Journey to The Grammy's
Present Day2018
Sam sat in his yet another hotel bedroom, his eyes unable to move from the mirror in front of him "Mercy, we're going through with this" he laughed excitedly down the phone "But I'm so scared" he told her honestly "This is big"
"Sam I'm sitting here looking at a picture of you on the cover of Life, you're the biggest thing since James Gold and hell you deserve this"
"I feel like …."
"Sam come on the cars here" Daniel; his Manager, shouted through the door
"Mercy I have to go, I'll try and speak to you there"
"I'll be watching from the rafters"
"Sorry you couldn't be up front on our table"
"I know, but I love you"
"Sam come on" Daniel shouted again
"I love you too, so much, see you there, remember our song"
"I remember" she told him seconds before the phone went dead
"Shit" Sam threw the phone down anxious for the way his life was about to change
Flashback to 2011
He'd met Mercy six years ago on his way to an audition in his home town of Harrison, Arkansas, she was on a haulage van with a load of other people driving through their sleepy town moving to California with her family. They'd stopped at the local garage to get some gas, the driver had filled the tank and the passengers sat in silence looking straight ahead, obviously not looking for trouble, he'd never seen that picture before, his attention peaked when he heard Mr Bennett; the gas shop owner, refusing to take the money from the man who was trying to pay
"You drive off and I'll call the police" he told him as the man walked back towards the van climbed in and locked the door
"What's up?" Sam asked Mr Bennett as he walked towards the till
"We don't accept their money"
"So how are they going to pay?" he asked
"They should have asked that before they touched the pump" Mr Bennett told him
Sam walked to the back of the shop still looking at the people on the bus, his eye caught this innocent looking, round faced girl, stood in the confectionary isle, they were both shocked for seeing each other but managed to smile at each other. He turned to look back at Mr Bennett before calling to her "Come here" he whispered watching as she smirked and walked towards him "Where are you guys going?" he asked her, looking back at the van, everyone on it watching as he conversed with this girl
"My family's moving to California" she smiled "Folks around here aren't too friendly" she looked at the man at the counter telling him "He won't let us move because we didn't ask permission to pump the gas we want to pay for"
"Did you fill it up?"
"I don't know" she cracked the door and shouted to the driver "Did we fill it up"
"No" he replied
"Tell him to fill it up" Sam told her "And give me your number...?" he looked at her waiting for her name
"Mercy" she beamed at him "Mercy Jones"
"Mercy Jones give Sam your number" he chuckled
She'd looked at him for a while before she did as he'd instructed, giving him her phone after she'd passed the message on, she stood watching him walk up to the counter, with her phone and pay for the tank full of petrol before walking out of the shop with her and handing her phone back to her "I'll call you" he smiled "Tell your family they can go now" he looked down at her cheekily "Sam Evans, look for me on all social media, I'll friend you"
"Okay" she told him jumping back on the van and looking out the window as he became smaller, her family cheering her for getting them out of that rather sticky situation
That was one of the rare occasions he'd been out of the clutches of his Mother or Aunt, he'd initially got into theatre as a 10 year old playing a part in Oliver which lasted until he was nearly 15, he was fine with that it worked around school and stuff but then his Mom saw her opportunity and introduced him to television, he'd been playing small bit parts for a few years. Now at 18 years old he'd got the part he'd auditioned for the day he'd met Mercy Jones, his omen, and after nearly a year of on and off filming the series 'A Note in Time' was born, he was known on TV within the first four episodes, then the pop songs from the show hit the charts and when he finished that first series he was invited into the music world, he was an all-rounder, and the whole time Mercy had never left the other end of his phone.
They were in contact nearly every day, she'd always find time for him, and somewhere along the way they'd become each others significant other halves, it just crept up on them somewhere between month seven and eight of their social network relationship. They hadn't said or even asked anything official, it just felt that way for them.
Mercy was trying to break out in the singing world too, she was all about R&B and her entire family believed in her so much they'd all moved to California in the hope that her sound would make it, not just for her but the whole family. At first that was exciting because they were moving to a new place, she had all her family around her and of course she was getting to do what she loved, it soon became apparent the pressure that was on her to be successful and that became stressful. Her Uncle Bert became her Manager and between her two Uncles she had little room for manoeuvre, her mom stayed at home to look after her siblings and her Dad worked to fill the financial gaps.
Present Day 2018
Something about this had to change he convinced himself, he'd got all this responsibility, all this love going on in his life and no family on his side to share it with. He picked his phone up, grabbed his guitar and made for the door, it took a while to get outside, rolling his eyes as his dependable Mom came to view
"Come on, you'll be late for your own wedding" she stood waiting impatiently
"We'll get there when we get there" he told her wanting to say much more than that, but there were too many people around
"I love you Sam Evans" someone shouted from the crowd he spun round and smiled at them, it sounded so sincere, reminding him of the first time he'd said those words and meant them
Flashback to 2012
They managed to meet up on one of those rare occasions when his Mom wasn't pretending to be his chaperone, she played that part just to get her kicks with the management guys wherever they went, his Aunt had finally backed off, got hitched and left them alone, he prayed sometimes that his Mom would do the same, but that was a prayer he knew there was no hope for
He'd just had his 19th birthday, frustrated because he was still a virgin, his Mom was so loose with her shit but kept his tight, not giving an inch, he'd been in his hotel room yet again looking at the four walls, itching for Mercy's gig to finish so he could call her. She was at the Flamingo and he was at the Palace "4am" he smiled grabbing his phone he was so restless "Mercy" he called when she answered "It's so boring, how did it go? I wish I could see you"
"I can come to you if I get out now?" she whispered down the phone "That performance was so..." she gasped excitedly "Fantastic, I loved it"
"There's nothing like it is there?"
