Page 41 of Pieces into Place
“Give her another minute,” Vera chuckled. “I’m honestly surprised she hasn’t been in here yet looking for us.”
“Very true,” Blake giggled as the baby fluttered under her hand again. “Hi, baby girl. I’m your Mama. And this ismymama.”
Vera kissed Blake’s cheek as Blake savored the feeling that all her years of pain and heartache and feeling like an outsider in her own family might finallybe coming to an end.
Chapter 15
Isla
Both Vera and Blake had been gone for far too long for Isla to not assume something was wrong. She’d resisted the urge to follow them into the kitchen, knowing that Vera was more than capable of handling anything that was wrong. Not that something was wrong. It was just Isla’s gut feeling that told her something was. Like a disturbance in the force or something.
Or something is wrong with the baby.
She’d noticed Blake standing in the kitchen archway earlier as she rubbed her baby bump. Blake looked like her mind was a million miles away and, at the time, Isla had chalked it up to just Blake being Blake. But now that nearly fifteen minutes had passed since Vera had followed Blake into the kitchen and hadn’t returned, Isla knew something was up.
Mason must have sensed it too, because she was looking at Isla from across the room. Her eyes moved to the kitchen archway and back to Isla’s. That was Isla’s sign that it was time to check on Vera and Blake.
Patting Ellie’s side, Isla carefully stood from the recliner as Ellie dramatically flopped into the seat. Thankfully, everyone was so busy watching the kids play that they didn’t notice her exit. She walked into the kitchen to find it empty, which only elevated her concerns and her bloodpressure. Isla hurried down the hallway to the guest bathroom and also found it empty. Then she noticed the guest bedroom door was slightly cracked.
Peeking her head inside, Isla felt her heart relax at the sight. Blake and Vera were sitting beside each other with their hands on Blake’s belly. Every few seconds they would laugh, and Isla knew they were feeling the baby move. Her heart soared that Blake was comfortable enough to share that moment with Vera. So much so that she almost didn’t want to interrupt it.
But Vera must have sensed her presence, because she smiled at Isla.
“I was wondering when you’d find us.”
“I was getting worried. I’m glad to see things are okay.” She narrowed her eyes slightly at Vera. “Things are okay, right?”
Before Vera could answer, Blake stood. She had tears in her eyes as she crossed the room and hugged Isla. And it wasn’t a normal Blake hug that was short. It was a Mackenzie hug that was tight and holding on for dear life. Isla felt Blake’s belly press into hers as she held her daughter as tightly as she could. Whatever had brought Blake into the room earlier was clearly still on her mind.
“Oh, honey.” Isla rubbed her back. Although she was afraid to say in the moment, she could feel the faintest flutters of the baby against her stomach. “It’s okay. I’m here.”
“I’m so sorry, Mom.”
“For what, baby?”
“For the way I’ve treated you.”
Helping Blake sit back down, Isla got on her knees in front of her. She held onto Blake’s hand with one hand while the other rested on Blake’s knee. Blake looked upset, but the dark cloud that had been hanging over her for years seemed to have dissipated.
Was this the breakthrough they had been hoping for?
“Oh, honey.”
“I don’t think I understood what you went through with losing me until yesterday. I know we only lost Reese for a few minutes, but it made me realize how hard it had to be for you. I couldn’t imagine someone taking one of my kids and then never knowing where they were. I would have gone insane.”
“I wanted to, trust me,” Isla sadly laughed. “If I didn’t have Mason, I probably would have. But I never stopped loving you during that time. Never. Not when letters went unanswered. Not when years and years and years passed. Not when I thought I’d never get to see you again. I never stopped loving you or being your mom.”
Isla looked to Vera, holding out her hand, and Vera quickly took it and squeezed.
“Wenever stopped loving you and hoping that one day, we would get to have what we have now with you.”
“I’m so sorry I’ve been so closed off the last few years. Neither of you deserved that. I don’t know why you still tried when I kept pushing you away.”
“Because you are our daughter,” Isla firmly stated so Blake would understand how much she meant it. “I will never give up on you.Wewill never give up on you. Never.”
“I want to fix this,” Blake motioned back and forth between her and Isla. “With you and with Mama.”
Isla quickly glanced at Vera as Blake called hermama. It was so casual, like Blake had always called her that. Vera grinned, tears glistening in her eyes as she winked at Isla. She turned her attention back to Blake.
