Page 75 of Pieces into Place
“Mace,” Isla chuckled.
“What? You know it’s true.” Mason’s grin was like a balm to Isla’s tired soul. She was beyond thankful to have one daughter to hold while the other was in surgery.
“Come on. Let’s go pack up Blake’s room so I can get my mind distracted.”
Walking back into Blake’s room felt surreal. Everything looked the same except there was now a giant empty space from where the bed had been. Isla walked around the room in a daze as she collected everything they had brought with them. She carefully packed it into their bag before storing it in Vera’s office. They’d come and get it once Blake had a postpartum room.
Isla slipped on the sweatshirt Blake had been wearing when she arrived at the hospital. It smelled like Blake, and Isla took a long sniff as she closed her eyes. She had done the same thing with Blake’s clothes after Ben took her. To keep them always smelling like Blake, Isla had used the same detergent ever since then.
As she and Mason walked down the hallway toward the waiting room hand in hand, Isla used the sleeve of the shirt to wipe her tears away. She caught another whiff of Blake and smiled.
I’m right here, Blake. Right here.
She hoped that, somehow, her words would get to Blake.
They found a quiet corner of the waiting room, which thankfully wasn’t that crowded. Isla started to pull out her phone to text an update to everyone, but Mason stopped her.
“Chase is on it. I told her I would keep her posted and she’ll send out the messages to everyone from there. You don’t need to be thinking about anything right now but Blake and meeting your new granddaughter.”
“Thanks, Mace.”
Mason put her head on Isla’s shoulder as her fingers intertwined with Isla’s. Isla remembered how Mason usedto do the same thing anytime she was scared. She kissed the top of her head to let her know she wasn’t alone.
“Mom?”
“Hmm?”
“Are Blake and the baby going to be okay?”
“They are, honey.” Isla kissed the top of her head as she squeezed Mason’s hand. “They are.”
“I hope so. Blake and I are just starting to rebuild our relationship.”
“Mace, don’t.” She shook her head at her daughter. “We can’t think like that. Blake is strong, and the baby is healthy. Avery is a great doctor and Mama is going to be right there, too. Everything is going to be okay.”
“It will be,” Mason nodded, snuggling closer to Isla.
It has to be, Isla thought to herself as she heldMason in her arms.
Chapter 26
Blake
Laying in the hospital bed outside the operating room wasn’t how Blake saw her delivery going. But there was no going back now. Her only concern was a healthy baby and if a c-section got her that result, then she would do it. Even if it scared the shit out of her as she held onto Alexis’s hands as they waited for the operating room to be ready.
Vera and Dr. Jacobs had disappeared behind a door quickly after arriving at the OR. Melanie had stayed with Alexis and Blake in the hallway as they waited for the okay. Blake knew that sooner rather than later, she’d be separated from Alexis until she was situated in the room. That terrified Blake. Not only because she was still in pain from the contractions, but because Alexis was her rock. How was she going to remain calm without Alexis by her side?
She tried not to think about it as she focused on the contraction instead. Blake was lying on her back, which was the position Melanie had told her to stay in until they got to the OR. Melanie kept her eyes on the monitor as Blake worked through the pain. It felt useless for her body to still be working so hard when thebaby was about to be cut out of her. All it did was add to the already exhausted way she felt.
After nearly all day in the hospital and most of it in labor, Blake was exhausted. It was almost ten p.m. and Melanie told her they’d have the baby out fairly quickly once she was set up in the OR. However, it would be a few hours before she would be settled into her own room. Blake knew she was in for a long night.
“Okay,” Dr. Jacobs came out into the hallway wearing a scrub hat and scrubs, “are you ready to have this baby?”
“Ready as I can be, I guess,” Blake tried to laugh, but it fell short. Dr. Jacobs walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
“I know this is scary. This is your first c-section, so you have every right to be scared. But this isn’t my first one. I got you and your baby. I promise.”
Dr. Jacobs’s words helped calm Blake down ever so slightly as she nodded her head. Blake moved her eyes to Vera, who was standing behind Dr. Jacobs. Her smile told her that she believed everything Dr. Jacobs was saying. So Blake knew it was okay for her to do the same.
