Breathe
Mercy
Mercy sat in the cab reflecting on her life, where had it all gone wrong, how the hell was she ending up back at square one? she held her chest trying to stop the panic telling herself to breathe, this journey was taking longer than she'd ever remembered it
Flashback
Mercedes Jones grew up in the small sleepy town of Lima Ohio, she'd sung in her local church since she could remember, church being the focal point of her family life, she'd gone off to New York for college and even though opportunity rose it's head she still returned home to do what she loved best. She loved singing, she'd stood next to her Mother every Sunday singing her heart out and loving it, she'd told her parents she wanted to sing when she was 12 years old and they'd gone about providing those opportunities for her.
College was a breeze it just seemed like an extension of what she'd already known and church seemed like her calling, her platform for sharing her talent with others, they'd regularly laugh at the things they'd find to praise God about in song, then one day her Mom wasn't well, she fell and took to her bed, she never made it out of that bed again, her heart was too weak apparently, Mercy sang to her every day, bringing a smile to her face, through her pain, and just three months later she was gone.
There was a funeral and of course everyone expected Mercy to sing, but on the day she couldn't, six months later she announced she was leaving Lima to pursue singing in another way, she couldn't talk to God right now he'd hurt her so much, of course her Father and sister Diane tried to talk her out of it, but she was determined that was what she wanted to do and under a cloud, she packed her few belongings and left
She found herself in Los Angeles, the bright lights and big city feel was exciting for her, she'd walked into a bar to take her first drink, she was 23 after all, and got caught up in the entertainment of it all. She closed her eyes and imagined herself on stage, singing for everyone's pleasure, being the centre of attention for those few minutes, people clapping for her, and made her mind up this was the way she wanted to go.
It took a few weeks but she finally got a gig, as a trial, at Flamingo's doing a spot a week and sent pictures back to her family of her on stage, she was so happy, breathing again after losing her Mom. One gig turned to two and within four months she was doing two venues working five days a week and bringing in some money
"Hi" she heard one evening as she sat waiting for her gig to start
"Hi" she spun round to see a well suited man standing there
"My name's Sam" he smiled "Sam Evans" he held his hand out telling her
"Hello Sam Evans" she smiled grabbing his hand to be polite
"I heard you sing at Flamingo's the other night and found out you'd be here tonight, I just had to come say hello and introduce myself"
"Does that mean you thought I was good?"
"I thought you were... I'm looking for a word" he laughed
"Lost for words" she laughed "I'm impressed"
"No, I'm impressed" he raised his left eyebrow telling her
"So Sam Evans you know what I do, what do you do to afford to come watch my show every night?"
"I'm into investments" he smiled
"I love that smile" she told him not feeling at all embarrassed for letting him know that
"There are a lot of things I could love about you"
Mercy looked around her, this man was cute, very cute, she was attracted to him she knew that much and it seemed the feeling was mutual "Are you flirting with me?"
"I hope I'm making it as obvious as possible, I'd like to get to know you, if that's something you'd be interested in?"
"How are you proposing to do that?"
"Dinner say tomorrow night at 7pm, I could come pick you up"
"You even know my day off, should I be freaked out about that?"
"Does it feel like I mean you harm?"
"I'll reserve judgement on that question" she laughed
"So 7pm tomorrow?" he smiled
"Yeah pick me up here" she smiled as she jumped off the chair and went towards the stage, it was time to do her gig. she sang as he sat smiling at her for her seductive moves
"Now should I be freaked out?" he asked when she finally came back to the bar
That night was officially their first date, the next night was a formality and by month three they were talking serious relationship, Mercy slowed down on the singing thing to spend more time with him, flying around the country in the company jet, lavish business meals and five star hotels, she soon got used to the life.
"Mercy" she woke up one morning in their Dubai hotel hearing "I need to ask you something"
"What?" she woke out of her sleep asking "What's up?"
"I need to ask you something, you don't need to answer me straight away but you know I love you, will you marry me?"
"Sam..."
"You can't say you didn't feel this coming, we fit" he smiled as he held the blue box up with the biggest rock she'd ever seen "Say yes"
"Yes" she smiled holding her chest as she took a breath
The next thing she knew they were on their way to Nashville to meet his family, he was jumpy but she put that down to him being nervous about the meeting, a brick or two had passed for her too, not only were they getting married but she was black and she didn't have a clue how that was going to pan out with his family.
They smiled and shook her hand everyone had been super polite about the whole thing, or so she thought. She went to the bathroom and came down to world war three going on in the study, she knew they were money, more than she'd ever pretend to be able to count, and of course they'd be telling him she was only after his money, she smiled at the love as she got closer to the noise.
"Black bitch" she heard James; his brother, say stopping her in her tracks as she went to open the door, she stood listening as the family threw something about his inheritance in his face and ordered him out
"And I mean it, don't come back" his Dad told him as the door swung open and James stood in front of her
"I hope you're happy with yourself, he said you were special, you're fucking special alright you broke our family apart" he spat the words at her pushing her out the way as he walked past, he looked back like he was about to say sorry until their eyes met and he turned and walked away
"Come on" Sam said suddenly standing in front of her "We need to get out of here"
"Sam" his Dad shouted "What are you going to do for money?"
"I'll find a job with another investment firm" he told him grabbing Mercy's hand and walking out the house, she hadn't asked any questions, it wasn't the time, she'd got the gist of it and she was hopping mad anyway.
They stopped outside The Harvey building on their way back to his flat and half an hour later Sam was attached to another investment firm, they got married two days later, after a ten minute conversation with her father, and life began for them. In less than a month Mercy had stopped singing at the clubs, Sam was bringing in more than enough money for them to live off.