"Nothing"
"Come to the Palace but you'll have to use the back door, just act like a maid or something and come to room 609"
"Okay" she clipped the phone off
He sat with a smile on his face, they were finally getting to meet up after nearly a year of social media chatting, he actually felt like she was his girl, he told her everything and she did the same. His pulse was racing, his palms were wet, his head was itching and everything about his couch was uncomfortable as he watched the time wishing her there. Suddenly the door knocked and he jumped up "Mercy" he smiled he hadn't seen her in the flesh since that day at the gas station and it seemed like she'd grown into a woman. Her hair was long now, curled and hanging down her back and across her shoulders, her smile was bright, lighting up the whole of her face, there were no words for that booty she carried in behind her and his head leaned forward at the thought of settling into her boobs
"Sam" she laughed looking both sides before she stepped into his hotel room "Stop undressing me" she slapped his chest as she stepped in, all confident, nothing like the shy girl he remembered back then
"It's just that you've.. well you're a woman and the last time I saw you..."
"It's called growing up Sam" she rolled her eyes telling him, as she walked towards the couch and slamming herself down on it so much so Sam's face moved with the movement of her breasts as they bounced in the aftermath
"Why have you got that maid outfit on?"
"You told me to pretend I was a maid, I had to make it look real" she laughed "So I'm here" she was definitely more confident than him as she watched him walking around the room
"Drink or something to eat?" he asked walking towards the kitchenette, fidgeting, his mind was racing fast, his hormones were raging and his skin wet, the evidence showing in his very red face
"I'll have whatever you're having" her eyes followed him saying, her eyes playfully smiling as she watched him move, this was forbidden territory, this man was definitely forbidden fruit but right now this was all she was interested in and only a calling from the Klan was going to stop this from happening "Do you have a girlfriend yet?"
"No I would have told you" he looked at her "And I definitely wouldn't be calling you to my hotel room, I'm not that man" he walked towards her with two drinks in his hand, trying his best to stop the glass from shaking and remove his eyes from her breasts
She took the drink and pulled his hand with it, pulling him down onto the couch "You act like you're scared of me, we talk every day" she moved closer to him, him backing away as best he could, her body followed him as he moved resulting in him almost laying down as she moved herself to rest on top of him "You know what this is right?" she asked as he looked blankly at her "Booty call" she told him as his face formed a smile
"I'm a vir..."
"Yeah me too but I've planned this" she moved to lay on top of him looking down at his lips, she dragged the throw over them, kicking her shoes off, threw her legs onto the couch, rolling off him and laying on her side, he watched getting hotter as she pulled her dress up over her head and took it off, unclipped her bra and let her boobs rest on his chest
By the time her hand touched her panties he was getting the gist, he finally moved using his free hand to undo his trousers and wiggled out of them, and almost ripped his shirt off managing to get his right arm out she was laying on his other arm so he left it, his eyes closing as her bare skin rolled back onto him body, and with that he was ready
Their lips met seconds before their hands started to wonder around each others bodies, Sam could wait no longer "Mercy open your eyes" he whispered hardly able to catch his breath, as he lifted her up by her hips and slid her down onto him "God this is tight" he looked into her eyes saying, unable to tell if her face was showing pain or pleasure "Am I hurting you?" he asked as his body shuddered
"It hurts a bit but I'm fine" she sat still on top of him replying
"I'm sorry... " he stopped talking as they both felt a jerk and knew something had happened "Are you alright?" he asked making noise as he slid further into her
"God no that hurt" she pulled up telling him "Just don't move for a bit, I feel like you're ripping me open"
"I'm actually scared to move" he chuckled nervously "But I feel I need to" he looked up telling her, leaving things for a while before he asked "Can I move yet?"
"Yeah" she looked at him, suddenly she trusted what he was saying, doing, how he was making her feel, she sat on top of him watching him breath deep and long, taking in every expression on his face, how he bit his lip as his movement got frantic and how his muscles flexed bigger as his sound got louder
"This is... fuck this it ..." he looked at her saying, she didn't appear to be having as much fun as him but there was no way he was stopping this right now, he'd only ever reached these levels doing shit to himself before, this was every mans dream, he couldn't stop even if he wanted to "Mercy" he grabbed her hips and held her down on him as his body went into spasm until it was empty "Sorry" he finally opened his eyes telling her
"What for?"
"You didn't... I couldn't … I wasn't paying attention to you, that was totally selfish"
"I didn't give you the opportunity, maybe next time" she smiled "If there ever is a next time"
"There'll be next time believe me" he laughed sitting up
"I need to get washed up and get back before they realise I'm gone, my Uncles will tear Los Vegas down" she giggled jumping up to find the bathroom
"I feel like something important just happened and we're missing it" he followed her into the bathroom "I mean didn't that mean anything to you?"
"Of course it meant something to me Sam, but we can never be anything other than what we just were, I know what this is" she grabbed the flannel to wash herself
"What is it?"
"Curiosity I guess" she stood freshening up as he watched
"On who's part, yours?" he shouted at her
"Sam we met in Harrison, I might be stupid about a lot of things, but I know what places like that are about, I haven't got this twisted is all I'm saying"
"And what if I told you, you had it twisted, what would you say?"
"I'd ask what you mean I guess" she turned to look at him "Sam what are you saying?"
"That you mean something to me, that this isn't about colour, class or anything like that just pure love... that I love you Mercy"
"Why because we just had sex?"
