Page 36 of Pieces into Place
Running toward Alexis’s voice, Blake saw Reese crying on her shoulder as Harper and Archer held onto her legs. As she reached Alexis, Reese reached out for her. Blake quickly took her as Reese wrapped her arms around Blake’s neck and waist. She cried into Blake’s shoulder as they held onto each other as their lives depended on it.
“It’s okay, honey.” Blake kissed her cheek. “Mama’s here. You’re safe, Reese. I love you.”
The same memory from before came crashing into Blake. Isla was holding her tightly as she kissed her cheek.
“It’s going to be okay, Blake. Mommy’s going to protect you. Don’t worry, honey. It’s all going to be okay. I love you.”
Blake could see the tears on Isla’s face as she squeezed her eyes shut. The memory was from before their final court ruling. Although she hadn’t been in the courtroom,she’d sat outside with her Aunt Nora, Mason, and her cousin while the judge made his decision. She could still remember hearing Isla’s loud sobbing through the door as the ruling was announced.
Everything happened so quickly after that Blake couldn’t piece all the pieces together anymore. She remembered being ushered away by her father, despite calling out for her mommy. Blake held on to Reese tighter, never wanting to let any of her kids out of her sight again.
Holding her arm out to Alexis, Blake pulled her into a hug as well. Alexis picked up Archer, who snuggled between them as he held onto Alexis. Harper stood between them, her arms wrapped around Blake’s waist. She hadn’t noticed how much she had been sobbing until Alexis wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“She’s okay,” Alexis reassured her as she put a hand on her shoulder. “She’s okay. Everything is okay.”
Blake nodded, unable to say anything else as she held onto her family. And everything her father had told her about Isla came crashing down around her. Every lie about how she didn’t want her. Every time he told her she would reach out if she still cared. She knew it was all a lie. A lie her father concocted to control her.
But Blake was done being controlled by the demons and lies of her past. It was time for her to reclaim her future.
Chapter 13
Isla
Mornings in the Mackenzie house used to be the most hectic time of the day. Isla and Vera were always running around to get lunches packed, get the kids dressed, and get themselves ready for their workdays. It had been their normal routine for so long that Isla still hadn’t fully gotten used to the new morning routine.
With all the kids out of the house except one, mornings seemed extra quiet now. Especially since Everleigh was homeschooled and didn’t have to be up by a specific time. Isla and Vera took turns being home with her, although at times they had to leave her alone if both their jobs needed them. Vera had cut down to three days a week and was on call once a month, which had improved her overall health dramatically. In fact, Isla couldn’t remember a time her wife looked happier than she had since stepping back at work.
Everleigh had also been thriving. She had gone from hating school to excelling in the homeschool environment. It had put a strain on the family for a bit while they worked out the logistics of homeschooling Everleigh, but it had worked out for everyone in the end.
It also gave Isla and Vera peace of mind about Everleigh’s diabetes. Although they had all learned to handle it the best they could, it was still hard for them attimes. Everleigh still had days when she didn’t want to do anything because she felt so bad. Islas wished more than anything she could take her baby’s pain away from her. If there was a way for Isla to do just that, she would have thirteen years ago when Everleigh was first diagnosed.
So much had changed in those thirteen years. As Isla sipped her Diet Coke at the kitchen table, she wondered what her forty-three-year-old self would think if she were sitting across from her. She probably wouldn’t even be able to process the fact that she would have a baby with diabetes, watch Mason fall in love, welcome four grandbabies into the family, and reconnect with Blake. Although the latter was still a work in progress, Isla knew that one would have sent her younger self over the edge in the best way.
Isla had waited so long for Blake to be back in her life. Most of her life was spent hoping Blake would show up. And when she did, Isla had nearly passed out. She’d been helping Alexis and Emily close up the bar when the door opened. For years, she wondered what she would say when she saw Blake again, but in that moment, words failed her.
“I can’t believe you’re here. In my bar.” Isla’s voice caught in her throat as she studied her daughter.
Blake looked as if she’d stepped out of Isla’s closet with her Beatles-themed graphic tee, tight jeans, black leather jacket, and Doc Martens. As her ice blue eyes met Isla’s, Isla couldn’t help but see Blake as the five-year-old girl that she’d last seen over two decades prior.
“I hope it’s okay that I’m here. I’m sorry.” Blake nervously scratched the base of her neck as her eyes dropped from Isla’s gaze. “Should I have called? I should have called.”
“No, Blake,” Isla took a step toward her, wanting to embrace her but stopping short to respect that Blake might not be ready for that yet. She clasped her hand over herheart as tears nipped at her eyes. “I’m so happy you are here.”
Isla thought back on that night often. She wondered if it would have kick-started their healing journey sooner if she had pulled Blake into her arms and held her as tightly as she could. But instead, Isla had given her space out of fear it would send Blake packing if she came on too strong, too fast. Her respect for Blake had always been a top priority for Isla, even now.
It was why she hadn’t pushed Blake since their small breakthrough at Vera’s office. That had been an enormous step for Blake to take to let her and Vera in the way she had, and Isla didn’t want her to think they needed more. Islawantedmore, yes, but she wouldn’t push Blake beyond what she was comfortable with. That was just the type of parent she was.
Besides, Isla didn’t want to rock the boat any more than she already had around the holidays. With Alexis’s birthday and Christmas coming up within the next few days, Isla could ride the positive vibes that had surrounded them since that day at Vera’s office. It had been a turning point for not only Isla and Blake, but for Vera and Alexis as well. Alexis deserved that, especially with her birthday dinner planned for the next day. Isla could give Alexis a more relaxing party than she’d had for her own birthday.
The back door opened as Vera stepped inside with a sigh. She’d been on-call the night before, and Isla knew she had a rough night. It was why the coffee pot was full and hot and waiting on Vera and why Isla was out of bed at seven-thirty on her day off.
“Hey.”
“Hey, baby.” Isla stood, letting Vera melt into her hug.
They’d had the same routine for years after Vera’s on-call shifts. And, well, after most shifts. Isla knew her wife so well that she could tell instantly if it was a good or bad day at work. The bad days often took more from Vera thanshe wanted to give, but Isla was always there for her when she got home. She held Vera close as she gently swayed and let Vera take all the time she needed to recover from her shift.
“I made coffee.”
