Book Three: The Auction

 

 

 

Book Three: The Auction 

Chapter 1

“No, no, no, no! I can’t be late!” Mercedes groaned as she jumped off the bus and ran towards the hospital. She wasn’t usually late, or rather she tried her best not to make a habit of it. She worked two jobs to try and take care of herself and her baby brother. Her first job was as an administrative assistant to Will Schuester, a talent agent in the area, and then she worked at the live-in facility her brother was currently staying in. 

He was diagnosed with Lupus when he was fifteen, and with her mother coming and going as she pleased, it was up to Mercedes to be mom and dad to him. Working two jobs the moment she turned sixteen. 

Mercedes always knew she grew up differently, but she tried her best not to let it affect how she viewed life. Her mother, Marian, had her at a young age, and for the briefest time, she remembered having great times with her. They would go to the park and play and sing, but then one night, something changed. Her mother just wasn’t there anymore, she remembered crying for her at night, but no matter how hard she cried, her mother was never the one to comfort her. 

 In truth, if asked, she would tell you that she didn’t want to have her, she wasn’t ready to be a mom, and the moment she had her, she let her mother raise her. It wasn’t that Marian Jones was a bad mother; it was that she was young. Marian Jones was and always had been the most beautiful woman to Mercedes; even with her grandmother being a mirror image, she knew that her mother was more beautiful. She had the prettiest brown eyes and even prettier smile that went well with her infectious laugh. A laugh that Mercedes inherited let her grandmother tell it. 

The two of them were one and the same; Marian had a carefree spirit and a fear of commitment, that fear extended to her children. She tried, but she always failed, and Mercedes made sure to never expect anything from her.

It was always her grandmother or her grandfather who took care of Mercedes. They had their daughter late in life, so imagine an older couple trying to wrangle a screaming toddler. She always felt loved and cared for, but there was a hole in her chest, a longing for the mother, which only grew bigger every time she would reappear and then disappear.

As she grew, her mother would randomly reenter her life, showing her tons of love and attention before sneaking off again. It wasn’t until she was eight that her mother stayed for a long time; it was the best year of her life. Every morning she would wake up really early and run into her mother’s room just to make sure she was still there and every day that she was that hole in her chest started to fill.

Hopeful thinking was what she considered one of her flaws because her grandmother told her not to get too attached, and she was right. Her mother was rushed to the hospital one night, and that’s when she became a big sister. She was excited and couldn’t wait to be the best big sister ever, but that feeling was short-lived because her mother left three days later without a word. 

She hated her mother after that, she hated that she would just come back into her life only to leave again, but her hate for her mother grew more for her brother. He never got to experience her the way she did, and she never seemed to understand why Mercedes refused to call her moma. 

Her mother was her grandmother, Alice, she soothed her when she was feeling sad, she kissed her boo-boo’s when she fell down, and she was always there. She never met her father so the only man she knew as father was her grandfather Jackson. He was the best at everything, and she loved them both dearly, she was at least happy that her brother Carter had two parents, he was lucky in that way because he never had to have their mother crushing his hopes.

Their lives were pretty routine, with dance classes, soccer, and softball games before things started to change, and Mercedes had to make the hardest decisions of her life. When her grandfather grew ill, the conversation about mortality was brought up. Death isn’t something anyone ever wants to talk about, let alone plan for, but at thirteen, she had to watch her grandmother lose her soulmate. 

This was the first time Carter met their mother and the first time his heart broke. He was five and very confused by the hard conversation their grandmother had with him. Mercedes felt the brunt of the guilt because she was his big sister, and she should have told him the truth, but the truth was painful. She didn’t want him looking for someone that wasn’t looking for him; the only good thing about Marion’s return at that time was that Carter was able to meet his father.

He had a father that wanted him, someone to help fill the void their grandfather left behind, and as much as it hurt Mercedes, she was happy he had someone to really call father. She thought about asking her mother who her father was but when the moment came, just like the wind, her mother was gone. Only this time, when she left, there was no hole, no void it was simply nothingness. She felt nothing for the woman that birthed her; what memories she shared with her were just those memories, and the only thing she looked forward to was for her to never come back.