"That happened because I love you" he pulled her to him telling her "Is that why you didn't let me touch you?" her eyes couldn't leave his lips as they trembled with anger, his eyes searching her face for an answer but his body wanting to be hers again, he pushed her against the door as he fell to his knees, parted her legs and sunk his head into her
"God" Mercy gasped at the unfamiliar feeling, finding herself springing liquid she didn't know she had as his mouth sent her mind reeling "Sam" she grabbed his hair pushing him into her lifting her leg higher to give him total access as her voice became someone else's, her whole life just for those seconds pivoted on his mouth touching her body in the right place, at the right time, with the right depth, she smiled when it all came together as she heard her own pulse echo through her body and listened until the sound became a breath "God" she licked her lips as if she'd just had a really juicy stake, opening her eyes to see him looking up at her, the lights outside making him look even more sexy as they flashed their various colours
"You alright?" he asked, smiling when she nodded
"I'm so alright" she gasped breathlessly "What the hell was that?"
"That was me loving you" he stood up and kissed her saying "Will you be my girlfriend"
"Sam" she whined at his stupid question
"I promise on my life never to sleep with, kiss or date anyone ever again if you say you'll be my girlfriend"
"How the hell is that actually going to work, your Mother's like a hawk, my Uncle is the Devil, how is that going to work?"
"We don't do anything out the ordinary, so they don't watch us so much, and when they sleep we'll find time to be together" he giggled
"I'll try it" she smiled, she couldn't resist his cute "I'll be your girlfriend" she giggled for the excitement of doing something behind her Uncles backs, leaning forward to kiss his lips
"You will?" he asked excited
"Yes because I love you too Sam" she pecked his nose, he'd never had such a feeling, finally he was special to someone "But I've got to go" she pulled away from him
"I'll get you a cab" he made to find his phone telling her
"No, I'm going a block down to get one, covering my tracks" she smiled that smile that kept him alive
Present Day 2018
"Sam" his Mother shouted as he sat in the car "Why are you always day dreaming, this is your big night"
"I know Ma" he flicked his hair off his face telling her
"And stop flicking that damn hair I told you get it cut or leave it alone, your daddy would be turning in his grave seeing you walking around like a damn girl" Sam rolled his eyes and attempted to block her out
"Don't forget you have to present to Carl Brown and then be ready 30 minutes later to collect your Grammy" Daniel butted in adding shit to his pile
"I know Dan, shit I've got enough pressure please" he shouted as the door banged and they started their journey "And it's not my Grammy yet"
"Come on you've got this" his Mom rubbed his shoulder telling him
"I've got this" he smiled at his plan, thinking about the first time he'd said that to Mercy
Flashback to 2013
"Sam" Mercy cried down the phone, he hated it when she called crying, he felt he needed to do something but he was never anywhere near her and that made him feel hopeless "I can't believe your text" she told him his chest heavy for all this being his fault
"I don't feel I can go against anyone here Mercy I'm really sorry about this, believe me I feel worse"
"You're going to play a grand wizard" she hissed with disbelief
"Mom says playing one is better than actually being one" he told her in his defence "You know this isn't me, but what can I tell them my reasons for not doing it are, that I have a black girlfriend who I very much love?"
"We could start with that" she replied, he went to laugh at her response but when she didn't laugh he realised she was being serious
"Okay I'll tell them" he replied
"No, I don't mean that, its just going to hurt to see you doing something like that"
"It hurts me more being away from you, it's been months since we got any time, and this is going to take up at least four months"
"Next month before you start, I'm in Reno and I think for one of those nights you might be in Carson we could plan something then"
"Yeah, that concert I wrote a song for you, I'll call and you can listen yeah?"
That month was the slowest month, as Sam prepared his song for her and planned his get away, he was hoping he was going to be away overnight. It was the last night of his concert in Carson City before Mercy called him upset, telling him she'd just arrived in Reno and was due on stage that night so it didn't look like they were going to link up "Sorry I thought we'd get more time" she told him as she explained how things had gone wrong
"I'll still come, I'll save the song for a special occasion, I need to see you"
"Okay" he could hear the smile in her voice though the phone "I finish around 3am as usual, I'm at the Harrah's in room 446" she told him "Got to go" she clicked the phone off quickly, indication to him that someone was coming
He finished his gig, waited for the fuss to die down and jumped in a cab taking the 32 mile journey across to Reno in just as many minutes, he walked in the front door, smiling at those that recognised him and booked himself into a room, waiting a good 30 minutes for fuss to die down before he left to find Mercy's room "Hi" he smiled when she opened the door, pulling her to him and grabbing her lips as he walked in, she relaxed against him, just then realising how much she'd actually missed his touch "It's been a while" he smiled down at her, wondering why she wasn't as happy as him "What's up?" he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear asking
"I guess I hate having to be like this, I missed you and I really didn't know how much until now"
"Let's enjoy every moment together" he pulled her back to him saying her arms wrapping around his neck as he lifted her up and walked towards the bed with urgency, his mind telling him to take the time to give her what she needed this time. He pulled away from her and looked into her eyes ran his fingers down her cheek to her lips, along the outline of her lips as she stared up at him, he bent down and pecked her lips "I love you Mercy Jones" he whispered in her ear, following her jaw line all the way back to her mouth with his lips
"I love you too Sam Evans" she told him smiling as he shivered, in her arms
They stood holding each other for a while, until she finally pulled away and found his lips, the wait getting too much for her, he kissed her back, for them at that moment all that existed was them. They knew each other, there was no mystery or awkwardness, her mouth was on him and she smiled as his groans started softly and got louder as his urgency grew, she didn't need her kind, gentle, careful, attentive man now she needed to be taken, ravished, even hurt she pulled away when she knew he was getting urgent.
