Chapter 36
Vera
2016
T here were very few days that Vera didn’t want to be at work. But today was definitely one of those days. Not only was it Isla’s birthday, but Everleigh had been up all night while they tried to get her blood sugar under control. They’d decided to let her skip pre-school, which meant she was currently playing with her toys on the couch in Vera’s office while Vera watched her. Nothing would ever be better than watching her kids. They were her entire world.
And her patients with multiple kids had been right. There was something different about the youngest one. Each first for Everleigh was also a last for Isla and Vera. Last first smile. Last first steps. Last first tooth. It was all happening so fast and Vera wanted time to freeze so she could enjoy the moment more.
Normally, Vera would have taken off for Isla’s birthday. But as it fell the Friday before Thanksgiving this year, she wanted to get in as much work as possible before her time off from the office for the holiday. Granted, that was before her brain started to wander anywhere but work.
“Screw this,” Vera mumbled to herself as she picked up the phone to call the nurse’s station. She’d purposefully scheduled a light load this week, and didn’t have any patients actively in labor or even close. One of her nurses picked up the phone. “Hey, I’m going to need to take the rest of the day off. Everleigh still isn’t feeling good and I need to take her home.”
Everleigh whipped her head around to Vera, her four-year-old confused look made Vera have to stifle a laugh. “Mama, I feel fine.”
Vera put a finger to her lips and focused back on the phone call.
“Yes. Thanks.”
Hanging up the phone, Vera shut down her computer as Everleigh walked over to her desk. She had her arms crossed over her chest and Vera could see way too much of herself in their youngest daughter. They had the same blue eyes, same dark blonde hair. Her service dog, Nala, trailed a few feet behind her before laying at Vera’s feet.
“Mama, did you lie?”
“No, baby.” Picking Everleigh up, Vera sat her on the desk. “Mama just wanted to take the day to spend some time with you and Mom since it’s her birthday.”
“Mom’s at work,” she stated flatly.
Being called out by a four-year-old wasn’t on her to-do list for the rest of the afternoon.
“I know, Evie, but now, we can go shopping for a present for her. Won’t that be fun?”
Everleigh arched an eyebrow, looking so much like Mason she could pass as her biological daughter. She could tell by the smile Everleigh couldn’t hide she was up to something. As per usual with their youngest.
“We should probably get ice cream too since I’m supposed to be sick.”
Everleigh’s sweet smile could, and more often than not, would get her everything she wanted. She had everyone wrapped around her finger and knew it. But Vera and Mason seemed to always be the ones she used her superpowers on the most. One sweet look at Mason was all it took for Everleigh to get whatever she wanted.
Vera rubbed her nose against Everleigh’s before kissing her cheek.
“I think ice cream is a must.”
“Can we invite Mason?”
“You’ll have to ask her.”
Handing Everleigh her phone, she watched her find Mason’s contact and FaceTime her. Mason was at work, and answered with the phone facing up at the ceiling.
“Hey, Mama.” The sound of keyboard taps could be heard on the other end of the line.
“It’s Evie,” Everleigh giggled. Mason immediately picked up the phone to show her face, smiling at her youngest sister. The sight melted Vera’s heart.
“Hey, sis. What are you doing?”
“Mama and I are gonna go get ice cream. Can you come with us?”
“Ice cream?” Mason’s excitement was palpable even through the phone screen. “I’d love to.”
They made plans to meet at the ice cream parlor in an hour, which gave Vera plenty of time to run by the jewelry store first to pick up Isla’s gift. Vera had picked out what she’d hoped would be the perfect gift for Isla. She’d been wanting a birthstone necklace for their kids, but never would pull the trigger on the price. So, Vera had one custom made with all their kids’ birthstones. Blake, Mason, Ellie, Brayden, and Everleigh were all represented on the silver necklace, and Vera was beyond excited to see it in person.
Walking into the jewelry store, Vera greeted the clerk who went to the back to pick up the necklace. Everleigh stood patiently by her side, leaning up against Vera’s leg as she stroked her hair. Thankfully, her blood sugar had remained in range since early that morning, thanks to the Dexcom. It had been a learning curve for all of them, but Everleigh was worth it. Isla and Vera made sure all of their family and friends knew how to use it and help Everleigh when something went wrong.
It was how the Mackenzies faced everything: together.
“Here you go.” The clerk handed the blue velvet box to Vera, who slowly opened it.
