Christmas Break
It hadn't been the best of years for Mercedes, she'd had a death in the family, a marriage her sister had sort of rammed down her throat at a time she didn't need to be reminded, and of course, a messy divorce.
She'd been married for four years; they'd been trying for a baby for three of those years and when it came to light she couldn't conceive, they'd agreed to adopt. They'd gone through all the process at great cost, and at some point through that process he'd decided he didn't want to adopt a baby, they talked about it and finally decided they wanted a 12 year old or there abouts. That was something they struggled with for a while because Mercedes had always wanted to be a mother and starting at teenager wasn't something she'd planned for, but for the sake of their marriage, which was strained at best, and her sanity, she agreed.
Six months into the adoption process they were done, passed everything they needed to, went to court, and made everything official and then there was the wait. They hadn't figured that in, and those four months of limbo proved to be too much for their relationship, he'd started spending more time at work a few months back, but it didn't bother her because he usually got like that when she dived into another album.
She didn't know why he never just warned her to slow down or just say he wanted out, but he didn't, he had to go the long messy way about it. The old clique shit happened, woman turned up on their doorstep crying, saying she hadn't brought into doing it alone, Mercedes quickly worked out she was pregnant, it was apparent, he came to the door worried, but didn't deny it
"Novi's coming tomorrow" was all Mercedes was worried about
"And you'll have her, but I'm having my own child Mercedes surely you can understand that?" he stood in the doorway asking, this woman with no shame waiting for him
"Go" Mercedes looked at the pregnant woman knowing she couldn't ever give him that
"I don't think you understand" he stood in the doorway looking at this woman "I want the house, it's only fair with me having a natural baby"
"Are you fucking joking?" she looked at him, this wouldn't have been so ridiculous had he put a penny towards the property, but he'd lived in a fully brought house for three years and even most of the clothes he owned she'd brought "We did a pre-nup babe, you leave how you came"
"I'm not leaving, you have this place, the holiday home, the apartment, three cars, I deserve the house"
"I'll give you the equivalent of your earnings for the past four years" she agreed aware this woman had brought into his crap and was expecting at least a house for her baby
The next day Novi turned up, they played the game, him thinking he was getting something out of all this, then four months later he was sitting in court being asked to produce his earnings for the last four years as part of the settlement process. She couldn't help but smile when he couldn't produce paperwork because he hadn't worked he'd been living off her and before this she didn't mind at all, she loved him. He became such a pain Novi their 12 year old was finding it hard to settle with all the shouting at night when he stalked the place, the constant calls demanding alimony, she decided to sell up and move back to Lima, her Grandma had a house there, her parents had lived in it until they passed and now it was just sitting there doing nothing
"I don't want to leave; I've just made friends here" Novi cried
"We'll try it out for 6 months if you don't like it we'll find something closer to Los Angeles" she assured Novi aware she'd already had enough upheaval in her life without all this, but she needed to feel safe, and Mercedes needed to have some peace herself
10th December
So, a month before Christmas they packed everything they needed into a u-haul her 4X4 and made the three day girls trek across the country to Lima "It's country isn't it?" Novi asked as the houses gave way to fields and trees
"It's quieter, I need that right now"
"Do they even have a mall there?"
"Something we call one"
"You're joking" she huffed "So they have cable right?"
"I'm not sure" she kept her eyes on the road, in all honesty she hadn't thought past getting away "You can learn about my history, my grandparents loved it"
"I'm getting car sick"
"We'll stop in a while"
"I think I'm more afraid of what's there than actually getting there, I feel like I'm running away again"
"We're not running away, we're starting over"
"What about people my age, are there any?"
"I don't know"
"So, there were no other kids around when you were growing up?"
"Of course, there were other kids" she smiled at her before looking back at the road "Our neighbours were the Evans, they have a son, his name is Sam and.. we were engaged once"
"What, you were in love with someone else?" she smiled "So romantic" she giggled "What happened?"
"Briefly"
"Where you in love with him?"
"Yes" she huffed "It was a long time ago"
"So why didn't you marry him?"
"It's a long story"
"Do you see the road ahead" Novi pointed to the empty road "We have time"
"Okay, we weren't right for each other, I wanted the stage he wanted to stay still and, we could never have worked, I didn't realise until it was nearly too late"
"Too late?"
"I sort of left him standing at the alter"
"What?" Novi gasped "Seriously?" she half giggled "I did not figure you for that" she shook her head
"I'm not proud of it, it was how I felt on the day"
"Do you ever regret doing that?"
"Well, I guess today I'd have to say no, because the curve got me you"
They spent the entire trip getting to know each other, it had been a while since Mercedes had bared her soul to anyone "Where's the house?" Novi asked when they pulled up outside a shack
14th December
"This is it; it will be great once we clean up a bit"
"We're looking at the same thing right?" Novi looked back at the shack
"Come on a bit of dust never hurt anyone" Mercedes jumped out the car and ran inside, there were so many memories she'd missed and even forgotten from not being in this place for nearly 10 years. She stood in the middle of the kitchen remembering the smells, laughter, and conversations "Christmas" she laughed looking at the fireplace "This used to be such a great place to have a holiday, Grandma would fill the stockings with cookies, little toys, sweets and stuff and leave the biggest presents till the end of the day" she smiled "I really don't know why she did that"
"Make the day longer" Novi offered
"It's our first Christmas together I'm going to make is special for us" she hugged her "Come on let's get some cleaning done" she walked over to the dust sheets in the living room and started pulling them off
"Electricity?"
"There are lights"
"Wi-Fi?" Novi held her phone up
"I'll get some put in tomorrow" she walked around looking at Novi trying to get into the cleaning things wondering how to make things a little easier for her "O Holy Night, my favourite holiday song know it?"
"Sure" Novi smiled "O Holy Night' by Mickey Guyton version though"
"I don't know that I know that one"
"Just follow my lead, on the second verse" Novi waved her hand telling her to start
Mercedes: O holy night, the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Saviour's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error, pining, till He appeared, and the soul felt it's worth
Both: A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn'
Fall on your knees, oh, hear the angel's voices, O night divine oh, night when Christ was born, O night divine, oh, night, oh, night divine
Mercedes stood looking at the girl, she hadn't been aware she had a voice like that, she had to give her props, and she was cleaning faster now they were singing
Novi: Truly He taught us to love one another his law is love and his gospel is peace
Chains shall He break, for our sisters and our brothers and in his name, all oppression shall cease
Both: Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, let all within us praise his holy name Christ is the lord, O praise his name forever
Noel, Noel oh, night, oh, night divine, Noel, Noel, oh, night, oh, night divine
"You did your own little thing in there" Mercedes smiled at her
"What was that?" they both jumped at the bang
"Whatever it is I'll fix it" Mercedes told her
They cleaned, ate, discovered they had no heat, wrapped up, Novi found her room and they finally went off to bed, exhausted from the travel and cleaning
"Mercedes" Novi whispered sneaking into her room "Mercedes?"
