Authors note: Happy Father's Day to all! If anyone is still reading sorry for the long delay. Still in school and feels like I am never going to finish. Too much real life going on as well. To the faithful, I know that I don't deserve it but I am ever so grateful. I may be away but I do always return. I don't know if you still believe me but just as a personal note. I really don't like leaving things undone so I will finish everything eventually. God willing. Please forgive any mistakes and please review. Take care. Anna
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee nor any of its characters. I only own all the characters they are in the midst of.
I Knew You Were Waiting for Me Part II
Chapter 16
Mercedes woke up early this morning it was still dark outside and her house was still extremely cold, she would be lying if she said that she wasn't a little nervous about the procedure but she spent some time in prayer and decided to leave the outcome in God's hands (whatever the outcome may be). She looked at her cellphone and there was a message from Sam that read.
I'll be right there beside you-remember, always.
Mercedes couldn't help but smile she loved him so much. She would never be able to express her gratitude for his patience in all the years that he had waited for her, and that he had enough faith in their love so that finally all of their dreams, of love, could really come true. Mercedes got dressed with a renewed confidence; with God on her side, and Sam's consistent love in her heart she could face anything that the world had, or would ever throw at her.
She picked up her car keys from the side table by the door, they felt like icicles, but she swung open her front door full of determination that she was not going to let this thing discourage her, or diminish her determination she was going to get through this. She stepped back quickly in shock seeing Sam standing at her doorway. "SAM! What are you doing here?" She stepped back as Sam rushed in and hugged and kissed her. "We're not late are we?" He asked. "I got here as fast as I could." He continued.
"Sam?! How did you…?" She began. "C'mon let's go." He dropped his small duffle bag inside the hallway and shivered slightly from the cold chill that he felt in the air, then he pulled her outside of the door and closed it behind them. Mercedes was awestruck. Sam moved her quickly to the car and they both got in. Mercedes sat in the driver's seat but did not start the car she just stared at him. "Why did you leave? I told you that I would be fine." She said. "I am not going to let my wife go through something this big on her own." He said as he motioned for her to start the car to get moving. "Sam, your boss just let you leave like that?" Mercedes asked. "They are traveling today on their way to Phoenix, I just told them that I would meet them there in time for the game tomorrow." He motioned again. "Let's go." He spoke again. Mercedes started the car and began to back out of her driveway. She looked at him and she could see it, he was exhausted, his eyes were bloodshot and his hair was slightly tussled.
"Sam, you are crazy!" Mercedes spoke as she pulled out of the driveway and began on the road to the specialist's office. Sam looked at Mercedes with a small smirk. "Don't act like you don't know how I am going to respond to that sentence." Sam responded. Mercedes didn't always understand Sam's love for her as she felt his hand rest on her thigh and she watched him lean his head on the passenger side window briefly closing his eyes. She didn't ever feel that she would've been loved by him; to this seeming magnitude-but she was, and yet again, she was so grateful for it.
XXXXX
Mercedes felt a small tear slide from her eye as the late afternoon light shown through the veil of her eyelashes. She felt so heavy and she felt warm. Her warm nightgown, the sheet, her heavy comforter rested on her body. The heaviness of her eyelids made it impossible to see but she could hear Sam's voice faintly in the distance. He sounded so far away. She felt a slight twinge on her side from the one spring that stuck up slightly higher than the others in her bed. She was home she reasoned. Using all the strength that she could she turned her head to her right, towards the sound of his voice, and attempted to open her eyes once more. She felt a sharp pain as she attempted to swallow. Her eyes opened to small slits and another lone tear escaped from one of them she could see Sam's form through the wisps of her eyelashes through several doorways in the distance he was simply standing at first, then he reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, opened it and gave the man some money, and then he began shaking the hand of the man who had been holding what looked like a toolbox.
They were too far away for her to hear what they were saying to each other but, as she opened her eyes wider, the man's sooty, dark overalls gave him away. "Sam had someone come to fix my furnace." She thought as lips curled to a small lifeless smile, then she felt another sharp pain which accompanied another swallow. Mercedes heavy eyelids fell closed again. When Mercedes opened her eyes again this time it was dark outside. On her nightstand her lamp was turned on. There was a small pitcher of semi-melted ice chips, a magazine, a newspaper, her cellphone, her television remote, and the last book that she had been reading, a thermos with the word SOUP written across it with a Sharpie marker, a bottle of pain pills, and what looked like a note.
