Disclaimer: I give most of the credit to the writers of Glee and Tickled Pink and reviewers who inspire me to churn out another chapter, so they can see why Sam is acting the way he is. This chapter starts off dramatic but don't give up, there is hope by the end of it. So sit down, buckle up, and hold on for a roller coaster type of chapter filled with revelations. When the chapter ends up being 7,000 words it takes me a while to type, proof, and post. So, please take that in consideration when noticing errors. And as always thanks for the continual support that you give.

Chapter Six

This was Sam's third family Sunday dinner as a married man. One would think that things would be going easier, but the opposite was in fact in true. Dwight had accepted Mercedes as the daughter he never had, and his sister's movie night with Mercedes had been such a success that the two hung around each other too much this summer for his peace of mind. They went shopping together, got their nails done together, braided each other's hair, and even invited Tina and Andrea to many of their bi-weekly get togethers.

His mother had finally gotten over the incident in her office, and in almost four weeks of marriage, Mercedes was being treated as if she was one of the family.

Sam glanced at Mercedes, who was seated opposite of him at the table with Stacie choosing to sit on her right side which was near their father. It was obvious that Mercedes was not paying a bit of attention to the conversation going on around her but was concentrating on her plate in front her playing with her food instead of eating it. Mercedes obviously wasn't happy. She had a once a week lunch date with his dad and hers, and she would come by the office on those days, and she would smile, hug him, and call him sweetie. Then when she saw him at her home, she barely spoke to him.

He couldn't blame Mercedes. It was all, his fault. He buried himself with work and built up a wall between the two of them on purpose. She was just so bodacious, beautiful outside and inside, and brilliant. She had a way about her that drew people to her and even caused his mother to like her. Also whenever she came to the office, he hated it because every male in the office positioned themselves, so they could watch her walk away focusing in on her butt. No matter what she wore jeans, skirts, shorts, or dresses, her ass drew their eyes, and their lustful looks couldn't be mistaken. Brittany had even somehow gotten a hold of his phone and changed Mercedes' ringtone to EU's "Da Butt" since Sam loved 80s rap music so much. All Sam knew was more people than his father looked forward to her coming to the office to visit him.

"Mercedes you are awfully quiet tonight. I was telling your mother how our Bar Association is going to do the cancer fundraiser that you suggested. We would really love yours and Tina's help in planning it, if you are not too busy."

Mercedes blinked her eyes and started to pay attention to the conversation going on around her when she heard Mary say her name. She smiled at the older woman, and wholeheartedly agreed to help in any way she could, telling Mary that she would have to contact Tina to make sure her she was able to help.

"Mercedes you are an absolute doll. I just wish my mother would have lived long enough to have met you. She died from breast cancer, so this charity event will have a personal meaning to me. I know she would have really liked you."

'No mom,' Sam thought to himself, 'she would have loved Mercedes just the way you, dad, and Stacie do.' Sam was putting a wall between them for this very reason. He could fall in love with her too if he wasn't careful because Mercedes was the real thing. She had everything going for her, and this made living with her a complete nightmare.

"So, tell me why you will have all this extra time to help with the fundraiser?" Mary asked her daughter-in-law.

"I cancelled all my engagements in Europe, Africa, and Asia. It seems Sam has so much work to do that he can't free himself to travel with me, so I had to also give my label the news that we won't be able to release my sophomore album for at least another year. My management company is an uproar at me because I have refused so many out of state opportunities, and my publicist have threatened to quit because she feels that I am prohibiting her from doing her job which is keeping my name out there in the public. She says I am on a self-imposed exile because I refuse to let her publicize my wedding. All of them are telling me my actions may cost them and myself over thirty-five million dollars. So, you see I am doing just peachy." Mercedes couldn't keep the sarcasm from dripping from her tone.

