Chapter 35
Isla
2015
S traight to Ale had a decent crowd for a Monday night, which was typically their slowest night. Isla had hung around after her normal leaving time, talking with Alexis at the bar about Harper. She was four months old and was the light of Alexis’s life. Since having Harper, Alexis had only recently begun working again a few nights a week.
Isla tried her best to give her the shifts that worked best for her and Harper’s schedules, so she rarely scheduled her late shifts. But with Sophia and Emily out of town for the weekend, Alexis had offered to help cover the late shift in exchange for Vera watching Harper. The arrangement was great for everyone as it allowed Alexis to work while giving Vera time with the baby.
Although Alexis wasn’t their kid, they still saw Harper as their grandkid. Alexis had grown up with Mason, and Vera had helped deliver Harper. They were all connected, and the bonds couldn’t be broken.
Alexis looked at her watch. “Is it okay if I go pump?”
“Lex, I told you that you don’t have to ask to do that.”
Smiling, Alexis nodded as they walked to the back of the restaurant together. Alexis usually kept her pump in the office when she was working so she could have privacy. But as she rummaged in the diaper bag that doubled as her purse these days, Alexis groaned.
“Shit, it must be in the bag I left at your house with Harper.”
Isla could see the panic on Alexis’s face. Her shift still had a few more hours, but the restaurant was quiet. And with Alexis holding her breast, she knew she wouldn’t make it to the end of her if she couldn’t pump.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Isla put a hand on her shoulder. “Take the rest of the night off. I’ll drive us home.”
“Are you sure?”
“Honey,” Isla laughed, “I’ve birthed three kids. I know how painful it is when you haven’t pumped in a while. I’m not making you stay here when you’re uncomfortable.”
Alexis sheepishly smiled. “Thanks.”
Heading outside, they got into Isla’s Jeep and headed for the farmhouse. They had driven to Straight to Ale together once Alexis dropped Harper off. Isla had planned on working in her office or mingling with people during Alexis’s shift, but calling it an early night worked just as well for her.
“I feel like I’m going to explode,” Alexis groaned as she cradled her breasts in her hands.
“Don’t tell your doctor that,” Isla chuckled. “Dr. Mackenzie is a stickler for not going too long without pumping or feeding.”
“Oh, I know. I’ve gotten the lecture, too.” Alexis laughed. “She had to help me get the pipes unclogged a few days ago and I got the lecture.”
“For someone who isn’t a lactation specialist, she sure likes to boss people around.”
Isla turned on the radio, letting a soft rock song play as they drove. Halfway home, Alexis dug tissues out of her bag and lifted up her shirt. She stuck them into her bra.
“Sorry, I’m leaking.”
“Honey,” Isla put a hand on her knee, “I told you. It’s okay. I’ve been there. More times than I can count. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Your body is doing amazing work. Just look at it that way.”
She offered Alexis a smile as they pulled into the driveway. Parking the Jeep, they headed up the stairs to the front door. Isla opened it for Alexis as she started taking her top off once she saw that only Vera and Harper were in the living room. Since it was after nine, she assumed the kids would already be in bed.
“Well, hey, Lex,” Vera chuckled. She was sitting in the recliner rocking Harper.
“Don’t talk to her, she’s going to explode.” Isla laughed as she sat her bag down by the front door before sitting on the couch.
“Literally, my bra is already soaked. I forgot my pump in the bag I left here.” Alexis gently woke Harper as she picked her up from Vera’s arms as Isla watched her whole body language change. Although the circumstances surrounding Harper’s conception had been horrible, anyone could see how in love Alexis was with her daughter. “Hi, sweet baby.”
Unhooking the clip in the front of her bra, Alexis settled onto the couch as Harper latched on. Vera stood, digging in Alexis’s diaper bag for the pump. Alexis preferred to pump while feeding, so Vera helped her get everything set up.
Isla fell more in love with Vera every time she saw her taking care of their family. She never saw Mason’s friends as anything but part of their family, and she helped Alexis just like she would have helped Mason. Neither of them felt embarrassed to help, and Isla was thankful that Alexis felt so comfortable in their home.
While Alexis fed Harper, Isla turned on the TV. They found a movie to watch as Alexis finished Harper’s feeding. Always wanting more baby time, Vera offered to burp her and rock her to sleep. Alexis let her do it as Isla laughed.
“You better watch out,” she winked at Vera. “She’ll steal that baby.”
“I can’t help it if I’m obsessed with her.” Vera cooed as Harper smiled at her.
“She loved her Nana Vera,” Alexis added with a yawn. Without hesitating, she laid on the couch and put her head on Isla’s lap.
“And her Nana Vera loves her.”
Isla’s heart swelled as she ran her hand through Alexis’s dark blonde hair. She had been through so much over the last year that Isla was relieved to see her contently falling asleep on her lap. And seeing Vera with a baby would never not make Isla remember seeing her holding their own babies.
“Babies look good on you,” Isla commented with a smirk. Vera rolled her eyes, laughing. “I’m just saying.”
“I thought we were done having babies?”
“I don’t know.” She could feel her eyes sparkling as she smiled. “I like seeing you like this.”
“At least with this one, we can send her home.”
Isla chuckled. “Fair point.”
On her lap, Alexis had fallen asleep. Isla took the blanket off the back of the couch and covered her up with it as she continued to play with her hair.
For the last few weeks of Harper’s life, Sophia, Emily, Vera, and Isla had taken turns staying with Alexis at night. Isla quickly found out that Alexis slept the best when she played with her hair. She’d told the trick to Vera, too, so they always seemed to be Alexis’s most requested helpers at night.