"What?" she woke up shocked out of her sleep
"I heard noise"
"That would be an elk or something, go back to bed"
"It was inside the house"
"Everything's locked, we checked twice" she sat up rubbing her eyes "Sweetheart it's a new house, you'll get used to its sounds"
"I heard something; it wasn't outside"
"Get in" she pulled the covers open for Novi to get in
"So" she snuggled in "You actually ditched that guy at the alter?"
"You're making it sound worse than it was" she opened her eyes, not willing to have that conversation right now "Go to sleep honey"
"You haven't set eyes on him since?"
"No" she hugged her "Now go to sleep"
15th December
They fell asleep listening to the sounds of the night and woke up fresh the next morning "Mercedes" Novi looked up from her breakfast "I definitely heard something under the house last night, it wasn't a dream"
"Probably a stray bird or something" Mercedes laughed "I'm going into town to see if that studio still exists, get me some time in there for practice"
"Could you at least check the cellar before you go?"
"There's nothing there, but if it make you feel better, I'll check it" she opened the cellar door, turned the light on and went halfway down the stairs to check the place out, she stood basking in her memories, as a child she was scared of this cellar too "There's nothing there" she came back up smiling
"Can we not just have this day to ourselves?"
"You know what?" Mercedes looked at her "It's your first day in a strange place, we'll take the day, I'll show you around the forest, we could do some bonding"
"We're bonded" Novi laughed
"Come on" Mercedes grabbed their coats "Just for an hour or so"
"Okay" Novi grabbed her coat "We could get the Wi-Fi on the way"
"I knew you weren't going to forget about that" she laughed leading her out the house through the dense forest, and over the small stream
"What's that?"
"Our neighbours house"
"What that guy you told me about?"
"Yeah"
"Let's go have a look"
"Wait Novi it's not empty" she tried to stop the child from running towards it "Novi" she called after her following her towards the house, watching a car pull up
"Hi" Novi approached the woman that got out of it "I'm Novi, Mercedes and I live in the house through the forest apparently we're neighbours, she used to date a guy that lived here"
"Oh" the elderly woman looked around wondering what was going on
"Hi" Mercedes stood smiling at the old but familiar face "Mrs Evans it's Mercedes Jones from…"
"Mercy sweetheart" she smiled hugging her "How nice to see you again"
"Mercy?" Novi looked at her asking
"It's freezing cold out here come inside I'll make you a hot drink we can catch up, it's been a while since I blessed eyes on you"
"I wouldn't want to put you to any trouble"
"No trouble, we were almost family once" she smiled "And as usual it's Mary, Mrs Evans was my mother in law, and you know that never ends well" she laughed "Come in" she opened the door nodding them to go in "I'll get the water heated while you tell me all about what you've been doing since you…"
"She said she left some guy at the alter" Novi laughed
"Well, that's accurate" Mary looked at Mercy smiling "I made some fresh cakes this morning for church, but I guess I can spare a couple for guest" she took a couple out the large tin, set them on a plate, and put them in the middle of the table they'd all sat around. Filling the teapot with the hot water, watching Mercy take the cups out as if she'd been in the house yesterday, and pouring like she always used to do "Old habits" she smiled
"Do you still take that half sugar?"
"I do" Mary laughed watching her push the filled cup over to her "Thank you"
"I'm surprised you're here alone, what happened to the children"
"Oh, Stevie grew up, went about his business, and you know how Stacey is" Mary looked at the child "I know you're not old enough to have a what, 13 year old child?"
"We adopted Novi about eight months ago"
"We?"
"Just before the divorce, it's all over and done with now, a closed chapter in my life" she grabbed a cake off the plate feeling uncomfortable talking about that in this house "So they left?"
"Yeah" Mary smiled
"I thought Sam was hell bent on staying in Lima, that was one of the reasons I left, I couldn't see myself here for the rest of my natural" she looked around "Not this house, I mean Lima" she looked wide eyed at Mary for offending her
"They all left, all except… talk of the devil" she looked up at the door opening "Look who's here Sam, it's Mercy" Mary sat pretending this wasn't awkward at all
"Mercedes are you alright?" Novi asked breaking the silence "Mercedes you okay?"
"Well, it's been a while since they've seen each other, so I guess it's a bit of a shock" Mercedes sat looking at Sam looking at her refusing to say a word
"Did Mercedes really leave you at the alter?" Novi asked laughing
"Yes she did" Mary answered for him "Mercy's here because she just got a divorce" Sam stood still just looking at them all sat eating and drinking as if the past 6 years hadn't happened, he took his coat off listening to Novi telling the story of how they got to be back at Lima
"So now we're here for Christmas at least, might be longer, but that old place is falling apart so there might not be any house left by Christmas anyways, it's a dump" Novi told him
"That's a nice word for it" Mary laughed "Elsie hasn't been there for nearly five years" she smiled at the memory "And after Albert died it had gone down anyway"
"I swear somethings living in the basement" Novi told them "I couldn't even sleep last night"
"Sam these two ladies are in distress, you need to go over and see what's going on, see if you can help" Mary told him, he stood at the door looking at them wondering what world they were all in
"I think we need to go" Mercedes finished her hot drink and got up, fed up with Sam's silence "Come on Novi" she turned to look at Mary "It was nice seeing you again Mary"
"And you sweetheart, you should come to church tomorrow, catch up"
"I might just do that" she grabbed her coat and watched Novi putting her coat on, opened the door and turned to look at Sam "Sam" she smiled "It's good to see you again" he nodded in acknowledgement of her talking to him and perched himself on the dresser behind him
"Come back soon, don't be strangers" Mary followed them to the door "What's the matter with you, cat got your tongue?" she asked Sam when the door closed, he had no words, he just stood watching his mother clean up
"He's super cute" Novi whispered to Mercedes as they walked back through the forest to their house
"I didn't notice"
"Right" Novi smiled
They got home and somehow Novi seemed more settled than she did before they went out, the walk had done her good, Mercedes sat doing Novi's hair after dinner. Her braids had been in for at least four days, and with all the dust in the house she'd washed it and was now sitting watching wild child demanding some style she'd seen in a magazine.