Sam and his family just sat there in shock staring at her. So, she decided to continue her monologue. "Other than spending time with you all, and my parents and Tina and Mike, I have been helping my friend Kurt out with my extra time. He has been teaching me some of his catering skills, and I cook with his catering firm whenever he is throwing a big societal bash and needs the extra hands. I now can make hors d'oeuvres and flan like a French chef." Mercedes' last words were laced with bitterness and resentment.

Stacie was upset as a member of the Mercedes Militia would be with hearing her superstar idol was not putting out the long anticipated follow up album, and she couldn't keep herself from looking at her brother and demanding, "You didn't know that because of you Mercedes has had to postpone her career?"

Sam wanted to disappear. He felt like scum. He looked at Mercedes seeing unhappiness rolling off her in waves and answered his sister with the feeble excuse, "She didn't tell me anything about it." He looked back to Mercedes and noticed she was about to go off only to be interrupted by his brother's arrival.

"Hello, everyone I am finally back from a month on the road!" Stevie exclaimed bursting into the dining room looking in need of a bath, shave, and some fresh clothing.

"I missed you so much!" Stacie yelled going to hug her brother and then getting a whiff of his smell and deciding not to. She really missed her brother because with him gone her mother gave her only child in residence all her focus this summer, and it was enough to drive a girl crazy.

"I missed you all so much as well, and I brought presents for everyone except for this gorgeous lady sitting at the table. Mom, why didn't you tell me we were having company when I told you I was coming home today?" Not waiting for his mother to answer, Stevie grabbed Mercedes hand and kissed it then asked, "And who just might you be other than one of my dreams coming true?"

Sam wanted to hurl but looked at Stacie and gave her an answering eye roll to their brother's antics. Sam watched Mercedes smile up to Stevie in response. And he thought her smile was maybe a tad too sweet.

"I am your sister-in-law which you would have known if you had taken the time to answer any of the calls from your family in the past month."

Stacie couldn't hide her snicker. She knew Mercedes was too smart to fall for any of Stevie's lame attempts at seduction. Mary tried to hide her own smirk, but Dwight just laughed out loud saying that it was just in Stevie's nature to flirt, and he looked at Mercedes and told her to not take his youngest son seriously.

"Oh dad, stop trying to kill my rep." Stevie said and then looked at Sam. "I can't believe you actually got married bro. But looking at her, I can see what made you take the plunge."

"Well, I did, and this is your sister-in-law, Mercedes." Sam said stressing the word sister so that Stevie got the point that unlike the other bimbos he brought home, Mercedes was not to be trifled with.

Stevie ignored his brother and focused on Mercedes who looked familiar to him for some reason. He raked his gaze over her his eyes straying to her gorgeous rack more than once before looking into her pretty brown eyes. "Welcome to the family Mercedes, I can't wait to get to know you better. I just know I am going to love you." Stevie gave her wink and a lopsided grin that looked so much like his brother's smile.

"Thank you, Stevie, I guess." She said before turning towards Sam. "You were right he is a flirt. Now maybe somebody in your family can help him because he seems a little slow and is confusing this family dinner with the time he obviously spends in pick up bars."

Stacie, his dad, and even his mom burst out laughing. Sam was glad that Mercedes feisty side was coming out erasing the sadness and anger from earlier. He turned to his brother, and told him without regret, "I am sorry bro, but she has already chosen the better Evans."

Stacie stopped laughing long enough to say, "I think she has your number brother dear, but I always knew she would be too smart to put up with your smarmy charm."

"I just love this girl. She is already like a daughter to me." Dwight said to Mary.

"She would have been an good attorney, but she is a loveable young lady." Mary opined.

Mercedes overhearing the conversation between the two, "I object." She told Mary jokingly as the two locked gazes.

"You didn't let me finish Mercedes. Stacie has been making us all listen to your music, and I can't help but to admit that you would have been a good attorney, but you are an extremely gifted and amazing singer. If Stevie had an ounce of your talent, I wouldn't object to him being in a band." Mary said which was a big turnabout in her character.

