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.
