The Sargent
Sargent Sam Evans was out in Afghanistan, they were guarding the local hospital from raids as they treated the wounded soldiers and natives. They were a tight squad and recently they'd recruited four young soldiers into their fold, they were constantly talking about girls, making out with them, sleeping with them, using them, falling for them, the usual guy stuff, which made him laugh sometimes but some of it was just straight up crass.
Five weeks into their stay and Private Benjamin Jones jumped out at him he wasn't like the others he was a listener, he smiled a lot and shook his head, Sam was unsure if this was in disgust or disagreement, but he knew he was quiet
"Sarg" Benjamin called one night as Sam walked off to his barracks
"Jones" he turned saying "What can I do for you?" he smiled back at the man coming towards him
"I hope you don't mind Sir, I've been watching you over the past few weeks and well..." he looked at Sam telling but asking "Would you mind if I prayed for you?"
Sam looked around at the others laughing, drinking and talking "You have been watching me haven't you" he smiled "I wouldn't mind at all" he told him as they diverted to his office and prayed together, that seemed to set the tone of their relationship for the months to come and they grew close because of that faith bond
"You know" Benjamin looked at him saying on night after they'd prayed, studied and talked "You'd fit right into my family"
"I would?" Sam asked surprised "I'm actually an orphan, I've never fitted into a family"
"You'd fit into mine" he smiled "My Dad's a Pastor and me, my sister and my Mom have strong Christian values"
"I don't do well with the family thing, I've tried it so many times, it's not for me"
"How did you try?"
"I went to live with my first foster family when I was eight, that went down like a lead balloon and to be fair it was all down hill from there, my reputation proceeded me, in the end when I got to 18 I joined the army and the rest is history"
"Well I can honestly say you just didn't come across our family because no lie you'd fit" he smiled "And I guess you don't know this but everyone always needs a family"
"If I ever feel the need" Sam smiled "I'll remember this conversation"
"Even if you just need someone to do some praying over your ass, just call up to Lima Ohio and go to Paster Jones' Baptist Church, you won't want to leave" he laughed
"We'll see" Sam laughed intrigued
"I'm hoping to set a date real soon with Amber, she's been going on about it for a while now, she wants her babies and truth I want them too, maybe it will make me think twice before signing up again"
"I guess, I've never really thought about it, never met anyone to have to think about it"
"You have to come to Lima, not that I'm throwing her at you or anything, but my sister's with this pretend to be a Christian guy Derek, I dislike his ways and I think he's a fake, if I'm honest"
"So why is she with him?"
"I don't think he's around long enough for her to make that informed decision as soon as she talks anything permanent he's gone"
"What do you mean gone?" Sam laughed
"He's out the door on some travelling doorman quest, that nobody else can do" Benjamin laughed "Seriously"
"He sounds so wrong"
"That's the exact word for the man, wrong" he told him "Now someone like you I could see with my sister, I'd be happy about it you know?"
"I do now, it's not often, actually it's never happened before, that a guy thinks I'm alright for his sister" Sam laughed "That's an honour Bro, I'll own that complement"
A few weeks later Benjamin went to meet Sam for their prayer meeting "Sarg" he walked up to him saying "I just set the date with my fiancée, we're getting married next Valentines Day" he grinned
"Congratulations Jones" he hugged him saying "About time you put Amber out of her misery"
"Took me a while I was rambling, she's like the love of my life and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with her" he grabbed Sam's arms excited telling him, they had a glass of whisky that night before prayers and retiring to their bunks
That night Sam sat thinking about his life and where it was going, concluding that he was content to stay as he was in the army for the next 10 years or so, he left his office to go to bed
Weeks later they were taking supplies to the local hospital Benjamin was still on a high, showing the picture of his fiancée to anyone that would look when bombing started "Take cover" Sam shouted as everyone found cover, the bomb hit just past the truck and a few of the guys made a dash to get the rest of the supplies off the truck before another hit. Sam heard the missile coming and shouted "Move Jones move, get under cover forget the case" he shouted as he heard the explosion, when the smoke cleared it was obvious Benjamin was gone "Shit" he ran over to him saying as he confirmed what he knew anyway.
The whole platoon took Benjamin's death badly, Sam in particular, they'd built such a good relationship in fellowship, two months later he was given his usual four weeks leave and volunteered to bring Benjamin's personal items to his fiancée as Benjamin had requested.. He smiled as he finally reached the sleepy town, set in a valley surrounded by mountains and greenery reminding him of Benjamin's nature, surprised to find a mall, circled around market like kiosks, a church, several cafes and some live Jazz music at the mouth of the mall, which several people seemed to have no problem sitting on random chairs listening to in the middle of the afternoon, everything that was happening seemed to be in the centre of the little town
He got his phone out and followed the map to Amber's address "Hello Amber?" he smiled asking when a young woman answered the door to this green, double post fronted house with steps leading up to the door, and windows on both sides
"Hello" she smiled "It's Sargent Evans isn't it?" she asked "Chief said you were coming, Ben talked about you all the while in his letters"
"Yes it is, Sam please" he smiled giving her Benjamin's tags "Benjamin wanted you to have these"
"Come on in" she moved to the side to let him into her home while taking the tags, the one wall in the hall was scattered with pictures of military men and women, as Sam took time to look at them all "I break the mould I'm afraid, I want nowhere near the forces" she smiled "That place has took most of my family" she smiled sadness behind it
"Sorry"
"No need they died doing what they loved"
"I guess" he smiled
"A drink?"
"No really, I'm just passing through, I just wanted to pass these things on, Benjamin was a good man, a friend even to all of us"
They stood chatting for a short while before Sam took his leave, he stopped at a small cafe for something to eat and drink, ordering chicken pie, fries, club salad and a coffee he asked for the rest room and disappeared.
