Author's note: Sorry about the long delay. I was letting my doubts and fears get in the way of my writing again. Thank anyone who would like to continue reading. Sorry also for any food triggers from this story I have been on a diet and all I can do about food now is dream about it. I think that showed up in my writing. LOL. My food addiction is just too sad. I hope you enjoy and are having a happy and blessed holiday season. Please forgive all my writing errors and please review.
Disclaimer: I do not own glee nor any of its characters.
I Knew You Were Waiting for Me—Part II
Chapter 12
"I can't lie; homicide does come to mind." Was Sam's flat initial response. "Time and place-I've told you before I've got you." Rick replied as he looked over his shoulder to make sure that the women were not on their way back to the table yet. Rick picked up the magazine, folded it, and stuffed it back into his back pocket. "No, I can't….but the thought was great." Sam stated. A waitress walked over to the table and poured coffee into the cups and requested their orders. Sam and Rick took the initiative and ordered for themselves as well as for Mercedes and Crystal and the waitress went on her way. "It doesn't have to be full on murder but at least a coma or something." Rick said while hunching his shoulders, and then took a sip of his coffee. "There has got to be some sort of legal action that we can take?" Sam spoke as he stared off in the distance for a moment. "Well, don't sleep on it; this guy has gotten way out of hand-if you ask me." Rick concluded. Sam pulled out his cell phone and sent a text message as Rick watched him do so.
The text read. "Hey guys, I know it's been a little while but….well I need your advice about… I suppose you have seen the lies about Mercy? Please reach out to her so we can figure out how to stop this. Thanks" Sam pressed send.
"He has gotten out of hand." Sam murmured to himself as he then put away his phone.
Sam suddenly came to himself "Speaking of hands, why do you want to learn how to play wide receiver all of a sudden?" Sam asked. "After having a discussion with my wife (Rick raised his eyebrows and nudged Sam's side with his elbow) I've decided that it is a skill set that I need to develop." Sam looked at Rick his face completely displaying his confusion. "Wife….skill set…develop? Ha, look at you, marriage has changed you already!" Sam laughed. Rick started to say something as he picked up his coffee cut in his hand but Sam prevented him by touching his shoulder and continued on. "But marriage is where two people are supposed to rub off on each other, and help to change each other…." Sam spoke reflectively. Sam looked at Rick and picked up his own coffee cup and tapped Rick's coffee cup with his "….for the better." Sam continued. "For the better" Rick added and he and Sam both took a sip. "We'll make time to begin your training once we get back." Sam said. After a few moments of a silent pause Rick whispered. "By the way…the 'rubbing off' part is a really sexy thing." Rick mused out loud as he began grinning from ear to ear. "You got that right!" This was Sam's loud and immediate rebuttal; as a whole-hearted grin spread across his face. The two men tapped their cups together again.
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Crystal entered her office, she would be lying if she said that she hadn't been reeling from the long day, every meeting with clients she had gone to today had felt different somehow; decisions which she had finalized weeks ago now seemed up for discussion again, and there was something in the atmosphere that just felt different-it felt untrustworthy, and negative. Crystal sat at her desk and began reviewing all of the work that she had left before her trip to Vegas trying to bridge the gap between how she had understood what was to be done and what (now) had been expected. She was feeling a loss of control and it bothered her.
After another hour and a half had passed she groaned in frustration. "She had told Joshua clearly what was to be done; so what happened?" She thought to herself. She found herself glancing out of her office's large panoramic window taking notice of this crystal clear autumn day. She had almost missed it entirely because the sun was now dipping in the west. She got up from her chair walked to, and looked through, the window, which looked down onto the field, and saw the players running plays for practice. She could see Sam on the sidelines talking to a group of players in a huddle while he pointed out plays from a playbook and she saw her husband running downfield within another group of players attempting to make a touchdown from the 30 yard line. A warmth came over her heart as she looked out on this beautiful fall day. She never thought that she could ever love football more; but now she actually did. Crystal's phone rang. "Falcon's Football; Crystal…." (She briefly paused because she did not know what to say) Waters speaking." "Isn't it Waters-Raven? Or just Raven? It takes some getting used to; doesn't it?" Mercedes asked with a small chuckle. "Yes, I guess it does…. (Crystal laughed at her own self) I'm really not even sure if I should use it here…I think I will get Rick's thoughts on it later. How are you?" Crystal questioned. "Lonely, I miss my man." Mercedes confessed. "I just saw him on the field. It shouldn't be much longer they will be finishing practice in about an hour or so." Crystal tried to encourage her. "Oh, thanks for the heads up, I can have dinner ready for him when he gets home. I didn't want to disturb you at work but I was wondering did you remember that favor that I asked you about?" Mercedes questioned. "Oh, yes I didn't forget and I am going to begin working on it-don't worry." Crystal reassured her.
