Chapter 28: It's A Start
" There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love."-Bryant H. McGill.
Prince's shrill cries rouse me from sleep, and I slip out of bed lifting my three and half month old son into my arms.
" What's the matter handsome?" I ask, his crying turning to soft whimpers as he turns his face towards my chest.
" Dani, baby, let me take him you've barely slept," Michael murmurs, and I peer over my shoulder smiling softly.
" That's sweet Michael, but unless you can breast feed, you cant really take over," I murmur, Michael smiling at me softly. " Go back to sleep."
" No, no. I'll go back to sleep when you get too," he murmurs, crossing the room silently to sit next to me as I rock and feed our son. "Mmm, so tonight is the rehearsal, are you nervous?" I smile up at him, shaking my head.
" Not one bit. The flowers, cake, food, guest lists, I'm so glad its coming to an end."
" Come on, you loved every second of it," he teases and I giggle lightly.
" Yeah, maybe a little," I confess, shaking my head. Silence settle, the only sound coursing through the room comes from Prince eating. I look over at Michael, a far away look in his eyes as he stares out of the window. " What's on your mind Michael?"
He runs his hands over his hair, sighing heavily.
" Honestly, Joseph. I thought, no I hoped, that with Prince being here he would have changed a little, softened some," he says, unable to hide the heaviness of his voice.
" Michael, do you want Joseph at the wedding?" I ask, gently shifting Prince to my shoulder, patting his back lightly.
" No," he murmurs but the light in his eyes tells me differently. I let the subject go, knowing what I have to do.
" Janet, do you mind keeping an eye on Prince, I have to go out for a bit," I ask, handing Prince to Janet's waiting hands.
" I don't mind keeping an eye on the most handsome little guy in the world," Janet says pressing a soft kiss to Prince's head, " Where you going?"
" Last minute wedding details. If Michael asks tell him I will be back in an hour," I say, sliding my purse over my shoulder before brushing a kiss to my sons head.
I sit in front of Joseph's house, my hands tight on the steering wheel. Why am I doing this? The last run in I had with Joseph didn't exactly go well, it ended with me in tears. I had to do this, for Michael. He may have said no to wanting his father at the wedding, but his eyes told a totally different story. I slide out of the car gripping the keys tightly in my hand the feel of the metal digging into my skin causing me to wince slightly. I walk up the drive way slowly trying to remember to breathe. I knock on the door quickly, stepping back as I wait for someone to answer. I roll my eyes when there is no answer, turning to walk away.
" Why did I even bother," I murmur, walking towards my car.
" Daniella?" Joseph's gruff voice calls out. I turn slowly, the December sun making me squint. " What are you doing here?"
" I came to talk to you," I say, my voice remaining calm. " About Michael." Joseph's face turning angry.
" There's nothing to talk about as far as that boy is concerned," he says his voice filling with anger.
" Yes there is. He wants you at the wedding Joseph. He wants you to be a part of our son's life. I'm not going to argue with you. The rehearsal dinner is tonight, if you don't come then you are as big of a cold hearted bastard as I thought you were," I say, walking back to my car before he can say anything, hoping that he understands that not coming tonight would be one of the biggest mistakes of his life.
" Michael, Michael have you seen my skirt?" I call out, standing in the closet searching the shelves and hangers.
" Maybe," Michael calls out teasingly and I peer out of the doorway, smiling when I see Michael. My mouth goes dry at the sight of him. His red shirt laying open revealing his smooth skin. My skirt hanging off of his fingers a smirk on his lips. I walk towards him slowly, reaching out to take my skirt from his hand. He pulls it away, holding it above my head with one hand, his other arm snaking around my waist, pulling me into him. The kiss he presses to my lips sending fire coursing through my veins. I pull away, pressing kisses over his neck and chest, smiling at the groan that escapes from him.
" You know," he murmurs, lifting my face with his hands, " The rehearsal doesn't start for another hour." I recognize the glint in his eyes, and I smile broadly.
" Uh uh, Mr. Jackson. After all whose idea was it that we wait until we were married," I ask, wrapping my arms around his neck, " Even though I protested?"