Before anyone could respond, Sam's phone began to ring at the dinner table which was a big no for Sunday dinners with the Evans' family. Sam looked at the phone and cursed. "Excuse me everyone, but this is an important call that I have to answer."

Mercedes watching Sam couldn't believe he would break his mom's rule, and who called anybody about business on a Sunday afternoon? "Really, Sam," her tone was ice cold in its intensity.

"I am sorry but it's very important," Sam said as left his family and answered the call.

Mercedes was peeved at Sam's behavior. This was his family not hers. Sure she had temporarily married into his family, but his father and Stacie had treated her as if she were family, and now his mother was warming up to her, but still for him to be so rude was unimaginable.

"Mercedes will you please help me get a plate and cutlery for my tardy to the dinner party brother?" Stacie asked Mercedes. She had hung around Mercedes enough to know that she was angry at Sam's behavior.

"Sure," Mercedes said excusing herself from the table and following Stacie into the kitchen happy to get away from the rest of the Evans family.

Before Mercedes had even stepped fully into the kitchen, Stacie was questioning her. "What is going on between you and Sam?"

Mercedes not knowing how to answer this denied that anything was going on. Stacie could tell she was lying. "Mercedes, dad told me the truth about you and Sam's marriage. Certain things just weren't adding up, and I may be young, but I am smart enough to know as your former stan that you and Sam have not been in a relationship for long, and if it was love at first sight, I could believe you eloped and married him. But my brother is anti-marriage, and you and he are barely around each other, and when you are together, it's like you are strangers unless we are out in public or Andrea is around. So I told my dad my suspicions, and he trusted me with the truth."

"Does Stevie know the truth?" Mercedes asked thinking his behavior would be acceptable if he knew she wasn't in love with his brother and vice versa.

"No, he doesn't know anything. He has been completely off the grid half-baked for most of the summer, but Mercedes you and Sam had everyone fooled me especially after looking at your wedding photos."

"I'm surprised that your mother doesn't have blown up copies of them displayed in your home." Mercedes said snarkily.

"But, it's the pictures that are so confusing. Anyone looking at the pictures could tell you too were happy and completely taken with each other. I remember how loving the two of you were at the engagement party, and you two didn't look like you were being sentenced to marry. You two looked and behaved as if it was the real deal."

"Well you know as I singer I have to be able to act to portray the emotions of the song that I sing, and I act in my music videos, and your brother must have some surprising skills as an actor as well."

"I know my brother, and he is no actor. I don't believe what you are saying is true."

Mercedes could understand why Stacie was questioning the veracity of her statement. She, too, had seen their wedding photographs when they were mailed from the chapel with the wine glasses. She could see how a person would think they were truly head over heels in love. "Sam doesn't like me in that way at all. Trust me when I tell you this."

"Are you out of your mind?" Stacie asked her sister-in-law. Everybody could see how her brother was pining after Mercedes like a dog that had lost his favorite chew toy. Before they could continue the discussion, Sam came into the kitchen.

"I am sorry for interrupting you two, but Mercedes we have to go."

"Why, it's Sunday evening for goodness sake?"

"I know, but I have to meet someone, and I will drop you off first." Sam couldn't keep the guilty expression from his face.

Mercedes was so used to Sam's erratic behavior that had him leaving the house super early in the morning and working late at night that nothing he did surprise her. She was almost 100% sure that he was having an affair. "Whatever, Sam, I will get my things and tell everyone goodbye."

Stacie could see how Sam's behavior was affecting Mercedes. "Mercedes, you don't have to leave. Sam, if you must go, then leave. If I am not allowed to drive Mercedes home later, then I will get Stevie or dad to take us both."

Sam shrugged his shoulders and admitted to Mercedes before leaving that he would probably be late in coming home. Mercedes held back the tears that were threatening to fall down her face and only nodded saying, "It is what it is Sam. I am pretty much used to your early mornings and late nights by now."

"Mercedes…" Sam could tell she was upset.

