Stay the Night

Chapter 58

July 9th, 2004

"So you told her you'd get rid of Karrin and she said 'no'?"

Michael nodded his head vigorously. "Yes!"

Jermaine chuckled. "Well, little brother, it looks like you the hoe now."

"What?" Michael raised an eyebrow. "Who the hoe?"

"You!" Jermaine rested his chin on his fist. "She used you for a piece of meat. You hate to see it,"

Michael leaned back in his chair, biting his lip. "She playing me,"

"Well," Jermaine shrugged. "You did say she reminded you of Diane. That's right out of the Diane handbook,"

Michael scowled. "Shut up, Jermaine,"

The brothers were sitting in Michael's library, talking about his upcoming trial and life in general. Still, there was only so long Michael could talk to his brother without the conversation going left.

"I'm just saying. Diane played you like a fiddle, and you ain't been right since," Jermaine's tone turned sympathetic. 

"I've been trying to make it right with her--" 

"Maybe you can't," Jermaine said. "There's only so much a woman can take,"

Michael sighed. "I don't know what she wants; we only messed around once; we mostly talk. I can tell she's holding back from me though, she says she loves me, but it's different,"

Jermaine pressed his fingers against his temple. "I don't think it's a 'her' thing as much as it's a 'you' thing,"

"What do you mean?" Michael asked.

Jermaine shrugged. "I mean, have you changed? Have you fixed any of the things she's had a problem with?"

"Well, I can't show her I've changed if she doesn't give me a chance," Michael pointed out.

"She doesn't have to," Jermaine countered. "She's given plenty. But if she says she wants you, she might be waiting on some gesture. Like something major,"

"What can I do that I haven't already done?" It was a rhetorical question; he didn't really expect Jermaine to know how to move the invisible mountain between him and Mariah.

"Well,--"

"I'm not doing that," Michael cut him off. "It's too much for me. I can't do that,"

Jermaine looked up thoughtfully. "I honestly can't think of anything else, though. You did the flowers, the apologies, being respectful, and rescuing her from the new abuser. I don't think it can be saved at this point if she's not satisfied. Unless--"

Michael leaned forward. "What?"

"Unless she's testing you. Like she's trying to see how long you can keep it up, whether you changed or if you're just doing it because you want her back," Jermaine reasoned.

Michael frowned. "So, just keep it up until she's ready?"

"I mean, what else can ya do?"

July 17th, 2004

Mariah took a deep breath as she stepped into the Santa Barbara county courthouse, ready to meet with the DA's office. She would be giving her deposition in the case against Michael, and she didn't know what to expect. Her lawyer told her that he would meet her there, but she could tell the woman was running late. 

She walked up to the receptionist with a small smile on her face in an attempt to appear friendly. "Hi, Carey-Jackson?"

The woman looked down at the registry. "Yes, Mrs. Jackson. I'll let Mr. Zonen know you're here."