The Chef | A Michael Jackson Fanfiction

Chapter 67

Maeve's POV

After Frank left, Michael and I had a conversation about the arrangements we agreed on in order for Michael to finish his tour.

Frank convinced Michael to continue touring for his fans and since Michael really adores them, he agreed, but only under his conditions.

There'll be no more interviews or photoshoots. He only wants to play his show, then leave and whenever he gets the chance to, he'll be home to spent as much time as possible with me and our son.
However, Frank made him agree to at least some appointments that are actually important to Michael, heart projects that in the planing he insisted to put into his schedule.

Since Michael canceled 10! shows, he agreed to leave the next day which is quiet soon but on the other hand his fans are counting on him.

From what Frank let the press know Michael needed to cancel the shows due to a serious infection of his vocal cords.

For us as a family that meant that we needed to not only find a nanny for Nicolas but also a personal assistance for myself.

Although Michael and I were arguing the past few hours we really wanted to enjoy the last night we had until he needed to leave. So here we were, him lying next to me in my hospital bed, humming a sweet melody while silent tears rolled down my face.

I'm going to miss him, but it's the right decision to let him go. But why does it feel like goodbye when it's simply see you soon?

Michael's POV

I woke up feeling well rested but somehow also mentally drained. It took me a while until I noticed where I was and then I panicked because Maeve wasn't by my side. I sat up quickly, thinking I accidentally pushed her off the bed when I heard her laugh from behind me.

When I turned around I locked eyes with a Maeve that was no longer in a hospital gown but in comfortable looking sweat pants and an oversized T-shirt. She was sitting in her wheelchair with her left arm in a cast.

"Good morning" she smiled.

"Good morning" I smiled back at her.

"I'm mobile now" she grinned and with her right arm she turned the wheel showing me her wheelchair from the side.

"I can see that" I told her. "Are you happy about it?"

Her smile faded and she looked to the side. I know this whole situation is something she needed yet to adapt. In the silence I took in all the details of the wheelchair until she spoke again.

"I mean, it's better than the bed" she forced a smile and I nodded.

"Are you ready to go back on tour?" Maeve asked me as I let myself fall back again on the bed.

"That bed really isn't comfortable, I'll sleep on the floor next time!"

While I rubbed my face with my hands, I heard Maeve laugh and I imagined her shaking her head at me.

"So?" she asked and I knew she wanted me to talk about my departure but in reality I feel like I abandon her and our son.

I rolled to the side to face her. "I'm excited to perform again" I told her. "But I'll miss you!"

"Don't worry, I can't run away anymore. I'll be here when you come back" she joked but I knew this was her way to cope with all of this.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" I asked her and she looked at me with a puzzled look on her face.

"We can't just go out Michael! Did you look in the mirror?" Now I was the one that looked confused.

"I can't go out with you when your hair's like that" she said before laughing at me.

After I fixed my hair, we made our way out of the hospital room.

"Good morning, Bill" Maeve cheered as he held the door open for us and I pushed her wheelchair.

"Good morning, Maeve! Where are you two off to?" he asked.

"We're going for a walk" she told him and he raised his eyebrows at me while he took a sip of his coffee. I knew what he was thinking, so before he said anything else I added "inside the hospital!"

When we passed the nurse station, Maeve asked if we could borrow the polaroid camera and I wondered what she was up to.

Whenever someone, patient or health personnel, approached me in order to start a conversation with me, Maeve would take a picture and hand it to the person as a memory.

We spent the next few hours visiting and talking to other patients and whenever they asked about who Maeve is, I told them she's just a friend, I am visiting before going back on tour.

I knew by the look on her face that it hurts her but she knows exactly that we have to be careful because of her father. Plus, I wouldn't want her to deal with the press while recovering.

"We can only do one more picture" she informed me.

"Good, there's only one more patient I want to visit" I let her know while I walked us to Nicolas' room.

I placed him in her arms and she immediately smiled at him while I asked a nurse to take a picture of the three of us.

"Our first family picture" I smiled.

Maeve's POV

We spent as much time with Nicolas as we could and when it was time to say goodbye, Michael brought me back to my room.

"I can stay, if you want me to?" Michael asked one last time.

I shook my head. "Go, have fun and sell out those arenas!"

"I try my best" Michael's laugh filled the room before silence took over.

Neither of us knew what to say. I didn't want Michael to leave but it would be selfish of me to keep him here any longer. On the other hand I knew he didn't really want to leave but did it to please his fans.

A knock on the door interrupted the silence that surrounded us.

"Mike, are you ready?" Bill asked.

"I'll be out in a second!" Michael told him before he turned back to me.

"I guess that's goodbye" I sighted and he bent down to kiss my lips one last time.

"I want you to give Nicolas a kiss from me EVERY DAY!" he ordered.

"I will, Michael."

"Take care, Maeve!"

"Now go Rockstar, before I start crying" I told him with teary eyes.

He kissed my forehead and I closed my eyes while a single tear escaped my eyes.

"I'll be home soon" I heard his voice but kept my eyes closed a little longer.

"Goodbye Michael!" I whispered and when I opened my eyes, he was already gone.