So this is something new and it will be complex! I will warn you now, this story is gut wrenching in some parts but there's always silver linings!
A New Beginning
Mercedes was frantically packing up her things in the middle of the night with sweat slowly running down her chest. She had another nightmare, this one was worse than the ones she'd had before and she was officially over dealing with the ghost that continued to haunt her. She wasn't entirely sure where she was going but she knew for a fact that she no longer wanted to be there.
She left home when she was sixteen and never looked back but not looking back had proven more difficult when your past kept finding a way to invade your peace. Her parents hadn't even searched for her after she turned eighteen but what surprised her was that they hadn't blocked her from receiving her inheritance from her grandmother.
Her grandmother, Elise kept her until she passed away and she was forced to move back with her parents. She hated it. She hated everything about being around them and she didn't get along with her siblings. Well all except one, her sister Carla was why she stayed as long as she did but…She shook her head, she didn't want to think about that. She just wanted to get the hell out of town and as far away from where she was now.
She dragged her last suitcase out of her rental, she quickly packed up her jeep, leaving a note attached to the door letting her landlords know she was leaving and enough money to cover for breaking her lease. She sighed looking out at the cute little house, she spent a great deal of her time hiding out there and being invisible. She was tired of having to hide and she was tired of being invisible, she was gonna go somewhere and start over. She wasn't going to hide and she wasn't going to stop herself from living.
Fifteen and half hours later she found herself in a little town in Vermont. She'd only taken a few stops along the way, which she tossed her phone and anything from her old life back in Chicago. She would keep her clothes for now but as far as anything else she got rid of along the way. She looked around as she drove through the town of Stowe and smiled at how quaint it was, there was a certain small town appeal to it.
It was early fall and the trees were already decorated in different shades of reds and oranges, there was apparently an Arts Festival taking over downtown from what she could see by the road being blocked off. She made a mental note to explore it later, she needed to find somewhere to sleep for the night and start looking for a place to rent.
She pulled up to a local shop and walked inside, seeing it was an antique shop and a young woman around her age standing at the counter.
"Hi, welcome to Waterbury Stowe! Can I help you with anything?"
Mercedes smiled and walked over to the counter. "Yes actually… I'm not from here and I need a place to crash for a few days. Can you recommend any?"
"Sure! We have a lot of cute BnB's and a few hotels but you kinda picked peak season so the best place to look is at Timberholm Inn, they usually have extra boarding." The woman said and Mercedes nodded.
"Awesome… also I'm thinking of staying here for a while so are there any houses for rent or…"
"Rent? No but there's a cute little house for sale… if you can foot the money that is but it's adorable and it's not far from downtown and the mountains."
Mercedes let out a shaky sigh. "I was more so hoping for something to rent…"
"Hey Tina, can you pull the vase for Mrs. Hummel?" A voice said from the back and the woman shot Mercedes a small smile.
"Give me just a sec, maybe my husband knows of a place." She said before disappearing.
Mercedes looked around the shop, seeing various vases, old novelty items and a ton of beautiful China on display. She started making a mental note of the things she would need and the first one was a new phone. She had enough time to wander around before the woman named Tina came from the back carrying a huge box and placing it on the counter.
"So my husband said you may be able to rent the place I mentioned but…" She said trailing off.
"But what?" Mercedes asked and Tina leaned in waving her along.
"The man that owns the place is… difficult." She whispered looking over Mercedes' shoulder to see if any of the other patrons were listening. "He's, how do I say… a bit of an asshole and his family owns a good deal of businesses, here this is his number." She added, slipping a card to Mercedes.
She picked it up, looking it over. "Sam Evans." She said aloud before hearing someone gasp and Tina placed a finger over lips.
"Kinda like Voldemort, we don't really speak his name unless it's necessary."
Mercedes looked at the woman amused. "How am I supposed to talk to him if I can't say his name?" She joked.
Tina giggled. "Maybe I exaggerated a little but the woman two aisles over was… one of his 'friends'... if you know what I mean?"
Mercedes nodded because she did know. "Ah, got ya. Well lucky for him and her, I just want a place to live… and a job but I'll start with giving him a call. Thank you for all your help. Hopefully I'll be seeing you around."
"Well you have to tell me how it goes with… he who must not be named. I'm Tina by the way."
"Nice to meet you Tina, I'm Mercedes." She replied walking towards the exit before stopping and looking back at her. "You wouldn't know of a place where I could buy a new phone?"
Tina looked at her perplexed for a moment. "Yah, about ten minutes up the road there's a place called 802 Mobile and Timberholm is roughly another ten minutes from there."
