Page 38 of Pieces into Place (Moonflower Cove Romance #16)

Isla

W aiting rooms absolutely fucking sucked.

At least that’s what Isla had decided after being in one for nearly an hour.

She’d gone from pacing the floor to hugging Mason to pacing again in the vain attempt to keep herself remotely sane.

Which she knew would be damn near impossible until Blake and the baby were okay.

Isla was currently back to pacing the laminate floors as Mason pumped on a nearby chair.

Checking her watch again, Isla sighed.

“It’s not changed since the last time you checked it ten seconds ago,” Mason quipped. “Come here and help me instead of pacing.”

Mason handed Isla a bottle as she took her pumps off.

Isla filled one bottle up as Mason did the same with another.

She was glad that Mason still had an amazing supply almost a year after giving birth.

Even though she and Chase were easing Silas into food, he still needed Mason or a bottle throughout the day, especially at night.

His mom had been the same way, so Isla couldn’t blame him.

Opening up the lunchbox Mason used to keep her milk cool in, Isla noticed there were several bottles already in there.

Mason added the two new ones, which filled up the box.

Isla wondered why she’d brought milk to the hospital since Silas wasn’t with her.

She must have read Isla’s mind, because Mason turned toward her as she answered.

“I thought Blake and Alexis might need some milk for the baby. I’m producing more than Silas needs right now, so I wanted to help if I could. I don’t know if they would want it or not, but…”

“I’m sure they will be more than grateful for it.” Isla put her arm around Mason’s neck and kissed her cheek. “That is so thoughtful of you, honey.”

Mason picked up Isla’s arm and looked at her watch, sighing.

“It’s been almost an hour.”

“Why was it not okay for me to look, but you can look and complain?”

“Because I’m your baby girl.” Mason put her arms around Isla’s waist, resting her head on her chest. “They’re okay.”

“I know.” Isla nodded her head. “I know they are. I just need Mama to tell me that.”

Isla looked toward the door where she hoped Vera or Avery or Alexis or Melanie or anyone would come through at any moment and give them an update.

She knew from years of Vera being a doctor that cesareans could take anywhere from a few minutes in an emergency to an hour or more if there were complications.

Her mind wanted to jump to the worst-case scenario, but Isla wouldn’t let it.

Instead, she reminded herself that they would probably stitch Blake up and get her into recovery before Vera would leave her side.

She couldn’t blame Vera there. Isla wouldn’t leave Blake’s side, either. Not after everything their daughter had been through today. Her heart desperately needed to see Blake again to know she was okay. To know Avery had made the right decision to do a major surgery on her daughter .

Finally, the automatic doors opened and Isla locked eyes with Vera.

She was dressed in scrubs and had tears in her eyes, but the smile on her face told Isla everything she needed to know.

Isla jumped up from the chair, sprinting across the waiting room to her wife.

They collapsed into each other’s arms to the point Isla wasn’t sure which one was holding the other up more.

Slowly, they sank to their knees with their arms still locked around each other.

“They’re okay?” Isla asked.

“They’re okay.” Vera nodded her head. She framed Isla’s face with her hands as she looked into her eyes. “They’re both okay. You have a beautiful new granddaughter. She weighs seven pounds, eight ounces, and is twenty-two inches long. She looks like Harper, and Blake and Alexis are madly in love.”

Isla let out a sob as she noticed Mason was on her knees beside her. She had one hand on Isla’s back and the other on Vera’s arm.

“How’s Blake?”

“She’s good. She did amazing, honey. You should be so proud of her.”

“I am,” she happily laughed. “So proud.”

“Me too. The surgery went great. Avery was in and out with no complications.” Vera paused for a moment, and Isla braced herself for a but . “The baby’s cord was around her neck.”

Isla didn’t have time to react or ask questions before Vera continued.

“It happens sometimes, but it wasn’t hurting her. But that was why she wasn’t handling the contractions well. The cord would tighten with each contraction, which was causing her distress. Avery one hundred percent made the right call to do a cesarean.”

