Chapter 16: I Got Dreams to Remember

Summer already came in New York City and summer vacation was well on its way. It was already July and two months passed since Roger and Mimi eloped and married during the Memorial Day long weekend. Courtney was happier than ever to have Mimi as a new stepmother and it strengthened the relationship between the two of them. Mimi moved into the loft with Roger, Courtney and Mark now she was Mimi Marquez-Davis, while Collins and Angel moved into Mimi's old apartment.

"Huh Aunt Mimi…huh I mean mommy," Courtney smiled greeting her at the door, "Is daddy home yet?"

"I'm not sure kiddo," Mimi replied as she brought in the groceries, "I think I'm getting used to this whole parenting thing. Mark has Roger called yet?"

"Apparently he hasn't come yet," Mark replied as he was doing some stuff for work, "He said he had to stay behind at work for a little while."

"He always seems to be at work a bit longer than usual ever since we got married," Mimi sighed, "I don't know…part of me loves him so much and Courtney. Mark is it okay if we talk in private while I get dinner ready for us."

"Okay let me just finish up," Mark replied.

"Mama is it okay if watch A Walk to Remember?" Courtney asked giving Mimi a puppy dog look, "Please…it can be our little secret from daddy?"

"You're pretty sneaky for a seven year old stepdaughter," Mimi smiled, "Alright put the movie in I promise I won't tell your dad okay?"

"Thank you mama," Courtney smiled as she was watching in the living room, "I love you."

"I know you did kiddo right back at you I love you too," Mimi smiled watching her, "She's a sweet little girl…something I would want in a child of my own, but now we're practically a family now what Roger wanted, us to be a family, him, Courtney and I. Mark…why does it suddenly feel like I only married him fearing we might lose each other?"

"You guys have barely been married for a practically over a month now," Mark said as he was chopping vegetables, "We didn't expect you to make a move like elope in Westport and your only witness at your secret ceremony was Benny and your daughter. Exactly what made you two…no actually let me rephrase the question…what made you want to marry Roger?"

"I love him…something inside of me asked me what I had to do in order to keep this relationship going? I came to New York remember I had a dream to pursue and make something better of my life. Before I was just living it up, getting high, fooling around to a point it ended up being sick due to my irrational way and it cost me everything I once had. However, I gained something better back in the end…maybe the dream I had before is different from the one I thought of before…or maybe I'm holding back."

"Very complex analogy of your marriage Mimi. So what I am guessing is part of you is wondering that you married Roger out of desperation and love, while the other part of you married him because of obligation and the cost of giving up something. Tell me something Mimi…how do you feel about Courtney? Do you think you married Roger because of him or you married him because of you're in love with his daughter? What's the answer Mimi?"

"Why am do I feel doubting marrying Roger?" Mimi sighed, "That's the last thing I don't want to be unsure about…I love Roger but I also have a dream I have to remember Mark."

"But you got to remember love is also about making choices and sacrifices," Mark replied, "But you got to remember what will make you happy more…what you have now or what you pursued working on long before? Sometimes the hardest thing about loving someone is you gain something at the price of losing something too."

"You're right…there are some things we both still need to learn," Mimi replied, "One of them is actually the definition of true love. You may feel you love someone…but you don't know how you truly feel until you realize it in the end."

Mimi went into the bedroom after they finished preparing dinner and waited for it to finish it in the oven. She walked to the dresser and pulled out a large envelope hidden in the drawer. She reread the letter over and over again wondering what she was going to do next. She hid the envelope when Courtney came into the bedroom.

"Mama…what are you doing?" Courtney asked, "Are you alright? You look unhappy."

"Nothing's wrong sweetie I thought you were watching the movie," Mimi replied, "Is something the matter Courtney?"

"Mama…they talk about love in that movie a lot," Courtney replied, "Why do grown ups like to talk about falling in love with each other?"

"Well…when two people are in love they like to express it in ways to show affection for each other," Mimi said, "You're still too young to understand what true love is for your age because you young missy ask too many questions about things you shouldn't be knowing. However, as one of my acts as stepmother I need to figure out where my parental skills stand because I am still new to this. I've never been a mother to anybody before Courtney…and this is something completely different from what I originally had going in my life."

