Page 24 of Pieces into Place (Moonflower Cove Romance #16)

Blake

A week had passed since Blake had heard her birth story and one part of it wouldn’t leave her mind.

Isla had been so alone, even with people in the room with her.

Blake had been there when Alexis had the twins and knew how supported and surrounded with love she had been.

And Isla didn’t have that. It broke Blake’s heart and made her want to do nothing more than crawl back into her mom’s embrace and hold her forever.

Blake knew she had caused Isla pain over the years, whether intentionally on Blake’s part or not.

That pain was something Isla had carried with her for decades, and Blake knew how draining that was.

She’d debated several times about going over to Isla’s house and thank her again for never giving up on her.

But instead, Blake used her free afternoon to head over to Mason’s house.

With the twins down for a nap and Harper at school, Blake had kissed Alexis goodbye before heading to her sister’s house.

Alexis had asked where she was going and grinned widely when Blake told her.

She was so encouraging of Blake rebuilding the relationships with her family that she’d told Blake to stay longer than the twins’ nap time if she wanted .

Parking the SUV in Mason’s driveway, Blake smiled at the house.

There was a gay pride flag on the porch, along with a welcome sign with the words the Mackenzies on it.

Blake couldn’t stop her smile from spreading as she thought about the paperwork she and Alexis were in the process of filling out to change their names.

They hadn’t told anyone yet, and Blake wasn’t sure how she could keep it a secret much longer.

The January air was freezing as Blake stepped out of the vehicle and hurried to the front door.

She’d messaged Mason earlier to make sure it was okay before she came over.

Blake didn’t want to interrupt nap time for Silas or any alone time Mason and Chase might have had planned.

But Mason had told her Chase would be working and Silas would be asleep, so she’d leave the front door open for her.

Blake quietly opened the front door, feeling like an intruder although she’d been invited.

She closed the door behind her, putting her jacket and bag onto the mudroom hooks before looking for Mason.

Mason was lounging on the couch, looking half asleep as she mindlessly scrolled through movies on a streaming app.

“Hey.”

“Hey, sis.” Mason patted the seat beside her, and Blake took it. “You need to get back into the TV business. There is nothing good to watch these days.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Blake chuckled. “I’ll get right on that between growing a human and preparing to push her out of my body.”

Mason cocked her head at her as she turned off the TV. “I thought you were working on a script or something?”

“I was.” She gestured to her belly. “But things changed. I had to take a step back from that.”

“You should have had Alexis carry again,” Mason laughed, but quickly stopped as her face grew more serious. “Sorry. I don’t know why I joked about that. ”

“It’s fine, Mace. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t had the same thought.” Kicking off her shoes, Blake pulled her legs up under her as she turned to face Mason. “I might be freaking out just a little.”

“About the baby?”

“About the birth.”

“Ahh, yes,” Mason nodded, looking at her wrist at the nonexistent watch, “it’s about that time. Six months. Almost to the third trimester. Braxton-Hicks contractions should be starting any day now. Yeah, it’s about time you start panicking about the birth.”

“I love the sisterly encouragement there.”

“I mean, I can show you my birth video if you think that would help,” Mason laughed as Blake stared at her, mildly horrified. “You didn’t know we filmed it, I assume.”

“You filmed it?” Blake’s shock had to be evident on her face because Mason busted out laughing.

“Alexis had Molly there taking pictures when Harper and twins were born.”

“Yes, I know. I’ve seen the award-winning pictures. I just never thought about videoing it.”

“Well, in my slight defense, it’s not like it’s a clear shot right down the main street. Aunt Mel set up the phone to the side. I just wanted to be able to look back on that day in case the pain was too much in the moment for me to appreciate it.”

“Ugh, the pain,” Blake groaned. “I’m so not ready for that. I’ve done the newborn thing. That’s not what I’m worried about. It’s the unknown of labor and birth that’s keeping me up at night.”

