Hey guys, here is another installment, I know I have been slow, but I am still here. I hope you enjoyed the double update. Stay safe and enjoy!
Mercedes smoothed down the navy blue Egyptian cotton bed sheets, moving to the pillows and replacing the pillowcases as she checked the baby monitor. MJ was taking his nap; she timed it, she hoped, perfectly with Sam coming to check out the back suite. It was hard being in there; she had it built for Malcolm, and she hoped, prayed he would've survived.
"Still can't believe you died on me, Mal, right when I need you most." She said, shaking her head as she sat on the bed looking around the room. She had saved every spare change and tip she earned to get the down payment for the three-bedroom three bath home in a gated community with a full basement, one she could only dream of living in when she was growing up.
With the help of Finn, Santana, and Sebastian, they tore down the walls to give the place an open floor plan, and they turned the basement into a Suite with a fully equipped kitchen/dining room and living room. Bedroom and Master Suite. She wanted to surprise Mal and show him that she was trying her best to make better choices for her son and for her life. But she never got the chance.
The doorbell rang, and she hopped up, taking a breath as she walked towards the door, running her hands down against her jeans, hoping she wasn't making a huge mistake in letting a stranger live with her. Opening the door, she smiled. "Hi, Sam."
Sam smiled, looking down at her. "Hi, thanks for letting me see this place; I really would like to get out of the hotel."
She nodded. "Not a problem. Follow me, and I will show you the Suite."
Sam followed her down the few stairs to the basement and whistled. "Wow, you did a great job with this place." Sam walked towards the door and looked out the window. "Is that a private entrance?"
She nodded again. "Yes, should you get the place, you would be able to come and go as you please; I just ask you to be respectful in who you invite over."
Sam turned towards her. "Of course."
Mercedes walked over to the kitchen. "We have the latest appliances; everything is up to date and code and-"
She stopped speaking as MJ started to whine. "Mommy…" came over the speakers, and she looked at Sam.
"Can you excuse me? I have to go check on my son?"
Sam nodded. "Go ahead; it's okay. I am going to look at the bedroom."
She nodded, walked away, and headed up the stairs. Sam opened the fridge, looking at the stainless steel appliance, then over to the stove. He stopped and turned when he heard Mercedes speaking.
"Aww, what's the wrong little one? You should be napping."
"No…" came a whine. "No sleep."
He heard her sigh. "Okay, I guess you are coming with me, be nice lil one."
Sam walked into the bedroom, not wanting her to think he was eavesdropping. Rubbing his hands against each other, he really did like the place; it seemed like a good place to lay low but to also be there for Mercedes in the way Malcolm wanted him to.
"Sam?" Mercedes called.
Sam walked out of the bedroom and smiled as he saw her step closer to him, holding the little boy. "My, who do we have here?"
Mercedes smiled. "This is Malcolm Charles Jones, MJ for short."
Sam's breath caught in his throat, realizing who her son was named after. "That's a…a very strong name."
Mercedes nodded. "Given to him in honor of one of the strongest men I know. My brother."
Sam's face paled as he tried to shake the rush of emotions overcoming him. He'd heard Malcolm rave about being an uncle and being excited to meet his nephew finally, but it never happened.
"I'm sure he would consider it a bigger honor that you named your son after him."
Mercedes offered a sad smile. "I think the bigger honor would be them getting to know each other."
Sam shifted. "Well, I'm sure with you telling him all about his uncle, he probably feels like he knows him."
She nodded. "Yeah, let me show you the rest of the place." She said, leading them to the main part of the house. "Now, you shouldn't hear too much from us unless someone is throwing a fit, but that is rare."
Sam looked over her nicely decorated living room, seeing toys here and there, but for the most part, it was clean. He checked the backyard and smiled, seeing the swing set and fenced-in pool. "Is that for everyone?"
Mercedes looked out, and MJ smiled. "Poo Poo!"
"You can use it; I just ask you to keep the gate closed. As you can see, MJ loves the pool."
Sam nodded. "I understand."
Her phone rang, and she put MJ in his playpen as she answered. Sam looked at him and bent down, seeing him playing with a teddy bear wearing Army fatigues.
"Who is that?" Sam asked.
"Dis red."
"Red? That's a cool name." Sam said.
"Sunshine…only sunshine…" MJ started humming.
Sam smiled as he joined him. "You make me happy when skies are grey…."
"You know?" MJ asked, surprised.
"I do. Does your mom sing that to you?"
"Uh-huh."
"I am sorry about that." Mercedes said, walking towards them. "So, your background check came in clean, and everything looks good; there is just one thing keeping me from offering you this place."
Sam frowned. "And what is that?"
"I know who you are…"
Sam moved closer to her. "What do you mean?"
"I didn't recognize you at first, but…you are his…were his best friend?" She said, staring at him.
"Yeah,, about that…"
"Why didn't you tell me? Why pretend not to know who he was?" She asked, folding her arms across her chest.
