We're getting closer to the end guys 😭 only 5 chapters to go!

So excited to be finishing but really sad. I love how this book turned out. Very bittersweet.

Let me know if you have an idea of where this is headed! Also there's a lot of drama in this and the next chapter, kinda missed it lol

Don't forget to comment & vote ❤️

Love,
~ShoamEmily

~

2nd of November, 2009
Michael is 51, Angela is 45, and Jake is 46

Jake: Adam stopped the car in front of a small apartment building in Los Olivos, after he picked Bill and I up from the airport.

"This is where you'll be staying from now on. Mr. Jackson got the condo on the last floor, it's yours," Adam turned to me. "Three rules: no alcohol, no sketchy dealers. As for women, we'll need to run a background check on them before they come in here. I've signed you up for AA meetings in Santa Ynez, you'll go to them once a week, and you'll have a sponsor. Bill will stay with you, he'll take you anywhere you want to go, but he will report back to me if you step out of line, understood?"

"What about Lily and Eric? When can I see them?" I asked eagerly.

"Mr. and Mrs. Jackson said that this upcoming month is a test run for you. If you're able to stay clean for a month, I'll bring them and Mrs. Jackson." he answered.

I nodded, sighing. "How is she? Angie?"

"I can't say, Mr. Parker."

"Why not?"

Adam scoffed. "Because I can't. You'll see her in a month."

He handed Bill the keys to the apartment, helped us get our things out of the car, then drove off.

When we stepped inside, I was blown away. It was only a two-bedroom, but it was huge. All furnished and brand new, it was the nicest apartment I've been in.

"I'm gonna go grab us dinner. Don't do anything stupid." Bill ordered.

When he left, I leaned back on the couch the turned on the TV.

Just one more month to go.

~

Michael: Angela hovered above the toilet, hurling loudly.

"Gosh, babe... What can I get you?" I rubbed her back as I held her hair up.

About to respond, she lifted her head up a bit, but another wave stopped her.

She started her chemotherapy a couple of days ago. For now, she received pills, and will start a stronger treatment in a couple of weeks at the hospital.

We only came back last week yet Dr. Brent, who agreed to come treat her here in California, insisted she'd start as soon as possible.

"Okay, I think I'm done..." my wife slowly stood up. "I feel like shit."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"No, but I think I'll just go lay down for a while."

Turning to brush her teeth, she smiled slightly at me through the mirror. When she was done, she hugged me and inhaled deeply.

"Just six months of this, right?" she whispered.

"Six months, then you'll be better." I kissed her temple.

"If it works."

"It will."

Angela nodded into my chest, saying she was going for her nap.

I sighed and took out my phone to call Adam, to make sure Jake and Bill were settling in alright.

~

My babies giggled as we were playing a little game of tag. They were all trying to catch me.

Leo was running after his three siblings, oblivious to what was actually going on, and was just happy to be included.

"Dad, where's mom?" Lily came up to us.

"She's napping, Lil," I stopped in my tracks. "Can I help?"

"Um, she promised to do homework with me... I can wait for her to wake up. Thanks, dad."

She went to leave, but then turned back. "Is she okay, dad? Because she's been off since her surgery, and Prince has been acting kinda weird, too..."

We still haven't told the rest of the children about Angela's cancer, since she claimed we needed to wait a little longer.

It drove me crazy, the way she was stalling, as if it was going to change anything. Still, she begged to wait another week before we tell everyone.

"Your mom is just not feeling too well, sweetheart." I lied.

"I know that, but why?" Lily rolled her eyes.

"We'll tell you soon, okay?"

"Then why does Prince get to know now?"

Stumped, I didn't know how to answer that.

"Whatever," she snickered. "I'll just go do homework by myself, I guess."

Stomping upstairs and clearly annoyed, I heard the girls' bedroom door slam shut.

"Why is Lily mad, daddy?" Jared questioned innocently.

I sighed, "Because I wasn't telling her the truth."

"But you and mommy always tell us not to lie." Rose joined in.

"We do, huh?" I crouched down to their level. "How about you two find Grace and call her here? I'm gonna talk to mommy."

They nodded, running awkwardly up the stairs to where Grace was.

~

"Angie, babe?" I said into our dark bedroom as I opened the door.

I could see a bit of a lump in the sheets, so I made my way over to the bed.

Angela's hair peeked out from under the blanket, and I slowly got in next to her.

"Mike?" she sighed, her blue eyes shining in the darkness.

"Did you get any sleep?" I asked.

"A little..." she answered, pulling the blanket away from her.

I kissed her forehead, surprised by how hot it was. "You're burning up."

