All I Need

Chapter Four

Karlie's P.O.V

"Cara?" I question as I answer the door and see her standing there, hands in her pocket and looking nervous. "Hey Karlie..." she states with a small wave. I don't hesitate to step outside.
"How'd you find me Cara?" I ask while looking her over. She looks practically the same as she did the last time I saw her. "I've always been watching like I told you." I sigh and nod. "Can I maybe?" she questions as I look at the door. "I don't know Cara. Wait here okay?" She nods and sits on our steps. "Sure, go and check with Taylor." I nod and step back into the kitchen and see Taylor making the pancakes with the batter I had already made. She turns and looks at me. "Hey, where'd you go?" she questions as I go and grab plates and maple syrup. "Oh I just uhm, where are the kids?" She places the pancake batter down and looks at me. "Upstairs still, now tell me what's wrong."
"We uhm have a guest outside." Taylor looks at me in shock and then suspicion.
"Who is it Karlie?" I stare at her uncomfortably as she turns back to the stovetop.
"Cara." I state in one breathe getting it out. I see her physically freeze and I mentally scream at myself because I know that she won't yell at me, despite how she may feel. "Taylor?" I say with caution. She turns to me. "Tell me you're joking." She pleads but I shake my head. "Why Karlie? Why now. Things have been going so well. Why now?" Then it's my turn.
"I don't know baby. I just don't know." I say as I walk up behind her and wrap my arms around her. "She would like to come in." I state holding my breath as Taylor tenses.
"Okay." I'm shocked, after everything that Cara tried to do to put me back with my ex-girlfriend just to try and get me but I'm shocked. "What?" Taylor pulls away and yells out.
"Kids, breakfast now!" I smile but my smile fades as I'm dragged back to reality. "She is your friend Karls, just talk to her or something. She can come in I made enough food." I nod but stiffly walk out to the front door and open it. Cara looks up. "Come on in." I say, Cara looks shocked.
"Really?" she questions as I nod.

I move back inside as I hear the kids coming downstairs. Ryan comes down first but doesn't pay myself or Cara any attention as he yells out, "mom, when can you take me to the dentist?" I smile. Out of all our kids Ryan is the one who is most likely to tell us when his teeth hurt, the other three hate the dentist but Ryan always wants to look good. Cara looks after Ryan. "I thought you two had a daughter." I smile at Ryan's retreating form before I speak to Cara.
"We do. We have four kids." Cara's eyes go wide.
"F-f-four as in one, two, three, four?" I nod and laugh at her as Allie comes down and looks at Cara before saying. "Morning mama," and heading to the kitchen. I don't even have time to speak to Cara as Flynn comes sliding down the banister assuming he won't be caught. He hops off the end as I tut at him. "Mama!" he states, shocked. I nod at him. "Sorry" he states rushing off. I laugh and listen to Becca coming downstairs. It's only been in the last six months that she has learnt how to actively run up and downstairs but sometimes she falls over. Today is one of those days. THUMP! 'Oh shit' I think as I turn towards our stairs and with no beat pause I hear Becca cry. "Hold on Becca, mama's coming." I say as I leave Cara behind and sprint to Becca. She sits five stairs from the top holding her head. "What happened baby?" I question as I scoop her into my arms.
"Swipped mama."
"You slipped baby?" She nods burying her face into my neck. "Shush, it's alright." I coo as I walk back downstairs and see Cara in the same place. Motioning for her to follow me I walk to the kitchen and immediately spot Taylor by the stovetop. She comes over straight away. "What's wrong?" she questions rubbing Becca's back. Becca instantly turns and pushes herself into Taylor's arms. "Fell downstairs." Taylor pulls Becca back.
"Again?" I nod as Cara stays back. "Okay, well miss Becca you will have to walk downstairs with a buddy now okay. Mama or me alright." Taylor tells her as Becca nods. I turn to Cara and say.
"Come sit down." She nods and sits in a vacant seat at the table. All the kids look at her then go back to their pancakes. I shake my head as Taylor sits down and Becca stays with her eating her pancakes. I smile at Taylor as I hand Cara a plate of pancakes and I know she can feel me looking at her.

Taylor's P.O.V

I can't believe that after everything that Karlie and I have been through she would even ask me if Cara can come into our house. When Allie was still a baby Cara decided that Karlie would be better with her, thankfully Karlie stayed with me but I still can't get over the fact that Cara is now in my kitchen. I know Karlie is looking at me periodically because I'm used to feeling her gaze on me after all this time but I ignore her and let Becca sit on me. When all the kids are finished with breakfast they leave for the bus and I decide to let Becca watch TV until Selena picks her up. I'm aware of Karlie and Cara in the kitchen but chose to ignore it, while wondering what I could do to get out of the house for the day. 'Don't be stupid Taylor, Karlie is your wife and you aren't going anywhere.' I tell myself as I twirl my ring as Becca watches Sponge-Bob, this child is addicted, I swear.

Nearly an hour later and the house is quiet except for Karlie and Cara talking in the kitchen and I'm folding laundry and getting madder and madder. Karlie only gets a few days off every now and then and when she does get time off and the kids are all away we get busy knowing it could be awhile until the next time but now Cara is here and just like when we were dating she is taking over again. It frustrates me but what more can I do or say. It's not until they both walk through into the living room where I am still folding that Karlie looks at me and apologizes. "Oh shit, baby I'm so sorry I got busy. Here let me..."
"Don't worry. I've got it." I say in the sweetest voice possible. Cara smiles again and thinks everything is fine but I see Karlie wince. She knows this voice well, it's the voice I used when I gave birth and the contractions were hitting like mad but all Karlie was saying was 'are you okay?' as if I would be okay squeezing a human baby out of my vagina. "Where are you off to?" I questioned seeing Karlie holding her phone and I watch as she looks down almost apologetic. "Cara asked me for coffee. Is that cool?" I stiffly nod as I scoop up a pile of the kids clothes and begin to walk upstairs. "Okay well, I'll see you later then?"
"Sure." I state before leaving them to it. I hear the door shut five minutes later from my spot on our bed and I feel mad, upset and sad all at once as I hit the conclusion. 'She left without saying goodbye or kissing me.' It's in that moment I realise that she will always change when she is around Cara, usually on days off I can't move more than ten metres from her without her asking where I'm going but now suddenly because Cara is back things are different. "I don't understand." I scream into the pillow. "What don't you get baby?" I sit up and see Karlie leaning against the doorframe and I instantly smile then frown. "Thought you'd gone." I say as Karlie moves closer to me.
"Yeah but you're my wife and you weren't happy so I asked Cara to leave. I only get a few days at home with my family a month and I'm spending those days filled with love and happiness, not fighting. Cara still has a lot to prove to both of us, not just me. Okay?" she questions as she lies next to me. I nod and before I can help it, I burrow my face into her hoodie she's wearing. It's her typical one that I used to wrap Allie in as a baby. Karlie's favourite Cardinals jersey. Lying next to Karlie I kiss her lips and thank her for staying with me. "No worries, do you mind if I go tomorrow?" She questions. I look at her but shake my head in a yes. 'She forgot.' I think as I remember Becca's preschool graduation at 12.00pm tomorrow at school. Karlie had scheduled for this months ago but Becca would remind her later. I hope.