"Hi June" Mercy walked into her local cafe smiling "Oh" she said looking at her order on the counter, taking the ketchup and delivering a generous squirt before sitting down "I though I ordered this to go?" she asked as she sat down
"You did, that isn't yours" June told her
"But it's my order?"
"No that belongs to …."
"Me" Sam smiled at her "It belongs to me"
"Oh my... I'm so sorry" she covered her face in shame, wishing for the ground to swallow her up right now
"That's fine I like ketchup too" he smiled
"So you ordered chicken pie, fries, club salad..."
"And a coffee, yes" he looked at the parcel in the waitresses hand "You take this one I'm fine with that" he took the wrapped parcel and gave it to her "And to show there's no hard feelings I'll pay for your lunch"
"I'm so sorry" she giggled taking the food from him, they shared a smile and she left
Sam sat smiling, he'd been in town less than an hour and already he'd met someone he was attracted to, he loved her smile, that him paying wasn't an issue, and confidence was oozing.
"Are you staying in town?" June asked as she watched him sit to eat his food, with a grin on his face
"I think I might be" he smiled "I thought I'd visit the church tomorrow , he told her diving into his meal "Is there anywhere round here to stay?" he asked as he put his money on the counter
"Miss Anna has a place just down the street, she does a nice breakfast" June told him pointing in the direction she was talking about
"Thanks" he got up telling her as he left the cafe and made his way "Good afternoon" he walked into the Luna smiling as he saw the little old lady jump up almost shocked "Sorry" he told her when he realised he'd scared her "I was told I could get a bed and a decent breakfast from the lady of the house"
"You can that young man" she smiled back at him, turning the book for him to sign in, as she watched him write "Enjoy your stay Mr Evans and please ask for anything you need" she turned to grab a key as she pointed in the direction the room was in
Sam got to the room and all he could think about was that girl he'd met in the diner, he sat up shaking his head for a long while wondering why after all this time any woman was figuring in his life, let alone one that ate his lunch. The night was so quiet he finally fell asleep with his earphones in his ears listening to 'Obsessed' by Dan + Shay with that woman on his mind waking up to actually pray about this feeling he had "If it's meant to be, let it happen, Amen" he finished
The next morning he got up and made ready for church, he was eager to meet Benjamin's parents, he'd spoken very highly of his family and he was curious as to what made them so special. He smiled as the locals went about making him feel comfortable as he walked into the church, he found Miss Anna and sat next to her smiling as she grabbed his arm with some familiarity
"Morning again" she smiled like they'd shared the night together or something making him laughed, there was a lot of hugging, hand shaking and laughing going on before there was a bellow from the pulpit "Welcome and good morning to all the nice people this morning" he spun round to see a short stocky man just a bit taller than the actual pulpit he stood behind
"Morning Pastor Jones" the congregation roared back at him as they clapped, Sam smiled as he remembered Benjamin walking into his office every night shouting "Good Evening Sarg" for everyone to hear before they sat down to pray when they became Sam and Benjamin in fellowship
"We have new people in our midst" he told them looking directly at Sam, he raised his hand and waved acknowledgement "My family and I would like to invite a stranger to lunch if you have the time?" he shouted out shocking Sam that he would say that in front of the whole church
"How could I refuse" he laughed
"Thank you" Pastor told him as he sat wondering what he was actually thanking him for
He sat looking back at the faces that were smiling at him trying to non-verbally say hello to each one, his face stopped moving when he spotted the woman that took his lunch yesterday "Hello" he mouthed smiling 'Prayer is powerful' he thought
"Hello" she mouthed back smiling at him
During the service they looked at each other several times, at first they were shy about it but at the end of the two hour service they were smiling freely "Refreshments in the hall, as usual" Pastor announced as soon as the last prayer finished "Sir" he looked at Sam saying "Thank you again for taking up my offer of lunch" he grabbed his hand saying "So what brings you to our little town in Lima?"
"Actually Pastor Jones, I was a close friend of Benjamin's and Chief asked me to bring something to Amber"
"Poor girl" Pastor shook his head saying
"Yeah" Sam told him concerned that he wasn't saying poor himself "And he asked me to come visit the church if I ever got the chance and see his family"
"I'm glad you took him up on the offer, we're happy to see any of Benji's friends especially those that were with him at the end"
"I was right there with him he was concerned with the sick even to the end, didn't think about himself at all"
"He was right with God, and that keeps me going I'll see him again" Pastor told him
"Yeah we had some great debates" Sam laughed
"Come get something to drink and once everyone's gone we can get off, get you something to eat" he grabbed his shoulder telling him "Come meet my family" he told him as he walked ahead of him "This is Bethany my wife and this is Mercy our daughter" he said pointing to the girl from the cafe
"We've met Daddy" she smiled "Unofficially" she giggled "I took his lunch by mistake yesterday, we have the same order"
"He's a friend of Benji's, from the Army" Pastor told them as their heads popped up and to attention, Bethany hugged him in the middle of the hall and Mercy stood almost in awe watching, there was a conversation there he was dying to have later, he couldn't believe his attraction was with Benjamin's sister, 'this must be fate, Benjamin must be setting this up' he looked up thinking as he shook her hand, before they shared a telling smile
A while later they were making their way to the Jones residence, Bethany went straight to the kitchen and Pastor instructed Mercy to show Sam around. They passed through the living room, a light and airy space with couches and footstools around the room dotted with coffee tables, the focus of the room being the white fireplace. They went through the double doors and into the dining room where a large table with ten chairs sat with fresh flowers at its centre and cabinets with bone china, and silverware. The walked through the patio doors and out onto the very large veranda walking around it to find Bethany in the kitchen sitting at the table preparing vegetables
"Do you need any help?" Sam asked as they walked in
"No thank you, I have this down to the minute, but Mercy you could show Sam the mill" she told her
"Okay" she smiled as she made for her cardigan "We'll need to go for a drive, I'll show you the family business"
"Oh" Sam looked at her shocked "Benjamin never mentioned a family business"
"Yeah we have one, we don't afford all this on a Pastor's pay" Bethany laughed as Mercy took him with her to the car
Less than twenty minutes later they were standing at the mill "It's a thriving business, we have orders from all over the country and some overseas" Mercy told him as they stepped out the jeep "Milling's moved on some since back in the days it's all laser guided technology now"
"What sorts of things do you guys make?"
