Chapter 2
The early morning sun slowly crept through the faded curtains and spilled across the carpet. It inched towards the bed where two sleeping figures lay, holding one another closely. The suns warmth slowly slipped up and across the comforter until it reached the soft faces of the two young girls. A pair of deep blue eyes opened slowly and blinked at the sun.
"Hmmmmm" Jessie stretched out and yawned contentedly. Her eyes fell upon the sleeping face of the girl laying next to her, still lost in her own dreams. *God she's beautiful* Jessie thought, a warm smile spreading across her face. She leaned over the pillows and gently brushed her lips against her girlfriends forehead. She was careful not to wake Katie as she crawled out of bed and stepped into her slippers. Jessie turned around and stood for a minute, just absorbing the sight of the beautiful creature that was sleeping so peacefully in her bed. Finally turning away, Jessie quietly slipped out of the room, in search of breakfast.
When Jessie padded into the kitchen she was greeted by a warm smile from her mother who was enjoying a cup of coffee at the table.
"You're up early. Did you sleep well honey?" Karen asked, noticing the content look on her daughter's face.
"Yeah, did you?" Jessie asked, grinning sleepily as she wondered over to plant a kiss on the top of her mom's head. Karen just smiled and watched her daughter as she began to rummage through the fridge. She knew perfectly well what was the source of Jessie's new found happiness, she was her mother after all. But she also thought it important that she wait until Jessie was ready to talk about it. Besides, she trusted Jessie to make mature decision, and perhaps more importantly, she also trusted Katie with her daughter's heart.
"Mom?" Karen's head came up quickly as she realized she had become completely lost in her own thoughts. Jessie was watching her intently, while at the same time inhaling her bowl of Lucky Charms.
"Yes honey?" Jessie put down her spoon and looked at her mom while clearing her throat. Her heart pounded in her chest.
"I've kinda been wanting to talk to you about something for a while..." Jessie trailed off. Karen looked at her compassionately, urging her with her eyes to continue. "God, I guess I just don't know how to start." Jessie said, her mind searching for the words, and the strength to tell her mom what she so desperately wanted her know. Karen smiled at her daughter gently.
"You know you can tell me anything, right Jessie?" Jessie simply nodded, as she found her voice again.
"Do you remember a while ago, when I told you that I believe that sometimes two people just find each other, and even when they don't expect anything to happen....it does?" Karen nodded at her daughter.
"I remember."
"Well...I was kinda talking about me when I said it." Jessie rushed these last words out, almost hoping that her mother didn't catch them, but by the knowing smile on Karen's face she knew she had. "Mom......Katie and I....well......Mom....I love her."
"I know you do honey."
"No Mom, I don't think you do. You see...I love her...as more than a friend."
"I know that dear" Karen said smiling softly at Jessie's bewildered look.
"How...how did you know?" Jessie stammered. She feared that she had been too obvious and that if her mother knew, everyone must know as well.
"Honey, I'm your mother, it's in the job description to know. You didn't have to say it, I just felt it was there."
"But why didn't you say anything to me?" Jessie asked earnestly and then she paused before adding, "It doesn't bother you?" Karen looked into her daughter's face, seeing the confusion in her eyes. Reaching across the table she gently took a hold of Jessie's hand with her own.
"Jess, I wanted you to come to me first, when you were ready. I wanted you to feel like you can tell me anything. People have the right to fall in love Jess, and it shouldn't matter who it is with, as long as it is true." A tear glistened in the corner of Jessie's eye before falling to roll slowly across her cheek. Her mother's support had meant so much to her, and here she was giving it to Jessie.
Karen continued thoughtfully, noticing that Katie had quietly slipped into the room during the conversation. "I see how happy she makes you Jess. You were so lonely for so long, and then Katie came along and now you're my happy little girl again. I'm happy when you are. I'm not saying that your relationship is going to be easy honey, there are a lot of cruel people out there, but I do want you to know that you and Katie have all of my support."
Jessie nodded smiling. She wanted to find the words to thank her mom, but the joy she was feeling tangled everything up in her mouth. When she finally found her voice again she looked at mom and said simply, "Thank you." She paused for a moment, seeing the smile on Karen's face, "You know Mom, Katie really does make me happy. All I have to do is look at her and I feel like everything in life is good."
Karen smiled, glancing over Jessie's head, "You know, I think that Katie feels the same way about you." Jessie turned quickly in her chair to see where Karen was looking. When she saw Katie standing there, with happy tears in her eyes, Jessie's heart leaped. She rose slowly and walked over to Katie, and was met with open arms and Katie hugging her close.
For a moment time seemed to stand still. The girls had forgotten that Karen had been sitting there and when they finally remembered, she wasn't there. She had slipped quietly out of the room to leave the two alone.
Jessie was looking at the seat her mother had been sitting in when she felt Katie's arms slip around her waist. She turned to face her and was met by Katie's sweet lips as they pressed firmly against hers. Jessie's arms wrapped around Katie's neck and she ran her fingers through her long, soft hair. The two could have spent all day like that, except for the lack of oxygen it provided. When they finally parted their lips, they leaned their foreheads together and smiled, breathless.
"I can't believe that you told your mom about us. " Katie's voice was low, and full of happiness. "I thought you weren't ready for our relationship to go public?"
"Well," Jessie began, biting her lip, "I honestly don't think that I am ready for everyone to know about us, but I thought that this was a good first step. Don't you?"
Katie smiled, looking down into her girlfriend's eyes. "Yes, I definitely think that this is a step in the right direction." The two smiled at each other warmly, their arms still around each other. A low growling sound interrupted their tender moment. Katie looked down at her stomach and grinned sheepishly. Jessie smiled at her. "Sit down you. Let me make you some breakfast."
