Dr. Johnson looks at me then looks back at Michael. "So who filed for divorce?"

We answer in unison. "We both did."

"Alright... who filed first?" 

We answer in unison again. "We came in with the papers at the same time."

He frowns. "I have never heard of that." We look at each other. He turns to Michael. "Michael do you really want a divorce?"

He looks down. "I dont know..." 

Dr. J nods. "Okay... well then tell me what about her makes you go crazy."

Michael shifts in his seat. "She seems like she is always mad and takes her anger out on me. She undermines me in front of the children and she always thinks she knows everything. Especially about me."

Dr. J turns to me. "Mrs. Jackson you do realize that men value their authority and respect. Undermining your husband in front of your children will make them feel bad and disrespected. Now, what about Michael makes you mad?"

I sigh. "He always makes me feel like Im raising the kids wrong on my end, he always makes me feel less than him, and he complains about ME when he is always GONE!" 

He turns to Michael. "Mr. Jackson now you have to realize that women cannot be told how to raise their children. That is what THEY value. They need attention from their husbands and I can understand it is apart of your job, but spending time and talking is essential. Since I know you two need communication the most, I want you to talk out your problems, but dont argue. Okay?" 

Michael turns to me. "Alicia honey I have never told you that you raise our children wrong. I think you raise them great."

I wave him off. "Michael the children listen to you better and I know Kayla is only two, but Isaiah listens to you better and he always wants to be around you. You just... always have a better disciplinary alternative than I do..."

"Babe I use the same method as my Mother. I was whooped remember? I just dont want to do that to my children. Just because Isaiah listens to me doesnt mean I raise him better. Boys take more to their Fathers when they are younger, just like Kayla takes more to you."

I rub my temples. "You just always do everything the right way."

Michael scoots closer to me. "Babe there is no right or wrong. It's what works! What's effective. Your disciplinary action is as effective as mine."

I look at him. "Okay."

"Okay. So.. why are you mad all of the time?"

I fold my arms, offended. "Im not mad all of the time."

"Seems like it to me."

"Thats because you only come home when Im mad. When Im happy you're gone."

Michael claps his hands. "NOW we get to the problem."

I look at him. "Michael yeah I get mad that you have to leave us all of the time, but that doesnt fuel my anger. What fuels my anger is when you come home and start fussing and complaining about everything."

He shrugs. "Work makes me mad sometimes."

"I know Michael. Stuff makes me mad too, but I dont take it out on you!"

"Yes you do!"

"No I dont! I start arguing with you when you spread your anger to everyone when you come home."

He cuts his eye at me. "You know I dont take my anger out on you."

I start to get agitated. "No Michael, you used to take it out on yourself, but your managers told you that it's 'bad for business' so now the anger is pointed at me! The price I have to pay for you to be 'functional'."

He frowns. "My managers dont control me."

"Whatever."

Michael turns to me. "Alicia I know you don't like my managers and you don't agree with some things I do, but it's my job."

I look out the window. "I know."

Michael stares at me, not believing how cold Im being towards him and he sits back in his chair, throwing his hands up. "Okay, well I guess we are done talking then." He shakes his head at me.

Dr. Johnson sits up in his chair. "Alright! Now do you two feel a little better about some of these problems?" We both nod. "I need to understand your relationship more, so go through the timeline of when you met up until you two got married."

I turn to Dr. J. "I met Michael when I was 10 through a music program at school. We all sang for him and played whatever instruments we had for him and he sponsored us. I guess he took a liking to me so we kept in touch because my Mother exchanged phone numbers with him. He would invite me to his house, tours, parties, all of that."

Michael chimes in. "I wanted to start dating her when she turned 18, but I couldnt while I was doing all of my Thriller stuff. I mean, I dated Brooke, but we weren't talking about marriage so it wasn't a big deal." 

I nod. "So we still kept in touch and when I turned 21 he wanted to go out with me. Of course I wanted to go out with him so I agreed."

Michael smiles. "We dated for two years and in 1988, before I went on my second leg of my BAD Tour, we got married." 

Dr. J nods. "Was it a big wedding?"

We shake our heads. "Not really. Just our families were there. It was in a church, but it had to be far out so it wouldn't be like an uproar. It still was, but not like it would have been if it was in California."

Dr. J taps his pen on his notepad. "When did the arguing start?"

Michael looks at me. "Three years ago. I was going on tour again and she was pregnant with Kayla. She didnt want to be alone when she was going through her pregnancy and labor."

I hold my hand up. "BUT Michael was also very irritated and mad at the world because of the allegations and the lies and he directed most of his album towards that so.. he was angry a lot too."

Dr. J puts his hands out. "So both of you had a lot of anger issues. It didnt subside when you got over it?"

 I roll my eyes. "Some of these things you just cant 'get over', but when we did get over the things we could,more issues came."

He nods. "So do you think now it would be better since Michael isnt touring or working so hard?"

I shrug. "Well yea I guess. It helps, but you know it's not just his job causing problems."

He waves his hands. "I know. I know, but it affects you both and he will ALWAYS have this job. How did you cope before when you just had Isaiah?"

I rest my head on my hand. "Umm.. it wasnt that bad before, but now it is kinda ridiculous. We have two children now so.. it's harder."

He nods. "Alright. Well, any jealousy issues?" We look at each other. "Michael will be around beautiful fans and beautiful, talented artists too. Any jealousy going on?" 

I shrug. "No not really. To be jealous means you are scared of something happening and I am not."

He looks at Michael. "What about you Michael? She is around male models when she gets called in sometimes. Do you ever get green with envy?"

Michael smiles. "Yeah of course. I mean, Im already skinny." They laugh. "But seriously.. I do get jealous sometimes, but it doesnt last."

The Dr. scratches his head. "Okay..." He thinks for a minute. "Im trying to figure out what the problem is here... No jealously, no problems with the children, no addictions, no infidelity, no abuse, regular job woes, and some anger problems. I mean your situation sounds normal. Great actually." He stares us down. "Is there something you aren't telling me?" I look over at Michael. "Michael. Alicia. There has to be SOMETHING." 

Michael puts his head down. "Alicia don't even talk about-"

I interrupt him. "Dr. there is something else."

Michael shakes his head.

To be continued...

- Gigi <3