“Good.” Isla took hold of Vera’s hands and squeezed them. “I’m so glad they’re both okay. How’s Alexis? ”

“She’s good. So in love with Blake and the baby. I can’t imagine my wife going through that, but she never let go of Blake’s hand.”

“I love her.”

“She’s the best.”

Isla lifted her hand to Vera’s cheek, using her thumb to wipe away a tear. “How are you?”

She watched as Vera’s shoulders dropped slightly, and Isla knew exactly what she needed.

Standing, Isla pulled Vera to her feet as they embraced in a long hug.

Isla held Vera close for a few moments as she let her process her emotions.

Mason never took her hand off Vera’s back as they gave her the safe space she needed.

“I was so scared, Isla.” Vera looked into her eyes as Isla kept her arms around her.

“We’ve never had a kid in surgery like that before.

And I’ve never been on that side of the curtain before.

Not in the way I was tonight, at least. I got to hold Blake while they put her epidural in and I held her hand during the surgery.

I talked her and Alexis through what was happening and watched our granddaughter be born.

And I got to hold her and hand her to Blake. ”

“Oh, honey.” Isla pressed their foreheads together. “I’m so glad you were there for her. Blake needed you there. I needed you there.”

Vera reached into the pocket of her scrub top and pulled out a phone. Isla knew from the background photo it was Melanie’s phone.

“Mel took some pictures.”

As Vera opened the photo app, she handed the phone to Isla as she pulled Mason into a hug.

The three of them marveled at the photos as Isla kept wiping the happy tears from her eyes.

Seeing Blake was okay and seeing her new granddaughter was beyond overwhelming to Isla.

Now Isla just needed to get her own eyes on Blake for her heart to fully be healed .

“When can we see her?”

“She’s in recovery now. Alexis is with her and the baby. You should go back and be with her. Mason and I can hang out here until they get her moved into a room, so we’re not all crowding her.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.” Vera kissed Isla’s forehead. “Go be with our daughter.”

“I’ll take care of Mama.” Mason winked at Isla as she let Vera pull her into a hug. “Tell Blake I love her and give this to Alexis.”

She handed Isla the lunchbox full of breast milk and she smiled at Vera.

“I’m donating my oversupply to Blake and Alexis if they need it.”

“Aww, honey,” Vera started to cry again. “That’s so sweet. They’ll need that until Blake can try feeding on her own.”

“I’m happy to help anyway I can.”

After another round of hugs and kisses from both Vera and Mason, Isla walked down the hallway toward the recovery room Vera had sent her to.

The hallway was quiet, with most of the lights out in the rooms as she passed by.

She found the recovery room Blake was in and took a moment to compose herself before entering.

“Oh, sorry,” Avery apologized as she walked out the door and nearly into Isla. “Blake was just asking for you.”

Without fully knowing why, Isla hugged Avery.

Although she’s known of Avery since she began working at Taylor Memorial Hospital seven years ago, Isla never knew her as more than Vera’s colleague.

She was occasionally a part of stories Vera would tell about work, and Isla would see her at hospital events or around town.

Avery came into the bar often, not that Isla judged her frequency of her establishment .

Just like Isla didn’t judge the whole arm full of tattoos that Avery had.

If anything, Avery could pass as a Mackenzie kid.

She had the same brown eyes and hair that Isla, her sisters, and kids had.

The big difference was that Isla wouldn’t normally hug Avery.

In fact, she never had before. Hell, she’d barely had a conversation with her.

However, in the heat of her emotions, it felt like the most natural thing to do. It took Avery a moment to return the hug. Probably too stunned to register what was happening at first. But when she did, she hugged Isla tightly.

“Thank you for keeping them safe.”

“You’re welcome.” Avery’s voice was full of emotion. “Thank you for trusting me.”

Isla let go of Avery, taking a step back as she smiled at her.

Although Isla knew she was young, exactly how young was apparent as she stood across from her.

Avery was only thirty-three, which was younger than both Blake and Mason.

She could easily be one of Isla’s daughters, and Isla couldn’t imagine Blake or Mason performing such a high-stake surgery at their ages.

Not that they couldn’t do it if they were trained.

