Life As We Know It

Chapter 8

The next morning Karma and I were woken by the laughter of Emma. First it was me who woke up, then Karma. Karma looked gorgeous when she woke up, her hair wasn't messy with bedhead and her skin glowed. I took a second to admire her as she rubs her eyes.

"Good Morning sweetheart" Karma says smiling at Emma. Emma continues to smile and craws up to her and plants a kiss on her lips. These moments will always be branded in my head. I can wake up like this everyday and be completely happy with life.

We hear a knock on the door and see Lauren emerge.

"Good Morning, breakfast is ready for you both." She says.

"Thanks" I say. I expected Lauren to leave but she stayed at the door.

Karma looks at me and I look back at Lauren.

"Could I- uh, could I take Emma. I wanted to feed and play with her before Farrah and Molly gets her."

"Of course Lauren" Karma says.

Lauren walks over to Emma and grabs her in her arms. She starts talking baby talk to Emma and they walk off.

After a few minutes of silence we both hear a growl. Karma looks at me and I smile awkwardly. I am always hungry and I guess when Lauren mentioned breakfast I realized how hungry I was.

Karma giggles at me and gets out of bed; she goes to a drawer that we put clothes in yesterday. I am shocked at what I see.

Karma is wearing a oversize white shirt that is see through. I noticed that she is not wearing a bra. The white shirt goes down to her butt cheeks and I see her pink lace underwear.

I admire her from her back, wishing I could go do stuff to her. I take a deep breath and try to settle down. I can't be thinking about Karma that way, even though I have always thought of her like that since I first met her.

"What do you want to do today?"

I look at Karma who is facing me. She has another shirt and shorts in her hands walking towards the bathroom. I watch as she walks into the bathroom and closes the door.

"I don't know, what do you want to do?" I respond. This is harder then I thought.

Through the bathroom door I hear Karma say "Maybe we can take Emma swimming. I saw a life jacket in the garage. We can go to the shore today and let her play in the water. Nothing too deep."

"That sounds amazing. I'll make sure to have my camera." I don't recall Shane or Duke ever-taking Emma to the beach before, and Emma loves water. This also would be a great time to take some pictures of Emma and maybe Karma but not in a creepy way, in a total family way.

Karma comes out of the bathroom with a blue short sleeve V-neck shirt and blue jeans. She walks over to her shoes and puts her Sperry's on. "I'll see you downstairs" She says and she walks out the door.

I finally get out of bed and head to my drawer. I pick a black and white teen top with capris. After I put on my clothes, shoes and pick up my camera bag and go downstairs and sit next to Karma in the dining room.

In the room I see Molly and Lucas, Farrah and Bruce, Theo and Lauren who is playing with Emma on her lap. After about 30 minutes of talking Karma, Emma and I head towards shore.

Karma and I make it to shore with Emma. Emma's first experience with sand was amazing. At first she was scared and maybe it was a little to hot, but Karma found the perfect place to lay down the towel and put a little bit of sand at the end. After a few minutes of Karma and I playing with the sand and Emma looking at us like where crazy, she started to play.

Next Karma took Emma in her arms and started heading towards the water. I take out my camera and capture a beautiful picture of Karma and Emma with the water and sun in the background. Karma is pointing to different things and telling Emma what they are.

"This is the ocean, like the water in your tub but saltier. Many creatures live in the ocean like seahorses, jellyfish and thousands of different types of fish. Over there is a seagull. Seagulls are birds who are only found near the ocean and they eat fishes from the sea." Karma bends down and shows Emma a shell. She explains what shells are and lets Emma touch one.

"Ready to go in the water?" Karma asks Emma. Emma nuzzles her head in Karma's shoulder suggesting that she is scared. "Don't be scared baby, I'll be here with you." Karma softly says. I walk behind them into the water still taking pictures.

Karma picks up Emma and they start walking in the water. A couple of waves hit them and Emma starts to laugh. I capture Emma's smile with a picture. I pressed the button from camera to video and start recording Karma and Emma.

When the waves would come close to them Karma would jump up and Emma would give the cutest smile. Karma even put Emma down in the water and let her touch the water. Emma picked up some wet sand and looked at Karma funny. Lets just say Emma did not enjoy the wet sand. Emma would splash the water and saw a crab. Karma picked her up really fast when they saw the crab, we didn't need Emma to get hurt.

After a few minutes Karma started swaying Emma back and forth and started singing "you are my sunshine" looking out to the sun.

I zoom into Karma and are instantly memorized by her beauty. The way the sun is hitting her, the way her hair blows in the wind, and everything about Karma is perfect. I capture every one of Karma's smiles and laughs, I capture her kissing the top of Emma's head and I capture her face when a wave comes towards them and they run back to land.

