I couldn't believe Michael dragged me here to continue sharing the same air as my mother.

I sigh as I sit in the table across from my mother. Michael sat beside me at the table. He continued to hold onto my hand, smiling as he finally takes off his Ray Bans. I couldn't help but look at him as he leans over and whispers in my ear,

"Now you better be good okay?"

I giggle playfully while nodding as my mother watch the two of us interact. The water comes and give us our menus as I look in it and points at the tofu and Michael scrunches his face, "I don't want that!" I laugh as my mother interrupts us, "Are you even going to try to talk to me?"

I look at her deviantly, "Well, shouldn't you be the one to try to explain why you left and never came back?" Michael bites his lip at the tension that came in the room as a gentleman sat beside her.

"Look Marina..."

Michael chuckles nervously, trying to change the subject, "Baby, how about we try this Caesar salad together?" I wave my hand at him nonchalantly, trying to get him to shut up.

"Answer me. Why did you leave me...I mean you couldn't said goodbye, sent me a note, ANYTHING."

My mother lean back in her chair, "I left because...I couldn't be there anymore. Marina, I felt like a loser, I wanted more in life, I wanted to get out there and live life again. When your dad left with the gangs and the drugs and everything, I felt trapped. Alone. And you were so little...I had to take care of you. Once you were sixteen, I felt as though you could take care of yourself."

I blink back tears as I stand up in the chair, "SO YOU ABANDONED ME FOR NO REASON." Michael stands up and sits me down, "Don't make a scene.." I look at him and breathes slowly, calming down.

"So you selfishly left with me with Nana for your own life goals? You know when you left..I thought it was my fault, something I did. I cried for nights, wishing for you to come back...I cried for you. Eventually, I had to program that you were dead because I couldn't live my life miserable because of you."

The gentleman sitting next to her mumbles, "That's your daughter?" My mom nods as she sighs, tearing up, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry baby. I didn't think you needed me anymore. And when I saw you on the news...the doctor that saved Michael Jackson. I wanted to stay away even more, because I knew you were doing good things." I comb my fingers through my hair as the waiter walks up.

"I need a Chardonnay and a glass of water."

Michael and everyone else ordered their food. He even ordered a glass of Vodka. This was going to be a long night.

—

I munched on the chips and salsa, Michael ordered as my mother filled me in with her life. She moved to New York and she was a Pediatric nurse. Guess medicine runs in the family. She told me how she travels from different countries helping children all over the world.

Ironic, she couldn't even help her own child though.

Michael engages in the conversation, talking about how he wants to help children and possibly adopt some children. I sigh contently as he spoke. His voice was so relaxing and peacefully calm. The way he articulate, his excitement as he talked about children, it was all so adorable.

My mother looks over at me, "You really got a good boyfriend, huh?" His warm hand was under the table, reaching for mine as our fingers interlock with one another."

"The best."

She smiles, "That's good. Anyways, this is Greg. He's my...husband." Greg flashes a smile at us as I nod, "Nice to meet you." He nods back respectfully, "The pleasure is mine, especially to you, Mr. Jackson. I've always been a huge fan of you."

Michael chuckles, "Thank you. it's nice to have such loyal fans." He takes a sip of his Vodka as I whisper, "Is it very strong?" He nods while giving me a small smile. I giggle as the waiter brings him a full plate salad.

"Wanna share?"

I nod while grabbing a fork and he does the same as we eat the salad together. My mother smiles to herself as she watches us. Michael groans, "You know spaghetti would've been way more romantic." I giggle, "Well, you can try again next time." His forehead rested on mine as we both made silly faces at one another.

"You two are so cute, you know that?"

We turn to my mother, forgetting that we were double dating as Michael's cheeks were bright red with embarrassment. He grins, "I normally don't act so informal, I'm sorry." She laughs, "It's fine. Have you two thought about getting married someday?" We both shook our head in unison as I speak out.

"Well with Michael about to go on tour with his brothers and my medical career. We just don't know how marriage would work in our favor, you know?"

Michael exhales, "Yes, exactly. Maybe someday we will, maybe after the tour, but right now, no." I nod in agreement as she nods, "Ah, I see." I take a sip of my Chardonnay and smiles to myself as I thought about Nana.

I excused myself to the restroom and walked to the mirror to look at my makeup as I reapply my red lipstick. Moments later, my mother walked in and smirks, "Gorgeous as ever, I see you keep Michael drooling over you." I laugh as I look at her, "He does that to himself. Sometimes, I wonder what he sees in me."

"He sees a phenomenally, independent, sexy black woman. That's what he sees. I guess Nana raised you good?"

I nod while looking into the mirror, making sure my lipstick is perfect, "She did." She rests her back against the countertop, "So have you and Michael been intimate before?"

I turn to her while blushing at her question, "We have..."

I didn't know where this was going.

She coos, "Best you ever had, huh?" I bite my lip while nodding, "Well, Michael, he's very passionate and simply knows where to hit the right places. It's like heaven in the bedroom."

She chuckles, "You reeled yourself a good one, hope you don't lose him." I nod, "Yeah, he's great. Everything I would want in a man."

We walk out of the restroom together and sit down at the table.

Eventually, everyone was done eating and I said goodbye to my mother before Michael and I went home. As we walk upstairs to his room, he turns to me, "So, just to clear the air, are we together again?" I stare at him quietly, "Of course we are, what you didn't think we are?" He shrugs as we walk into the room, "I really didn't know what we were. I mean, I thought we were just fucking around." I laugh at the way he said it so nonchalantly as I help him take off his tie, "No..no, I'm sorry I didn't make it clear."

He shakes his head, "It's fine, really. I'm just happy to be with you, and that I'm your boyfriend." I smile widely as I lean in to kiss his lips. He meets me halfway as we kiss one another.

"I hate that I have rehearsal tomorrow."

I nod as well, "I do too, thank you for being here for me. Throughout this whole process." He smiles, "It was an honor. I know Nana would've done the same if I was the one who died." I shiver slightly at the thought of losing Michael, "I could never lose you, mister." He shakes his head, giggling, while buttoning his shirt, "You won't, how has the investigation been with Paul?"

I bite my lip, "They never found him." After the murder, Paul never came back to the hospital. It was like he was off the face of the Earth. But, I knew he was out there and he was dangerous. I was scared that he might attack or hurt Michael again. Michael slides his penny loafers off before getting into the bed, "Are you kidding me?!" I shrug while taking off my dress, "Apparently, Paul isn't his real name. According to the detective, he had fake files when he applied to work at the hospital." Michael's eyebrows raised at my words, "I know right?!"

Then I realize he was actually staring at my breast.

I walk over and started to tickle his belly, "Stop looking at my titties!" He laugh loudly as he knew that I knew how ticklish he was.

"It's not my fault they were bouncing!"

I bite my lip as I continue to tickle him. He squirmed in the bed playfully as tears roll down his face due to his laughter. Eventually, I stopped and he was gasping for air. I grabbed one of his t-shirt from his drawer and puts it on before laying beside him. He turns to his side, facing me, "I love you." I lean over, kissing the bridge of his nose, "I love you too, Mickey."

He stretches his arms out, "Seemed like you enjoy your mother, huh?" I roll my eyes, "All I did was make conversation." He laughs, "Well you did a good job, okay? Even if you don't ever speak to her again, it's good that you were the bigger person and tried."

I rest my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, "Yeah, you're totally right. Thanks for being so wise." He chuckles, "Channeling Nana." I nod before falling asleep in his arms.

—
Hm. A rekindle of Marina's and her mother's relationship? Let's see what that leads.
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-R 🌀