It was just that it was a lot of pressure on someone at any age. Especially at thirty-three.

The realization gave Isla a newfound respect not only for Avery, but Vera as well.

“I’ll check on Blake again once she gets moved up to postpartum.”

“Thanks, Dr. Jacobs.”

“Avery,” she smiled at Isla as she held her hand out and Isla shook it. “We’ve known each other long enough for you to call me Avery.”

“Well, then, please, call me Isla.”

“Not Mrs. Dr. Mackenzie?” Avery teased, smirking. “I’ll check on you all soon, Isla.”

“See ya, Avery. ”

Isla waited until Avery was down the hallway before knocking lightly on the door. She opened it quietly, unsure if Blake or the baby were asleep. Alexis was standing at the foot of the bed, holding the baby as Isla walked into the room. But they would have to wait.

She had to check on her baby first.

Alexis seemed to understand as she nodded toward Blake, who was sitting up in the bed.

Melanie was also in the room, along with another nurse Isla recognized.

She handed the lunchbox to Melanie, assuming she could figure out what to do with it, as she walked over to Blake.

Blake’s lower lip quivered as she held her arms out to Isla.

“Mommy.” Blake nuzzled her face against Isla’s as Isla carefully hugged her. She was unsure where all the IVs and stitches were and wanted to be careful with Blake. But at the same time, she couldn’t hold Blake tight enough.

“I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, Mom. She’s beautiful.”

“So are you, honey.” Isla tenderly tucked Blake’s hair behind her ear. She was wearing the gown she’s gotten for her postpartum time, and Isla knew without asking that Melanie had ensured Blake got to wear it so she’d be comfortable. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired and sore and itchy.”

“Itchy?” She directed the question to Melanie, who walked over to the bed. Melanie put her hand on Blake’s head in the most tender and comforting way.

“The epidural can make some people itch. We gave her some Benadryl, so it may make her a little sleepy.”

“I’m very sleepy,” Blake chuckled.

“She was waiting to see you before she’d go to sleep.” Alexis stood on the other side of the bed, still holding the baby in her arms. She looked down at Blake as she carefully handed her the baby. “Do you want to introduce her? ”

“Absolutely.” Blake beamed with happiness as she held her baby for a moment before looking up at Isla. “We’re keeping her whole name a surprise until Mama can be here too. But this is Amelia.”

“Amelia,” Isla put a hand to her chest. “I love that name.”

“Do you want to hold her?”

“Absolutely.”

Slowly and carefully, Isla took Amelia from Blake. She held the baby in her arms as she looked down at her. Amelia was sleeping, her mouth slightly open in the most adorable way. It was most likely Melanie that had wrapped her in the matching swaddle to Blake’s gown.

“She’s perfect, Blake. Congratulations, you two.”

“Congrats to you too, Grammy.”

Isla savored her time with Amelia, Blake, and Alexis in the recovery room until Blake was moved to a postpartum room.

A cot had been set up in the room for Alexis, and she laid on it doing skin-to-skin with Amelia as Vera sat on the edge of the cot.

It was clear to Isla she was making sure Alexis didn’t fall asleep, and that gesture made Isla smile.

Melanie had prepared the bottles of milk from Mason for Amelia, and Blake had given Amelia her first feeding before falling asleep herself.

“Mom?” Blake was almost asleep as Isla sat by her bed, holding her hand. Isla instantly reached for the water bottle by the bed.

“Are you thirsty?”

“No,” she shook her head as she scooted over a little in the bed. “Can you hold me while I sleep?”

Isla’s heart melted as she nodded. She kicked off her shoes and carefully got into bed beside Blake.

Vera hurried over to help make sure Blake’s IVs and monitors weren’t in the way as Blake snuggled into Isla.

Kissing her head, Isla remembered back to the night she had Blake and the first time she kissed her head.

A wave of emotions crashed into her, but there was one that overwhelmed her the most.

Peace.

Not only with the fact that Blake and Amelia were okay, but for the fact Isla’s heart finally felt whole again.

“I love you, Blake. ”

“I love you, Mommy.”