Page 19 of Pieces into Place (Moonflower Cove Romance #16)

Isla

B oth Vera and Blake had been gone for far too long for Isla to not assume something was wrong.

She’d resisted the urge to follow them into the kitchen, knowing that Vera was more than capable of handling anything that was wrong.

Not that something was wrong. It was just Isla’s gut feeling that told her something was.

Like a disturbance in the force or something.

Or something is wrong with the baby.

She’d noticed Blake standing in the kitchen archway earlier as she rubbed her baby bump.

Blake looked like her mind was a million miles away and, at the time, Isla had chalked it up to just Blake being Blake.

But now that nearly fifteen minutes had passed since Vera had followed Blake into the kitchen and hadn’t returned, Isla knew something was up.

Mason must have sensed it too, because she was looking at Isla from across the room. Her eyes moved to the kitchen archway and back to Isla’s. That was Isla’s sign that it was time to check on Vera and Blake.

Patting Ellie’s side, Isla carefully stood from the recliner as Ellie dramatically flopped into the seat.

Thankfully, everyone was so busy watching the kids play that they didn’t notice her exit.

She walked into the kitchen to find it empty, which only elevated her concerns and her blood pressure.

Isla hurried down the hallway to the guest bathroom and also found it empty.

Then she noticed the guest bedroom door was slightly cracked.

Peeking her head inside, Isla felt her heart relax at the sight.

Blake and Vera were sitting beside each other with their hands on Blake’s belly.

Every few seconds they would laugh, and Isla knew they were feeling the baby move.

Her heart soared that Blake was comfortable enough to share that moment with Vera.

So much so that she almost didn’t want to interrupt it.

But Vera must have sensed her presence, because she smiled at Isla.

“I was wondering when you’d find us.”

“I was getting worried. I’m glad to see things are okay.” She narrowed her eyes slightly at Vera. “Things are okay, right?”

Before Vera could answer, Blake stood. She had tears in her eyes as she crossed the room and hugged Isla.

And it wasn’t a normal Blake hug that was short.

It was a Mackenzie hug that was tight and holding on for dear life.

Isla felt Blake’s belly press into hers as she held her daughter as tightly as she could.

Whatever had brought Blake into the room earlier was clearly still on her mind.

“Oh, honey.” Isla rubbed her back. Although she was afraid to say in the moment, she could feel the faintest flutters of the baby against her stomach. “It’s okay. I’m here.”

“I’m so sorry, Mom.”

“For what, baby?”

“For the way I’ve treated you.”

Helping Blake sit back down, Isla got on her knees in front of her. She held onto Blake’s hand with one hand while the other rested on Blake’s knee. Blake looked upset, but the dark cloud that had been hanging over her for years seemed to have dissipated.

Was this the breakthrough they had been hoping for ?

“Oh, honey.”

“I don’t think I understood what you went through with losing me until yesterday. I know we only lost Reese for a few minutes, but it made me realize how hard it had to be for you. I couldn’t imagine someone taking one of my kids and then never knowing where they were. I would have gone insane.”

“I wanted to, trust me,” Isla sadly laughed.

“If I didn’t have Mason, I probably would have.

But I never stopped loving you during that time.

Never. Not when letters went unanswered.

Not when years and years and years passed.

Not when I thought I’d never get to see you again.

I never stopped loving you or being your mom. ”

Isla looked to Vera, holding out her hand, and Vera quickly took it and squeezed.

“ We never stopped loving you and hoping that one day, we would get to have what we have now with you.”

“I’m so sorry I’ve been so closed off the last few years. Neither of you deserved that. I don’t know why you still tried when I kept pushing you away.”

“Because you are our daughter,” Isla firmly stated so Blake would understand how much she meant it. “I will never give up on you. We will never give up on you. Never.”

“I want to fix this,” Blake motioned back and forth between her and Isla. “With you and with Mama.”

Isla quickly glanced at Vera as Blake called her mama . It was so casual, like Blake had always called her that. Vera grinned, tears glistening in her eyes as she winked at Isla. She turned her attention back to Blake.

“I’ve been waiting years to hear that, honey. I never wanted to force you to be more open than you were ready to be. I always knew when you were ready, you’d let us know. I’m glad that day is today.”

“Me, too,” Blake sighed as she smiled. “It’s been a long time coming. ”

“You’re telling me,” Isla chuckled. “I’ve been waiting for this day since you were five.”

“I’m so sorry it took me so long.”

“Oh, Blake. I’d wait forever for you to be ready to reconnect.”

“Thanks, Mommy.” Blake sadly smiled at her as Isla moved to sit beside her.

Sandwiched between Isla and Vera, Blake seemed to relax even more. She rested her head on Isla’s shoulder as she held onto Vera’s hand. Isla rubbed her back, feeling Vera’s hand on Blake’s back as well.

“We’re going to fix this, Blake. Together.”

“It’s how the Mackenzies do things,” Vera added.

Isla felt a pang of sadness in her heart at the words, though.

She wished she’d kept her maiden name for Blake.

Sure, she’d been married to Ben by the time Blake was born.

But still. Blake Mackenzie would have had a much nicer ring to it and maybe it would have helped Blake connect with the rest of the family sooner.

She hadn’t been surprised when Blake changed her last name to Alexis’s after getting married.

Her attachment to the Calloway name carried with it pain and heartache, so Isla understood the need for a change.

Selfishly, though, she’d wished they’d both changed their names to Mackenzie.

Isla had only ever told Vera that, who admitted she also had the same thought.

She’d tried not to let that bother her that they hadn’t used her last name, but at the end of the day, it was Alexis and Blake’s decision. Not Isla’s.

