I Just Can't Stop Loving You | Michael Jackson

Chapter 69-Parental Reflection

"I don't know how to," Nicole said, putting her head in her hands, "I never have!"

"So learn how to!" Steven exclaimed, "It's not that hard! Athena is easy! If she can see you're trying, she'll welcome you into her life with open arms. She's not a monster that will turn you away forever if you don't get it right the first time!" he huffed as he stood from the couch, "You owe her this and God knows you owe me this for all the crap you've put me through! I swear, it's like you just kept having kids until you finally got a talented one!"

"I know I owe both of you! But how am I supposed to do that?!" Nicole glared, "Athena and I don't understand each other! We never have! And I don't think we ever will."

"Because neither of you dare to talk about feelings! You never let your guard down, Nicole! Do you expect her to start the conversation?!" Steven threw his hands up in exasperation, "You don't know who Athena is, so I'll just tell you. Athena is a loving, caring, and compassionate woman. She is the complete opposite of you. You physically abused her and nit picked at every mistake she's ever made on stage. How do you expect her to believe that you love her now when all she remembers is her mom hitting her and telling her she's not good enough?!" he shouted, his voice hoarse with emotion.

Nicole's face crumpled in pain, tears streaming down her cheeks as she covered her mouth in shock. "I never meant to hurt her," she sobbed, "I was trying to make her the best performer she could be. I just wanted her to succeed."

Steven shook his head, his anger dissipating into a heavy sadness. "You did hurt her, Nicole. You hurt her deeply and you left scars that may never fully heal."

Nicole was silent for a solid minute, "I will see if she is open to having a conversation."

"She will be. And if you feel like you can't talk to her yet, talk to Michael first. He knows her better than she knows herself! He could offer a perspective that maybe neither of us can see."

"But every time I bring up something other than work or business, she clams up on me and refuses to engage," Nicole said with a sigh, "It's like she's built a fortress around herself that I can't penetrate."

HAYVENHURST

In Katherine and Joseph's house, they were having the same conversation with each other as Nicole and Steven were having. But their conversation was about Michael. And Katherine was the one scolding Joseph.

Joseph sat on the edge of their bed, a troubled expression etched across his weathered face.

Katherine paced back and forth in front of him, her voice tinged with disappointment as she visibly seethed, her hands gesturing emphatically, "He is your son, Joseph! Your own flesh and blood. How could you be so blind to his pain?"

Joseph hung his head, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. "I didn't mean for it to come out that way, Katherine," he muttered, his eyes filled with remorse, "I just... I just want what's best for him. I want him to be successful, to make something of himself."

Katherine stopped pacing and fixed him with a piercing gaze. "Michael has a great career on his own! And do you think berating him and comparing him to his siblings is the way to achieve that?" she demanded, her voice soft but firm, "Michael is not Jermaine or Tito or Marlon or Randy, or Jackie! The Jackson 5 is a part of his past, not his entire identity. You need to see him for who he is now, not who he used to be. You keep acting like you did when the Jackson 5 was active, you act like his manager instead of his father! You have to stop!"

"I don't know how to do that, Kate!" Joseph huffed, "He's a grown man now. He should understand that I only want the best for him."

Katherine shook her head in disbelief. "Joseph, wanting the best for him does not give you the right to belittle him or diminish his talents," she stated firmly, her eyes flashing with determination. "Michael is a gifted artist, a talented musician, and he deserves to be respected for who he is, not criticized for who you think he should be."

"Even if I did try to fix this," Joseph paused, "He's not interested in talking to me!"

"How do you know that?!" Katherine's voice was sharp with exasperation. "Because you never bothered to ask him, Joseph! You never took the time to have a real conversation with your own son. You just assumed he wouldn't want to talk to you because of your past behavior." She shook her head, disappointment evident in her eyes. "You need to start seeing Michael as more than just a way to make money or further your own ambitions. He is a human being with feelings and dreams of his own."

Joseph sighed heavily, rubbing a hand over his tired face. "I never realized how much damage I've done until now," he admitted quietly, remorse coloring his tone. "I always thought tough love was the way to push my children to succeed, but maybe I pushed too hard with Michael."

"But you have to try! Michael will allow you in if you show him you're trying to make amends!" Katherine said in exasperation, "Michael is a lot like Athena! And it's kind of funny because she has a very similar relationship with her mother as Michael has with you and they married each other!"

"But Athena is always more open to conversation with me than my own son is!"

"Athena is not the one you hurt!" Katherine exclaimed, "Nicole hurt Athena, you hurt Michael. Both you and Nicole need to fix the relationships with Michael and Athena before it's too late and they want nothing to do with either of you respectively!"

Joseph looked up at Katherine, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and determination. "You're right, Katherine, I can't keep making excuses. I need to make things right with Michael before it's too late," he said, his voice tinged with urgency.

Katherine nodded in agreement, her expression softening. "It's never too late to try, Joseph. Michael may surprise you if you give him the chance," she reassured him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

With a resolute nod, Joseph stood up from the bed, "I'll talk to him. I'll apologize and try to bridge the gap between us," he declared, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes.

Katherine smiled warmly at him. "I believe in you, Joseph. Just remember to approach him with an open heart and a willingness to listen," she advised gently, "And if you feel you can't speak to Michael right away, talk to Athena first. She knows him better than he knows himself. Maybe she can be the fresh pair of eyes to look at this for you."

In their separate but interconnected worlds, Nicole and Joseph both realized the same undeniable truth—their relationships with their children were strained, fractured by years of misunderstandings and hurtful actions. They stood at a crossroads, faced with the daunting task of rebuilding what had been broken, of healing wounds that ran deep.

It would not be an easy journey, but it was a necessary one if they ever hoped to mend the bonds with their beloved children. As the evening settled in over the two households, a heavy silence lingered in the air. What would come next?