Human Nature

Chapter 49

May 18th, 1993

Janet skipped into the kitchen, where Michael and Mariah were sitting at the table having lunch. Mariah assumed Bill had let her in, as he tended to do with certain guests that Michael would have over.

She pulled out a chair next to Mariah and grinned. "So, is it a boy or a girl? Michael wouldn't tell me over the phone."

"Well, hello to you too. We're having a boy." Mariah giggled.

Michael nudged Janet. "Happy now?"

"Yeah, I am you jerk." She retorted.

Janet turned back to Mariah. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, where are we going?" She asked.

Janet pulled her out of her seat. "We're going shopping for my nephew."

"We can't go shopping. People are already on to us thanks to my sister. I'm trying to keep this quiet for as long as possible." Mariah protested.

Janet shrugged. "And? Let them keep speculating."

"Okay, let's go." She gave Michael a peck on the lips. "See you later."

Janet held up a onesie that said "I love my Auntie". 

"We've got to get this."

Mariah giggled. "I bet we do."

"I'm telling you, I'm gonna be the baby's favorite auntie." Janet bragged.

Mariah raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?"

"Yeah, since Toya isn't here and your sister is..."

Mariah shrugged. "I know."

"Well, yeah. Then Rebbie has her own kids to worry about, so that leaves me as favorite Auntie by default." She pulled a newborn-sized tuxedo off the rack. "This is adorable."

Mariah squealed, taking it out of her hands. "It is."

"Perfect for all of the awards ceremonies he's gonna have to attend at three hours old." Janet laughed.

Mariah hit her with the outfit. "Shut up."

Janet laughed. "It's true, between you and Michael, all he's gonna know is touring, award shows, and recording booths by the time he's a year old."

Mariah giggled before noticing a woman on the other side of the clothes racks, shopping in the section for little girls. Squinting her eyes, she could make out the features of June Chandler apparently shopping for her daughter.

"What's wrong?" Janet asked. 

Mariah nodded at June. "That's Michael's little friend, June."

"Oh, the one you don't like?" Janet said, spotting her as well.

Mariah rolled her eyes. "It's not that I don't like her, I just don't trust her."

"Same thing." Janet said. "Why don't you trust her?"

"She's weird, and nosy as fuck. She's like a tabloid and Michael just trusts her with everything. You know she's supposed to be bringing over her first husband in a couple of days?"

Janet frowned up. "Why?"

"That's what I wanna know. Michael is getting super invested in them and I don't like it." Mariah said.

Janet rolled her eyes. "All of my brothers are idiots. I promise you. I know he doesn't mean any harm by it though, sis."

Mariah started browsing again. "I'm not worried about any of that, I'm just thinking that it could backfire on him. They like the connection, the celebrity of Michael."