Page 15 of Pieces into Place (Moonflower Cove Romance #16)

Isla

T he drive to Vera’s office felt like an eternity.

Even though both Blake and Vera had assured her everything was fine, Isla still couldn’t calm her nerves.

Granted, that had been par for the course all day.

Isla had been a nervous wreck since Blake had texted Vera two days ago and asked her to lunch.

“Oh, my god.” Vera gasped at her phone as she sat up on the couch. She covered her mouth with her hand as she looked at Isla, then down at her phone again. “Blake just texted.”

“Is she okay?”

“Yeah. She just asked me to lunch.”

“What?” Isla gasped as she sat up beside Vera, looking at her phone. She read the text from Blake, then read it again before looking at Isla. “Vera, this is amazing.”

“It is. I hate to say it, but I think you yelling at her at the party kicked her in the ass.”

“That or Alexis yelled at her after.”

“Very possible as well,” Vera chuckled. She clutched her phone to her chest as she smiled at Isla. “This is the start, though. I can feel it. What we’ve been waiting to happen for decades is finally happening.”

“We’re going to get our daughter back.”

Isla wasn’t too proud to admit that she was slightly jealous Blake had asked Vera to lunch instead of her, but she was just thankful Blake was reaching out.

There was a moment after the party that Isla worried she went too far over the line to ever get Blake’s forgiveness for how she’d been acting.

When she saw Alexis and Blake on Thanksgiving, though, there was something clearly different between them.

Blake looked happier, more at ease than Isla ever remembered her looking at a family event.

Even Alexis looked more relaxed instead of constantly being on edge of how Blake was acting.

She hoped that meant the two of them had talked and worked through whatever issues they’re having.

And now, Isla couldn’t help but feel like Blake and Vera’s relationship had taken a turn as well.

The mere fact that Blake had been willing to let Vera perform an ultrasound spoke volumes to Isla.

Vera had been so crushed when Blake had decided to use Avery instead of her.

Isla held her as she cried after finding out.

She’d kept it together well enough when Blake and Alexis told them they were pregnant, but when they were alone was when Vera came undone.

“I don’t understand why she wouldn’t let me be a part of that.”

“I don’t know, honey. I couldn’t tell you.”

“It hurts because I’ve delivered all our grandbabies and now I’m going to be missing this one. I know that’s so selfish of me to say. It should be Blake’s decision. But it still hurts.”

Neither of them had ever told Alexis or Blake how they felt. Isla assumed it was better not to, while Vera wasn’t one to rock the boat when it came to work. She trusted Dr. Jacobs, and that was all Isla needed to know.

Parking her car beside Vera’s SUV, Isla let herself into the back door via the keypad. She’d memorized Vera’s code years ago and knew no one would care if she snuck in. As she reached for the door handle, she heard Alexis calling her name as she ran toward her across the parking lot.

“Did Blake call you?”

“Yeah, she said her and Vera were doing an ultrasound and wanted me here. I assumed you were already here.”

“Blake called me once they were here. Isla,” Alexis smiled from ear to ear, “I think it’s finally happening. I think she’s finally ready. After the party, Blake and I had a fight.”

“Oh, Lex. I’m so sorry. That was all my fault.”

“No, honestly, it had been a long time coming. But we got everything out in the open and Blake really opened up to me. I kept hoping she would talk to you or Vera, but I know she’s been so nervous. There’s so much water under the bridge between you all.”

“But we’re not going to let Blake drown.”

“Never.” Alexis shook her head. “When she told me she asked Vera to lunch, I almost fainted.”

“Me, too,” Isla sadly chuckled. “Vera was so excited, though. Blake really made her day with that.”

“I don’t know what all they have talked about, but I was the one who suggested she start with Vera.” She nervously fiddled with her fingers. “I hope you’re not mad at me for that. I just thought that Vera might be easier for Blake to start with since…”

Alexis’s voice trailed off, and Isla knew there was something she wasn’t saying. She almost opened her mouth to ask when Alexis continued.

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt for you to know since Vera probably does now. Just let Blake tell you before you say anything, okay?”

Isla nodded. “What’s going on, Lex?”

“Blake’s been struggling to feel a connection with the baby. I told her to talk to Vera since Vera deals with pregnant people all the time. ”

“I’m sure if she told Vera that, that’s exactly why Vera suggested an ultrasound.”

“Really? How do you know?”

“Because she did the same thing with me when I was struggling to connect with Evie.”

“Wow,” Alexis laughed, “you really did a copy and paste with Blake, didn’t you?”