"Why are you sad then mama?" Courtney asked, "I don't want you to be sad because if you feel sad…then daddy will feel sad too and I will also. I like it when everyone is happy because it makes all the gloominess go away."

"I promise…I'll smile then for our little family," Mimi smiled giving the girl a hug, "Always remember two things: the first forget regret and the second no day but today."

"Why do I have to know that?" Courtney asked, "What does it mean?"

"It's a lesson about living life…as if everyday was your last day," Mimi added, "You don't live life without regretting anything. Always remember that you got dreams to remember Courtney promise me that okay?"

Later on Roger came home from work and found Mimi, Courtney, Mark and now the others crashing at the loft for dinner. It was customary to find his friends crashing every night at his place for dinner if they were too lazy to cook. He walked into the loft as everyone was preparing to eat.

"Mimi your Mr. Tough Guy of a husband is home," Maureen joked, "Can we eat now gosh we've been waiting for over an hour."

"Honestly I sense you all come here to our place to munch off us," Roger teased, "you guys probably like my wife's cooking so much you can smell it from anywhere that you'll be here in a heartbeat."

"Hey don't blame us if we now live in the apartment downstairs below you now," Collins remarked, "Since Mimi now lives here with you guys it would be a waste to let that little quaint apartment downstairs go to waste isn't that right Angel?"

"Darling Collins does have a point," Angel added as they all sat and ate, "Okay let's dig into Mimi's pasta now."

"Does anyone want to head out for some drinks at the Life Café?" Joanne asked, "Anyone up for that?"

"Pookie you can count me in," Maureen replied, "Mark? Collins? Angel you guys in?"

"Sure why not," they replied, "Mimi? Roger?"

"We'll have a little family night in," Roger replied looking at Mimi and Courtney, "Besides…I want at least some alone time with my wife and daughter."

"Are you sure?" Mark asked, "You three hardly don't go out much since you guys got hitched. I wonder if Courtney gets bored of staying in the house ."

"No way are you guys taking my daughter out if you guys plan to get drunk!" Roger argued, "I rather have her here safe in the care of her parents…besides I know if Collins is coming out tonight than there's drinking."

"You're lost then," the others replied as they left, "Take care you three."

"Well…it's just us now, our little family," Mimi replied, "So this is what our little family life has been like for the last two months?"

"This is family life for you," Roger smiled as the two made out, "So how was your day?"

"It's been quiet despite only having one class to teach," Mimi sighed, "I wish they would have given me some more classes. How about you? How was work? Did anything happen today?"

"Well…you can say same old routine over and over," Roger added, "Is…this how you really pictured our life now once we got married? I mean…we kind of rushed into this pretty fast and we didn't throw a fantasy wedding with all our family and friends. Our wedding was at a 24 hour drive thru wedding chapel where we paid $29.95 to get married with only Benny and Courtney as our witnesses. We couldn't throw a proper reception because our idealistic reception party was a late night dinner at a 24 hour Denny's Diner. I feel like sometimes this isn't what I pictured married life to be like."

"And what do you imagine married life like because frankly the last few weeks we've been spending our family time discussing the negatively of what our wedding was like instead of spending time together as a couple," Mimi argued, "Or even spending time as a family. Look I've never been married and the reason I married you was because I loved you and I wanted to spend the rest of my life being a family with you and Courtney. I wanted to be the mother you imagined your daughter to have, someone she can look up to as a female role model and admire...I love that little girl to death and I would do anything for her and you. I wonder…if there is something else you wanted out of this Roger because whenever I think I've figured out my husband out…it feels like you just detach all over again and I'm back to square one."

"I'm sorry babe I didn't want to make you feel like that," Roger apologized, "Look…this still all new to me and I'm still hesitating whether or not I deserve you or Courtney for that matter. It felt like I married you out of desperation to make you throw your life away, your dreams, and your future and spend the rest of your days as a housewife and stay at home mother to my kid. I feel like that you're holding something back from me…something that is making you want more in life than what you have right now."

"And what if it is something you decided to give up and take another course of action in life now huh?" Mimi asked, "Because I'm not the only one in this marriage you may had dreams and future they were pursuing and never mentioned on some missed opportunities they wanted. Do you think you can ever wonder what it's like to be happy in a marriage like…"

"Mama! Daddy why are you arguing?" Courtney asked, "Are you fighting?"

