Page 58 of Pieces into Place
“Hey, Blake.”
“Hey, Evie.”
“You’re huge,” Everleigh laughed as she pointed to Blake’s stomach. Blake couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re telling me.”
Pulling out of the driveway, Blake tried to think of something to talk about with Everleigh. However, her mind was blank. She held onto the steering wheel with both hands as she drove through downtown.
Blake kept glancing over at Everleigh, who was looking out the window. She looked so much like Vera from the side that there was no denying she was her kid. Her dark blonde hair was past her shoulders, gently curling at the ends like Vera’s did when it was long. Everleigh wore a Taylor Swift sweatshirt and sweatpants, as seemed to be her usual winter attire.
At fourteen, Everleigh was almost as tall as Blake. That wasn’t surprising considering Vera was tall as well. Both Vera and Isla were the same height, and their kids were nearly at that height as well. Only Brayden has pushed past them ever so slightly as he neared six feet.
“So, where are we going?”
“I thought we’d go to the aquarium.”
“In Portland?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?” Everleigh wasn’t accusatory, just curious, judging by her tone.
“Well, kids love the aquarium.”
“I’m fourteen,” Everleigh deadpanned, making Blake laugh again. She felt the baby press on her bladder and hoped she wouldn’t pee her pants.
“So… what? You want me to take you to the strip club instead?”
Everleigh perked up. “Would you really take me there?
“What?” Blake gasped, shaking her head. “No. I was kidding.”
“I’m not. I wanna go.” Her grin told Blake she was teasing. “Mason would take me.”
“Then go ask Mason.”
“So, the aquarium, huh?”
“We don’t have to go there if you don’t want to.”
“No,” Everleigh shook her head, “I love the aquarium. It’s just that it’s not open in the winter.”
“What?” Blake gasped. “You’re lying.”
“Nope. Sorry.”
“Dammit.” She quickly covered her mouth with her hand. “Oops. Dang it. Sorry, I forgot I had a kid in the car.”
“I haven’t been a kid since my pancreas stopped working.”
Everleigh’s comment was so nonchalant that it caught Blake off guard. She knew her sister had a sarcastic sense of humor, but when it came to her diagnosis, it made Blake feel sad. Blake knew from talking with Alexis and Isla how hard the diagnosis had been on the entire family. A part of her felt guilty that she came into the situation years after they had all figured it out. Even Everleigh.
I guess we can bond over our childhood trauma, if nothing else.
“Maybe we can just go to the arcade?” Everleigh offered up in Blake’s silence.
“I remember you saying you liked the arcade.”