"All sorts" she smiled at him "Back in the day Dad used to make furniture as a side thing but since he's taken on the church he doesn't do it any more, it's a shame really, but now we do like panelling for buildings, flooring, turn the smaller logs into bark chips, sawdust and seasonally we sell Christmas trees"
They walked about the mill as Mercy showed him through the process and took him on a tractor ride around the tree storage unit down by the lake "Thanks" Sam smiled as they got back in the jeep "I feel like there's a whole lot of Benjamin that I really didn't know, even though we prayed together nearly every night"
"Benji wasn't really interested in this stuff" she replied "He thought it was a noose around his neck" she told him as they walked into the old carpentry shop
"Wow" he almost shouted as he walked in to see some pieces of Sandalwood leaned up against the wall "That's beautiful"
"Yeah I guess that cross never got made" she told him as they walked around looking at carvings and other unfinished pieces her Father and Uncle had attempted to make
"What was this supposed to be?" he picked up a sculpture of what looked like a face but there was that many dents in it, it made him laugh as he spoke
"Don't laugh" she took it off him smiling "it was my attempt at a self portrait" she hugged it to her saying
"I think that might be a fair description of your work, attempt" he laughed
"Stop" she tapped him on his abs telling him
"Ouch" he yelled rubbing the tap away
"Sorry" she stopped laughing telling him, touching the spot she'd just hit "I didn't mean to hurt you" she rested her hands on his stomach
"You didn't hurt me" he told her as his hand went down automatically to cover hers on his stomach "It feels better already" he smiled as they looked at each other for a quiet second before getting back to the tour
"Let's get back" Mercy said suddenly feeling awkward and even vulnerable after his touch, making her way back to the jeep, with Sam in tow. They made the journey back in almost silence, as Mercy reflected on what she dared to feel just then with a boyfriend in the wings, and Sam focused on the feeling he got from that touch they just shared "We're here" she announced just before the jeep came to a halt, and they jumped out
"That smells good" Sam smiled as they opened the door
"Mom's cooking is the best" she smiled at him
"Look Mercy..."
"Sam" Pastor shouted as the door to the kitchen pushed open "I wanted to ask, are you up for any work right now?"
"Depends on what work is" he laughed, looking back at Mercy, he needed to talk to her about the awkwardness their touch had caused, put her mind at rest but the man of the house was talking to him, he couldn't be rude
"Well are you any good at maths, management, music, mentoring any of the M's?" he smiled
"Well music, management and maths in that order are my thing"
"Good guess" Pastor patted himself on the arm saying "I guessed being friends with Benji it was going to be a combination of any of those" he laughed "Go get washed up for dinner and we'll talk more" he rushed him off telling him "Mercy show him his room"
"I'm staying at Miss Anna's Hotel"
"That's fine, I'll call and have your things brought round"
"Thanks" Sam smiled following Mercy, unsure if he'd actually said yes to any of it "Mercy" he said as they walked down the hall "About what happened earlier, we touched and something happened, but I don't want that to affect our friendship, Benjamin was too important to me"
"It's fine Sam" she smiled "No harm done" she told him opening the door to the guest room it was light and airy with a double bed and side tables built in wardrobe fresh flowers on the dresser, a chair in the corner and a sliding door leading out onto the veranda "The bathroom's through that door, and you've got ten minutes to freshen up and find your way back to the kitchen" she laughed leaving him to it
Nearing fifteen minutes later Sam walked into the kitchen to Mercy smiling back at him, her smile hooked him, it made him giggle as he looked around and saw strangers sitting nearby "Hello Mr Evans" a lady smiled as she got up and walked towards "I hear you were a friend of Benji's, we're Amber's parents, this is my husband Jackson and I'm Joyce" she hugged him saying "Thanks for dropping those tags off to Amber, it perked her up a bit"
"Nice to finally meet you" Sam told her taking the hug and shaking Jackson's hand "Benjamin talked about you guys a lot"
They finally sat down to dinner, there was lots of conversation, Pastor seemed to be firing comments at Sam and Mercy about the sparks flying around and across the table, talking about words from God and signs that needed to be listened to, Bethany tried on various occasions to change the subject but Pastor was adamant.