End of Flashback
"Miss we're here" the cab driver told her as she looked up to see her Father standing on the porch
"Daddy" she smiled as he came towards the cab to pay the fare, jumping out the cab to hug him "I didn't know how you'd feel about me coming" she said into his chest
"This is your home, it's always fine for you to come home" he hugged her telling her as he paid the cab and grabbed her bag
They walked into the house and she smiled at the familiarity of it all "It's still home" she smiled up at him
"And your room still your room" he told her bringing her case through to her room as he spoke
"I thought I'd go visit Mom before I do anything else" she watched him saying
"She'd like that" he turned to say watching her turn and leave the house, she picked some flowers from the garden as she walked the short distance to visit her Mother's grave
When she got back Diane was at home, bringing food for their Dad "Dad said you'd come back, what's up, where's Mr Evans?" she asked smirking
"You know where Mr Evans is Diane, stop it" their Dad said looking at the two girls
"I'm just asking I mean she left to become a star or something didn't she and found herself a white husband, enquiring minds just want to know"
"Where are those adorable nieces of mine?" Mercy asked ignoring her sister's jibes smiling as she watched her Dad cut his eye at Diane
"We will talk" her elder sister looked at her saying as she hugged her "Good to see you" she smiled "And they're inside"
"Tanayah, Tamayah" Mercy shouted as she walked into the kitchen to see the twins sitting licking ice cream off spoons
"Aunt Mercy" the 11 year olds ran towards her excitedly saying, she hugged them, just then realising how much she actually missed home.
She sat playing with them as her sister watched "You girls are so beautiful, just like you Mom" she looked up at her sister telling her, before they shared a smile, and hate turned to love again
Soon all the noise was over Diane and the children left and her Dad was fast asleep in the armchair he loved, she went into her parents bedroom a place that was not strange to her even at the age of 23, smiling when she saw her Mom's clothes still in their place, she lay on the bed for a while remembering until she fell asleep
When she woke it was way past supper time she got up and fixed something for her Dad, woke him up and they ate "I'm to bed" he told her getting up and leaving her to her thoughts
Flashback
They'd lived a lavish lifestyle even after she knew he'd backed out of the family business, his family was one of the five richest families in America, he'd taken his inheritance yes but their lifestyle far outreached any amount she could fathom
"Sam" she sat in their penthouse apartment asking "How do we afford all this?"
"I'm doing well in the firm, we're getting lots of bonuses" he'd reply, she'd been happy with that, 6 months in and she was seriously worried about this money they were spending, holidays every two months, lavish presents for no reason, and now on their first anniversary a large diamond studded bracelet
"Sam how are we affording all this?" she asked when he gave it to her
"I told you we're doing well at the firm" he'd smiled as he draped it round her wrist, less than a week later he was home uptight, ratty and cursing his job, refusing to say much more when she asked, and when she insisted he'd come at her with a snappy "Everything's fine" response which she knew was lies
"You wouldn't lie to me would you?" she looked into his eyes asking him
He looked right back at her "Never, I'd never lie to you" he'd told her and she believed him, they'd never had reason to lie to each other that wasn't what they were about
Then one day he came home early, he needed to talk
End of Flashback
"Are you going to bed child, it's late and we have church in the morning" her Dad was suddenly standing in front of her asking
"Yes Daddy" she got up like a naughty school child telling him
Sam
Flashback
He'd been to a night club, he'd taken some girl he wasn't even serious about to some low key place, because he didn't want to be seen, she was slopping all over him acting like that blow job she'd given him had taken him to the end of the world or something, he smiled at her thinking mediocre.
"Sam" James his brother called across the booth they sat in "In there" he looked down at this girl about to slide under the table to be mediocre again
Not really" Sam laughed as the girl attempted to get him excited
They sat watching activities in the club with these girls under the table going at them, he was bored, if truth be told. Then this girl comes on stage and she's talking sending shivers down his spine, he sat up, he needed to pay her some attention he watched as the music started playing and she started moving on stage, just swaying, but it was no ordinary sway she was playing him a beat. Her mouth opened and told him exactly what he was thinking when she started singing 'On His Mind' by Chante Moore he watched her move, her mouth was singing round his dick as he got hard for her, he sat mesmerised remembering the trick sucking on him when he exploded, but it was all about this girl on stage "Get off and clean that shit up" he told her angry when he realised what had happened
"You alright?" James asked
"Yeah fine" he looked around the room saying before his eyes landed back on the singer
He didn't waste time finding out who she was, the next night he went in search of her and found her in Sparkles, he was brave enough to speak to her, and liked what he heard and saw. He got a date on the first try and went in hot pursuit, after just 3 months he was ready to marry her. Meeting the in-laws for her was daunting enough but then they turned out to be the racists from hell, so he'd cut his losses, asked for his inheritance and moved to a rival firm. They go married a few days later and things were fine, he was constantly getting bonuses, awards and they were affording to live the lifestyle he was used to, his single aim to make his wife happy.
Then one day two months in he found out the business was caught up in some fraudulent activity, they offered him a line in but he refused it and refused to work with clients that were involved. Even so this didn't rest well with him he knew what he had to lose, but he'd built this life for Mercy and him and she deserved it, he wanted her to have it
Then out the blue one day he got call from his Dad "Son you're being investigated, they have evidence so there's no use denying it, I thought I'd give you the heads up to sort things out, I have to cut the call now" and the phone was dead, Sam stood in the middle of the office looking around. Mercy knew nothing about this, what the hell was he going to say to her, he'd lied so many times thinking these amateurs knew what the hell they were doing, he grabbed his jacket and walked out, he had to get home
"Babe" she smiled as he walked in, shocked to see her at the piano "I was just passing time" she smiled
"What were you doing?"