"What?" he opened his eyes asking as his hands went out instinctively and pulled her back to him, she moved out of his arms a few times smiling when his lip thinned, she was getting what she wanted, "Mercy" he tugged at her when she tried to fight him
"Sam" she turned giving him her wicked look
He smiled back and pulled her to him with such force she squealed, pushing her against the couch, spinning her round so her back was to him, his hand in the centre of her back forcing her to bend over and taking her right there, he didn't care that she was screaming, he banged into her until her noise was pure pleasure before his hand went to do it's job bringing her to peak "I forgot it could be like this" he gasped as he pulled her closer to him and stood still letting her rock on him "Marry me Mercy" he asked as his seed emptied into her "Just marry me"
"Sam" she pushed him off her saying "Stop it" she flashed him off and walked away
"What?" he asked, watching her walk away "What did I do?"
"You always find the stupidest times to have your messed up conversations"
"Messed up? I asked you to marry me"
"We're 20 years old for crying out loud, I'm living in California and you live in Harrison and as if that wasn't enough, your white and I'm ..."
"... Black yeah I know all of that, so why haven't you answered me?"
"Who's going to give me away, where are we going to live, will our children grow up the black or the white way, will they stay at your parents for the holidays, and if so would that be in the big house or in one of the huts at the furthest point away from the damn big house?" she shouted as he walked towards her
"Stop it" he grabbed her arms telling her "I don't care who's giving you away, I want you, we'll live where the hell we want, and our children will grow up knowing both cultures and if they ever get to stay with my Mother it will be over my dead body I wouldn't wish that woman on anyone, plus we don't have huts" he laughed "Okay I take it back but if we're still here in a years time I'll ask again
"Sam" she rolled her eyes at him blowing hard
"I know" he hugged her saying "I know you're mad we've only got minutes, that all this is hidden, that right now the situation looks impossible but I'm going to find a way I promise" he rested his chin on her head telling her "We'll find a way, I've got this" he told her
"I know you have but I still wished you could stay"
"How would I explain that?"
"That you fell in love with a black girl and she wouldn't let you go"
"I did only I'm not letting you go" he smiled at her moving in to take his kiss
Present Day 2018
He sat smiling for the memory of his return to the hotel that morning to find Daniel and his Mom sitting around his room, waiting for him to turn up, the police standing there, chuckling as he remembered his Mom rolling her eyes as he walked in with his clothes all messed up "God they'll be telling me you've broken in every girl from Washington back to Harrison" she'd laughed as she got up to hug him "I was worried" she whispered in his ear
He felt his body tingling, smiling because he knew Mercy was getting closer
"Right now when we get out just follow me don't stop for anything or anyone, there's nothing planned to happen on the way in" Daniel instructed him "Oh and smile for the cameras there'll be lots of cameras"
"I'm used to that" Sam told him, the memory of his epic false smile flashing back to him as he sat watching his Mom more excited than him about this up and coming event
Flashback to 2014
He'd finally finished the filming and it had been his third month on tour, his music career had really taken off, more than he'd actually expected it to and everyone wanted him to sing at something, his Mom saw dollar signs she was saying yes to everything and he really needed to slow things down. He was passing his songs by Mercy before he even took them to the studio and she was doing the same, the only time they weren't connected was when they were on stage, in the studio or Mom, Uncles or Managers were around, then one day it went quiet and Sam got worried.
He was on stage in Dallas singing his heart out and putting a false smile on everything because he hadn't been able to get hold of Mercy for two days, they'd never spent that long not speaking. he was moving across the stage, dodging the flashing lights and trying not to trip over the girls prancing around the stage all at the same time, he'd got to the end of the song and one excited dancer had grabbed him round the neck, as she should have but pinched him hard, he'd looked at her waiting for a sorry and she'd kissed him on the lips right there in front of everyone. He was angry, he'd made a promise to Mercy, but he was on stage and on stage he was who his public wanted him to be, he smiled at the girl and gave his audience the impression that he'd enjoyed it. He'd started into his next song dodging the bright light blinding him and thought he'd seen the silhouette of Mercy in the crowd, there was no way he'd mistake her for anyone else, it took him a few more looks, and he must have looked odd searching for her while he was singing, fending these girls off and shunning the lighting, but he found her, his heart jumped as the biggest smile formed on his face
"Mercy" he mouthed when their eyes met, she smiled for the initial eye contact but then her face turned to stone, he didn't even need to ask what that was about of course she'd seen what that girl had just done and how he'd reacted to it
It was a few hours later, before he was able to actually talk to her, when everyone had packed their things and walked away, watching as his Mom found her next victim and the lights had all finally gone down. He sat on the empty stage for the longest while trying to think of a reason why he'd have let that girl do that, how he was going to make things alright for them after breaking his promise
"Sam" he heard making his head jump up
"Mercy" he gasped "I though you'd gone after that kiss on stage, I'm sorry I didn't know she..."
"I was going to be here?" Mercy finished off for him
"No, that she was going to do that"
"She looked at home to me"
"She wasn't it was a ..."
"You promised me" she talked over him again saying "She is more your type, I don't even know why I'm stressed about this shit" she spat
"I'm stressed about breaking that promise, but there were thousands of people watching my reaction, I couldn't call her what I wanted and walk off stage"
"Why not?" she walked closer asking
"Because despite the restrictions, I like what I do"
"What kissing other girls?" she leaned her head looking at him with a smirk on her face
"No Mercy" he smiled as she stepped up onto the stage "Singing"
"Is that another false smile?" she asked
"No" he frowned "Come here" he grabbed her hand pulling her to him "This is what a kiss looks like when I give it" he told her looking into her eyes before his eyes closed and he took his kiss
"I guess I see a difference" she smiled when he finally let her up
"The stupid things I do" he smiled "Forgive me?"
