Stay the Night

Chapter 70

March 27th, 2005

Michael sat at the dining room table with Jermaine, Janet, and Marlon. They'd just finished helping the kids make a cake for their mother's birthday. Karrin was out with her friends for the day, clearly avoiding the celebrations. Natalie had offered to pick up Mariah from the airport and keep her distracted while the kids got things together for Mariah.

"So where's your mistress?" Janet inquired, bouncing Melanie on her lap.

Marlon nodded. "Right! What's her name again?"

Michael rolled his eyes. "Karrin. And she's out with her friends. Please be careful what you say around that one. She's starting to pick up little stuff,"

Janet huffed. "She's a baby, she don't know what I'm saying. So anyway, what are you doing for your wife?"

Michael reached for Melanie and put her on the floor. "Red, go in there with Nicki,"

Janet rolled her eyes. "Really?"

"You don't listen," Michael shot back, watching his baby girl waddle into the living room with the other kids.

"Nicki!" He shouted.

"Yeah?"

"Watch Melanie," He called out before turning his attention back to Janet. "I'm not doing anything. She has someone,"

Jermaine and Marlon both leaned forward.

"She has someone?" Marlon asked incredulously. "Who?"

Jermaine remained quiet, staring at Michael.

Before he could answer, he heard the front door open.

 "We're back!"

Followed by a chorus of, "Mommy!"

He pointed towards the door. "That would be them,"

Michael got up from the table, followed closely by his siblings. 

Janet approached Mariah while Jermaine and Marlon hovered by Michael. Mariah, upon seeing her in-laws, quickly snatched her hand out of Natalie's. If it irritated Natalie at all, Michael couldn't tell as she held her smile in place. 

"Um, girls?" Mariah started, turning to Nicole and Noelle. "Can you two take Lizzie and Carey into the other room?"

Nicole nodded. "Okay, Mommy,"

The adults watched the kids shuffle into the next room.

Janet folded her arms as she looked Natalie up and down.

"Oh, Jan this is--"

Janet cut her off. "Your girlfriend," 

Dunk! 

Mariah's face flushed red. 

Natalie took the lead. "Yeah, I'm Natalie,"

Janet shook the woman's hand. "Natalie,"

She grinned with approval. "She's cute, Mimi. You've got better taste in women than you do in men,"

Mariah giggled nervously.

Natalie threw her arm around her Mariah. "Wow, you're gonna talk about your own brother like that?"

Michael, realizing that he was included in those men, folded his arms. "Really, Dunk?"

Marlon laughed. "I think I might have to agree with Janet,"

Mariah nervously pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "You guys are funny,"