Opening the box, she gasped and put her hand to her heart. The blue zircon, aquamarine, two ruby, and the garnet stones looked stunning together. And the fact they represented each of their babies made it all that more special to Vera.
“She’s going to love it. Thank you.”
As they left the store, Everleigh and Vera made their way toward Any Given Sundae. She looked for Mason’s car parked along the road, but didn’t see it. Vera knew she needed to check Everleigh’s blood sugar before ice cream, so she pulled out her phone. Thanks to the Dexcom, she didn’t have to do a finger prick on Everleigh each time she needed to check her blood sugar. The reading was, thankfully, good, so Vera felt okay with her having some ice cream.
“There’s my favorite people.”
Mason came running up behind them, scooping Everleigh up into her arms as she laughed. Seeing the two of them together would always make Vera’s heart soar. Even more so these days. Everleigh was now the same age as Mason was when Vera first met her. She couldn’t believe how much time had passed in the blink of an eye and she had to keep herself from crying.
“You okay, Mama?” Her sweet Mason could read her like a book, just like her mom. Vera smiled, putting an arm around Mason’s shoulder and kissing her cheek.
“Yeah, sweetie. Just happy to see you.”
“I’m supposed to be sick,” Everleigh chimed in.
“Oh, is that so?” Mason arched an eyebrow at Vera, smirking. “Well, then I think ice cream is the best solution for that.”
Everleigh stayed on Mason’s hip as they walked into the ice cream shop. They placed their orders—Oreo for Mason, raspberry sorbet for Vera, and a sugar free vanilla for Everleigh—before finding a seat near the window. Vera gave Nala a treat she’d taken from the dog biscuit container by the register as she placed her into a down position under the table. Mason sat across the table from Vera beside Everleigh, as she often did.
Their conversations were light and fun, mostly focusing on their plans for the night for Isla’s birthday. Mason had offered to take the kids for the night to give Isla and Vera some time alone, which Vera was thankful for. It was a Friday, which meant they didn’t have school the next day so no one had to be up early. And Vera very much wanted a night alone with her wife.
“Do you have to go back to work?” Vera asked as they walked down the street after their ice cream. Everleigh was walking a few feet in front of them, Nala walking happily by her side.
“No, I took off the rest of the day. Want me to help you decorate for tonight?”
“That would be great,” she smiled at her daughter. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Mama.” Mason was quiet, and Vera could feel she had something on her mind. It wasn’t until they arrived at the park and Everleigh was playing that Mason said, “You lied earlier.”
“Hmm?”
“I asked if you were okay, and you said yeah. But something’s on your mind.” Cocking her head at Vera, she waited for her to say something. Sighing, Vera sat on the park bench as she leaned back and looked at Mason.
“I was just thinking how Everleigh is four, which is how old you were when I met you.”
“I remember,” Mason smiled sweetly.
“I just can’t believe how fast time is going. I want to slow it down so I can enjoy every single second with you kids.”
Scooting closer to Vera, Mason snuggled into her as Vera put an arm around her shoulder. She held her for a few moments without saying a word. If she closed her eyes, she could picture a four-year-old Mason hugging her the same way.
“I love you so much, Mama.”
“I love you, too, Mason.”
They stayed at the park a while longer before heading home to the farmhouse. Mason picked up Ellie and Brayden from school on her way there, so they all helped decorate the house for Isla. They had a happy birthday Mom banner strung across the fireplace mantle with a cake sitting on the dining room table. Vera had taken the kids shopping for a birthday present from them to Isla the weekend before, and they all lay uniquely wrapped beside the cake, as each kid had wrapped their gift themselves.
Well, except Everleigh. She’d put hers into a Minnie Mouse bag with pink tissue paper and called it a day. As if there was any doubt she was Isla Mackenzie’s daughter.
As the time came for Isla to arrive home, Vera and the kids all ran outside to greet her. Vera watched, with tears in her eyes, as they all ran to their mom and hugged her. She could see Isla was overcome with emotion as she hugged and kissed each of them. Waiting patiently on the porch, Vera watched as all their kids and Isla walked back up the steps and into the house.
But Isla didn’t follow them inside. Instead, she closed the door behind the kids so it was just them alone on the front porch. She kissed Vera, wrapping her arms around her waist as she held her close. It didn’t matter how long they’d been together, being kissed by Isla would always make Vera weak in the knees.
“Happy birthday, baby.”
“Thank you.”
“I got you a new toy that we can play with tonight.”