"Another side effect from the chemo, Dr. Brent said it should go away in a week."

"You wanna get out of bed? The kids are asking about you..."

"Not really, but I probably should, right?" she sat up.

I helped her walk to the bathroom, where another round of nausea got to her. And when she was done, I made her take a shower, which she persisted on taking alone.

After that, my wife got dressed, never leaving my sight.

"Let's get you something to eat." I suggested.

"Why? So I can throw it up later?"

"Angie, this is temporary, remember? You have to keep eating."

"Fine," she caved. "Something small. Maybe some crackers."

I smiled, taking her into the kitchen. Our chef was preparing dinner, and offered us leftovers from lunch.

Angela hurried to decline, shooing me away when I tried helping her find the crackers in the pantry.

"Michael, I can still do stuff on my own. Are you gonna be glued to my ass for six months now?"

"Probably, but you like that I'm glued to your ass." I pinched one of her cute butt cheeks.

Sneering, she stood on her tiptoes to reach for the saltine crackers. Just as she grabbed them, she lost her balance a bit. I hurried to catch her before she tripped.

"See?" I squeezed her hips.

"You just love to be right all the time, don't you?" she turned to me, never getting out of my hold.

"Maybe..."

I leaned down to kiss her. But right when our lips were about to touch, Angela backed away.

She covered her mouth, and ran out of the kitchen as fast as she could.

I looked at our chef, excusing myself, then followed my wife only to find her in the nearest bathroom.

Loud coughs left her mouth, making me grab her hair, "Let it out, babe. I'm right here."

Since she didn't eat today, there wasn't anything for her to actually throw up, so we stayed like that until her nausea went away.

All I could do was rub her back as she heaved for 15 whole minutes.

"Mommy?" Lily's voice came from the door.

"Lily, this isn't a good time." I said.

"What's wrong with you?" she completely ignored me. Instead, she walked in, and looked directly at her mother.

"Baby, i- it's nothing-" Angela tried to say.

Lily groaned loudly, "Stop lying to me! I know something's wrong!"

My wife flinched, her eyes red with tears.

"Look at you, mom! You're skinny, you're sick all the time, you're always in bed! Why are you lying to us?! You never lie to us, not like this!"

"Stop yelling, please, I can explain..."

But she only inhaled sharply before clutching the toilet again.

"Then explain!" our daughter demanded.

"Lily," I said sternly. "That's enough, can't you see your mom doesn't need this right now? Go wait outside, in the yard. We'll be right there, we could all use some air."

"But-"

"No 'buts'. Out."

Once she was gone, Angela finally let it all out and threw up the last of her gastric juices.

I just soothed her, wondering what the hell was going through Lily's head.

~

Jake: Bill and I were munching away on the Chinese he got us.

The TV was blaring with some news channel I wasn't paying attention to, and honestly I had enough of it, but Bill insisted.

Suddenly, a woman's voice on the TV caught my attention. "On other news, after their long holiday in Europe, it seems as if the Jacksons have disappeared back into their golden cage at Neverland Ranch, cementing the fact that something could seriously be going on with Angela Jackson. Fans are concerned with her health, due to her appearance declining over the passing months. Sources say the King of Pop's wife might be dealing with something serious..."

"Turn that off, will you?" I groaned.

"Sorry." Bill shrugged and switched the channel.

I sighed, losing my appetite. Angie's sick and I'm stuck here, so close, yet so far away. Away from her, from my kids, who probably need me too.

"Mr. Parker?" I heard Bill again as he snapped me out of my thoughts. "Mr. Parker, your phone is ringing."

"Huh?"

"Your phone."

When I looked at it, there was an unknown number on the screen. Hesitantly, I picked up.

"Hello?"

"Daddy?"

Lily. How I missed her voice.

"Pumpkin," I breathed. "Hey, how are you? I missed you..."

"Yeah, I missed you, too... Listen, do you know what's up with mom? She's been really sick lately." she said.

I stayed silent because I didn't know what to say.

"Daddy? Please tell me. I just want to know what's going on..." my daughter begged.

I sighed. How can I refuse her when she's begging?

"Okay, well, your mom... She has cancer."

"Mom has w- what?"

I could hear her crying now, and it made me regret even saying anything.

There was some commotion on her end, both Angela's and Michael's voices sounded furious.

"Lily, listen, your mom loves you. If she didn't tell you it's because she didn't know how to. Your mom and Michael love you very much, you got that, Pumpkin? And I love you. It's all gonna be fine." I promised.

"Thanks, daddy..." Lily mumbled, something about her tone was off. "Love you, too."

The call ended, leaving me dumbfounded.

What the hell did I just do?