"I just wrote a song for you for your birthday" she walked up to him smiling
"Sing it to me" he grabbed her lips asking
"It's for your birthday" she whined
"Please babe"
"Then, it's not for your birthday, it's for the great sex you're going to give me straight after" she laughed
"Deal" he smiled as she pulled him to the piano, sat him down and started singing 'Super Love' by Chante Moore
Listen baby, I wanna tell you about you, and how I think your super, listen
Mere mortals won't agree, what I found to be true but the proof is in the pudding baby, of what this man can do, not just referring to the bedroom
Hey being super is so much more than buying everything in the store, he's just been opening my door and loving me straight to my core
Do you know, do you know, do you know what that means, man you are super, super lover, hey lover, super, super dooper lover yeah
Do you know what that means, do you know what that means
He's got x-ray vision, deep inside me he can tell me what's missing, he makes fear disappear from just one touch of his lips and his finger tips,
I don't need your superman, you can keep your Clark Kent, all I need is my man, and the love he gives he can save the day, and he don't need no cape, here comes my baby
You know it all baby, yes you are, oh, super dooper lover, yeah, boy you are super dooper yeah, super dooper lover, yes you are, you know it all, hey
From the first kiss, the chemistry demanded so much more, every touch you gave me, kept me holler-in for more, your strength your eyes, your lips my thighs, your arms keep me safe from harm, and I'll never leave no
Do you know what that means baby, Do, you know what that means baby, yes you are, blowing my mind with your love baby, your super dooper, super dooper oh, oh yes you are, super, do, do you know what that means baby, oh your rocking my world, yeah oh, super, dooper, hey, yeah, whoo
"I have visions of backers singing at the chorus, band playing and everything it was going to be a really big performance" she laughed when she finished
"Wow" he laughed "That's a lot of great sex" he grabbed her hand laughing as they found their bedroom "babe" he said some time later as they lay in bed wrapped up "I need to tell you something" he told her before he went through everything that he knew was happening in the firm
"But I asked you if everything was alright and you looked me in the eye and you lied to me" she sat looking at him shouting "We said we'd never lie to each other"
"We did and I'm sorry I was trying to protect you from it all"
"But you lied Sam" she jumped off the bed telling him "And I don't know where that leaves us"
"Super lover?" he asked
"This isn't a fucking joke" she shouted at him
"Mercy, there's more" he jumped up stopping her from leaving the room
"What more?"
"My Dad called today to tell me the Feds are onto the firm and because I know, I'm going to be..." he was interrupted by a knock at the door
"Please tell me this isn't what I think it is?" she looked at him grabbing her dressing gown and walking towards the door, eventually opening the door as Sam stood at the bedroom door, putting his trouser on watching her
"Babe I'm sorry" he said as she opened the door looking at the police standing there, she didn't say anything she was too chocked up, she stood watching the scene trying to remember to breathe, as the police took her husband away, just about shutting the door before she went into full on bawling
He went to court and didn't get bail, Harvey's had done a good job at making sure he was more than wrapped up in their shit, everything was frozen, assets were taken and with no job, money, home or husband Mercy went to see him "I don't have anywhere to live, no money, job nothing, I'll be out on the street the end of the month"
"You need to go home babe, I can't do anything from in here"
"They took the apartment"
"No I mean home to Lima, back with your Dad"
"Why didn't you tell me about this Sam, you betrayed my trust"
"Because if I had you'd be locked up too, I didn't want that"
"Seems like you didn't want me either"
"Of course I want you I love..."
"... Save it Sam you broke us and I don't know if there's a way back"
"Babe please" he grabbed his chest to knock the air that was stuck in his lungs out for hearing that "I don't want you roaming around the streets, go home, for me" he stared at her begging "I love you" his eyes smiled as he spoke
"I know" she cried getting up and leaving him sitting there, he didn't actually know what had happened just then, but it felt like the end
"Mercy" he shouted after her "I'm sorry" she stopped to listen but she didn't turn to look at him or reply
End of flashback
Mercy
"Morning" her Dad came into the busy kitchen saying "It's been a while since I saw this vision" he laughed as he went to hug her "Thank you for this, I miss having you home"
"I missed being home, I didn't even know that until I got here"
"It's been a long eighteen months"
"The longest" she rested her head on his shoulder telling him, they ate and finally got to church and settled in before the pews were full "Khalil?" she looked across from her asking, a smile on her face for her old school friend "I thought you were in New York?"
"Yeah I was, I finished last year and now I'm a doctor at our local hospital" he smiled, Mercy laughed before she could grab herself "Something funny?"he asked
"Well …. yeah when the guy I used to know got his kicks out of burning worms becomes a doctor" she giggled
"I guess" he smiled "How's Sam is it?" he looked at her nodding a yes "I read about what was happening for him right now on the net"
"Doctor" someone called grabbing his attention before she could answer him
"We're going to your sister's for dinner today and I want you on your best behaviour in front of those children" her Dad told her
"You always stick up for her" Mercy sulked
"Yeah she says the same thing to me when I talk to her about you" he smiled, church started, she tried but she couldn't sing a note she just stood waving the hymn book around and watching everyone. Lunch went well and they left for home "It's the anniversary of Mom's passing tomorrow" he reminded her as she drove them home
"I know" she looked at him "I always wanted a love like you guys had, I thought I'd found that in Sam" she looked at him saying "Growing up I always wanted to marry you, or someone just like you"
"And I always wanted to walk my daughter down the isle, I couldn't wait for that day to have our father daughter dance, and rock my little princess around the room"
"Sorry Dad"
"Don't be sorry I just want you to be happy"
"I am, I mean I was" she looked back at the road as she spoke "Sam's gone away for a very long time, I don't think what he did was something I can forgive. It's not even about the prison thing, he lied to me about it all, and I didn't even think we could do that to each other"
"Everyone makes mistakes" he touched her arm saying "I know you, you think he's some sort of super human but sweetheart, he's human"
"I left thinking everything was just a huge mistake, I tried to forgive him but.."
