Celebrity: Being Adopted 8

Chapter 8

As Michael opened up the door, afraid in what he would find, he was given the shock of his life. There was no one in the room but her and now him. A thousand things went through him mind in that one second as he opened the door. Was his daughter fearing for her life because of his father, was she freaking out over perhaps seeing a bug outside, was she screaming because somehow the up to the date security wasn’t good enough to keep predators away from the house. There were just too many variables to think of and thinking his father was in the room, harming her was one that he hated to think of but it was the truth. He didn’t want his father anywhere near his daughter.

“Annabelle!” he yelled as his boot took the first click step into the bathroom.

But there before his very eyes was his little girl in the bathtub, screaming out, with her eyes tightly closed. She wasn’t able to make out the sound of her Daddy’s voice.

“Oh dear!” Katherine gasped as she stepped up beside her son. She recognized the signs perfectly. Just seeing how the girl was sitting in the tub, hair covered in soap as well as her hands, but her eyes were tightly closed, she knew. Annabelle had gotten soap into her eyes. And now her eyes were stinging. “Honey, she has soap in her eyes.”

Michael’s body slightly relaxed at the sound of his mother’s words. So that was what got his little Annie all screamy. Removing his jacket, he stepped further into the room, going over to the tub. Before getting to the tub, he stopped by the little linen closet in the bathroom, taking out a face cloth, wetting it down with cold water. With a hand towards her back, he placed the cloth against her eyes and then began singing softly, of her favorite song.

Her body suddenly stopped moving and her tears ceased immediately. With not able to see, her hands rose up to rest against his arm, getting his shirt wet. Michael knew his clothes were going to get wet and it didn’t bother him in the least. He had been wet before with clothes on. As soon as her body was completely calm, he removed the cloth.

“Daddy,” she whimpered. “It hurts.”

“I know it does, honey,” he said very gently. “I want you to listen very carefully now. There are two things you can either do. You can blink several times to work out the sting or you can splash water into your face.”

“But it hurts…” she whimpered.

“Sweetie, dear,” Katherine said politely. “Listen to Daddy. He knows what’s best for you.”

Annabelle dipped forward a bit, releasing Michael’s arm. Michael took this time to step back, not wanting to get anymore wet than he needed to. All the while his eyes remained on Annabelle’s form as she cupped her hands, splashing water into her face.

Soon Katherine stepped further into the bathroom, grabbing a small hand towel. “Here sweetie, dry your eyes with this.”

Annabelle grabbed the towel and rubbed her eyes dried.

“I’ll be in the next room,” Michael announced as he stepped away and into the hallway, boots clicking.” He lightly shut the door, allowing his mother to help finish bathing his sweet girl.

He leaned against the wall, near by the bathroom door. He wasn’t leaning on the door long when his father came down the hall.

“I heard screaming,” Joe stated.

“Annabelle only got soap in her eyes,” Michael explained.

Joe snorted. “The child should just grow up and get used to it.”

Michael’s eyes narrowed in annoyance. “Joseph, just because you were hard on us, doesn’t mean you get that same privilege to my children.”

“She isn’t your child,” Joseph argued.

“She is my daughter! And it doesn’t matter that she isn’t a Jackson by blood,” Michael answered, crossing his arms. “If family really had mattered to you that much, then you shouldn’t gone out and made another family when you already have one. So don’t you are ‘dare’ tell me how to live my life.”

Joseph knew who Michael was referring to and it royally ticked him off to hear such resentment towards his own blood. But knowing who and what Michael was, Joseph knew he couldn’t touch his son in any way shape or form. Wanting to retort a comment back Joseph got ready to say something when the bathroom door opened and out came the child with a smile on her face.

“Daddy!” she squealed in happiness.

Michael beamed as he bent his knees to take Annie into his waiting arms. Her small arms wrapped around his neck as she hugged him.

“I missed you Daddy,” she said.

“And I have missed you,” he answered back. “I have thought about you the whole time.”

Katherine exited the bathroom as well and smiled at her son. “She has been excited to see you all morning.”

Michael smiled, kissing Annabelle’s check. “And I have been excited to see you. Now, why don’t we go and do something?”

“Good idea!” she grinned.

Her arms tightened around her neck indicating she didn’t want to let. “Daddy, I hated you being away.”

