Chapter 7
Isla
I sla’s head was spinning with thoughts of Vera. Had they almost kissed? Did Vera want to kiss her? More importantly, did Isla want to kiss Vera? The short answer to the latter was yes. She did indeed want to kiss Vera. And she probably would have if Mason hadn’t interrupted their moment alone.
But the question running through her mind was why? Why would Vera want to kiss her? Vera was brilliant and a doctor and probably lived in a house and not a shitty apartment. She deserved someone better than Isla; someone who didn’t come with baggage. Isla couldn’t offer her any of that. Hell, she could barely offer her dinner. She’d nearly burnt the sauce earlier as her nerves got the best of her.
Then there was the question of why Isla wanted to kiss Vera. She was gorgeous, there was no question about that. But she was her doctor. Maybe her friend. Hopefully her friend. Isla didn’t have any other friends in town, so she needed to not mess things up by kissing her.
Right?
Isla didn’t know. All she knew was that she wanted to kiss Vera.
Can women do that? Just kiss other women?
It was another question Isla didn’t know the answer to. Although she knew she was bisexual, she had never been with a woman before. Heck, she’d never kissed another woman before. She had no idea how to kiss a woman; especially when she wasn’t positive how to bring up the topic. Being gay or even bisexual wasn’t normal in society, or so had been Isla’s experience. But maybe Moonflower Cove was different. Maybe Vera was different.
There was only one way to find out.
Or, well, subtly try and find out.
Isla twirled her pasta around her fork as she looked at Vera. She was focused on a conversation with Mason about who was the better princess: Belle or Ariel. Mason was staunchly on Belle’s side, while Vera was playfully arguing why Ariel was better. The entire exchange was beyond amusing to Isla.
“And Ariel can swim ,” Vera said with a firm nod as if that was the winning argument.
But leave it to Mason to retort with, “We don’t know Belle can’t swim.”
“She’s got you there.” Isla chuckled as she took a bite of the pasta. Vera smiled over at her, letting Isla know she was enjoying the easy banter with Mason.
It relaxed Isla, who’d been worried how the two would get along. Mason hadn’t been around many people the last year or so. Mostly because Isla was too worried to have her out of her sight after what happened with Blake. Clearly, though, she didn’t have to worry about Vera and Mason hitting it off. They were going to be best buds, Isla could tell.
“And Belle has a library,” Mason dramatically put her hands on the table. “Ariel can’t have a library under the water. All her books would get wet.”
“Unless,” Vera smirked as she pointed her fork at Mason, “her library is at the prince’s castle.”
Mason seemed to try and think of a retort, but shrugged instead as she went back to eating her pasta. “I guess,” she mumbled with an eye roll.
Vera winked at Isla, which made her smile. Mason was a great kid, but she didn’t take a liking to just anyone. And it was clear that, despite their current disagreement, Mason was comfortable with Vera.
Clearing her throat, Isla decided it was time for a change of topic.
“So, Vera. Tell me more about yourself. Are you married?”
She knew the question was blunt, but didn’t care. Her mind had to know the answer to the burning question.
Vera blushed as she dabbed at the corner of her lips with her paper napkin. “No, I’m not married. Or engaged. Or in any kind of committed relationship.”
“Interesting.”
“How so?” Vera cocked her head at her and suddenly Isla lost the ability to form a response.
“Oh, well, um, I just mean that,” she paused, trying to think of a less jumbled response. “I’m just surprised a doctor like yourself hasn’t been swept off their feet yet.”
“Who’s to say I haven’t been swept off my feet by someone already?”
Under the table, Vera placed her hand on Isla’s knee. The simple touch sent shockwaves and heat through Isla’s entire body. She tried not to show it; especially with Mason still at the table. But Vera’s touch and the implication that she— single mom Isla Mackenzie—had swept Dr. Vera Forsyth off her feet.
How???
Isla resisted the urge to blurt out the question. Instead, she nodded and slowly moved her hand under the table. She covered Vera’s hand with her own, squeezing gently as the two maintained eye contact. It took all the strength Isla had not to push the table out of the way and kiss Vera. If Mason hadn’t been there, she probably would have done just that.