"So why did you marry him?"
"I love him" she looked at her Dad telling him
"Sometimes, its not how hard you try its how you try"
"What does that even mean?" she giggled asking him
"You'll know when you know" he stroked her face telling her as they stopped outside their home
Sam
Sam had a visitor, it had been three months since he got locked up and a month since he'd seen Mercy, she hadn't even called him let alone answered his calls or even sent a text, he really didn't know where he stood with her right now. He knew she'd be mad for a while but honestly he'd expected her to have at least talked to him by now, even if it was just to rag him out, he really didn't know what he was expecting or even trying to ask in wishing her to call him, he was going away for a while.
"Evans" the correctional officer called through his cell bars "Visitor" he told him
Sam jumped up finally she'd come to say something, anything to him, he was happy on one hand he was seeing her again but on the other she might just want a divorce and what the hell was he going to do then, nothing from where he was right now. He got to the visitors hall and immediately his face was puzzled as he saw his Dad looking back at him
"Dad?" he asked sitting down as he spoke, disappointment on his face for the build up that had just gone flat, but at the same time something had to be wrong for his Dad to turn up so he was concerned "Everyone alright?"
"Are they treating you alright son?"
"Yes, as alright goes in a place like this"
"I can't stand the thought of you being in here any longer, no matter what's gone on between us your my baby son"
"This is my problem Dad"
"No matter what, you're still my son and your problems are always going to be my problems always" he grabbed his hand telling him "Bails been posted, your coming home with me and we'll face this together as a family, I've got Bernard working on this"
Two hours later he was standing outside the gates of the prison, his Dad held the car door open and he jumped in "Thanks Dad" he said taking the journey in silence
"Tell me to mind my own business if you want" his Dad looked at him saying as he made to alight the cab "But if I'd come out of prison the first person I'd be thinking about would be your Mother, my wife"
"I don't think that's where Mercy and I are right now" he told him tears in his eyes "She didn't know anything about this whole thing and lying, well that's a big thing for us"
"So you have a lot of work to do?"
"I didn't think you guys were that into my wife" he looked at his Dad commenting
"But we're into family and you made her that, forcing our hand and changing our values, if we love you, we have to love all of you"
"Amen to that" he laughed "The balls in her court, I still love her, but she has to want me back, I did wrong"
Mercy
"Daddy" Mercy shouted as water spurted all over the utility room floor "We have a leak" she shouted "It's all over the place" she told him trying to cover the leaking pipe with her hands and getting soaked in the process
"I'll get the plumber" he smiled, standing in the doorway assessing the damage "Keep a hold of it while I turn the water off" he instructed
She'd just managed to dry off and change her clothes when she saw Khalil coming up the drive "Morning" she smiled as she stood on the veranda watching him coming towards her "What can we do for you this morning?"
"I guess it's what can I do for you guys, I'm the plumber" he smiled
"So you save lives by day and swim by night" she laughed
"Sometimes you need to do something that won't end up with someone dying you know?"
"No I don't" she told him the smile leaving her face "Sorry Khalil I didn't think" as he got to her
"Don't even stress about it" he smiled "I'll get that job done, I've got a few minutes before the day job starts" he said walking past
She stood looking out at the land wondering why a person wouldn't live their entire life in a place like this "Well Mercy Jones" she heard looking across the drive to see Lette her school friend looking back at her
"Lette?" she asked as she put the cup down and walked towards her "How are you girl?"
"I heard you were back, I don't frequent church any more, I'm on the wrong side of life according to my Mom" she laughed "I heard about your husband's out now"
"He's out?" Mercy asked surprised
"I guess your Dad's still monopolising the TV remote, he never watches the news" she laughed thinking of days of old
"It's still his TV" Mercy laughed her body was in the conversation but her mind was on how the hell Sam had managed to wiggle out of prison "Lette it's really good to see you, but we've got the plumber in and I don't want Dad paying him until the jobs done so I got to go"
"Isn't it Khalil?" she asked
"I think so" she smiled
"He don't charge your Dad" Lette told her as she carried on talking for a while longer "Got to go" she finally added to one of her many sentences "How long are you staying for?"
"I have no idea" Mercy replied hugging her and saying bye before heading back to the house
"Mercy I was just about to call Diane ask her to get me some shopping" her Dad told her "Do you want anything?"
"I'll do the shopping Dad, no problem, what do you want?"
"Are you sure?"
"Of course just give me a list and I'll get it for you"
"Alright" her Dad told her as he got to making his list
"Everything round there's sorted for you Mr J, shouldn't have any more problems" Khalil came into the living room telling him "I'll be off to work now call me if you need anything"
"Thank you" her Dad told him shaking his hand
"Yeah thanks Khalil" Mercy echoed following him out "I hope you have a better day at work today" she stood at the door telling him as he stepped down off the porch
"Now that's a picture I dreamed about when we were at school" he stopped walking and looked back to tell her
"What?" she asked looking at him puzzled
"You standing at our front door telling me to have a good day" he smiled "Only in my version there'd be a couple of kids running round your legs, apron and of course a kiss for a hard working man"
"I pictured all that too" she smiled
"You did?" he asked surprised
"Yeah, with Sam, my husband, remember him?"