"Oh no sweetie it's…it's nothing," Roger replied looking at Mimi, "Hey…why don't the three of us watch a movie on the couch? We can watch something from Uncle Mark's movie shelf."

"Okay daddy," Courtney smiled as she came on the couch with the two of them, "I love you two so much in the whole world."

"Same to you kiddo," Mimi replied, "Same to you. Let's watch a movie together."

"I wish my friends can have such good mommies and daddies like you two," Courtney smiled as they were watching another movie, "I want it to stay like this forever because I love you daddy and I love you Mama Mimi."

"We love you two miracle girl," Roger said, "Don't worry…we'll promise we'll keep our little family together…for your sake by all means."

"Yeah whatever your dad says Courtney," Mimi said as she put an arm around Courtney and Roger, "We'll…try to keep our promise."

Spark Records…

A few days later Roger was at Spark Records working trying to keep his mind off his recent martial conflicts at home with Mimi. He still had a picture of him, Mimi and Courtney during the weekend at Coney Island. He stared at the picture of it and looked at his daughter's picture closely and how happy she was with the two of them. It was then he was interrupted by his boss Grant entered his studio.

"Grant welcome back," Roger greeted, "When did you get back from Dallas?"

"About a week ago," Grant replied, "I've talked to Charlie and I've told him about you taking a leave of absence with the work we're doing for House of Blues until another promotional concert arrives. This way…it gives you time to pursue this." Grant handed Roger a large envelope to look at.

"And exactly what is in here?" Roger asked as he opened it and was shocked, "Oh my gosh…is this what I'm I don't think it is? Grant…is this really from Cardigan Records?"

"The west coast is calling your number," Grant replied, "Davis you are one lucky man. They're calling you out there…Cardigan Records. Apparently this here is a contract to join their record label…full time recording, and producing music with some of the up and coming artists with both companies. This marks a joint venture between our two record labels and Spark Records wants you to oversee our progress by working with Cardigan."

"Cardigan Records selected me…to go and work for them?" Roger smiled but yet worried, "Oh my God…this is what I've worked for all these years. They picked me…my God when do they want a reply?"

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity Davis," Grant replied, "You are lucky and fortunate that you're the first in 3 years for Cardigan Records to consider bringing any new recruits from the east coast to work with them in Santa Fe. This is ASAP they would want a reply in two weeks top to set up space for you to work. I know you got your new wife and your daughter to consider so just talk about this with them. I don't want to see you waste a good opportunity."

"They're giving me two weeks notice to reply?" Roger asked, "Is all of this just a joke?"

"To show my honesty of the matter here," Grant added handing Roger a letter as he left the room, "Whatever you are inquiring about is all in that letter. You can read it over…all I can advise to you as your boss is think about it. I know you worked hard for this for years since joining Spark Records, I believe it's about time the music world got to see the talents of Roger Davis. The deadline offer expires in two weeks…I suggest you read it over."

Roger sat for a little while processing everything that has happened and that he was offered the dream he wanted…to work with Cardigan Records in Santa Fe. He would finally be able to launch his music career and get out of Alphabet City and travel. It was his dream he work so hard to get…it was what really snapped him back to the future he originally pursued for him and Courtney. However, it was now different and that was the problem as he read the letter:

Dear Mr. Roger Davis,

It is great pleasure that on behalf on Cardigan Records we wish to congratulate you with a job opportunity to work with us in our studios in Santa Fe. Out of hundreds of applicants we wish to inform you that yours has been accepted by our company and it will benefit us to have you help contribute to the future of both record labels.

Enclosed are legal contracts for you to apply on whether you will accept coming down to work with our team here in Santa Fe. In addition, we have also provided you with accommodation details and expenses paid for by the record label. Please be advised that this offer and contract acceptance will expire in two weeks time prior to this week to determine whether or not you will accept the new position here at Cardigan. We do hope that you would consider.

With regards,

Phil Fowler- Cardigan Records

The Loft…

"I got the job…what the hell am I suppose to do now?" Roger thought as he arrived home back to the loft, "Mimi? Courtney? Mark? Is anyone here?"

"Hey lower your voice down Courtney is taking a nap," Mark replied from his corner re-editing some footage, "What's going on?"

