Slipping Away

Chapter 40

February 10th, 1996

Michael was having a great time filming with Spike Lee. The people of Salvador were also happy to see him, excitedly waving into the cameras and cheering. Mariah also seemed at ease, sitting in Michael's chair observing everything.  

The Olodum drummers were beating along to the music, adding to his excitement. He was fully immersed in his element, creating. He noticed the drummers had started dancing, a simple step but he hurried to join them while he noticed one of the little boys was trying to get Mariah to join as well. Michael chuckled as Mariah reluctantly agreed and followed him to the line of drummers. 

"Cut!" Spike shouted, but Michael shook his head. The movement among the people was beautiful, natural magic that he didn't want to stop. He knew things would have to be cut down in editing, but he was having fun with the process.

Once it ended, Michael shook hands with some of the drummers and wave to some of the fans who were looking out of their windows, curiously watching the commotion. He also marveled at the stoic police officers that lined the streets, how they couldn't be overtaken by the music.

"Hey, Mike!" Spike gestured for him to come over.

"Yeah?"

Spike pointed at one of the buildings. "Let's get a couple of shots over there by the guards."

"Okay, I'll go inside the building the come out. We could use that as the beginning of the video." Michael suggested while Spike appeared to ponder his idea. 

"Alright, let's make some magic."

Back in the hotel, Michael was coming out of the shower while Mariah was sitting on the bed writing in a notebook.

He smirked and went to look over her shoulder. "Whatcha doing?"

She giggled. "Writing a song."

"Can I see?" He asked.

She shook her head, throwing her arms around his neck. "Maybe, when it's done."

She ran her fingers through his hair. "I can't believe you cut your hair."

"Yeah, Lisa kinda talked me into it." He shrugged.

Mariah frowned, but she didn't say anything. He figured she didn't want to talk about Lisa, and neither did he. He was content being in Mariah's presence, even if they weren't together. 

"So, I talked to my lawyer and she said that my divorce should be finalized by May." She said, changing the subject.

Michael nodded. "That's great. They said mine is probably gonna drag until August."

"Why so long? You guys had a prenup, right?"She asked.

"Yeah, but we did the short film together..."

"So she gets royalties. Gotcha." She surmised.

Michael leaned back on the headboard and sighed, before shaking his head, laughing. "Why did we get married?"

"Well I hope it's because you loved her." Mariah said. 

Michael shook his head. "No, I mean you and me. Why didn't I marry you when I had the chance?"

Mariah raised an eyebrow. "I used to wonder myself, but I think, in a way, it was best. Imagine what our marriage would've looked like."

He paused, thinking of the explosive arguments and difficulties they never had. Mariah had a point, they weren't ready for marriage three years ago and he couldn't say with certainty that he still wouldn't have been in the middle of a divorce if Mariah had been in Lisa's place.

"I've been thinking." She continued. "I was too naive to love you right back then."

"What about now?" He asked.

Mariah rubbed her arm. "I've learned a lot and I've thought a lot. There's only one way to really know."

February 11th, 1996

"Take these pills, Mrs. Mottola."

Mariah shakily took the three pills and the bottle of water from the doctor and watched him walk away. She rolled them in her hand before throwing them down and getting up to run away, clutching stomach. She had to protect her baby.

She opened the door, only to find Tommy standing there.

"Mariah!"

She jolted awake and Michael was rubbing his eyes.

"Was I loud?" She asked.

Michael shook his head. "No, but you kicked me in the balls."

"Sorry." She giggled.

He glared. "That hurt. I need those for when I finally have kids."

His words stung. Bitter reminders that the two children she had carried for him weren't there, that she had failed to give him the one thing he wanted most.

Mariah rolled over. "I'm going back to sleep."

Michael rubbed her back. "Mimi, I didn't mean it like that."

She sat up and glared at him. "Tell me something and I want the truth. Do you blame me for it?"

"Not Prince." He said. "But the abortion...I  know it wasn't your choice, but I can't help thinking about it. The main reason my marriage fell apart was over children and then to know that. It hurts, to say the least."

Mariah frowned. "I called you to tell you, then you changed your number."

His eyes widened. "That's what you meant when you said I'd regret it...?"

"Yeah, that's what I was trying to tell you." She sighed. "I would've given you the baby, you could've said it was via surrogate or whatever. I had nowhere to go, no one to talk to. My mom abandoned me, she told me to do as I was told. The man is in control-"

"That's not a man." He spat. "A man is supposed to protect his woman, love her and cherish her. Not what he did to you. Everything I should've done."

He looked directly into her eyes on his last sentence and the tension between them was electric. She wanted nothing more than to have him and she wished she were more bold so that she could close the distance between them.

Mariah looked down at her finger at the wedding ring Tommy had given her and pulled it off. "I won't be needing this anymore."

"What are you going to do with it?" He asked.

Mariah rolled it with her fingers. "I'm going to give it back."

"Why?" He asked.

She shrugged. "Why would I spend time being angry about the marriage when I can just move on and be happy?"

He moved a bit closer and gave her a light brush on the lips. She felt herself tremble from nervousness, but she stopped herself from pulling away.

She blushed and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Michael, I..."

"I shouldn't have done that." He assumed before she shook her head.

"No, it's okay." She said, pulling him back. "Stay."

He grinned. "So, what do you wanna do now?"

Mariah giggled, pressing her forehead to his. "Let's just take it slow."