Sam contemplated telling her the truth, but he had a promise to keep. "I wasn't sure at first; all Lieutenant Colonel Grant told me was the place was perfect, and he would give me a referral."
Mercedes stared at him for a moment, then nodded. "Were you…were you with him? Is that where your injury came from?"
Sam sighed. "You should know that the last thing he thought about was coming home to you."
Mercedes blinked back, tears starting at him. "What?"
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything."
"No, I um…I just need a minute."
"Momma cry?" MJ said, looking up at her.
"Oh baby, it's okay." She said. "Momma is okay." She bent down to him, and MJ wiped her eyes.
"Bad man…" He said, looking at Sam.
Sam frowned. "I am sorry little man; I never meant to make your mom cry."
"He's not a bad man; he didn't make me cry. Momma is okay."
"Hug, momma." MJ said to Sam.
"Oh, I don't think…"
"Hug, momma!" MJ demanded.
Mercedes stood. "It's okay, Sam; he needs to see that I am okay; you can hug me."
Sam nodded. "Okay." he moved closer to them and pulled Mercedes into a hug. She was stiff at first, but then there was an overwhelming need to hug him, and she wrapped her free hand around Sam and relaxed against his touch as he pulled her into him.
For a brief moment, there was only them in; neither could explain the sensation they felt in each other's arms; it felt like coming home, like they were finally where they belonged.
MJ ran over to them. "Good man." MJ said as he reached out and hugged Sam.
Sam didn't know why, but he picked up MJ and pulled him closer to them. They all stood in that moment feeling at peace, feeling like they were a family for one split moment. Mercedes cleared her throat, stepping away.
"Does this mean I can stay?" Sam asked softly.
She nodded. "Yeah, you can stay. We should talk about rent."
"I was thinking $900 should be a fair amount."
Mercedes looked at him and chewed her bottom lip. "$900, and you pay for half the groceries, and we have a deal."
Sam looked at her. "Does that mean you are going to cook for me? Now that you know I knew Mal, he sat there and talked about your Mac and Cheese like it was the best thing he had ever tasted in his life."
"I do try to cook most days." She said softly.
"I'm not too bad at cooking, and I cook a mean fried chicken and mashed potatoes. It's about all I can cook, but I do it pretty well."
"I am-" Mercedes' words were cut off by banging on the front door.
Sam noticed her tense up immediately.
"MERCEDES! I KNOW YOU ARE IN THERE! YOU CAN'T KEEP IGNORING MY PHONE CALLS! OPEN THE FUCKIN' DOOR."
Mercedes frowned, looking at MJ, who moved behind Sam's leg. "Sam, can you, um, keep an eye on MJ? I will be right back."
"MERCEDES! DON'T MAKE ME BUST THIS DAMN DOOR IN!"
"Do you want me to go out there?"
She shook her head. "No, just please watch MJ?" Sam watched her shut the door to the Suite without hearing his response.
"Bad man!" MJ said with tears in his eyes.
Sam bent down. "Bad man? He's outside?"
MJ nodded. "Hurts, momma."
"He hurt your mom? Has he hurt you?"
MJ shook his head. "Hurts, momma!"
Sam could see the fear in his eyes, and it broke his heart. Pulling the toddler to him, he moved closer to the door and could hear yelling.
"How about I turn on something for you to watch? Will that make you feel better?"
"Pawattrol!" MJ declared.
Sam nodded, pulling out his phone and turning on a Paw Patrol Video on youtube, then set MJ on the sofa as he moved to the door, listening to the conversation,
Mercedes opened the door, frowning. "Anthony, I have a restraining order against you; you can't be here!"
"I can be here when my wife and child are here!" Anthony said, trying to push past her. "Where is Ant Jr.?"
"First of all, we are divorced; I am not your wife. Second, it will be a cold day in hell before I name my child after you!"
"You vindictive bitch!" He said, gripping her arm. "You keep my son away from me, from my family!"
"Let go of me!" She hissed, trying to move out of his grasp. "Your family brought this on themselves! Your mom knew she wasn't supposed to let you around my son; she did, so now she has no visitation rights, it may seem mean, but to keep my son away from you, I will do whatever I have to do."
He raised his hand to his her, and she smiled. "Do it! And make sure you leave a good mark; I would love to have a reason to throw your ass in jail."
Sam had heard enough, making sure MJ was okay before storming over to where all the noise was coming from. "Baby, is there a problem?" He asked, looking past Mercedes to the man he assumed was her ex. "Do we have a problem here?"
"Baby?" Anthony said, reluctantly letting her go. "Mercedes, who in the hell do you have livin' in my house with my son!?"
"First of all, this is my house that I paid for with my hard-earned money! Second, who I have here is none of your concern." Mercedes said through gritted teeth.
"You need to leave." Sam said, moving in front of her.