"Did you hear that?" Novi jumped
"I heard it" Mercedes got up "It was in the cellar"
"Don't go down there" Novi begged "Call the police"
"It's just a stray animal or something, it will be fine"
"Don't go down there Mercedes, call the police" Novi hung onto her arm
"Okay" she walked over to the phone "I'll call the police" she picked it up and made the call. They both rushed to the door ten minutes later seeing the headlights flashing through the window, coats on, bags to the ready "Oh" she looked shocked at Sam walking towards them with a rifle in his hand "It's kind of you to come out, but we've called the police now" she looked at Novi smiling up at him
"I am the police" he told them following them into the familiar house "The basement you say?"
"Yeah" Mercedes let him in and opened the door to the cellar, following him down the steps, he flashed the light around the room, looking in every corner
"There's nothing down here" he turned to get back up the stairs "So you told Novi you left me at the alter because I was stuck in my ways?"
"It was the first thing that came into my head, I'm sorry"
"Me set in my way?"
"You were sort of you said.." they both looked at the sound coming from the corner
"Don't shoot, I'm only a boy" the shaggy haired boy jumped out from behind the crates piled high in the corner, they both stood shocked looking at him
"How long have you been down here?" Mercedes asked
"A few… days" the boy answered
"How long?" Sam asked sternly
"About a month"
"How old are you?" Mercedes asked
"Nine"
"Where's your mom?" Sam asked, looking at Mercedes when the boy fell quiet "What's your name?"
"Simon"
"Simon are you hungry?" Mercedes asked
"I could eat" he smiled cheekily
"Come on let's get you something to eat and a bath"
"Bath?" he looked at the two of them, his voice telling them he wasn't up for that
"You smell worse than dead bats" Mercedes laughed "Come on" she walked up the stairs with him following and Sam behind him
"I'll get on to social services" Sam told her
"He's alright to stay here, I can look after him" Mercedes passed the boy her plate of food
"I have to do what's right, I have to take him to the social services"
"He's a nine year old kid, what harm can he do?"
"He's been stealing food from your house and god knows what else"
"Because he's hungry" Mercedes told him
"Do you know anything about looking after kids like this, Novi said you got her that big?"
"A kids a kid Sam, you can leave him for the night, surely"
"Can he stay?" Novi asked looking at the boy throwing food down his throat like it was going to disappear if he didn't gobble it all up "Come on let me show you were the bathroom is, and get those clothes for washing"
"Does he even have anything else to wear?" Sam asked watching them disappear
"I can find something" Novi smiled at him, the two children leaving the room
"I'm not joking Mercy I have to take him down to the station, see if we can't find his parents or someone"
"Surely he can stay for one night?" she got up to clear the table
"I have to do what's right"
"So, leave him here with me?"
"I can't do that"
"You can and you are leaving him with me, he's just a boy and I have a feeling about him, there's much more"
"That's a joke, you have feelings?"
"What do you mean?" she turned to look at him
"You took off on our wedding day, without any explanation, I didn't think I'd ever see you again and then you turn up as if nothing had ever happened between us, or you just went to the damn bathroom or something"
"Sam" she stood uncomfortably "Let's not get into this right now, I didn't come back for this"
"Oh, that's right you came back because you got a divorce"
"Why don't we just let him get a good night's sleep, feel safe for the night, and then we can talk about it again tomorrow?"
"Because I have a duty"
"Come on Sam, it's one night" she grabbed hold of his sleeve "For once in your damn life will you just take a risk"
"That's not how we do things around here"
"Tomorrow Sam" she led him out the door and closed it behind him
Sam
Sam was still huffing when he got home "Is everything alright?" Mary asked her son, seeing thunder written all over his face
"I got a call about an intruder down at the Jones place, turns out there's a boy hiding in the basement"
"And I guess you charged in with your uphold the law shit, and pushed them away again"
"Are you supposed to be on my side?" he stopped to look at her "She's always walked around thinking she had the ammunition to save the damn world, I'd have thought she'd have grown out of that by now"
"And I'd have thought you'd have gotten used to that by now" Mary muttered
"What was that?"
"I said I think your just mad because she's back and she's not back for you" Mary looked at him "You can't look me in the eye and tell me you don't still carry a torch for that girl?"
"This isn't about my feelings, this is about a kid that needs to be in a proper home, it's Christmas in less than two weeks, he should be with a family"
"And I thought that was what Mercy and Novi were trying to make, a home" she huffed "Showing a little compassion"
"So, you're on her side"
"Yes I'm on her side, I always liked Mercy, she's a good girl, she'd got guts and you were the fool to let her slip away"
"I let her go?" he screwed his face up "She was the one that left me at the alter all dressed up with nowhere to go"
"Well, you got your money back" Mary laughed, he didn't like that at all he grabbed his coat and made for the door "Sam" she got up to follow him "Where's my pie gone?" Mary looked around the porch "Where are you going?"
"To the station to see if someone's filed a missing person's report" he told her slamming the car door as he got in and drove off at speed
16th December
Mercedes
"Mercedes" Novi came running down the stairs the following morning "Simon's not in his bed, he didn't sleep in it last night, he's gone" she huffed "And he stole my coat" they both looked at the opening door
"Simon" Mercedes smiled "Where have you been?"
"Out"
"Where did you sleep?"
"I slept in the basement" he put a whole pie on the table and grabbed a spoon
"Why?"
"You get used to nice things and you get soft, then when you have to give them up you don't know what to do anymore"
"Oh, I see" Mercedes looked at Novi
"Did you steal that pie?" Novi asked
"No, I borrowed it"
"Oh, I see" Novi remarked sarcastically
"I like it here though I guess I could stay a while"
"That's cool, but don't you miss your family?" Mercedes asked
"No"
"Oh" she looked at Novi again
"We've got Christmas coming, would you like to stay for the holidays?" Mercedes asked
"I don't believe in all that stuff, it's dumb"
"You're Dumb" Novi snapped at him
"Christmas is dumb, it's about dumb people buying dumb presents that nobody wants or needs, singing songs about snowmen, chestnuts and Santa Clause it's crazy"
Sam
"Hi" Brittany walked into the police station "I saw your car outside and wondered in" she took her scarf of "What are you doing here at this time of night?"
