40 • Epilogue

I stared at Bethany in her casket.

My heart broke into a thousand pieces all over again.

My baby was really gone.

This hurt like hell.

Nah, let me quit playing before y'all try to fight me and shit. 😂 I had to be childish for the one time one time. Lol, let's get into this final chapter guys. 😛

___

Janet

5 years later <<< dang, I'm time skipping a lot.

Parker, my makeup artist, was doing the finishing touches on my makeup.

Tonight was the start of the final leg for my tour. I only had 7 more shows before I could finally attempt to actually rest at night.

He placed a eyelash on my eye and on instinct, I began blinking. I hated eyelashes.

"Don't get stubborn on me now." Parker told me as he sighed. "Let me put the other one on and then you can blink all you want."

I nodded and he placed the other one on my eye.

Parker poked my shoulder. "What's wrong? You aren't exactly in the spirit of concert tonight."

He was right, today I was truly off. It was moments like this where I started to regret this fame. Today was Bethany and I's 5 year anniversary and I was nowhere near her to celebrate.

It seemed to not bother her as much as it was bothering me, but she was never bothered when my schedule was busy.

"Life moves quickly." I mumbled. "It's like you blink once and you miss everything ya know?"

My phone vibrated in my lap and I looked down to see it was from my Wife.

My Wife 💍

That smile you give when your 5 year anniversary is today, and you're blessed to be married to the Janet Jackson. 😉

I smiled at the text message and quickly responded.

To: My Wife 💍Happy Anniversary baby, this made me smile.

My Wife 💍Happy Anniversary! Were you not smiling before or?

To: My Wife 💍You know I'm bummed out a bit. I don't get to see you and it's our 5 year! 😫

Beth didn't respond immediately but finally texted back.

My Wife 💍You know that doesn't bother me baby, you're doing what you love. Go out there and be amazing tonight! Never know whose watching. Love you. 😘

To: My Wife 💍Love you too!

I placed my phone down as Tina came into my dressing room. She smiled at me.

"Ready?" She asked me and I only frowned at her. "Parker, can you give us a minute?"

"Yeah." He responded as he collected what he needed and walked out of my dressing room.

"What's wrong?" My best friend asked me.

Tina, being the amazing choreographer she is, was my first choice in helping with my tour. She was also, a familiar voice I could turn to when I needed one.

We argued our first meeting, but by the second get together, and a few apologies, we were back on track.

I pouted as I looked down at Beth and I's text messages. "My anniversary is today. 5 years Tina. 5 freaking years, and I'm not there to celebrate with my wife."

She looked at me. "Janet, I know you might not want to hear this, but more than 8,000 people are out there yelling your name from the top of their lungs. You sold out London. After this show, you can frown and pout all night long, but right now you gotta go give a show to your fans."

Tina was right. Even though I hated to say it.

"You're right." I muttered, lowly admitting it. 

"Oh, I know I am. I'm always right." Tina mumbled. "Now come on, get up. Let's go do this."

I got up and followed Tina to the stage steps. I handed Collin, the manager of my infamous tech crew, my cell phone.

The other tech people mic'ed me and I stepped on the stage.

"Ready boss?" Collin asked me.

Nodding, I gave the tech crew a thumbs up.

Collin yelled loudly so everyone backstage could hear over the fans yelling. "Mic hot in 3...2....1!"

"London! Are you ready?" I asked as my voice echoed through the performance space.

The fans got louder and Collin spoke to the man at the curtains. "Lift them."

When the curtains lifted all the way, I smiled at my fans. "Well, give me a beat!"

Nasty began playing and as soon as I started singing and dancing, it provided a temporary distraction from the huge burden that was on my mind.

_____

"Goodnight London!" I yelled as I finished my last song and walked off the stage.

Collin gave me my phone. "There you go Boss."

"Thanks Collin." I thanked him as I continued down the steps.

The first voice I heard was Tina's. "China, Allison, good job. Y'all worked on what I told y'all to, and the breakdown was fantastic!"