There was a knock at the door as Alexis peeked around the corner. Her emotions went from panic to concern to relief as she must have realized things were okay. She stepped into the room, closing the door behind her as she looked at them.

“Are we having a family meeting without me? ”

“Come here.” Vera held her hand out to Alexis as she sat beside her. Vera kissed her temple, smiling as Alexis looked at the three of them. “Everything’s okay.”

“Good.” Alexis breathed a sigh of relief. “I didn’t notice Blake and Vera had left the room, but when I saw Isla get up, I got worried when I didn’t see you two. And when none of you came back after a few minutes, I came looking.”

“She’s too much like your mom,” Vera teased Blake as they all laughed. It was true, though. Isla had always seen a lot of herself in Alexis.

“Yeah, she is.” Reaching out, Blake took Alexis’s hand. “Sorry for dipping out of your party. I promise it was for a good cause.”

“Yeah? Tell me.”

Isla listened as Blake recounted her conversations with Vera and Isla to Alexis. She watched as Alexis cried happy tears as she hugged the three of them, holding on the longest to Blake.

“This is the best birthday present ever ,” Alexis squealed as she framed Blake’s cheeks with her hands and kissed her. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Isla wrapped her arms around Vera’s body as she put her head on her shoulder. Vera rubbed her back as they watched Alexis and Blake have their moment together.

“Did you ever think we’d be here?”

“I’ve dreamed about it a million times,” Vera whispered as she kissed Isla. “All the pieces are finally falling into place.”

“Like a perfect puzzle.”

“She was our final piece.”

As the four of them rejoined the party, Isla couldn’t help but notice how much lighter she felt and how much lighter not only Blake, but also Vera and Alexis looked as well.

She savored the sounds of laughter and chatter as all her kids and grandkids hung out in the living room together.

When nighttime rolled around, Isla was sad to see them dispersing back to their own houses.

Brayden and Everleigh headed upstairs while Ellie went to her garage apartment.

Mason, Chase, and Silas left at the same time as Emily and Sophia, but not before Mason stopped her on the front porch.

“Everything okay?” Mason had a sleeping Silas in her arms as Archer slept on Isla’s shoulder.

“Everything’s okay, baby.” Isla gave her a one-arm hug as she kissed her cheek. “Let’s do breakfast or lunch tomorrow and I’ll fill you in, okay?”

“Breakfast at Carlson’s?” Mason excitedly asked.

“I’ll see you then, Mace.”

Carefully carrying a sleeping Archer out to the SUV, she buckled him into his car seat as Alexis buckled in Reese. She said goodbye to her grandbabies before Alexis. After hugging Alexis, she noticed Blake standing a few feet away. Blake handed the keys to Alexis.

“Hey, take the kids on home. I’ll be there in a minute, okay?”

“Okay,” Alexis kissed Blake before getting into the SUV and driving off.

Alone with Blake in the driveway, Isla knew there was something she wanted to say.

She stood quietly a few feet away from Blake, giving her the space she needed to process whatever was on her mind.

As Blake closed the gap between them, Isla held out her arms and embraced her in a bear hug.

There weren’t any tears this time. At least not sad ones.

Isla simply held her baby girl in her arms as tightly as she could, just like she was five years old all over again.

“I’m so sorry, Mom.”

“Blake, you don’t have to keep apologizing.” Isla framed her face with her hands. “We can move forward from all the pain and hurt of our past together, okay? ”

“It’s what Mackenzies do,” Blake sadly smiled. To Isla’s knowledge, it was the first time Blake had ever acknowledged herself as a Mackenzie.

“Exactly. And I’m not going anywhere. Ever. I’ll always be here for you, Blake. Always.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Do you want to come back inside? Or I can drive you home, if you want?”

“I should probably help Alexis with bedtime. But can I take a rain check on coming back inside and hanging out with you?”

Isla’s heart overflowed with happiness. “Anytime, baby. The door is always open.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Blake rubbed her stomach, smiling as she looked down at it. “She’s been really active today.”

“I felt her earlier. When you hugged me.”

“You did?”

“Mhmm. Reminded me of when I was pregnant with you.”

Blake’s eyes glistened with tears in the moonlight. “I’d love to hear that story someday.”

“I’d love to tell you.”

“It’s a date,” Blake smirked. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Mom.”

“Flash the lights when you get home, okay?”

“I will. Thanks for tonight. And for everything.”

After one more hug, Blake headed down the driveway to her house.

It wasn’t far; Isla could see it just down the road.

Even so, she waited until Blake flickered the front porch lights on and off before going inside her own house.

Vera was sitting on the couch, two cups of hot chocolate on the coffee table in front of her.

Isla sat down beside her as Vera put her arm around her shoulder.

“I don’t know what you have for me for Christmas, but nothing is going to top tonight. ”

Vera chuckled. “I was thinking the same thing. Nothing can compare to this gift.”

“We’ve waited so long.”

“It was worth the wait for it to be on her terms.”

“She needed that.”

“She did,” Vera yawned.

As Isla turned on the TV, the back door opened and she didn’t have to look to see who it was.

Ellie came into the living room and cuddled up next to Vera.

It wasn’t long before Brayden and Everleigh came downstairs to join them.

Isla wondered if they’d coordinated their arrivals.

While Everleigh snuggled in between them, Brayden sat on the other side of Isla.

Their couch was cramped with the five of them on there, but Isla wouldn’t have it any other way.

She put her arm around Brayden’s neck and pulled him close.

“I love my babies so much.” She kissed Brayden’s head, then Everleigh’s, before ruffling Ellie’s hair. They each echoed back with I love yous , which warmed Isla’s heart. It was the perfect end to a day she’d been waiting for thirty-one years to arrive.