It was then that Peter Pettway entered into Crystal's office speaking. "Crystal we need to have a word." Crystal glanced at her boss who had been making his presence known as he entered and she nodded briefly. "Ummm, can I reach out to you again in a little while? My boss just came into my office…..we'll talk later okay? Bye." Crystal spoke as she hung up the phone.
"How did the Treasure Trailz shoot go?" Peter questioned. "It was great we should start seeing some of the ads starting next month." Crystal was pleased to report. "I received a copy of Sam's new contract from T squared and he seems to have his work cut out for him; not to mention that he will be earning quite a lot from this deal-more than I had hoped, compared to our percentage for allowing them to use him." Peter's tone turned surly. "I went over that contract with our lawyers myself, it was done in his best interest." Crystal's tone was quite sincere. "Yes, I know, but from now on I would rather you work on our behalf-for the Falcon's best interest; instead." Crystal could sense a difference in him; in his tone and his attitude towards her. "Our cut was reasonable." She added. "Well, maybe it is time to get a little unreasonable around here." Peter began walking around Crystal's office and looking at differing pieces of paper on her desk and the files that were still in her inbox. Peter began speaking to Crystal in a distracted manner as he continued to look. He picked up a folder and open it scanning the project inside. "An-jella proved to be quite an asset while you were away. Why were you keeping her hidden from me before?" Peter turned and faced Crystal abruptly.
Crystal's face became puzzled "An-jella? Joshua was supposed to be working with you, and what do you mean? Keeping her hidden? It is a matter of seniority, if I am not here to work with you personally, Joshua is next in line according to his title and his time within the organization." Crystal attempted to clarify the situation. "Yes, well I couldn't count on Joshua to be here when I needed him-now could I?" "Why not?" Crystal asked. "He had a death in his family or something." Peter spoke rather sharply which surprised Crystal. "He had a death in is family? Is that why I didn't see him all day?" Crystal was caught off-guard by this revelation and felt badly that she doubted him earlier. "Did you send flowers?" Peter gave her a look which simply implied "Are you kidding?" "The organization should send some flowers I will get right on it." Crystal said; as she picked up the phone on her desk to begin to dial while giving Peter a disappointed look. "How could you expect him to be here if…" Peter then interrupted her statement. "I had three people die in my family last year; you didn't know that-did you Crystal?" Crystal looked at Mr. Pettway with a face which showed shock and horror at her only finding this information out now. "That is because I know clearly what my priorities are. Split up your workload and divide them between you and An-jella; not just the smaller accounts and contracts either, some of the bigger ones too – I trust in her judgment; she made me a lot of money on the Gatorade and Under-Armor accounts while you were out." Peter mused out loud. "That woman has a very distinctive art of persuasion." Peter's tone actually turned seductive.
Crystal looked suspiciously at Mr. Pettway. "Are you saying that you are having a problem with how I have been working?" Crystal questioned as she hung up the phone deciding that she would send the flowers after this meeting. Peter eyes became small slits before he spoke to her again. "An-jella told me that you would make this about you Crystal; she told me that you are territorial and that you have been holding her back because of it. I didn't believe it though until just now…." "Holding her back?" Crystal began but Peter would not listen. "Divide the accounts and get her up to speed immediately. You have until the end of the week, I am taking her out of town with me over the weekend, to meet some people, and I want her to have had enough time to take in the information so that she can give me her take (opinions), and her strategies while we are gone." Peter began to walk out of her office. "Oh, yes one last thing. I received a call from Raven's agent requesting a contract re-negotiation and something about playing a wide receiver position on the team." Crystal couldn't help but smile briefly understanding now more fully Rick's request, but Peter continued. "….but like An-jella said, he has not proven himself to be an asset in any way which would be enough of a reason for me to even take that into consideration; so send a letter to his agent denying such a request. An-jella was right this Raven kid is becoming more trouble than he is worth." Peter mumbled as he walked out of Crystal's office. Crystal felt it all the way down in her soul-things had definitely changed while she was gone and it was all thanks to An-jella.
