Stay the Night

Chapter 78

June 14th, 2005

Karrin held the tiny bundle in her arms, feeling nothing but pure euphoria for the first time. She was careful to take stock of every inch. His eyes, his nose, every finger and toe in perfect harmony. He was simply perfect.  She could tell her son was taking more after her than his father, but she could see that he was a perfect mix of each of them. He slept peacefully in her arms and she felt pure love for the first time in her life. 

She glanced over at Michael, who was sitting on the other side of the room with his brothers Jermaine and Randy. Despite her exhaustion, she was curious. His brothers never particularly liked her so she was surprised that they accompanied her and Michael to the hospital. 

"Damn Michael looks just like you," Jermaine commented, though Karrin could tell it was his attempt to get Michael to say something.

Michael, for his part, seemed somewhere else. Like he couldn't register that he had a new child sitting two feet in front of him. 

Karrin nodded slowly. "He really does, doesn't he?"

"Mike?" Jermaine said again, nudging his brother. 

Michael nodded slowly. "He's pretty big,"

Karrin nodded again, though Michael was right. Her son was born at a heavy ten pounds, eleven ounces. He was so big that Karrin needed a C-section for him to be born.  

"Ten pounds," Jermaine replied, rubbing his brother's back.

Karrin sighed internally and cast her gaze back on her son, letting a smile creep onto her face. 

He's absolutely perfect. 

Karrin smiled down at her little son. 

"You're perfect, aren't you Michael?"

June 14th, 2005

Janet tried to keep a cool head as she walked through the hospital corridors to see Michael and Karrin. It was hard to leave Mariah and Hadiyah alone to go see her nephew, but with Natalie there, she felt a little better about it. Truly, she was most worried about Michael. Despite the fact, that he had two children being born, something that would typically send Michael over the moon, she knew he wasn't in the emotional headspace to truly be happy with what was going on. She also knew Jermaine and Randy weren't the people who would get him to emotionally engage with his baby mama or his baby. 

Janet pushed open the door and immediately saw the baby boy. She also saw Karrin's immediate defensive disposition. 

"Hey," She said quietly. 

Janet nodded slowly. "Congratulations. May I see my nephew?"

Karrin slowly nodded and lowered her arms so that Janet could see the baby boy. She slowly approached and cast her gaze on the baby. She smiled in spite of herself. 

"He's so cute,"

Karrin allowed a small smile. "Thank you,"

"What's his name?"

Karrin continued gazing at her son. 

"Michael,"

June 15th, 2005

Janet walked through the hospital corridors, this time with Jermaine at her side. They walked in silence after leaving the hospital with Michael and Karrin. Their brother was completely out of it and they both knew it. 

Jermaine glanced over at Janet. 

"How was she yesterday?"

Janet smiled. "She was doing great. The baby is a little small,"

"She healthy?" He inquired.

Janet nodded quietly and pushed open the door to Mariah's room. 

Mariah was lying on the bed with Hadiyah suckling away happily. Her sister-in-law smiled when she saw her. 

"Hey, Jan, Jermaine" Mariah said.

"Hey, how are my favorite sister and niece doing?" Janet asked as she walked over to the bed.

Jermaine shook hands with Natalie and sat down.

Mariah smirked. "We're fine. So have you seen your brother yet?"

Janet nodded slowly. "Yeah, I just left there."

"Did you see the baby?" Mariah asked, picking up Hadiyah to burp her.

Janet nodded.

"What did she have?"

Janet looked down, playing with her hands. "She had a boy."

Mariah chuckled. "What'd they name him? Adam Joseph Jackson the First or something?"

"Or The Second," Janet replied.

Mariah raised an eyebrow. "The Second?"

"Or try Michael Joseph Jackson Jr."

Mariah pulled back. "What?"

"I knew you'd be mad."

Mariah nodded slowly. "You think? I wanted to name Carey after him and he refused. He didn't want my son to have his name but this--"

"Mariah, Mariah, calm down. Look on the bright side, you've got a healthy little girl." Janet pointed out, trying to redirect the conversation.

Mariah huffed. "Whose father hasn't been here once."

"He still hasn't been by?"

"Not even a phone call." Mariah teared up. "He's so fucking ridiculous."

"Hey, hey, hey," Natalie got up and rubbed Mariah's back. "We're all here,"

"I know," Mariah nodded. "But he should be here,"

"Don't worry, he will be,"