"Well I remember, like everyone else, hearing about him but as for meeting the infamous Mr Evans, still to happen"
"One of these days" she smiled, turning to go get the list from her Dad "Trifling fool" she hissed as she walked
Sam
Sam was a bit overwhelmed at the reception he got from his family, it was like nothing had ever happened, nothing had been said, they hadn't written him off because he dared to marry not just out of his class but a black girl at that, he sat eating but watching everyone around the table
"I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank you all for rallying around, despite how you feel about my life, to help me out, you don't know how much this means" he stood up telling them all, smiling back at him "Thanks again for this Dad"
"I've got Bernard looking into getting you immunity" his Dad told him
"I really don't think the Feds are going to be willing to let me off that easy" he laughed
"You leave them to me" his Dad warned "I've got your accounts unfrozen, your home's still there if you want it"
"Thanks" Sam gasped, Mercy and he had put so much into their home, he was sad to lose it, it hadn't been brought or furnished with their dirty money, he'd earned every penny legitimately
"I know you're going to tell me it's none of my business and maybe it isn't but" his Dad looked around the tables "have you spoken to Mercy yet?"
"No I still don't know what to say"
"I've told you before a simple I'm sorry will start the ball rolling"
"I wish it were that simple" he brushed his hair back telling his Dad as everyone else listened
"Son you gave your family up for that woman, please don't tell me you don't think she was worth it now?"
"It's not her it's me, I lied to her, it's never going to be a simple sorry" he grabbed his chest telling him "Sorry, I can't breathe, every time I think about losing her it hurts"
"Calm down Sam" his Dad looked round the table concerned "There's only one thing that's harder than forgiveness son" putting his hand on his shoulder "Asking for it"
"Amen" his Mom added making everyone laugh
Mercy
Mercy returned from the shops and packed everything away "Dad I saw Diane in town she asked if we wanted to come for supper, I said yes, is that alright?"
"That's fine" he smiled at the fact they'd actually had a civil conversation, the girls had always been at logger heads, Diane because she envied the relationship Mercy had with her Mom and Mercy for the same thing with Diane and her Dad. If they'd have stopped to look at it for just a minute they'd have realised they were loved the same by both but they were forever watching what the other had instead of what they were getting. "We can do some midnight riding when we get back like we used to" he suggested
"Dad" she whined "You're not going out at midnight to ride a horse"
"Spoil sport" he pulled her hair saying as she packed the last of the shopping and later left for Diane's
They'd had supper, Mercy helped get the girls ready for bed, and now their Granddad was reading to them, Mercy and Diane sat out on the porch sipping juice and looking at the people going by "So Mercy" Diane finally looked at her saying waiting for her to give attention before she carried on "Are you ever going to call your husband?"
"I guess he knows where I am if he should ever feel the need" she rolled her eyes replying
"That's fine as long as you can cope with the fact that he might not want to"
"I asked him so many times, where did all our money come from, and he looked me in the eye and lied, how the hell do we get past that?"
"I guess this is where you look at that little bit of that ceremony I'm hoping you guys had, when you said for better for worse I think, but I wasn't there to know"
"You sound like Daddy, and I'll say it to you too I'm sorry that was wrong of us"
"I guess the only question you need to ask yourself is, do you still love him enough for that big mistake not to matter so much"
"I guess" she smiled getting up to hug her sister "Thanks I thought it was going to be so hard for us to talk"
"I've always told you, I don't know why you don't believe your big sister, I can make this easy or very hard" she giggled, hugging her sister back, both laughing
"Mom Grandpa's on the floor" Tanayah ran out shouting, Mercy ran into the house to go find their Dad and Diane grabbed the phone
Everything went into slow motion as Mercy stood looking at her Dad's lifeless body on the floor, nothing in her head except the recollection of her Mom had and how she never recovered "Mercy is he breathing?" Diane shouted
"I don't know" she yelled
"Check, is he breathing?" Diane asked as Mercy got back to normal speed and started checking
"He's breathing, faint but he's breathing" she yelled back as Diane relayed the message
It seemed like a long while after but the ambulance finally came and they followed it to the hospital while Diane called her husband from work to meet them
"Khalil" they shout when they saw him walk through the doors "Daddy's in will you find out..." he held his hands up at them
"I'm dealing with him he's alright but it is what he'd feared I'm afraid he has a malignant form of brain tumour, your Dad had..."
"...No don't" Mercy held her hand up telling him to stop "Can we go see him?" she asks, Diane too much in shock to even respond
"Yes, he's in room 223" he told them as Diane steps off rushing to go see her Dad
"Thanks" Mercy grabs his arm
"Look, with what's happening now this hospital is in no was advanced enough to deal with this stage, you need to get him to see Dr Shaw, wherever you can get hold of him" he told her giving her a card "He's expensive though so be prepared" he warned as he left the card in her hand
"But we don't have any money" she looked at him saying
"No but your husbands family do" he told her
"I haven't spoken to him since I got here" she called after him as he walked away
"That's too bad" Khalil turned to say "All I know is that, if that were my Dad in there I'd be moving mountains to get him the medical care he needed"
She went to find her sister and see her Dad, they cried of course, made plans, and talked about changing lifestyles "I don't want any of that" he waded into consciousness to tell them as they sat planning
"I have the number for a brilliant surgeon" Mercy told him seconds before he fell asleep again
"Come on lets go get some rest ready for tomorrow " Diane suggested, they kissed their Dad and left as he slept "That brilliant surgeon?" Diane asked
"Khalil gave me his number said to hunt him down, I just need you to agree" she told her
"I agree" Diane replied, she didn't even want to hear the detail, the next morning Mercy made the call
Sam
"Right Bernard tell us what you have for us" Sam's Dad sat in his study next to Sam waiting for good news
"Well we feel it would be detrimental for Sam to plead not guilty, he's wrapped up in this so tight but we could try as we said before for immunity, so he would still have a record but he would by all intents be a free man protected by the law for telling all he knows if he's got enough" Bernard told the two men
"So your suggesting he goes for immunity and let the others fight it out amongst themselves?"