"I forgive you" she giggled
"So what are you dong here, you haven't called me for two days?" he asked, the smile wide on his face for them being alright
"I've been to Canada for a gig and left my phone in the cab, I got it back last night but then I heard we were passing through here and I thought I'd surprise you for a hot minute"
"Surprised, pleasantly surprised" he smiled before kissing her again "Sing that song with me" he pulled away asking her
"I don't know all the song"
"You'll catch it, come on" he said sitting down and picking his guitar up as she sat next to him listening to him sing his version of 'Shelter' by Andy Suzuki & The Method
Sam (Mercy)
You're tired of being in the middle, you're tired of being pushed around, I'm tired of reading your symbols, baby, day in, day out
No, I'm no good at sleeping around, won't you shelter me, shelter me, shelter me won't you shelter me, shelter me here?
I'll be your shelter, I'll be your only one, cause you and me go together, you and me, on and on and on, I'll be your shelter, I'll be, the one
"That sounds good" she smiled
"Yeah?"
"Hmmm" she nodded
You probably feel coincidental, both are searching, the lost and found, for former lovers, sentimental, baby, cross them out, No, I'm no good, at sleeping around I'm still no good at sleeping around, won't you shelter me, shelter me, shelter me won't you shelter me, shelter me here?
I'll be your shelter, I'll be your only one, cause you and me go together, you and me, on and on and on, I'll be your shelter, I'll be, the one
"Come on bring it" he encouraged her smiling when she started singing
Ooh, ooh (shelter me, shelter me) ooh, ooh (shelter me, shelter me)
I got flaws, baby, I could be better, I lose myself yes I do,the haze of those eyes, I'm in them forever baby, and ever baby, yeah
I'll be your shelter (shelter me shelter me) I'll be your only one (shelter me, shelter me) cause you and me go together (shelter me, shelter me)
You and me, on and on
I'll be your shelter (I will be your shelter) I'll be your only one (I will be your only one)
Cause you and me go together (Cause you and me go together) You and me, on and on (You and me, on and on, on and on)
I'll be your shelter (I will be your shelter) I'll be your only one (You and me, on and on, on and on, on and on)
I'll be your shelter (I will be your shelter) I'll be the one (On and on, on and on) I'll be your shelter
"That was so cool, we should record that" he smiled
"It's a beautiful song" she kissed him "Anyway" she turned to fully look at him "It's been a year and I was wondering..."
"Will you?" he asked grabbing her hand "Marry me I mean?"
"Yes" she simply said "I will" she hugged into him until she could squeeze no more before she let him go and kissed him hard
"Sam" there heard freezing unsure how far away Daniel's voice was
"It's Daniel come on" Sam grabbed her hand and scarpered down the side of the stage, they waited until Daniel left before they emerged laughing at nearly getting caught "So we're getting married?"
"I guess, I'll plan everything just get there, with a suit on" she smiled
"I guess you'll be the one in the white dress?"
"Wait and see" she pinched his nose telling him, smiling at his face lighting up for her
"I loved this surprise" he leaned in and kissed her, they stood talking, kissing and hugging for a long while before she finally announced she needed to go, and he eventually let her go"
Present Day 2018
"Right this is it buckle up" Daniel announced snapping Sam out of his thoughts "Where have you been today every time I've spoken to you you've jumped"
"I'm fine"
"Its a big thing he's up for an Grammy not everyone gets recognition for being a child prodigy" his Mom laughed rubbing his back "You're shaking" she rested her hand on his back telling him
"As you said, it's a big thing" he told her, he was shaking like a leaf, the first time he'd felt like this was just over two years ago, he smiled as he saw the scene again
Flashback to 2015
They'd spent every waking moment they weren't on stage talking about plans for this day that was only going to include them. He'd finally talked his Mom into going ahead to the next venue in Washington to negotiate terms before he made the trip so he could get away and get a night with his bride
"Mercy" he'd smiled when he finally saw her waiting at the chapel in Los Vegas that unusually quiet night, he'd flown in that evening and just about had time to sort himself out, with a hair cut, suit and shoes. He'd already booked them a night at the best hotel in town and sat waiting for their agreed time to come so he could make his way to the venue, she'd been there for about two weeks doing gigs and called him up every hour
"Meet me at the chapel yeah?" she asked giggling, once he'd told her he'd landed
"I told you this was going to happen" he laughed down the phone "An hour"
"An hour" she agreed closing the call
She'd took his breath away when he walked into the room and saw her standing there in a beautiful exquisitely simple white lace top dress with satin bodice hitting her at her calf, her hair natural and plaited into a web of lines dotted with real white roses and a round bouquet to match the roses in her hair. Her 4" satin white shoes with lace ankle ties setting the whole look off "Wow" he grinned pulling her to him "You look.. god you look absolutely beautiful"
"You brush up well too" she smiled looking him up and down as he stood in his beige, two button tuxedo with white shirt and beige shoes "You're shaking like a leaf" she grabbed hold of his arm
"Thanks, let's do what we came to do" he dropped his arm and grabbed her hand before they walked into the chapel, twenty minutes later in a haze they were officially Mr & Mrs Sam Evans
"Did we discuss how this was going to work?" she laughed as they got in the cab
"We discussed what was going to happen on our wedding night" he laughed kissing her neck as she moved to give him access "And I did say if this thing lasted one more year" he whispered before telling the cab where to go "I'll be your shelter, I'll be your only one, cause you and me go together, you and me, on and on and on, I'll be your shelter, I'll be, the one" he sang as he held her in his arms
"I can't say your not a man of your word" she giggled "I'll be you're shelter, I'll be the one" she grabbed his face smiling up at him, taking his lips
They soon got to the hotel, entering their suite, Sam trembling so much it was visible, he'd never felt such anguish walking into a room where Mercy was before, she went directly to the bedroom, he stood in the main room trying to stop himself shaking and wondering what was happening for him just now. He finally swallowed hard and made his way to the bedroom door, turning the handle before taking another breath, producing a smile when he saw his bride at the dresser taking her hair out and releasing the roses as she went. He'd seen her naked so many times but there was something about tonight that made her even more seductive and somehow more vulnerable, as she sat there in her wedding dress, his desire to have her heightened, his body reacting differently to this new version of the woman he loved "Is everything alright in here?" he looked around at the fruit, champagne and flowers
"lovely" she smiled back at him through her mirror, watching as he poured them a glass of champagne and walked towards her
"To us" he passed her the glass, holding the two glasses waiting for her to take one
"To us" she took a glass and lightly touched his glass before taking a sip and putting the glass down
The wedding night lasted considerably longer than the actual ceremony as they continued to surprise each other at how much love they showed which seemed to grow each time they were together "Are you alright wife?" he asked when they finally stopped his voice husky with lust and fatigue
"I'm super fine husband" she giggled
"That babe is a fact" he kissed her nose as she lay there in his arms before they fell asleep
The next morning it was plain that was their wedding present, the fact that they'd got to wake up wrapped in each others arms as they smiled a snuggled in taking in the moment, and savouring the memory, breakfast came they took their time about eating it and finally around 11am they left the hotel smiling because they had an even bigger secret but sad that it was actually a secret
"Whoever that damn hussy is, she better watch out for when I get hold of her and please wear protection" his Mom shouted down the phone when she finally got hold of him late that afternoon
Sam laughed out loud, accommodating his Mom's concept "She's already running" he replied through his laugh "I'll speak to you later I need to get washed up" he threw his phone down and walked straight through to his bedroom, he got in the shower and stood air punching and cursing his Mom for calling his wife a hussy. Only calming down when he closed his eyes and went back to that place they found with each other on their wedding night, smiling because he knew one thing for certain, he loved his wife.