Her grandmother also told her that our plan and God’s plan were two completely different things, she didn’t understand it until she was faced with the horrible task of burying her. She was sixteen and had no one to help her, not until it was time for the reading of the will. Marion whisked in again, only this time she actually showed an interest in Carter, not so much Mercedes but that was fine with her.

“What do you mean you’re taking Carter?” Mercedes asked, sniffling.

“He needs to be with his parents… you can’t expect to take care of him. You’re a teenager and should be living your life.” Her mother said, and for a brief moment, Mercedes thought her mother actually cared.

It wasn’t until the will was read that she fully understood why her mother wanted Carter. Her father, their grandfather, left him an inheritance, nothing too big but enough to live off of for a while. Their grandmother left Mercedes the house and some money as well, but it was only enough to pay the bills until she graduated.

“Carter’s not going anywhere with you, that’s not what grandma wanted.” Mercedes said, and her mother frowned,

“Mercedes, this isn’t up for discussion. I’m taking Carter with me, you’ll have that big house and can be free. Let me do this for you.”

She shook her head. “No! You’re not splitting us up, I will fight you for him!”

Marion frowned. “You will lose. I’ll be there in a week to get him, that is final.”

Mercedes shifted, watching her mother walking away and vowing to do everything she could to prevent her from taking Carter from her.

Shaking off her thoughts of the past, she rushed into the building, hoping she wouldn't get into trouble for being late, and also hoping she wouldn’t run into Shane, her asshole boss. She hated working at Haven House, but that was where Carter was currently residing as he waited for a new Kidney, and by her working there, they received a pretty big discount to cover his stay and meds. But what he really needed was a kidney. At twenty his kidney shut down on him, and the first thing Mercedes did was get tested. That was six months ago, and because she wasn’t a match, he spent most of his time in bed, hooked up to tubes and monitors. It broke her heart, and still does, seeing him lying there in his room. 

“Mercedes Jones! This is the third time this week you were late!” Shane Tinsely, her boss, said as he came out of his office. “I gave you this job as a favor, but you are making me regret it!”

Mercedes froze and took a breath before turning to him. She watched as his eyes went right to her breast. He never really looked at her face when she was wearing her uniform. “I am sorry, Shane, the bus was late.”

“Look, I feel for your situation, the whole reason you are working here is to get a discount on your brother’s treatments, but I will fire you.”

Mercedes shifted. “I understand, let me go clock in.” She said, moving past him, shaking her head. 

“Mercedes wait!” He said, grabbing her arm. “You didn’t let me finish. “You do know I am on the board, and if you want a…chance to have your brother moved up on the transplant list…you can come to my office, and I am sure we can work something out.” He smirked, running his hand down her arm.

She frowned, moving his hand from her arm. “As my supervisor, that is highly inappropriate, and lucky for you I don’t feel like filing a complaint.” She replied.

Shane smirked. “As if anyone would believe you.” He turned and walked back into his office. “Remember my office is always open…Mercedes.”

She rushed after him, grabbing his arm. “I’m just trying to do my job here, I have a brother dying and you dangling this in front of my face because you think you are unapproachable has to stop. I won’t be late anymore and you won’t make any more passes at me because they will believe me. Don’t forget I’ve made connections here too.” 

“Noted, Ms. Jones.” He said looking down at her hand. “You can let me go, or should I report you for assaulting your superior.”

Mercedes smirked. “Do not assume you are four steps ahead of me because of your title, I’ve already put in six complaints but asked them not to move forward because you haven’t been aggressive but you keep pushing me and I will.”

Shane pulled his arm away from her. He rolled his eyes, turning away from her. “You are dismissed Ms. Jones.”

“Thank you, Mr. Tinsley.” She replied with a wide smile. 

…

Mercedes grabbed the bedpan and emptied it as she cleaned up Mrs. Rose. Rose was a sixty-eight-year-old who Mercedes met when her brother was admitted. She was in need of a heart transplant. 

Rose reminded her of her Grandmother, and so any chance she got, Mercedes made sure to visit her every night. 