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A few minutes after Mercedes disconnected from her call with Crystal; Mercedes phone rang. "Hello" She said as she answered the phone. "Mercedes, I've tried to do the right thing by waiting for you to get in contact with us – not wanting to be an ambulance chaser or anything but we couldn't be polite any longer we were worried about you. You know all you have to do is say the word and we will nail this guy to the wall for you." The voice on the other end of the phone said. "Hey, it's good to hear from you!" She said cheerfully. "And, you guys are not ambulance chasers I know that, (She chuckled) how are you two?" "We're fine and we are ready to take the first flight out and meet you wherever you are so that we can discuss strategy and put this thing in motion." He said in a confident, and eager tone, yet there was a sincere friendliness in his tone as well. "I just thought it would die down on its own." Mercedes answered. "Some things die and some things need to be the victim of a pre-meditated murder and this is definitely one of those things." His words came fast almost overflowing from his lips. "Mason, you're sweet but I think it might have died down already…." Mercedes had tried to reassure him. "Sam doesn't think so; he sent me a text asking for our help." "Sam texted you?" Mercedes asked. Then there was a knock on Sam's apartment door.
"I've got to go but I have good news Sam and I are married!" "WHAT! CONGRATULATIONS…WHEN?!" Mason questioned giddy with excitement. "I'll call you back and tell you both everything I've got to go now someone is at the door; give Jane my love- bye." Mercedes laughed and then disconnected the call.
"Russell, I'm glad you could come." Mercedes said as she answered the door and invited him inside. "Is this where you've been staying baby girl?" Russell asked. "Yeah, I have news, good news and bad." Mercedes said as she motioned for him to take a seat. Russell sat down and watched as Mercedes took a seat next to him on the sofa. Mercedes lifted her hand and showed Russell her rings "I've gotten married! That's the good news." Mercedes said excitedly. "Wait-you're married? Are you serious?" Russell questioned. "Um hmmm, Sam and I are in love, have been for a long time, and we just couldn't wait-not any longer." "Are you happy?" Russell asked as he reached out and grabbed her hand which had been sitting on her lap. "Extremely happy about him, about us, and about being married." She smiled. "Well, congratulations, I'll try not to be offended by not having been invited." Mercedes hugged him. "Yeah, don't take that the wrong way everything just happened kind of quickly that's all." Mercedes pulled herself from his arms and spoke again.
"But I also have some bad news-I won't be able to sing for a while, I spoke to a doctor who told me that, I have two nodules on my throat and it will affect my singing until I get surgery to remove them and even then there are no guarantees." Russell's concern became apparent on his face immediately. "Don't do anything without a second opinion." He consulted. "In a few weeks I will see my doctor back in South Carolina, but I needed to let you know so that you can cancel some of my upcoming dates. Could we possibly release a greatest hits album instead of the new one we were planning? This way it can buy me some time away from the studio to recuperate after the procedure; if I decide to have it." Mercedes requested. Russell squeezed her hand. "Consider it done; baby girl." "Thanks." Mercedes smiled sincerely.
"Unfortunately, I have more bad news though." Russell reached into his bag and pulls out the magazine which had eluded to the upcoming article about Mercedes in Playboy and showed it to her. Mercedes read the cover of the magazine and her body began to tremble and her eyes rolled up into the back of her head. "HOW DARE HE?!" She screamed. Mercedes began coughing over and over she ran and got a tissue from out of the tissue box from off of the table and covered her mouth only to find little specks of blood on it and her throat ablaze; anger's distinction embossed on her face. Russell attempted to comfort her but he felt guilty more than anything else. "I am so sorry that I told you to let this slide Mercedes we can't any longer- you are going to have to make a statement." Russell advised. Mercedes shook her head yes. "But not without, first, talking to Sam." She countered, only as a whisper, which was all that could pass through her lips. "You should speak to a lawyer." Russell spoke in a determined tone. Mercedes simply nodded her head. "It's okay I know two." She picked up her cellphone and connected again to her last incoming call. "Hi Mason, you're right, I need you and Jane—he isn't stopping. I am in Georgia, in Atlanta right now, can you meet me? How soon can you get here?" "We're on our way, text us the address and we'll be there by tomorrow evening."