"Thanks Momma Tina." Allison spoke and China nodded in agreement.

They looked up at me and I smiled. "Yeah, it was great girls, really. Where's everyone else?"

"Changing out of their clothes and into our usual sweats." China told me and I chuckled.

"I'd like to do the same. I'll catch up with y'all in a few." I told her as I turned and walked in the other direction towards my dressing room.

I checked my notifications and saw that Nadia had texted me.

Princess Nadia ✨You did amazing muva!

My face fumbled into one of confusion.

To: Princess Nadia ✨Thanks sweet pea, but how did you see my show? Social media?

It wouldn't surprise me if my show was already on the internet. People work fast.

Princess Nadia ✨Nope, something even better.

To: Princess Nadia ✨ Something like what?

Nadia didn't text back and I shook my head. This girl was something for the people, especially now that she was 18 and feeling herself.

Not paying attention, I ran into someone. Before I could say sorry, a voice made my head shoot up. "Momma, you have to stop texting and walking."

"What are you doing in London?" I asked surprised as I hugged her.

She hugged me back. "Well, me, Zeek, Kendrick and Cypress decided to surprise you."

I couldn't help the frown that appeared on my face. "Where's Beth?"

Nadia shrugged. "Los Angeles. She had a book signing today."

"She didn't tell me she had a book signing today." I commented. "We always tell each other that kind of stuff."

"She's been stressing on it and plus missing you. She's been trying to act like she's strong, but it's evident that she misses you."

What Nadia said had left me feeling some type of way. Had I been so wrapped up in my own stress that I hadn't even bothered to check on my wife?

"Well.. Let me go change and then we can go through the streets of London together." I suggested.

"It's a plan." My daughter agreed as Zeek walked up.

"Hey momma J!" He greeted happily. "You did amazing!"

"Thanks Zeek." I smiled at him.

Nadia informed her boyfriend. "She's about to go change, and then meet up with us. We'll be with the dancers. I think that's where Kendrick and Cypress are anyways."

I nodded. "That's fine, just give me a few minutes."

They both agreed and walked away as I turned around and headed towards my dressing room. When I opened the door, I didn't even shut it back, as I changed into some sweats and a sleeveless crop top.

When I finished, instead of going meet my kids, I just grabbed my phone and called my wife.

It began ringing in my ear, and I turned around when I realized I heard Beth's phone ringing also.

My wife stood in the entrance of my dressing room door.

"Do you want me to answer? Cause I will." Beth asked me as she went to answer her phone. Instead of answering I rushed over and jumped into her arms. She caught me as she laughed. "It would have been some shit if I dropped you."

"Good thing you didn't." I mumbled as I placed my hand under her chin and lifted her head up towards me so we could kiss.

When my lips connected with my wife's, I realized how truly miserable I was without her.

When we pulled away, I frowned at her.

"What's wrong mama?" She asked me as she placed me back on the ground.

"I've missed you." I pouted. I was never this clingy with Tika, but Beth was someone totally different and months without her was hell.

"I've missed you too baby. But, I'm here now and it's our 5 year anniversary." She began raising her eyebrow and it caused me to laugh.

"Nadia lied and told me you weren't here." I remembered.

"Nadia's here?" She asked in surprise. "I didn't see her."

My face furrowed. "How did you not know our children and their boyfriends and girlfriends came to London?"

"I've been busy." Beth mumbled. "Plus, they have their own source of income. Every once in a while they ask for money, so I just let them be. I mean they can't go to long without needed cash, so I know they're okay when they do ask me."

"You don't really care do you?" I asked reading right through my wife.

"No I don't. Their 18 and 19, and we raised them well. They have good heads on their shoulders, college for them is about to start this month. Hey, we've done what we could, if they don't have it together by now, it's no getting them together."

I chuckled. "True. You had a book signing today?"

She nodded softly. "Yeah, earlier this morning."

"Why didn't you tell me? We always tell each other about that kind of stuff."