“You’re gonna do great, Blake.” Mason put her hand on her knee as she smiled at her. “It’s scary, yes, and I won’t lie. It hurts like hell. But in the end, you get this adorable baby that you get to love forever. And don’t worry, Mama will protect your clit as you’re crowning. ”

Mason laughed, seemingly forgetting that Vera wasn’t Blake’s doctor.

A wave of guilt crashed into Blake as she lowered her eyes from Mason.

The last thing she wanted to do was cry; she’d shed enough tears over the last few weeks.

But there was no stopping the few tears that escaped from her eyes as Mason moved closer to her.

“Hey, I’m sorry. I forgot.”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s not. You’re upset. I’m sorry.” She looked angry with herself as she shook her head. “I don’t know when to keep my mouth shut.”

“Or your legs,” Blake joked to lighten the mood. It worked as she and Mason both laughed. She put her hand on top of Mason’s as she looked back up at her little sister. “Can you be totally honest with me for a minute?”

“Have you met me? I’m notoriously known for my honesty, especially when it’s not wanted.”

“Well, I want it now.” Taking a deep breath, Blake asked the one question that still haunted her thoughts. “Do you think Mama is mad at me?”

Mason paused for a beat before shaking her head. “She’s not mad at you.”

“Yes, she is.” Blake tossed her hands up in the air before letting them fall to her lap. “You hesitated.”

“Only because I’ve never heard you call her mama before.” Mason smiled at Blake, looking exactly like Isla. “I honestly never thought I’d hear you say that.”

“It’s a new development.”

“I love it. And I know Mama does too.”

“Unless she’s mad at me.”

“She’s not mad at you,” Mason dramatically groaned. “Is she mad at you? No. Is she a little hurt? Yeah, I think she is. But she’s not mad at you. I know that much.”

Blake sat with the knowledge that she’d hurt Vera for a few moments.

She’d known that deep down, but hearing Mason confirm it made her stomach churn.

And it wasn’t because of the leftover pizza she’d had at midnight when she couldn’t sleep and was rummaging in the kitchen.

Instead, it was the sinking feeling of knowing she’d hurt someone who loved her.

Someone who didn’t deserve to be treated the way Blake had treated her.

When she and Alexis had decided to have another baby, it was only a few weeks after Mason had Silas and Emily was in the middle of her pregnancy.

Vera had helped with both and, honestly, Blake thought she could just slide under the radar and use Dr. Jacobs.

Their original plan was to not tell anyone until Blake was out of her first trimester.

That had backfired, however, when Alexis spilled the beans at their first family dinner after the embryo transfer.

Two days after the embryo transfer.

Blake could still see Vera’s surprised look as the news registered with her.

She could barely look at Vera without seeing the pain in her eyes.

And knowing she caused it had made Blake recoil into herself, which ultimately started her healing journey with her entire family.

Well, after she tried to blow up the entire family with her shitty attitude.

But it was clear to Blake that everything had happened for a reason.

Still, she wondered if she shouldn’t ask Vera to be her doctor now.

But there was another question that weighed on Blake’s mind that she had to ask. Biting her lip, she looked at Mason.

“Are you mad at me?”

“I’m not mad at you.” Mason didn’t hesitate this time. She shook her head firmly as she smiled sadly at Blake. “Hurt? Maybe a little.”

“I’m so sorry, Mason. I never meant to hurt any of you.”

“I know.”

“I feel like so much of my life was out of my control and then when I moved here, I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to reconnect with everyone, but I felt like an outsider. I didn’t know how to be a Mackenzie. ”

“I get it.” Mason swallowed, taking a deep breath before continuing. “At first, I didn’t really understand what happened. Ben left, and you were gone and Mom could barely get out of bed.”

Mason’s words slammed into Blake like a ton of bricks. Every time she learned something new about Isla’s past, Blake wanted nothing more than to go to her and hug her and never let go.

“It wasn’t until I was older that it all really sank in for me. How Ben chose you and left me. I struggled with not feeling good enough for a long time because of that. Even when Mom and Mama told me I was. A part of me was still so broken that I couldn’t believe them.”