Mercedes looked through her bedroom door and further down the hall but the lights were out all over her house. She felt her nightgown clinging to her body. She was damp with sweat, she removed her heavy comforter from off her body and only continued to lay under her sheet. The house was warm and toasty. She was so grateful that Sam had been with her that day….she drifted back off to sleep.
XXXXX
"What is this BS?!" Trey shouted into the phone. "I expected for the segment to come out soon! (He paused) What do you mean GIVE BACK the advance payment! I don't care what some piece of paper says!" (He paused again) "You told me that you would pay for my story and I gave you a story! What do you mean 'the validity of the story is now in question?!'" Trey began pacing back and forth as he listened on the telephone but then he stopped dead in his tracks. "A witness?" He answered meekly as he sat down in a chair which had been next to the small side table that the phone's base had been resting on. "But, I don't have all of the…." He started again meekly. "Are you saying that if I don't repay the advance you are going to take legal action against me? Me?" (He paused once more) "On what grounds?" He asked. "Did you just say FRAUD?!" Trey questioned as he popped up from his chair and started pacing again. "When did you say that you wanted that money back?" Trey's eyes started roaming through his head at a quickened pace as he tried to do the math in his head as he tried to decide when he would be able to repay them. "Can I have a little extra time on tha…?" Trey pulled the receiver from his ear and stared into it. "They hung up." Trey hung up the phone and sat down on the chair then after a few moments he screamed out loud and in one sweeping motion took his left arm and slid the phone off of the table and across the room in a fit of rage.
Trey grunts and then walks over and picks up the phone, sits it upright, places the receiver on the cradle and places it back onto the small table. The phone rings and he snatches the receiver from off of its base. "Hello, yes this is Trey. Oh…yes, hi, I am glad to hear from you." Trey chuckled slightly, a small feeling of relief after his earlier stressful conversation. "I wanted to know, how early do you need me at the studio for the interview on Wednesday?" He asked cheerfully. (He pauses as he listens) "You're cancelling? But, we have had this interview set up since….a cease and desist letter?" Trey's voice fell at the thought that-that horrible letter had reached yet another media company. "I can explain… (He pauses and listens again) SLANDER?" Trey stood perfectly still as he listened to the person speaking on the other end of the phone. "But you told me that you were giving me that advance as…." Trey rolled his eyes and then answered back into the phone. "When do you need it back by? WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY?!"
XXXXX
As the family walked out of the dining room and back into the living room Crystal's phone began to vibrate. She looked at her phone and smiled briefly. "What is it now?" Her mother asked. "That Pettway guy never gives you a break." Before Crystal could even answer Rick let out a howl of laughter as he looked at his phone which had just vibrated as well. "Hey, does anyone have a laptop? You all can see our wedding pictures and the video; they were just sent to me." Rick looked up at the crowd in the room after taking his gaze away from his phone. "You had enough time for pictures but not enough time to invite us?" Tracy asked. "Where did you two get married again?" Bruce asked. "Vegas, Daddy I told you over the phone remember? Last night, when I told you what time to expect us." "Vegas!" The twins said in unison. "Oh, then she is pregnant!" They said in unison again and laughing at themselves.
"Rick maybe we should just hold off on the pictures." Crystal began becoming extremely frustrated after hearing her uncle's remarks. "Why, you looked beautiful they should see them?" Rick said proudly. "She looked beautiful? Well now, I have to see them…this…I would like to see." Kathy turned towards her sister and gave an affirming nod. "What does that mean?" Rick spoke up. "She always looks beautiful." Rick continued eyeing the room and silently daring the inhabitants to say anything different. "We'll send them in an email. We have to go now." Crystal stated firmly as she interrupted Rick and grabbed him by the hand and began leading him towards the front door. "I have some work to do now." She briefly held up her cellphone in her other hand and shook it in everyone's direction. "That's overtime right?!" Tracy shouted excitedly. "You get paid extra for that-don't you? Because I was wondering…" Tracy continued as she followed quickly behind them towards the front door. Crystal let go of Rick's hand, pulled some money out of her front jean pocket and counted it. "Here's two hundred." Crystal said as she handed it to Tracy. "Two hundred? That's nice and all but I was hoping for a little more…" She was then interrupted by Crystal. "I will put an extra two thousand in your account before the day is out-as usual." Crystal murmured that last part. "Let's make it an even five thousand." Tracy spoke up. "What's even about five thousand dollars?" Jason queried out loud and then he drank another swig of his beer. Tracy turned slightly and looked over her shoulder to look at him. "Fine, six thousand then." Tracy said while shrugging her shoulders and then turning her attention back to Crystal. Rick looked at Crystal feeling her out. "Fine, Tracy." Crystal spoke dismissively.