“Honey, you have no idea.” Isla put her arm around Alexis’s shoulder as they walked into the office. She led them down the hallway to the room number Vera had texted them and knocked on the door. “Knock, knock.”

“Hey, babe.” Vera smiled widely at Isla as she pulled her into a hug. Alexis walked over to Blake, who was sitting on the exam table, and hugged her.

“Everything okay?” Isla asked in a whisper.

“It is. I promise. She called me mama .”

“Oh, honey,” Isla excitedly hugged Vera. “I know how much that means to you. I’m so happy for you.”

“I’m happy, too.”

She could tell by the excitement in Vera’s face that the lunch had gone well.

That put her worried heart to ease as she walked over to Blake and hugged her.

Isla held on a little longer than usual, hoping Blake sensed how proud she was of her.

Putting her hand on Blake’s shoulders, Isla looked into her eyes.

“Thank you for letting me be here for this.”

“Thanks for coming.”

As Vera helped Blake get repositioned for the ultrasound, Isla stood beside Vera closer to Blake’s belly while Alexis stood by her head.

The two were tightly holding onto each other’s hands as Vera moved the wand around Blake’s belly.

Isla noticed how happy Vera looked as she showed them the baby.

Even Blake looked happier than Isla remembered seeing the entire time she’d been pregnant.

“So, Blake, do you want to tell them? ”

Alexis cocked her head at Blake. “Did you find out the gender?” Her voice was a happy high pitch as she excitedly squeezed Blake’s hand. “Tell me. I feel like I already know, but tell me.”

“It’s a girl.”

With those three words, Isla was taken back to the day she found out Blake was going to be a girl.

Her older sister Nora had gone with her, which meant their younger sister Eden had also tagged along.

The ultrasounds were nowhere near as advanced as the one Vera was using, but the elation over the news was still the same.

“It’s a girl!” Isla squealed as she and Nora hugged. “I’m gonna have a girl.”

“You’re going to be the best mom to this baby.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so. This little girl doesn’t know how lucky she is to have you as her mom.”

Nora’s words came flooding back to Isla as she looked at that same little girl.

Blake looked so happy that it melted Isla’s heart.

She didn’t want to interrupt Alexis and Blake’s special moment together, so she hung back and watched them.

Vera put a hand on her shoulder and pulled her in for a kiss on the check.

“Are you happy?” Vera whispered in her ear.

“I am. For so many reasons.”

The four of them spent another half hour looking at the baby, who had hiccups by the end of the ultrasound.

Blake kept laughing with each one, feeling the baby move each time.

Watching her with Alexis reminded Isla so much of herself and Vera.

She looked at her wife across the room and mouthed an I love you as Vera did the same back.

After everything was put back in place and cleaned up in the exam room, they headed outside to go home. Blake mentioned that her car was still at the cafe and Alexis offered to take her to pick it up .

“Actually,” Blake looked at Isla, “do you care to take me?”

“Of course not, honey.”

They walked across the parking lot to Isla’s Jeep quietly. Getting inside, neither said a word as Isla drove down the street to the cafe. She parked the Jeep by Blake’s car and turned to face Blake. Isla wasn’t surprised to find her already looking at her.

“I learned something new about myself today.”

“Oh?” Isla arched an eyebrow at her. “What’s that?”

“That I’m more like you than I ever realized.”

Isla’s heart leaped to her throat. Just hearing Blake acknowledge that made her aching heart slowly mend. She reached out her hand, letting Blake take it so it would still be on her terms.

“I wanted to have lunch with Vera today because I’ve been,” Blake looked down at her stomach, “really struggling to connect with the baby. Honestly, it wasn’t until today that it really sank in that there’s an actual baby in there.

I guess the expanding waistline wasn’t enough for my brain,” she sadly laughed.

“Did Vera tell you about my pregnancy with Everleigh?”

Blake nodded. “Are you mad at her for telling me?”

“Not at all. I’m glad she told you, especially since it seemed to help you.”

“It did. Knowing that it’s not just a problem I’m facing really helped.”

“You’re never alone, Blake. Always remember that.” Isla gently reached up and touched Blake’s cheek. It was subtle, but she felt Blake nuzzle into her touch ever so slightly. “Thank you for letting me see the baby today. That meant a lot.”

“It meant a lot to have you there. And Vera.”

“You made her day, probably her week, I have no doubt. And I’m so happy you’re having a girl. Not that a boy wouldn’t be as exciting but. Well. You know.” Isla smiled sadly at Blake. “It just brings back a lot of memories for me, that’s all.”