Present Day 2018
The car came to halt outside the venue and everyone stopped to look at each other "What the hell are all these people doing here?" Sam asked shocked
"It's the Grammy's" Daniel reminded him jumping out the car before popping his head back in "Remember follow me don't stop"
"Sam go on" his Mom pushed him to get him moving
"Let the show begin" Sam smiled suddenly all that anxiety had gone he was a man with a mission
"Sam follow me" Daniel shouted as the noise became a big hum everyone shouting, screaming and even chanting at him
Sam looked around, he really wasn't prepared for all this, people were so close "Mom" he looked back at her stepping out of the car "Come on"
"Leave her I'll come back" Daniel shouted, Sam panicked for a second before he decided to wait for his Mom "Sam" Daniel shouted obviously angry for Sam not following orders
"How do you feel about being nominated for a Grammy for Best Album of the year?" a microphone and bright lights came towards him
"Great" Sam smiled before Daniel dragging him away
"No interviews until you get your Grammy" he warned him, Sam looked at him his eyes telling him he really wasn't happy with the way he was treating him in public "Sorry Sam but I did say"
"I don't care what you say, you fucking work for me, remember that" Sam spat back at him, he couldn't remember I time he'd felt so reprimanded, or maybe he could, he smiled as his wife flashed through his mind again
Flashback to 2016
That first year and a half of marriage had been testing in more ways than they'd originally thought it would have been, they'd had so many arguments about him not being there, not finding time, his definition of being a husband, what he'd actually expected her to do as his wife other than be there with her damn legs open every time they got together, he'd actually slammed the phone down on her a couple of times he was so stressed.
"Just come to California and spend Christmas with me" she'd begged
"That's like my busiest time of the year Mercy I cant..."
"I didn't think you would, you know what forget it, forget everything" she slammed the phone down telling him, he stood looking at the phone wanting to climb through it and shake her, there's no way she'd give up a gig to travel to see him, why the hell was she asking him to choose between his commitments and her
He wasn't going to rise to it but something snapped in his head and he called her back "Mercy it's not fair that you're asking me to do this, you know how I feel, you know the pressure I'm under, and you know you've caused most of it, if you'd just let me tell everyone then we could live a normal life"
"Normal life in Harrison?"
"You know how many years it's been since I've even been there" he spat back at her for always using that argument every time they went at it "I'm buying a house in The Hills and we can live there" he told her "And before you say it no I haven't picked one yet, we'll do that together"
"And who's going to live there me, while your off around the world with your Mom?"
"We're going to live there" he moaned "Mercy can we stop this, it's seriously stressing me out, I'll try and get over to San Francisco, I promise"
"Don't make promises Sam, that doesn't work on me anymore"
"Why...? he got out before she laughed and put the phone down, that day he played sick and took a flight to San Francisco "I'm being taken care of" he told his Mom as she constantly called his phone to find out where he was. He got to the concert so late there was no one at the back entrance to let him in so he had to go through the main entrance, luckily for him he didn't attract too much attention. He stood with the crowd watching as Mercy did her show, to look at her you wouldn't have known they'd argued and left things raw, he was good at that too "Hi" he smiled when he pushed his way to the front and stood in front of her, she smiled but he knew that was stage stuff
The song finished and she stood talking to all the lovers in the room, telling them not to settle for second best and how they should know their worth, he was embarrassed she might as well have been talking directly to him because she was telling him he was neglecting her, they knew this wouldn't be easy and yet he talked her into jumping in with both feet "So remember ladies, always want what's best for you" she finished as the music started, it wasn't a song Sam was too familiar with of hers, he'd maybe heard it at it's birth rather than this finished version, he stood listening to the words as she sung 'Easy' by Demetria McKinney she performed a couple more songs before she finally left the stage but that one had made an impact on him
"You totally humiliated me out there" he shouted at her when they were finally alone in her changing room
"How?" she tilted her head asking him
"Singing that song to me, telling me off in front of everyone"
"That song was for everyone Sam, if you took something out of it, that's on you and how you're feeling, don't blame me" she warned as she walked towards him "And I don't care if your mad with me I need your arms around me" she stood in front of him telling him
"Something needs to change for us, this is getting horrible" he smiled down at her before he scraped her up in his arms
"This needs to happen a lot more" she sunk into him telling him "I miss you madly, I don't mean to be like this it's just..."