“I know you did sweetie. I hated having you to be away from me. But my work was important and now it’s over and next year I’ll be doing a set of concerts.”

“Cool! Can I go?” She gave a hopeful look in her eyes.

The singer lightly laughed. “Of course. There is no way I will be leaving you behind again.”

Annabelle squealed in delight. “Yey!” She relaxed her arms, allowing Michael to set her back down on the floor.

The two, hand in hand, walked towards the foyer. Michael’s parents walked behind them. Joe had a scowl on his face. He really disapproved of Michael adopting the girl. Yes, he felt sorry for her situation. No father should do what her father did, but there were thousands of children who suffered in what Annabelle suffered with everyday and they were able to learn to deal. Joe kept wondering what made Annabelle so special?

As they approached the foyer, Annabelle could see a small gift bag sitting on the floor. “Daddy, what’s that?” she asked, pointing.

Michael grinned. “Why don’t you go and look it over?”

Letting go of her Daddy’s hand, Annabelle rushed over to the gift bag. Just from Michael’s words, she didn’t need to be told twice the gift was for her. She pulled out the tissue from inside the bag and soon pulled out a brown teddy bear wearing a ‘I love NY’ t-shirt.

Her eyes bugged out of her head in joy. “Daddy! I love it!” She hugged the bear tight against her body.

“I’m glad you do,” he smiled. “When I saw that, I thought of you. Now, let’s go and have some fun.”

Annabelle turned her big eyes up to Michael and grinned. She was greatly looking forward to having fun with her daddy.

-

Spending time with her Daddy was a dream come true. She was scared at first, wondering if Michael would question her about her wetting the bed, but he never said anything to her which was quite a relief. Before when she would wet the bed, she would get a beating and it frightened her to no end. But when Grandma Katherine caught her, she didn’t get the beating that she was expecting. Instead Grandma Katherine was very kind and said it was all right, but not to try and make a habit out of it. Never once did she raise her voice.

As it began to get on dinnertime, Michael decided to call it quits on playing with his adopted his daughter. The two had got into a game of Monopoly and Katherine was playing too. He turned to her. “Sweetie, why don’t you go play by yourself for a little bit. Grandma Katherine and I have some things to discuss that are not good for little girl ears.”

Annabelle gave a small frown. “Ok…” she said quietly. She walked away, heading to the living room to put on her Daddy’s music and dance to the music.

He shook his head, wishing he could comfort her but there were some important things he needed to talk to his mother about and he didn’t want his Annie to hear it. She had been through too much and she didn’t need to hear what she already knew or had done.

“What is it son?” Katherine said as she watched the girl go into the next room to play Michael’s music.

“Mother, I’m a bit worried. It’s strange. I’ve had her for a while now and not once did she wet the bed until staying here. I wonder what the problem is.”

“Dear, some children just have these problems and it’s often normal. Her traumatic past could be part of the reason.”

“I know, but Annie is different. She has lost something that she will never get back and there is nothing I can do about it.”

Katherine rested a hand on Michael’s shoulder. “Sweetheart, you are doing everything in your power to give that girl the childhood she deserves. Yes, what has happened to her is tragic. She loves you and you love her. You two are good for each other. But you know she could use a mother.”

Michael shrugged his mother’s hand off his shoulder as he walked towards the kitchen. Going straight to the fridge, he pulled out a bottle of orange juice and then went to the cupboards to get a glass. With the glass filled, he set the juice back in the fridge and went over to the table to sit.

“Mother, don’t get started on that again,” he said. When he walked to the kitchen, he could hear his mother’s footsteps walking in behind him. “I am happy being single. I don’t really need anyone right now.”

“Annabelle should have a female role model. You said yourself her mother died of a drug overdose. She has no one to look up to. I mean who will tell her later in life when her body begins to mature into a woman?”

Michael gulped. He never thought of that. Annabelle maybe six years old right now but in less than six years she will hit puberty and in that time, she will begin to grow into a woman. He took a deep breath. “Well maybe by then I will have found someone. There are so many women out there and I would want to choose someone who will love me as a person, not of my popularity and she will also love my daughter in return.”

“Yes, those are good qualities to look for. You shouldn’t have someone who will just be there for your money. But finding a woman who would not be greedy is hard to find. You are a famous celebrity.”

