Photograph of My Life

Linda was glad to have such great friends around her to get her through this difficult time, she missed Alfred everyday, but it was times like this that made her really miss her. She laughed at Maurice’s antics, “You are a little cheap Maurice, and Sam is nothing like that. Alfred used to tell me how you always wanted to pawn the check off on him when you guys went to play golf and have lunch.” She laughed at the memory of Alfred laughing about their outings, and took the glass, “Yes, to our beautiful and intelligent grandchildren, may they have a great time when they go off to college, and live the lives they dreamed of.”

“You are too, cheap! See, even Alfred thought so.” Lillianna bantered back with a laugh. She loved her husband, but part of being married was also being able to be yourself around your loved ones, and she had never held back, especially not after witnessing Linda’s heartbreak over Alfred’s death. She promised herself then that she would love her husband fully until the day one of them dies, which hopefully would be her first because she would be lost without him. “A toast to our grandkids and may they grow to be intelligent and productive adults.”

They toasted and after taking a drink, Maurice shook his head, "Alfred was lying. I did not do it all the time. I just asked him to pay twice." He laughed. He definitely miss Alfred, they had become close and Maurice always came to him for advice. It was odd not to have him on this good day. "Anyway, enough teasing me. We should go find Mercedes and Sam, and the twins."

Linda didn’t want to bring the mood down, this was a celebration for the twins, and she was not going to be the crybaby. “Yeah, he’s here, I feel him, and I’m sure the twins do too. He loved being around all the kids, he always said it made him feel young.” She smiled bright, and looked over at Maurice, “I would love a glass of champagne, and you know your son, there is nothing cheap about his taste.” She giggled.

Lillianna nodded, and wiped away her own tears. “He was young at heart, and we all have been blessed to have him in our lives.” She let go of Linda, thankful that Maurice had changed the subject. “How could you even think that about our son. He’s not you, you’re cheap…” She jibed, laughing.

"Hey, I'm not cheap, woman!" Maurice retorted with a loud laugh. He was glad that his antics was able to placate Linda. He didn't really like seeing her cry. That seemed like all that she did for the first month after Alfred's death, and rightly so too. She had lost the love of her life. He grabbed two flutes of Champagne and handed it to the ladies, before picking up another for his. "We should toast. To the twins, and their graduation."

Linda stood next to Lillianna and Maurice, her heart was so heavy, and she never expected to be this emotional, “I know, our babies are going off to college, when did we get this old?” She laughed at Maurice “You do still look good Maurice, but I look better.” She laughed, and primped for them. Hearing Maurice’s comments, she smiled, “Yeah he would have been. He always talked about how proud he was of them already, but I really wish he could have been here today, but I feel his spirit.” She tried to hold back her tears.

Lillianna’s heart went out to Linda. It had to be hard to be here on this beautiful day without Alfred. They had lost the great man way too soon, and he was missed everyday, especially on days like this one. Letting go of her husband, she went to the other woman, giving her a warm hug. “He would have been wearing that big old grin of his and be beaming at the babies. He’s here, Linda, I’m sure of it.”

"Of course you do, Linda, I can't deny that." Maurice felt bad for making the women emotional, so while the two were hugging it out, he kept his silence and only opened his mouth to say, "Alright, who's ready for some Champagne. I hope Sam's not cheap with his beverages. Today is a day of celebration." He laughed.

Proud Grandparents || Evans & Jones Grandparents

Maurice planted a kiss on his wife's forehead, while his arms were wrapped around her, "We've definitely gotten older. But don't get me wrong, I'm still sexy as hell." He joked laughing. Then, turning to Linda, he offered her a kind smile. "Alfred would have been proud of Michael and Marie."

"I hope you’re right dad, I can’t disappoint Jazzy twice, the look in her eyes when I did the first time was gut wrenching, and I can’t go through that again.” Sam sighed, remembering almost losing Jazzy, and everything he had to do to get her back. He smiled and patted his father on the shoulder, “Thanks dad, I definitely don’t need to hear any of that, and that was why I kept my mouth shut, I don’t think you or Alfred want to hear about what goes on in your children’s bedroom.” He took his first swing, and hit the ball, but not far at all, “This is going to be a long game.” He sighed.