"We need to see more of each other" he rested his head on top of her head saying
"Yeah" she looked up at him "I did sing that song to you, but I don't want us to die"
"Me neither" he smiled hugging her tighter "Come on lets get out of here"
"This situation is eating us alive, but what can we change, I mean really?" she asked as they made their way to her hotel
"We'll work it out I prom... we'll work it out" he pulled her to him, both sitting in silence trying to picture exactly what that would look like with their lives being what they were
Present Day 2018
He smiled as he remembered how they'd spent those 48 hours, it was pure back to wedding day bliss, looking round to see Daniel standing looking at him "What?" he asked
"You must be nervous speaking to me like that" Daniel laughed
"You must be getting paid too much" Sam laughed telling him "I am your damn boss, don't get that twisted" he turned to make sure his Mom was close, grabbing her hand as he walked towards the venue, the crowd shouting for his attention, he waved but didn't stop to talk "Wow" he said as they stood in the foyer of this red carpet event,
"You take photos in here" Daniel told him "Anywhere they want you" he told him as he grabbed Sam's Mom's hand and pulled her out the limelight
He stood feeling that really important feeling again as all eyes and flashes where on him, questions being asked, instructions being given, it wasn't what he lived for but it was a nice part of the whole thing "Is that it?" he asked Daniel somewhat relieved as he got to the entrance of the great hall adrenalin running through him at the realisation that he might actually get some recognition for his work tonight, he was so proud of himself, just a bit less than he'd been three months ago
Flashback to 2017
"Stop it, don't mess with my head" he shouted down the phone at Mercy a giggle in his voice as he spoke
"Sam" she said sternly "I'm serious"
"Serious?" he couldn't hide the happy in his voice "God Mercy"
"We didn't plan this"
"I know but the first thing we have to do is speak to your parents let them know the whole story before they start talking things we don't agree with"
"I'm scared"
"We'll do it together and if they don't like it we'll leave, we can manage, if you're ready for that?"
"I guess now I'll have to be ready for it" her voice filled with uncertainty
"No matter what I'll be there on Tuesday so be prepared, and by that I mean packed just in case"
"Packed?" she asked gasping at the realisation of the situation
"Yes packed" he confirmed "I'll call when I get the cab, bye" he said quickly he needed to jump, sing or something he was on cloud nine. Tuesday was fast arriving for Mercy, but for Sam it could have jumped four days ahead, he was jittery but excited by the time he grabbed hold of Mercy at the café not far from her house. They sat making their final plans, who was going to say what, what angry looked like on her Dad and what to watch out for from her Uncles "Fine" he finally told her, smiling because he had no intention of following any of it
They took the five minute walk back to her house in silence Mercy gripping his hand like a vice "How do I look?" he asked as they stopped outside the front door
"A mess" she smiled "But you're my mess and I want you" she quickly kissed his lips telling him before she opened the door an walked in "Mom, Dad" she shouted through the house as they walked in "We have company" she followed it with as he saw her parents faces pop into the open door frame from the adjoining room
"Who's this?" her Mom asked wiping her hands on her apron as they walked into the room
"This is Sam, Sam Evans" she smiled as he stood waiting for her to say more but she didn't so he stepped forward and shook her Dad's waiting hand, quickly doing the same to her Mom
"Mr & Mrs Jones" he smiled
"I know your face" her Mom told him as she stepped back
"Sam has something to say" Mercy announced as her parents looked from her to him
"Well" he rubbed his hands together nervously, his face instantly red, his hand attempting to move from his pocket to his neck but Mercy grabbed it stopping him "We're, I mean Mercy and I are well..." he looked at Mercy staring up at him looking like she didn't know the news either "We're pregnant" he blurted out
"What?" her Dad shouted their attention shifting from Sam to Mercy as she grabbed his hand tighter
"There's more" Sam butted in feeling brave because he was still standing at that point "We got married 2 years ago too"
"Two years?" her Dad asked almost dazed "How..." he couldn't find the words, his focus back on Sam now "So you couldn't tell us about the damn wedding but you come in my house telling me about a baby?"
"At least we're telling you now" Sam's voice raised as he spoke, the next thing he knew he was on the floor and Mercy was shouting at her Dad, he was dizzy but he heard the shouting and quickly got up grabbing hold of Mercy and pushing her behind him
"I remember you" her Mom jumped in pointing at him as she spoke "The gas station, you paid" she looked at him waiting for clarification
"Yes he paid" Mercy told her Mom
"Thank you so much for that day" her Mom walked towards him smiling "We thought that was it for us that day, sorry about Vince" she looked back at her seething husband "I'm not as narrow minded as her Dad" she smiled offering him a chair "But I still want to know what your intentions are for my daughter and my grandchild?"
They sat telling her Mom and upset Dad their plans, about Sam's family, their careers, where they planned on calling home and their thoughts on the pending new arrival "You can let her go you know" her Dad finally told Sam "She won't run away"
"Sorry" Sam looked down at their clasped hands "We don't get much time together, and I just love having her next to me" he looked in her eyes telling her parents, Mercy just smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.
Eight months later, with just two weeks left to go, he got a call from her Mom telling him she'd gone into hospital, he was in Santa Barbara at the time, luckily he'd just finished his gig when his phone flashed purple, he knew it was her, on hearing the message he dropped everything, ran past his Mom and jumped in a cab for the 90 minute drive to get to her.