"Whatever Sam I am sure that I will be in bed when you get in. Goodnight."

"Okay, thanks Stace make sure she gets home safe." He said kissing his sister's cheek in goodbye and daring a sneak peak at Mercedes who had turned her back to him and was walking over to the cutlery drawer. Sam couldn't say anything else, so he just walked out of the kitchen to tell his parents and brother goodnight as well.

When Mercedes heard that Sam had left the dining room, she faced Stacie and told her, "I have seventeen more months of this, and I don't know how I am going to make it."

"I know my brother, and there is something seriously wrong with him, and I don't think he is intentionally making you and him unhappy." Mercedes looked at her with an I can't believe you expression. So Stacie continued, "Mercedes, I am serious, there is something seriously wrong, I have never seen him act this way before, and nobody knows what is going on with him."

"I just think he is having an affair, and he knows that if gets caught we both go to jail, and that is why he is acting so shady."

"I don't think my brother is that stupid, why would he risk you both going to jail after you have both given up so much to get married in the first place?"

"I don't have a clue Stacie I just can't understand him at all."

Sam had seen a considerable shift in Mercedes' personality since he'd left Sunday dinner two weeks ago. She no longer attempted to include him in her daily life at all. She didn't leave dinner for him or tried to interact with him. She still attended Sunday dinners with him with his parents, and when she saw him in public, she was the happy loving wife. However, when they were alone, she froze him out of attempting to have any type of communication with her. If he would even look in her direction, she would leave the room. He knew that he couldn't blame her because he had been avoiding her since they had landed in Lima. He thought he was doing what was best to ensure that their relationship remained platonic, but he was going to go insane if they kept up this cold war battle between them. He wanted to go back to how they were before arriving Lima, but he didn't know how when she refused to talk to him at all.

It was just his luck that today was Wonderful Wednesday as the people in office proclaimed it. It was the day that Mercedes came to the office before and after her lunch date with his dad. He could smell the faint traces of her perfume in the building before hearing her giggle at something his father had said. Sam didn't intend to eavesdrop on their conversation, but he couldn't stop himself from being drawn to his father's office. When he got to door he could see Mercedes standing with her back towards him. She had on fitted ripped jeans and a ball cap. A tiny piece of black Lycra could be seen through the rips so she wasn't exposing an inappropriate amount of skin. Sam couldn't keep his eyes from focusing on her firm, round apple bottom. He finally removed his eyes from her ass and traveled up her tiny waist and saw that she had on a purple Relay for Life t-shirt. He knew how snug the shirt fit her bosom, and part of him was tempted to enter the office so he could get the full frontal view.

"No, no Dwight, we don't need you to dye your hair pink for our team. So far we are the top team with $10,000 raised, and you are our top donor with your donation of $2500, I just need you to get some of your friends to match your donation before our deadline next Saturday. You are telling your employees that they are signed up to run or help out at the event on the 13th at 11:00 at Rhodes States College and OSU Lima."

"Yes, Mercedes, we will be there early to help you guys set up. I will do whatever you need me to do." Sam heard his father's eagerness in doing whatever Mercedes wanted, and he couldn't help but feel a little jealous of their relationship. His father made Mercedes happy; something he was obviously incapable of doing. He didn't mean to make a sound, but obviously he alerted them to his presence, and Mercedes turned around and Sam noticed that she was wearing glasses. He had never seen her in her black frame hipster glasses before. He liked them on her they made her look young and almost unrecognizable with her cap shading her face.

Mercedes was surprised to see Sam. Normally he avoided his dad's office when she was there. She couldn't keep his name from leaving her lips in recognition of his presence. He was looking at her the way he used to before he kissed her at their Vegas wedding ceremony.

Sam couldn't keep his eyes off of Mercedes' lips as he entered his father's office. He could tell she was surprised by his presence, and she was wearing purple lipstick which defined the shaped of her pursed lips, and he couldn't help thinking of the kiss they shared at their wedding. He wanted nothing more than to grab her in his arms and kiss her like he did that day to see if his dreams lived up to the actual sensation of kissing her would be. He also wanted to apologize to tell her he was willing to do whatever it took to get them back to where they were before he started acting like a jackass.