“Ms. Rose, how are you feeling tonight?”

Rose sighed contently. “Oh I am just fine sweetie, how are you? Still working yourself crazy?”

Mercedes replaced the bedpan and frowned, grabbing her a new sheet from the heated cabinet. “It's for my brother so it's worth it.”

“If my siblings were as dedicated to me as you are to yours, well I might not spend my days here alone.” Rose said.

“Your siblings love you, they are just slow.” Mercedes teased. Rose was the youngest of five, and her family makes it a point to come once a week. Mercedes loved being on shift when that happened because getting to see all of the different generations in one room, it was an amazing experience.

“Have you been to Carter’s room, or are you still avoiding him til the last minute?”

“I have a job to do.” Mercedes defended, but they both knew how hard it was for her to see him like that, how hard it was for her to not be able to save him. “I see him at the end of my shift so I can spend as much time with him that I want.”

Rose nodded. “Uh huh, whatever you say to make you feel better.”

“Why do you have to give me a hard time Ms. Rose?”

“I have such little pleasures in life and this is one of them.”

Mercedes couldn’t argue with her, the woman was right, most of the time.

“You need a man, you’re far too pretty to be fussing over us old folk.”

“Ms. Rose, I don't have time for a man.” Mercedes reminded her. 

Rose snorted. “Spoken like a true virgin, go out there and experience life, honey, because yours is passing you right on by.”

Mercedes gasped. “Uh excuse you Ms. Ma’am but I will have you know I enjoy my life just fine. I don’t need to add another person in my life who will just end up leaving.”

Rose sat up, patting the bed for her to sit. “Listen to me, coming here and helping us… helping your brother is not living. You’re just existing and if you don’t learn anything from me, learn this, you only got one life so live it!” 

Mercedes sat down and sighed. “I will live when my brother gets his chance to live again Ms. Rose.”

“No. You don’t get to play guardian angel. God’s plan is different.”

“Maybe this is his plan? To have me do what I have always done, protect Carter. Ms. Rose, if I had any other options I would take them, but I am all that man has in his life and I can not and will not allow him to be hurt.”

Rose nodded, squeezing her hand. “Your life is about to change, I know that for certain and you need to be ready.”

“What do you mean?” Mercedes asked, looking at her and feeling confused. 

The older woman smirked, leaning back. “Do you have rounds to finish?”

“Yeah I do…don’t think that is gonna stop me from coming back in here and asking you what you mean Ms. Rose!”

Rose laughed. “Don’t you come back here tonight, I have a hot date.”

“With who? Your remote?” Mercedes teased. 

“Harold in suite B actually, now you go on and go finish your rounds. You’ll know what I mean when it happens.” 

“You be careful now! Don’t be doing anything nasty in here! I am the one who has to clean up.” She laughed walking out of the room.

"Child you know I can't make no promises!" Rose teased as Mercedes left to make her rounds, finally stopping at her baby brother's door. 

Pushing his door open she smiled seeing him with his headphones on playing call of duty.

Walking in front of the TV on purpose she smiled, laughing as he shooed her out the way.

"Move Merce! I'm but to win!"

Mercedes smiled sitting on his bed. "I see you are feeling good today."

"Better than yesterday,  the new meds are helping. I heard I moved up on the list. I'm seven now." Carter said with a smile. 

"That's great! Once you have the surgery, you can get out of this place."

"The surgery…Shane said it's gonna cost over two hundred and fifty dollars out of pocket."

"Okay and? With insurance, I will only have to pay half that. And big sis got it so don't worry."

"You got a hundred grand just lying around?" Carter asked in disbelief.

"Yes, since the house is paid for I have basically been saving every penny I've earned." She said.

"I literally owe you my life Merce. I should be helping you pay for this."

"No. You should be doing what you are doing. Getting better. Let me worry about everything else."

Mercedes stood, kissing him in the forehead. "I need to get back to work but I will come back on my break, maybe I'll pay with you."

Carter smiled. "I cleaned my bathroom so you didn't have to."

"Car, how many times do I have to tell you not to do that? You rest. I got this."

Carter nodded as Mercedes winked at him before going back to work.