~

"Bill, please!" I threw my hands in the air. "Just give me the keys, I'll take myself to Neverland."

The bodyguard laughed and rolled his eyes. "You are not going anywhere, Parker. You want me to lose my job or somethin'?"

"It'll make my life a hell of a lot easier."

"Too bad. I'm not risking it, now move away from the TV."

"You're such an asshole. I just want to get to my kid, please! And fix things with Mike and Angie because they definitely hate me even more now-"

"Listen, Parker," Bill said. "Just because you screwed up with your family, don't mean I gotta lose my job, got it? Sit your ass down."

I groaned, "Come on, man! I am begging here."

He glanced away from the TV to look at me again.

"Fine. Get ready, we're leaving in 5." he cracked.

~

Angela: "You didn't have to raise your voice at her, Mike." I said as we walked out through the doors that lead to our giant backyard.

Birds were still chirping outside, and the afternoon air seemed so fresh. There were even some ducks by the beautiful Neverland ponds.

I really should get out of bed more.

"I didn't. And Lily was the one yelling at you, Ange," he sighed. "Since when does she yell? But honestly, I can't blame her, babe... She knows something is going on and she won't take any of our stories anymore."

"We're telling them next week. She'll be fine until then. Lily? Where are you, baby?" I called.

Looking out, I couldn't see her anywhere nearby. Michael even walked a few steps towards the pool, but she wasn't there, either.

Adam walked by, so I asked him if he had seen my daughter anywhere.

"I think I saw her talking to Javon just now, out front." he said.

"What? Why?"

"I don't know, ma'am, I only passed by there."

I grabbed Michael's hand instantly, pulling him through the house, almost yanking the front door open when we stopped in front of it.

Like Adam said, Lily really was talking to Javon. His phone was pressed to her ear, as if she waited for someone to pick up.

"Daddy?" she said quietly.

No, she can't talk to Jake now. Not today, he just got back to California.

"Javon, what the hell are you doing?!" Michael let go of my hand. His face was red as a tomato, the anger clear in his eyes.

He came in between Javon and Lily, shoving him a bit.

"Daddy, how are you?" Lily was biting her nails, just like I do when I'm nervous. "Yeah, I missed you, too... Listen, do you know what's up with mom? She's been really sick lately..."

I let out an accidental gasp. "Lily, give me the phone, now."

But my daughter ignored me and went back to talk to Jake.

"Daddy? Please tell me. I just want to know what's going on..."

Her expression change in seconds, from nervous to sad, then disappointed. Those blue eyes I loved so much filled with tears. "Mom has w- what?"

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, sniffling loudly.

"Thanks, daddy... Love you, too." she hung up.

"Lily, wait..." I tried reaching for her, but she backed away.

My heart felt heavy in my chest as I watched her run inside.

I breathed in and out to try and calm myself down.

"Mrs. Jackson, are you okay?" Adam said, his voice distant. I felt so weak again, my head spinning.

He caught me before I fell. Michael rushed over to us, telling the bodyguard to take me inside.

"M- Mike, Lily..." I managed to mumble.

"I'll go see where she is, okay? You go rest. Adam, make sure she gets water and something to eat." Michael ordered, quickly leaving to find our daughter.

~

"Please, Adam, let me go see what's going on." I pleaded.

He shook his head. "Mr. Jackson said you have to stay in bed. How are those crackers?"

"Bland and boring."

"As long as you let me do my job, bland and boring is fine with me."

Rolling my eyes, I took another bite. At least I'm eating something.

Adam tried not to glance at my nightstand, where my chemotherapy pills stood out in the open for anyone to see.

I noticed a little frown form on his worried face, but he only shook it off.

"They're just pills, you know." I told him.

"Sorry for staring. I swear I'm more professional than this... It's just that, uh, my mom died a couple years ago, from breast cancer. Seeing you go through the same thing is bringing back some difficult memories."

"Gosh... I'm sorry. If being around me is hard, I can tell Michael to reassign you. I'm pretty sure Javon will be fired soon, anyways, so you could replace him."

"No, I kinda enjoy being your bodyguard, Mrs. Jackson... Sure, I liked the promotion in London, but I like your company more. And, you're gonna need me there to entertain you during all those chemo treatments." Adam winked.

I laughed, "Well, I'll be glad to have you there."

Just then, Michael came in. The instant I looked at him, I knew something was seriously wrong.

"What happened? Where's Lily?" I sat up.

"Adam, can you give us a minute?" he asked the bodyguard, who agreed.

Once he was gone, my husband came to sit next to me on the bed and took both my hands in his.

"Ange, we looked all over... We couldn't find her anywhere. Lily, she, um... She's gone."