I decided it was time to join them so I go to the towel and put m camera in my back.

I grab Emma's left hand as Karma as her right hand and the three of us walk into the water. The three of us stare out to the ocean savoring this moment.

What Amy and Karma didn't know that Molly, Farrah and Lauren followed them out and is sitting watching the three of them; each lady has a smile on their face knowing that the three of them are perfect for each other.

Lauren reaches in to her bag and pulls out her phone. She takes a picture of Amy, Emma and Karma's feet in the ocean holding hands staring at the ocean.

The weekend ended too soon. Everyone was currently packing up their things and loading them in to the car. Lauren had Emma, and Karma was helping me load up.

After we said our goodbyes we head off.

After a 5-hour drive we are finally back. Karma said she needs some alone time and that means she is going to take a bubble bath. I told her to go ahead and I'll watch Emma.

While Karma is in the bathroom I am in the living room watching tv. Emma is sitting down on her blanket playing with some toys.

I flip the channel on the remote and try to decide if this show is good to watch or not. After about five clicks I turn to Emma's favorite show, Barney and Friends. As the theme song comes on I see Emma's eyes light up and start to clap.

I guess I will be keeping the tv on this channel.

I decided to get a snack for both Emma and I so I told her to stay put while I go into the kitchen and grab crackers and popcorn for myself.

When I enter the living room again I see Emma is standing. This is the first time Emma has ever stood up by herself. I drop the popcorn and crackers.

Emma just stood up by herself! This is amazing.

"Karma, Emma is standing up by herself. Get down here!" I yell up to Emma.

I hear Karma yelling back "What! Now?"

I start running towards Emma as I see she is about to fall, but before I know it she takes one (small) step forward. Emma just took her first step.

"Karma get down her now!" I yell.

After a few seconds I see that Emma is about to take another step. This is a big milestone for Emma and I know Karma would die if she missed it. I don't know what is taking Karma so long to get down here, I yell again but don't see her come down.

Emma lifts her up right foot and I panic so I gently push her back and she falls on her butt. Emma starts to cry and right on cue Karma comes in to the living room in a towel.

"Why is Emma crying" she asks and runs over to Emma. "Why is she on the floor, you pushed her?" Karma says giving me a death stare.

"She was about to walk, and you wouldn't want to miss it. So I pushed her. I didn't mean to make her fall!" I tell Karma who is not buying my excuse.

"Poor Emma, lets get away from mean Amy" She says walking past me and heads upstairs.

I watch as they go up and thought to myself, "I thought I was getting used to being a parent".

Karma's P.O.V.

I am sitting in the dining room looking over expenses. I am a little overwhelmed by all the bills I have occurred from my business.

The house is more money then I thought it would be. Yes in the will Shane and Duke said the mortgage is paid for but that doesn't include the upkeep. This house has 4 bedrooms and three bathroom, a pool outside and a large yard. Amy and I have to hire someone to help with the backyard with mowing and taking care of the pool. The front yard is also large so the guy helps up maintained that also. The inside of the house is also a pain. I never knew how much trouble a one and a half year old could be and a 25 year-old. But both Emma and Amy are messing. I know Emma is a baby, but she has so many toys that she plays with constantly, so I constantly have to pick up them around the house. Amy, well Amy doesn't know how to do laundry and I let her cook one day and she almost burned the house down so she doesn't cook in my house. So Amy washes the dishes and folds our laundry. She doesn't do either very well.

Amy is helping paying the bills with the house. I feel okay with the house keep up but worried about my business. A while ago I was approved for a loan to expand my business. I want to make my bakery into a restaurant and I have so many ideas on what meals to prepare. I didn't sing off the loan yet because I got Amy and Emma and they need to come first then my business.

I am reviewing the terms of the loan and know that I can't put us in that this situation. Even though Amy and I have our own bank accounts we are now family and we have to make decisions together.

I look up and see Amy coming in the dinning room with two cups in her hands. She hands me one and sits in front of me. She made hot chocolate for us.

"What are you doing?" She ask as she takes a sip of her hot chocolate.

"Looking over expenses" I say. She gently takes the paper out of my hands and sees that I tried to get a loan for my business.

"You are taking out a loan" She asks me reading over the paper.

"Yea, it has always been a dream to expand my bakery into a restaurant. But I am not going to do it. We need to save our money of Emma "I say taking a sip of my hot chocolate.

Amy looks at me.

"I can give you the money. I have money saved up, and I know this is important to me."

"Amy- I can't." I say, "I can't take your money."

"You are not taking it, I am giving it." She says smiling it.

I think this over for a second.

I look up "I can only take it as a investment."

