Page 17 of Pieces into Place
Well. When four of her five kids were home.
It was never far from Isla’s mind that Blake didn’t have the memories of Mackenzie family dinners growing up. They were still new to her, which was why Blake always seemed to hug the wall at every family event. Isla tried not to let that bother her any more than it already did. She hated thinking that Blake was counting down the minutes until she could leave a family party.
Of course, for her to want to leave the current party, she’d have to show up first.
Alexis had arrived with the kids over two hours ago with the excuse that Blake was working and would be over later. She hadn’t defined whenlaterwould be, though, and Isla was doubting if Blake was even going to show up. Especially since the pizza had already been eaten and the cake cut. Anger grew inside her as she stewedover Blake’s absence.
Even Emily and Sophia Beauchamp had made it to the party. Same as Walker and Maddie Carlson. Melanie and Cameron West were also there with two of their three kids. They cared enough about Isla to show up for her birthday. And yet her own daughter had beentoo busyto show up for her.
Isla couldn’t help but notice how Alexis had been avoiding her eye contact all throughout dinner. There was definitely more to what was going on with Blake than justwork. But how was Isla ever supposed to find out? Her daughter wouldn’t talk to her and now her daughter-in-law seemed to close herself off from Isla as well. Which really fucking hurt. She and Alexis had been through so much together over the years that Isla never thought her marrying Blake would change their relationship.
How could I have been so wrong?
Excusing herself from the dining room table, Isla made her way into the kitchen. She was thankful the dining room was separate from the kitchen, allowing her a slightly quieter moment alone with her thoughts.
How could she do this to me? She knows how much having all of my kids here for my birthday means to me. And she’s known about this party for weeks, so she really has no excuse.
Grabbing another Diet Coke out of the fridge, Isla popped the top and took a sip. She’d had more alcohol than she normally would have in one day, so she hoped the soda would help negate the impending headache that would come from drinking so much. Isla knew Vera would tell her that her logic was flawed, but Isla didn’t care. Leaning up against the sink, Isla sighed.
She hated herself for being in a mood on her birthday. It was a day Isla used to love. A part of her still loved it; any chance to get the whole family together was a good day for Isla. But knowing that one of her kids was purposefullynotattending the celebration was going to eat Isla alive. Shewanted to leave the party and find Blake and yell at her. Yell at her for ruining her party. Yell at her for not letting her into her life.
“Hey,” Vera walked into the kitchen with her hand on her hip, “you okay?”
“No.”
Vera sighed, her shoulders dropping as she stood a few feet away from Isla. “It’s Blake, isn’t it?”
“Always is.”
“Isla.” As Vera walked toward her, Isla held up her hand to stop her from hugging her.
“Don’t defend her.”
“What?”
“I’m not in the mood to listen to you defend Blake. There isn’t an excuse for this, Vera.” Isla tried not to let any tears fall. She was so tired of crying over the unchanging situation. “Blake is a grown ass woman andknowsshe’s hurting me by not being here. And I’ve never doneanythingto deserve that.”
“I never said you did.”
“Butwhydoes she keep treating me like this? It’s not fair.”
“It’s not.” Vera shook her head as she looked over her shoulder at the dining room. “But keep your voice down or we’ll have everyone in here wondering what is wrong.”
“See,” she sarcastically laughed, “that’s another thing. I’m sotiredof walking on eggshellsin my own house. It’s my birthday. All I wanted was for my kids to all be here. Brayden drove two hours to be here and Blake lives twosecondsfrom here! I can see her house from our driveway.”
“Isla, please.”
Taking a few steps toward her, Vera put her hands on Isla’s shoulder. It was something she often did to ground Isla at the moment, but Isla wasn’t in the mood to be grounded. She shrugged Vera off, trying to pretend she didn’t see the pain in her eyes as she did so.
“Don’t push me away.”
“I just can’t deal with this anymore!”
“And don’t yell at me!” For the first time in longer than Isla could recall, Vera raised her voice at her. She put a hand on her hip as she pointed a finger at Isla. “I know you’re hurting, but I’m not the one who you’re mad at here.”
“Well, I’m notallowedto yell at the one Iammad at!”
“Lower your voice!”
