Angel in Disguise ~ Michael Jackson

0.1

2009

"Try not to worry too much, Londy." Peyton said beside me. "It'll all work out great in the end."

"I can't not worry Peyton, it's Michael. It's already been an hour." I said, silencing her.

"Do you remember that day at Elizabeth's?" And though we'd spent many, many times at Elizabeth's, we both knew just which day.

1983

"Hello?" Liz answered the phone.

"Madame Elizabeth Taylor! Hey, it's London Preston. Peyton wanted to know if we could stop by today? She wanted to get something."

"Oh, that would be fabulous! I'll probably have company over, if you don't mind." She replied, sleepily.

"Great! And you know, Peyton loves people... See you."

"Okay, I'll see you later then!"

"Bye Liz."

"WHAT DID SHE SAY? DID SHE SAY SHE'D GIVE US THE NUMBER?!" Peyton ran up to me.

"I didn't ask for the number."

"What? Wasn't that the point of the call? LONDON!"

"Relax... That would be rude. We're going over later. You can ask her for it then."

"Can't we go over now?" She whined.

"Peyton, it's around 7:00 in the morning, she's barely awake. "

"Fine. That'll give me enough time to get dressed and all. It always takes me at least four times to get my hair buns perfect." That was one thing Peyton had in common with our mom. When she dressed, everything had to be absolutely perfect. At the time, Peyton was my mother's mini me. Blonde hair, blue eyes, tan skin, everything.

"Peyton, it's only Liz. We basically live there, there's nothing to overdress for."

2009

"But Mom, are you sure Daddy will be okay?"

"Yes, Addisyn. He's a fighter, you know. Why would he give up now?" I tried to comfort her, even though I think I needed it more than she did.

"Hey... Addy, did I ever tell you about the time I met your daddy?" Peyton said in barely a whisper. "I remember it vaguely, but your mommy and I have talked about it so much, I know exactly what happened."

I looked around the room. Our kids were scattered with relatives trying to comfort them. I smiled. We always wanted a bunch of kids, and we ended up with six.

Paris came up and sat beside me while Peyton told the story.

"It was the day after the year had began and I remember that clearly because your Grandma Chelsea, God rest her soul, was about drunk as a fish and spent that whole day sleeping off her headaches. Your mom met your dad at Elizabeth Taylor's New Year's party, which I'm sure you already knew. So all I knew was that we were going to get his number from Liz, she was like a second mom to us. I was nearly thirteen, and I sure did think I was all that and a bag of chips because of it. I got dressed up all nice in a little dress. Tried repeatedly until I finally got my hair up in a perfect little bun. Even put a natural color lipstick on my lips. Yeah, I was that perky, preppy, annoying girl you all know.

"When we got to Elizabeth's house, your daddy was already there! I was definitely speechless, I had no clue what to say, I just looked at him. Your mommy on the other had no problem talking to him. She told him straight up I was a huge fan and I wanted his number. Just to brag to my friends, mainly. We became really close that day. He's still the sweetheart I met him as. I love him like a brother. And I smile every time I see some of him in each one of you." Peyton finished and I smiled at her.