Vera sighed contentedly from the recliner, and Isla looked up at her. She could tell by her smile she was thinking.
“What’s on your mind?”
“I was just thinking I hope Alexis finds someone just like you to love her the way you’ve loved me all these years.”
No matter how many years they’d been together, Vera would always make Isla swoon when she talked like that. Isla smiled at her, leaning her head back on the couch.
“I hope so, too.” Looking back down at Alexis, Isla ran her hands softly over her cheek. “It’s too bad Mason can’t get her shit together. I feel they could be great together.”
Vera laughed sarcastically. “No.”
“You don’t want Alexis in our family?”
“I would love nothing more, but she and Mason aren’t right for each other. I’ve told you this.”
“Ahh, yes,” Isla softly laughed. “Mason belongs with Chase, although she keeps telling us they’re just friends, and you don’t believe her.”
“Because I know our daughter.” Vera gave Isla a look that told her she knew she was right and that Isla didn’t have to agree with her. “Maybe one day, Blake will come home, and she and Alexis can meet.”
A sad smile pulled at Isla’s lips. She missed their oldest child more than anything. Blake was the missing piece of their family, and they all felt her absence. As their kids grew up, Isla saw Blake in them and it constantly pulled at her heartstrings. Especially with Ellie. Ellie looked and acted so much like Blake that she was almost a mini-version of her oldest sister.
Even though Isla knew Vera was just musing about the future, Isla knew that one day, Alexis would find someone perfect for her. And Blake would be home. The two events didn’t have to go together, even if Vera joked they did.
“She'll probably stay here tonight, so you can go on to bed if you want. I’ll watch her and Harper.”
“It's okay,” Isla propped her feet up onto the coffee table and settled into the couch. “Let’s watch a movie.”
As she often did since Everleigh had been born, Isla fell asleep halfway through the movie. By the time she woke up, Alexis and Harper were gone but Vera was still on the recliner watching TV.
“Where’s Lex?”
“I got her and Harper settled into the guest room.”
Since Harper had been born, they’d brought Everleigh’s crib out for her when she was at their house. Vera made sure the guest room was always ready for guests.
Isla and Vera’s phone beeped with the sound of Everleigh’s diabetes app just as her service dog, Nala, came into the room. She whined and booped her nose against Isla’s leg as she was trained to do.
“It’s high,” Vera stated as she looked at the app.
“I’ll grab the insulin.”
“Mason will be here in a minute,” Vera sadly laughed as she took a treat out of the container they kept by the couch and gave one to Nala. Mason was still living in the garage apartment and had the same alerts on her phone for Everleigh’s levels as Isla and Vera did.
“I’ll meet you upstairs, Mama.”
Isla kissed her softly as Vera headed up the stairs with Nala and Isla grabbed the insulin out of the refrigerator. The back door opened as Mason rushed in with her phone in her hand.
“It’s high.”
“I know.”
Isla held up the insulin to Mason as they walked up the stairs to Everleigh’s room. Vera had woken her up to do a finger prick as she cradled her in her arms. Everleigh wasn’t much of a cuddler, not like Ellie had been, but she always seemed to know Vera needed the cuddles when her blood sugar was out of whack. They all worried about Everleigh, but Isla knew that deep down Vera still blamed herself for the diagnosis. The thought of that broke Isla’s heart as she sat on the bed beside them.
“210.” Vera showed the test to Isla.
Everleigh had been using the Dexcom to regulate her blood sugar for a few months now, which meant they had their routine almost down to a science. Vera usually held Everleigh as Isla gave her an insulin shot. Mason checked the site where she had a monitor on earlier to see if it had fallen off. Opening the drawer in Everleigh’s nightstand, Mason pulled out an alcohol prep pad and wiped the site clean on the back of her arm.
“I love you, Evie.” Vera nuzzled her nose against Everleigh’s, who giggled in response.
“I love you, too, Mama.”
There was no denying Everleigh was Vera’s kid. They looked like twins from the moment Everleigh was born. But what had surprised both of them the most was how much Mason and Everleigh favored each other, especially as Everleigh got older. And it wasn’t just in looks but in personality as well. Isla had joked before that she wasn’t sure Vera actually used her own egg to create Everleigh.
“Mama, can Mason sleep with me tonight?”
Vera smiled down at Everleigh and nodded. “You have to ask her.”
But they all knew she didn’t have to ask. Mason scooped Everleigh up into her arms and placed kisses all over her face while Everleigh giggled. The two had the strongest bond of any of the kids, and Isla hoped it remained that way for the rest of their lives.
Kissing the kids goodnight, Isla and Vera tucked them into Everleigh’s bed before going to their own bedroom. Isla could tell Vera’s mind was elsewhere as she walked into the bathroom. Following behind, Isla wrapped her arms around her waist. Vera hugged her arms, leaning into her embrace.
“Talk to me.”
“I know it’s not my fault.”
“It’s not.”
“I just wish she didn't have to deal with this.” Vera wiped at an angry tear that had the nerve to fall. “I wish I could take that disease from her.”
“I know, baby.” Isla kissed her cheek. “Me, too.”
Isla knew her wife well enough to know this would always be a conversation they had. But no matter how many times Vera needed it, Isla would be there to reassure her and lift her up. Vera turned around and wrapped her arms around Isla as they held each other tightly.
“All our babies are okay.” Isla kissed her ear. “That’s what matters.”
“You’re right,” Vera sighed as she leaned back a little in Isla’s embrace. She slowly ran her hand through Isla’s hair as her smile lightened the weight Isla knew she had been feeling. “There is no one I’d rather be on this crazy journey of raising our beautiful kids with than you.”
“Ditto, babe.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more.”