"I found a runaway up at the Jones house and I was just checking missing persons"
"That's my area of work, it's going to be hard to find a family to settle them into this side of the holidays though"
"That's what I thought"
"They'll have to go to the shelter for now"
"Maybe"
"I heard Mercedes Jones was back, was that the reason you didn't call me the other night?"
"No" he smiled at her asking the question right out "It's a free country she can go where she wants, and I'm sorry about that, I had a lot on my mind"
"Me too"
"I had a great time the other night"
"Me too"
"Listen Britt, I'm just not sure I'm in this for the same reasons you are" he stopped looking at the computer to look at her "You want commitment and I'm being straight when I tell you that's not me, not right now anyway"
"What are you scared of Sam, you're sitting around waiting for this Mrs Perfect that only exists in your mind and letting anything good that passes your way sail by, I don't get you" she got closer to him "Take my advice and try someone who's warm, smart and here" she moved in to kiss him, sitting next to him uncomfortably when he pulled back
"Got you" he smiled
17th December
Mercedes
Today we're going to buy a tree" Mercedes told Novi and Simon wrapping him up as she spoke
"From?" Simon asked
"In town we always used to get a tree from Mr Hummel in town"
"So, you're going to pass all these free trees to go five miles into town to buy one?" Simon asked
"You want to get one of these?" Mercedes asked pointing at the forest "A small one" they walked off into the forest
"Hold up" Sam came towards them just as they'd found the perfect tree "Why don't you all leave the poor woods alone" he laughed "There's a plate of cookies in the house with your names on them" he told the children watching them run off "We need to have a conversation" he looked at Mercedes
"What?"
"I got Social Services to come take him off your hands"
"Why can't he stay with me?" she walked off to go get sone cookies
"You can't keep him" he called after her
"Why, what are they going to do arrest me?" he stood watching her run off she was still the same Mercy he'd fell in love with all those years ago, but she'd hurt him so deep, he didn't think there was any road back for them, plus Brittany was in the mix, he really didn't know where that was heading but right now he couldn't do that to her, he shook it all out his head and followed her into the house.
"Where are you going?" Mercedes watched Mary walking towards her car with the children
"They wanted to follow me to church, meet some young people, you two entertain yourselves" she waved at them "Back soon"
"Church?" Sam asked suspecting foul play
"Did she say church?" Mercedes asked watching them get in the car
Church
"Paster Will" Mary walked into church with the two children "You don't have any parts going these two could be useful in?"
"Well, I guess we could do with maybe a shepherd, and we definitely need a narrator"
"I hate Christmas" Simon told him
"I need to be taken home" Novi smiled
"Go on get up there, show me what you got" Mary laughed
"Mrs Evans" Novi begged
"That will teach you to not come clean about my pie" she shooed them off, smiling at them squabbling because Novi had told her Simon's secret talking about the cake they'd ate last night. The children stood on stage singing the holiday song, there was something Simon was hiding because he knew every word too
Mommies and daddies always believe, that their little angels are special indeed, and you could grow up to be anything
But who would imagine a king?
A shepherd or teacher is what you could be, or maybe a fisherman out on the sea, or maybe a carpenter building things
But who would imagine a king? 'Who Could Imagine A King' by Whitney Houston
Sam's
"Want a coffee?" Sam asked
"Please" Mercedes took her coat off and sat at the dining table "Thank you" she smiled at him putting the hot drink in front of her
"Why did you leave me?"
"If I'd have stayed here I'd have, I don't know what I'd have done" she wrapped her hands around the hot cup "I'd have felt like a coward"
"You were a coward" he sat down "You left me at the alter with a fake flower in my lapel, a rented pickup truck full of empty rattling cans and a rented suit, in front of my whole family, it took ages for my family to look me in the eye"
"What did you expect me to do, you promised me we'd leave then what do you go and do?"
"My dad asked me to look after the shop, what was I supposed to do that shop was his life"
"You never intended on keeping your promise"
"I'm talking about my dad, my sick dad, remember him?"
"Of course, I do, but…" she stood up "What did you expect me to do, marry you and stay her for the rest of my life?"
"Love me Mercy, I expected you to love me"
"Sam I can't…" she turned and walked towards the door "I've got to chop some wood, we need heating"
"I think you'll need me to do that" he followed her out "Mercy wait"
"I'll be fine Sam"
"Stop being so damn stubborn" he pulled her arm "Let me at least be your friend"
"Can we be that?"
"I'm grown now, connected with my feelings and shit, I think we can be friends" he smiled
"But seriously, I've called Mr Hudson to help me with that"
"I think you'll find that's going to be me" he laughed
"Again" she turned smiling at him "So far you've been the handy man, policeman, ghost buster, next you're going to tell me you're the damn mayor"
"I am" he smiled taking the chopper to help her out
18th December
"Morning" he smiled as he popped his head in the door and kicked a box in "We need to talk"
"Again" Mercedes smiled at him
"This is getting creepy" Novi stopped eating to comment
"Can't a girl have friends?" Mercedes laughed "Eat up and go help Simon get his coat on, apparently you're in the Christmas play" they watched the children leave
"I just wanted to apologise for the way I spoke to you last night"
"Friends?"
"Friends" he smiled shaking her waiting hand "So why did you decide to have a kid when you were breaking up?"
"I didn't actually know we were breaking up when the whole process started" she laughed
"I brought those Christmas decorations over for the children" he set the box on the table
"Don't you need them?"
"I don't care for Christmas; it's lost all its whatever that was back then"
"That's dumb"
"Christmas is for kids"
"Why don't you have any children by the way?"
"Never met Mrs Right"
"That's Miss Right, Mrs Right would already be taken" she smiled at him "And there's no such thing as a Miss Right"
"When did you become so… did the city do this to you?"
"Do what?"
"Take away all the romance you used to have"
"Romance is something we created to drive off the boredom of fidelity" she turned to look at the sink, unwilling to tell him about her not being able to have children
"No wonder you got divorced"
"That's not why I got a divorce"
"Why was it then?"
"Usual, it was should we say politically incorrect"
"You mean it was a mistake?"