"Have you seen Mimi anywhere?" Roger asked Mark, "There's something I need to talk to her about…it's very important."

"I know I'm no marriage counselor but every time either one of you come home you always seem to have something important to talk about," Mark said, "Has it ever crossed your minds that you might being having second thoughts about this whole marriage thing?"

"And what is that suppose to mean?" Roger snapped, "I love Mimi and we're happy being married and Courtney is happy with having a stepmother now…so why wouldn't matter if you guys are questioning whether or not you think our marriage has been a mistake?"

"Well maybe the only reason I'm thinking as to now why you married Mimi was because of Courtney!" Mark suddenly answered, "Has it ever occurred to you that maybe you got her to marry you was with the help of persuasion from Courtney…by giving your daughter the one thing she always wanted, a family. It was something you and her wanted after April died and was there any consideration as to what either you or Mimi wanted in the long run? Were you prepared of what you were going to give up for Courtney?"

"I don't want to hear this right now okay?" Roger objected as he was heading to the roof, "You are suppose to be my best friend Mark but sometimes I wonder…what makes you say what you're saying to me right now? If this might be some home truths I'm suppose to hear then I don't want to hear about it! I need to find Mimi because I feel that you're jealous."

"You two need to open your eyes because despite how much you love each other…sometimes love isn't always enough," Mark sighed, "A seven year old girl is what made you two marry each other despite not seeing the truth, but your dreams is what separates you. I wish you two can find a dream that maybe not what had in mind originally…because this made a huge mistake if what comes out soon will be hard to face."

Roger headed to the roof hoping to find Mimi but he was fortunate to find her with the accompany of Angel there. It seemed like the two were having a conversation of great importance so Roger just waited a few moments until he made his presence known.

"What are you going to do about the letter from Ms McRae?" Angel asked, "Have you talked to her about it?"

"I dropped by this afternoon at her studio and I talked to the reps at Avalon School of Dance in London to confirm what they said in the contents of the letter," Mimi sighed, "I…got approved for the job in London. I got two weeks to apply and give them an answer, but…in my heart something tells me to go, but then the other part tells me to stay here."

"Is that great news you were always waiting for something good to happen," Angel said, "It looks like you got you chance to make it big. You have talent Mimi and I don't want to you to regret anything or see that talent not go to waste."

"That's the problem…because it's been going to waste ever since," Mimi sighed, "I got in front of me the dream I remembered for the last couple of years of my life before I end up dead from a disease that is slowly killing one day at a time. It's like this dream came true at such a bad time when…"

"When what?" Angel asked.

"I finally may have realized the cost of what I did," Mimi replied, "To Roger…and then I realized why I married him and why he married me…it was the idea of giving Courtney this idealistic future as a family together when at the beginning none of us were prepared for nor what we truly had in mind."

"Oh Mimi you don't mean that do you?" Angel replied trying to comfort her, "You love Roger and Courtney. Those two love you with all their hearts and soul I'm sure they'll understand."

"I had this same conversation with Mark a little while ago and I just need to get out because I knew despite now much I deny the truth of my marriage, what always comes first is my dream," Mimi cried, "Sometimes I wonder…why things happen for a reason you can't explain and this…is something I don't understand. You don't understand…sometimes I feel like I married him because I loved him but it seems like love isn't enough to ensure a proper stable marriage." Hearing Mimi talk about their marriage rocked Roger to the core…as painful as it was to hear and to admit and maybe hate Mark, Roger listened in disbelief the truth.

"It was more like I felt like I married Roger out of sympathy and obligation to a motherless little girl who needs a female influence in your life. I wanted the future I idealistically dreamed about when we were at the model home…but in my heart I knew it would cost Roger his future, my future, and Courtney's. It feels like…I only married him because I wanted him to fulfill his wish of giving Courtney a new mother, even if it meant I gave up the job opportunity in London."

"It was like this marriage was more like a bargain chip to keep each other from walking out to put our dreams on hold and the worst part is…a little girl was also a key player in this entire decision making. Am I a bad person for forcing someone to live a life that don't have the heart to be apart of? "

"You can ask that same question Mimi and tell me this," Roger sighed as he came out, "I can hate Mark for admitting things I didn't want to hear, but he was right…inside the two of us knew that marriage would hit rock bottom and it just did."

