Behind The Mask

Chapter 69

Anouk's POV

I've been back home for a month now after the hospital stay. My days are quiet, but full of love. I am shamelessly taking advantage of the time I spend with Michael these days, because he put everything on hold until the baby is born. I am glad he decided to take a break in the true sense of the word. Even after his grueling world tour, Sony still wanted to milk him of effort and talent unrelenting. But there is one thing about Michael that few people know. When he says something, he means it. He is one of the most stubborn people I know, apart from yours truly. When he said "Stop" he stopped. He could not be induced to go to any business meeting, photo session or public function for anything in the world.

For the first time in....forever, probably, he experienced the idea of being master of his own time. We would stay in bed for one more hour after we woke up, just talking and enjoying the knowledge of having nothing specific to do. Sadly, our sex life had to take a break. Well, the traditional sex was out of the question, but we did find a way or two to fool around.

Today, however, it was all about the big outdoors. It was a cloudy day – a perfect day for Michael to enjoy a day out. He placed me in a golf cart right after breakfast and away we went.

"And where are you taking me today, Mike?"

"Somewhere, over the rainbow", he sang.

"You'll have to wait until after the rain for that."

"Huh?"

"Rainbows notoriously appear after the rain, not before."

"Well, my kind of rainbow does", he insisted with a grin.

"Seriously, Mike, where are we going?"

"For a little change of scenery, we're spending a day in the Indian camp."

"You have an Indian camp here?"

"Yes...I haven't been there for a while."

"Why?"

"Well...that's where Jordie wanted to spend time....Jordie Chandler. I was there with him and other kids a few days before leaving for my Dangerous Tour. It was the last time I saw that kid under normal circumstances. Next time, he was with his dad and lawyer, accusing me..."

"I am sorry, Mike. I am sorry that you had to be taken advantage of in such a horrible manner."

"I learned my lesson."

"What lesson?"

"You try to be a nice guy and people just fuck you. You can't trust people...you can't allow yourself to be weak and receive them into your confidence."

"Then how come you pursued me?"

"Baby, you were not trying to force your way into my confidence. You were doing the absolute opposite: running from me like the devil from holy water."

"Oh, I see! What if it was a reverse psychology tactics?"

He stopped the golf cart and looked at me.
"I was prepared to risk it. For those blue eyes and that impish grin...I would have risked a broken heart."

"Lucky for you, I am just a minor rank devil. I may taunt you here and there and drive you crazy during the rest of the pregnancy, but I won't be breaking anything inside or outside of you."

He put his hands on the sides of my face.

"That is a very thorough promise, baby. I love how you get extra specific in these matters."