Return III

Chapter 8

Michael's POV

Words cannot explain how happy I am to finally be out of the hospital. It seems that my family has been there more than home ever since Natalie returned.

I have been watching Natalie on the news interviewing with Jennifer Cranston, a woman whom I had been interviewed with a couple times in the past.

As I pace the halls of my mother and father's home, I keep my fist pressed against my chin and my arm across my chest for support. I am waiting for Natalie and Taryn to get here so that I can see them and catch up with Natalie about what has been going on.

It has been a while since I have spoken with any of my children, as they have either been busy with the last few weeks of school, or had not wanted to visit me.

My last day at the hospital was my happiest, and I hope to never go back there again. However, having been locked away in that sanctuary, I have been deep in thought about what I should do with my life from here on out. 

I have been contemplating if I should return to the stage, or if I should just go back to Spain where I know I will be safe.

I made her a promise. I made Natalie a promise, and I do not break promises; but keeping my promise to her had almost gotten me killed.

"They're here!" Mother yells. I jump with excitement. I quickly walk into the living room with my parents and peer out of the large window on the center wall. 

I watch as Taryn and Natalie exit the car, followed by my three other children with their backpacks and cell phones in hand.

"I thought Prince was picking up the other kids?" Mother questions. I shrug, then plant myself to the left of the love seat, waiting for them to enter. When the kids finally do, they ecstatically jog into the living room upon catching a glimpse of me, and devour me in a tight embrace. 

It takes everything in me to hold back tears. The last time this had happened they were all very young.

I stand from the love seat to give them a better hug, kissing each of them on their heads and telling them how much I love them.

When everyone finally releases me, I step back and wipe my face free from tears and smile. I then look down at Natalie, whose smile is wider than everyone else's in the room. I step toward her and press my lips into a straight line.

"Natalie Jo... I've heard your interviews are going well?" She nods quickly, her smile growing.

"So where are you planning on going with this? Just introducing yourself, or are you going to take advantage of it?"

Natalie looks down, tilting her head back and forth as if pondering, then looks back up, around at everyone in the room, then back at me and smiles once again.

"I've put a lot of thought into it... and I've talked to Paris too, and mom... and I think I know what I want to do with all of this." she says and I look between my three other children, Taryn, then back at Natalie.

I turn around and take a few steps back until the backs of my knees hit the edge of the love seat, and sit down.

"So?" I ask, crossing my arms across my torso and Natalie's smile grows. She looks at Paris, then her mother, and after they nod with smiles also on their faces, she finally speaks.

"I have decided that I want to sing." she announces and excitement takes over my body. 

"Really?" I ask and she nods, nervously smiling.

"Yeah. I sent in a demo a few days ago and I have a meeting with MJJ Records in a couple weeks." Natalie says and I gape. I jump up from the couch and wrap my arms around her waist, lifting her from the ground. She wraps her limbs around my body and I kiss her cheek and spin around once, then let her back down.

"My record label? Oh my goodness! Good for you baby girl! I'm so excited for you!" I say and she thanks me. 

look at the boys- Prince's reaction is equivalent to mine, and Blanket seems happy, too, but not as excited as everyone else.

"I called them for her." my father says, standing from his recliner chair and walking over to us. I smile at him widely and hold out my hand. 

"Thank you, Joseph." I say calmly and he reaches out to me and grabs my hand, then pulls me into a hug.

"It's dad, Michael."