A Charmed Life

Motown 25

Chapter Five

May 1983

New York, New York

Just walking into my penthouse, I hear the landline ringing. Setting my bags down, I run to get it. Getting to the living room, I pick up the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Hey, baby. I've been calling all day," Mama K's voice comes through the line.

"Hey, Mama, sorry I've been out with Liz," I say, sitting down and kicking my heels off.

"I just wanted to let you know that we're having a family day the day after Motown 25. I expect to see you there this time."

Damn, how am I gonna get out of this one? I've been dodging them like the plague since the fight between Michael and me. Speaking of, it has been three years since I've seen him in person. Neither of us has tried to reach out and honestly, I've been perfectly fine. I'm here living my best life and not worried about anything.

Of course, I love Billie Jean from first to last note. I'm not petty; I know good music when I hear it. When he said he wanted this album to be better than Off The Wall, he meant it.

I've also just released a single of my own titled "It Should Have Been Us." Yeah, it's about him. I'm not crazy; I know it's petty, and I did send it to him just to be fair. A lot of good it did me because he sent Liz to do his dirty work. She begged me not to put it on the album. It turns out that his reputation is on the line. Like that means something to me. I told her that I couldn't trash it because I've already promoted it. I will never allow Michael to censor my art.

The only two people in his family that are speaking to me are Mama K and Latoya. Janet and Michael are really close, so she chose his side when she heard we weren't talking.

"Sweetie, did you hear what I said?" Mama K asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.

Shaking my head, I say, "No, I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I was saying that since Michael doesn't have a date for Motown 25, you should go together."

I love this woman, but she is beyond pushy. Ever since we stopped talking, she has done everything in her power to get us in the same room together and talk. "I don't think so, Mama. We haven't talked in years. I don't even know him anymore."

"But you're already going to be there, performing with him and the others. It would make sense if you were his date."

"I get what you're saying, I really do. But he doesn't want to see me. I just want to get this night over with," I tell her dryly.

"Child, stop acting like you two aren't destined. I've known it since you two were in diapers. Now, I saw the interview, and I may not know exactly what happened, but it has to end sometime. You two have been thick as thieves since you were born."

Did I mention she's pushy? "Look, I'm not gonna just call him up and tell him we're going together. If he wants to go with me, he'll have to ask me himself."

"Jehovah, give me strength; you kids will send me to an early grave," she says.

I laugh. "If you've made it this far, you'll make it through the home stretch."

"Oh, you! I guess I'll have to try harder. I won't take up any more of your time. Just try to call sometime within the next week, okay?"

"Okay, I promise. I love you."

<>

My dad meets me when I get in from New York. I haven't been to Cali in months, and it feels good to be back. When I see him standing there, I run up and hug him. He twirls me around before taking a good look at me.