15th of July, 2009
Michael is 50, Angela is 45, and Jake is 46
Angela: My fingers tapped nervously on my knee while I waited for Jake. Adam stood next to me, looking around the rehab center's courtyard.
"Where is he, Adam?" I looked my bodyguard through my sunglasses.
"The staff said they're bringing him."
"And you've been getting updates on him, right?"
"Bill is here every day with him, Mrs. Jackson. He's doing okay."
"Angie?" Jake suddenly asked.
I stood up to greet him. He looked so different, so skinny and fragile.
"Hi," I smiled. "How are you?"
"Better, I think. Where's Mike?" he looked down, putting his hands inside his sweatpants' pockets.
I didn't want to let him know Michael never planned on coming. He told me what Jake said to him in the hotel bathroom, during one of our late-night talks. My husband was so offended, and I couldn't blame him.
But he also needed his rest, so I was glad he didn't want to come.
"He's resting, after his show last night. He wanted to come, but he really needs to take it easy, so I made him stay home." I lied.
Jake nodded and glanced up to meet my eyes, then looked away quickly.
"Come sit, Jake. I got you something."
We sat down on a nearby bench together and I gave him the McDonald's bag. His eyes widened, a genuine smile making its way to his tired face.
He took the bag before digging in. "You're the best."
"So you're feeling okay?" I questioned.
"I wouldn't say 'okay'," my ex said as munched he on some fries. "I don't really have an appetite anymore. This is the real first meal I've had in a while."
"But how are you dealing with, uh, you know- Rehab."
"Nothing I've never done before. This time I have something to fight for, though. I want to be there for my kids."
"And you will be. I promise, as long as you get better." I took his hand.
"I watched Mike last night, they put the show on here," Jake kept eating. "Would you tell him how great he was?"
I laughed, "Of course. He was amazing, wasn't he?"
He smiled cheekily, eyeing me.
"What?" I blushed.
"You're a Michael Jackson fan now, huh?"
"Guilty..."
We sat there for another hour and talked. Jake told me about his days at the rehab center, how he's adjusting.
I was really glad he was doing better; he seemed like he was slowly himself again.
After an hour, I hugged him goodbye, saying how proud I am.
"Are we heading home, Mrs. Jackson?" Adam asked once we settled in the car.
"Yes, please." I answered, shifted in my seat a little, then winced as the car moved.
That stinging sensation came back last night during Michael and I's little session in his dressing room, and never really left.
It was less intense than last time, still, it was there. I didn't tell Michael anything, I wanted us to enjoy the moment, which we definitely did.
A bit worried though, I thought it might be the pregnancy, that it's a bit more sensitive down there now that I'm pregnant. Which seemed like the reasonable solution.
I promised myself to have it checked out as soon as Michael finishes his shows next week.
My phone buzzed, and I got a text from Lisa Marie. She asked if we can talk over the phone tonight.
I texted her back that we can. She thanked me, saying how excited she is to be visiting us in London for Michael's final show.
As I thought about how everything was falling back into place again, I smiled.
Adam grinned at me through he rare-view mirror and turned up the volume on the radio.
Of course, it was one of Michael's songs.
~
When I came back home, everyone was outside. They were all engaged in a very intense water balloon fight.
He can't be serious... He is supposed to be resting.
I crossed my arms over my chest, "So this is your idea of resting?"
Michael stopped in his tracks to look at me. All of a sudden a balloon splashed in his face.
"We won!" Blanket cheered.
"Oh yeah, daddy, you lost!" Rose did a little dance.
I held in my laughter as Michael shot me a look.
Before I could even make a run for it, he grabbed a balloon and threw it my way.
It hit my back, making the kids giggle. They all took balloons as well.
Soon enough, I was running away from them when they charged at me.
~
The hot water washed my body as I showered, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Michael's humming filled the bathroom while he shaved.
I opened my eyes after washing my face. My eyebrows knit together in confusion when I saw some blood going down the drain.
Immediately, I checked in between my legs and it didn't look like there was any heavy bleeding.
Maybe it's nothing. Maybe it's just stress. My baby's fine.