"Let's take a walk" Pastor said after dinner as Jackson got up to get ready "Sam" he looked at him telling but asking "A walk" he said again, Sam jumped up pleased that he was being included in this man thing they had going on. They grabbed their coats and walked for about an hour before they came to the lake, it wasn't the spot that Mercy and he had visited but it was the same lake
"This is beautiful, isn't that the mill over there?" Sam asked pointing across the water
"Yes" Jackson smiled "But this spot here that we're standing on, is the actual memorial sight for those that died in the Vietnam War" he said as they turned to look at a plaque carved into the stone with names going on forever
"My father died in that war I was told, I didn't know him and my mother left way before I had sense to ask the questions" he smiled with shame on his face
"Well I'd be happy for you to fit right into this family Sam" Pastor grabbed his shoulder telling him
"I have no official qualifications, but I learned myself how to play the guitar, I've always had a head for maths, it's just something that clicks for me and I learned my management skills in the army, it's been my life for the past 11 years since I was 18 really"
"You need somewhere to belong" Jackson told him as they looked out across the lake
"What do you say about that conversation we started earlier about you helping out at the mill?" Pastor asked "I've got so much on with church at the moment, I'm really struggling, Mercy and Beth help when they can, but they have their own lives"
"I have some time off, I guess I don't have a better offer right now"
"What could actually be a better offer?" Pastor laughed "It's like fate brought you to us"
"Benjamin brought me to you guys and I can't turn my head at that" Sam smiled "This place is breathtaking" he looked around telling them
"It is you fall in love with places like this" Jackson told them
"You fall in love with people in a place like this you mean" Sam replied as Pastor looked on pleased with himself, and his attempts at playing cupid
"Jackson's heading up things for me at the minute so if you meet him at the mill, he'll tell you what needs attention"
When they got back the women had tidied up and retired to the music room, they sat for a while listening to the church songs before it was time for church again and they all left to get there before the congregation. The evening service was even more lively than the morning one. Sam and Mercy sat together this time, smiling at each other between the amens and hallelujahs. There was no refreshments after service and the church emptied a lot faster than the morning service, it was nearing ten o'clock in the evening and parents hurried off with children to prepare for school Monday morning. Everyone was too tired to even speak, there were smiles, kisses and hugs as everyone found their rooms and suddenly there was no noise in the house
Two in the morning and Sam was still up thinking, remembering and wishing, he couldn't get Mercy out of his mind and every time he tried to think about anything else his mind was back on the conversation he'd had with Benjamin about his sister, she hadn't even mentioned her boyfriend to him in all the time they'd spent together today was that a sign. Another song playing on his pod telling him to think things he shouldn't be thinking about another man's girl as he started singing along smiling at being ready to go. He decided to go find the kitchen to get himself a drink to stop his mind and stopped dead when he saw someone's shadow sitting at the table "Mercy" he said quietly making her jump as she turned to see him coming in
"Hi" she smiled as he walked towards her
"What are you doing?"
"Writing, my Mom and I send cards to the service members every Christmas, I know it's early but I couldn't sleep so I thought it would be a productive thing to do"
"Cards and coffee?"
"Yeah" she giggled "Why are you up?"
"I thought I could do with a hot drink, it might be the strange bed or house but I'm finding it hard to sleep, but it won't be coffee" he laughed
"I'll get it" she jumped up and made for the kettle as she spoke, Sam was fine sitting on the chair near where she'd just moved from watching her move around the kitchen in her just above the knee t-shirt nightdress his mind going places it had no business going
"So... do you ever meet any of these service people you write to?" he asked distracting himself
"Not that I know of"
"What was life like for Benjamin and you growing up?"
"Fun and full of church of course" she giggled "We always had someone in the house, eating, praying, sleeping or getting saved, Dad was a Deacon before he was a Pastor" she poured the hot water telling him "Benji was always the first to just want to pray for someone, he'd just walk up to someone and say would you mind if..."
"...I prayed for you" Sam laughed at the memory, trying to move his eyes from her lips
"He used that on you too?" she sat the drink on the table asking
"We had some really good prayer meeting going on between us, for many months, some of the best times for me" Sam sat remembering "Listen I don't want to deceive any one least of all you, and I now there's someone in your life already but I have feelings for you, I don't want that to be an awkward thing for us I just want you to know that's what's in my head when you catch me staring at you" he laughed "So far you've been really nice and smiled back, but I'm trying to stop"
"Thank you for telling me" she smiled "But I have a problem too I think..." she closed her eyes to squint mode "I enjoy you looking"
"So we have a problem"
"I'd say we know our boundaries" she smiled
"I guess, but now you've told me that it makes it harder for me to stop" he laughed "I'm going to take this to bed before I get myself in trouble here" he picked his drink up telling her "Goodnight"
"Goodnight" she giggled, while she watched his naked legs walking out the kitchen, his muscles flexing as he glided, she felt relaxed, happy even after getting that out, she washed her cup and went to bed
The next morning they were having breakfast, passing looks, chatting away almost flirting, before Jackson arrived and Sam was off to the mill for his first days work
"Pastor wants you to be more involved in the running of the place but I think it's always best to see how things go from the bottom up" Jackson told him
"I totally agree" Sam replied rubbing his hands together as they got to the mill, got their safety gear on and went about learning the workings of the mill, ending back at the office to see about orders, payments and wages, and that was generally how the week went for them, Sam was so tired at night be barely ate before his eyes were closing.
Saturday morning he woke up early, it was more delivery day today than anything else, they needed to clear the weeks work to start again on Monday, the trucks were loaded and drivers were on their way by 1pm and then his time was his own "Hi" he heard as he stepped into the office
"Mercy" he smiled "What are you doing here?"
"All work and no play and all that" she giggled "I thought we could get something to eat and just hang out"
"I need to get washed up first"
"Of course" she told him grabbing his arm as they left "I've got the jeep" their relationship had moved from awkward to friendly in less than no time, they weren't uneasy with each other actually they were more like long lost friends getting reacquainted.
They ended up at the local restaurant, had their meal and talked continuously "It's nearly dinner time" Mercy laughed as they got up to leave "I'll take you to one of my favourite places on earth" she told him as they took the drive and ended up at the bird sanctuary "Have you ever seen such a beautiful creature?" she asked as they looked at the beautifully displayed Golden Pheasant perched like a king on a single branch
"Never" Sam smiled back at her
"I mean the bird" she giggled
"That's a rather old fashioned English word for a woman, but I'll agree with the comment about you"
"Sam" she laughed grabbing his arm as they stood looking at the bird for a while before walking around to see the rest of the sanctuary, talking to each other all the way round "Sam" she grabbed him round the waist saying "Thank you, I saw this as a chore when it started but I've really enjoyed spending time with you" she reached up and meant to kiss his cheek, but he turned and they kissed on the lips, pulling away as soon as it happened "Sorry" she giggled nervously noticing her body felt suddenly hot
"Accident" Sam smiled before quickly looking to the ground, his heart was beating much too fast for him to say anything else. There was a silence for a few seconds as they digested what was happening for them right then "Let's get you home before Pastor starts thinking I'm leading you the wrong way"
They got back to the house and Mercy grabbed his arm as usual as they talked and walked the short distance "We'll have to find something to do after Church... Derek" she gasped letting go of Sam and diving towards him for a hug "Sorry" she quickly remembered and turned to Sam "Sam this is Derek Hough my boyfriend, Derek this is Sam Evans a friend of Benji's"
"Benji I thought he was De... never mind, nice to meet you Sam" he held his hand out smiling "But if you don't mind I haven't seen my girl for a month I need time" he walked away with Mercy in his arm leaving Sam watching them, thinking he hadn't even let him open his mouth to say hello, concluding that if he had Mercy waiting for him he'd probably do the same thing
They disappeared until dinner when they presented totally together, Derek was crawling all over her as Pastor made comments about appropriateness, Christianity and commitment, Sam laughed along with the majority, to Derek's annoyance "So Sam" he finally decided to address him "Are you in town for long?"
