Page 14 of Pieces into Place (Moonflower Cove Romance #16)
Blake thought about it for a moment as she rubbed her belly. She had been feeling the slightest movement of something under her hand, but she hadn’t dared let herself think it was the baby until now. Picking up Vera’s hand, Blake placed it on her belly where she felt the baby move.
“Do you think that’s the baby moving?”
“You’re feeling her move?” Vera excitedly gasped as she pressed her hand slightly into Blake’s stomach. “For how long?”
“A few days. A week, maybe. I didn’t want to let myself believe it was the baby.”
“It very well could be. She just might not be big enough yet for us on the outside to feel her.”
Blake smiled at how Vera also used she and her pronouns for the baby.
Although they didn’t know the gender yet, Blake just felt she was pregnant with a girl.
That feeling along with the fact she looked exactly like Isla did when she was pregnant with Mason in the picture in their hallway confirmed that for her.
“I want it. The ultrasound.”
“Well, let’s go.”
After gathering their things, Blake got into Vera’s SUV as they drove to her office.
Vera led her in through a back door and into an exam room.
While Vera got everything ready, Blake sat on the edge of the table, kicking her feet back and forth.
She noticed Vera smiling to herself, which made Blake laugh.
“What’s that look for?”
“Nothing,” Vera laughed. She put her hand on her hip as she stood by the ultrasound machine. “It’s just you look so much like Mom right now. Down to the nervous feet kicking. It’s cute.”
Blake shyly smiled as Vera told her to lie down and pull up her top. She shivered as Vera put the cool gel on her belly. As Vera moved the wand around Blake’s stomach to get the gel dispersed before turning the screen toward Blake.
“I’m going to show you everything I see, okay?”
“Okay,” Blake nodded .
“And at any point if you want me to stop, just let me know, okay?”
“You’re good, Vera. Thanks for doing this.”
“It’s my honor, sweetheart.”
As Vera showed her the baby’s arms and head and spine, Blake could feel the happy tears spilling out of her eyes.
It was crazy to see the baby inside of her growing so quickly.
Just a few weeks ago, Blake had struggled to make out what she was seeing on the screen, but Vera explained everything to Blake in the most comforting way.
“Okay, so, I have to ask before I scan any lower.” Vera locked eyes with Blake as she took the wand off her stomach. “Do you want to know the gender? The baby is positioned in a way that will probably make it very easy to see, so I don’t want to go forward unless you want to know.”
Blake thought about it for a moment. She knew Alexis wouldn’t mind her finding out before her since it was getting her quality bonding time with Vera and the baby. But Blake also knew Alexis would want nothing more than to see their baby on the screen.
“I want to know.”
“Good,” Vera let out a relieved sigh, “I do, too.”
Laughing, Blake rolled her eyes at Vera. “Would it be okay if I had Alexis come over, though? Just to see the baby?”
“Of course, honey. Go ahead and text her.”
Vera handed Blake her phone from her bag on the nearby chair. Blake pulled up Alexis’s text thread and sent her a message. Hoping it wasn’t too alarming to ask her to come to the office.
Alexis called almost immediately.
“Everything is okay,” Blake answered without a hello, putting Alexis on speakerphone. “I promise. I’m here with Vera and we’re looking at our baby and I want you to see. ”
“You’re there with Vera?” The happiness in Alexis’s voice was unmistakable. “I’m so happy to hear that. Give me a few to drop the kids off and I’ll be there, okay?”
“Take them to the house,” Vera chimed in. “Isla is home.”
“No,” Blake shook her head. “I want Mom to be here for this, too.”
As Blake hung up with Alexis, she called Isla and asked her to come as well. She didn’t ask any questions and Blake felt a sense of relief knowing Alexis and Isla were on their way. Vera smiled at her, tears brimming her eyes but not falling.
“Blake, before everyone gets here, I just want to say how special today has been. I’ve been wanting a day like this with you for so long.” Walking over to Blake, Vera hugged her tightly. “Thank you for letting me in today.”
“Thank you for being here for me.” She smiled at her stomach. “For us.”
“Always, Blake.” Vera kissed her forehead. “Always.”
“Do you think we should find out the gender before our wives get here? It could be our special bonding moment from today.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay!” Excitedly resuming the ultrasound, Vera moved the wand down the baby as she kept pointing out different features. She paused for a moment as her lower lip quivered as she pressed a button on the screen to pause the image. “It’s a girl.”
“A girl?” Blake happily squealed as she covered her mouth with her hand. “Really?”
“Really.” There was no stopping the tears from either of them as they hugged. Blake soaked in how loved she felt in Vera’s arms. Vera tenderly caressed Blake’s cheek with her hand. “Thank you for letting me do that. I’ll never forget this moment. ”
“Me, either.”
“I love you, Blake.”
“I love you, too, Mama.”
The word flowed off Blake’s tongue so easily she hadn’t caught she’d said it until Vera reacted to hearing it.
Vera looked like she finally heard the secret of life, and it made Blake realize how much being a mama meant to Vera.
Well, not just a mama, but her mama. Blake was slowly beginning to realize it wasn’t just Isla that had been longing for Blake’s return for thirty years.
Vera had been waiting as well. And that realization began to change everything for Blake.