"Great! Thanks." She said walking out to her car.
"Strange woman…" Tina nodded and looked up at her husband.
"I don't know, I like her." She said and he smiled at her.
"Of course you do, she's a walking mystery. Just don't get carried away like you always do."
Tina rolled her eyes. "Mike, have some faith in me besides, it's not like I can google her… I don't know her last name." She teased and he just chuckled before giving her a kiss.
Mercedes found the shop pretty easily, she was already liking the fact that there were no major chain stores in sight and it allowed her to breathe a little easier. When she walked inside there wasn't anyone around, so she decided to browse for a little.
"You need your phone repaired?" A voice asked and she turned to see a tall man standing there.
"Ah, no I need to buy one." She answered and he nodded.
"Okay, see one you like?" He asked, grabbing a clipboard and walking over to her.
"I'll actually need two so… these two will do." She said pointing at the two iphones on display. "Also is it possible to put them on separate plans?"
He grabbed the phones she picked out and nodded. "Sure, it's gonna cost a little extra though."
"That's fine. I want to buy the phones outright as well." She said following him over to the counter.
He peered at her for a moment. "Are you some secret spy or something?" He asked with a soft laugh.
She froze for a second before letting out a nervous laugh. "If I told you, I'd have to kill ya." She replied and he snorted.
"Well, I will need you to fill these both out and I can get your phones activated, should only take fifteen minutes." He explained and she nodded, taking the clipboard to fill everything out while he did his thing.
After she finished, he went over everything with her and told her her new numbers before sending her on her way. She was happy he didn't ask anything else about who she was or why she needed two phones. She wasn't really sure why she'd gotten two this time but a piece of her knew it was because of habit. Her grandma always told her to get two of everything, one for now and one for just in case. She typed in Timberholm Inn into the maps of her phone before driving off in the direction the voice told her to go.
When she arrived, she could hear loud shouting and the closer she got to the entrance the louder it got. She walked inside the cute BnB, loving the wooden accents and homey feeling before a glass flew by her head making her duck down.
"YOU POMPOUS ASSHOLE!" A woman shouted before storming by Mercedes with a man running close behind her.
"I thought we agreed to not let them stay here again." Another voice said as Mercedes stood back up and slowly walked over to the receptionist area.
"He booked under another name." The other woman said before turning her attention to Mercedes. "Well hello there, how can we help you?"
"Umm… I'd like a room preferably facing that beautiful view." She replied, looking over her shoulder hearing more shouting.
"Ignore it, that's one of our regulars… he flies his mistress in every other month and it always ends this way. Where are you from?" The other woman asked.
"Chicago… and that's tough." She replied.
"Ooh you're a long ways away from there, what brought you here?"
Mercedes looked at her for a moment. "Just wanted to get away, I heard this was a nice place."
"Oh great, well the only thing we have open is our suite and our coms are down so-"
"I have cash, how much for a week?" Mercedes said, grabbing her wallet and both women shared a look before the dark haired one leaned in, narrowing her eyes at her.
"Are you a working girl?" She asked, tapping Mercedes' very thick wallet.
The other girl gasped. "Oh my God Santana, you can't ask people that! I'm so sorry, she is usually more tamed." The woman with the name tag Marley said with the Latina woman simply shrugged.
"What? She's offering to drop two grand for a week's stay in cash and it's not like she's unattractive, I saw her ass the minute she walked in but she clearly doesn't play for my team… Do you?"
Mercedes let out a soft laugh. "Not since that one night in college." She admitted. "It's nothing like that though… I just haven't set up an account for the bank here." She lied.
She hated having to lie already but the one called Santana was asking too many questions that she did not want to answer just yet but given the look on Santana's face she could tell she only half believed her.
"Well we're still going to need a credit card to have on file, it won't be charged but it is required." Marley said and Mercedes pulled out her card along with the cash and handed it to her.
The Latina looked at her arm before grabbing it and pulling her sleeve up. "Interesting tattoo… how long did it take?"
Mercedes gently pulled her arm away, pulling her sleeve down and sighing. "I don't remember, is there anything else you need from me?"
Marley smiled. "Just you to sign this and enjoy your stay!"
"Thanks." Mercedes said, quickly scribbling her name onto the paper and grabbing her key from Marley.
"Need any help?" Santana asked and Mercedes shook her head.
"No thanks, I just want to shower and rest." She replied quickly going outside to grab her bag and head to her suite. She was happy there was an outdoor entrance to her room because she didn't feel like trying to make more small talk with Santana.
After she showered and ordered down for dinner she sat on the bed and played on her phone, programming the numbers she remembered into there before looking for the number Tina gave her earlier. She didn't care about the cost of the house, she just needed her space after answering so many personal questions about herself today.
