Chapter 8
Vera
V era was beyond nervous. She hadn’t been on an actual date in so long she couldn’t even remember the last time. And as she stood in front of the full-length mirror, yet again, fretting about what to wear, she remembered why she didn’t date.
But then she remembered the kiss from the night before that still lingered on her lips.
Yeah, maybe dating her is worth it.
“Hey,” her best friend, Cameron West, snapped her fingers at her, “no daydreaming. Focus.”
Cameron had come over after Vera’s frantic phone call that she had nothing to wear. They knew it wasn’t true, but Cameron had arrived with an armload of her own dresses for Vera to try on.
Vera had met Cameron soon after they both took fellowships at Taylor Memorial Hospital. Cameron was from Tennessee, and had the cutest southern accent Vera had ever heard. She was currently laying on the bed in Vera’s bedroom, propped up on her elbow, as she watched Vera change dresses yet again.
“Sorry,” Vera sighed. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”
“Because you like her.” Cameron was right. They both knew it. “From what you’ve told me, she seems great.”
“She is.”
“So, then don’t be nervous,” Cameron said nonchalantly.
“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one getting ready for a date.”
“I mean,” Cameron chuckled, “if Isla is as pretty as you say she is, maybe I can just go in your place.”
“Back off my woman!” Vera teased. “Besides, I thought you were still seeing the new radiologist?”
“Ew. No. Didn’t you hear?”
Typically, gossip at the hospital spread faster than the flu. Even with Vera and Cameron working in different departments—Cameron was an oncologist fellow—Vera often heard news from every department. Somehow, she’d missed the fact Cameron and the radiologist broke up.
“Hear what?”
“She slept with that sleazy ER nurse.”
“Ew,” Vera gasped, “the redhead?”
“Yup.” Cameron nodded. “And you know me. I’m a one woman at a time woman. I don’t want to be second fiddle to anyone.”
“I know.” Vera nodded as she pulled what seemed like the hundredth dress over her head. She shimmied into it, actually not hating the way it looked on her. “What about this one?”
Cameron sat up on the edge of the bed and whistled her approval. “I love that on you.”
“Yeah?”
“Definitely.” Walking up behind her, Cameron looked over her shoulder into the full-length mirror. “In fact, it looks so much better on you than it does me, I’m happy giving it to you.”
“Oh stop. I’m sure it looks great on you, too.”
“Maybe, but you have something I don’t.”
Vera furrowed her brow in confusion. “What’s that?”
Cameron’s hand came around from behind Vera as she cupped her breasts in her hands. “These. I mean, look at them.”
“I see them,” Vera said with an eyeroll.
“They’re stunning. ” Cameron adjusted Vera’s breasts, making her cleavage more pronounced. “And Isla is going to love them in this dress.”
Vera felt herself blush as she twirled around in the dress. She did look damn good, there was no denying that. And her breasts were one of her better assets. Why shouldn’t she flaunt that?
“What time is it?”
Cameron glanced over at the clock on the nightstand. “Six thirty.”
“Shit. I need to be going. I’m meeting Isla at seven.”
After finishing getting ready and saying goodbye to Cameron, Vera drove downtown and parked her car near the bar. She checked her hair for the third time since she’d gotten into the car to verify it still looked perfect. It did, but that didn’t stop Vera from checking one more time—just in case—in the rearview mirror.
Straightening her dress, Vera stood near the entrance of Straight to Ale. The pub was a local favorite and seemed like a reasonable first date for them. It was casual, but the booths allowed for intimate conversation. She hoped Isla would like it.
If she ever showed up.
Vera resisted the urge to look at her watch after waiting what felt like ten minutes. The last thing she wanted was for Isla to see her checking the time when she arrived. But with each passing second, Vera was working herself up into a frenzy.
What if she changed her mind? What if she doesn’t want to go on a date with me? What if she felt trapped last night and felt like she had to say yes to my invite?
She had an uncanny ability to work herself into an anxiety spiral at the drop of a hat. Vera hated that about herself.
Relax , she kept telling herself. She’ll be here.
Stealing a glance at her watch, Vera saw it was fifteen past the hour. Something was wrong. But just as she started to spiral again, she saw Isla rounding the corner.
Isla looked tired, as if she hadn’t slept well or was sick. She was wearing an oversized sweatshirt and sweatpants, which Vera wouldn’t have considered dating clothes but she didn’t know Isla’s style. But it wasn’t until she got closer that Vera could see she had been crying.
“Isla,” she went to her quickly, “what’s wrong?”
“I’m so sorry.” Isla covered her face, seemingly embarrassed. “I tried to call you at home but you had already left. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
Vera could feel her heart beating in her throat. Was Isla okay? Was something wrong with Mason? It was the only thing on Vera’s mind.