"It was initially a day but I got some work so I'm not sure"
"Okay so where are you staying, maybe we should hook up some time?"
"Here actually"
"Here?" he nearly chocked on his lemon juice asking "They'll have you working here soon" he giggled but no one else found that funny
"So what do you do Derek?" Sam asked
"I'm in the sales business so I go all over the country and sometimes overseas for sales, that's why Mercy and I are not getting into anything committed just now, but we are committed to each other" he finally looked into Mercy's eyes saying
"Congratulations on your commitment is it?" Sam held his glass up cheering "Is that a new thing?"
"Well yeah and I really did just come by to tell her I feel I might be ready to commit, I'm off to Florida tomorrow for ten days, but after that things should settle for us"
"Oh that's too bad" Pastor announced "The Soldiers Dance is on next Saturday, you won't be back in time" he smiled at Sam telling Derek, Sam noticed the coldness to the evening but it really wasn't his place to say anything, plus he was too jealous to really open his mouth, he was trying to lose gracefully to this damn man. Derek and Mercy went off for the rest of the evening and Sam ventured to the carpentry shed to look at doing something with that large piece of Sandalwood
Mercy finally got home banging thing about as Derek went on for the one hundredth time about his disagreement with Sam staying in her parents home "It's what my parents do" she shouted as she threw her bag on the couch "And it's none of your business what my parents choose to do with their home, our home"
"Look Mercy all I'm saying is that I don't like the guy"
"You don't know him, you've had one conversation"
"And I can tell, I'm a guy, I can tell trust me, he likes you"
"That doesn't mean anything you know me, we're saving that for marriage, so he could like me till the cows come home nothing like that would ever happen"
"But the fact still remains I'm not comfortable leaving you here with him"
"The last time I looked my wedding finger was naked" she snapped
"You know we're waiting for my job to settle down"
"I'll see you tomorrow Derek, I need sleep" she finally said not willing to carry the conversation on, she waited for him to leave before grabbing her cardigan and leaving the house, she jumped in her car and ended up wondering around the mill, a smile finally coming to her face when she heard singing coming from the carpentry shop, she knew it was Sam as she stood at the doorway listening to him playing his guitar before he started singing 'Obsessed' by Dan + Shay "Hi" she smiled as she walked in when he was still singing, he smiled back, walked over and grabbed her hands while he carried on singing this time to her as he rocked her in his arms
You hypnotize me with your touch, and I can never get enough of you, it's true
And anywhere you wanna go, my hand is only yours to hold, oh, you know
I'm so obsessed, with the way that your lips, kiss me like crazy, ooh, you amaze me
When you walk in the room, you got me losing it, yeah, I'm a mess, girl, I confess, I'm so obsessed, oh, yeah
"Hi" he smiled back at her when he finally stopped singing and they stood still "What are you doing down here?"
"You mean what are you doing down here, I thought everyone was in bed" she laughed
"Hell of a jealous and just needed to vent" he admitted
"I just went off at Derek for badmouthing you, and I really didn't know why until just this minute, I guess I have feelings, I guess I could call it an obsession too" she looked up telling him
"We both know we have to do the right thing here"
"Yeah" she rolled her eyes telling him "I guess I should go home" she said looking at his lips, watching his face change to want as his body parts threatened to go out of control "So do you want a lift?" she walked off towards the door asking
"No I'm going to stay on here a while, goodnight"
"Goodnight" she smiled before she stepped out the door
Sam wasn't around for breakfast the next morning but Derek was there with the birds, bringing her coffee, kissing her awake as she sat at the kitchen table rubbing her eyes and whispering love in her ears "Sorry about last night" he said when he finally sat down "I was maybe jealous of that guy"
"Who Sam?"
"Yeah, I'll be back in a week or so, I'll try and get back for the dance, I want to be there" he kissed her again saying grabbing her hand to go with him to the door for a proper goodbye
"Where's Sam?" she asked as she got back to the kitchen, looking at her parents for an answer
"I don't think he came in last night, his room door is still open"
"He didn't come in?" she jumped up asking, going to her room to get her mobile to call him "Sam" she shouted when he answered "Where are you?"
"You know where I am, and you know what I'm doing" he told her and put the phone down, she didn't want this feeling but she'd got it and now she'd got it there was no way she wanted him thinking anything wrong or bad about her she got ready, grabbed his breakfast and went in search of him
"I brought you breakfast" she walked into the carpentry shed telling him, his head popped up as he stifled the smile that was trying to come out for her
"You didn't need to do that" he took it saying
"I wanted to, and to say sorry"
"For?"
"This impossible situation, I love Derek Sam and I know what I said last night meant something too, we just maybe need some time apart"
"That's fine" he turned away from her agreeing
"And I wish you wouldn't do that"
"Do what?"