Tracy threw her hand out to shake Rick's hand. "Quarterback huh? A highly paid Quarterback right? You are such a welcomed addition to this family!" She said as she shook his hand vehemently. Crystal heard her named being shouted as she reached the doorframe. Her father had been approaching her. "It was good to see you again son." Bruce said but then he glanced over at Rick and then back to Crystal. "I mean, Daddy missed his little girl." Crystal's face had shown every ounce of surprise across it as she heard those words uttered from the mouth of her father. Bruce shook Rick's hand and gave him a stiff nod and then gave Crystal a hug. "Happy Birthday, Daddy." Crystal spoke again amid the embrace. Crystal let go of her father and saw her mother standing further back still in the living room. "Good bye mom." Crystal added. "I need a ride to my spot, I'm out, and my dealer…" Crystal sighed and lowered her head slightly in sadness as she interrupted her mother's speaking. "I can't take you today mom we've got to go. Let someone else here take you." Crystal turned and opened the door and walked out with Rick. Only to hear her mother still in the background as she spoke disdainfully "Ungrateful, Heffa." Rick placed his hand on the small of Crystal's back, looked into her eyes and gave her a re-assuring smile, and ushered her outside and closed the door behind them.
XXXXX
An-Jella sat in her office fuming. She had not had a good week at all. Peter was out of town with the team and because Crystal was also away he wanted her "to stay back and take care of things" at the stadium. "What made him think that I would want to do this? How dare he treat me this way! I am sleeping with him for G*d sakes! This is beneath me and he knows it!" She talked to herself as she now stood at the window in her office looking at the school children playing on the field. "He rents out the stadium to elementary schools during away games to make a fast buck and now I have to make sure that they don't tear the place apart and damage his investment." She said snarkily while murmuring to herself. An-Jella felt herself growing out of control, her anger rising. She had a splitting headache, she was sexually frustrated, and she could feel the beginning of her cycle coming on, which was the only thing that could explain this inner rage that she had continued to feel mounting. But no, that was not the only thing and she knew it.
An-Jella knew what was really bothering her and she hadn't been able to get it out of her mind since she heard it a couple of days ago. "Rick was married to Crystal; Crystal…to Crystal. Jennifer had to have gotten it wrong. Why would he marry that sloppy, mousy, thing? They haven't even been together that long? Oh, God…is she pregnant? She never knew how to do anything right! Leave it to her to get pregnant the first time out. Although, she may be wiser than I thought now she is hooked to young money for life right?" An-jella feels her anger rising again. "That no good! Not, that I need his cheap a**. I have real money now with Peter, the sex is horrible, but the money's good." She thought to herself. "Rick was better than Peter, in bed-he had better motivation, and now to think that Crystal was getting…" An-Jella picked up her purse searching through it for some headache medicine when the phone rang in the office.
"Uggggh." She groaned and then reached for the ringing phone and placed it to her ear; frustrated that she didn't even have a moment to take her pill. "Hello, home of the Falcons" She answered. "Does he have a statement?" The voice on the line said. "What?" "Mr. Pettway does he have a statement?" The voice spoke through the receiver again. "What are you talking about? Who is this?" An-Jella snapped. "This is Bruce from the AJC. Does Mr. Pettway have a statement or not?" He asked more sharply. "The Atlanta-Constitution? The newspaper? In regards to what?" She asked trying to gain a more professional tone. "Does he have a statement about the civil lawsuit that has just been filed against his new hotshot QB Rick Raven?" The reporter continued. "What kind of civil lawsuit?" She asked extremely curious to find out what could have possibly had happened now. "He assaulted a reporter from the Atlanta Daily World about a week or so ago who had made a comment to Sam Evans about his new wife Mercedes Jones and her pre-marital illicit affair with that Trey guy. Raven punched him in front of several reporters as witnesses. Reporters, by the way, who are tired of being assaulted by their big and famous, "I'm better than you!" type subjects. So now, since this very same reporter guy had to have his jaw wired shut so that his jaw can be reset properly, he is now suing. He wants about $500,000.00 for damages, legal fees, pain & suffering, and loss of earnings from work. Not to mention the fact that, now that the D.A. has gotten wind of it, he may want to file criminal charges against Raven as well. What does Pettway say about his big investment going south the first year into his contract?"