“I’m well aware of that,” he answered. “I can’t even step outside of Neverland without a flock of fans following me wherever I go. I can’t even go to a public park and just relax. And by adopting Annabelle, I have hindered her life as well.”

“But you have given her something back in return,” Katherine defended. “You have given her love and support where she needs it the most. She is beginning to see what your job is. She can’t miss something that she’s never had.”

Michael sighed. “You’re right on that one. She too never stepped foot in a park or been to a public school. Her stepfather never allowed her to go anywhere. She’s lost so much in six years.”

Katherine reached a hand over, covering Michael’s. “Dear, you can’t dwell on that. You are good for her and she loves you. She missed you. But you were right. Having her listen to your albums had helped calm her down.”

Michael nodded. “She has grown accustomed to hearing my voice.” A smile began to form. “She is a sweet kid.”

“Yes, she is.”

The two continued to talk for a little bit longer. When their conversation finally ended, Michael felt it was time to go and see what his daughter was up to. Heading to the living room, he stopped quickly to what was in front of him. There before his startling eyes was Annabelle watching the videotape of his performance from Motown 25th anniversary. His mother had made sure to record the show before going to watch the performance live. On the TV screen, Michael could see himself doing the famous Moonwalk for the first time and right there in the middle of the floor was Annabelle doing the Moonwalk as well.

He was flabbergasted. She had learnt the Moonwalk. He had never shown her the dance before and yet there she was doing in and nearly doing it just as perfect as he had done in the Motown special. Katherine came up behind him when she saw he hadn’t gone fully into the living room and she herself saw Annabelle dancing. She chuckled.

“I have been meaning to speak about that,” the older woman said. “Since yesterday after you said to put on your music for her. I showed her some of your previous performances and short films and she’s been hooked ever since.”

Michael turned to his mother and slightly pushed her out of the room, not wanting to disturb his Annie. “Mother,” he said quietly. “Are you telling me she’s learnt the Moonwalk in under a day?”

“Yes,” Katherine smiled. “She’s been even watching the short films and trying to mimic your dance moves. It’s so cute.”

Michael smiled, wishing he had been there to watch Annie dance to his music. “Perhaps I’ll see if she will dance for me then,” he stated. An idea then began to form in his head. If things were to go right, perhaps he could have her perform in one of his upcoming list of short films. He was thinking of making plans to make a short film on the song ‘Black or White’ and he was going to ask Mac if he wanted to be in it. If he did that, he would want other kids in it as well and Annabelle could be one of those kids. Of course he had to wait to see if the song itself would become popular.

Turning away from his mother, Michael walked fully into the living room. He was making sure this time to be seen. He could see Annabelle was in the process of rewinding the video to where the Moonwalk started.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

She swiftly turned startled. “Oh Daddy!” she gasped. “I was just watching your Motown 25 dance. That was so awesome. Grandma Katherine says it’s called the Moonwalk.”

“Yes, that’s what it’s called.” Michael’s eyes beamed with joy. “And let me guess. You keep rewinding the Moonwalk… for what reason?”

“I want to learn it and be as good as you Daddy!” she announced. “Daddy, you dance fast.”

Michael chuckled. “I’ve heard that from some people.”

“Is it true in what Uncle Tito says that you’ve been dancing since you were younger than me?”

With a blink, Michael walked over to the girl. “Well I did start dancing since before I was old enough to go to school.”

Annabelle listened carefully. She loved hearing things about her famous stepfather. “Daddy, when we go home, can you show me how to dance? Your videos are pretty quick for me to understand.”

Michael’s chuckle turned into a light laugh. “I’ll tell you what. Why don’t we go into the kitchen and help Grandma Katherine start on dinner and I’ll think about. We’ll stay here tonight and in the morning, first thing after breakfast, we’re heading back to Neverland.”

“Goody!” she squealed. “I can’t wait to see Bubbles!” She turned off the video and then the TV before swiftly rushing out of the room, heading to the kitchen.

Michael couldn’t stop the laughing as he watched her rush out. He too couldn’t wait to see Bubbles. He had wanted to take the Chimp with him, but the hotel he was going to stay didn’t want to deal with pets and he was only going to be gone for two days so ‘no pets’ didn’t really bother him that much. But of course when he would go on his concert tour, he would take Bubbles with him and he wasn’t going to care what anyone said. He was going to take the Chimp, no matter what.