"Roger please let me explain," Mimi begged as she tried to come close, "You heard?"

"Every word," Roger said in tears, "I wanted to wonder what made me marry you in the first place. We believed we married each other out of love and this is what we wanted…but we were wrong in fact, neither of us didn't picture this in our future. However, it was what I saw for Courtney, what we saw. I just stood here realizing that my little miracle girl, my daughter was a key player in us getting married, and we gambled our dreams and futures on the line just for a marriage we didn't think straight about."

"That's not true!" Mimi yelled, "Please don't deny that our marriage was a sham! I love you and I wanted to give Courtney the family she always wanted, the one you talked about giving your daughter and I thought we could have, even if it meant making a bit of sacrifices! "

"I don't know what to think here!" Roger yelled, "I just had to hear about that maybe marrying each other was the biggest regret of our lives! Our marriage is basically one based out of guilt to not derive a seven year old girl of a family, instead it always ends the same!"

"What is that suppose to mean?" Mimi asked yelling in frustration, "Roger talk to me please I'm your wife!"

"I…need to get out of here for awhile and think!" Roger replied leaving the rooftop, "I don't want to say as your husband because frankly…you know what I need time."

"Roger! Roger come back!" Mimi started crying as Roger left, "What the hell just happened?"

"God damn what now?" Roger cried as he got back in the loft. He headed to the bedroom and he suddenly found Mimi's letter from Ms. McRae and read it:

Dear Mrs. Mimi Marquez-Davis,

It is great pleasure that on behalf on The Avalon School of Dance we wish to congratulate you with a job opportunity to teach at our school this fall in London. Out of hundreds of applicants we wish to inform you that yours has been accepted with a full time teaching position and it will benefit us to contribute to the success of our students here.

Enclosed are finalized information on whether or not you will accept this job opportunity. In addition, we have also provided you with accommodation details and expenses including airfare to travel down to London paid for on our behalfl. Please be advised that this offer and contract acceptance will expire in two weeks time prior to this week to determine whether or not you will accept the new position here at Cardigan. We do hope that you would consider.

With regards,

Samantha Jackson-Director of Avalon School of Dance

"What the hell have I done?" Roger sighed after finishing reading the letter, "She…was going to throw her future away and turn down London for a future she never wanted, one that she didn't imagine to see with me or Courtney? We're both right…and it hurts."

"Daddy why are you crying?" Courtney replied as she went to hug Roger, "It's okay daddy it will be alright I promise."

"Honey…I need to go somewhere for awhile," Roger sighed hugging his daughter, "I love you so much and there are some things you need to understand when you get older. Promise me you look after Mimi while I'm out okay. I need to think about some stuff right now."

"Daddy you're making me worried," Courtney sighed, "Where are you going?"

"Give this to Mimi okay?" Roger replied as he handed the letters to Courtney, "Promise daddy you will give this to her okay?"

"Please come home daddy please," Courtney begged as her dad left, "Don't go away daddy!"

"Roger!" Mimi came in a few moments after Roger left, "Courtney, sweetie what's wrong?"

"Daddy took off and said he needed to think," Courtney sighed as she gave Mimi the letters, "I promised I give this to you mama."

"It's from Cardigan Records…oh my god," Mimi replied giving Courtney a hug, "Makes you realize in the end…we both got dreams to remember. Where is he? C'mon Courtney we'll hang out at Uncle Collins and Aunt Angel's place and we'll try to find your dad."

"You guys promised everything will be alright," Courtney sighed, "Why are you crying?"

"Trust me…you're too young to understand sweetie," Mimi sighed as the two headed downstairs, "He's not the only one who has a lot of thinking to do…so do I."

Meanwhile…

Roger was driving in his car as he suddenly heard his phone go off and answered it. He was struggling trying to deal with everything that happened today as he replied on the other end.

"Hey Hannah it's me," Roger replied sighing, "I need you to do me a favor…it's very important. I need…information on the contract I got today, and I need some details on available flights coming up in two weeks…one way flights."

(Author's Notes: Okay sorry for not updating in the last little while but I'm leaving a bit of a cliffhanger here. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and please keep sending in those reviews! Take care for now!)