"Sam, your wife is doing an excellent job with the Relay for Life fundraiser." Dwight said looking at Mercedes the way a proud father looks at his child.

"I know dad she is really good at everything she does; I am very proud of her."

Mercedes felt her mouth drop open in shock. She looked at Sam thinking that he had finally sipped the Kool-Aid that his sister had been threatening to give him not to kill him but to wake him up. "That is nice to hear." She couldn't keep herself from saying when all eyes were on her.

"Dad, you don't mind if I talked to my wife alone do you?" Sam asked.

"Sure no problem, you don't have to leave my office, I was on my way to another site. The plans that I have drawn up for a building is causing our construction company some problems, so I am going to see what the hold up is. I will see you both at Sunday dinner." Dwight said while giving Mercedes a kiss on the cheek and giving Sam a pat on his back as he exited his office.

Mercedes didn't know what to think when Sam closed the door to his dad's office and walked closer to her. "Is something wrong?" She couldn't help but ask because she couldn't fathom the reason behind Sam's behavior.

Sam couldn't help but to be honest, "Mercedes, yes something is very wrong, and I was hoping that we could talk about it."

Mercedes felt her heart sink to the bottom of the stomach. Sam was getting ready to tell her that he wanted them to end the marriage. "Why don't we talk tonight, I promised Kurt that I would help him with an event today because of his generous donation to Relay for Life."

Sam could tell Mercedes was avoiding him, and he tried to be honest to get her to be willing to sit down and talk to him. "I just want you to know that I meant what I said that I am extremely proud of you." Sam said looking into her eyes and he wanted to kiss her so badly, but knew if he did that she would probably slap his face, and he wouldn't blame her. Before he could act on his instincts, Sam heard his phone ring, and he glanced at his parent's home number before hesitating to answering it. "Hello."

Mercedes couldn't believe Sam. His phone and whoever was on the other line was apparently more important than her. Instead of waiting for him to end the call, Mercedes just rolled her eyes and started to walk out of the office leaving him to his important conversation.

"Sam, I know you think that I am too young to be all up in your business, but I have to know something."

"What is so important Stacie?"

"Are you cheating on Mercedes?"

Sam couldn't believe his sister. "Hell no, you must be out of your mind. You have seen how gorgeous she is. Why would I do something stupid like that?"

Mercedes was closing the door when she heard him say someone was gorgeous. She couldn't stop the gasp from leaving her mouth as she raced to the elevator leaving Sam as if the hounds of hell were chasing after her.

Sam's eye was drawn to Mercedes, and he saw her reaction. He wanted to chase after her and finish his phone call with Stacie, but he saw he had another call coming in. "Stacie I got to go I have another call coming in." He knew Stacie was upset with him accusing him of an affair which meant that Mercedes thought Sam was jeopardizing everything and was having an affair, and he couldn't do anything about it because he had to handle the person of the phone. His life couldn't get any worse, he thought as he tried to handle business.

Mercedes knew without a doubt that Sam was having an affair, and she was going to have to put a stop to it. She wasn't willing to risk going to jail because he couldn't keep it in his pants with his gorgeous lady friend. If he was so hard up for sex, then why didn't he lust after her and try to seduce her. Hell every other loser in Lima seemed more than willing to get in her pants, but it was as if the attraction he confessed to having for her before they got married had disappeared after they had kissed. She didn't know what to do, and after confessing all to Tina and Stacie, she decided to take their advice. They told her that she had to do something that would get his attention.

She heard him enter the house much earlier than normal and was not surprised that the first room he went in was the spare bedroom that he had been using as an office. All of his stuff had been removed and inside the room were two doggie beds and the room was filled with dog paraphernalia for her two new pets Chewie and McConaughey, who were barking at Sam for entering into their new home.

