Chapter 14
1681 Words
I was all dressed and ready to bolt out of there. Just as soon as that nurse gave me the discharge papers to leave. I sigh as I pace the floors. Someone comes in. I expected it to be the nurse, a guard or Kendall.
I look up to see Michael smiling at me. I gasp as my heart leaps in my throat. It was time for good-bye. At least I guess doing this in person would give us both closure.
This was going to be worse then ripping off a hospital band aide. Before I could protest, I am in his embrace. He holds me close to him. I close my eyes and allow it to happen one more time.
"Renee why did you do that? You could have been killed? I know you were worried about me. He would have been caught! I do not know what I would have done if something happened to you!" he breathlessly words out. I feel him rubbing my back gently as he holds me. I hold back tears. Tears could wait until later.
I pull back to look into that handsome face. "Michael this marriage is not real. And I did what I had to do. I would do anything for you. Now I am going to set you free. I asked Kendall to draw up our divorce papers. And you can get back to your normal life once more" I ramble out. "I will send for my things at Neverland later. I won't go back today"
He looks stunned. He does not say another word. "I do not understand. I thought we agreed to begin to date one another?" he asks me.
"I know Michael, so you can stop giving me pity dates. I overheard you with Kendall this afternoon" I say softly. "I know how you really feel, I accept that. I can't make someone want to be with me. So, it is time for me to go"
He pulls me back in his arms. He shakes his head. "It is clear you did not hear the whole conversation. Other wise you would not be saying that to me right now" he replies to me.
Kendall comes in. "Hi guys! They say Renee can leave at any time now!" she tells us cheerfully.
"Tell her. Tell her what I said so she won't leave me!" he demands to Kendall sternly.
"Tell her what Michael?" she wants to know.
"What I did not overhead between you two" I sigh.
"He admitted to me that he is in love with you. What a great friend you are to him. He did not believe me that you admitted that you were in love with him. He could not see how you could love someone like him. He said if he told you and he ruined the friendship he could not bare to lose you. That was the part you did not hear" she explains to me. "I am leaving now. This is way to private for me to meddle in. Renee you two have a lot to say to one another. Listen to Michael" she chuckles softly before seeing herself out of there.
Stunned I can't look him in the eyes. My heart flutters with hope. He loved me?? "Look at me Renee" he demands to me. He lifts my chin up so that our eyes meet. "I love you too. I have been in love with you for years. I figured you did not feel the same way. And I did not want to scare you away by putting pressure on love" he rambles out.
"You really love me?" I squeak out as happy tears water in my eyes. He nods. Happy tears are in his eyes. He kisses my lips.
"I am deeply head over heels in love with you" he whispers after the kiss was over.
Our eyes are looking only at one another. "I love you too. I have for so long. I was scared to admit it to" I say joyfully.
"I knew once we shared that first kiss, I felt something there. That was why I suggested dating. I wanted to kiss you again. I was hoping you would admit your feelings to me on the date. But you did not budge. You sure are stubborn" he says with a happy smile. "You're not leaving me, right? No divorce papers?" he questions.
I shake my head no. "No divorce. I adore you. I love you so much"
He holds me closer to him. "It is time to take you home Mrs. Jackson"
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I leave the hospital with Michael. He is at my side leading me out of there. The guards are with us. A crowd us outside my doors when we leave. Some people are waving and cheering. All eyes are on us as we are leaving.
A limo waits for us outside there. Michael helps me get in. We are off to Neverland. Michael holds me so close to him in the limo. I have all his attention on me. His lips fall to mine, as I still process in my head that he loved me.
We get back to Neverland soon after. Michael cuddles with me on the couch there. He places a blanket on our laps. I lean into him. Enjoying this moment. I listen to his heart beat as I rest in his embrace. I always felt safe when I was with him. I felt comfort in his arms. Now I had a right to be here whenever I wanted to be.
"We could travel now. We can go out of the country" I hear him offer.
I glance up at him. I shake my head. "I want to stay home with you" I tell him. The scar. It flashes in my mind. "Michael, I do not want others to see that scar until we can see if it will heal" I worry.
"Babe you can't let a scar stop you from living your life. That was what you told me after the Pepsi ad. Remember when you would not leave my side after I suffered from burns. You would not leave. You helped me be find the courage to face the world again. I have scars too!" he reminds me as he kisses my forehead.
"I was the only one you would allow to see you while you were healing. Not that you could have kept me away. I was so scared when I watched from back stage and you were caught on fire" I mutter as the horrid memory comes rushing back at me.
"I know how the scar feels. You feel everyone is looking right at it. Everyone wants to talk about it. But you saved my life. That was so brave of you for what you overcame for me. I could not go after you when you left here. I knew what you were up then I would have stopped you" he points out. "Never do something that crazy again honey"
"I am sorry I scared you Michael. But I am not sorry for what I did. It needed to be done. I had to get the confession or Toby was going to keep attacking other women" I remind Michael.
"Did he try to rape you?" he demands to know.
I nod. "He tried to kill me. When I tried to fight him off he used the knife on me. He said if I moved more and fought him then he was going to just kill me off there. Then Kendall got there. She had followed me" I sigh. I shiver at the memory.
"I want to kill that asshole!" he mutters angrily under his breath.
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"He said you always got the girls. And whenever someone found out who he worked for Michael was all the girls would talk about. He was punishing the girls for wanting you" I explain. "He has a twisted sick mind" I sigh.
"I am glad he is behind bars. And you are safe in my arms again" he tells me. He kisses my forehead again. "You need your rest after all that" he lays back into the couch. I cuddle on his chest. "I love you so much baby. When you are up to celebrating then I am going to show you how much love I have to give you" he says softly.
"I love you too" I tell him. "I love you Michael with all my heart"
I was not sure how long I was sleeping there in his arms. Kendall comes by.
"Hi guys. Sorry to bother you. I picked up Renee's pain meds. Here hon" she says to me as she hands me a glass of water and a pill. I sit up to take the pill. I wince as some pain comes rushing through my body.
"Thanks for getting that Kendall" Michael yawns.
"Welcome home girl. Have a good night guys. Oh, Renee you are a hero. It is all over the news. I brought magazines!" she says as she leaves a stack of magazines on the table then takes off.
I wince as I lay back with Michael. He rubs my back. "Are you hurting babe?" he asks me.
I nod. "Some" I admit.
He takes me off the long couch after he gets up. We head to his bedroom. He lays me down on his bed. He climbs in with me. He pulls me back in his embrace. I rest in his arms. Our fingers lace together. He leads my hand up to his as does he kisses the top of my hand.
"We waisted so much time trying to hide what we felt for one another. You know when Janet told me that she saw the whole time that you had been in love with me it gave me hope that you might feel the same. I asked you about it, but you did not admit a thing" he laughs.
"Michael I am sorry. I wish I had" I giggle.
"No more worries. Get some rest honey. They we have all the time in the world to begin celebrating" he says softly to me. "My love" he says to me as I feel my body begin to relax in slumber.
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- Writer
