Chapter 10

A/N: This chapter sort of trails out of the movie version. Enjoy.

I did some research on the Mommy and Me thing. My mom is pretty crazy with her ideas but this seems like a good idea. I read in some parenting books that not being a child's biological parent can make the child have issues in the future. That they don't know who they are and don't feel loved or important. I don't ever want Emma to find feel that way about Amy and I. I want her to know that her dads loved her and her moms love her also. Emma is the most important person in my life right now, if something happened to her I will be devastated. I know you cant prepare for the future but this might help the three of us.

The articles I was reading about Mommy and Me were very encouraging. They had play dates, sing-a-longs, swimming, and workouts. It will help Emma feel connected to Amy and I and maybe help her meet some friends.

Emma doesn't go to day care and none of mines or Amy's family has any small ones so she doesn't have any friends.

As I continue to read article after article I can visually see this might work. Emma loved to sing, that was proven on the day Amy had to go to work and Emma and I were alone singing our hearts out. Amy and I haven't taken her swimming yet but this might be a good way to teach her. The only problem I could see was Amy not wanting too.

I had to convince Amy to do this.

I continue to read the articles. I found a good place to try. I called the number on the website and the receptionist gave me more information.

"You will need Emma to have all her shots." The receptionist said over the phone.

She told me this is a good way to connect with your daughter and other kiddos but it is also a good way for them to get sick. The class has about 15 babies with their parents and three instructors. The classes are every Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m.

"What is your husbands name so I can put him on the file." The lady says.

"Oh, well. I don't have a husband. Long story, my best friend and his husband got in a bad accident a while ago. Me and Emma's other mother, Amy, are raising her. We live together but we aren't together together. We are just raising Emma together." I say quickly over the phone.

There was a long pause then the receptionist said "okay."

I heard typing over the phone as I wait for her to say something.

"Karma, I will be expecting you and Amy for orientation about thirty minutes before your first class. See you Tuesday at 3:30." She said and hung up.

Now I just have to convince Amy.

I walked into the living room trying to think of the best way to say what I was about to say. Amy was watching tv on the couch flipping the channels. I stood behind her waiting for a good time to talk to her.

After the 5th channel she passed I decided it was time.

"Hey you" I say smiling at her and sitting next to her on the couch.

She looked away from the tv and at me. She matched my smile and said "hey."

We stared at each other for a few seconds; I totally lost my train of thought just staring at her.

"I need to ask you something." I say looking down at my hands, my nerves coming back.

Amy seemed to feel my nerves as she grabs my hands. She squeezed them slightly and when I looked up she smiles softly at me.

I took a quick breath.

"I schedule you, me and Emma to a Mommy and Me class. This class could help the three of us connect with one another and for Emma to meet some friends. I know this isn't your cup of tea, but I think it would be great for us. Would you come with us?"

Amy just looked at me.

"Really, a Mommy and Me class Karma?" She said still holding my hands.

"Yea."

"I don't know. There are other ways we can connect. Maybe go on vacation again? Corpus worked out perfectly."

"Come on Amy, this will be good." I said.

"Karma, there are other kids, Emma can get sick or something. Your mom told me that babies are prone to get sick, that one small germ can cause so much trouble. Do you really want to put Emma in danger?"

I can tell she is being sincere but I know Amy also. She is trying to get out of this.

"I got that taken care of. The receptionist said that all kiddos have to have their shots before they can enter the class. So Emma will be fine. Nothing will happen to her. This class has singing and dancing and you know how much Emma loves to do those. There are also swimming lessons, we can get an early start of teaching her how to swim. Please Amy, do this for me?"

Amy looked at me for another second; I could see the wheels in her head turning. I made sure to put mention everything we can do with Emma and how important this is to me. I am half convincing her to say yes to Mommy and Me and half trying to see how important I am to her despite what she said to Frankie. The fact that she is holding my hand made told me she does care.

"Okay, for you Karma."

Amy's P.O.V.

Today was supposed to be a great day but it has turned to be the worst and it isn't 9 in the morning yet.

I woke up by a phone call from Felix. He told me that one of the actresses in my film got arrested last night. She is currently in jail for drinking and driving and her bail is high. He said we couldn't afford the bad publicity for the network and that our show might get canceled.

As he was telling me this my stomach was turning.

I can't believe this. This stupid girl just threw her life away. One fun night at a club led her to jail and no job.

"What did Oscar say?" I asked after Felix told me everything. Oscar is the network producer who tells us if the show will get on air or not.

"He says it looks bad."

There was silence for a few minutes.

"Oh I just got a text. He wants to meet with us at 4 today. He said he needs to discuss the status of the movie. That doesn't sound good." Felix finally said.

He is right, it sounds like we are going to get the can.

"Guess I'll see you at 4." Felix said.

"Wait! 4? I can't. I have something with Karma and Emma." I say putting my call of speaker and looking through my calendar. Today is Mommy and Me and I have to be with Karma and Emma at 3:30 for orientation.

"Amy" is all he said.

Damn it!

"Amy this is your career, I know they mean a lot to you, but could that be rescheduled? I'm sure Karma would understand," He said,

I have told Felix everything about my relationship with Karma. He tells me I should suck it up and just be with her despite what Frankie says. I tell him I need to think about Emma. He said I am, that Karma and I work best with Emma. That scared me. That means if something happened to Emma then Karma and I would be nothing. I couldn't bear to think about that. I need Karma in my life.

