Page 55 of Pieces into Place
“I see now why you needed more paint.”
“We should have hired painters,” Alexis laughed as she motioned them into the house. Isla and Ellie followed behind her as they walked into the kitchen. “Arden told us she would do it, but Blake didn’t want to bother her since she and Callie just had Finley.”
Isla smiled at the memory of Finley’s birth. Watching Emily be a surrogate for Callie and Arden was one of the most beautiful things Isla had ever witnessed. She still remembered the excitement she felt when Emily asked her to be in the delivery room. It made Finley’s birth extra special since Isla felt she was there with one of her daughters. Her relationship with Emily had deepened after that, and Isla was beyond grateful for that.
If only Blake would let me in the delivery room.
She silently scolded herself as soon as the thought entered her mind. That was entirely Blake’s decision. It was a very intimate and personal moment, and Blake might not want the crowd that Alexis had with the twins. And if that was the case, Isla just had to accept that.
Even if she wanted to pout about it instead.
“Where’s Blake?”
“Trying to finish up the trim with paint we had left. We’ll probably have to get a forklift to get her off the floor.”
“Oh, hush.” Isla playfully swatted Alexis’s shoulder. “We didn’t need one with you and you were much bigger.”
“Rude,” Alexis laughed. “Go get your daughter and tell her the pizza is here.”
“Will do.”
As Isla headed into the nursery, she found Blake sitting on the floor. There was a small cup of paint balancing on her belly as she leaned over, painting above the taped off baseboards. The room had a fresh yellow coat of paint on only one of the four walls as Isla slowly realized she was going to be helping them paint for the rest of the day.Putting her hand on her hip, Isla smiled down at her daughter.
“You’re too much like your mother.”
“So I’ve been told,” Blake laughed.
“You do know that any one of your family members or friends would have helped you with this so your pregnant ass wasn’t on the floor, right?”
“Yeah, but I get my stubbornness from my mother.”
Isla busted out a laugh. “That you do, kid. Come on. Let me help you up.”
“You may need reinforcement.”
Setting the paint and brush down, Blake rolled over onto her side before sitting up on her knees. She held her hands out to Isla as Isla helped pull her to her feet. Blake instantly let go of one hand as she put it on the side of her very pregnant belly. The look she gave Isla of complete panic instantly put Isla on edge.
“What? What’s wrong? Talk to me.”
“I… I don’t know.” Blake looked so scared that all Isla wanted to do was hug her. But first, she had to find out what was wrong. “My stomach is just really tight, and it hurts.”
“Can I touch you?”
Blake nodded, and Isla put her hands on either side of Blake’s baby bump. She could feel how her muscles were tight under her hands as she felt like Vera trying to figure this out.
“I think it’s Braxton-Hicks contractions.”
“I’m having contractions?” Blake’s panic grew, so Isla tried to keep her voice calm.
“They’re just practice contractions. They usually start in your third trimester to get you ready for labor. They’re totally normal. I promise.”
“Okay, good.” The panic in Blake’s voice disappeared as her shoulders dropped. “I don’t know how I’m going to do this.”
“Do what? Labor?”
“Yeah,” Blake nodded, but Isla could see how scared she was. “It’s just all hitting me that in a few weeks I actually have to give birth.”
Holding her arms out to Blake, Isla waited until she was safely in her arms before saying anything.