"Because it's not more important than your beauty sleep love." Beth pulled her hair into a ponytail as she responded. "I knew you had your show tonight."

"My career is not more important than yours." I countered my wife's response to me.

Beth shook her head. "I didn't say it was."

"You're giving off a vibe that maybe you feel like it is." I told her honestly. "Do you feel like my career is more important than yours?"

"Babe, drop itttttt." She sung out lightly. "It's our 5 year. No arguments—." I went to cut her off but she kept going. "Or debates as you like to call them. Let's go do something. Anything."

"Have you ever gotten to see the— never mind. Come on." I grabbed my bag and phone, and pulled my wife through the halls of the building.

"Woman, where are you taking me?" She asked laughing as I sped up.

"Just come on baby, I have to show you something." I continued pulling her.

We got to where the kids were and they all clapped when I came in the room. "Thanks guys, but y'all did great too!"

"Nah, did y'all see Kyndall merk that chreo? She just got that combo yesterday." Dominique complimented Kyn's new moves in 'Rhythm Nation.'

Kyndall shook her head. "Guys, that was just minor. Y'all did all the major stuff."

"Next time, say thank you!" Dom acted offended.

"Thanks guys." K held her hands up in surrender and we chuckled.

"Have y'all seen our children?" I asked noting that Nadia nor Kendrick were in here.

"Outside having at it with the paparazzi." Alison explained and Beth and I shook our heads. 

"That's Bethany?" Shawn asked me with her eyes widened.

Beth smiled at her. "Yeah, I am. And you are?"

Shawn nodded at her. "Shawnette, but Jackson calls me Shawn. Yo, I thought your photos were photoshopped. She really is pretty Jackson."

"Thanks." Beth thanked my friend.

This was Beth's first time meeting Shawn, for every time Beth would come and visit, Shawn would be doing something elsewhere.

My phone began buzzing and I looked down at it.

TheShadeRoom Janet Jackson & Bethany Jackson's children were spotted outside of Janet's sold out London performance. We can all say that these children are very photogenic. Roommates, who do you think they got the skills from?

I quickly looked at the pictures and saw Kendrick and Cypress.

I showed Bethany. "He really throwing up his hood like he just been growing up in the hood all his life."

Bethany chuckled and motioned me outside. "Come on, where are you going to take me?"

"Oh yeah." I called out. "Hey kids! I have to show Beth what we got the privilege of seeing earlier today."

China jumped in excitement. "Oh, I bet it's prettier at night time. Well have fun getting up there."

"Honestly, and we will focus on getting these kids out of a swarm of paps." Shawn commented and headed out the door.

I motioned my wife along with me. "Okay, now we can go."

We made it to the steps and Beth looked up. "Okay baby, I love you, but I'm not walking up all these steps."

"I said the same thing, but it's the only way to see what I need you to see." I pouted and I knew that she would give in.

She sighed and started walking up the steps. "If this isn't something that makes me want to cry, it's going to be me and you on our 5 year anniversary JJ."

I hummed as we walked up the steps to pass some time and to not think about how much I was tired and would rather be rolling down these steps.

We finally made it to the top and I opened the door to the roof for my wife. She walked out and gasped.

The Queens Kingdom sat right in front of us.

"Wow, you know I wasn't even paying attention when I drove through here. I didn't even pay it no mind. That's Queen Elizabeth's palace right?"

I nodded. "Yep. It was pretty in the morning, but it's even more mesmerizing at night."

I wrapped my arms around Beth's waist as I nuzzled into her neck and kissed it.

"Stop before I have to lay you down on this roof." She mumbled as she tried to move her head away.

"I wouldn't mind that." I mumbled back and she turned around and kissed me.

"Good. Me either."

___

Ha, and who can't have happy endings? Y'all welcome. Lol, even though I never had intentions on killing anybody off though. Y'all didn't deserve that twice in a row. 💀😘

Well, I'm about to post the prologue for my new book in a few hours. Let's say at 7. 😈 I'll see y'all there next.

This book is officially completed 😉

- Regina ✨