"Mercedes what the hell," Sam yelled out to her not knowing what was going on. He was afraid that she had moved him out of her home. He was also worried that she had gathered his belongings and set a fire to it all outside in her backyard in a big bonfire of revenge.

"Oh I see you have found the two new additions to our family. With people always asking me when we were going to start having children, I have decided to put them out of their misery by telling them we have two boys. Aren't they so cute? McConaughey is the one that is all white, and Chewie is the one with black, white, and gray hair. Congratulations, Sam you are a father." Mercedes said in her best imitation of Maury's voice.

"Where is my stuff? I had everything the way I wanted it!"

"I moved it to my small study. Don't worry, the things that didn't fit, I had removed to your bedroom. I didn't throw anything away."

"Mercedes…" Sam began raising his voice.

"Don't Sam, don't, I didn't even think I would be up when you came home to notice the changes. You are home before dark which is a miracle; unless you are just here to change clothes before leaving for another 'all important meeting'. Oh let's stop pretending, your meetings are not true meetings. Your mistress must be busy tonight. Or is she on her cycle or have you decided to change up on girlfriends? Stacie told me you normally rotate them around every few months. It's a little early, but I am not surprised that you are bored with the one you have now."

Sam felt as if she had slapped him, punched him in the gut, and then kicked him in the balls. He didn't know how to reply to her false accusations, but the only sound that escaped his lips before being interrupted by barking dogs was 'no.'

"It's okay Chewie, mommy is fine. That mean old man is not going to hurt her anymore."

"Mercedes, I have never lied to before you and believe me when I tell you I am not having an affair."

"Sam you doubted my intelligence before, but you must think I am stupid as the bimbos you were dating before me. Maybe I should have gotten pet kittens because we both know how much like pussy." Mercedes said being so uncharacteristically vulgar that she shocked not only Sam but herself as well. She saw the look of offense on his face, but she couldn't stop her wayward tongue.

"Believe what you want. I am not sleeping with anyone, and forget it. I can't talk to you right now." Sam said as he turned around grabbed his wallet and keys and left Mercedes' house as if McConaughey and Chewie were chasing after him.

"Don't worry I won't wait up!" She yelled after him gathering McConaughey and Chewie in her arms and allowing the dogs to lower her elevated blood pressure. She heard Sam slam the door in anger. "Well, I think I got his attention," she told her pets before getting up to answer her phone that was ringing.

"So what did Sam do?" Stacie asked. She was hoping that Sam went all Rhett Butler to Mercedes' Scarlett, and she was looking forward to hearing the juicy details.

"I think he hates the fact that I confronted him about cheating on me, he hates the dogs, and he hates me." Mercedes was debating whether or not to do an Olivia Pope and have a glass of red wine while eating popcorn while filling her best friend in.

"Oh, no Mercedes you were supposed to get his attention. I thought you were going to put on sexy lingerie, do a striptease, or at the most open the door to him with a trench coat on with nothing on under it. I was hoping to get your voicemail when I called."

"Marietta Anastasia Evans, have you lost your ever loving mind? I don't care if you are about to be a senior in high school, I don't want to know the X-rated thoughts you have concerning me and your brother. You need to stop reading those mature fanfictions that members of my fan base write about me. You should only be reading the ones rated T for Teens."

"Whatever Mercedes, I can watch a Rated R movie, so I can read Rated R fiction. But getting back to the disaster at hand what did you do to set him off?

"You mean other than confront him for being a man whore?"

"Mercedes, I can't believe you did that. He is not cheating on you. He has been working with a big client to speed up production on all his major projects partly to avoid you and also for another reason."

"I don't want to hear this Stacie. That still doesn't explain why he has been avoiding me."

"Well, I called him today and flat out asked him whether or not he was cheating on you."

"And he was going to admit to his kid sister that he was cheating on his wife and was risking having himself and your friend his wife jailed because of his behavior? No, I don't think so."

