Page 4 of Pieces into Place
Putting her hand on her slightly round belly, Blake thought about the baby growing inside of her. She was sixteen weeks and so far everything had gone smoothly. The baby was growing right on track, as was Blake. Blake was still getting used to her new body, but she enjoyed watching the changes happen. Even if they were uncomfortable at times. Like how her stomach felt tight as it expanded to accommodate the growing baby, or how she had the most insane heartburn of her life every time she laid down. It was all new to Blake, but she was trying to enjoy it. Swollen ankles and all.
A reminder popped up on her computer for her OB appointment in half an hour. Blake had been surprised by the lack of appointments she had to go to versus how many Alexis had to do with the twins. While Alexis was there almost weekly it seemed, Blake was only scheduled for once a month until her third trimester.
Of course, Alexis had reminded her often that if she used Vera as her OB, they could have probably snuck in a few more ultrasounds to see their baby.
A part of Blake wondered if she made a mistake by choosing Dr. Avery Jacobs over Vera. Vera had considerably more experience and was highly requested among people in the Cove. Dr. Jacobs was relatively new,having joined Taylor Memorial Hospital a few years ago. She’d been Blake’s physician since she moved to the Cove, and even performed the egg retrieval that led to their twins. Maybe she was too much in her own head, but Blake didn’t want Vera to be thatintimatewith her, even in a professional setting.
Over the last five years, Blake and Vera had never found a comfortable relationship. Blake always felt as if Vera was judging her, expecting her to be like Mason or one of her other kids. But Blake never seemed to meet Vera’s high expectations. There was also a part of Vera that seemed to harbor anger toward Blake, which Blake always assumed she deserved. She had treated Isla like crap since moving to the Cove and barely let her into her life beyond a casual nature.
Ugh.
Closing her laptop with a groan, Blake stuffed it into her computer bag before leaving the library. The hospital was only a few blocks away, but she drove since she was supposed to be in therapy. Alexis was meeting her there after dropping the twins off with some friends for the afternoon. Blake parked the car near the OBGYN office that sat beside the hospital. She liked not having to go into the hospital, as they always gave her anxiety.
Alexis pulled into the spot beside her and waved as she’d exited the car. She had her hair pulled back with a sweatshirt and sweatpants on. It was a typical Alexis look, and not much different from Blake’s attire. She’d chosen yoga pants and a sweatshirt for the day before leaving the house earlier. Holding out her arms, she pulled Alexis into a hug.
“I missed you.”
“I saw you like two hours ago.”
“That wasforeverago,” Alexis giggled as she took Blake’s hand. “How was therapy?”
“Good,” she answered too quickly. She hated lying to her wife and knew that she had to tell her the truth. Soon.
Heading into the office, Blake checked in at the front desk before they found a quiet corner to sit. Blake put her hand on her stomach, still finding it hard to believe there was actually a baby in there. Although she always wanted to have kids, she never thought she’d actually be pregnant. It was hard in the acting field to have a baby and keep your job and Blake had seen a lot of actresses step back after having kids. All her life, Blake said that she’d find a way to do both.
She chuckled to herself at how naïve she’d been. Between Harper, the twins, and now the new baby, Blake felt pulled in a million different ways every single day. Then there was also the need to make time for her relationship with Alexis, as well as attempting to work on a script for a movie. Blake understood now how truly amazing women with familiesandcareers were.
As a nurse called them back, they headed to an exam room. It was the usual questions and tests that Blake had gotten used to before they saw Dr. Jacobs. Blake still shivered at the cold gel as the ultrasound tech put it on her belly. Alexis clasped her hand as they looked at their little baby together.
“She’s so cute.”
“Or he is,” Blake teased. It was still too early to know the gender, but Alexis was convinced it was a girl. Blake was just hoping for an easy delivery either way.
She’d only seen two births in her life and that had been when Alexis had the twins. Watching Archer and Reese be born was the most amazing and simultaneously traumatizing event Blake had ever witnessed. Seeing all the pain Alexis was in as she persevered and pushed two babies out made her look at her with absolute awe every day since then. Blake had no idea how she’d be able to handle birth like that. Her plan was to be medicated as much as shecould be, unlike Alexis, who chose the all-natural route. More power to her, but Blake knew her strengths, and it would not be childbirth.
After seeing Dr. Jacobs and getting the all-clear, Blake and Alexis headed out of the exam room.
And right into Vera.
“Hey!” Vera excitedly hugged Alexis in a bear hug before giving Blake a simple side hug. “Fancy running into you two here. How are things going? Everything okay?”
“Everything’s great!” Alexis answered for them, holding up the sonogram pictures for Vera to see. Blake watched as Vera marveled at them, putting her hand to her chest as she looked at her next grandchild.
Blake felt tears nipping at her eyes, but they weren’t happy ones. No. They were hot and sad and Blake begged them not to fall. Not now. Not ever. And especially not around Vera.
But seeing Vera and Alexis excitedly talk about the baby made Blake realize how even Alexis had a better relationship with her other mother than she did. Even if Blake didn’t fully see Vera as a mother figure, shewasmarried to her mom, which made her a step-mom, if nothing else. She wished she could have the happy, chatty conversation with Vera about the baby growing inside of her, but she didn’t know how to do that. There was too much water under the bridge for Blake to forge it.
“How are you feeling, honey?” Vera put a hand on Blake’s shoulder and slightly squeezed.
She cleared her throat, still hoping the tears didn’t fall from her eyes. “I’m good. The baby’s good. Everything’s good.”
“Good,” Vera repeated.
“I’m going to go to the car.”
Without another word, Blake excused herself from the trio. She walked through the waiting room and outside, where she finally let herself take a full breath. Placing herhand on her stomach, Blake tried to not let her emotions overtake her. A part of pregnancy she loathed was how amplified all her emotions were. It went against everything of how she was raised. Ben Calloway had taught his daughter that tears don’t get you what you want. Hard work does.
That motto went against everything the Mackenzies believed.
