Page 28 of Pieces into Place (Moonflower Cove Romance #16)

Everleigh’s comment was so nonchalant that it caught Blake off guard.

She knew her sister had a sarcastic sense of humor, but when it came to her diagnosis, it made Blake feel sad.

Blake knew from talking with Alexis and Isla how hard the diagnosis had been on the entire family.

A part of her felt guilty that she came into the situation years after they had all figured it out. Even Everleigh.

I guess we can bond over our childhood trauma, if nothing else .

“Maybe we can just go to the arcade?” Everleigh offered up in Blake’s silence.

“I remember you saying you liked the arcade.”

“Look at you go, big sis.” She playfully elbowed Blake’s arm. “Emphasis on the big. ”

“Hey now, be nice to me.”

As they drove to their new destination, Blake parked the SUV outside the arcade. Blake loaded up a game card for them to use as they laughed and played nearly every game. Everleigh jokingly put a basketball up to her belly, laughing as Blake took their picture beside each other in a large mirror.

“Now I look like you.”

“Should I send that to our parents? Mama would have a heart attack.”

“No doubt,” Everleigh laughed, but grew serious as she put the basketball on her hip. “Not to sound like sappy Ellie, but it’s really cool to hear you call them our parents .”

Her emotions overtook Blake as she put her arm around Everleigh and pulled her into a hug. She half expected Everleigh to protest, but she was happy when Everleigh hugged her back instead.

“I’m really glad you wanted to hang out with me today. That means a lot.”

“Don’t get sappy on me, sis.”

“You started it.”

They both laughed as they resumed their games.

Blake lost several games of air hockey in a row before they finally called it quits for lunch.

Everleigh grabbed Willow’s leash as they headed out.

She let Everleigh pick and wasn’t surprised at all they ended up at Straight to Ale.

They walked a few blocks down to the restaurant as Blake rubbed her belly.

“You okay?”

“Yeah,” Blake winced, trying to cover up the pain from Everleigh. But she forgot whose child Everleigh was .

“Are you having Braxton-Hicks?”

Blake looked at her, surprised, as they stopped walking and turned to face each other.

“Don’t act surprised. You know who my mama is.” Everleigh reached out her hand toward Blake’s stomach. “Can I touch you?”

She nodded. Everleigh’s hands gently caressed either side of Blake’s belly. Blake watched as she rubbed her belly just like Alexis and Isla had when Blake had had the contractions around them. It was clear that Everleigh really was her parents’ child.

“What do ya think, Doc?”

“I think your body is tired from me beating your ass at the arcade.”

“Very possible.”

“Come on, sis. I got you.”

Sticking out her arm, Everleigh motioned for Blake to take it. She walked slowly with Blake to the bar, bypassing the host stand and seating themselves near the bar. Emily waved at them as she came out from behind the bar.

“She needs water and some fries, STAT.”

“Everything okay?” Emily asked Everleigh instead of Blake, which made Blake laugh.

“Yeah, just Braxton-Hicks.”

“Oh, those suck,” Emily whined. “But much easier to manage than the real thing.”

“Gee, thanks,” Blake teased as she stuck her tongue out at Emily, who did the same back.

“Now, children,” Everleigh interjected, sounding exactly like Vera, “behave yourself at this classy establishment.”

Emily pointed a finger at Everleigh as they both smiled. “Don’t make me go get your mom.”

“Actually, please do. And bring back some fries and waters, please, Auntie Em.”

“I hate that nickname. ”

“I know,” Everleigh smirked, making Blake laugh out loud.

As Emily left their table, Everleigh plucked a sugar packet from the container on the table. Blake didn’t have to ask what she was doing as the two quickly fell into a game of sugar packet football. With her belly stopping the packet from sliding off the table, Blake accused Everleigh of cheating.

“How am I cheating when it’s your belly in the way?”

“Well, excuse me for growing your niece.”

“What are you two bickering about?”

Isla sat by Everleigh as she put a basket of fries in the middle of the table. Emily was behind her, carrying three waters and a treat for Willow. She gave Willow the treat before heading back to the bar.

“Have you two had a good day?”

“It was great,” Everleigh beamed as she recounted their day so far to Isla. “I’ve had so much fun.”

“Me too, Evie.” Blake winked at her as she popped a fry into her mouth. “We’ll have to do it again sometime.”

“For sure. We need regular sister dates. Just the two of us.”

“I’m totally in.”

Blake felt herself relax, knowing that her relationship with Everleigh was intact. She had loved spending the day with her little sister and hoped it was the start to many more fun times with Everleigh. When Everleigh got up to go to the bathroom, Isla smiled at Blake.

“I’ve not seen her this happy in a while.”

“We’ve had a lot of fun today. She’s a great kid. You and Mama did good with her.”

Reaching out, Isla put her hand on Blake’s arm. “I think we did good with all of our babies.”

“I’d have to agree. Mackenzies make the best babies.”

Isla chuckled, but Blake could see the hint of sadness in her eyes. Holding up her water glass, Isla smiled as Blake tapped their glasses together. “I’ll drink to that. Speaking of babies, how is your little one?”

“Good. Active. I’ve been having Braxton-Hicks contractions on and off today. Evie actually helped me through one earlier.”

“She is very much her mama’s child.”

“And her mom’s. I can’t express how happy I’ve been the last few months because you all have never stopped showing me grace and love. You let things happen on my time and I,” Blake’s voice caught in her throat. “I didn’t know how much I needed that.”

“I knew you would come around one day. Even if it was years from now, I would have waited. We all would. It’s what Mackenzies do.”

Blake desperately wanted to spill the beans about their name change to Isla, but she bit her tongue.

She knew waiting until things were final would be better, just in case anything fell through.

And besides, Blake had already been envisioning telling Isla and Vera the big news after the baby was born.

It was going to be the cherry on top of a perfect day that was only a few weeks away.