"Mercedes my brother doesn't lie. He told me that I had to be joking, and he wouldn't cheat on you because he thinks you are gorgeous."

"Well if he so attracted to me than why does he ignore me and do whatever it takes to avoid my presence?"

"I really believe it is because he is falling in love with you."

"Have you been smoking some of Stevie's weed?"

"Stevie doesn't smoke weed he eats brownies and licks suckers with cannabis, and no I don't need his brand of medication. When you are not around all Sam can do is talk about you. If I have to hear one more time how smart, talented, and kind you are, I swear I am going to puke. For as long as I can remember, I have never heard my brother carry on about a woman the way he carries on about you."

"If that is how he feels, then why hasn't he said anything? You know I couldn't hide the fact that I was falling in love with him, and he has done everything to make me fall out of love with him."

"Mercedes what are you saying?"

"What do you think I am saying Stacie?"

"You said you were falling in love, but I hate to break the news to you, you are in love with my brother."

"I was starting to fall in love, but…" A beep on her phone notified Mercedes that Tina was calling. "I am sorry Stacie, but I got to take this call from Tina. I will call you back."

"Okay, don't forget to call me back, I am not finished talking to you Mercedes." The young teen said before hanging up.

"What's up Tee?" Mercedes greeted her friend grateful for the interruption she provided in getting her off the phone with the insightful Stacie.

"I am just calling to tell you that Sam has just shown up here at our house. I am gathering from what I am overhearing that you two had a fight over the two furballs you have in his former office."

"Tina you don't know the half of it…" Mercedes was distracted from hearing two loud male voices in the background. "Why don't you call me later because I think I am about to lose my mind, and the only thing that will calm me if it I vent my emotions in my music."

"Okay, promise me that you will call me later."

"I promise Tee." She said hanging up the phone.

"Mike, I need a divorce; I can't put us through this pain for another year."

"You won't need a divorce; you two can get an annulment in about sixteen months as planned."

"I won't be able to stay married to her for that long. I am seriously attracted to her to the point that I am almost out of mind with lust for her."

"Seriously Sam," Mike couldn't help but to look at Sam and shake his head.

"You have seen her Mike. She is sexiness personified and not just beautiful on the outside but so beautiful within. She lights up a room with her smile, she has tamed my mother, my father loves her more than he loves me, and let's not take Stevie's and Stacie's opinion in hand. She is so smart and talented. How could any red-blooded man stop himself from wanting to touch those generous curves, kiss those succulent lips, and make love to her all night long?"

Tina chose that moment to enter into the conversation. "You know if anybody else came in and heard a man saying he wants to divorce his wife because he wants to make love to her, then they would think you were certifiably crazy. Honestly, I thought you two would have been in bed together after two weeks."

"I gave you four weeks because Mercedes is a virgin and is known to be stubborn as a mule."

"Stubborn you don't know the half of it. She is afraid of losing control and has to be in charge like her mother." Sam said thinking that he saw a little of Melanie Jones in his wife that night.

"Sam, could you blame her? She has had to give up a lot more than you have had to, and she thought it was all for no reason because you were going to get caught cheating on her."

"Yeah, she told me she thinks I am cheating on her, and I can't understand why she would think I would be so stupid and do that."

"Sam you are always on your phone, you are keeping some long hours at work, and I would think the same thing based on your past and current behavior."

"The only woman I want is Mercedes. I know we haven't been together long, but no other woman compares to her." Realization hit after hearing what Tina was actually saying. "Are you saying that she knows more about my past than what Noah had told her?"

"Yep, she researched you on the Internet before agreeing to even marry you. Your reputation on the society pages spoke for itself. Mercedes is heavily into research and has been since I met her in law school." Mike told Sam.

"Her love of research and learning was something that gave her a reputation of a nerd at our high school." Tina added.

