Page 25 of Pieces into Place (Moonflower Cove Romance #16)

Isla

T here was rarely a day that Isla could sit on the couch, read a book, and relax.

When the opportunity presented itself after an early morning mammogram, Isla had jumped on it.

Everleigh had gone with Vera to work, which meant the house was nice and quiet.

Isla curled up on the couch and picked up the book she’d been trying to read for the past several months.

A faded Carlson’s Cafe receipt marked the page where she’d left off and she settled into the couch.

February had brought with it a calm that Isla desperately needed after the holidays.

Her emotions had been so heightened after everything with Blake and watching Blake also get closer to Vera and Mason.

Isla couldn’t believe that the thing they had been dreaming about for literally decades had finally come true.

She felt she had her entire family, and it was whole and complete.

Or at least would be complete when Blake had her baby girl.

Isla’s excitement over the newest addition to the family had been overshadowed unintentionally by her newfound relationship with Blake.

That didn’t make Isla any less excited to have a new grandbaby, though.

She loved being a grammy just as much as she loved being a mom.

They both made her feel so insanely fulfilled that Isla couldn’t stop herself from smiling everytime she thought about her family .

Since reconciling things with Blake, Isla couldn’t remember a time when she’d felt lighter.

It had improved every relationship in her life, even the one she had with Vera.

She never thought it needed to be improved, and yet watching Blake and Vera connect and bond had made Isla fall even more in love with her wife.

And when they celebrated Valentine’s Day at the Moonflower Cove Inn a few days ago, they had arguably the best sex of Isla’s life.

Maybe it was because they could finally relax without the hidden stress of worrying about Blake on their minds.

Whatever it was, Isla always had plans to get Vera in bed whenever she got home.

Until then, Isla would read her book in peace and think about her amazingly beautiful wife.

Or at least that was the plan until her phone rang.

Answering the call, Isla put it on speakerphone.

“Hey, Lex.”

“Hey, my favorite person in the entire world.” Her giddy voice told Isla instantly her book reading time had ended before it began. “What are you doing?”

“I have a feeling that doesn’t matter because you need something,” Isla chuckled as she sat up on the couch, putting her book back on the coffee table where it would undoubtedly sit for a few more weeks.

“Well, we’re painting the nursery and ran out of paint.”

“And you need your favorite mother-in-law to go to the store and get it for you so you don’t have to pack the kids and your pregnant wife into the car. Am I right?”

“And bring lunch, please,” Blake chimed in from the background.

“Pizza, I assume?” Isla teased. For the past few weeks, Blake’s very specific pregnancy craving had been the three-meat pizza with olives, onions, and peppers from the Pizza Parlour. “Do I need to bring any vegetables or are the ones on the pizza enough for you? ”

“Ha, ha,” Blake sarcastically laughed. “Cheese bread would be great if you’re offering.”

“You know I am. Send me the color paint you need and I’ll order the pizza before picking it up.”

“You’re the best,” Alexis and Blake said in unison.

“Oh, I know,” Isla teased them again. “I’ll see you soon.”

Putting Vera’s Taylor Memorial Hospital sweatshirt on over her old T-shirt, Isla slipped on her sneakers and headed out the door.

The February air was chilly, but thankfully it was warmer than it had been in weeks.

She got into her Jeep and plucked a hair tie from the center console.

Wrangling her curly hair into a ponytail as the Jeep warmed up, Isla saw Ellie’s car pulling into the driveway.

She waved at her middle child as Ellie pulled up beside her and rolled down her window. Isla did the same as she smiled at her baby girl.

“Where are you going?”

“Blake’s to take them paint and pizza.”

“Sounds like a party.”

“You wanna join?”

“Totally.” Parking the car, Ellie rolled up the window before running over to Isla’s Jeep. She hopped into the passenger seat as she leaned over to give Isla a hug. “I’ve missed you, Mom.”

“I’ve missed you too, baby.” Isla kissed her cheek. “Our schedules haven’t been aligning much with school, work, and Sadie .”

Sadie Baxter had been Ellie’s girlfriend for almost two years and Isla loved them together.

She loved how happy Ellie looked with Sadie and she loved that Sadie felt like a part of their family.

Not that she thought they would break up, but Isla had a feeling Sadie would be in their lives regardless.

And that meant more to Isla than anything to know her kids were cultivating healthy relationships .

“Don’t say her name like that,” Ellie giggled as Isla pulled out of the driveway.

