Janet
I sat in silence as everyone talked. The baby was a few weeks old and was a s happy as ever. We were at my house after LaToya's funeral. She had chosen to be cremated once her organs were donated. Her urn would be kept here, because she states this is where she was the happiest. I'm still very messed up by the whole thing, but I knew my sister was happy. I knew she was at peace. "Hey, baby." Idris sat next to me.
"Hey."
"What do you need? What can I get you?"
"Nothing. Nothing I want anyway."
"I understand." He rubbed my shoulder. "Here, let me hold her." I handed the baby to him. She wiggled a little. "She never cries. I wonder why."
"LaToya never cried either. I never understood if it was strength or not."
"Janet." I got up and walked upstairs. Going to her room, I looked around. It was mostly white. LaToya always loved purity. Maybe it was because that's how she wanted to be but couldn't. Her dresser and makeup was still set up the way she had it when she last used it. Going to her closet, naturally we gave her a room with a big closet, everything was the way she left it. I softly dragged my hand across her clothes. I took down one of her jackets and held it close to me. It smelled just like her.
"Toy, I miss you so much." I cried and cried. It seemed like no matter how much I cried, there were still more tears. I had never cried like this before. Even when Mike died, I didn't cry like this.
"Dunk." I heard someone call me. Looking up, I saw Rebbie. "Why are you on the floor?" I didn't even realize that I was down here.
"I was just....uhhhh." She came and helped me up.
"I know. But you just had a baby. You have to be careful not to hurt yourself."
"I know. I just miss her."
"I do too, but she was ready to go. We can't change that. She didn't suffer either, so we can take comfort in that."
"That's true." I hung her jacket back up. "We should let Isan and Paris go through her clothes. They both really liked them."
"Good idea."
"Not yet though. Let's just let them sit for a little while." Rebbie pulled me into her as my tears fell. "We had finally become sisters Rebbie. We were closer.
Why couldn't we have more time?"
"I don't have the answers to your questions, but I don't know that it's good we had those moments with her. You got to be her little sister like you always wanted. She loved you Janet."
"I know." We heard a knock at the door.
"Hey, I hate to interrupt but they're ready to read the will." said Jackie.
"Here we come." He left out. "You ready?" I nodded. "Come on." We made our way back downstairs and to the living room. I sat next to Idris and laid my head on his shoulder. Eissa was with the other kids in the playroom and the other guests had left, so this was the perfect time.
"Thank you everyone for being here. I know this is the last thing you'd guys want to do, but it's better to get these things out of the way." The guy said.
"We understand. Please just read. Thank you." said Marlon.
"Yes, sir." He opened a folder. "Firstly, Ms. Jackson wants all of you to know that she loved and appreciated all of you as siblings and friends. She has written individual letters to each of you." He passed the letters around. She had handwritten them. "It is stated here that she wants everyone to read their letters alone." He handed one to Idris.
"She wrote one to me?"
"Yes, sir."
"Wow."
"Next, Ms. Jackson has made her wishes known through writing. She felt as though a video would've been too much. So I'll put it plainly."
"Okay." said Rebbie.
"Ms. Jackson, has given one of each of her properties to her nieces. She wants there to never be a time where they don't have a place to go."
"She had that many?" asked Jermaine.
"Yes. Ms. Jackson has a number of condos, penthouses, and homes. However, she has set aside one property for her eldest sister, Rebbie. She states that the house was purchased specifically for her."
"Really?"
"Yes, ma'am." Rebbie cried a little. "Next, all money made from her music royalties and any to be made in the future are to be evenly split among her brothers. Out of the current account, you each will receive ten million each."
"Whoa."
"Next, to her nieces and nephews, she leaves five hundred thousand each to be used towards whatever they wish. Along with selected earthly possessions." I closed my eyes. I was ready to just lay down. "Finally, Ms. Jackson leaves all businesses, business investments, stocks and what's left of her finances to her baby sister, Janet Jackson." My eyes opened.
"What?"
"Yes, you will receive two businesses, a number of investments, stocks, seats on different boards, and a total of about four hundred and fifty million dollars." I stood up.
"That can't be right. That can't all be going to me."
"It's written right here." He showed it to me. I sat down and looked at the paper.
"W-w-why? Why me?"
"I believe it's all stated in the letter, ma'am." I sat the paper down and grabbed the letter. Walking out to the backyard, I opened it.
Dear Janet,
I'm guessing you're reading this after finding out what I owe you. I know you're probably asking yourself why I would leave almost everything to you. Well, putting it simply, there's no one in this world more important to me than you. When you were born, I was 11 and for some reason I always made you my responsibility.
When we no longer had a close relationship, I felt unfulfilled and disobedient. There are things that happened to you that would not have happened if I had been the big sister I was supposed to be. However, maybe it was good you weren't always around me. It kept you from having the inadequacies that I had.
I know that we didn't have much time as close sisters but the time we did have was the best of my life. You brighten my day everyday. You made me stronger and happier. I will always love that about you. I will miss you. Everything about you was perfect to me. There is nothing about you that I would change. Never let anyone tell you differently.
One day we will meet again and we can spend an eternity in joy, happiness, and comfort. Make sure to raise your little girl to know that she can be anything she wants to. Make sure to tell her about me too. I'll be watching over all of you.
I love you,
Toy Toy
P.S. I've advised Idris on how to deal with your attitudes. Have fun.
Tears ran down my face as I smiled at the letter. For some reason this brought me so much closure. I put the letter to my chest and looked at the sky. "I love you too, Toy."
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I decided to do one more chapter after this.
Also, y'all voted for me to focus on "Advanced Placement." Get ready to be flooded soon.