“Oh, Mason.”

“Then years pass and you show up out of the blue and I was so excited. I wanted to get to know my big sister so much, but you were only focused on Alexis.”

“Mace…”

“Wait,” Mason held up her hand. “Let me finish before I talk myself out of it again. I think a lot of my frustrations about our relationship came out as anger because I didn’t know how to process everything.

I’d had big dreams about hanging out with my sister and getting to know you, and that didn’t happen.

At least not the way I had planned. But a lot has changed in the last five years.

You married Alexis and had a family, and I married Chase and had Silas.

I learned to accept that our relationship might never be the way I had envisioned it.

But after everything I’ve watched you work through in the last month, I’ve been waiting for my time to get my sister back.

And honestly,” Mason smiled sweetly at her, “I feel like that happened today.”

“Mason.” Blake pulled her sister into a hug.

With her pregnant belly in the way, Mason was wedged between it and the couch as she rested her head on Blake’s shoulder.

“You never lost me. I’m sorry I made you feel like you did.

But I’ve always been your sister and nothing will ever change that.

I’m always going to be here for you and things are going to get better for us.

” She kissed Mason’s head. “I’m not going anywhere ever again. ”

“Promise?” Holding up her pinky finger, Blake wrapped hers around Mason.

“I promise as long as you don’t make me watch your birth video.”

“Deal,” Mason giggled. “Is it okay if I touch your belly?”

“You ask as you’re already laying on me.” Laughing, Blake readjusted her position slightly so Mason wasn’t wedged between her and the couch. Mason snuggled up with Blake as she put her hand on Blake’s stomach. “Mom told me her birth story with me the other day.”

“Oh, that had to be tough.”

“You’ve heard it?”

“Yeah. It killed me. I kept asking her why no one was supporting her or telling her what was happening or encouraging her. She was nineteen .”

“That’s Ellie’s age now.”

“I can’t imagine Ellie having a baby,” they both said in unison before laughing.

“But seriously, I can’t.” Blake took Mason’s hand and moved it a little lower on her belly. “She’s right there.”

“Oh!” Her eyes lit up as she felt the baby move. “Hi, baby. It’s your favorite aunt, Mason. Man, I miss this part of pregnancy. Not the pushing him out part, but this part. Feeling him inside me and knowing I was keeping him safe.”

“It’s an amazing feeling.”

“And it reminds me that Mom basically had both of us by herself. Like, yeah, Nora was there and the midwife, but they didn’t sound very helpful to me. And Eden was only eight and eleven when each of us were born. She wouldn’t have been helpful.”

“I can’t imagine Harper watching me give birth. ”

“Ditto. But Mom basically helped raise Eden until we came along, so I get it.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“I just can’t imagine. I had Mom, Mama, Chase, Ellie, and Aunt Mel in the room with me, and I was still about to crack under all the pain and pressure. I honestly don’t know how she did it. Twice.”

“She’s superwoman.”

Mason sighed as she moved her thumb up and down on Blake’s stomach. “She really is.”

“We have the best mom.”

“And Mama.”

“And Mama,” Blake repeated. “I hope I’m half as good of a mom to my kids as they have been to all of us.”

“You’re gonna do great, Blake. You’re already an amazing mama to Harper, Archer, and Reese. Little no name baby girl here is so lucky to have you and Alexis as parents. And me as an aunt, obviously,” she added with a laugh.

“Obviously.”

“And if you want me there during labor for emotional support and laughs, I’m totally there.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Mason firmly nodded. “I got you, sis. Always.”

“Ditto, Mace.” Blake kissed her head again. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

With a smirk on her face, Mason adjusted Blake’s breast to create a better pillow for her head.

Blake rolled her eyes, unable to stop herself from laughing.

Never in a million years did she think she and Mason could have become comfortable enough with each other for her to do that.

It continued to show Blake that she was indeed a Mackenzie after all.