“Mommy?” Mason’s voice pulled both Isla and Vera out of the eye-locked moment and Isla turned her attention to Mason. “Can we watch a movie after dinner?”
“Um, yeah. Sure, sweetie. We can watch a movie.”
“ Beauty and the Beast ?” Vera asked with a smirk, which got a giggle from Mason.
“Duh.”
“Mason, don’t say duh. ”
“Sorry, Mommy.”
The rest of dinner was filled with more silly conversations between Vera and Mason while Isla and Vera occasionally reached for each other’s hands under the table. Isla tried not to overthink what it meant. Or how she was supposed to act when dinner was over. Did she dare make a move and kiss Vera? Or should she let Vera be the one to make the move?
Why isn’t there a handbook for these kinds of things?
After dinner, Isla rinsed off the dishes quickly before joining Mason and Vera in the living room. There was only a couch and an old bean bag for sitting, so they’d all have to pile onto the couch. Mason usually wasn’t one to cuddle, but she was contentedly cuddled up against Vera. Since Vera sat in the middle of the sofa, the only place for Isla was beside her. Right beside her. The couch wasn’t big, so their hips were touching.
But neither of them moved. Not for the entire hour and a half the movie played. By the time it was over, Mason had fallen asleep on Vera’s lap. Vera had been methodically stroking Mason’s hair, which Isla knew only put her to sleep faster. She was her mother’s kid, after all.
“You know,” Vera shifted ever so slightly in her seat, “she might be right.”
“How so?”
“Belle is a pretty damn good princess.”
Isla chuckled. “Just don’t tell Little Miss that. You’ll never hear the end of it.”
Standing up, Isla stretched her arms above her head. She gently scooped Mason up into her arms and carried her into her bedroom. Isla didn’t think Vera would follow, but she did. Vera watched from the doorway as Isla tucked Mason into bed and kissed her cheek. Turning on the nightlight by her bed, Isla slowly walked out of the room and shut the door.
“That’s why I always have her change into her pajamas before movie night.”
“Smart woman.” As they walked back toward the living room, Vera glanced down at her watch and sighed. “I guess I should head home.”
“You don’t have to,” Isla blurted out. “I mean, I don’t have a bedtime or anything. Mason does, but that’s because she’s four. I’m not four, so I don’t have a bedtime.”
Vera was clearly amused by Isla’s nervous ramblings. “That’s good to know. But, as much as I would love to stay, I have an early day tomorrow.”
“Of course. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have made you stay for that movie.”
“Isla,” Vera stopped her from another ramble by placing a hand on her shoulder, “I had a great time tonight.”
“Me, too.”
Slowly, Vera reached up and twirled a strand of Isla’s hair around her finger. Something was different in her eyes; something that Isla had not seen before in anyone. Not even her ex-husband.
Desire.
Isla knew it should scare her, but she was more concerned about why it wasn’t scaring her.
“Maybe,” Vera slowly licked her bottom lip, “we can do this again sometime.”
She leaned in closer to Isla’s ear.
“Just the two of us.”
Isla’s voice was barely a whisper as she responded, “I’d like that.”
“Me, too.”
Before Isla knew what was happening, she felt Vera’s hand wrap slowly around her waist. She pulled her close, their lips once again tantalizingly close to each other’s.
“May I kiss you?”
Isla felt her legs go weak. Every cell in her body screamed yes , but Isla could only nod. Vera’s lips met hers with such tender passion that Isla wasn’t sure how she was still able to stand. As she wrapped her arms around Vera, she pressed their bodies against each other. They were similar height, barely an inch in difference, which made everything about the kiss comfortable and sweet.
Time seemed to stand still as they kissed in the dim glow from the TV. Isla would have stayed there longer, but Vera took a step back. She exhaled sharply, keeping her arms around Isla’s waist.
“I have to go.”
“Did I,” Isla swallowed the lump that had rapidly formed in her throat, “do something wrong?”