"I suppose you could say that" she turned to look at him
"I don't want to be in this stupid play anyway" Simon came downstairs struggling with the scarf Novi had ties around his neck, stopping their conversation
"That's fine I could be the third king" Novi laughed
"You're a girl" Simon told her
"I could still do it better than you"
"You're not going to get the chance it's my part and I'm about to act the hell out of it"
"Would you have a look at the bathroom and kitchen sink while I drop these two over to your Mom's house?"
"Sure" he watched them all leave the house before he went to the truck, got his tools, and went back into the house to do the jobs she'd asked him to do.
"I'm Back" she shouted through the house as she walked in
"In the bathroom" he called back, listening to her come up the stairs
"So" she sat on the bath "Are you seeing anyone special?"
"Random" he laughed "I'm seeing someone, I don't know if it's special just yet"
"What are you waiting for?"
"She's rushing things and that just makes me uncomfortable, you know?"
"No, I don't tell me about her"
"Well, she wants to know what's holding me back"
"So, what is holding you back?"
"I don't want to talk about it"
"You have to examine the past, so you don't repeat mistakes"
"Alright, I admit I still compare every woman I meet to you" he sat up to look at her
"That's good, it's a start" she smiled
"Don't tell me you don't have the same problems"
"I have difficulties sustaining relationships, I'd say that was a problem" she looked into his eyes
"And you call that life?"
"You do?" she flicked water in his face and ran off screaming, he chased her down the stairs and out the door, the two of them finally falling on the snow laughing and breathless.
"You know sometimes I think you did the right thing leaving me" he lay looking at her
"We were so young"
"Immature"
"You're right" she smiled
"I sort of admire you for having the guts to do what you did, I mean you got the hell up and got out of here" he looked into her eyes "There was nothing here for you, you were bigger than this place"
"Admire" she laughed "I brought a bus ticket and cried all the way to LA" she giggled "Not brave at all"
"You know something that always holds me back from other relationships" he looked at the sky "Even though we were young and naïve about our shit, I still feel we got to feel that special love that some people never find their entire lives"
"Well, it all worked out for the best"
"I guess it did" he sat up considering whether to ask the next question "Could you tell me this one thing?"
"Sure"
"Why didn't you come in and at least say goodbye?"
"Because I would have stayed" they looked into each other's eyes and moved closer
"Mercedes" Novi's voice invaded their moment
"Sweetheart" she got up quickly "We were just playing snowballing" she walked towards Novi and Simon "How was rehearsals?"
"It was good" Simon told her shocking everyone
"Mary gave us some decorations; do you want to help dress the house?"
"Sure" Novi smiled aware she'd just interrupted something "You helping us Sam?"
"I could" he smiled getting up to follow them all into the house "So Simon, what do you and your mom usually do for Christmas?" Sam asked, seeing his opportunity to get some information out of the boy now Mercy had gone inside to fix drinks. They put the decorations on the outside of the house, having chosen the tree just outside to decorate instead of chopping one down
"Nothing" Simon looked at him smiling "She was…."
"Who's that?" Novi stood watching a car pull up at the house
"Inside" Sam pushed the children in the house
"What's going on?" Mercedes turned at the noise coming into the house
"I need to talk to you" Sam walked towards her frowning
"You always need to talk to me, what's up now"
"Just go on round the back you two while I talk to Mercy"
"What is it?" Mercedes looked at him concerned just as the door knocked "Who is that?" she walked towards the door
"Mrs Jones?"
"It's Miss Jones" Mercedes corrected her "How can I help?"
"I'm Brittany Pierce, from social services and I came because it's been reported that… Sam what are you doing here?"
"Working" he answered her
"You're working alright" Mercedes snapped at him
"Sorry Miss Jones, I came because I heard you had a runaway living with you, I'm here to take him off our hands"
"The least you could have done was tell me she was coming" Mercedes snapped at him
"You didn't tell her about me?" Brittany butted in
"Oh" Mercedes turned back to look at the woman, smiling "This is the woman you didn't want to talk about"
"Why wouldn't you talk about me?" Brittany asked
"I'm not about to answer questions on my actions right now"
"Do you have to take Simon right now Miss Pierce?"
"I'm afraid I do, we have a perfectly good bed waiting for him up at the orphanage, he'll be settled for the holidays" she smiled "And then we can see if we can find him a foster home"
"So wouldn't it be a better option for him to stay here with us, I've already got foster parent status"
"So, then you know it doesn't work that way Miss Jones"
"Well, he's got a part in the Christmas pageant at Mrs Evans' church so you'll have to make sure he gets there, and he won't go anywhere without his dog, and I spoke to Mr Hummel the other day who said he could help with the animals for a small fee every day, so you'll have to take him to his job every day, he doesn't know that yet, it was a present" she whined like a school child "She's not your type" she turned whispering to Sam before she walked off into the house
"She's not your type you know" Brittany smiled at him; Sam stood wondering why the hell he'd been caught in the middle of that
He followed Mercy back into the house to get Simon ready for leaving "You could have at least given me the heads up" she snapped at him as they watched Brittany drive off with Simon in the back of the car
"I thought I was getting a brother" Novi frowned walking back into the house
"Sorry Sweetheart" Mercedes watched her walk into the house
"Sorry" Sam called after her
"I bet you are" Mercedes snapped at him
"It really doesn't matter what I have to say, you're always going to believe your truth like you always do" he shouted at her
"The truth is I made the right damn choice, you're still tied to this damn beaten down town, why should I have expected anything different from you, still bending to suit everyone but yourself"
"Mercy, that's not fair"
"Oh, go away Sam, you're irritatingly stuck in your ways, just go, and don't come back" she walked off leaving him watching her walk
"I am not stuck in my ways" he walked off, jumped in his truck, and drove off at speed
"Are you alright?" Novi asked having witnessed the whole thing
"I'm fine" Mercedes walked past her and grabbed the phone "Tina" her voice changed at hearing her friends voice "This isn't working, I'm thinking of coming back, could you put us up for a few weeks till I find my feet?" she smiled at the response "I know selling everything I had maybe wasn't the best move, but it's done now, I'm looking for properties today and it might take a while to set up so three weeks at the very most" she smiled "Thanks, I'll call when it's all set up
"We're leaving" Novi looked at her "We just got here"
"I thought you didn't like it here"
"I didn't but now the furniture's coming, we're getting Wi-Fi tomorrow and I'm in the Christmas pageant I don't want to leave, not yet anyway"
20th December
"You expecting someone?" Mercedes looked at Novi
"It's probably Sam"
"No, it wouldn't be him, I told him not to come back" she got up to answer the door
"He's had a day to get over whatever that was you two where having"
"We weren't having anything … oh hi…"
"Where is he?" Brittany was stood in her doorway, red faced asking
"I don't know, he has that many jobs maybe he's fighting a fire, cleaning a chimney or even sitting in court" she laughed at this ridiculous woman turning up at her door
"Not Sam, Simon"
"At the home you put him in I should imagine"
"He ran away"
"When?" Mercedes looked at her alarmed, Novi coming to the door just as shocked
"If he turns up you better call me" Brittany snapped before turning and walking away
"She's so rude" Novi stood watching her walk
"Never mind her we've got to find Simon" she picked the phone up "Mary" she gasped "Simon's missing, have you seen him?" frowning when she said no
Meanwhile at Sam's
"Evening" Sam walked into his home, his mother in the same place he'd expect her to be, cooking up more cakes and biscuits for the church
"Have you been to see Mercy yet, apologised for whatever it was you did, or said?"