" Mmm, maybe I changed my mind," he murmurs bringing his arms down around my waist. I pull my skirt from his fingers dancing out of his arms.
" Nice try, but it's not going to happen. Now get dressed, I have to finish getting ready," I say, laughing when Michael groans loudly falling back onto the bed as I close the door to the bathroom.
Two hours later the rehearsal dinner is in full swing, both sides of the family happily mingling as I sit holding Prince, watching.
" Dani, let me take my beautiful grandson, go talk, get something to eat," Mom says, taking Prince from me, holding him happily in the crook of her arms.
" Thanks Momma," I say, walking slowly to where Michael stands talking to Jackie and Randy. I wrap my arms around Michael's waist smiling at his brothers.
" There's our beautiful sister-in-law to be," Randy says, hugging me quickly.
" Get your own woman bro," Michael teases, pulling me from Randy playfully.
" Well, well, well," Jackie says, his eyes looking over Michael's shoulder.
" What?" Michael asks, looking over his shoulder. I step push up on my tip toes, catching sight of what has Michael and his brothers suddenly so quiet. Joseph stands separated from the crowd his eyes searching the crowd meeting my eyes. I nod simply at him before turning back to Michael.
" What is he doing here?" Michael asks, his voice struggling to sound indifferent.
" I invited him," I tell him, my eyes searching his face.
" Why?" he demands, his voice breathy.
" Because as much as you told me you didn't want him here I knew better. Michael, your relationship with Joseph isn't going to be fixed over night, but don't you think you can at least try and make a shaky truce with him, for Prince's sake?" I ask, running my hand over his arm. He nods his head, his eyes guarded.
" Might as well say hello," he says, and I take his hand stopping to take Prince from my mother. We walk slowly towards Joseph, Michael's hands tensing on my arm.
" Joseph," Michael says, his eyes barely meeting Joseph's.
" Michael," Joseph says back, his voice softer than usual.
" Joseph, we'd like you to meet your grandson. Prince Michael Evan," I says, instinctively handing my son to Joseph. I watch as he nervously holds our son, his eyes scanning over him, a small light coming into his eyes.
" He's gorgeous," Joseph mutters, carefully handing Prince back to me. I smile, knowing that single admission took a lot for him to do.
" Dinner's already been served but I can have them bring you a plate," Michael offers, but Joseph just shakes his head.
" Don't you be worrying about me boy, you just worry about your son and woman," Joseph orders, walking away from us. I smile when Michael lets out a shaky breath.
" Well, that was, well, something," he mutters, and I squeeze his hand in mine.
" It was a start," I offer, wrapping my free arm around his waist, laying my head against his shoulder.
I sit next to Michael, softly murmuring to Prince when someone taps their glass pulling my attention to the makeshift stage that was set up in front of the tables. I smile, seeing Brandon and Kyle standing with glasses in their hands.
" Uhm, so we're not the greatest at these speech things, so we are going to make this short and sweet," Brandon says, his face painted slightly red with his nervousness.
" Congratulations," Brandon and Kyle say in unison making everyone laugh. I shake my head at them when they come forward to kiss me on the cheek. I listen as one after the other after the other of Michael's family stand and talk, every once and a while having to wipe a stray tear from my eye. I smile broadly when my mom gets up for the last speech.
" First I want to say, to the Jackson family, thank you all so much for you never wavering support of my daughter and Michael's relationship. Daniella, I know that I wasn't exactly the most supportive in the beginning. And I am so glad that you were so stubborn that you didn't listen to me. If it wasn't for your bull headed ways, which you get from your father by the way, I would have never seen you so happy, and I wouldn't have a beautiful grandson that I get to spoil," Mom says, and I sniffle having to pass Prince to Michael so that I can wipe my face. " And to Michael. I couldn't have picked a better man for my daughter, and I just want you to know, her father Evan, is watching this right now, and he would be proud of the man his little girl chose. I love you, son." I completely lose it, breaking down as I weep into my hands. The familiar arms of my mother wrapping around me as everyone claps and I cry into her shoulder, knowing that tomorrow two of the most important people in my life wont be there.