An-jella could not believe her good fortune her headache and bad mood seemed to lift instantaneously. The joy in her heart that she felt at the thought of the downfall of Rick and Crystal Raven made it almost impossible to even speak to the reporter; but she found a way. "Well, I will say, for the record, that Mr. Pettway is shocked and appalled at the alleged behavior of Mr. Rick Raven and if any of these allegations against him prove to be true then Mr. Pettway would be forced to immediately release him from his contract. Mr. Raven having any type of brutish and violent behavior, would sully the name of the team and that would not be tolerated. In fact, that would put him in breach of his contract and would make it null and void immediately thereafter. He would need to find himself another team to play with because he would no longer be welcomed here within the home of the Falcons." An-jella spoke assuredly. "Did you just say loss of contract?" The reporter questioned making absolutely sure that he had been receiving the scoop of his life. "No, I said the immediate loss of his contract." An-jella spoke again confidently. "Thanks lady. What's your name?" He asked "An-jella Moore but you can just call me an informed source." She added and then she immediately hung up the phone thereafter.
XXXXX
"Mom!" Rick called out once he pushed open the door to his mother's place in Lima. "Mom, where are you? Come on out, we're here!" Rick called out again as he held Crystal's hand and led her into his old place and quickly shut the door behind them. "I'm coming, I'm coming." Crystal heard a voice say. She recognized the voice from the phone from the times they had spoken earlier in the season. She hoped that she looked alright. Crystal tried quickly and frantically to smooth out the wrinkles that had formed in the front of her dress from sitting too long in the car during the ride over. She had also glanced quickly into a mirror that was hanging on the wall near the front door checking to see if any hairs were out of place or anything was stuck in her teeth when Rick noticed what she was doing and how uncomfortable she felt, so desperate to make a good first impression. Rick tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention and she looked at him. He grabbed the front of his polo shirt and twisted it and wrinkled the front of it as well. Crystal saw what he did and he winked at her and gave her a quick kiss. Crystal gave a small sigh of relief, and smile at his action of solidarity.
When Elaine emerged she was speaking "Ricky! We have to talk right now!" and then she gave Rick a big hug and yet she was puzzled by the woman standing in front of the door behind him. "Hey! Mom!" Rick swooped his mother up off the floor and lifted her miniature stature up to his standing position enveloping her in his arms and swinging her around like a little boy with a new puppy. "I've missed you." She said. "I've missed you too, mom." He squeezed her tightly. "Now, who is this?" Elaine asked as she was being placed back down onto the floor by Rick. "Mom, this is Crystal Waters." Rick said as he winked at Crystal. "Oh, we spoke on the phone before didn't we? You work for the team too don't you?" Elaine asked as she extended her hand to shake Crystal's. "Yes, that is right." Crystal smiled and nodded as she shook her hand in return. "You're the one who helped Rick with his interviews! When I watched him that morning and saw the little ball in his hand I was so grateful that he had someone like you there to look out for him. It seems that he listens to you too and I am grateful that he has someone like you out there on his side. You did very well that day dear." Elaine directed her last sentence towards her son and placed her other hand on his cheek in pride. "Mom, she is actually Crystal Raven now—we're married!" Rick smiled a big smile and nodded in Crystal's direction. Crystal stood completely still waiting to see how Rick's mother was going to handle the news. Rick had spoken so quickly that the two women had still been holding hands. "What?" Elaine questioned. "Mom, I would like you to meet your daughter-in-law Crystal; we fell in love and then got married in Vegas." Elaine let go of Crystal's hand ever so slowly as she took in the news that had just been delivered to her. Crystal started to worry and she felt the sweat that began beading at her hairline. Elaine looked over at Rick and then back again at Crystal. "Crystal, you must be some type of woman to have my son want to marry you; not even a whole five months into a professional NFL contract." She stated cautiously. Crystal's heart sank. She had just heard it in Elaine's voice, this conversation had just turned into the one when the women understand exactly what they are saying to each other but the men don't have a clue. "This is not going to go well." She thought. "I…I…" Crystal started but she really didn't know what to say to that statement. The fear Crystal felt was elevated from her heart to the base of her throat when Elaine spoke again. "WELCOME to the Family!" Elaine grabbed Crystal and hugged and kissed her on the cheek excitedly. Crystal looked surprisingly at Rick who simply winked at her again as he brought some of the gifts that he had for his mother deeper into the house. "I want to hear all about you! I am so grateful that Rick has someone in his life who is actually looking out for his best interest. Unlike that anchor of a coach Sam Evans!" Elaine said using an impertinent tone, much to the sadness and displeasure of Rick.