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When Sam arrived home that night he found Mercedes waiting for him at the door. "Hello, my sexy working man." Her voice sounded raspy and slightly deeper which Sam found to be an absolute turn on. She spoke holding a large serving platter consisting of veggies (broccoli, green peas and carrots), steamed shrimp, and pasta all mixed together in a creamy parmesan sauce which she created. "I wanted my husband to come home to a hot home cooked meal." She smiled and placed the platter on the dining room table. Sam crossed over the room and grabbed Mercedes in his arms and hugged her tightly. "Hey baby, how are you? Are you alright?" Sam asked. Mercedes nodded yes into his shoulder. "Are you alright? Did you have a bad day or something?" Mercedes asked as she caressed the hair that fell onto the nape of his neck as she returned his hug. "No, it wasn't a bad day. This is a great day. I bet you have no idea how much of a dream come true this really is for me; do you?" He squeezed her tightly. "If there were a way to describe my happiness right now that would only mean that I failed to describe it accurately because mere words would never do it justice." Mercedes laughed. "It's just a meal Sam." She smiled. Sam squeezed her even tighter still "It's not just a meal; it's you…it's not coming home to an empty apartment anymore-it's coming home to you."
Mercedes kissed her husband.
"Tomorrow you won't come home to an empty apartment either." She spoke as she stepped out of his arms. "I hope you don't mind but I invited Mason and Jane to come-they will be here by tomorrow evening." Mercedes walked over to the countertop and picked up the magazine and showed it to Sam "Did you know about this? Mason told me that you reached out to him." Sam nodded. "I saw it when we were at the airport coming home from Vegas. I just thought we should at least talk to him and find out what our options were." Sam said as he washed his hands at the kitchen sink and then proceeded to carry the plate from the stovetop which had pieces of freshly made garlic bread slices and he sat it down on the dining table, then he sat down himself. Mercedes put down the magazine and went to the fridge and brought out a pitcher of lemonade and placed it on the table as well before she began dishing up the shrimp pasta on a plate and then passed it to Sam. "Were you going to tell me?" She asked as she dished up her own plate and sat down across from him. Sam looked at her meekly and poured the lemonade from the pitcher into her glass and then his own. "I was just trying to figure out how to go about it." He said as his eyes softened even more as they looked into hers; slightly pleading that this would not cause a problem between them. "You really are thoughtful Sam aren't you?" She said as she placed the napkin from the table on her lap and extended her hand across the table to his. Sam could not deny the sign of relief on his face that they were okay and he put his napkin on his lap and extended his arm across the table as well. As they held hands they bowed their heads as Sam gave thanks for the meal placed before them. After Sam said the blessing he was quick to query.
"Did Mason say they could help?" Sam picked up the fork took a bite and froze as he closed his eyes and began slowly chewing the mouthful enjoying every succulent pass within his cheek. "Do you have any idea how much I have missed your cooking?" Sam's words were muffled from the fullness of the food captured within his mouth. He winked at her and then Sam's long leg extended out and his foot started connecting with hers under the table. Playing footsie with Mercedes under the table was a pastime that he was unwilling to give up. Mercedes smiled "I knew that this was your favorite because when we were in New York I would never find any leftovers by the time I got back from the studio the next day." She said as she took a bite of her dinner but continued in this under the table game herself. "I think they may have some ideas but I want you to help me with this-so I told him that we would have to discuss it together. Sam, I am so sorry that this is turned out to be a thing…a bad thing." "Why are you apologizing? You were just being, beautiful you, and he is the one who is being an ass. I can understand his obsession with you, but hey get in line, I was obsessed with you first." Mercedes just smirked at Sam. "No, but seriously, he needs to find himself another woman now and leave my wife alone." Sam said with his head hanging down as he was pushing some pasta around on his plate attempting to scoop it up with his fork; looking at his plate in a determined fashion.
