Before

Chapter 2

Innocence

Jenny and Greta became fast friends and often spent most of the afternoon together talking and working on small projects. Michael was fascinated with the little girl and wanted to know when he would be allowed to play with her. Since she was only six months old he would have to wait till she got bigger and was able to do things. He would stand by her high chair and play with his small cars on the tray with her making her smile. Both Mothers noticed how he was protective of the little girl and hoped that in the future that they would be close friends.

As time went on the two women continued getting together and were even fortunate enough to have a few family get togethers husbands included. Dan and Dom got along well they mostly talked about work and how they never seemed to have enough time during the day to get everything done. They even got together on a few projects and were doing quite well with their businesses. Dom was kept quite busy with his projects with Wilton. Wilton was always developing something new and was considered a genius of his field so he needed all the help he could get. He was a self-made millionaire who made remarkable advances in technology, which made him a target for theft not to mention embezzlement. It was Dom's job to make sure that all the accounts were in proper order and to help come up with ways to safe guard his assets.

Greta was busy setting up for Maria's first birthday party when Jenny came in with Michael. Maria had begun walking as was saying a few words. When Maria saw Michael come into the room she toddled over to him and smiled. He laughed at her and called her silly and took her hand and led her over to the small play table to play. No matter what he did he tried to include her in it. He took out some crayons and paper out of the bin they were kept in and proceeded to draw a picture putting a piece of paper in front of Maria and giving her a crayon. She proceeded to put it in her mouth and Michael told her no. He went over to Greta and told her that Maria must be hungry because she tried to eat the crayon. Greta laughed and said it was time for cake and for them to come in the kitchen anyway.

The kitchen was decorated with a few balloons and there were presents on the counter. Greta picked up Maria and put her in the high chair and Michael in the one next to her. Jenny had brought it over to try and limit the mess that would be made. Great brought out a small birthday cake and lit the single candle on it. The women both sang happy birthday with Michael singing the loudest in his silliest voice. Michael helped Maria blow out the candle and a piece was set in front of both children. Maria instantly grabbed the cake with her little hand and proceeded to try and feed it to Michael. Both women laughed as they took pictures of the children covered in cake.

After the cake was finished and the children cleaned up it was time for the presents. Michael grabbed the one that he and his Mother brought over and put it in front of Maria. He looked at her and proudly said that he picked it out for her and helped her to get it open. It was a teddy bear that was almost as big as she was. He called it big bear and laughed. Maria laughed at him and hugged the bear then yawned. It was a busy day for both of them and they were both sleepy.

Both women took the children into the living room and placed them in the playpen so they could nap. Michael lay down and Maria next to him. Soon they were fast asleep and the two women continued their chat.

As time went on and the children grew they became inseparable. Maria started constantly following Michael around and calling him Mi since she couldn't say Michael. It became a routine for the two of them to nap together in the afternoons and for them to spend there days together. The two families grew so close that the children looked upon each other parents as if they were their own and called them all Mommy and Daddy.