Page 56 of Pieces into Place
“I know it’s scary, honey. I’ve done it three times and was still as scared when I had Evie as when I had you. Feeling that way is perfectly normal. But you have a support system who will be there for you through it all. Alexis and Dr. Jacobs have you, and I’m only a phone call away whenever you need me.” She wasn’t sure if she should mention Vera, but she did. “As is Mama. We got you, Blake.”
“Thanks, Mommy.”
“You’re welcome, baby. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Everything okay?” Alexis walked into the room with a worried look on her face.
“Yeah,” Blake answered. “I had this weird pain, but Mom said I was probably having Braxton-Hicks contractions.”
“Oh, babe.” Embracing her wife, Alexis gently rubbed Blake’s back to comfort her. Isla was so thankful yet again that they had each other. “I know that’s so scary the first time. I’m glad Isla was here for you.”
“Me, too.” Blake smiled at Isla, warming Isla’s heart and making tears nip at her eyes.
But they didn’t have time to fall before Ellie rushed into the room. She looked frazzled. Actually, she looked like a mini-Vera with her hands on her hips and a slightly panicked look on her face.
“Did I hear you’re having contractions?”
“No,” Isla, Blake, and Alexis all chimed in together.
“But I thought I heard…”
“It was just Braxton-Hicks,” Isla reassured Ellie as she put her hand on her shoulder. “Blake’s okay. I promise.”
“Oh, good,” Ellie breathed a sigh of relief. “I want to do an ultrasound on the baby,notdeliver her.”
She watched as Ellie’s comment registered with Blake. Judging by Blake’s surprised look, the thought hadn’t crossed her mind before.
“You want to do my ultrasound?”
Ellie looked like she’d been caught, but she quickly recovered. She shrugged nonchalantly. “I mean, yeah. If you wanted me to, I totally could.”
“Umm, yeah,” Blake laughed, pulling Ellie into a hug. “I’m sorry I didn’t think about it before.”
“It’s okay. I was giving you space.” Ellie winked at Isla and smiled.
Watching her girls hug and bond was more than Isla could have ever wanted in life. She savored their giggles as they ate pizza with the kids in the dining room. Isla watched as Blake lifted her shirt, letting Ellie feel the baby move as they all sat in the living room after lunch. Everything felt so perfect that Isla almost didn’t want to leave.
But one text from Vera sent her saying quick goodbyes as she left Ellie at Alexis and Blake’s house and headed for home. Vera had dropped off Everleigh with Mason for the night and had sent a spicy picture of her alone in their bedroom waiting on Isla.
And Isla wasn’t about to keep her waiting any longer. As she took the steps two at a time, she pulled off her sweatshirt and shirt and tossed them to the floor. Opening the bedroom door, she almost lost her breath at the sight of Vera sitting on the edge of the bed. Even after thirty years together and five kids, Isla loved that her wife still had that control over her. Vera spread her legs as Isla took off her pants.
“That was record time.”
“You know I come running when you call.”
Vera sexily laughed, pulling Isla down on top of her. “Oh, Iknow. Now, show me.”
Chapter 20
Blake
After having a successful reconciliation with her parents, Blake had tried to focus on building relationships with her siblings. Ellie had been the easiest. Maybe it was because they were so much alike. They both loved acting and had a similar personality. After Blake had helped Ellie with her relationship with Sadie the year before, she felt they had slowly been getting closer. And when Blake asked Ellie to do their next ultrasound, the deal had been sealed. Since then, Ellie messaged Blake daily for baby updates and to ask how Blake was feeling. Blake loved how attentive her little sister was and was happy they had settled into a comfortable relationship.
The same could be said about her relationship with Mason and Brayden as well. She and Mason had been getting closer, especially with Blake asking her and Alexis the same questions over and over about her pregnancy. Blake appreciated how neither of them had killed her for asking so many questions.
Mason was the best sister, though. Not that Blake had a favorite. She didn’t. But there was just something different about Mason. Blake knew it was because they had bonded from their childhood trauma. As shitty of a circumstance as it was, Blake was thankful she was able to finally reconnectwith Mason after it all. Mason wanted to be a part of Blake’s life now, and vice versa. In fact, Blake barely went a day without Mason calling or coming over or just sending a cute picture of Silas.