"Say it again." Mercedes put down her fork and placed her hands in her lap. "Say what again?" Sam asked as looked up at her and then he reached for a slice of the warm garlic bread. Mercedes lowered her face a little and smiled "Say it again." She repeated. Sam continued to look at her and then he smiled. "Leave my wife alone." Sam's voice was low, strong, and deliberate. Mercedes grinned silently lowering her head some more and then picked up her fork again and began scooping up some more pasta and she took another bite. Sam stared at her from across the table and he thought to himself that she was just beautiful, amazing, and perfect and that was when he decided to say it. "Mercedes, let's make a baby." Mercedes eyes shot up from her plate. "Sam?! We just got married!" "I know, but we would be great parents and a great family, I just know it." Mercedes shock was betrayed by her inability to prevent herself from grinning from ear to ear at the prospect. "You don't think it's...too soon? How do you know if you can stand my crazy? Don't you want to wait awhile to see how the marriage is going first?"
Sam gave Mercedes a blank stare and expression for a few moments before he spoke. "Oh, I'm sorry did I forget to tell you that when I actually married you I was in it for the long haul- divorce is not an option, at least not for me. So we can have a child tomorrow and it would not make any difference in the outcome of our marriage – you're stuck with me." He smiled and took a bite out of the garlic bread. "Garlic breath and all, huh?" "Umm hmmm" Sam nodded cheerfully while chewing. "Do you really think that we could do it? Do you think that we could be good parents?" Mercedes asked Sam. "Mercedes, do you love me?" "Of course I do." "Mercedes, do I love you?" "I think you do." Sam's bottom lip pouted "You think or you know?" "Yes Sam, I know you do. You love me." "Then how can we not be great parents if our child is going to be surrounded by all this love. Love never fails. (1st Corinthians 13: 8 right?)" Sam smiled. "You're right Sam (1st Corinthians 13: 8) Love never fails." Mercedes smiled back at him. "Alright then let's do it! Let's make a baby!" Mercedes said as she grabbed up a piece of garlic bread and took a bite out of it too and began chewing. "Because you're stuck with me too!" She said smiling wholeheartedly as she continued to chew. Sam jumped up from his side of the table and approached Mercedes, taking one knee by her side, grabbing her face and kissing her with a wild abandon garlic bread crumbs falling from both their lips from laughter and joy.
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"I'm kind of cold in here." Crystal shouted. "I'm almost done." Rick replied as he carried in another big box of his belongings into Crystal's front door and then kicked the door shut behind him. "There." He said confidently as he stacked the final box on top of another pile of boxes which had now taken over her living room as well as her bedroom. Rick walked around stepping between piles of boxes and disarray. "Where is your thermostat to turn the heat up a little?" "By my desk in the study." Crystal shouted after climbing out from around some of the boxes that where practically blocking her entrance and exit from her bedroom. "Found it." Rick shared as he turned the dial and the boiler flipped on and you could hear the heat begin to hiss and enter through the radiator vents. "It won't be long now, sorry I had to have the front door open for so long." Rick said as he saw Crystal wrapping herself in an oversized sweater as she was shivering slightly. "I suppose the temperature did drop this evening." He said as he approached her and wrapped her in his arms trying to provide more body heat until the room's temperature had adjusted.
"Thanks." She said as she indulged herself in his embrace. "Dinner is almost finished. I just need another seven minutes for the macaroni and cheese to brown." Crystal stated. "I could smell your fried chicken girl from when you opened the door, your collards too this is gonna be alright, alright, alright!" Rick said rubbing his palms together and sounding like Matthew McConaughey. "You do impressions?" Crystal asked surprisingly. Rick just chuckled. "No, not really, Esse does and I just stole that from him." He laughed. Crystal nodded and then she ran out of his hands and into the kitchen to rotate the chicken; besides it was warmer in there because the oven was on.
"I'm going to start unpacking in the bedroom. Call me when dinner's ready." Rick hopped over some boxes and entered Crystal's bedroom. He looked at her bureau which had six drawers and a large mirror on top and a large flat surface which held her cosmetics and things. Rick started opening up her drawers to see what he could consolidate. "Underwear" Rick spoke out loud as he reached in his hand to understand the depth of the drawer. He slid his hand around and his hand hit a small bag that crinkled in his hand. Rick's eyebrows furrowed as he pulled out a fifty-cent bag of BBQ potato chips. He chuckled and placed it back in the drawer the way it was before under the undergarments.