"Okay, then I am a investor"

I smile "As a investor you will get 5 percent of my proceeds"

"10 percent" She says teasing me.

I give in at her kindness, "Sure 10 percent and free meals!" I say smiling.

She looks at me and reaches out her hand. "Deal"

I shake her hand back, "I will get the papers tomorrow and have you sign."

Amy just made my night, that was very kind of her and I hate to admit it but my heart sink at her kindness. I feel like things are falling into place and I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have Amy or Emma.

"Can take the offer of free dinner tonight" Amy takes me out of my thoughts smiling.

I smile and nod my head. "I'll call Lauren and we will head out."

Amy and I are in the kitchen at the bakery and I have the perfect meal for her. I am cooking steak and salad. I know you would think I should do some elaborate dinner for her but I know Amy. She loves steak, especially my steak.

Amy asked if she could walk around while I was preparing dinner. I actually liked this idea so I wouldn't have the pressure of Amy watching me.

I prepared the table of us with a table of two with a white tablecloth. I put a vase in the middle of the table with a single rose and two candles on the sides. The lights are dim but bright enough for us to see each other. I have a bottle of wine with two wine glasses and white plates.

I find Amy and grab her hands. I walk her towards the table and see the way her eyes brighten.

She goes towards my chair and takes it out and let me sit. As I sit down she moves it forward. Amy then walks towards her chair and sits down.

I pour both of us a glass or wine.

I lift up my glass and motion for a toast.

"To Amy, the lady who is helping raise a 1 year-old baby, a investor and my best friend" I smile at Amy. She is smiling back at me. "I couldn't have raised Emma by myself and glad that you are helping me. You make my life bright and interesting and I just wanted to say thank you for every. Thank you Amy" I say. I don't know why I am being sentimental but I am overwhelmed with feelings for this women. It is true; I don't know how to raise a one- year old but with many mistakes she has helped me.

Amy moves her glass towards mine and our glasses make a "clink" noise.

The night went perfectly.

"No-way, you did not do that!" I say laughing at Amy.

"Yes, when I was in college I was dared by Shane to go skinny dipping. I have no clue why I did it but I ran through my hallway at my dorm naked. It was the funniest thing I have ever did." She says smiling.

I would have never thought Amy would skinny dip.

"What about you?" She ask.

"What?"

"What is the craziest thing you have ever done" She asks smiling.

I think for a second trying to think of something that would top Amy's crazy story. I got one!

"So, my mom and dad owned a juice truck when I was in high school. They sold organic juices and brownies."

Amy lifts up her eyebrow. "Well one day they got busted for selling pot in their brownies and all three of us got sent to jail. I was in a cell with my mom for about 4 hours before my brother bailed us out." I say.

Amy is just staring at me.

"You went to jail for one hour because your parent's sold pot brownies. Did you know your parents made that? Did you ever try a brownie" she ask.

I shake my head no to both questions.

"You are adorable" Amy says as she takes a sip of her wine.

"What, adorable? I have a record. I went to jail" I say to Amy being all dramatic.

"Karma, you went to jail for an hour and you never got high even though your parents had pot under your nose? You are adorable" she says laughing.

I laugh also; I would take Amy thinking I am adorable over anything.

I take a sip of wine and accidently spill it all over my white blouse. I get up from my chair and head towards the sink. I take a cloth and dab water on it. The wine is not going to come off. I am embarrassed at how clumsy I am especially with Amy. I thought this night was going well until spilled wine all over myself.

I feel two arms behind me wrap around me and take the cloth from my hands.

Amy starts dabbing my blouse. I turn my head and feel her breath on my ear. I turn around and we are face to face.

We stare at each other for a few second before Amy starts leaning in. Amy gently touches my lips with her and we move in sync. The kiss is sweet and loving and I feel my heart exploding.

After a few minutes of gently kissing the kissing gets deeper. Every so often we come up for air but are lips always comes back together. Now I feel Amy's hands all over my body as my arms are around her neck moving her closer to my body.

We break apart and stare at each other for a while. Both of us are catching our breaths.

Amy grabs my hands and guides me back to the table. She blows out the candles and grabs my purse, her wallet and keys. After I lock up we head in the car and head home.

During the car ride I asked Lauren if Emma can spend the night. A second later Lauren responded yes.

Once we make it into the house Amy's lips are back on mine. My hands are in her hair and hers arms are around my waist. During the kiss I slip of my shoes and she does that same, then she lifts me up and my legs wrap around her waist.

She is walking me up to her room.

She opens the door and gently lays me on the bed. She is unbuttoning her blouse and she is taking off her dress pants. Our lips meet again as she lays on top of me.

We continue to kiss and eventually make love each to one another. The night is perfect and I feel like I am home again.