"Why didn't you say something! Why didn't you call for help?"
"I tried… I… I didn't know what to do!"
SLAP!
"You knew better!"
Mercedes jerked, feeling chills run all over her body before taking several deep breaths. "You're safe now." She said to herself.
She looked down at the card as she punched in the number and waited for the call to connect.
"Sam Evans' office, how can I help you?"
"Umm… I was referred to him by a chick named Tina… about a place he might have for rent."
There was some muttering and shuffling that was followed by some chattering between the woman that answered and a deep voice before a sigh.
"Mr. Evans doesn't take these types of requests via call… could you come in today?"
"I.. I'm not from here so I don't know where to meet him."
"One second." There was more muffled talking, the deeper voice getting louder followed by another sigh. "I can give you the address."
"Oh, okay… great." Mercedes said looking for a piece of paper and a pen. "Okay shoot."
The woman proceeded to recite the address off before putting her on hold again which was followed by a long sigh. "He says… to be here in the next fifteen minutes or he's leaving."
Mercedes looked at the phone before returning it to her ear. "Umm I think I can make it, I'll be there."
"Great! See you then." The woman replied before hanging up.
Mercedes typed the address into her phone seeing that it wasn't fair at all and quickly got up to get dressed before hurrying out.
"I'm sure if you just wait one more minute she will be here!"
"I've waited exactly fifteen minutes and whoever this person is, isn't here so-" He replied right as the door flung open.
"Hi! I'm sorry… I got turned around. I called earlier to speak with umm…" Mercedes started before stopping when two sets of green eyes looked at her, she adjusted her sweater and attempted to smooth down her semi damp locks. "I called about the house…"
The woman smiled brightly as she walked over to her with her hand out. "Nice to meet you, I'm Stacey Evans and that right there is Sam Evans, owner of the house and he is happy to discuss it with you." She said, shaking Mercedes' hand.
"Mercedes." She replied, allowing the woman to lead her past the man standing there and into an office.
"He'll be right in." Stacey said cheerily before closing the door. Mercedes sat there confused before hearing muffled voices, she moved closer to the door to get a better listen.
"She was late!"
"God, Sam, she said she got turned around! Get that stick out of your ass and at least let her see the house!" Stacey said, sighing.
"I don't have time for this, you know my schedule is busy and I only have so little time to do everything." He replied and Mercedes rolled her eyes before swinging the door open shocking them both.
"It's fine, I will look elsewhere." She said, shaking her head and walking towards the exit.
"Wait, please… don't go." Stacey shouted running after her. "My brother is an asshole and thinks the world revolves around him but the house is beautiful and just sitting there. I assure you he wants to show the house to you."
Mercedes looked at the woman before looking at her brother who still looked annoyed. "Yeah, he looks really peachy about that. Thank you for your kindness."
Stacey turned and mouthed something that made him sigh. "I can show you the house." He said begrudgingly. "But we'll have to hurry."
Mercedes shook her head. "I may not know you but I can tell you don't want to do that and I personally don't like things half assed so, you're good." She said waving him off before walking out the door and to her car.
Right as she reached her car a hand grabbed her arm making her stop and turn around. "I'm sorry… I would like to show you the place, whatever time is best for you." He said placing his card into her hand. "My personal number is on the back."
Mercedes looked at the card, then back at him before snatching her hand away. "Ugh, does that really work on the women here? God are you that self-absorbed that you'd think I would be remotely amused by this?" She shoved the card back into his hand. "I would like to see it today but as a potential tenant nothing more."
Sam looked at her with a small smile before nodding. "Place's yours, Stacey will give you everything you need. Oh and if you're ever late on rent you will immediately be evicted." He said before walking away as Stacey emerged behind him with a bright smile.
"This is so exciting! Now we have a few contracts to go over but pretty much whatever price you say he'll agree to but there is one minor stipulation. He tends the garden… he and our grandmother used to do it together and it's her house you're going to be living in so… if you can handle Sunday visits from him it's yours!"
Mercedes pondered the thought, having never made a decision like this before but she wanted a chance to just live so she nodded. "I can handle it." She said, offering a smile at the blonde.
Little did she know just how wrong she was…
What do we think?
Guys I just want to say, I know you're wanting updates on my other stories and I am very much working on them. I have had covid, being working my butt off and on top of that trying to have a kid. I promise when those updates start rolling out you will not be disappointed. Hopefully this story will hold you over because I have quite a few chapters completed as well as so REALLY good new stories lined up!
until next time xoxo!