I See Your Soul [An Original Michael Jackson Love Story] ✔

Chapter 39: For Us

For Michael, it was impossible to take his eyes away from the beautiful girl across the dinner table. As his body continued to relax, numbed by the mild drugs and slow sips of champagne, his mind drifted away.

He pictured them together, her with her hair and makeup just like tonight, but dressed in white. The same gown her mother wore in the photo at Nicole's childhood home. He imagined whisking her away on a honeymoon. Where would she want to go? An island, maybe? They would play on the beach every day, eating exotic fruits, sipping frozen cocktails as their skin grew darker shades of ebony. The hotel suite would have a stunning view of the saltwater ocean. They'd make love with the sunrise every morning--

His thoughts were interrupted by the first course placed delicately before them. A cucumber and lobster salad. Michael studied her, as Nicole studied her plate, deconstructing and tasting each element, testing her knowledge of ingredients. She talked about the food in a way that didn't interest him, but he smiled anyway, pretending to focus on her words, not just the glow of her bare shoulders and exposed chest. With a long sip of his drink, his mind took him away again.

They would move out, obviously, but not too far from Mother. He wondered how long renovations would take on their dream home. At least 6 months? They could stay at the condo until then, but should start looking for a place right away! They would need lots of space-- land for the animals, a grand kitchen, a library with tall ceilings, and plenty of bedrooms for the children. They should conceive right away too! No need to take the pill once they've married. LaToya and Janet would love to babysit on days Nicole would be in class... though infancy is the most crucial time for children to be with their parents... No, Nicole's schooling would have to wait. She'd surely agree once he showed her some parenting textbooks on baby brain development. Not too long though, just until the children could be left with a nanny. With ten babies, she'd be back in school by--

Michael's face contorted as he tried to calculate the birth year of each imaginary child and the eventual date Nicole would be able to return as a student. Then he heard Nicole laugh, releasing him from his trance.

Nicole: What are you thinking about? You're so focused, you look like you're trying to make your glass levitate.

Michael: Oh! Uh, nothing really-- When does the semester return for you?

Nicole: Second week of January. I'm pretty excited. The English department is offering a study abroad course in London next year. I think I'd really like to go--

London, of course! Rich with history and romance and new foods, she'd love it there! A honeymoon would be ten times better than studying abroad anyway. No grades or tours with the whole class, just the two of them, lost together in a foreign city--

Nicole: And that way we could still see each other for New Years. You know, kiss at midnight and all that... What do you think?

Michael: ... Pardon?