Before
Before
Chapter
1 New Friends
Disclaimer: This is my original fiction. No copyright
infringement is intended. The character Michael Long belongs to Universal
Studios. The Characters Maria Knight, Jenny Long, Dan Long, Dom Knight, and
Greta Knight are my creation.
Jenny Long was curious about the people moving into the
house next door. Being a young Mother whose husband worked long hours she did
her best to keep him happy and to make as many new friends as possible. She was
an attractive young brunette who took pride in being the best housewife she
could. Having all of her housework done she proceeded to do one of her favorite
things, baking. She was the envy of the neighborhood with all the desserts she
could make and yet still have the thin figure of a teenage woman. She put a
batch of brownies as her two-year-old son sat on the kitchen floor licking the
bowl, chocolate all over his face. She
smiled hoping that the new neighbors might have children so her son might have a
playmate.
Greta Knight was busy in her new home unpacking cartons
trying to get things in order. She was trying to decide where to put some
pictures she unpacked when she heard her baby daughter cry. Greta was a new
Mother to a beautiful 6-month-old daughter named Maria. She hated moving from
her comfortable New York home to this unfamiliar place. Her Husband Dom insisted
that they move here to help his brother Wilton with a business he was running.
Dom being considered a financial wizard was always sought after by business
tycoons for his advice.
As soon as she
was finished setting up the house she planned on trying to meet some of the
neighbors. She hated being alone and Dom spent many hours away working on one
project or another. She picked up her daughter and decided it was time for lunch
and went into the kitchen. She put Maria into her highchair and proceeded to
give the little girl her lunch of strained vegetables when there was a knock at
the door.
Jenny stood on the front porch of the new neighbors house
holding a plate of warm brownies in one hand and her 2-year-old sons hand in the
other. After she knocked she looked down at his smiling face and told him to be
on his best behavior. He smiled up at his Mother with his sparking blue eyes and
curly brown hair and nodded.
Greta rushed to the door looking over her shoulder at her
daughter making a mess with her food as she answered the door. An attractive
young brunette stood there with a plate of brownies and a little boy. She
introduced herself as being the next-door neighbor and handed the plate to
Greta. Greta opened the door wider and invited Jenny in and started off to the
kitchen. Greta explained that her baby was in the high chair and hoped that she
didn't mind sitting in the kitchen while she finished feeding her daughter.
Jenny smiled and said of course not. The two women started talking and getting
to know each other as Greta finished feeding Maria. After she cleaned the little
girls hands and face she took her out of the high chair and put her on the
floor. Michael was sitting there playing quietly with a toy car and looked at
the little girl curiously. She looked at him and smiled a toothless grin and he
smiled back. He looked at his Mother and asked what her name. Greta said Maria
as she looked at Michael. He smiled and went back to playing with his car.
The two women became fast friends talking about their
husbands and interests. Two hours later Jenny went home with little Michael in
tow with knowing her days would no longer be spent bored alone. She now had
someone she could talk to and whom she thought would understand her. When she
got home she started dinner for herself and her son. Her husband wouldn't be
home again tonight for dinner as he was on a business trip.
Dan Long was a
corporate lawyer who had clients all over the world. He would often be gone with
for weeks due to his trips with only phone calls. He loved his family but his
work always came first. He always wanted to do what was right for them and give
them the best. If he only knew that all they wanted was for him to be with them.