I finished quickly so I could run into my closet room to get dressed. Just to be sure, I found a panty liner to wear as well.
As I pulled up my underwear, Michael walked in, only a towel wrapped around his waist. "You know, babe, I was thinking... When Lisa Marie and Lockwood get here we should- Damn..."
His eyes roamed my almost naked body.
"You were saying, Mike?" I looked for a shirt to wear.
"Oh, don't do that, Angie." he came closer, wrapping his arms around me. His lips came in contact with my neck and he grabbed the shirt from my hold.
My husband hurried to drop it on the floor before showering my neck with kisses.
I sighed, trying to find a way out of this, "Mmhm, not tonight... We both need a break after last night."
"Last night... Remember how I took you in the shower?" he whispered, his hands sliding down to my underwear.
He placed a kiss on my collar bone.
"Twice... How you screamed my name."
Another kiss, closer to my nipple.
"Then on the couch, you held onto me so tight..."
A loud moan escaped my lips. Michael seemed satisfied enough because he slowly kissed his way down.
He stopped at my stomach and stayed there for a minute.
I played with his hair. "Mike, seriously..."
"I'm very serious, Ange." he kept going down, the feeling of his lips on my inner thigh giving me goosebumps.
"Mom! Can you braid my hair, please?" Paris suddenly knocked on our bedroom door.
Michael frowned as he straightened up. I hurried to find a pair of leggings and picked up my shirt.
"These kids," he kissed me, grabbing my ass in the process. "Need to learn not to interrupt mommy and daddy..."
I snickered while I pulled away, then went to Paris.
~
21st of July, 2009
Michael is 50, Angela is 45, and Jake is 46
Angela: Michael finished performing 'The Way You Make Me Feel'. He chased Mekia off the stage, stopping by where Kenny and his costume designers were.
He looked at me while he took off his blue button-up, a smirk on his face.
"What?" I mouthed.
After he drank some water, he made his way over to the kids and I.
"MJ, one minute!" Kenny called him.
"Just a second," my husband said. "Angie, can you do me a favor? Be ready to go up there."
I nodded. "Sure- Wait, what?"
Oh, no... What is he going to do?
He gave me one last mischievous smile, then went back to the stage. I watched as he brought the microphone to his lips.
"Now we're gonna give you the old songs-"
"The old fashion way!" the crowd finished the sentence for him. He laughed loudly.
The Jackson 5 medley started playing. I got up from my seat and went over to Kenny.
"Do you know what he's up to?" I asked.
He shrugged, "Maybe. I'm sworn to secrecy, though."
"Please-"
"Sorry, Angela."
I huffed. Michael continued on with the medley, pausing right before 'I'll Be There'.
"Before we do this next song, I want to invite someone very special to the stage for this final night," he said, loud and clear. "Angela, baby, come here."
His hand was held out for me while he waited.
Is he crazy?! Oh, my God, I can't believe he's doing this to me right now...
"Go." Kenny encouraged.
I took a couple steps out onto the stage. My heart felt like it would burst out of my chest any second.
The walk over to Michael seemed to last forever. His fans screamed so loud I could swear I'd lose my hearing.
When I reached him, I held onto his hand for dear life.
Trying to look out to the crowd was almost impossible due to all the lights, but I could see some fans in the front row crying their eyes out.
"This woman right here is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I wouldn't be where I am today, with you all, if she wasn't by my side to hold my hand through it. So tonight, Angie," he turned to me. "I'm asking you to hold my hand one more time. This next song is dedicated to you and our beautiful kids. I love you."
With a quick peck on the corner of my lips, he started singing, while holding my hand tightly the entire song, squeezing from time to time.
I focused on him to try and calm myself down. It worked, then when he started guiding me to dance I could feel myself start to shake a little.
After twirling me around once, Michael pulled me as close as possible, and swayed us from side to side.
"Just call my name, and... I'll be there." he finished the song just above a whisper.
And he was there. He kept his promise, no matter how long his nights were, how much stress he was under.
He flashed that irresistible big grin of his. It was too contagious, I had to smile back. My heartbeat slowed down when he looked into my eyes again.
"I'm gonna kiss you now, Angie." he told me quietly.
