From the moment they meet at Studio 54, Michael Jackson and Jacqueline Carter have a chemistry that can't be denied. An ambitious musician falls in love with a city girl who helps him keep his sanity in an insane world. Night after night on the danc...
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June 1988
When her husband came home talking about buying a lake house, DeeDee Jackson felt a familiar sense of exhaustion. Tito was always dreaming up something new, some fresh project to sink their money into. Now that he was spending less time on the road, he wanted to focus on his fishing hobby—filling their weekends with boats and bait and long, sunburnt afternoons on the water. He promised the boys would love it, too: more room to run wild, another lawn to tear up with their endless energy.
"Tito, do whatever you want," she sighed one night before bed, watching his face light up as if she'd just given him the keys to the place. Secretly, she hoped he'd get bored of the idea, find some other whim to chase, so they could go back to the quiet routine she'd come to rely on. But within weeks, he was holding up paperwork with a grin as wide as the lake itself. The Oxnard home would be theirs.
Despite her lukewarm disposition, it didn't take long for DeeDee to fall in love with the slower pace of life at the lake house. After upgrading the kitchen and decorating it to feel more like her style, she began to relish her time there. A few late nights spent laughing in the backyard, sipping drinks with the love of her life, overlooking the calm expanse of the lake—it all felt like a dream. Soon, she was the one eager to pack up and head out whenever they could. She even discovered a renewed joy in hosting she'd lost raising the boys, inviting both sides of her family to visit, and sharing her newfound haven with everyone she loved.
The late afternoon sun was dipping toward the trees, casting a warm, honeyed light over the lake. DeeDee sank into her favorite chair on the back deck, letting the soft rustle of leaves and gentle lapping of water soothe her. She took a slow sip from her drink, savoring the quiet moment and feeling a contentment that still surprised her sometimes. Just a year ago, she would have laughed at the thought of calling this place home, even for weekends. But here she was, blissfully happy, waiting for Tito to come back from inside, where he'd gone to "freshen up his drink" or grab something—she'd barely heard the excuse. It was just like him to find little ways to keep her guessing.
She closed her eyes, letting her thoughts drift, when a pair of warm hands landed on her shoulders, pulling her out of her reverie. DeeDee's eyes flew open as she turned, and her surprise melted instantly into pure joy.
"Surprise, surprise!"
DeeDee could hardly believe her eyes as she took in the vision that was her sister-in-law, Jacqueline Jackson. She was as radiant as ever, her chocolate skin glowing in the golden sunlight as she let out a laugh of excitement. She wore a flowing floral-tiered sundress with elegant brown sandals, and her hair was styled half in Fulani braids with beads, half a mane of soft brown curls. Jacqueline's regal, effortless style never failed to turn heads, but to DeeDee, she was simply beautiful because of who she was.
"Y'all two are always up to some shit!" DeeDee laughed, instantly piecing it together. Of course, Tito had planned this.
She shot up out of her chair, arms outstretched, and Jacqueline met her halfway, pulling her into a tight embrace. They held each other warmly, swaying back and forth in that way only sisters could, each woman soaking in the other's presence. DeeDee could smell a faint hint of Jacqueline's perfume, the familiar floral scent bringing back memories of a dozen family gatherings, each one a little brighter when Jacqueline was there.
