Late January to March 1995
"We talked about this, Lis. I told you I don't feel comfortable with you being with him. I know you have kids with him and I can understand, it's uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable? You're kidding, Michael? I have to watched thousands of women throw themselves at you. I have watched you flirt with gorgeous women and said nothing. For the millionth time, and please listen! I do not have any feelings for my ex husband. He's an ex for a reason."
"So you go off to Hawaii with him? Alone. Cause you know I can't go. I have an album to finish. Your birthday to plan. Dinner with your friends tonight! I am up to my head in shit with things I have to do and now I have to worry about you and your ex. Way to take the pressure off of me, Lis. Great job!" Michael yelled.
"We've been going to Hawaii since Dani has been born! I need some type of normalcy, Michael!" Lisa yelled back.
Michael looked at Lisa while he was buttoning up his shirt. They had been arguing for an hour after Lisa told Michael her plans with Danny. He was irate. Lisa had taken Danielle to school and Ben to daycare before she told Michael of her plans. She knew their arguments could get loud. She didn't want the children hearing them. They were in their bedroom and Michael felt hurt and angry. Lisa tried to calm his worries, but to no avail.
"You didn't marry a normal person! I am sure your mother reminds you of that everyday! Is she going?" Lisa bit her bottom lip and nodded her head 'yes.' "Figures. I hope you all have a great fucking time, Lisa! I hope you take family pictures and, and, whatever else! Do what you want! It's interesting that you worry about people thinking this marriage is fake! What do you think they're gonna say when there are pictures of you and that guy together? What do you think they will say?"
Mockingly Lisa snaps back and says, "As long as we know the truth, what difference does it make?" Michael stared at Lisa for a long time before replying.
"Nothing I do is good enough for you. Nothing. I moved back to Los Angeles to record, cause you wanted to be here. I go with you to Memphis whenever you want to go. I go to Neverland when you want to go. I do everything you have asked me to. I even stopped taken sleeping pills cause they triggered you. You're a selfish woman."
Lisa was leaning against the door with her arms crossed. She had a harden look on her face and she was not phased by Michael's insults.
"I have taken more shit for being with you than you can imagine. That ain't gonna work with me. You're a better person because of me. You're stable and damn it, bearable to deal with it, because of me. You actually act like an adult. I need you to take a bit of common sense and apply it, Michael! I don't love Danny. I love him as the father of my children. If taken a vacation with him and our kids, if that's gonna break our marriage or create cracks, we better decide what's best for us." Lisa said sternly.
"The hell is that suppose to mean? Either it's you go on vacation with you ex husband or what? You gonna leave me?"
"What are you worried about? You don't think I can behave myself? What do you expect to happen? I just pop my legs open for Dan? You think that's gonna happen? Or I fall madly in love with him again? Walk me through your thinking."
"No. You walk me through your thinking. If you can't understand why this upsets me, shit, I don't know what to tell you, girl." Lisa unfolded her arms and put her fingers through her hair and let out a frustrated sigh. Michael sat on the chair and put on his loafers. Lisa walked over to him and stood in front of him. Michael leaned back in the chair and looked at his fingernails.
"Michael, he could of gone to court and asked for full custody of the children. And he would of gotten it. With my past drug and alcohol abuse. My bouts with depression. And marrying you. Coming off those allegations, any judge would of sided with him. Apart of the agreement of having primary custody of the kids, I have to go on this trip. I agreed. What choice did I have?" Michael looked up at Lisa and didn't say anything. He stood up and walked out the room. Lisa went after him. She caught Michael at the foyer. Sunflowers covered the foyer. Michael looked at the flowers and sneered. Lisa grabbed Michael's arm. He turned his head and pulled his arm from Lisa's grip.