Alfred smiled at Sam, "You’re going to be fine son, my daughter loves you, and she loves hard. If you show her that she can depend on you, then you will not have a problem when it comes to helping her through this time.” He sighed, “Thank you for not saying anything about that, I till think of Mercedes as my little girl, and I want to keep it that way.” H laughed at Sam’s first swing, “I see you play like your father. Step aside, and watch how a pro do it.” He set up his tee and took a great swing, “And that’s how it’s done.” He looked at Maurice and laughed, “Beat that.”

"You're not going to. Stop stressing about it, Sam. You need to relax and do what comes naturally. Love her and support her, I'm sure that's all that she wants." Maurice said seriously now. He could see how much Sam wanted to right the wrongs of his past actions and he had to say that he was really proud of his son. "I'm okay with it, it's Alfred that you should worry about. I don't think any father wants to hear about their daughters getting it on." He laughed, wincing at how badly his son's first shot was, then rolling his eyes at Alfred, "You are too cocky. Now let me show you how it's done." He focused on his shot and swung the club, "Oh look at that... It's going far, you're going down, Alfred!" He spoke too soon because right then was when the ball landed on the water. "Oh shit..." He grumbled, rolling his eyes and let out a long sigh, "Looks like I'm going to have to listen to Alfred bragging for the rest of the day..."

"Thanks dad, I’m trying.” He laughed at how much their stories were like his, Jazzy as always horny, and she wanted him night and day. All he needed to see was her give him that come hither look, and he knew what time it was. He wasn’t going to tell them that though, he would rather keep that in between the two of them. “I guess it was the hormones, but their bodies are going through so much, so we can at least be there for them.” He set up his tee, “Nope, staying out of it, and Ill go first, since I have no clue what I’m doing, this should be a quick loss for me.”

Alfred patted Sam on the shoulder, "Just be there son, and show that you care, the rest is easy.” He laughed at Maurice, “Yup, that was Linda, always ready to go, even after we get into a fight, it would usually end up with angry sex.” He watched Sam get set up, “Losers? Um…didn’t I beat you last time? No need to answer, I know I did.”

"You'll be okay, Sam. You're a good dad and husband, everything will be just fine." Maurice said reassuring his son, "I'm not going to scar my son with talks about me and his mom getting it on, so I'm not going to go there." He laughed, patting Sam on the back, "That's the spirit. Tee away, my son..." Alfred's remark made him roll his eyes. "I've beat you more often then not, so I guess, you'll be going next." 

Sam was glad to be getting this advice from his father and father in law, he needed it, "I’m trying not to beat myself up over what I did, but it’s hard, because she didn’t deserve any of that. I let work consume me, and I missed out on a lot. I just don’t want to miss out on anything with this baby. I want to show Jazzy that I have learned from my mistakes.” He laughed at the way Alfred and his dad was going back and forth, he grabbed his clubs, “Oh no, I’m not in that, that’s between the two of you. I’m Switzerland on this discussion.”

"Please don’t coddle her!” Alfred warned, “She is a Jones woman, and they don’t like to be coddled. They want to feel safe, and know you are there for her, but coddled is a big no no.” He thought about the times Linda was pregnant, and he cringed, “Linda was a mean pregnant woman, but she was horny all the time, so it was a good balance. I put up with her attitude, and later it would be on.” He laughed, and then scoffed at Maurice, “And you are a well known photographer, so you can afford to buy your own beers.” He got out at their first hole, “And I heard that.”

"You're doing a good job, son. Don't worry yourself too much, and listen to Alfred, he should know. He's gone through it." Maurice laughed at Alfred, "Of course, it was a nightmare, but then again, Lillianna playland was always open at night, in the afternoons. Oh who am I kidding, she was always horny all the time too..." He sent his son a strong side eye, "You're supposed to be on my side here..." Then looking back at Alfred, "You're so cheap." He shook his head and got ready to play. "Alright, who's ready to go first? I think I should go last. I'll let you two losers get a head start." He said laughing.

Sam shook his head, "I am not doing that….whatever, I am not going to keep discussing this with you two.” He listened as they talked about slowing down, “I have slowed down on a lot of things, but my main focus is being a good father to the twins, and a better husband to Jazzy. I am not going to have any repeats of before, and not be there for Jazzy during this pregnancy.” Sam was gad they were both happy to have them back in town, “We’re glad to be back, we missed you guys, and to have the support of you guys here is priceless. Besides, the kids love it here, and Jazzy and I want to start fresh, I messed up the last time, and I don’t plan on doing that again.”

