he was back to Sam again only because everything had almost finished "Sam" Mercy called during a break "Mom and Dad are coming over" she told him when he got to her
"What for?"
"She just said Dad had time off and they decided to have a week here"
"Shit" he said slapping his leg
"What?"
"You've nearly finished, we finally get a few damn days to ourselves and the parents turn up, that's going to go down well isn't it?"
"I can't say don't, can I?"
"Where are they staying?"
"At the Riu Palace I think they said"
"Thank God"
"Sam" she said not impressed with his tone
"What?"
"That's my parents you're talking about"
"Sorry babe, I just haven't had much time lately"
"Yeah I'm sorry about that" she kissed him saying "But leave parents out of it yeah?"
"Yeah"
"Cheers" Trevor said four days later as they stood about closing curtains on the characters and having a damn good drink about it "We'll watch the first cut next week and then maybe four months time, we'll have something near ready" he announced as everyone took a sip of their drink
Sam took the sip but he wasn't celebrating anything, Mercy's parents were coming in tomorrow afternoon and he knew that meant mega girlie time for them because her Dad wasn't a lets go see kind of guy, she might get back for bed but his days were going to be spent, on the beach, to the room for rest, as in sleep and food in the evening, while he listened to the fun Mercy and her Mom had and her Dad moan about the money they'd spent
"Cheer up babe I won't let it happen" she looked at him saying as she laughed it off
"Promise?" he asked but she didn't commit
They enjoyed the evening, night and the next day before getting ready to make the short journey over to The Riu Palace to see her parents "Mom" Mercy walked towards her saying as she put her phone away and grabbed Sam's hand "Mom" she waved as they rushed towards them "Great to see you guys" she said hugging them Sam following her
"Good to see you guys" he said forcing a smile, the afternoon went as he'd envisaged it, shopping for the girls, moaning for the boys at dinner and eventually Mercy made their excuses and they left
"We need to meet up tomorrow say about lunch time" her Mom said as they were leaving
"Any specific reason Mom only Sam and I haven't had any time since we've been here and you guys supposed to be on holiday"
"There's a reason" she said hugging them as they left
They didn't take the time to talk when they got in, Mercy needed contact and Sam needed to give it, they found it hard to wake up the following day only spending three hours sleeping before they heard the house alive and Goldie knocking on the damn door insisting that Sam come out to play back jack "You need to tell her to fuck off" Mercy took her head from under the covers to say "Sam" she shouted when he didn't move "Tell her" she bumped him with her booty saying
"Sam climbed out the bed slowly, grabbed his sweats and went to the door "Goldie" he opened the door saying "We're still in bed, and we're out in like two hours so no game today"
"Okay" Mercy heard her say as Sam shut the door and jumped back on the bed
"Shit now she's woke me up" she said punching the pillow
"How about I wake you up and change that damn mood?" he tickled her saying
"Sammmm"
"Mercyyyyy" he said back taking her anyway "Now it really is time to get up" he said getting up and taking the covers with him "We can't keep your parents waiting" he frowned "Maybe they've brought us a house or something cool like that" he said as he slipped into the bathroom
"Dream on" she told him following him into the bathroom, an hour later they were sitting in front of Mercy's parents, with lunch in front of them, they didn't have the heart to tell them they hadn't had breakfast yet
"So" her Mom said putting her fork down as she spoke "I guess we have something to tell you guys" she said looking at her husband as she spoke "Well I say we but..." she looked around saying
Mercy could do nothing but gasp as she saw Tea, Sanchez and Beres come into view "Hi" she said looking at Sam "What are you guys doing here?" she got up going towards them asking
"Your Mom asked us to be here" Sanchez told her
"Shit it's the song isn't it, one of you guys are my Dad" she looked at her Dad saying "I mean my Biological" she looked between the three men and her parents looking for clues "I said this didn't I Sam?" she looked back at him saying
"Mercy" he grabbing hold of her saying "Let your Mom talk" he pulled her to sit down, he'd been watching her parents in all this and something wasn't right
"Baby" her Mom said getting up to go sit next to her "I didn't know you'd found the song too, but yes it was something you father used to hum" she said looking at the three men who were finding chairs to drag around the table they were sitting at "None of these men are your biological father" she told her, Mercy couldn't help bursting into tears, she wasn't expecting anything from this man just to know who he was and why he left, that was it so why was she so upset
"I heard the song" she told her Mom "I heard the song, their only just putting the words to it, I don't know what to believe" she looked around the table saying
"I'm telling you the truth now Baby" her Mom said grabbing her hands "None of these men are your Father"
"So why are they here?"