"Pretend like this isn't hurting"
"It's not" he turned to stare at her saying, he saw the hurt in her face as he spoke, he was doing this for her own good, he stared until she turned and ran out before he breathed so deep it hurt his lungs "I've got to get out of here, this is killing me"
Three days later and they still hadn't got back to their usual selves, every time they were in a room together the tension heightened "Are you guys alright?" Pastor asked as Sam and he went out to the Soldiers memorial
"We just have some feelings stuff we've got to get through, I think our relationship broke a barrier on the first day and it's kind of difficult getting it back on track just yet, Derek turning up doesn't help either"
"It helps none of us if I'm honest Sam, he's no good for our girl, he's messing her about terribly, he refuses to commit, they've been seeing each other for over 6 years now and I can't for the life of me think of any time he's spent a whole week paying her any attention"
"I'm having a real tough time dealing with this Derek thing, I've not felt like this about anyone ever, jealous is not the word knowing he's all over her, maybe I shouldn't be talking about this stuff to you"
"Are you telling me you love my daughter?"
"Yeah, I just finally told myself that, the day he turned up, she knows how I feel I think she feels the same but the situation..."
"...Let's get to work" he told him as they jumped in the car to make the journey, the morning was slow as they checked the stock, made the orders up and stacked them for loading Saturday morning, everyone stopped working when a sports car came rolling up to the offices "Let's go see who that is" Pastor suggested as they made off to go see the visitor "Derek" he said shocked as they walked in
"I just came to steal Mercy for a while if you don't mind, early lunch" Derek smiled, kissing her cheek as he spoke "Big day for us, if you know what I mean" he tapped his nose saying, Pastor and Mercy looked at Sam
"I sort of needed her at the office today" Pastor told him
"It's fine Derek" Bethany told him "And come back for Dinner when you bring her back" she added
"I best get on" Sam announced unable to take much more of this
"You best" Derek remarked earning himself a nudge and a dirty look from Mercy, as Sam made a point of slamming the door on his way out, Mercy rolled her eyes at the frustration of not being able to do anything about his mood just now "We're experimenting with new Cheese mixes, do you guys want to try some after dinner?"he asked making it obvious he wasn't including Sam
"That would be nice" Beth smiled
"We're busy" Pastor told him "Our guest is singing at the local club tonight and we're going to support him"
"Oh that'll be a good night I've heard him sing, we're in for a treat" Mercy told them all as Derek pulled her away "Bye" she told her family as he pulled her
"Bye" Derek muttered as they walked off "When did you hear him singing?" he asked her as they walked
"Derek" she tutted rolling her eyes, not wanting to concoct a lie about it
Now Pastor had committed to it he had to go out and make it happen, which he did some two hours later, he'd spoken to Sam about it, he wasn't pleased because inside he was planning on leaving, but one look at Pastor's begging face, reminding him of Mercy and Sam grabbed his guitar and was off practising, he'd got it down to two songs unsure which one to use
"So" Derek clapped his hands saying just before their evening meal "I told you all it was a special day for Mercy and I" he smiled grabbing her to him "I asked her to be my wife and she said yes" he grinned looking at Sam as he spoke
"Congratulations" Sam smiled going forward to shake his hand, he smiled at Mercy but she knew it wasn't real, this was one of the most awkward times in her life right now
"I did ask Derek not to announce this just yet" she cut her eye at him saying "It's going to be a long engagement"
"How long?" Pastor asked Derek as he hugged his daughter
"Maybe three to four years" Derek smiled "Give me a chance to tie some things up"
"Four years?" Beth asked concerned
They had dinner that night in almost silence, looks saying more than any words could passing between Sam, Mercy, Pastor and Derek, before everyone got ready and Sam grabbed his guitar before they made their way to The Shack for music, dancing and beverages , they made their orders at the bar and found a table. They sat in an awkward silence for a short while before Pastor got up to go meet the masses and maybe convert or something, then Beth got up to maybe do the same, Mercy went off to the bathroom and in minutes Sam was left sitting with Derek at the table trying not to make conversation
"So I guess you, like everyone else, don't agree with this engagement?"
"I congratulated you guys, I don't know you well enough to pass that kind of judgement; actually I don't, pass judgement that is"
"I know you have your eye on my girl Evans"
"So if your eyes are firmly fixed on her I shouldn't be any sort of threat"
"Are you telling me she likes you back?"
"I said" Sam rolled his eyes telling him "You should be focusing on your girl as you call her, not me"
"What do you mean by that?"
Sam was bursting to tell him they'd kissed, that they had feelings for each other, that he should step off but his logical mind came into play making him reply with "Well I heard her say she'd asked you not to say anything, surely she knows her parents better than you, and maybe, or should I say it would seem, then wasn't the right time to drop that announcement and if you'd have listened to her you'd have had a more enthusiastic response at another time"
"Meaning?"
