Page 30 of Pieces into Place (Moonflower Cove Romance #16)

Blake

T here had been very few nights where Blake felt she got a solid amount of sleep since entering her third trimester.

In fact, she could probably count them all on one hand.

Which was why she wasn’t surprised to find herself awake long after Alexis went to bed.

She was surprised, however, when she headed up to her parents’ room.

Blake didn’t know why she’d done it. She’d been standing at their door before she had time to process.

Thankfully, the bedroom door was cracked, so Blake felt safe knocking.

The last thing she’d wanted to do was interrupt anything that might be going on behind fully closed doors.

After waiting a few moments outside the door, Blake had mustered up the courage to knock.

She felt like a nervous kid standing there in the doorway as Isla and Vera looked at her with so much love Blake could have drowned in it.

They looked so happy that she was standing there, silently asking if she could crawl into bed with them.

And when they’d told her to do so, Blake didn’t hesitate.

Blake let Vera help her into the bed as she snuggled with Isla.

All her worries and fears seemed to melt away as she lay there, sandwiched between two of the most amazing women she knew .

As Isla played with her hair, Blake could feel her eyes getting heavier.

She had no idea how long she’d slept until she woke up with her arm still over Isla’s stomach.

Her pregnant belly was pressed against Isla’s side, and somehow a pillow had been placed between her knees.

It was comfortable, Blake had to admit that.

Blake smiled as she pictured Vera doing that sometime in the night.

She could tell by the coolness on her back that Vera was no longer in bed.

Isla still had her arm around Blake, but Blake’s head had moved from her chest to her shoulder sometime during the middle of the night.

If it weren’t for the baby kicking her bladder, Blake would have stayed there hours longer.

Shifting slightly, she waited to see if Isla was awake or not.

“I don’t know how you’ve slept so long with her kicking like that,” Isla chuckled as she kissed Blake’s head. “Reminds me of when I was pregnant with you and Evie.”

“Honestly, until the last few minutes, I didn’t feel her.” Blake sat up, yawning as she rubbed her belly. “I haven’t slept that good in forever.”

“Me either.”

“Did we kick Mama out?”

“No, she’s making breakfast. She got up not too long ago.”

“You mean you’ve been up?” Blake cocked her head at Isla. “You should have woken me up since I had you trapped.”

“I wasn’t trapped,” Isla firmly stated. “If I’d wanted to get up, I would have. But I wanted to cuddle my baby girl. And feel my granddaughter kicking my hip for the last hour.”

“She’s feisty in the morning.” Putting her hand on her belly, Blake felt the baby move. It would have been sweeter if the feeling wasn’t quickly followed by an urgency to pee. She removed the pillow from between her knees as she took off the sheet. “Sorry, I gotta potty. ”

“Let me help you up.” Sliding out of bed, Isla helped Blake to her feet as she headed for the bathroom.

It was an odd realization Blake had sitting there that she’d never been in her parents’ bathroom before. She’d never had a reason to since there were so many other bathrooms at the beach house. But that realization brought with it another one. One that crushed Blake more than she’d expected.

She had never seen her parents’ bathroom at their home, either.

It seemed so simple. Mason, Ellie, Brayden, and Everleigh probably never would have thought about that.

But for Blake, it made her realize how disconnected she’d been from her family.

Blake hated how she’d kept her guard up for so long and missed out on so many memories she could have been having.

So many peaceful nights wrapped in her mom’s embrace she could have had.

Sighing, Blake pulled up her pants and washed her hands.

She pumped some of the lotion sitting on the counter into her hands before rubbing it on her belly.

Since the one contraction last night, Blake hadn’t felt anymore.

Thank God. That one had been enough to take Blake’s breath away.

It was a reminder that labor was going to be coming sooner rather than later, and Blake wasn’t sure she was ready for that.

Blake had been trying to gaslight herself into not thinking about labor.

At least she only had to push one baby out, though.

She was still in awe that Alexis and Vera had both pushed out twins as if it were nothing.

Well, she knew Alexis had. She assumed Vera had been the same way. Not that she knew.

That realization hurt, too. Having not been around for so many monumental occasions in the history of her family hurt.

It hurt more than Blake ever let on. She would have been eighteen when Vera had Ellie and Brayden.

Was her pregnancy hard? Did she get put on bedrest like Alexis?

Would Blake have been in the room when they were born ?