"I am Sir, if he signs this I can get it to the judge this morning" Bernard asked Sam's Dad as if Sam wasn't sitting there
"Are you alright with that son?" his Dad asked just as Sam's phone buzzed in his pocket
"I'm..." he looked at his phone to see Mercy's name come up "Could you excuse me a minute?" he got up asking the three men sitting waiting
"Really?" Bernard asked shocked he'd walk out in the middle of such an important conversation
"Really, if it's more important than this it can only be his wife, and I told you about that situation" his Dad reminded Bernard
"Of course" he smiled sitting back to wait for Sam's return
Sam got out to the corridor before he answered the call "Mercy?" he asked
"Sam" she replied no feeling in her voice
"Thanks for calling, does this mean we're not..."
"Sam" she shouted "I called you obviously I have something to say" she stopped his conversation telling him "I need your help"
"Anything"
"My Dad collapsed the other day, we found out he has a malignant form of brain tumour, his Surgeon says there's only one Doctor he could trust with such an invasive operation and I'm hoping you can get to him"
"Doctor Shaw?" he asked but confirmed
"Yes"
"Of course, I'll call him get him a consultation and I'll call you back as soon as I do" he told her "And Mercy, I still love you and you take all the time you need, I'm ready to wait until you feel you can start to forgive me, I did wrong, I'm sorry"
"I'm not there yet Sam"
"Please Mercy don't hand up, can I call you I need to put this right"
"You can always call Sam"
"But will you answer?"
"We'll see, bye"
"I'll jump on that appointment, don't worry about any of it, just look after your Dad, bye" he rambled before the phone cut off, smiling at least she'd needed him for something, that was a blessing in itself "Right" he walked back into the study saying "So Dad am I signing this thing?"
"I think you've got the best deal you can get considering the situation, but the decision all yours I'm afraid" Sam signed the papers and left the office with his Dad "Was that Mercy?"
"Yeah she finally communicated" he smiled "I can breathe again"
Mercy
"I called Sam earlier" Mercy told Diane as they met at the hospital that afternoon
"What did he say?"
"He'd make the call and get back to me with a consultation date and time, and we shouldn't worry" she smiled "And I breathed"
"Money talks" she rubbed shoulders with Mercy smiling "You and Mom and that breathing thing you guys had going on" she rolled her eyes reminding her
"Mom was right about it I know that now" she smiled "You know I was thinking last night" she looked at her sister as the elevator took them to their Dad's ward "It's got to have been so hard for you, and I'm sorry I left you here to deal with all of this, plus your family"
"You could come to church on Sunday to make up for it"
"I will but I won't sing"
"It's not up to you remember, if singing comes it comes" she smiled hugging her
A few days later their Dad was out of hospital, demanding to go to church, of course everyone made the effort and got there "Morning Mr J, Mercy" Khalil smiled looking at Mercy so long, her Dad huffed
"Khalil" she shouted as they left church
"Mercy" he stood smiling watching as she walks towards him "You look beautiful this morning"
"What was all that with Dad this morning, why was he so off with you?" she asked ignoring his complement
"He's always had a thing with me blowing hot and cold, ever since I told him I had a thing for you" he looked at her smiling
"I'd like to feel special about that Khalil but I'm married, you know that, and I know I don't have to even remind you I take my shit serous" she looked at him saying "So I'm going to leave that remark right there, you dropped it but note I'm not picking it up" she turned and walked away
"Fine" he shouted after her laughing "Just let me know if your hubby gets that consultation for you Dad" she just waved her hand in acknowledgement and carried on walking
"Everything alright?" Diane asked as she came down the church steps with their Dad, her husband holding his other arm
"It's fine" Mercy told her opening the car door with attitude, Diane knew she's just put someone in their place and looking around she knew it was Khalil, she saw him standing watching, she had to add her bit, she cut her eye at him
Sam
Sam was sitting in the garden hitting his thigh with his fist as James walks through "What's up Sam" he smiled walking towards him "I brought Denise to visit, thought you might be bored" he winked at him saying
"Hi" he rolled his eyes at his brother before getting up to greet Denise; an ex-girlfriend, "Hi Denise, long time" he smiled hugging her
"I thought we'd grab, something for lunch I'm meeting Helen out of work we could all four grab something" James told him, he was much too polite to say no, it would be a harmless meal anyway
"Yeah sure" he smiled at Denise telling James before leaving to get dressed
They got to the restaurant and James insisted on making it blatantly obvious that he expected a hook up, Sam couldn't take it any more he went off to get some time and decided to wait at the bar to be served for a drink instead of ordering from the table "Sam" James grabbed his shoulder saying as he joined him "What's wrong with you?"
"I'm not hooking up with Denise James, I'm married for fuck sake, will you just respect that?"
"What's up with you, you used to be fun, single, my brother for fuck sake loosen up"
"In case you haven't noticed I've got a lot on right now, plus Mercy's Dad's sick and I've been trying to get hold of Shaw for a day, he's not even returning my damn calls. She hasn't asked me to do much since all this shit started, and the one thing she asks I can't do that. I'm not in the mood for company, and as I said definitely not hers" he looked over at the table at Denise having a cosy chat with James' wife Helen
"Okay, sorry I thought I was helping, we'll do dinner and get off" James tapped his back saying before they went back to the table, had dinner and ended the evening
"Sam" he heard when he picked his phone up early the next morning
"Mercy?" his eyes widened "Morning" he stretched
"Sorry did I ..."
"It's fine, it's been a while" he giggled "What can I do for you?"
"I just called to say thanks for getting Dad that consultation"
"Oh no problem" he told her as he sat wondering how that actually happened, there were more sorry's, talk about love, building relationships and even a suggestion of them seeing each other before the conversation ended with Mercy saying she'd think seriously about it and he was happy with that for now
"James" he called down the phone when his brother answered "I just want to say thank you for doing that for me, for Mercy"
"It's nothing, it's family business"
"What she's moved from you calling her racist names to family?"