"Listen and hear"
"So now you want to tell me how to deal with Mercy"
"Not at all" Sam smiled holding his hands up "Just that I listen and hear"
"Sam" he heard looking up to see Pastor calling him
"Sorry excuse me" he jumped up leaving Derek to try and figure out that Mercy was mad at him for the announcement, walking towards Pastor he looked to his left to see Mercy standing she'd obviously been watching them have that conversation, he didn't react he was sure Derek was watching him
"Ladies and Gentleman Sam Evans" Pastor announced as Sam got near, nerves kicking in as he realised he was up for singing, and he hadn't decided which song to sing just yet, he climbed onto the small high stage and grabbed his guitar from Beth as she stood in front row with Pastor waiting for him to perform like he was some sort of rock star. He put his guitar on and stood looking at the band tuning up and telling them the song, turning to the crowd to see Mercy had joined her parents on front row, looking around the room he saw Derek still sitting in the chair he'd left him in, he smiled inside and turned back to the band to change his choice 'Round the Clock' by Dan + Shay he told them as he started strumming, and they joined in as he started singing his version of the song
Mercy laughed as her head started rocking to the tune when she heard him singing 'T-shirt and coffee, cause you already got me' by the chorus she was well into it, he got excited as he looked to see Paster and Beth actually rocking enjoying the song, the song carried him away at the end he stood singing 'Loving you, Loving you round the clock' as he stared at Mercy, she was smiling back at him, and it seemed they both remembered Derek at the same time as their eyes moved Sam's zoning in on where Derek had been sitting to find he wasn't there any more, he scanned the room as best he could but he couldn't find him, finally looking back at Mercy to see him standing next to her, hugging her as she turned to kiss him
"That was great" he heard Pastor telling him as he shook himself back out of his daze, he had no words for how he felt just then, he unstrapped his guitar, jumped off the stage and walked out the door
"Enough" he shouted at himself, walking until he found himself at the workshop carving, he had been there for some hours before he heard the door creek open and looked up expecting Mercy, his intention to tell her to choose "Beth" he said shocked
"Sam" she smiled "Mercy told me what's going on between you two"
"There's nothing going on between us" he stared at her walking towards him saying
"I know there's nothing physical going on between you, but I've just had her crying to me half the night for how you guys feel about each other, and I guess I just wanted to hear you side"
"I don't even know how this happened" he flopped on the workbench saying "I knew she was seeing someone before I even got here, Benjamin told me, and I still walk in and have all these feelings, before I even knew who she was" he rolled his eyes telling her, relieved there was someone to talk to about all this "I've fallen in love for the first time in my life and at the age of 29 I don't even know how to deal with this, I feel so stupid"
"She seemed to think it could be because you're both attached to Benji and clinging on for anything that reminds you both of him, obviously she's his sister and you're the last person to have seen him alive, do you think there's a link?"
"That might have been the reason why we met, but I don't even think about Benjamin when I'm around her, not like that anyway"
"I'll tell you what I told her, she has a decision to make and only she can make it, but Sam" she grabbed his arm saying "If it turns out it's not you I don't know how this is going to work out but you'll still be..." she looked down before looking back up at him "I still want you to be a part of this family"
"It would be a long while before I could come back here" he told her as she hugged him
"If the choice were mine, you'd be it" she told him in his ear before letting him go and leaving the shed
Sam worked through the night again, still feeling wound up when he saw daylight he went for a run, heading home to get ready for the Saturday loading before preparing for the Soldiers Dance later that night
"Morning he heard as he walked into the office to grab the keys and get started
"Morning" he smiled even though that was the very last thing he wanted to do when he saw Derek standing in a suit with Mercy, Jackson and Pastor looking on
"Derek's come down to help with the loading as a sorry for not being here later" Mercy announced looking at Sam as the others had already heard it "His idea" she made sure he knew
"Yeah I have till 1pm but we'll be finished by then yeah?"
"Yeah" Sam said grabbing the keys and walking off, his eyes meeting Mercy's as he walked past her, pissed off on his face, Jackson and Pastor followed him out while Derek spent at least three minutes saying bye to Mercy before he emerged from the office. They walked to the loading bay with Derek moaning at every step, irritating them to the point that they stopped including him in their conversation, then his phone rang just as they got to the bay and he stayed talking for nearly three hours
"Okay" he closed his phone looking at them saying "Where do you want me?" he asked as all three men stood looking at him for his timing
"We're done" Pastor told him as they watched the last of the lorries drive off before walking back to the office logging the loads and leaving
"Well it was nice to get some time with you guys" Derek smiled as he jumped in his sports car and drive off
"Ass hole" Jackson hissed after him
"We've got a dance to get set up come on, leave that man to God" Pastor told them as they jumped in the car to get home
Mercy made herself scarce that day, she really wasn't looking forward to confronting Sam after everything that had happened with Derek, she went off to see Amber, talked about her feelings and hoped for the answer but Amber said exactly what her Mother had said "The balls in your court and only you can decide"
"But what would you do?" she asked desperate for some resolve
"I can't answer that because I was certain I loved Ben" she told her as Mercy rolled her eyes finally accepting that the choice was indeed hers
"I got to go get ready for the dance, see you there" she hugged her saying before she left, she slipped in and out the house and got to the venue way before any of her family, she organised the band, food, drinks and cloak room and just about got a breath in before folks started arriving. She was her usual meet and greet self, it was something the family were good at, everyone getting what they needed as the band played quietly in the background, there was little commotion and she knew her family had arrived, she took a deep breath to prepare herself for Sam's wrath
"Mercy" her Mom smiled as she saw her
"Mom" she half smiled hugging her as she looked at Sam, his face vacant as he stared back at her "Dad" she hugged him saying "How did it go with Derek?"
"He came and he left in the same condition, not even so much as a cup of coffee out of the man" he said shaking his head "I tried baby but sorry, he's not for me"
"Sam" she looked up at him as he came in front of her saying
"Mercy" he said back raising his eyebrow at her as he quickly moved on, she pushed her hair back off her face and carried on greeting
Minutes later the music got loud and couples started gravitating to the dance floor Sam stood at the bar watching Mercy, while she danced with her girlfriends watching him, she was worried, he was ignoring her
"Could I have this dance?" Beth walked up to him asking "You look a bit out of sorts there" she told Sam as she grabbed his hand not giving him much choice as he moved with her to the centre of the room
"I think it's time I danced with my girl" Pastor told Sam as they passed, making Sam smile to think he'd got out of this , puzzled when Pastor walked off to grab Mercy and they danced freestyle to some song being played by the band, Beth was making him laugh with some of her gangster moves, and he was trying his hardest to keep up with her but she had him running they laughed and hugged when the song finished.