"Why does it have to be me that's in the wrong?"
"Because my beloved son, it generally is"
He was eating his dinner when the phone rang, his mom answered it, it was generally some emergency she wanted to be privy to, so he sat waiting for the 50 questions she was going to ask before handing him the phone
"No, Mercy honey Simon hasn't shown up here" she looked at her son "Sam yes he's here, yes I agree it's all his fault, stubborn definitely, lying scum that's how I'd describe him, what you think that's too harsh?" she smiled looking back at her son "Well I'll keep an eye out and I'll let you know the minute I see him" she promised "Bye now honey"
"Well, thanks for your support mom" he frowned at her
"You're welcome" she snubbed walking over to the oven, he wasn't to know Mercy had left the call well before her slate "it's ready" she smiled taking her fresh pie out the oven to bring it out to the porch to cool "Oh my I'd hate to be hungry and smelling this pie I've put out on the porch, on a night like this" she shouted, going inside to watch through the window as a gloved hand grabbed the pie off the table making her smile
22nd December
Church
It was the day of the pageant and everyone from the village had piled into the church to watch the children of the community offer their interpretation of the Christmas story. Sam walked into the church spotting his mom's hat and walked down to near front to get to her "May I sit here?" he pointed at the seat happy to see Mercy sitting there. Mercy looked at Mary, who shuffled up a bit, her way of consenting to him sitting with them so she moved up too and allowed him to sit next to her "I didn't think I was going to make it"
"As if anybody cares" Mary snapped at him
"I thought this was a church, doesn't it preach forgiveness?" he asked his mom
"God forgives, me I'm human" Mary snapped cutting her eye at him
Day three and Simon still hadn't turned up and Novi was having a stressful time telling Will "I can do his part" she confirmed
"Are you sure?"
"I know it better than him"
"Okay, I'll narrate" Will told her "Get dressed we've got fifteen minutes before we start"
"Will do" she walked off thinking that had gone down better than she'd thought it would
Mary, Mercedes and Sam were all sitting in anticipation of the play starting when a familiar voice came into their space "Hi" Brittany stood looking down at them with a satisfied smirk on her face "Is there room for me?"
"Sure" Sam moved up forcing the others to move, they shared a smile and focused on the play again
Meanwhile Simon turned up and wasn't happy that Novi had taken his spot, he shouted at her and stormed off, she stood remembering the conversation with Mrs Evans about putting other's needs before her own and went to find him to give him his part back. The play started and although they were shocked to see Simon in the line-up he was the star of the show, along with the narrator Novi of course, and Mercedes sat feeling so proud she was fit for bursting.
"Novi" Mercy walked up to her when she'd took her costume off "That was brilliant, you did really well, so did Simon"
"You did that beautifully" Mary hugged her
"Where is Simon?" Mercedes asked
"I don't know he walked off; said he was leaving"
"He did?" they all walked towards the door
"Simon" Sam had already followed him out "Where are you off to?"
"North, maybe south, haven't made our minds up yet"
"Don't want to wait until after Christmas?"
"I don't really like Christmas"
"Simon" Mercedes called him, he stood watching them all run towards him "We missed you" they hugged him fussing over her
"Simon" Brittany came up behind them "I've been looking for you, we need to get you back to the home"
"You set me up" Simon looked at Sam
"No, I didn't" Sam told him "I was being genuine" watching Brittany walk him away
"Do something she'd taking Simon" Mercedes tapped his arm demanding
"I can't"
"Why don't you ever stand up for what you want?"
"I do"
"You're letting her take him"
"There's nothing I can do about it"
"There never is" Mercedes grabbed Novi and walked off frustrated
"You've really blown it this time" Mary waved her finger in his face walking off to follow Mercy and Novi
23rd December
"Look Simon" Brittany sat on the side of her desk frustrated with the boy giving her the run around
"Britt" Sam warned not happy with her tone
"What's your mom's name?"
"Look Simon I know you don't want us to know, but things could get really serious if you don't at least tell us where your mom is" Sam asked
"Not until I get my dog back" Simon threatened
"That's not going to happen" Brittany dug her heels in
"Come on Brittany, what harm can it do letting the boy see his dog?" Sam asked
"It's not protocol" Brittany told him
"You've got nothing better to offer him, why can't he at least see his damn dog" he gave her that smiled of his she liked
"Okay I'll sort it for this afternoon, you can go and see your dog" Brittany smiled at Sam smiling at her making the right decision
Mercedes
"I thought we were going Christmas shopping, what are we doing here?" Novi looked at the building Sam worked in asking
"How would you feel about having a brother?"
"What?"
"Well, I found out you have to re-apply for a different state and I want us to try for Simon, how would you feel about that?"
"Family" Novi smiled "I've always wanted someone to boss about"
"That's not what this is about"
"I'm joking" Novi laughed getting out the car to enter the office
"I'd like to speak to someone about becoming a foster parent"
"Take a seat I'll get someone out to see you"
Are you sure about this?" Novi asked as they waited
"Miss Jones" Brittany called "Come with me" she brought them through to her office "So you want to foster?" she smiled sitting down "Take a seat"
"Thank you" Mercedes sat down
"Okay so, I have to say the way you've handled the situation with Simon so far, I'm not impressed"
"I saw a child in need and tried to help" Mercedes smiled
"Alright" Brittany shuffled some paperwork around "How much do you earn a month?"