He opened up another drawer but this had bras inside seeing if he could maybe slide them all to one side his hand hit something plastic it was a Suzy Q chocolate cake treat. Rick who had been leaning over the drawer stood straight up, holding the cake in his hand, and looked toward the bedroom door and then placed the snack cake back into her bra drawer and closed it. "So what's behind drawer number three?" Rick thought to himself. He looked down in wonder at the third drawer before opening it. Rick pulled the knob and out the draw slid he supposed this would be considered the "heavy artillery" drawer since it was filled with girdles, waist cinchers, Spanx and other medieval torture devices. Rick slid his hand around and yet again another wrinkle of plastic grazed his fingertips this time it was a large bag of pork rinds. Rick chuckled again and shook his head. He placed it back in and closed the drawer. Rick licked his lips and walked over to the tall stack of boxes and opened up the smallest which was placed on the top of the stack. He pulled out his combs and brushes and slid over some of Crystal's haircare products which had been sitting on the top of the bureau and placed his own products on the other side.
Rick closed the now small empty box and opened up another he had started to hang clothes up on the right side of her closet when she called him to come have dinner while it was hot. Rick finished hanging up his suits and jackets and quickly washed his hands. He then managed to conquer the maze which had now become her living room and entered the kitchen to eat with her at her dining table.
"I'm famished we had a long workout today, not to mention the packing. It smells good." Rick smiled and kissed Crystal as he entered the kitchen and sat down at the dinner table. "I saw you on the field from my office you were looking good out there." She smiled as she placed a plate before him that had two fried chicken thighs, a heaping serving of macaroni and cheese, and another large portion of collard greens with smoked neck bones and a hot and steaming dinner roll glistening with butter. "This is what I am talking about!" Rick smelled the plate that was set before him. "Damn, girl you put your foot into this time didn't you?" Rick snatched the napkin from off of the table and placed it up around his neck.
Crystal poured some of the sweet homemade lemonade that he liked into two glasses and sat them on the table. While Rick reached for some hot sauce, opened it, and shook it vigorously over his mac & cheese and his collard greens. "Come on girl get your plate and sit down so we can say grace over this good food and started eatin'." Rick winked at her and tapped her backside as she went back towards the stove to get her plate. Crystal returned with her plate that had one boiled egg, two celery stalks and three small carrots and sat it and herself down at the table. Rick looked at her plate, then back towards the stove, and then he turned his head again and looked at Crystal. "What's that?" he asked. "My dinner." Crystal answered meekly. "On purpose?" Rick questioned completely astonished. "I have been off of my regimen lately; but I like to eat lightly for dinner." Rick who had already had his fork in hand put it down and sat back in his chair. Crystal could feel the weight of his stare as she lowered her head waiting for him to say grace but she never heard him say anything. She lifted up her head and Rick was staring at her. "Would you like me to say the grace?" She asked. "Crystal are you kidding? Are you seriously going to tell me that you are going to only eat that for dinner with me sitting right across from you eating this excellent meal that you spend a good bit of the evening preparing?" "When did this diet start really? And why?" Rick challenged. "I told you I've been off of it but now…." Her voice trailed.
"Crystal I want to ask you a question if you lived on this planet entirely by yourself would you feel badly about your size? Or would you just be happy with who you are?" Rick's tone was sharp. "I would be lonely." "That would have nothing to do with your size. I said would you be happy about your size and who you are if there were no one else around to compare yourself to?" Rick waited for her reply. "I guess I would be." She answered. "I have another question are you trying to lose weight for yourself right now or for me?" She looked at her plate. She knew he was not going to let her get away with not answering and she also knew he was pretty good at reading her if she tried to lie at this moment. It was then when Crystal said "For you." In a slightly muffled tone. With that Rick got up from the table retrieved another plate and put some fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens and another dinner roll on the plate and placed it down in front of Crystal as he removed the other plate and tossed its contents in the garbage can and placed the plate in the sink. "Rick…what are you doing?" "When you want to lose weight for yourself we will both sit here and eat that stuff together because I will not be the jerk who would let you eat that stuff alone and eat this kind of food in front of you. But….if you are trying to lose weight for me then don't bother because I like you just the way that you are." Rick grabbed her hand and began to say grace once he sat down again at the table.