XXXXX
Several days had passed and Mercedes found herself entering into her childhood home in Lima, Ohio. She had gotten there a couple of hours earlier than she had anticipated. She felt a great deal better than she had and she knew that she would need to spend some time with her vocal coach to see if she would be able to get her full singing range back but she was confident that she could and that she would. She could smell her mother's cooking emanating from the back kitchen and she couldn't wait to see everyone again it had been over two years since she had last been home. Her father had been gone for a while now and she never felt quite as comfortable coming home since the funeral.
Mercedes' brothers had since moved out as well and had begun their own families. Mercedes' brother Jonathan was in the Marines and stationed in Guam and her brother Jordan was in the Air Force and stationed in Munich. Mercedes could not help but to feel somewhat guilty about her mother being left alone for such long periods of time. She had asked her mother to come with her on tour several times but her mother always deferred and chose to stay home-where she felt the most comfortable.
"Mom," Mercedes called out softly as she entered into the kitchen. Only to see her mother being kissed intensely, and thoroughly by a man near the stove. There were several pans which were steaming on the stovetop. The man's hand had been sliding up the bottom of her mother's bathrobe and cupping her left thigh with his other hand cupping the back of her neck and forcefully pulling her deeply into him when they suddenly and immediately separated at the sound of her voice. Mercedes surprise at this image made her quickly turn around but not before her mind tried to register what she felt was impossible.
As her back was turned she heard the back screen door which led to the backyard from the kitchen quickly open and slam shut. There were no words, no explanations, nothing but simmering pots on the stovetop and the timer beginning to go off to rotate whatever had been cooking in the oven. Mercedes turned around again to see her mother tending to the pots as if nothing had ever happened. As if she had not seen what she just saw. "MOM!" Mercedes shouted she could not even put into words how her body was shaken how she could feel every tremor at this moment. She needed to sit down, she needed to stand, she needed an explanation, and she needed a drink (a strong one).
Her mother never turned around but she turned off the timer and attended to what needed to be basted within the stove. "Who was that?!" Hoping that she was wrong. "It is none of your business." Mercedes mother spoke out loud in an unapologetic manner. "What? How can you say that?!" Mercedes shouted. Mercedes mother turned and looked at Mercedes. Joanna was embarrassed, she was humiliated, she was found out, but she also knew eventually this day would come and she was trying desperately to brace herself for what was to come; but she also knew that she was not going to be lectured to by her own child. "Watch the pots on the stove, I have to finish dressing." This was all her mother could muster at the time.
The doorbell rang and Joanna Jones pushed past Mercedes up the spiral staircase near the kitchen's entrance and out of sight. Mercedes entire body shuttered. She heard the doorbell again but she first went to the bar in the living room and poured herself a shot glass full of tequila and took a swig. She was devastated, she was angry, she was in shock, and she was afraid. "What was she going to do, and how dare her mother put her into this kind of predicament? But no, this couldn't be what she thought. She had to have seen incorrectly. It was only a moment's glance." The doorbell rang again.
Mercedes went to the door and opened it only to see Sam standing there. "Now if you aren't a sight for sore eyes." Sam said lovingly. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and brought her into the biggest hug and kiss. Mercedes held onto him with everything that she had. She had just wished that they hadn't come. She wished that they had stayed home together, untouched by the world safe and secure. While she thought these things she heard keys unlocking the door. Her brother Jordan entered with his wife Maggie. The hugs and introductions began. Mercedes stepped into her role as hostess serving drinks when her other brother Jonathan entered with his wife Misumi and their four month old daughter Midori. They all shared in more introductions and fawning over the baby. Congratulations were given on marriages, and births. It was such a warm time that Mercedes almost forgot until the door rang again and she opened it for their other guests. Sam's mother, sister, and brother stood in her doorway. Sam approached and began greeting his family with hugs, and kisses welcoming them into the house. Mercedes watched them all enter as well Sam's father pulling up the rear. Mercedes stared at the man who she had just seen kissing her mother just a couple of hours before. The house was loud with chatter as Mercedes closed the front door. Mercedes didn't know how she was going to tell Sam. She didn't know how she was going to get through this dinner. She didn't know how she would look at Sam's father the same way ever again. She didn't know anything except that this was going to be the longest night of her life. Especially, when her mother partially descended the stairs and stood looking down at all of her guests. Mercedes saw the way Sam's father was staring and lusting after her mother, even now she could see it, just so clearly. It was then Mercedes' mother smirked slightly and said to them all. "Welcome to my home."
Authors note: Thanks for still reading and please review.