"Orders from the man himself love her or get out, I love you so I have to do the right thing bro and love every part of you"
"You haven't told me you love since you were about 11 or something like that" Sam laughed
"Well lucky or maybe unlucky you, I do little bro"
"James" Sam said putting his hand on his heart "I love you too bro a lot"
"Now go sort your life out" James told him
"I'm going back home today, I need to get things sorted for when Mercy decides she wants to talk, and I have a project in mind for her birthday"
"Sounds exciting, call if you need help" James said cutting the call before he pushed Sam's bedroom door open "But it all starts with getting out your damn pit" he laughed as Sam threw a pillow at him
Mercy
Two weeks later and Mercy and her Dad were off to LA for a consultation with Dr Shaw
"Gosh" her Dad said covering his ears as they came out of the airport doors "How the hell do you live in this place the noise is deafening"
"It's traffic" she laughed guiding him along, as she waved to a cab driver, got her Dad in the cab as the driver loaded the bags and they were off to the hotel
"This is a nice thing Sam's done for me, he doesn't even really know me" her Dad looked at her saying as they drove along
"I didn't say he wasn't nice Dad it's about the lies he told me, I really don't know how I feel about him doing that still, I feel like the trust has gone"
"Has he ever done anything to make you not trust him?"
"Just this"
"How can you judge someone you say you know enough to marry on one mistake like that? it feels like you were looking for a way out of this relationship you walked away so easy"
"You and Mom has a loving, trusting, relationship, that's all I want"
"We had our problems too Mercy, we were respectful of each other enough to not let you children hear it, but we disagreed all the time"
"I didn't know that" she looked at her Dad saying "I've always wanted what you and Mom had" she smiled at him
"We had a life together, ups, downs, good, bad we went through it together, that's what we had" he hugged her saying "I think while we're here you should take the opportunity and go see Sam, talk, we have a day"
Sam
Sam had gone back home, he'd told Mercy that was the case and even sent her keys to her telling her she could come home whenever she felt the mind to do so, he'd be waiting. He was well into sorting out her Birthday present too, he'd picked up her demo auditioned some backing singers to work on it, hoping she'd perform it professionally on her birthday. He'd called Diane and got her to set it up in Lima, he really didn't know why she'd slowly give up singing because it was something she was still passionate about, he was all for making that singing thing happen for her.
"Girls" he shouted to Christine and Jennifer as they sat about his furniture like they owned the place "You have exactly 3 weeks to get this down, I need perfection"
"10 minutes Sam, and we'll be on it" Christine announced as Sam rolled his eyes and walked off towards his bedroom, he wanted to shout, these girls were lazy, but he'd auditioned so many girls to find these two they sort of had him over a barrel right now
"And stop laying all over my damn furniture" he shouted as he slammed the door behind him
"Hi" Mercy walked in her apartment to see two women laying all over her furniture "Who are you?" she asked the women looking between them
"We're here with Sam" Jennifer answered
"With Sam?" she asked for confirmation
"Sam" Christine shouted
"What?" he came out the bedroom still angry until he saw Mercy standing near the front door "Mercy" he gasped, air emptying from his lungs, looking around at the picture that was being painted here with these women making themselves familiar in their home "it's not what you..."
"...Save it" she held her hand up telling him turning to walk out the door "Oh thanks for sorting things out for my Dad" she stopped to tell him before making her way out the apartment
He made chase "Mercy" he grabbed hold of her as she got the elevator "It's not what you think, I'm arranging a birthday present for you"
"This wouldn't be the first lie you've told me would it?"
"I'm not lying Mercy, it's a surprise for your birthday" he spun her round to look at him, before letting her go "I'm not lying" he looked into her eyes telling her. somehow she knew it was true "I'll call" he smiled, seeing she believed him
"You might" she smiled, a comfortable smile that left them both happy, as he watched her walking away
An hour later Sam got a call from Mercy's Dad asking to meet, he agrees to meet him at their apartment, he wasn't looking forward to it, there were a lot of questions to answer "Mr Jones" he half smiled when he opened the door to this short stout man who looked like Mercy
"Sam I'm not here to beat around the bush I need to know what's going on between you and my daughter, this conversation is well overdue" he shook his hand telling him
"Have a seat please" Sam kept hold of his hand telling him, walking him over to the couch
"Mr Jones I didn't commit fraud, and I don't sport other women either, yes I eventually found out the company was rotten and I didn't say a damn thing about it, but I've told Mercy already everything I personally did was legitimate, I always knew what I had to lose" he rubbed the back of his neck telling him "I've come to a bargain because my family have been mainstay in this City for over 150 years and a plea admitting anything would badly affect my family name now and in the future.
"Yeah" Mr Jones laughed "Do you know the most wrong doings are done by people who thought they were doing the right thing?"
"I guess" Sam smiled "You've got your consultation tomorrow yes?"