"Yo, my man, you need to back the fuck up before we have a problem."
Sam laughed. "We already got a problem! You put your hands on my girl."
"Oh, she's yo girl now? That's funny, as she's my wife." Anthony spat.
"No, she's not. Not anymore. Now you can leave, or I can make you; either way doesn't bother me."
Anthony stood to his full height, and Sam did the same, not backing down. Mercedes glanced behind her to make sure MJ wasn't seeing this.
"Man, later for the both of you!" Anthony spat. "We will finish this later, baby, don't worry." Anthony said
Anthony glared at her as he turned to leave. Mercedes rushed to the door and locked all four of her bolts leaning against it.
"I take it he is the real bad man?" Sam asked.
Mercedes turned towards him. "You can say that."
Sam nodded. "MJ is watching Paw Patrol, and I can go back to keep an eye on him so you can go get yourself together."
Mercedes blinked back tears. "Thank you."
Sam walked into his Suite and walked over to MJ, who looked up at him.
"Bad man go?"
Sam nodded. "Yes, the bad man is gone.
"Momma go?" He asked with tears.
"No, momma will be right back, okay? She's still here."
"I momma….momma…" MJ said, starting to cry.
Sam pulled him to him and shhh him as he began to sing. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine; you make me happy when skies are grey; you'll never know, dear, how much I love you; please don't take my sunshine away." Sam continued to hum as he rocked a calming MJ in his arms.
Mercedes walked into the Suite and froze, not only because she saw Sam standing there consoling her son but because, for a moment, she could have sworn she was staring at her brother in that room. She blinked back a few tears, willing her eyes to see him again. "Mal?" She breathed.
Sam looked at her. "See MJ; there's your momma." He walked over to Mercedes and handed MJ to her. "You okay? You look like you have seen a ghost?"
Mercedes held a whimpering MJ in her arms. "No, I am okay. You can; you can move in whenever you are ready."
"Thanks, if you ever need my help with… you know…just let me know."
Mercedes offered him a smile and walked toward the door, offering him one last glance before carrying MJ out of the room.
Sam sat on the bed smiling as his phone rang, and he saw a video call from his sister. "Stace! Hey, how are you? How is London treating you?"
"London is treating me great! How are the mountains treating you?"
Sam sighed. "I am actually not in the mountains; I decided to take a detour. I am in Ohio."
"Ohio? What's in Ohio? A woman, perhaps?" She teased.
"Ha, not in the way you think. I am just here for a few weeks or so. So have you talked to Stevie?" Sam said, laying back on the incredibly soft bed.
"I did. He's getting married." Stacey said, rolling her eyes. "I don't like this one, Sam; he's way too happy."
Sam laughed. "Isn't that a good thing?"
Stacey pouted. "I guess I am not ready for him to be so responsible. Sam, he's wearing actual clothing, like not those board shorts and flip-flops. He can cook…"
"No, he can't!" Sam laughed.
"Yes, he can! I sat there and watched as he made this big dinner for her. He's…dare I say it, maturing Sam."
"Wow…" Sam breathed. He and his siblings had a hard upbringing, with a weak mother and an alcoholic father.
Dwight Evans, a once loved and respected father, was now nothing more than a threat-turned-cautionary tail he used to his brother to make him straighten up. When Sam was 14, his father got laid off. While he tried to find work, he wasn't as experienced as some of his younger counterparts.
Mary returned to work as a nurse to take care of the family, and Dwight stayed home. As a prideful man, Dwight felt shame not being able to protect his family; not being able to do that, he drowned his sorrows in alcohol, the same thing he saw his father do whenever he was depressed.
Once he became a drunk, the abuse wasn't too far behind. Sam, being the oldest, took the brunt of that pain, and he couldn't allow his siblings to be broken. Though Sam took the unnecessary beatings, when he turned sixteen, he fought back. Dwight gave some spiel about how alcoholism ran in their family, but Sam didn't care, nor did he need his father's excuses.
What Sam did do was he made sure never to drink and never put himself in a position that could harm him or his siblings.
"Sam? Sam, are you there?"
Sam shook out his thoughts. "Hey, sorry, what did you say?"
"I said he wants us to meet her, and since he said she can't travel, we voted and decided to come to you."
"You can't just vote and make these choices without talking to me." Sam said, sighing.
"We can, and we did. I took some time off next week, and so did Stevie; since you aren't in the mountains, send me your new address. We need to celebrate."
"I don't…" Sam ran his hands through his hair. "Let me see what I can do."
Stacey stared at him. "What aren't you telling me?"
Sam shook his head. "Look, I am staying in someone's home, it's a nice suite, but it's a one-bedroom. So let me see what I can do, and then I will tell you."
Stacey sighed. "Fine, but I am coming to the States next week, don't make me find you."
"I know; I love you." Sam hung up and sighed. He wanted to see his siblings, but that just seemed like a complication to an already complicated situation.