With Michael

Chapter 61 - Paul & Linda V

13th of April, 1998
Brooklyn is 32, Michael is 39

Michael: I watched as Brooke took a seat on a chair next to me with Paris close to her chest.

We were taking her with us because Brooke wanted Linda to meet her.

"It'll be fine." I said, holding her left hand.

She looked at me and sighed. I started playing with her rings, thinking about getting a divorce again.

I really think it will be the best for us. When I told her I can't lose her, I really meant it. And I wasn't planning on losing her.

Maybe getting a divorce is what we need. I felt like the marriage life wasn't for us anymore. Like this commitment we had pledged to twelve years ago wasn't the ideal way for us.

We will stay together, of course, and I will make sure to maintain our relationship; we're just not gonna be married.

She studied my face while scrunching her eyebrows.

"What's up?" Brooke asked.

"Nothing." I answered, not wanting to have her worrying about anything other than Linda.

"Tell me." she insisted.

I was about to respond, but a flight attendant came to us.

"We're ready to take off, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson."

I nodded, then looked down at my wife again.

"So?"

I took a glance at my wedding ring, took it off, and placed it in her free hand.

"I think I should call my lawyer and have him give us another copy of the divorce papers," I told her. She opened her mouth, but I stopped her before she could say anything. "Just hear me out. I don't want to lose you, okay? I just think there's no point in being married anymore. I love you, I do, and I want us to be together. We'll continue being a couple, but we won't be married. I appreciate that you want us to work on our relationship and we will. Think of this like starting over."

I could see on her face that she wanted to cry. I hurried to hug her tight.

"You still love me?" Brooke whispered.

"I'll love you forever, babe. We're not going to break up, I promise. But our marriage fell apart, and you know that. No one has to find out about this. Not even Janet, we'll keep it between the two of us."

She nodded against my chest. "Okay."

I squeezed her tighter as I felt the plane move.

"I can keep my rings on, right?"

"Of course," I smiled. "Can I have mine back?"

My finger felt so naked without it.

She sniffled and slid it onto my finger.

~

Brooklyn: "She's so beautiful," Linda said when she got a good look at Paris. "She looks just like you."

The McCartney family ranch seemed happier than ever, considering the situation.

"Mom, dad would freak out if he knew you were holding a baby right now." Mary, their eldest daughter, mumbled.

"Your dad won't be back until 4. Stop worrying, honey." my friend waved her off.

I glanced at Michael who had a sad smile on his face.

I sighed and looked back at Linda.

Although I knew I wasn't going to lose him, thinking about us not being married anymore hurt. A part of me was losing him.