“God, no, Isla.” Vera caressed her face against her palm. “I just know that if I stay here, more than kissing will happen. And I think we should talk about that before then.”
Isla swooned. Literally felt her knees sway under her. She’d never been treated with such respect before. Never. All the men she’d been with, even her ex-husband, had never once asked for consent or wanted to make sure she was ready for sex before they had it. It didn’t matter to them, but it clearly mattered to Vera. And it was one of the sexiest things Isla had ever witnessed.
“In case those kisses didn’t tell you,” Vera blushed, “I really like you, Isla.”
“That’s good, because I like you, too.”
“Well, that’s good,” she giggled. “Otherwise, that would have been super awkward.”
“Never.” Leaning in again, Isla placed one more kiss on Vera’s lips. “So, you mentioned dinner, just the two of us.”
“Are you free tomorrow night?”
“As a matter of fact, I am. I can drop Mason off with a sitter.”
“Meet me downtown at seven.”
Isla didn’t tell her that she’d be working the lunch shift at the bar or that she’d have to check with Maggie to see if it was okay if Mason stayed later. All of that was details that, at that moment, seemed to run in second place to a date with Vera Forsyth.
“Good. I’ll see you then. I’ll be the one in the dress looking hot.” With a wink, Vera kissed her cheek before turning to open the door. “Thanks for tonight, I had a great time.”
“Me, too.” Isla held the door open as Vera stepped outside. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Isla waited until Vera got in her car and drove out of sight before closing the door. Locking it, she walked over to the couch in a dazed daydream and plopped down. It had been way too long since Isla had been as happy as she was at that moment. Grabbing one of the throw pillows, Isla clutched it to her chest as she rolled over on her side to watch TV. A rerun of I Love Lucy had come on after they ended the movie and Isla smiled. She loved the show so much.
As it cut to commercial break, Isla yawned. It was barely past nine, and yet it felt much later. She was about to doze off when she heard an all too familiar voice on the TV screen.
“Blake?”
Scrambling to her feet, Isla ran over to the small TV. She fell to her knees in front of it, silently begging for another glimpse of her daughter. Isla didn’t recognize the show, so she assumed it was the new one that Ben had signed her up to be on without Isla’s consent. That decision ultimately led them to where they all were today.
As Blake’s character came on again, Isla let out a sob.
“Baby,” she cried as she ran her fingers across the screen. The glimpses of Blake were too short; not nearly enough to ease her battered soul. “Mommy loves you,” she said to the TV as the commercial ended.
Isla had no idea how long she sat there, begging the commercial to play again. Which it did several times. Each time Isla was torn between crying and smiling. Her tears made the most sense to her. Blake had been taken from her in the worst way and Isla didn’t know if she’d ever get to see her again.
However, it was the smiles that confused her. She wasn’t happy about the situation, not in the least bit. But there was something about seeing Blake happy and thriving that eased Isla’s broken heart just a little. Not much, but enough to help her get off the floor and go to bed.
Taking the picture of Blake off her nightstand, Isla clutched it to her chest.
Blake is safe. Blake is happy. Blake is okay.
She’d repeated the phrase almost every time she thought about her daughter. As badly as Isla wanted Blake back in her life, she had to cling to the fact that, at least for now, Blake was okay. Ben wasn’t an abusive man, not physically at least. He wouldn’t hurt her. And somewhere in his twisted brain, he thought he was doing the best for her. Just like Isla was convinced it was the wrong thing for her at her age.
But Isla was out of ways to get Blake back. Her last hope was an appeal from the judge, which Isla’s lawyer said was likely to be denied. Isla wasn’t giving up hope though. One day, she would see her daughter again. She had to hold onto that hope.
Not wanting to be alone, Isla made her way to Mason’s room and crawled into bed beside her. She gently rested a hand on her side, knowing Mason didn’t like to be cuddled. But even asleep, Mason must have sensed Isla needed her. Mason snuggled up against her and Isla kissed her cheek.
“I love you, Mason,” she whispered against the sleeping girl’s head. “So much.”