Page 31 of State of Grace

“Baby, why don’t you give Blake and me a minute to discuss that thing we talked about last night, hmm?” Isla’s raised eyebrows were clearly her way of letting people know she meant business. Nodding, Vera turned on her heels and disappeared down the hall as Isla came into the room. She shut the door behind her, and Blake felt like she was a teenager in trouble. Were they going to kick her out? Tell her that she had a curfew and needed to let them know when she was going out?

“Am I in trouble for not telling you I was leaving last night?”

“Gosh, no.” Taking a seat on the wobbly desk chair, Isla crossed her legs and leaned forward slightly. “I wanted to talk to you about the garage apartment. It’s not much; it needs to be cleaned out, I’m sure, but it would give you more privacy if you want. It would mean that you could avoid Vera’s morning hovering, which, I know, can be a lot.”

“She’s fine,” Blake waved Isla’s comment off.

“You don’t have to lie to me.” She laughed. “I married the woman, and I love her more than life itself, but she’s a huge mama bear. She loves fiercely and is protective, and wants everyone to get along. That’s who she is; she wants to make everyone comfortable, but she doesn’t realize that some people don’t like her hovering around all the time.”

Blake couldn’t help but smile as Isla rambled. It was more apparent than anything that the two of them were madly in love with each other, and it made Blake long for the day she would have that. She wanted it; she truly did. She was also sure she’d never find it, thanks to her career. Every woman she’d been in a relationship with had wanted her for either the status of being linked to her or her money. Or both.

Her brain wanted to focus on the fact that Alexis seemed uninterested in either of those things, but her heart blocked it out. Blake reminisced on the feel of Alexis’s soft skin on her lips the night before as she ran her tongue over her bottom lip. The last thing Blake had expected when she’d decided to go to the Cove was to meet someone like Alexis. Someone who completely rocked her world in a way that no one else ever had before.

Blake loved their easy conversations, the way she made Alexis nervous in the sweetest ways, and how Alexis seemed interested in her as well. But Blake didn’t even know if Alexis was gay. She had her suspicions, yes. There was the WLW fanfic she wrote and the fact that Alexis lived in a town where most of the people Blake had met were gay. Then again, Alexis had Harper, so clearly, a man was involved at some point. Shaking her head, Blake cleared the gorgeous woman from her brain as she focused back on Isla.

“So, you said something about a garage apartment.”

“I did.” Isla nodded as she leaned her elbow onto the small desk behind her. The chair slightly wobbled as Isla steadied herself. “It’s over the detached garage. It has a bathroom and kitchen, and, actually, why don’t I take you over there and show you?”

Standing up, Isla motioned for her to follow her. She followed Isla out the back door, across the paved driveway, and to the two-car, two-story detached garage. It had its own entrance on the side that led up a set of stairs. At the top of the stairs, it opened up into a deceptively large studio apartment.

“Mason stayed here growing up, and we used it for Vera’s family when they came in, but they moved to Portland a few years ago, so now, they stay at their own house.” Blake smirked at the relief in her voice. “It needs an extensive dusting and mopping, and we may need to fix up some of the appliances but, if you want to stay here, you can.”

“I…I don’t know how long I’m going to be here. I don’t want you to go through all that trouble for me.” Blake walked into the apartment as she looked around. There was a bed in one corner near what Blake assumed to be the bathroom, and an oversized couch and recliner sat on the opposite wall positioned around a small television. The kitchen had older appliances, but they would do. Scratching the back of her neck, Blake looked over her shoulder to Isla.

“I know your future is uncertain right now, but I want you to know you always have a place here. I want this,” Isla motioned around the room, “to be your home-away-from-home if you want it. It can be your little place to come to when you need a break, or you’re on summer hiatus from a show or something.”

Blake swallowed the lump in her throat as she turned away from Isla. She’d never had a home before, not really. Growing up, they had floated in and out of apartments and condos and houses with more rooms than Blake could count, but none were ever home. But the garage apartment already felt more like a home than any place she’d ever been before. Pressing her tongue into her cheek, she took a deep breath.

“I would love that.”

“Me too.” Isla’s voice was quiet. It was so soft that Blake barely heard it.

As Blake walked around the apartment, she noticed various posters from the Moonflower Cove Theatrical Company. She recognized Isla in several of the cast photos, from Guys and Dolls to Spamalot to Cabaret. Blake’s heart soared as her acting ability finally made sense. It was a family thing.

“You know, if you’re interested,” Isla walked up beside her and admired the posters as well, “I could introduce you to Bryce; she runs the theatrical company. I’m sure she’d love some help with the summer play. They’re doing Legally Blonde: The Musical, and last I heard, Elle Woods’s singing voice was great, but her acting needed some work.”

“I wouldn’t be much of an acting coach.”

“Oh, please.” Isla waved her off with a huff of air. “You’re amazing, and although Bryce is great at being a musical coach, she’s been lost since her acting coach left her high and dry to go to Broadway a few months ago. She hasn’t been able to find anyone to fill in, and the show is performed in early August, so she’s crunched for time. I’m sure she’d appreciate any help you could give her.”

“I don’t know, Mom.” The idea of working with the community theatre was intriguing; Blake could admit. She’d never taught before, but she often had thoughts on the way scenes should be done. Blake didn’t doubt that she could do it. But did she want it to be publicly known that Blake Calloway was in her mother’s hometown working for a community theatrical company? She didn’t know. Maybe there was a way to keep that out of the headlines.

“If it helps sway your thoughts,” Isla’s voice held more playfulness than Blake had heard, “Alexis Holland is Elle Woods.”

Blake whirled around so quickly she was sure her head would keep spinning around her neck. Alexis was in a musical? As the lead? She would have never pictured that. Not that she thought Alexis couldn’t do it. It simply wasn’t something she’d ever imagined for Alexis. Not that she knew Alexis well enough to make that judgment.

“I thought that might get your attention.” Isla laughed.

“And what does that mean?” Blake let out a huff of air she’d meant to be a laugh, but it fell short. She dramatically put her hands on her hips as she raised an eyebrow at Isla and realized it was another habit she’d gotten from her mother.

“It means that Vera may have mentioned that you and Alexis sat and talked in the driveway for a while last night, and I can only hope that means you’re making friends.” Isla smiled as she shrugged. “I want you to feel at home here. Not only here in this apartment but here in Moonflower Cove. This town is one big family, and I’m happy to see that you’re making friends. That’s all.”

“So, because I’m making friends with Alexis, I should go coach her in a play? That seems like a surefire way to ruin a friendship. Me waltzing in there and coaching her like I have any right to do so.”

“You would if you were Bryce’s assistant.” Reaching into her back pocket, Isla busied herself on her phone. “I’m going to send Bryce a message and ask her if she’s at the office today. Maybe you can stop by and talk to her and see what you think. We can go from there.”

“Ugh.” Blake dramatically flopped onto the couch.

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