The next song started and Sam looked at Mercy the same time she looked at him as their song started playing "Oh it's a loved up one I think I need my hubby back for this one" Beth told him dragging him over to where her husband was and passing him over to Mercy as she grabbed Pastor
"Do you want to?" Mercy asked as they stood looking at each other
"God I so want to" he grabbed her hand telling her as they started moving around the floor as if no one else existed "Tell me this wasn't meant to be and I'll walk away" he whispered in her ear as they moved, moving back to wait for her response, he started singing their song his eyes glazed he was in love, he couldn't or was that didn't want to hide what he was feeing "Every time you, walk away, I guess your perfume, likes to stay, on my pillow, on my shirt, listen baby, for what it's worth"
She looked up at him singing to her she couldn't help herself, she didn't want to fight this any more she knew, her heart knew what, or was that who, she wanted she opened her mouth and the words came out as Sam stood rocking her listening and hearing what she was telling him"I'm so obsessed, with the way that your lips, kiss me like crazy, ooh, you amaze me. when you walk in the room, you got me losing it, yeah, I'm a mess, boy I confess, I'm so obsessed"
"Yes" Sam punched the air smiling as they rocked to the song "I really want to kiss you right now"
"I know how you feel" she smiled up at him
"Mercy" they heard across the room and everyone's faces dropped as Sam let her go and stood waiting for Derek to get there "I'll take it from here thanks Sam" he said stepping in front of him to take Mercy in his arms "They don't need me for another couple of days so I managed to get here" he told her as he swung her round a bit more than he actually needed to obviously marking his territory. She didn't even hide it when she mouthed a sorry to Sam, he stood watching them for a short while before he left the dance floor and found the bar again to do his watching thing, smiling when she watched him back while Derek whispered in her ear.
Derek was very much the life and soul of the party for the rest of the evening, while Mercy who soon got fed up of watching Sam drinking, laughing and dancing with Amber, decided she was tired and Derek took her home, Sam left with Pastor and Beth a short while later, finding the shed a short while after to do his night thing
"I'm going to collect Amber for church" Sam announced as they sat eating breakfast Sunday morning, he smiled as Mercy's eyes turned to slits and her lips puckered telling him she didn't like it, deciding to take as much notice of her feelings as she took of his
"You guys seemed to be having a good time last night" Derek mentioned
"Yeah, we haven't spent any time together since I got here, she's good company" he smiled as he threw the last bit of bacon down and left as Mercy watched him leave the room, she was so angry she pushed Derek's hand off her shoulder
"What?" he asked at her action "What did I say?" he looked at her asking, she didn't answer she couldn't tell him it was Sam she was mad at "Mercy I thought I had time but Bill's called me back I have to leave later today"
"I thought you said you had a few days, I thought we could plan the wedding"
"Oh, that's not for six maybe seven years yet, we've got time" he waved at her saying
"I thought we agreed three to four years?"
"I spoke to my Dad and looked at the finances, and it's looking more like seven"
"You know what Derek, in seven years time I'll be married and I'll probably have me three beautiful children, a house, dog and maybe even some damn love in my life" she jumped up telling him as her parents stood watching
"But Mercy, what's the rush we love each other yes?"
"Actually no, I don't love you Derek" she told him taking the ring off her finger "And to be honest I know now you don't love me either"
"But I asked you to marry me"
"Conveniently when some other guy turns up showing me some attention and threatening your manhood"
"I've always had intention..."
"... Save it" she held her hand up at him saying "This isn't worth it, I don't want it and you're not someone I could spend life with, especially my life"
"You want him don't you?"
"If by him you mean Sam yes, we fell in love and it feels how it should feel, how I dreamt it feeling, I need to beg him to let us at least try and see where this thing can go"
"Beg?" he asked shocked "I'm offering you everything and you want to go and beg another man?"
"That's how strongly I feel about him"
"You're going to end up changing your men like how you change your..."
"Stop that right there Mr Hough" Pastor told him "I will not have you disrespecting my daughter in our home"
"That's fine, my family would never like you guys anyway" he walked off telling them
"Derek" Mercy called before he got the kitchen door "Your ring" she told him throwing it at him, he fumbled about catching it before walking out, Mercy's parents stood smiling at each other
They got dressed for church and made the familiar journey in silence, getting there to find Sam and Amber waiting outside "Morning" Amber said greeting the family, Mercy couldn't help but smile at her friend it was the first time she'd been to church since Benji had passed and she knew it was a big thing for her, she hugged her and looked at Sam before they made their way in
"What!" Pastor gasped when he walked into the church to see the big cross made of Sandalwood on the front wall engraved, he grabbed hold of Beth as they walked towards it, the congregation clapping "Sam is this you?" he turned to ask
"I'm hoping it's you" he told him as Mercy and Amber followed her parents with Sam behind them, "It's engraved with the names of everyone who's ever preached in this church, Amber helped yesterday as you can see, with some history"
Mercy smiled at her friend, suddenly she knew Amber wouldn't tread on her toes like that, she watched her parents thank Sam, and go into conversation with some of the congregation before tapping Sam "Could we talk for a minute?"
"Sure" he followed her out of the church wondering what was up now
"I" she spun round as soon as they hit the church steps, looking down the steps at the people coming towards them to get in "I had a choice to make, I know I took my time about it but I choose..."
"You're never getting rid of me you know that right?"
"I guess you know you're never getting rid of me either Sargent Evans" she laughed
"Obsessed" they laughed
Their faces so close to each other she could smell the mint of his breath, suddenly she felt his hand on the back of her neck as he pulled her face to his and their lips touched, his body flush against hers bringing thoughts and feelings that had no place on the steps of a church "I need to marry you, soon" he pulled away telling her
"I guess we could go somewhere and talk about that after church" she opened her eyes to tell him
"Chicken pie, fries, club salad and a coffee sounds good to me" he told her
"To share of course"
"Of course" he laughed as they clasped hands and walked back into church, everyone clapping, Pastor stood proud at the alter looking at them, giving Sam the thumbs up with a smile 'And of course you're happy Benjamin' he looked up smiling
The End