“Are you okay?”
“No,” Isla sadly laughed as she threw up her hands, “I’m not.”
Vera was at a loss of what to do. Going into the bar seemed like a bad idea, but she didn’t know where else to go. All she knew was that she needed to get Isla somewhere away from everyone.
“Come on.”
Taking her hand, Vera led her across the street toward the pathway that ran along the cove. She found an empty bench and motioned for Isla to sit down. Vera wiped the tears away from her eyes with her thumbs and gently caressed her cheek.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Isla sighed and shrugged. “My life is a fucking mess.”
Even in the dim glow of the street lights, Vera could see the sadness plastered on Isla’s face.
“So, I told you a little about my other daughter, remember?” She didn’t wait for Vera to answer. “Well, her dad signed her up to work on some new TV show and last night I saw a commercial for the show.”
“Aww, Isla.”
“She was in it,” Isla let out a sob before trying to compose herself. “I just sat there watching TV for hours, waiting for it to replay so that I could see her again.”
Unable to handle it any longer, Vera pulled Isla into a hug. She willingly accepted the gesture, leaning into Vera for support.
“I miss her so much.”
“I can’t imagine.”
And Vera couldn’t. She didn’t know how on earth she could or would handle it if she had a daughter that was taken from her. Isla’s pain was almost palpable as she spoke.
“I’ve done everything I can to get her back. But the judge made his decision and Blake isn’t being harmed. So my chances of getting her back are slim.”
“I’m so sorry.” The words felt insignificant up against the situation.
“I have filed an appeal for them to review the custody case, but my lawyer says it’s most likely going to be denied. And I don’t have any money left to keep fighting. I feel like I’m failing my daughter.”
“You’re not.”
“I’m her mom.” Another sob. “I’ve been trying so hard to remind myself that Blake—that’s her name. I don’t know if I told you. But I’ve been trying to remind myself that Blake is okay and she’s happy and healthy from what I can tell. Her dad isn’t going to hurt her. I know that.”
“But still,” Vera responded. “It has to be so hard.”
“It is. I want to be able to tell her I love you more one time. I didn’t know the last time would be the last time.”
“I’m so sorry, Isla.”
Isla pulled away from Vera slightly, drying her tears with her sleeve. “I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to ruin our date.”
“Hey,” Vera tenderly lifted Isla’s chin so their eyes met, “you don’t ever have to apologize to me for expressing your feelings. Especially when they come to your children. Okay?”
Isla only nodded.
“I know we just met, but I want you to know I’m here for you, Isla. I really like you, but it’s more than that. I want to be in your life. Because,” she smiled ever so slightly, “I think you’re pretty damn great.”
For the first time that night, Isla smiled.
“Well, you’re pretty great yourself, you know.”
“Oh, I know,” Vera teased, which made Isla laugh.
“I’m still sorry I ruined our date. I thought I could put myself together but…”
“It’s okay, I promise.” Vera hugged Isla again. “Thank you for trusting me with your story.”
“I wish it had a happier ending.”
“It will,” she said confidently, although she had no way of knowing how or when. “One day it will.”
Gently kissing Isla’s forehead, she let her take the lead on when they would get up from the bench. Vera would have stayed there as long as Isla needed. She had her head resting on Vera’s shoulder as their hands intertwined on her lap. Despite being in the middle of downtown, it felt as if it were only the two of them in the world.
“I’m sorry I ruined our dinner,” Isla finally said.
“Nonsense.” Standing, Vera held her hand out to Isla. “Let’s go grab something.”
“Just not at the bar.”
“Not a fan?”
“Oh, no, I am.” Isla chuckled. “I just kinda work there so…”
“Oh, my God,” Vera laughed, playfully hitting her forehead with her hand. “You told me that.”
“It’s okay.”
“How about Carlson’s Cafe?”
“Yeah, that’d be nice.”
Taking Vera’s hand, Isla stood to her feet. Vera tucked her hair behind her ears as she smiled at her.
“Is it cheesy if I tell you that you look beautiful?”
Isla blushed. “Stop it. I don’t need a mirror to tell me I look like shit.”
“You don’t,” Vera stated confidently, “trust me.”
She wasn’t expecting Isla to kiss her, but that’s exactly what happened. Isla wrapped her arms around her neck and leaned in as if it was something she had done every day for a hundred years. It felt so natural to be in Isla’s embrace that Vera had to remind herself that they had only known each other for a few weeks.
But clearly that didn’t seem to matter.
Maybe all the fairytales were right.
Maybe you do know the moment you meet your soulmate.