To Have and To Hold

Chapter 27

July 1997, London: Carlton Tower Hotel

"So, Lisa Marie. I think Michael mentioned that you live with the children's father right now."

Michael coughed, just about choked, and then glared at his mother, raising his eyebrows in an unspoken question. Did she know how close she had come to killing him? With the most innocent of expressions, mother simply smiled sweetly at him, then looked back at Lisa across the table from her, sitting next to his father. For the umpteenth time today, he wondered why oh why it had seemed like a bright idea to have a family dinner. Oh, that's right- this was not his idea of evening entertainment. His mother had ever so gently reminded him that it was not proper to spend the evening alone with Lisa, and that it would look better if they all met for dinner on the first night of her stay. Which really, sounded like a horrible idea to him. Especially as his plans how to spend time with Lisa did not necessarily fit into the 'proper' category.

So, afflicted by the usual inability to directly contradict his mother, he had agreed. Or not disagreed- which then somehow had been misconstrued as consent. So, what was up with the sudden maternal ambush out of the blue? This was not like her at all? And here he had been all prepared to make sure Joseph was on his best behavior. Apparently, he had worried about the wrong parent. Plus, since when was mother the enforcer of keeping up proper appearances? Funny enough how her concerns always only seemed to apply to his way of taking care of his affairs. She never cared how things looked when his brothers were swapping wives and mistresses like no tomorrow.

"Look better to whom?" He had inquired, slightly surprised and miffed at her suggestion.

"The lady you are married to. Remember her? I mean, I have never officially met her, but I know as your wife I am sure she cares about you suddenly meeting up with Lisa Marie again."

How lovely of mother to attempt to replenish his guilt supply. Nice dig about having kept Deb far from the family. He didn't believe in mixing business and private, so why bother introduce her if she was only going to be history in two years max? Not that he felt any guilt whatsoever toward Debbie. He had just finished spending several torturous days with her close by. Last week, he had her flown in to pose for some pictures and to appease her with allowing her to attend a concert. So no, he considered the box with his responsibilities to be checked for this month. And the money they had agreed upon for these bonus performances been deposited in her account already. The month before, she had suddenly showed up at his apartment in Paris, right in time for Prince turning four months old, and had annoyed him with her suggestion to allow a British journalist to tape some "family footage."

So, while he had played with Prince, singing to him, she had acted like a total lunatic, cooing over the baby and pretending they were the perfect family. This was when it was confirmed how smart his son was already: listening to his birthmother go on and on caused little Prince to barf.

That a boy!

Oh- how he envied his son for being afforded the luxury of honest reactions! On the bright side, as annoying and diabetes inducing as her performance had been, he had hoped that she would stay clear of any of his plans involving Lisa if she thought things were going well between them. To further his ongoing charade, he had asked her to come to London for a few days.

As she drove off, Carlos had mumbled something about "Smooth move, boss, one lady going out, one coming in," but wisely stated he had only remarked on the full moon, when Michael had turned and had sharply inquired what the remark had been about. Great- now his staff thought he was some kind of masterful player, when really, he only wanted to be with the one woman he could not get out of his head...or his heart. Why were things so easy for everyone else on this planet, and yet he was shackled to a woman he didn't love while longing for the woman he should have been over by now?