Page 70 of Pieces into Place
“She’s okay.” Alexis’s voice sounded tired, and Isla was right back on the edge. And Vera standing up straighter didn’t help to ease Isla’s worried mind one bit. “She woke up with a headache, so I sent her back to bed. She didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Like mother, like daughter,” Vera whispered to Isla before responding to Alexis. “Well, we’ve all been there at thirty-eight weeks. It’s hard to sleep well at that point.”
“Don’t I know it,” Alexis laughed. “I’ll have Blake call you when she wakes up, okay?”
“Sounds great, honey. Have a good day.” As Vera hung up the phone, she pointed it at Isla. “Okay, mama hen. Your little chick is in bed, so why don’t you do the same? I’ll wake you up if she calls back before you’re up, okay? Doctor’s orders,” she added before Isla could protest.
“So bossy.” Isla kissed her lips. “I love it.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Vera blushed. “Now get your ass to bed and get some rest.”
Isla did as she was told, not having it in her to deny she was tired. She just got comfortable in bed when Everleigh came crawling into bed beside her. Everleigh kissed her on the cheek as she sat with her back against the headboard. She’d brought her Nintendo Switch, which Isla knew was because Everleigh knew Isla didn’t like to sleep alone. Even if it was just naps. Sinking into her pillow, Isla put her hand on Everleigh’s leg as she finally drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 24
Blake
Something wasn’t right.
Blake had been trying to convince herself otherwise all night and had hoped the extra few hours of sleep she’d gotten after breakfast would make her feel better. Instead, it had made her feel worse. The headache she’d had since the day before hadn’t gone away, only intensified. And it brought with it blurry vision that was starting to freak Blake out even more.
And her swollen ankles and legs weren’t doing anything to ease her mind, either.
As Blake sat on the edge of the bed, she closed her eyes tightly as she rubbed her belly. She was thirty-eight weeks and three days, which meant the baby had made it to full term. Blake hadn’t been having any consistent contractions, nor felt she was close to going into labor. Dr. Jacobs had told them a few days ago it would probably be closer to her due date when the baby was born. That had eased Blake’s mind until now.
Now she worried what the hell was going on with her body.
“Lex!” Blake called out, giving Alexis a moment to respond before calling for her again. “Alexis!”
She could hear hurried footsteps running toward the bedroom as Alexis opened the door. Instantly Blake saw the worry on her face and in her eyes and it dawned on Blake that she wasn’t the only one noticing her new symptoms.
“I don’t know what’s happening,” Blake cried as Alexis rushed over to her. “My head is pounding and my eyes are blurry and my ankles are so swollen.”
Alexis didn’t say a word as she grabbed Blake’s phone off the nightstand. She kept one hand on Blake’s thigh as she dialed a number Blake couldn’t see clearly with the other. Vera answered on the second ring.
“Hey, Blake.”
“Are you home?” Alexis quickly asked.
“No, we’re downtown. What’s wrong, Lex?”
Blake could hear the concern not only in Alexis’s voice, but in Vera’s as well.
“She still has a pounding headache and says her eyes are blurry and her ankles are really swollen. What do we need to do?”
“Get to the hospital. Now.” Vera’s voice was as firm as Blake had ever heard it before. “Isla is calling Ellie to run over and stay with the kids.”
“Okay.” Alexis sounded as scared as Blake felt.
“I’m going to call Avery. Isla and I will meet you there.”
“Okay.”
“Go straight to the ER, Lex.”
“I will.”
Without saying goodbye, Alexis dropped the phone to the floor as she helped Blake to her feet.
