Stay the Night

Chapter 13

April 25th, 2002

"I'm glad he's doing better. I bet those doctors are feeling stupid now." Michael commented as he spoke with his wife. The two of them were on the phone for their daily chat and Mariah came bearing good news: her father's cancer no longer seemed as dire as they once believed. The doctors still felt that he was terminal, but were reevaluating the severity of his condition.

"Well let's not get our hopes up too high, yet. We still have a lot to be worried about, ya know?"

"Yeah, I get what you're saying, baby. It's just that- This is the best news I've heard in awhile and I wanna cherish it. Any extra moments you can have with your father are a blessing. I'm just excited for you, that's all." He explained, picking at his nails.

"Aww..." She doted.

"Heeeey." He started. "Don't do that."

She heightened her tone. "What? It's really sweet of you. And it makes me feel sort of bad too."

Michael reached over to his nightstand and dug a jellybean out of his bag of candy. "How so?"

"Well, I know you've been feeling a little down on yourself lately. Probably overwhelmed with the kids and all the stress. You should try inviting some of your friends on the road with you--you know Mac, Levon, and Elijah. Maybe even David and Liza-"

"Mariah, hold up, what are you talking about?"

She hesitated. "Well, I just- I know you've been lonely-"

"I talk to you everyday, I'm not lonely." He replied, sliding his feet up so that his knees were perpendicular to the bed.

"You never hang out, though."

He raised an eyebrow and picked candy out of his teeth. "Okay, but where are you getting this from? How would you know what I do and don't do?"

She took in a sharp breath. "Karrin told me."

Karrin?

As he rose from the bed, he hiked his legs up to a cross-legged position. "Babe-"

"Why didn't you tell me about her?"

He slapped his palm over his forehead. "I forgot, babe. It's so much going on, I just forgot."

Mariah didn't say anything.

"Shit." He whispered under his breath.

"Okay babe, look, it was just something last minute. So random. It's nothing. Just nothing to be honest, honestly." He started. "It's honestly just nothing and she helps me with the kids and stuff, but not 'stuff' really, and sometimes the kids-"

"I hear you, Mike." She replied.

Yeah but, do you though...

"It just would've been nice to know we had a nanny on the payroll. I mean- She's been taking care of our babies for months Michael, and you have mentioned this woman not once. That's not something you should hide from me, especially knowing how I feel about nannies."

He sighed. "I didn't try to hide it. But, at the same time, I'm not really tryna have you thinkin' I can't take care of my own damn kids. I mean, it's already bad enough that I gotta have someone helping me but I don't wanna hear nobody mouth, tryna tell me that I'm a bad father or whatever. I'm just trying my best with what I have, damnit!"

"Woah, babe, calm down! That's not what I'm saying at all! I know you have insecurities with that, we all do-"

Michael subconsciously clenched the bedsheets. "No, Mariah! It's not the same! You never lost a child like I did-"