Blake nodded, seemingly unsure of what to say.

Not that Isla could blame her. She’d undoubtedly had a breakthrough with Vera and then seen her baby and found out it was a girl.

It was beyond valid for Blake to feel emotionally overwhelmed, which was why Isla didn’t push her when she said she needed to get home.

Isla watched her get out of the Jeep and into her car before she drove away.

Arriving at home, Isla was instantly greeted by the best Vera hug as soon as she entered the door.

Vera held her tight as they swayed slightly back and forth in each other’s arms. They’d been together so long that Isla knew what Vera was thinking without having to ask.

Isla rubbed her back gently as Vera clasped her hands on Isla’s lower back.

“She opened up to us.”

“She did.” Isla pressed her forehead into Vera’s. “I can’t believe it. We’ve been waiting for this to happen for five years.”

“ Thirty years,” Vera corrected.

“Thank you for taking care of her today. She looks so much happier than she did at Thanksgiving.”

“Did she tell you?”

Isla nodded. “Alexis told me before we went into the office, but I didn’t mention to Blake that I knew. But she told me. I wasn’t sure if she would, but she did.”

“I had a feeling when she asked you to take her to her car that she wanted to tell you.”

“Did you tell her to tell me?”

“No,” Vera adamantly shook her head. “I told her what helped you connect with Evie and went from there. I was really surprised when she agreed to the ultrasound. I wasn’t expecting that.”

“She needed it, just like I did. ”

“She did. And just like you, I saw her whole body language change when she really could see the baby.”

“I’m so happy to hear that, honey.”

Leaning in, Isla kissed Vera. She caressed her cheeks in her hands as her kiss deepened. Vera moaned slightly under her touch, encouraging Isla more. Which she could have gotten if Everleigh hadn’t walked into the room.

“Oh geez,” she groaned as she plopped down on the couch a few feet away from them. “Did you two just get back from war or something?”

“Oh, hush.” Vera playfully scolded as she let go of Isla. They sat on either side of Everleigh on the couch as she looked back and forth between them.

“Why do you two look so happy?”

“It’s just been a really good day.”

“Right,” Everleigh held out the vowel longer than necessary.

Everleigh looked so much like a young Vera. From their hair to their eyes to their smile to their personality, Everleigh was as much of a copy of Vera as Blake was of Isla. She turned to face Vera as she pulled her leg up under her on the couch.

“So, lunch with Blake went well?”

“It went amazing. ” Vera was absolutely glowing as she talked. “Hopefully the first of many lunch dates.”

“That’s good.”

“Blake’s having a girl,” Isla blurted out, unsure if that was news she was supposed to share. Judging by Vera’s look, she wasn’t. “Sorry, I had to tell someone.”

“Evie is the first person we’ve seen since we found out.”

“Well,” she laughed, “she needed to know.”

“Yeah, Mama. I needed to know.”

“I can’t deal with you, too. I’m going to make dinner. Spaghetti okay?”

“With garlic bread. ”

“Of course, my love.” Rubbing her nose against Everleigh’s, they both giggled. Isla loved watching Vera be the mama of their kids. She was so amazing at it and Isla didn’t know how she got so lucky to call Vera her wife.

“Anything else life changing happen today?”

“Blake felt the baby move.”

Everleigh wrinkled her nose. “What does that feel like?”

“Well,” she laughed. Being asked that by her thirteen-year-old hadn’t been on her mom card for the day. Isla searched for an answer before she got it. “Okay, give me your hand.”

“What are you going to do with us?”

“Oh, hush.”

Taking Everleigh’s hand, Isla put it up to her cheek. She moved her tongue along the inside of her cheek, pressing against Everleigh’s hand as she did so. Everleigh giggled, which was how Isla knew her demonstration had worked.

“That feels so weird.”

“Now imagine it inside your belly.”

“Uterus,” Everleigh and Vera corrected in unison as they all laughed.

“Whatever,” Isla called back to Vera as she put her arms around Everleigh and pulled her into a hug. “I thought I was having an alien with you. A lot of times I could make out your entire foot outline because you’d push it into my uterus so hard.”

“My bad,” Everleigh giggled.

“But it was worth it to have you.”

“You’re so sappy.”

“Yeah, well. The whole family is.”

“Only because you and Mama only know how to create kids exactly like you.”

“True. But you have to admit,” Isla smirked. “We do have the best five kids ever.”

“And you saved the best for last,” Everleigh teased with a wink.