"I'm actually living off my savings right now, but I have enough to last a good while"
"No income" Brittany wrote on the application "I can answer this next one myself, but I have to ask" she looked up at Mercedes "The condition of your home?"
"Well, it needs work, but we were trying to get Christmas over with before we started anything"
"Marital status?"
"Single, well divorced"
"So, you have a problem sustaining relationships?" Brittany looked at her as if she were pathetic
"No, I have a problem with cheating lying husbands" she huffed
"Are you involved with anyone right now?"
"No, is that a question on that form?"
"Not even with Sam Evans?"
"No" she got salty "That was all a very long time ago we've both changed since then"
"Good to hear it" Brittany looked back at the form "Is that really your natural hair?"
"What?" Mercy gasped anyone else, and they would have been sailing across the floor by now
"This isn't looking very good at the moment" Brittany counteracted her unspoken reaction
"Look" Mercedes bit her bottom lip and calmed herself down, remembering what she was there for "Miss Pierce, I know my track record sort of shows that I might have been a bit hot headed about Simon, but that's because I'm passionate about children, and I think that little boy at least deserves a happy home" she huffed "I don't see anyone else offering him that, do you?"
"We'll think about it Miss Jones"
"At least for Christmas?"
"Under one condition, I can't get anything out of him, if you find out where his mother is, I'll agree to it"
"I'll try my best" Mercedes smiled at the small victory
"You really don't care for Sam?"
"As I said I let go of him a long time ago"
"Merry Christmas" Brittany smiled
"Merry Christmas" Mercedes smiled before getting up to go get Novi and give her the good news
They went about getting presents like they'd planned, by the evening Simon was home where he belonged, Mercedes decided to decorate the inside of the house, so they helped, she had a job to do so they talked as they dressed the house
"My mom used to make Christmas like this" Simon smiled as they all went about their assigned tasks
"Well, I can't promise this one will be as good as your mom's but I'm planning on making this one a pretty special one for us all this year?"
"Does that mean Sam's coming over?" Novi stopped painting the figurine to ask
"No" Mercy smiled "But we might be seeing Mrs Evans at church on Christmas morning"
"Why not?" Simon asked "I thought you liked him"
"I do, as a friend"
"I thought you liked him too" Mercedes saw an opportunity "So why wouldn't you tell him about your parents?"
"I don't trust that lady he hangs around with, she's icy"
"You're going to have to tell someone where you came from eventually" Mercedes went to sit in front of him "Otherwise you're going to just move around in those homes until you're old enough to look after yourself" she grabbed his hands "And some of them might not let you have your dog" she looked at the mut "I wish you'd give him a name" she laughed
"I promised him we'd get a name together" Simon told her
"So, to get a bit closer to that you need to tell someone why you ran away"
"They wouldn't let me see my mom"
"Who wouldn't?"
"The people I was staying with" he looked at her "My dad ran away before I was born before you ask" he huffed "Mom said it's in our blood" that made Mercedes heart sink, why would a child have such a heavy untruth to carry, why would a parent wish that on their child
"Do you want to find your mom?"
"Sure" he smiled
"I'll help you" Mercedes smiled
"Good, I was hoping you'd say that" Simon smiled leaning in to whisper in her ear, their evening ended with hot chocolate and some of Mary's perfect cookies.
Sam
"Did you have a nice day scrooge" Mary called hearing her son walk through the door, she loved him to death, but he was his worst enemy, she knew the reason he'd never found anyone was because he'd loved Mercy so deeply, and now she was back she could see that hadn't gone away. And she was fine with that, but why he couldn't see that the girl needed pulling into his arms and being forgiven and loved, she couldn't understand, instead he was pretending to have this hard shell that didn't suit him at all.
"Oh, you're talking to me now?" he walked into the living room smiling at her going all out on the tree again this year, nobody ever visited to see it
"I haven't decided yet" she frowned at him "Mercy called; she finally got the truth out of Simon"
"Why didn't she call me?"
"I'm guessing so don't quote me on this" Mary said sarcastically "But I've a feeling she didn't think she was going to get much out of you, you being uncommitted and all"
"We're talking about my job mom"
"And I guess that there's the problem, you can't compartmentalise" she hung something on the tree "Her names Jane Hayward, Mercy said can you do a search on her?"
"Then will she talk to me?"
"I don't see why she would, you're no fun"
"For her you'll cut me down every way you can, won't you?"
"I'll drink to that" she held her mulled wine up before drinking it, making him laugh
"We were a long time ago mom, we've both changed since then" he left to get to his office, he needed to know the information, he had no intention of doing anything about it before Christmas day, but he needed to solve the puzzle to rest his head.
24th December
After five hours of searching and going down various avenues of enquiries Sam found out something he didn't particularly want to know, he grabbed his coat and headed off to Mercy's house, they'd be up having breakfast and he needed to grab them before they went out
"Sam" Mercedes opened the door surprised
"Is Simon up, I need to speak to him"
"Is everything alright?"
"I just need to speak to him"
"He's in his room" she stood to the side and let him in
Sam's feet moved heavily up the stairs for the news he was about to give the child, he knocked the door "Simon it's Sam can I come in"
"Are you alone?"
"Yeah"
"Come in" Sam opened the door to see Simon sitting innocently on his bed
"I found your mom" he went in and sat down
"You did?" Simon looked at him excited
"This is going to be hard, but Simon she died a couple of months ago" he grabbed the boys had "I'm really sorry it wasn't good news"
"It's okay" Simon pulled his hand away
"You knew she was dying didn't you?"
"That's what they told me, but I needed to say goodbye and they wouldn't let me, so I ran away" he looked at Sam "Mom always said if you visualise something real hard you make it real, and I didn't want it to be real, so I didn't think about it"
"That only happens with some things"
"I know, but I didn't want to take the chance"
"You know sometimes you've got to admit the truth, because if you keep believing in something that's never going to happen, you just get stuck, and then you can't get on with your life" he sat reflecting on what he'd just said watching Simon run into Mercy's arms
"It's alright sweety" Mercedes hugged the boy
Later that day Brittany turned up again, now they'd found out about his parents they were able to move him into a more permanent home, they gave him his gifts and saw him off when Brittany and Sam collected him later that evening.