"She is the hottest nerd that I have ever met." Sam said remembering how she looked in her glasses earlier. "I have no desire to cheat. The only woman I want is my wife, and that is why I have been avoiding her because I couldn't trust myself to keep my hands or my lips off of her."

"So, why are you here and not with your wife telling her these things?" Mike asked.

"She has gotten two demon seed dogs without asking me; she has expanded our so called family with not one but two dogs who obviously don't like me."

"I can't believe she actually adopted McConaughey and Chewie. She has been volunteering at an animal shelter since Kurt threw his last fundraising banquet for funding that place. She was afraid that if nobody adopted them, they were going to be put to sleep. I am so glad she did it. Those dogs love her, and she loves them, too." Tina admitted.

Sam felt sick. He didn't know Mercedes was using some of her newly found leisure time volunteering at an animal shelter. There was so much about his wife that he didn't know. "Will, you please tell me about the true Mercedes not what the public knows about the celebrity? I have messed up, and I have got to do something to make sure she forgives me."

"Are you crazy Sam? Mercedes is the real deal: beauty, brains, generous, and the most forgiving person I know; besides, I know for a fact that she is crazy about you and has been hurt by your behavior towards her, but her main issue is that you haven't been there for her like you promised. She told me about Team Samcedes and how you have disappointed her."

"I know I have hurt her, and I am so sorry for doing that more than my words can express, but I have the next sixteen and a half months with her, and I want to fix it. Please Tina help me." Sam was desperate he needed to know how to undo all the damage that he had done to his and Mercedes' relationship.

"I have already probably told you too much; I don't know what I else I can tell you Sam."

Mike knew what was needed and spoke up, "Tina was diagnosed with breast cancer a year and a half ago. I was just at the point that I had gathered enough courage to propose to her, and I thought my life was going to fall apart. Mercedes found out, and she left California, her work, her commitments, everything, and she came back home to be there for us."

"Mercedes used to have super long hair that when straightened reach to the middle of her back. She had it permed and cut off, so I could have a human hair wig made from her own personal locks of love when I started to lose my hair. There is no sacrifice too great that Mercedes would not make for those she loves. You need to realize that you will never find another woman like Mercedes, and your marriage to her doesn't have to be a sentence any longer. You two could make the marriage real."

"I agree with Tina. You two have a prenup, so it doesn't matter whether or not you get a divorce versus getting an annulment if you two decide to end the marriage when your sentence is up. An annulment just states the marriage never existed, and therefore neither party can sue for alimony. I think I know you well enough that you won't even attempt to break that ironclad prenuptial agreement to go after Mercedes' assets because if you do you won't be getting a thing."

Sam didn't know what to say, but he realized he was talking to the wrong people. He should be talking to Mercedes. "I just want to thank you two from the bottom of my heart. You two are really the best friends Mercedes could ask for, and I see you as my good friends as well."

"You don't have to thank us Sam. I have enjoyed getting to know you, and I believe you are a good guy, and I treasure our friendship. You just got to work this thing out with Mercedes yourself because there is nothing that we can tell you to help you out."

"You are right Mike. I am going home to talk to her."

"She will probably be downstairs in the studio." Tina told him with a sheepish expression.

"Well, I am going to go down there and interrupt her, so please pray for me because I am hoping that we can kiss an make up and put all this bad stuff behind us."

"If I were you, I would definitely try kissing her. It may be the only way you can shut her up, and who knows; she may very well kiss you back." Tina said hugging him and then wishing him a goodnight.

Sam finished hugging Tina and told her, "I am going to be going after more than just a kiss." He admitted the weeks of unfulfilled sexual tension had him the horniest he had been in his entire life. After hearing what Mike and Tina said about Mercedes, he wanted her even more if that was physically possible.

Mike winked at Sam and gave him a bro hug, "I told my wife you were a smart man even though she was convinced you were an idiot."

Sam didn't say that he agreed with Tina on his way out, but he knew he had been an idiot and could only pray that Mercedes' forgiving nature would allow him a chance back into her heart.