"In front of all these people?"
"It's just you and me, babe. Focus on me."
Michael cupped my face before attaching our lips in a long kiss. I wrapped my arms around his torso, totally forgetting where we were.
The screams around us got louder with each second that we kissed.
He pulled away and I frowned, no longer in our own little bubble. "Thank you for holding my hand, Angela. I love you, so much."
"I love you, too." I breathed, heart beating hard against my chest again.
I was helped off the stage by one of the dancers, suddenly feeling a bit lightheaded.
A hand was placed on my arm.
Lisa Marie hugged me tightly, "Oh, Angela, I'm so sorry we're late! How are you? We didn't miss too much, right?"
"Uh, no- no, you didn't... Excuse me for a few minutes, I need to get some water..." I tried catching my breath as I walked towards Michael's dressing room.
"Mrs. Jackson?" Adam followed close behind.
"Give me a minute, Adam. Don't come in." I closed the door behind me.
Deciding to wash my face, I went inside the bathroom.
I barely managed to turn the tap on before that slight pain that was usually in between my legs went to my stomach.
"Not again..." I held onto the counter. Another wave of pain shot inside me.
Something trickled down my leg, the feeling of a warm liquid being all too familiar. Taking off my jeans, the amount of blood was unsettling.
I started to panic. My breathing stopped, and before I could even yell for Adam, my head was spinning.
~
Michael: I took my final bow for the night. My fans were so loud as I blew them one last kiss and took off.
Backstage was a party. My kids were standing with my mother and Joseph, all of them looking so proud.
Where's Angela?
Kenny wrapped his arms around me, complimenting how fabulous the show was.
"Michael!" Lisa Marie's voice was heard. She hurried to come and hug me as well. "You were amazing! I'm so sorry we were late. How was it? How are you?"
"Thank you, Lisa Marie. I'm okay, have you seen Angela by any chance?" I kissed her cheek.
"Oh, I think I saw her going to your dressing room, maybe? She had a bodyguard following her, too..."
"Thanks. I'll be back in a second."
I found Adam standing at my dressing room door, leaning against the wall. He straightened up when he saw me.
"Sir." he nodded.
"Is Angela in there?" I asked.
"Should be. Mrs. Jackson entered around an hour ago. She asked not to be disturbed."
Thanking him, I went in. There was light coming from the bathroom, and water was running.
"Ange?" I called. "Babe, you in here?"
My eyebrows knit in confusion when I opened the door, only to step in a few inches of water.
"What the-"
It was like a horror scene. Angela was on the floor, surrounded by a pool of water and blood. Her jeans were pulled down to her knees while the sink overflowed.
No. God, no...
"Adam!" I yelled. "Adam!"
Crouching down, I held her as close as possible, "Angie, please, please, please..."
Adam's shoes stopped in front of the bathroom door. "Sir? Ma'am? What's going- Oh, my-"
"Get her an ambulance, a doctor, something!"
"Y- yes. I'll be right back."
"Angie, please," I begged, looking at her pale face. "Please, don't leave me..."
The next few minutes were a blur. I held my wife close and rocked her, then paramedics came running in.
They took her away from me, promising she was breathing and her heartbeat was there.
Adam helped me up from the floor, and asked if I want to change so I could join Angela. But his voice seemed so far away since my mind was blank.
"Sir? You're wet and full of blood..."
I looked down at myself. He was right, yet I couldn't move. "I- I, uh, I-"
"Here," the bodyguard held out a new pair of pants and a t-shirt. "Wear these. They're waiting for us."
After I managed to get dressed, he took me to an ambulance, then joined me inside.
Angela was hooked up to an IV, blood still covering her bottom half, and didn't seem to stop flowing down her legs.
There's so much blood...
I closed my eyes, letting the tears run free.
What's happening? Why is it happening? And the baby...
My eyes shot open, realizing what it was.
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out when I stared at her lifeless figure again.
"Mr. Jackson, sir? Did you want to say something?" Adam patted my shoulder.
"Angie, she- she's pregnant... O- or at least she was..."
More tears welled up. She has to be okay. I can't live without her.