Page 26 of Pieces into Place (Moonflower Cove Romance #16)
As Isla headed into the nursery, she found Blake sitting on the floor.
There was a small cup of paint balancing on her belly as she leaned over, painting above the taped off baseboards.
The room had a fresh yellow coat of paint on only one of the four walls as Isla slowly realized she was going to be helping them paint for the rest of the day.
Putting her hand on her hip, Isla smiled down at her daughter.
“You’re too much like your mother.”
“So I’ve been told,” Blake laughed.
“You do know that any one of your family members or friends would have helped you with this so your pregnant ass wasn’t on the floor, right?”
“Yeah, but I get my stubbornness from my mother.”
Isla busted out a laugh. “That you do, kid. Come on. Let me help you up.”
“You may need reinforcement.”
Setting the paint and brush down, Blake rolled over onto her side before sitting up on her knees.
She held her hands out to Isla as Isla helped pull her to her feet.
Blake instantly let go of one hand as she put it on the side of her very pregnant belly.
The look she gave Isla of complete panic instantly put Isla on edge.
“What? What’s wrong? Talk to me.”
“I… I don’t know.” Blake looked so scared that all Isla wanted to do was hug her. But first, she had to find out what was wrong. “My stomach is just really tight, and it hurts.”
“Can I touch you?”
Blake nodded, and Isla put her hands on either side of Blake’s baby bump. She could feel how her muscles were tight under her hands as she felt like Vera trying to figure this out.
“I think it’s Braxton-Hicks contractions.”
“I’m having contractions?” Blake’s panic grew, so Isla tried to keep her voice calm.
“They’re just practice contractions. They usually start in your third trimester to get you ready for labor. They’re totally normal. I promise.”
“Okay, good.” The panic in Blake’s voice disappeared as her shoulders dropped. “I don’t know how I’m going to do this. ”
“Do what? Labor?”
“Yeah,” Blake nodded, but Isla could see how scared she was. “It’s just all hitting me that in a few weeks I actually have to give birth.”
Holding her arms out to Blake, Isla waited until she was safely in her arms before saying anything.
“I know it’s scary, honey. I’ve done it three times and was still as scared when I had Evie as when I had you.
Feeling that way is perfectly normal. But you have a support system who will be there for you through it all.
Alexis and Dr. Jacobs have you, and I’m only a phone call away whenever you need me.
” She wasn’t sure if she should mention Vera, but she did. “As is Mama. We got you, Blake.”
“Thanks, Mommy.”
“You’re welcome, baby. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Everything okay?” Alexis walked into the room with a worried look on her face.
“Yeah,” Blake answered. “I had this weird pain, but Mom said I was probably having Braxton-Hicks contractions.”
“Oh, babe.” Embracing her wife, Alexis gently rubbed Blake’s back to comfort her. Isla was so thankful yet again that they had each other. “I know that’s so scary the first time. I’m glad Isla was here for you.”
“Me, too.” Blake smiled at Isla, warming Isla’s heart and making tears nip at her eyes.
But they didn’t have time to fall before Ellie rushed into the room. She looked frazzled. Actually, she looked like a mini-Vera with her hands on her hips and a slightly panicked look on her face.
“Did I hear you’re having contractions?”
“No,” Isla, Blake, and Alexis all chimed in together.
“But I thought I heard… ”
“It was just Braxton-Hicks,” Isla reassured Ellie as she put her hand on her shoulder. “Blake’s okay. I promise.”
“Oh, good,” Ellie breathed a sigh of relief. “I want to do an ultrasound on the baby, not deliver her.”
She watched as Ellie’s comment registered with Blake. Judging by Blake’s surprised look, the thought hadn’t crossed her mind before.
“You want to do my ultrasound?”
Ellie looked like she’d been caught, but she quickly recovered. She shrugged nonchalantly. “I mean, yeah. If you wanted me to, I totally could.”
“Umm, yeah,” Blake laughed, pulling Ellie into a hug. “I’m sorry I didn’t think about it before.”
“It’s okay. I was giving you space.” Ellie winked at Isla and smiled.
Watching her girls hug and bond was more than Isla could have ever wanted in life.
She savored their giggles as they ate pizza with the kids in the dining room.
Isla watched as Blake lifted her shirt, letting Ellie feel the baby move as they all sat in the living room after lunch.
Everything felt so perfect that Isla almost didn’t want to leave.
But one text from Vera sent her saying quick goodbyes as she left Ellie at Alexis and Blake’s house and headed for home. Vera had dropped off Everleigh with Mason for the night and had sent a spicy picture of her alone in their bedroom waiting on Isla.
And Isla wasn’t about to keep her waiting any longer.
As she took the steps two at a time, she pulled off her sweatshirt and shirt and tossed them to the floor.
Opening the bedroom door, she almost lost her breath at the sight of Vera sitting on the edge of the bed.
Even after thirty years together and five kids, Isla loved that her wife still had that control over her.
Vera spread her legs as Isla took off her pants.
“That was record time. ”
“You know I come running when you call.”
Vera sexily laughed, pulling Isla down on top of her. “Oh, I know. Now, show me.”