Alfred laughed at Sam’s reaction, but he was going to stay in his lane, and not laugh at him too had. He listened to Sam, and he could tell that he was remorseful about what happened during the pregnancy, "Don’t beat yourself up too bad Sam, we have all been there and made huge mistakes when it came to marriage and raising our kids, but the most important thing is to learn from it, and grow. Don’t be stupid and keep repeating the same mistakes, if you don’t do that, then you’ll be alright.” He rolled his eyes at Maurice, “You’re going to die of thirst waiting on those beers.”

"Listen to Alfred. What happened in the past cannot be changed, all you can do is do better and from what I'm seeing, you're doing an excellent job. Don't go overboard, she might not like being coddled. I know your mom has her mean streak when she was pregnant with you. Why do you think we only had 1 kid?" Maurice joked, laughing at the situation. He only joking of course. "Man, why you gotta be so cheap? You're a well known Jazz singer, you could buy me a couple of beers." He leaned in towards Sam and whispered, "Your father in law is cheap as hell..." He chuckled at this. 

"I am not being sensitive.” Sam muttered as he hopped in the back of the cart, “You guys are just being mean.” He folded his arms, “And no fatherhood, and married life is not slowing me down, it is doing the opposite honestly. I am more refreshed now, more alive, and that is due to my beautiful wife and amazing kids.” He looked at his dad, “Seriously, you almost ran into the lake? I think I might need my own cart for this trip.” He laughed as they went to the first hole.

"I have t agree with my partner here, you are way too sensitive.” Alfred laughed and started driving to their first hole. “So I’m glad that you and Mercedes, came to your senses and made your way back to California, I like having my grandchildren close by. And I hope that with us being around to support you guys, things don’t get all rocky like they did before.” He rolled his eyes at Maurice, “Yeah, you’ll get a thanks from me when hell freezes over.”

"Oh yes you are... Look at the way you're sitting, folding your arms like when you used to do when you would get into trouble." Maurice teased. He loved his son, but he also had to give him a hard time too. "You know it's okay to slow down a little after you have kids and a wife. That's how it should be. You should be able to enjoy life." He couldn't agree more to what Alfred was saying. "Alfred's right, it's good to have you back. I only have one son, and it's good to know that I'll be able to spend time with you on weekends now." He waved Alfred's words away, "You don't have to thank me. All you had to do is get me some beers." He laughed. 

Sam knew that they were not going to give him any slack, so he was just going to have to learn as he went. "Fine, you guys are mean though, just thought I’d put that out there.” He grabbed his clubs, “And so impatient too, dang, that must happens when you get older.” He chuckled, and walked to the golf cart.

Alfred put his bags on the cart and laughed, "You just need to keep up young blood, or is this married, fatherhood life slowing you down?” Alfred jumped behind the wheel, “And Maurice I’m driving this time, last time we almost ended in the lake.” He laughed and waited for Sam and Maurice to get settled.

"We're not mean. You're just being sensitive." Maurice scoffed at his sun, threw his bag into the cart and took a seat. "Be careful who you're calling old. I can still take you." He rolled his eyes at Alfred. "Hey, it wasn't my fault that the brakes were faulty. Besides, the point to that experience is that we didn't end up in the lake. You should have been thanking me. If it wasn't for my quick moves, you would have been looking like a drowned rat." 

The New Me || Sam, Alfred, & Maurice

Alfred was unloading his golf clubs out the trunk, and laughed, “Take it easy? How would you learn if we took it easy?"He laughed, "Now that you’re back home, you will have plenty of time to learn the sport. Now grab them clubs and come on, we have a 9:00 tee time.”

Maurice laughed at Sam's remark and picked up the items that he needed. "Alfred's right, we're not going to baby you. If you lose, it's on you. Don't worry though, I'll go easy on you...NOT!" He laughed before slapped his son on the back. "You heard the man. Let's get moving, slowpoke." 

Back To West Bev || Samcedes, Marie, Michael and The Grandparents