Spotlight || MJ/Prince

Spotlight || Chapter 22

2003

Angela "Angie" Powell-Nelson

All three of us settled that damn child support threat and I kept my new last name from Prince in return. There'd be no more arguments from Michael, at least not for now. He'd apologized once our attorneys sealed the deal, but I'd never forget such a moment.

Meanwhile, Prince started up his own concerts again as expected. As for me, if it wasn't for motherhood, I would've been the music director for Beyonce's first solo tour. I always thought of what could've been absolutely different these days.

Instead, I found myself traveling back home, working to keep busy every time young Jamie went to school. The studio kept me focused time and time again. There was no other choice, especially since I'd never give up on my daughter.

Sometimes, I wondered why Michael even wanted to sleep with me back then. Jackson gave up religion as a Jehovah's Witness years ago, but acted self-righteous more and more around me. This red flag proved evident, but I couldn't turn Jamie away from him. My princess always cared about him, no matter what happened.

Even right now, I didn't know what to think, but refused to ask questions. We laid down together and Jamie was the result, so why couldn't Michael take responsibility? He'd adored his other children, so why not love mine?

Reaching for one of the instruments, I thought of music instead. Despite our marital bliss, one song actually shredded from my all-time favorite guitar. Letting these emotions flow out, I didn't sing, but the melody just spilled right from my heart.

Main chords of "Empty Room" by Prince began to play. Maybe it was the frustration of my own life. Maybe it was my husband making me wait two decades for affection. In other circumstances, I'd never be desperate for anyone, but the ring on my finger and tattoo on my shoulder blade still meant everything to me.

I'd never stop loving him.

I didn't even hear myself singing or shredding the guitar between lyrics until my own voice began to shudder from tears.

Lonely hearts, worlds apart.

Why should they be broken?

When we could be somewhere making love?

Love is strong, however long.

We should've been forever...

I paused when footsteps reached the basement stairs and moved down to greet me. Only a handful of people kept house keys for my place and I didn't call the nannies to help out with Jamie yet. It wasn't even time to pick her up from school.

I looked up and noticed Prince staring towards me with the most disappointed frown. Silence fell between us, but reached out to put my guitar back in place and opened both arms to hug me. Without arguing, I accepted the embrace soon after.

"What's wrong? You only play that record when you're upset." Prince gently offered the question and held me close, but still interlocked our fingers with me. Silence fell between us once more, but I sat down at the mixing board just to answer him.

"Why did you wait so long to marry me?" I asked, already heading down that rabbit hole. There was no other choice. Even if our hearts were broken time and time and time again, over time, I realized that Mike wasn't the one for me. It was Prince, the so-called playboy who almost always looked for other women. Even then, I just didn't care. No one gave a damn like him. Only he checked on me through time.

On the other hand, Michael had just called me on the phone over many years. Our dynamic never changed until we laid down together out of nowhere and made Jamie. All the while, Prince was still on my mind, no matter what drama took place.

"I only waited to start a relationship because you were scared. If you ever gave me the greenlight earlier, I would've given up the nonsense and married you years ago." Confessing, Prince held my hands as he sat in this swivel chair and faced me.

"How early?" I tilted my head out of curiosity and smiled for once. Prince's own grin prompted butterflies to reach my stomach again. There was still no feeling in the world as I noticed our wedding bands. These rings still beamed under dim light.

"If it weren't for my mistakes, we would've been married for seventeen years by now." Prince nodded, answering my question. Another smile reached my face as Prince continued speaking and I started to laugh about our favorite number seven.

"1985 was was seventeen years ago and Momma passed away around that time. What are you talking about?" I gasped. Prince squeezed my hand gently, but offered his response. I never expected those details to show themselves as we sat here together. Of course, I didn't know what to believe until my husband spoke up.

"I've never told you this, but before your mother got sick years ago, I wanted to ask her if I could marry you." Prince revealed his truth before long. My jaw nearly hit the floor, so to speak. My heart thumped. Tears now fell from my eyes.

"What do you think her answer would've been?" I smirked, probably reminding my best friend of both my parents. Wiping away tears, I blinked towards Prince and mustered another grin, trying not to think of Momma and cry from pain again.

"I already know. She would've said yes." Lowering his signature voice, Prince winked towards me. I didn't know what to think once more, but let my husband answer. I could only imagine what Momma would've said long before his big-time question. I waited, curious. Only time would tell me what happened for these two.

"How?" My eyes narrowed. There was no other choice once again. How could this man already know such a profound answer from my hero? Momma had done so much for me, of course. We both knew that she'd give anything to make me happy.

"I told her about my feelings for you early. One of the first things she said to me was: I trust you more than anyone else. You actually care about us, boy." Prince detailed his own conversation with my mother. Questions already jumbled for me.

"What else did she say?" I asked, still holding his palm. Our rings still beamed under this studio lighting. Nothing else mattered. I wanted to learn everything. This could've been one of the last talks that Prince had with my mother for all I knew.

"If you can believe it, your mother actually didn't trust Mike to an extent. She told me that his squeaky-clean image wasn't realistic and she already noticed red flags before you could." Prince then lowered his voice again and I knew he was serious.

"What red flags?" I questioned back, volleying to learn more and more details. Prince smirked, but wouldn't smile to make me laugh this time around. Something wasn't right. I knew it. He wouldn't fall silent otherwise. I'd known him for too long.

"Your mother was hesitant about a possible relationship with Michael. You're headstrong like me and Mike is the type of person who likes to control pretty much everything. He probably would've asked you to convert religions at some point too, which wouldn't fit at all." My husband cringed, but we both knew that he was right.

To be honest, Mike planned almost everything around him. I always knew early on if you didn't fit the Jackson puzzle, consider yourself gone. It wasn't long before I realized that I'd dodged a bullet, even if Michael claimed to care about me so much.

At least Prince allowed me to be myself.