Isla savored her time with Ellie as they chatted about Sadie and school and Ellie’s plans for the summer.

She had been working at Vera’s office the last year or so learning from the other ultrasound techs.

From what Isla had heard, Ellie had been doing amazing.

Both she and Vera had worried about Ellie getting preferential treatment because of who her parents were, but so far, that hadn’t seemed to be the case.

Ellie and Vera didn’t work on patients together, which helped a lot.

Of course, Mason had been the exception.

Isla still remembered how happy and excited Ellie was when Mason asked her to be her ultrasound tech during her pregnancy.

Ellie had been there at every appointment and Isla loved watching not only Ellie fall more in love with the career she’d chosen, but have a deeper relationship with her sister as well.

She loved how close her kids were, and now that Blake was mending relationships, she felt all the family pieces were finally in place.

“Dr. Jacobs almost put me on Blake’s ultrasound the other day.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah. I think the different last names made her forget.”

“I can see that.”

“Do you think she would have let me do it?”

“Avery?” Isla furrowed her brow as she pulled up to a red light. “I don’t think she would mind.”

“No, Blake.” Ellie shrugged, looking down at her hands. “I don’t want to make her uncomfortable. Especially not when she’s opened up so much to everyone recently.”

“Oh, Ellie.” Reaching her hand out, Isla put her hand on the back of Ellie’s neck as she rubbed her thumb on her skin.

“I know everything with Blake the last few months has been a whirlwind. Believe me, I’ve experienced it firsthand.

But, honestly, I don’t think you asking to be her ultrasound tech would send her over the edge.

If anything, I honestly think it would help you two bond. ”

“So, you think I should ask her?”

“I do.” Isla firmly nodded. “I think she’ll say yes, but even if she doesn’t, just know it’s not because of you.”

“I know. ” Ellie rolled her eyes as a smile played on her lips. “We just have to give Blake space to come to us in her own time.”

“Exactly, my little Vera.”

“I’ve heard you and Mama say that enough. I know the drill.”

“Well, while I’m glad to know you’re listening to us, I still think you should ask Blake.”

“And maybe you can ask her to be in the delivery room.”

Isla whipped her head around at Ellie’s comment. Yes, she’d expressed her desire to be there when Blake delivered to Vera. Isla was sure she hadn’t said that to anyone else. And definitely not Ellie. Ellie grinned as Isla pulled into the hardware store’s parking lot.

“I told you I listen.”

“ Eavesdrop might be a better word.”

“Or Evie-drop,” Ellie giggled as Isla shot her a glare. “Your youngest has big ears and a big mouth.”

“Just like her mother,” Isla joked as she unbuckled her seatbelt and patted Ellie’s thigh. “Come on, let’s go get some paint for your needy sister.”

“More like your needy daughter.”

“No, that’s you. ”

“Ha, ha.”

After getting the paint and picking up two pizzas and cheese bread, Isla and Ellie finally arrived at the Holland house. Alexis greeted them at the front door with paint on her cheek and in her hair. Isla handed her the extra gallon of paint with a laugh.

“I see now why you needed more paint. ”

“We should have hired painters,” Alexis laughed as she motioned them into the house. Isla and Ellie followed behind her as they walked into the kitchen. “Arden told us she would do it, but Blake didn’t want to bother her since she and Callie just had Finley.”

Isla smiled at the memory of Finley’s birth.

Watching Emily be a surrogate for Callie and Arden was one of the most beautiful things Isla had ever witnessed.

She still remembered the excitement she felt when Emily asked her to be in the delivery room.

It made Finley’s birth extra special since Isla felt she was there with one of her daughters.

Her relationship with Emily had deepened after that, and Isla was beyond grateful for that.

If only Blake would let me in the delivery room.

She silently scolded herself as soon as the thought entered her mind. That was entirely Blake’s decision. It was a very intimate and personal moment, and Blake might not want the crowd that Alexis had with the twins. And if that was the case, Isla just had to accept that.

Even if she wanted to pout about it instead.

“Where’s Blake?”

“Trying to finish up the trim with paint we had left. We’ll probably have to get a forklift to get her off the floor.”

“Oh, hush.” Isla playfully swatted Alexis’s shoulder. “We didn’t need one with you and you were much bigger.”

“Rude,” Alexis laughed. “Go get your daughter and tell her the pizza is here.”

“Will do.”