"Dear Lord, please bless the food that we are about to receive and bless the hands that prepared it. I pray that it will nourish and strengthen our bodies do us good and not harm and we are grateful that you have provided at all- in Jesus name we pray- Amen." Rick let go of Crystal's hand and picked up a piece of his fried chicken and took a mouthwatering bite. Crystal heard the crunch as his teeth connected with its crispy coating and it didn't stand a chance. "MMMMMmmmm, Teddy you out did yourself tonight this is good." Rick filled mouth spread into a tightlipped smile as he continued to chew. Crystal would be lying if she said that she didn't want to eat it. She picked up the piece of fried chicken and held it in her hands and as she took a bite it was then Rick spoke to her again. "It's good isn't it?" Rick picking up a forkful of macaroni and cheese and engulfing it whole. Crystal smiled while she enjoyed the succulent experience. "Now you know Esse, makes the best fried chicken but I think you have got him beat babe. We may have to have a friendly contest between the two of you." Rick smiled at her again. "How was work for you today Chrys?" Rick spoke while continuing to enjoy his meal.
"There were somethings that I wanted to talk to you about. I am concerned because things seem different at work and I know that An-jella is the reason behind it." Rick had just bitten into his dinner roll when he heard what Crystal said to him and he took a sip of his lemonade and wiped his mouth with his napkin. "What do you mean?" He asked. "Mr. Pettway came into my office today wanting to know why I was holding An-jella back as far as her working for the company goes." "An-jella doesn't work." Rick said matter-of-factly as he looked back down at his plate." "Well she has got him thinking that she does, and that she is wonderful, and that I have been standing between her great work ethic and the good of the corporation." Rick began hearing the stress in Crystal's voice. "Rick he also denied your request to train as a wide receiver but he was influenced by An-jella he as much as admitted it to me. She told him to say no. I have to give over half of my work projects to her. I think that they are together which means this is a dangerous position that we are in." She took another bite of her food.
"I don't think that I should let anyone know that we are married in the corporation. I will learn more about what is happening if they don't suspect our relationship as being more concrete than they already think that it is." Crystal waited for Rick's response to her proposal. Rick listened intently to everything that Crystal said to him. "Yeah, but it is concrete. You know that I don't care if everyone knows we are married right? I mean I don't want you to think that I am ashamed of our marriage or anything like that." Rick spoke up. "No, I know that but I just think it might be better for it to be kept a secret for a little while that's all." Crystal added. Rick thought for a few moments as he continued to consume his dinner then he shrugged his shoulders. "She already knows that we are together so, she already hates us there is no going back now." Rick said as he shook his head and ate some of his collard greens then he continued to speak. "So, who cares if they know that we are married? Look, you are my wife, the woman I love, and the woman of my choice, and so, if they can't get over that we are married and happy; that is their problem. I don't want you keeping it a secret because I won't be. If they give us a hard time I will buy out what is left of my contract and leave the Falcons and take you with me. We sink or swim together from now on alright – Mrs. Raven!" Rick looked at Crystal to see if she would trust in him enough to take such a big leap of faith; especially if it meant leaving the Falcon's altogether. He knew this was her favorite team. But, if An-jella had this much pull over Pettway it wouldn't make any difference anymore anyway, An-jella would just make Crystal's job there miserable and he knew it. Crystal moved some of her macaroni and cheese around on her plate as she listened to and thought about what Rick had just said. "The thought of leaving the Falcons had never come to mind before it seemed that being with Rick Raven may turn into a bigger adventure than she ever imagined before. She would have to start over somewhere new; if she could? It seems that Rick would be pulling her out from all of her comfort zones." She thought and it terrified her. Crystal looked over again at Rick and she saw it all in his eyes. He was pleading with her to accept this first challenge and for them to use togetherness as their shield to protect them from whatever came their way. All Crystal's life she had to fight things alone; but not anymore. "Sink or swim together- Mr. Raven." She picked up her cup of lemonade and raised her glass with a smile; which was matched by Rick's raised glass as well along with a wink. "That's my girl."
Author's note. Please review.