"I know Felix, but they are my family." I say defeated.

Another second of silence.

"Okay, let me call Oscar and see if we can reschedule."

He hung up the phone and let me think to myself. I can't believe this is happening.

About 15 minutes later my phone rings. It is Felix.

"Okay, can you meet now?" He ask.

I look at the clock by my bed.

It reads 8:30 A.M.

"I can meet you at 9" I say and hang up.

I took a quick shower and head downstairs. Karma was in the kitchen and I told her I would see her at 3:30. She looked worried, I wish I could told her everything would be find, but I didn't.

Karma's P.O.V.

It is Tuesday and Amy, Emma and I are waiting in the lobby at Mommy's and Me.

"Karma and Amy"? The receptionist said.

We both stood up, Emma in my arms and her bag with Amy.

I looked at Amy briefly. She has been very irritated for the last 15 minutes we have been in the lobby. Emma has noticed, she wanted to sit on Amy's lap and play but Amy's mind was elsewhere. After 5 minutes Emma started to cry and she reached out for me. I gave Amy the look but she seemed not to notice.

Once Emma was settled I asked Amy what was wrong.

"I have a lot to do today Karma. How long is this?" She asked looking at her watch.

Annoyed I said "You will be spending time with your daughter, it doesn't matter how long it will be."

Amy just rolled her eyes and checked her phone.

Amy left very early this morning and I haven't seen her till 30 minutes ago. She came home with her face pale and eye big. Something is wrong but she wont let me in. I wish she would, I would be able to help her maybe.

We went through orientation and the whole time Amy was on her phone.

Claudia, the instructor and tour guide kept looking at me to ask Amy to put her phone down.

"Amy, could you pay attention?" I would ask and Amy would just say "yea".

After orientation Claudia took us to this large room with about 15 other parents and kiddos.

Claudia gave us a yoga mat and told me to place Emma on there.

I looked to my right and saw a blond lady with her husband and little boy. He looked about Emma's age. She smiled at us and Emma waved at him. The parents looked at me.

I then looked to my left and saw a mother and father with their daughter. Their daughter looked ill. Her eyes were watery and she kept sneezing. I smiled at the parents and put my attention back to Emma.

I put Emma on the pink yoga mat and she looked at me. She then looked at Amy who was still on her phone.

I looked back at Emma and she was about cry.

This was enough.

I stood up and stepped in front of Amy.

I took her phone out of her hands and walked to our bag. I placed the phone in the front pocket and walked back. Amy was just giving me the death stare.

"What was that for?" She asked annoyed.

"You need to pay attention Amy. This is important" I said sternly.

Amy rolled her eyes.

The class started. Claudia told us to lay our child on their back and grab their legs. She then motioned for us to move them in a circle starting with up, out and then down. We were to do this to both legs. For 1 minute one parent would do the motion and the next parent for the other minute. After it was my turn Amy, annoyed, sat at the end of the mat and did the motions with Emma.

Claudia suggested that we smile at them and try to talk. I talked to Emma telling her this is who you will ride a bike one day. Amy just did the motions not looking at Emma.

I never seen her so disconnected to us. Emma was also getting upset.

The next exercise was for the parent to sit with their legs straight in front of you. Then you place your child on top of your legs on their back. Then Claudia told us to lean our upper body forward. Then if you are to give you child a kiss on their forehead. She told us to repeat this for 30 minutes.

Emma loved this, every time I would come near her she would get this huge smile like she was excited to get a kiss from me. As I neared her I would smile also and then leaned forward and gave her a kiss. Before my kiss I would tell her that I loved her or that she was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

Things were different with Amy.

Amy did the emotion and did kiss Emma on the head, but you could tell her heart wasn't in it. She wouldn't talk to Emma or smile. Every time Amy would come near Emma, she would have this scared look on her face like Amy would attack her. It was a bad sight for me to watch, seeing how disconnected Emma and Amy are made my heart pound. We were supposed to be a family familiar with each other.

The class proceeded with more exercises. I would look at Claudia and see her looking at Amy and I. She gave me a weary smile and I looked away. This class is not what I expected.

After the class was over Amy went straight to the pocket where her phone was and started checking her messages. I was the one who had to carry Emma and get her things.

Amy didn't even help me with putting Emma in the car seat. I decided to drive since Amy would want to be on her phone.

The drive home was silence. I looked at the rear view mirror and see Emma fast asleep. I was a little surprised as it was just 6 at night, but then I thought that we just exercise and that might be the problem.

When we got home Amy went straight upstairs and closed her door.

I was very angry and hurt with Amy. She was acting like Emma and I didn't exist.

That night I fed, gave Emma a bath and then put her to sleep.

I feel asleep on the couch watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S on TBS. It was about 1 in the morning when I started to hear Emma cry.

These cry's were different. I don't know how to explain but being around Emma for so long you can tell her hungry cries from her tired cries to her I just want to cries. This cry was one I haven't heard before and that scared me.

I ran up the stairs to her room and see she was standing up holing the rail to her crib.

"Baby, what's wrong?" I said picking up Emma.

Emma just continued to cry.

I put my hand up to her forehead and she felt hot.

I quickly got the thermometer and saw her temperature at 103.6 degrees.

"Amy!" I yelled from Emma's room. "Amy get the car, we need to go to the emergency room" I yell and start packing Emma's bag of her blankey, clothes and anything else I could think of.