"Bye tinsel head" he hugged Novi
"Bye dweebe" she laughed
"Simon we have to go now" Brittany called him to her
"Sorry Mercy" Sam took one last look at their sad faces before getting in the car
Sam
"If there was another way we'd use it" Brittany told Simon
"You've got a big house, why can't I live with you?" Simon asked him
"Because there's only me there and mom's old now"
"Well, you could just go ahead and marry Mercedes and we could be a family" Simon looked at him knowing full well what he was saying, as the car fell silent Brittany waiting for Sam to say something, but nothing came.
The Washington's were nice enough people, they ran a clean home with about nine children in it, but to Simon they overplayed his arrival be backed away when the door opened
"Say hello Simon"
"Hello" he looked at them scared
"You'll be safe here" Brittany told him "There are plenty of other children your age to play with"
They stood listening to Brittany telling Mrs Washington some information before they said bye and left the boy on the steps of the house "Don't you think that was cold?" Sam asked
"It's a job Sam, I can't afford to get feelings for every child, I'd be an emotional wreak" she got back in the car "He'll be alright"
"I'll have to trust you on that one"
"Sam what did Simon mean when he suggested Mercedes and you get married"
"He's just a child sounding off"
"You're still hung up on her aren't you?"
"No, not in a long while, that's over I mean really over"
"I care about you a hell of a lot; you know that don't you?"
"Yes I do" he nodded
"I want this to be more than just a friendship"
"I know that" he assured her
"Maybe you'd like to come over to my place for Christmas dinner, I've invited some friends over, it should be a good time?"
"I'd like that" he smiled
"Say around six?"
"Okay" he smiled
"Great" she started the engine to take him home
25th December
Mercedes
"Merry Christmas" Mercedes shouted as Novi came rushing down the stairs
"Mercedes" she laughed looking at the woman lit up like a Christmas tree "You're crazy"
"What" she laughed "We couldn't have a tree inside, so I decided to become the tree"
"Mom" they both stopped at the word slipping out of Novi's mouth "Yes I said it" she laughed "If you feel it say it right?"
"Right" Mercedes hugged her official daughter "Your present" she handed it to her
"This is too much" Novi smiled at the bracelet with charms all along it laying in its case "It's beautiful"
"So are you"
"But as beautiful as it is, I'd rather have a dad to go with my new mom"
"That's not even on my radar right now" Mercedes laughed
"Come on, I don't know much about love, but I know you still have feelings for Sam and I'm almost positive you two nearly kissed the other day"
"No" Mercedes laughed "That was just a moment, it's over between us" she started unwrapping herself from the Christmas lights "Besides he's not even remotely my type, he's old fashioned, stubborn, opinionated" she twisted out of the lights "Honest dependable, he'd do anything for anybody, he listens, he's smart, tells a passable joke…" she stopped spinning "And he's a good person, there's nobody in the world like him"
"So?"
"I can't take another chance" she sat down "My heart's just starting to mend, I'm not ready for anything like Sam, he loves hard you know" she looked at Novi
"So do you" she laughed "You stayed with that idiot to get me, you've done nothing but fight for Simon since you've set eyes on him"
"I lost Simon, what if it doesn't work out again?" she stopped at the door knocking "Hi" she smiled at Sam stood there
"Merry Christmas"
"How's Simon?"
"He's doing fine" he stepped into the house "I brought you a gift" he handed it to her
"You shouldn't have"
"Well," he smiled at her face when she saw the necklace she'd picked back then "it's sort of a Christmas and a thank you present"
"For?"
"Giving me the strength to move on from my past, making me see even I can have a happy future, and that I'm not going to make those mistakes again, I'm going to do what you advised, I 'm going to take a risk" he smiled
"I said all that?" she smiled
"So, I'm going to throw my heart back in there and commit to Brittany"
"That's great" Mercedes smiled, not knowing why she was so happy
"Merry Christmas Mercy" he leaned in and kissed her cheek
"Merry Christmas" she stood watching the door open and close behind him
They were getting on with their Christmas, she couldn't blame the man, he'd waited six long years and hadn't got an ounce of warmth since she's arrived. That afternoon they got a call to say Simon had run off again "Mercy" Mary called her "Sam's decided to go out for dinner, and I've got a whole turkey roasting, do you two want to over help me eat it?"
"Chicken or turkey?" Mercedes asked Novi
"Turkey" she jumped up
"Come on grab your coat we need to go help Mary bring everything over" Mercedes rushed her on, all three sat at the kitchen table peeling and making conversation
Sam
Sam's truck pulled up and they all thought he'd changed his mind, but he was dropping Simon off for dinner and headed over to Brittany's "Hi come on in" Brittany waved him from the street, he made his way over reciting his speech
"Where is everyone?" he walked into the empty house
"I just said that so you'd come there's only us" she kissed him "Would you like a drink?"
"Yeah"
"Are you disappointed?"
"I just thought there'd be some family, kids running around you know Christmas stuff" he looked at his hands
"Is something the matter Sam?" she watched him pick up a small wooden rocking horse she couldn't be bothered to hand on the small tree
"I…" he grabbed his coat "I got to go I left my mom alone for this" he stepped past her
"Sam" she watched him walk out the door, he ended up back at Mercy's place
"Room for one more?" he asked walking into Mercy's house without knocking
"I'll get a plate" Mercedes got up
"I need to talk to you" he followed her into the kitchen "I've thought of a way you can keep Simon, move in with me"
"Oh, that's going to be great, Brittany and you, Simon and Mary and Novi and me, great party"
"Listen I've told you already you were right about me, I don't take risks, but I've decided to take the biggest one of all, I'm going to marry somebody with a bad habit of running away, I'm going to marry you"
"What?" a smile forming on her face "Are you out of your mind?"
"You tell me, you're the one living the high life in LA" he laughed
"This can't work, we've both changed so much"
"You're right I've changed a hell of a lot I've grown up now, but one thing has stayed the same, I still love you, just like I always did"
"I've just made my mind up; I'm going back to LA"
"Every time you get even a step closer to happiness you up and run away" he grabbed her hands "You can sing anywhere"
"We can't relive the past Sam"
"I don't want to, back then I wasn't ready for you"
"What do you mean you weren't ready; you were standing at the alter?"
"If I'd have been ready I'd have come after you" his eyes held hers
"Just kiss me" she smiled he pulled her in and kissed her for the first time in six years
"Christmas" Mary clapped "First happy one I've had in nearly seven years" she smiled at them "You finally come good son" she called them over for dinner
"Happy Christmas" Novi smiled at him
"It is now" Simon giggled