"I have but I'm not going any further with that stuff, I miss my wife, she's waiting for me, and that's a big part of the reason I've come here tonight" he smiled up at Sam telling him "When I'm gone I need you to be there for my daughter, I need you to step up and be a husband Sam, not someone waiting in the wings for forgiveness for ever and a day"
"I lied and I have to take the consequences for that"
"You two are so alike" he laughed "Both runners you guys need to stop and set yourselves some foundations" he looked at Sam's puzzled face telling him "You guys need to figure out why the music stopped"
"I'm not sure I know what you mean by that" he smiled
"When you do get back to me, but there's a time limit on that 6 weeks maximum so..." he looked into Sam's eyes "I need you to figure you two out real quick" he moved forward and grabbed Sam's shoulder "Don't tell the girls"
"I won't" he told him as he looked back into his eyes
Mr Jones finally got up, Sam took him downstairs and put him in a cab to get back to the hotel "And Sam" he grabbed his shoulder saying "Hope your doing something special for her birthday"
Mercy
After she went frantic about her Dad going missing, she finally settled down the consultation took place and they returned to Lima, the time was taken up with making her birthday special, as her Dad's health deteriorated at a frightening speed "Diane I fear for Daddy, do you think there's something he's not telling us?" Mercy asked as they dressed the church hall for her birthday party
"I think he's given up, I think he's awfully lonely and want to be with Mom"
"That's a horrible thing to say" Mercy spat at her
"I think it's beautiful, the thought of Mom and Dad back together forever"
"I guess" Mercy sighed "Let's make this one special"
"Special will be both of us being here" Diane told her hugging her "I'm glad your here, but I hate the situation between Sam and you"
"We'll be alright, I'm nearly there" she told her "And I still love him"
The party started at 6.30pm on the dot as the elders arrived ready for food, prayer and chat while the younger ones got ready for a musical evening, sorting the children out and packing them into the church when the dancing started, the Sunday school teachers left to do their entertainment thing as the volume went up on the music
"Mercy" her Dad called sitting a few yards away from her, while she stood talking to friends "Get me up, I'm determined to have this father daughter dance with my youngest" he chuckled telling her
"Dance Daddy?" her eyes bulging with surprise
"Yes Dance" he smiled "I want that song you used to sing with your Mom, back then you know, the one you two wanted to go off and make famous?" he laughed
"What 'Breathe' by Chante Moore you mean?" she laughed
Yeah that one" he smiled "I loved hearing you two sing that" he pulled her to him saying
"it was already famous Daddy" she laughed, looking at the band when she heard the song start playing "You planned this?" she looked up at him smiling "Okay just this once for you"
When the pressure's overwhelming, and to find your price to big to tell me, I'll be the strength that lies beneath your ego
When you go and grew the things that only you may know, when the world seems unfair, and no one else seems to care, just know that I'm right here
To help you clear the air, and I'll help you breathe, and I'll help you breathe I'll help you breathe, I'll help you breathe, oh to breathe again
She just about got out before she started crying for the memory, and her situation
"Thank you" he told her as her head rested on his chest and he hugged her as she tired to compose herself "And thank you for coming home, but I better stop hugging you like this" he chuckled
"Why?" she looked up at him asking "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine it's just that your husbands standing in front of me looking all kinds of jealous" he told her as she looked up at him to see he was looking beyond her and turned to see Sam standing looking at them
"Sam" she gasped
"May I?" he asked her Dad
"My pleasure" he smiled back at him as Mercy turned to look at him
"Dance with me?" Sam asked her smiling as she fell into his arms
"What are you doing here?"
"I want you to come home, I need you to help me breathe" he told her as they moved around the room
"I'll help you breathe again" she looked at him saying "But can't go back to LA Sam, it's not home any more, it's not the life I want to live" she pulled away from him saying
"I didn't say LA I said home, wherever you are is home for me Mercy, I love you" he pulled her back to him telling her
"Do you hear that" she pulled up off his chest asking
"What?" he asked a smile on his face
"The music Sam our song?" she stood looking at the stage as her song played
"I hear the music Mercy I just don't see you up there singing it"
"In front of all these people?"
"In front of me, to me, I found you backing singers too, happy birthday" he told her leading her towards the band
"Go girl" Diane shouted, Mercy laughed when she turned to see Khalil and Diane elated at their plan coming together
Mercy went up and sung her song on stage to her husband, her backing singers on point she was more than happy "Thank you" she looked at Sam smiling when she eventually finished the song "I love you Sam Evans" she mouthed holding her heart as she spoke to him
"I love you Mercy Evans" he mouthed as everyone clapped, he left her to bask in it
Mercy finally came off stage and they both breathed acknowledging their storm was over
Two weeks later her Dad died in his sleep and Diane swore his smile was because he'd finally met up with his life partner again, the funeral was hard for the girls but their husbands were there to support them. Sam's family came down to support them for the funeral, and made peace with Mercy, just after that she announced she wanted to stay in Lima. Sam was alright with that, his reputation in LA had diminished somewhat, his financial friends were long gone, he felt it was best to stay out of the limelight
10 Months Later
Sam and Mercy had stayed in Lima, the old house hardly recognisable from the new brick walls, rebuilt porch and veranda, fully decorated internal walls, added bedrooms, bring it to six instead of the usual four, garage, small pool, new furniture and new fencing. Their lifestyle had changed, they were regular church attendants, Mercy was a singing Sunday school teacher, and during the week she was in the studio making music, Sam had his own investment firm working from a small branch in town, slowly building things up for himself with the help of his brother
They'd been to church as usual, and lunch was at Diane's this week so they took the opportunity to drive home for a few hours, stopping by to see her parents
"Do you need me to come with you?" Sam asked as they stopped the jeep
"No I'll be fine" she turned to smile at him opening the door as he ran round to help her out
"Be careful up there it's rocky" he warned, rolling his eyes for her instant mood change "I know you're capable" he smiled
"Hi guys" she said as she got close to her parents gravestone, a tear falling as she spoke "I know you're both laughing at me right now" she giggled "I'm the size of a house" she turned to look at Sam saying "He did this to me" she told her parents
"I think they know that" Diane walked up to her saying
"I guess" she grabbed her sister telling her as they stood looking at the stone "We're going to call him Calvin after Daddy" she told her
"That's actually perfect" Diane told her
"Come on" Sam grabbed her waist telling her "You'll need the loo any minute now" he reminded her
"So romantic" she laughed as they walked off back home
"I don't need your superman, you can keep your Clark Kent, all I need is my man" he sung in her ear
"Here comes our baby" she grabbed her bump singing but screeching
"Diane call Khalil" Sam called
THE END