Stay the Night

Chapter 40

October 1st, 2003

"So, of all the people you could've called...you chose her?"

Michael watched as his wife paced the floor in front of him. He decided to invite Karrin to join them on tour to give him some help with the kids, and someone to talk to while Mariah was busy with her shows and her fans. 

Michael shrugged. "I don't see the issue. She helped me with the kids before, and they love her. What's the big deal?"

"What's the- Michael!" Mariah exclaimed. 

"What?" He rolled his eyes. "She's got her separate room from us, she's only here when you're not. You won't even cross paths with her. Why are you jealous of Karrin anyway?"

She froze in her tracks.

Here we go...

"Jealous?" She bugged her eyes out of her head, taking a step towards him. "Did you say I was jealous? There ain't a damn thing that bitch-"

"Hey!" Michael jumped up, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Don't call her that,"

Mariah pulled away, rolling her eyes. "Whatever. Do what you want. Since you just had to invite your little girlfriend-"

"Oh come on! Don't you start!" He exclaimed. "You're always starting some unnecessary mess."

"How is it unnecessary? You brought another woman into our home!" She shot back. "But I'm the one being unreasonable?"

"Yes! Yes, you are! Hell, did you take your meds today?"

Mariah's eyes darkened. Instead of responding, she snatched a pillow off the bed and stormed into the children's room.

October 3rd, 2003

"Yeah, asking your wife if she took her medication is not the way to end an argument," Karrin said, taking a spoonful of her yogurt.

The tension in the apartment suite was palpable. A tense cloud hung over the family for the past few days, intermingled with sharp barbs and angry glances here and there. Once Mariah went to her show, Karrin finally had time to ask Michael what was going on.

He shrugged. "She's crazy. You remember when she was in the hospital."

Karrin nodded slowly, thinking back to when she accompanied Michael on his tour. Michael had seemed so caring and protective over Mariah then, now he just seemed fed up. She slid her hand across the table, gently trailing her hand across his arm.

"She's still your wife, and you love her." She teased, her hand lingering on his. "She's just being a little whiny right now."

He smirked at her. "She's always whiny, but it feels good to be loved. I know she loves me."

Karrin raised an eyebrow at him. "A lot of people love you."

He turned his head, staring into her eyes. She found herself entranced, unable to pull away from him.

Michael leaned into her, his grin never leaving his face. "Like who?"

"Your fans. Your family. A lot of people." She replied, picking up her yogurt off the table. "But, you've got to be more sensitive to Mariah. I can just feel the tension."

Michael nodded. "Whatever, you just get in there with my babies."

Karrin stopped in her tracks, opting to lean against the wall, tilting her head to the side. "And who do you think you're talking to sir?"

She watched him get up from his chair and walk over to her. He towered over her, putting his hand on the wall above her head. He narrowed his eyes, sending a chill down her spine. He was intimidating.

"I think I'm talking to you." He said a hint of a chuckle in his voice. "Shortie."

October 17th, 2003

Mariah sat on the couch in the suite, her legs tucked under her and her notebook perched on the arm of the couch. It was late, Michael and the children had long gone to bed, giving her a moment to herself to think. She was in the middle of a song, scribbling ideas on the paper when she just stopped. She wasn't sure what she had to say about her life. Her last album had been about the turmoil of the past couple of years, as honest as she could be with herself at that moment, but now she was at a loss. She was happy for once, except for the nagging thorn in her side that was Karrin, she had no complaints about her marriage or anything else. She didn't want to rehash any old drama about Tommy or Lisa, Michael had finally gotten himself together, and her family was stable. 

What do I have to say?

There was only one thing she could think about, one thing lingering in the back of her mind. She was waiting for answers. She was truly alone in the matter. She couldn't tell anyone that she wasn't sure if her child belonged to her husband, she definitely couldn't tell anyone that the other potential father was her ex-husband. 

I truly fucked up. I fucked everything up.

Mariah glanced down at her carefully manicured nails, tempted to bite them to quell her nervous thoughts. 

He'd kill me if he ever found out. 

Michael valued nothing more than being a father. Sometimes, Mariah believed that he'd be perfectly content to raise their brood on his own and cut her completely out of their children's lives if he had the chance. She couldn't fathom taking that joy away from him, even if it was only Elizabeth. 

Now she waited, hoping that Wayne could be discreet. He didn't know exactly what she was waiting for, but he knew to keep her mail away from Michael. Not that he had an interest anyway, he hardly looked through his things. He was sent so much from fans there was no way to keep up with it all. 

Her phone lit up and she snatched off the table. "Hello?"?

"Hey, Mariah." She tensed up upon hearing Wayne's voice. "I got your mail outside. Did you want to come get it?"

She nodded, pushing her hair back. "Sure, sure. I'll be there in a second."

Flipping her phone closed, she got up from the couch and slipped on her house shoes. She hurried to the door and opened it a crack. She saw Wayne's imposing figure waiting patiently outside the door. 

Timidly, she reached for the stack of mail in his hand. 

"Thanks," She whispered, shutting the door behind her.

She leaned against the door, holding her breath, knowing that it was almost the time for the results to come. She had to ease her mind, her guilt. Maybe she could rest a little easier once she knew the truth.

Mariah went through each envelope, disinterested in the credit card offers and bills that she set to the side to be looked at in the morning. She went on for about four or five envelopes until she came across a plain white one. 

Oh shit...

She could feel her heart hammering inside her throat. Hands shaking, she careful tore it open. She shut her eyes, taking a deep breath before removing the letter inside. 

She unfolded it, each time willing herself to just throw the papers away and pretend she'd never received them. 

Why did I do that? Why?

Taking a deep breath, she forced her eyes open. 

Scanning the document, she felt her breath leave her body as tears filled her eyes. She slid down the door until she hit the floor. She couldn't believe her eyes as she read the final couple of lines over and over to herself.

Mariah covered her mouth to keep herself from screaming. 

Oh my God...

Nope, I'm not dead. My boyfriend told me to get out of my feelings and update and stop treating y'all like The Navy so here it is! Lol