"Their you Uncles" she told her "They recognised you because of the ring"
"The ring?" she asked looking at her hand "Why the ring?"
"It belonged to their Grandmother" she told her "These are your Father's brothers"
"But they..."
"We all have different fathers" Beres smiled telling her "But James and I were full brothers, that's your father's name"
"James, what happened to him?" Mercy asked, Sam sat quietly listening
"He was Moms' eldest, he went off to America to conquer the world, found himself someone to love and he was happy" Beres said looking at her Mom "He came back to tell us about something, which I now guess was your Mom and got shot, just outside the airport, 10 people died that day someone just felt like blowing out and he got killed"
"We didn't hear his news" Sanchez said "All we know is his last word was sorry, for what we now not"
"He didn't get to tell us about you guys" Tea told her
"He didn't even know you existed" her Mom told her "We were fairly new together, I didn't really know anything about his family, I didn't ask, but before he left he asked me to marry him, gave me the ring and told me the story behind it and that was all l had to pass on to you, so I did" tears in her eyes as she spoke "I thought he'd just left" she got out before she sobbed into her hands, Mercy's Dad coming round to take hold of her Mom as she cried
"We knew the ring, we grew up fighting over it" Beres laughed "We knew it was his but he was so bossy, the only thing we had to hold against him was taking the ring, so we did regularly, hid it all over the house"
"Okay so I don't have a father alive but I have three Uncles?" she sat looking at them saying
"Four, there's one more but he'd in England somewhere maybe doing the same thing as your Father" Sanchez laughed
"Frankie" he sings too
"So I was destined to sing then, did my father sing?"
"Only in church" Tea laughed "But we all started there"
"Aunties, do I have Aunties?"
"Only one I'm afraid and that's a had, she passed, girls are very rare in our family, we all have boys"
"I have cousins?" she said brightening up "I'd like to meet them some day"
"It would only take a phone call and some travelling" Beres told her
"Mom can we?"
"You can do what you want baby, it's your family"
"And you guys are my family" she got up to hug them saying before turning to Beres to say "So make the call please let's get this family sorted"
Hours later they were sitting pool side at Tea's home in Cherry Gardens, sipping a long cool drink while Sam and Mercy were getting to know the young cousins, they had a lovely day just chilling and watching family life, listening to some music, singing and experimenting with dance moves, after evening meal they made their way back to their hotels, with contact details, names and invites all sorted out.
The first viewing happened and the crew and cast agreed to meet up 4 months later
"Mercy, Sam" Tea called as they were leaving the room "We need your opinion on something down the road at the studio"
Mercy looked at Sam smiling before she replied "Coming" she grabbed Sam's hand and walked quickly with him, following Tea to the studio to find Buzz, Beres and Sanchez standing in the booth, her Mom and Dad sitting in the mixing room "What's up?" she asked looking around
"It's your Dad's tune we want you to choose which lyrics goes out on the tune" Sanchez said as the music started one final time and they did a Riddim Mix on the tune mixing all the versions together making her laugh for the competition they were bringing
"Okay I like Tea's version because he's great and Uncle I love you" she said blowing him a kiss
"You know this girl is going to wrap us all round that damn finger of hers don't you?" Beres said laughing
"Uncle Beres" she smiled "I love yours because the lyrics are fantastic and I love you too" she blew him a kiss too
"And Uncle Sanchez of course I'm going to rock to yours forever because I love you too, but It's an impossible task you give, to tell me to choose between you, I can't" she laughed "But here's my logic, my fathers last word was sorry, for what we'll never know, I'd like to think it was for the pain he was going to cause by dying to you all, Mom, me, his parents, god everyone so, basically because of the title I'm going to choose Uncle Beres' version" she smiled as they all clapped "But" she held her hand up saying "There's a twist" she announced "I'll sing it, for my Father" she said to them all looking at each other smiling
"Fair" Sanchez and Tea said
"Fair" Beres finally said through touching teeth "I told you wrapped" he smiled as she walked round to the booth and ushered them out, getting to grips with the lyrics before singing her version of 'Love Mean Never To Say That You're Sorry, by Cameal Davis
"How was that?" she asked when she'd finished
"A hit" Beres smiled as they all went in for a hug
"Sam" she called when the family stopped hugging, looking around for him "Sam" she smiled when her eyes found him "What did you think?"
"I think you look beautiful on knowing who you are babe" he hugged her saying
"I always knew who I was Sam" she told him when he let her up "Mrs Sam Evans" she smiled kissing him
"So can the rest of the week be ours?" he whispered in her ear
"The rest of our lives babe" she replied
The End