~Michael's POV
We decided to just take a portion of the dangerous concert and perform it for the Super Bowl. "Is Camille's bag packed? Do we have enough diapers?" Rayne says running around the house. Camille hangs on to the crook of my neck as we waited at the door. "Baby, it's a 4 hour ride... I think we'll be ok." I assure her.
"Are you sure Mike, because we won't be home for two days. I just wanna make sure." She stops, holding on to an unopened packet of diapers.
I chuckle at how frantic she's being. "If it makes you feel better, bring the extra diapers. But we have to go... The car is running." I say walking out to the truck.
I strap Camille in as she giggles. "Your mommy is going crazy over you." I tease. "I can't wait for you to see daddy perform."
"I brought extra diapers and a couple extra juice boxes. Don't judge me. I just wanna be prepared." She says in response to my subtle eye roll.
As we drove down the long road to Pasadena, the radio station we were listening to decided to play 2300 Jackson Street, out of all things. I groan at Rayne's reaction.
"Bill turn it up!" She says excitedly.
"Oh please don't." I sigh, placing my hand in my head. "Why do you enjoy this song so much?" I ask.
"This is the only song where you and all of your siblings sing together."
"Everyone except Latoya.." I say.
"That's your Uncle Jermaine singing, That's Uncle Jackie! That's Uncle Tito.. Uncle Randy and Aunt Rebbie..." Rayne points out to Camille.
"Daddy!" Camille yells out when she hears my small line. I chuckle "She knows her daddy."
"Clearly." Rayne laughs. "And that's Auntie Janet singing." She continues.
I started laughing louder as I recalled Jermaine and I battling over the adlibs. "He wanted to sing over me so bad, I wasn't even putting in effort."
"You were just being a pain in the butt." Rayne giggles.
"2300 Jackson street. Always hoooome." I sing along, snapping. "You know I always wonder what life would've been like had we not been famous. Who knows where we'd be. Would we still be in Gary?"
"You guys were destined to be famous. There were too many of you for at least one of you to make it big." Rayne giggles. "Just so happens all of you have talent" she shrugs.
"You're right about that, 10 kids...well 9. One of us had to be talented." I agree. "Maybe when 'Millie' gets older, I'll take her down there. When she's old enough to understand."
***
Finally we get to the hotel in Pasadena, California. Rayne grabs Camille while Bill and Leroy grab our bags to bring inside. I meet in one of the other rooms with Kenny Ortega and the rest of the production team for the show.
"Kenny, I had an idea for the show. It'll give the crowd some participation. We'll give the audience a card to hold up before 'Heal The World' it will show drawings from the children of the world. I'll do a small speech and we'll start."
"That seems doable." Kenny agrees.
I finished up the meeting and headed back to my room with Rayne and 'Millie'. Camille sat in front of the television eating and watching a kids show quietly while Rayne went through her suitcase.
"Mike, Rebbie called and wants you to give a her a call back." Rayne says.
I frown, "how'd Rebbie call? Who's number does she have?"
"Mine. So your family can always get in contact with you. I didn't forget. I told you, you need to be closer to them. Especially with Camille being here, she needs to know her aunts and uncles."
I sigh, irritatedly. "Did she say why? Is it important or can it wait a few...years?"
She turns to give a disappointed look. "Michael." She hands me her cellphone, "call her back."
"It's probably something unimportant, or they want me to give Joseph some money. I'm gonna regret this phone call." I exhale sharply, grabbing the phone.
"Hey Rebbie.. You called?" I ask.
"Yeah... Mother has made a drastic decision.. Joh'vonnie is moving in with mother." Rebbie says calmly.
"What? Joh'vonnie? Mother is letting her live in Havenhurst?" I reply. "Why?"
"Well, Joh' has fallen on hard times. I'm the only one that keeps in contact with our sister..She told me she's been going through somethings..so I talked to mother and mother agreed. I want you guys to come and greet her. She sounds really down and I want her to know she has family backing her."
"No. I don't think so. I'm sorry Rebbie, I've never looked at Joh'Vonnie as family. I have a performance to prepare for I can't do this. What does Janet think of this? She's not a fan of Joh'Vonnie either..."
Rebbie sighs, "She's just as impossible as you. She wants no part. The rest of the boys are coming. But of course you two are being brats.."
"It's not being a brat, she's not family." I cross my arms stubbornly.
"Joseph says she's family..but fine Michael." She hangs up swiftly.
I scoff and hand Rayne her phone back.
She stared at me wide eyed, "can I ask who's Joh'Vonnie?"
"My 'sister'" I say holding up air quotes.
"Sister?" Rayne frowns.
I nod, "Joseph used to step out on Mother whenever we'd go out to perform and during the 70's, before you and I met, he got a woman pregnant. We didn't learn about her until she was, maybe 13. But she's not my sister. Joseph cheated on mother.. That's the only reason she's here."
"So you guys don't claim her? Even though she's Joseph's daughter?"
"Rebbie does. Jackie, Tito, Randy and Marlon are open to it. Jermaine doesn't really care, he'll claim her sometimes. Latoya, Janet and I are on the same page.." I explain.
Rayne looked at me for a while and shook her head. "That's kinda unfair.." She blurts.
"What do you mean?" I frown.
"I mean it sounds like you and Janet are mad at Joh'Vonnie because of Joseph.. It doesn't seem fair. She didn't ask to be here." Rayne explains.
"I mean Joseph has no problem showing her affection, she calls him daddy. That's what's not fair. Who does she think she is calling our father 'Daddy'? we can't even do that.. We've been working for his love since we were kids."
"I get that, but it sounds like you're more angry at Joseph. You guys are taking your ill feelings out on her. That's not fair." Rayne says picking up Camille. "If you were to cheat on me and, God forbid, have a kid outside of our relationship. I'd want Camille to know her sibling."
I raise my eyebrow, "you don't even know her.. Why are you on her side?"
"I'm not on anyone's side. I just think it's unfair. I'm thinking logically. You shouldn't blame her for your anger to Joseph." She shrugs, placing Camille to sleep on the bed.
I sat there thinking for a while, Rayne was kinda right but I still reserved my feelings for Joh'Vonnie. Rayne doesn't understand what we go through for Joseph to show us any kind of emotion.
"You're quiet because you know I'm right." She adds, heading into the bathroom.
"Whatever." I mumble. I lean back and lay next to my daughter, watching her sleep soundly. "You will never call me by my first name. I'll always be daddy to you and you will always know how much I love you."
Tomorrow was gonna be a big day for me and Millie, this was gonna be her first time seeing me perform live, though she may not understand now, I know she'll remember forever.
Sorry for such a short chapter, but what do you guys think about Joh'Vonnie moving in with Katherine? How do you think the siblings are gonna react? Leave comments and votes!