Her heart ached at the understanding that, yes. If she’d wanted to be there when Vera had the twins, she could have been there. Just another thing Blake has missed out on.

“Blake?” Isla gently knocked on the door. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, sorry.” Hurrying to open the door, Blake pulled down her shirt in the process. “Just takes me a while now.”

“It’s okay, honey. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m good, Mom.”

“Good,” Isla smiled at her, nodding her head toward the door. “Come on. Let’s go see what Mama made for breakfast.”

“No need,” Vera’s singsong voice entered the room before she did.

She had a huge smile on her face and was carrying a tray full of waffles, bacon, eggs, and a Diet Coke can.

Alexis was close behind her with a similar tray, except the Diet Coke had been swapped for milk.

“We made our wives breakfast in bed, so get back in bed.”

Blake’s stomach growled as she walked over to Alexis to kiss her good morning. Alexis set the tray down on the bed as she put her arms around Blake’s waist.

“Isla,” Vera sat her tray down on the bed as well, “can you help me with something in the kitchen?”

“Yep.”

It was clear to Blake that Vera didn’t need help with anything in the kitchen and instead just wanted to give Alexis and Blake a few moments alone. As they left the room, Blake and Alexis leaned in for a kiss.

“I’m sorry I snuck out of bed last night.”

“I would normally complain, but I know you needed that time with your mom.”

“I did. And Vera. I haven’t crawled into Mom’s bed since I was a kid. ”

“I know.” Alexis tenderly caressed Blake’s cheek. “I can see how much you needed it by how rested you look. I haven’t seen you like this in a while.”

“I haven’t felt like this in a while.”

“I’m so happy for you, baby. You deserve this.”

“We deserve this.” Blake pulled Alexis as close as she could get with her baby bump in the way. “I can’t wait to tell them that we are ch—”

“Shhh!” Alexis scolded as she put her hand over Blake’s mouth and she looked to the bedroom door. “Don’t run your big mouth and ruin the surprise just a few weeks before we plan to tell them.”

“You’re so bossy.”

“Yeah?” Alexis arched an eyebrow at her. “You like it?”

“You know I do.”

“Then get in bed so I can feed you breakfast.”

“Is that what you’re calling your clit now?”

“Blake!” Alexis playfully hit her shoulder as they both laughed. “I swear, pregnancy has made you so horny.”

“Like mother, like daughter,” Vera chimed in with a laugh as she and Isla returned to the bedroom. She and Isla had two more trays of food that Blake knew were for Alexis and Vera.

The four of them piled onto the bed as they chatted and ate their breakfast. Blake was beyond relaxed with her back against the headboard, her feet propped up on three pillows, and another pillow behind her lower back.

It was easy to see why Vera was the most requested doctor at the hospital, and it made Blake feel guilty for not choosing her to be her doctor all over again.

It seemed so stupid now. How selfish could she have been to only think of herself when choosing a doctor?

She hadn’t thought past her own insecurities to see how that decision would affect not only Vera but Isla as well.

And although Blake knew that Alexis wouldn’t mind if she invited Isla and Vera to be in the delivery room, Blake also didn’t want to make a decision in the midst of so many emotions.

After all, she had no clue how she’d handle being in labor.

Maybe she’d want her mommy there. Maybe she wouldn’t.

Maybe I’ll just wait to make a decision about who will be in the room when that day comes.

Hopefully in the distant future.

Blake knew the distant future wasn’t that far away, though.

She was thirty-four weeks, well on her way to the end of her pregnancy.

Her due date was quickly approaching while she knew everything at home was ready for the new baby.

Blake couldn’t quite get over her anxiety about the actual birth part.

Hence why she kept avoiding it. Somehow she’d even convinced Alexis they didn’t need to go to the birthing class Dr. Jacobs had encouraged because she knew what to expect.

It was a lie. A flat out, bold face lie. All Blake knew about labor was what she’d seen with Alexis.

Maybe I can ask Vera.

No.

She’s not my doctor.

But she’s my mama.

Blake battled with her inner thoughts all day as the four of them hung around the house and relaxed.

Since it was mid-March, the sun wasn’t too warm yet.

She’d settled for sitting on the back deck in her bikini top and cargo shorts with her feet propped up on a nearby chair.

Alexis and Isla were cleaning the pool as Vera worked on cleaning the grill on the deck near Blake.