Isla arched an eyebrow at her, smirking. “Is that so?”
“It is.” With another kiss, Vera headed inside with Isla’s hand in hers.
After choruses of happy birthday, eating cake, and opening the kids’ presents, Isla sat on the couch as Vera handed her the blue velvet box. Everleigh was snuggled between them, as it was often her place when they were on the couch together. Ellie and Mason were on the floor in front of them while Brayden was in the nearby recliner. Vera watched as Isla opened the gift, gasped, and covered her mouth with her hand.
“Vera,” she sobbed as she touched the birthstones gently with her fingers. She watched as Isla slowly touched each of them, seemingly thinking about the child they represented.
“What is it, Mom?” Ellie asked as she looked up at Isla.
“It’s a necklace.”
“Well, I know that,” Ellie retorted, sounding just like a mini-Mason. “What do the colors mean?”
“These are your birthstones, see?” Isla turned the box around so the kids could see it better. She pointed at the first blue stone. “This one is for your sister, Blake. And this is for Mason. These two are for Ellie and Brayden. And this one is for Everleigh.”
Vera watched as Isla caught Mason’s eye, holding it for a moment longer as mother and daughter grieved the absence of Blake. Reaching over, she placed a hand on Isla’s shoulder and squeezed.
“Hey,” Mason stood, clapping her hands together in a way that drew the attention of the kids off Isla and onto her, “who wants to have a sleepover at your favorite sister’s house tonight?”
Mason had purchased a house downtown a few months ago, and Vera had been so proud of her for taking the next step in her adult life. But she desperately missed Mason living in the garage apartment. It was another adjustment that Vera was having to face with Isla.
While both Ellie and Brayden had eagerly jumped at the chance to hang out with their sister, Everleigh had protested.
“I wanna stay here with you,” she looked up at Vera with pleading eyes as Vera looked at Isla. “Please Mama?”
Isla nodded, letting Vera know there was no way they were going to tell her no.
“Of course, baby.” Kissing Everleigh’s cheek, she couldn’t help but laugh at the mischievous grin that formed on her lips as she turned to look up at Isla.
“Can we watch a movie since it’s your birthday?”
Everleigh knew staying up past bedtime was reserved for special nights, and she clearly knew it was a special night. Once Mason left with Ellie and Brayden, Isla, Vera, and Everleigh snuggled up together on the couch to watch her current favorite movie, Beauty and the Beast .
The memory of watching it with Mason and Isla after their first dinner together wasn’t lost on Vera. As Everleigh was snuggled up against Vera, Isla had her hand on the back of the couch twirling Vera’s hair around her fingers. Vera was sure she watched more of Isla than the movie, but she didn’t care. She loved her wife more than anything in the world and that was only confirmed when she always chose to spend time with their kids over anything else. Even birthday sex.
“Who’s carrying her upstairs?” Isla laughed as the movie ended. Everleigh had almost made it to the end of the movie. Standing, Vera picked her up and carefully put head on her shoulder.
“Can you check her sugar?”
As they walked upstairs to the bedroom with Nala trailing behind them, they got Everleigh tucked into bed. Isla confirmed her sugar levels were good, so they turned on her nightlight and kissed her goodnight.
Back in the hallway, Vera smiled at Isla.
“What’s that look for?”
“I just can’t believe how much I love you. Like it physically hurts sometimes.” Vera put her arms around Isla’s neck. Her shirt raised up slightly, allowing Isla to put her hands on her bare lower back. “I love you, and I’m so glad we’re on this crazy journey together.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
Leaning in, Isla kissed her. But this time, there was more passion behind it and Vera knew exactly what Isla needed. Vera slowly unbuttoned Isla’s top before pulling her by the open parts to their bedroom. With the door closed behind her, Vera smirked.
“Do you want to open your last present?”
“Do you even have to ask?”
Making love to Isla would never get old. They knew each other’s bodies so well and could ask for what they needed without words. And Vera knew Isla so well that she knew the new strap-on would be a hit.
As they breathlessly lay in bed beside each other after, their chests heaving in exhaustion, Isla laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“I was just thinking,” she propped herself up on her elbow and looked down at Vera. Her hands traced imaginary lines on her bare stomach and breasts as she spoke. “Could you imagine if that first spaghetti dinner had ended like this?”
“I wanted it to so bad.”
“Honestly?” Isla bit her lower lip. “Me, too.”
“We’ve had the best life.”
“And it’s only getting started, babe.”