He was in panic mode, he'd promised he was going to be there, he'd moved everything around to get the week to be with her and had his excuses ready for further delays, this was totally out the blue 'what if something's gone wrong' he asked himself as he pushed the door open totally not expecting the picture he found. Mercy was laying in bed her arms full with their bundle of joy, his heart broke, he'd missed it "Sorry" he looked at her walking around the bed
"He's been here less than a minute" she smiled "Look at him, he's you" she looked up at him her eyes filled with tears
Sam looked down at his reflection, in colour "He's beautiful" he kissed her forehead telling her "Thank you" he stroked his forehead with his little finger as he introduced himself to his son "Hi, I'm your Daddy" he smiled his heart melting it was so full
"Do you want to..." the Nurse asked holding the scissors for Sam to cut the cord
"Yes" he smiled grabbing the scissors and taking direction on what to do
"Just getting the rest of this out Mrs Evans" the nurse said pressing her tummy as she spoke
He called Daniel and cancelled everything for the next two weeks, taking that time to support his family, they'd brought the house in The Hills a while back, they stayed there together for the two weeks he was around, then Mercy's family came up to support her the day before he left for work
Present Day 2018
He walked into the main hall looking around trying to get his baring and find his wife "You're over here" Daniel guided him to table 12 telling him
"Where's table 34?" he asked looking around
"Further back I guess" Daniel looked up at the table numbers telling him "Somewhere over there I guess" he pointed to the far left from where Sam stood
"Thanks" he told him sitting his Mom down before he took his seat and carried on looking around "Hi" he finally smiled when his eyes caught hers, the wide smile on her face told him she was clearly excited. He wanted to go be with her and her family but this was a night his Mom had dreamed about, he needed it for her, he needed to give her what she'd worked for before he gave her his news, humming the new song he was going to introduce to the world tonight if he was successful with this Grammy
"You alright?" his Mom grabbed his hand asking him, it seemed sincere but he couldn't help wondering if that gesture was for some hidden camera somewhere
"I'm fine now" he smiled looking back at Mercy when his Mom's eyes left him, he'd wondered around saying hello to a few people, had a toilet break and managed to grab a sneaky hand hold with Mercy before people suddenly started scrabbling to their chairs, there was an announcement that the camera were about to roll and the whole room became one giant set.
The evening was enjoyable enough as artists went up sang, presented and accepted awards, Sam finally went up to present the award for best Pianist to Carl Brown and then went back to his seat "You need to be ready to perform" Daniel whispered to him
"I am, this is it"
"A suit?"
"Yeah a suit" he smiled as the camera zoomed in on him and people clapped for his nomination "Thank you" he smiled, making sure he clapped for the other nominees
"And the winner is ... Sam Evans for his album 'Myself'" the compare announced as the room lit up, Sam got up and looked at Mercy smiling before he turned to look at his Mom and Daniel elated for his win, he went and got his award and made a speech, thanking his Mom. Manager, remembering his Father and talking about other significant people in his life. Less than five minutes later he was introducing his new album 'Us' telling everyone it was dedicated to a special person as the backing singers and Mercy came on stage to help him sing "Next To Me" by Imagine Dragons he sung the whole first verse to Mercy as everyone watched wondering what was happening, pulling her forward as the bridge started, smiling when she joined in
Sam (Mercy) So thank you for taking a chance on me, I know it isn't easy, but I hope to be worth it (oh)
So thank you for taking a chance on me, I know it isn't easy, but I hope to be worth it
(Oh) Oh, I always let you down (I always let you down), you're shattered on the ground (shattered)
But still I find you there (Yeah, yeah, yeah) next to me (Me)
And oh (Oh) stupid things I do (stupid things I do), I'm far from good, it's true (Oh) but still I find you (Yeah) next to me (next to me)
He was still holding her hand when the song finished, everyone clapped the performance "Ladies and Gentleman Mercy" he smiled holding his hand up with hers still in it before he hugged her and they all left the stage. The night came to a close shortly after that, and Sam held onto Mercy, his Mom and Daniel finally stopped circulating and found him
"Sam" his Mom smiled "That song, it's good, kept it quiet"
"Yeah" he smiled looking around for Mercy's parents as he spoke, smiling wider as they came up behind them "Mom" his hand threatened to reach the back of his neck as Mercy grabbed it, he looked at her and smiled "This is Mercy..."
"Yeah I heard earlier, great voice" she told Mercy smiling as she stretched her hand for shaking
"Mercy Evans my wife, we've been married for nearly three years now and ..." he looked around for her parents "This is Mr & Mrs Jones her parents"
"Joke right?" she held her chest asking, Mercy nearly burst into laughter for the look on her face
"No joke Mom.. and.. there's more" he smiled "We have a son, he's just gone three months old, he's not here tonight because it seriously depends on your reaction as to whether you ever actually see him" he looked at her, his face serious "I know what happens in Harrison Mom, but that's not for me or my family, and if you can't agree with that I don't want you to be a part of us"
"What restrictions have you put on them?" she asked cutting her eye at him
"No more hitting" he smiled
"Hitting?" she looked at him shocked "Do you love him?" she asked Mercy her voice softened
"Yes" she told her, embarrassed for having said it out loud to anyone else but him "I do"
"Do you love her?" he asked Sam
"Of course I do"
"It'll take me a night for this to sink in, then I want to meet my grandson" she smiled walking off as she spoke
"Was that it?" Mercy looked up at him asking
"I think so, what can she do anyway?" he smiled "Imagine all those wasted years"
"Just think of all the one's we've got to come"
"Thinking Mrs Evans" he smiled as they rubbed noses "Let's go get Little Man and get home, I want to wake up with my family in the morning, now that would really top this day off" he held the Grammy in his hand kissing it
"I can seriously think of something else that needs kissing" she whispered to him "Congratulations by the way"
"Thanks, now that means everything"
The End