Page 94 of State of Grace

“I already told you I was. I’m finishing out the show, and then I’m coming back here. You know that. Is there any way to get the press release to say that?”

“Like I said the other day, they want to keep that under wraps so as not to spoil the show’s ending. So, please, keep that on the down-low right now. Otherwise, you’ll have the studio on your ass.”

“Fine.” Groaning, Blake hung up the phone as the driver pulled up to the town square. She waited until he was out of sight before heading over to the back door of Alexis’s apartment. Hopefully, Alexis had had enough time to cool off since they’d seen each other. Ringing the doorbell, Blake waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

Blake rang the doorbell again and was startled when the door flew open, barely missing her face. She took a step back as Sophia stepped out of the door. Sophia left it propped open with her foot as she put her hands on her hips.

“I thought she told you to leave her alone.”

“I don’t listen very well.”

“Clearly.” Sophia’s eyes raked up and down her body with a piercing glare. “She doesn’t want to see anyone. Especially you.”

“Sophia, please.” Blake took a step toward her, but Sophia held up a hand and shook her head. “Please, let me talk to her for two minutes. Then, I can explain what happened and….”

“I’m sorry.” Her tone was sarcastic and cut Blake to the core. “Did you not understand what I said? Here, let me try it in French. Elle ne veut voir personne. Vous particulièrement.” Opening the door to slip back inside, Sophia narrowed her eyes at her. Blake attempted to grab the door, but Sophia’s body blocked her. “This is my house, and you are not welcome. I suggest you turn around and leave now.”

The door slammed in her face before Blake could utter another word.

Blake kicked the door furiously as she ran her hands through her hair; she was feeling frantic. She needed to talk to Alexis. She needed to explain that she didn’t have anything to do with the article or the pictures. She needed to let her know she loved her and was going to fix everything. She needed Alexis to know their love was worth fighting for.

Taking her phone out of her pocket, Blake attempted to call Alexis, but Alexis sent it to voicemail. Thanks to Sophia’s security systems, there was no way to the second floor without a tall ladder which Blake was seriously lacking. But she wasn’t going to give up without a fight. Planting herself on the ground by the door, she sent Alexis a text asking her if they could talk.

Blake knew sitting outside the door all day would do nothing. Maybe a few hours would give Alexis enough time to cool off and be willing to have a conversation with her before her plane left the next morning for Vancouver. Calling for another Uber, Blake was relieved the wait was minimal and the driver didn’t seem interested in small talk. Both Isla and Vera’s vehicles were in the driveway and for a moment, Blake hesitated with whether to go up to her apartment or go to the farmhouse.

An indescribable force pulled her to the latter.

“Mom?” Her voice echoed as she made her way through the house until she found Vera and Isla in the small breakfast nook with steaming cups of coffee sitting in front of each of them. Thankfully, the kids seemed to have dispersed for the day and Blake breathed a sigh of relief. She needed her moms to herself right now.

“Hey, sweetie. I didn’t expect to see you so soon.” Isla scooted over to make room for Blake on the half-moon bench seat. She sat down beside her and tried not to notice the way their faces seemed to change from happiness to concern. Blake knew she must look like shit; she hadn’t bothered to check her appearance in the mirror since she left the inn. The last thing Blake wanted was for a reflective surface to tell her she looked like her heart had been ripped out of her body.

Which was exactly what it felt like.

“You ok, sweetie?” Vera’s brow furrowed as she reached around Isla to place a cool hand on Blake’s arm. All she could do was nod; the words seemed stuck in her through. Wrapping her arm around Isla’s waist, Blake nestled in close to her like she used to do when she was a child.

“Blake, what’s wrong?”

“I think Alexis broke up with me.” A sob forced itself out of her mouth as Vera hurried around the table and sat down on the other side of Blake. They didn’t say a word as Blake let her emotions out the only way she knew how in that moment: tears. She was frustrated and hurt and wanted to fix everything but knew it was impossible if Alexis wouldn’t even talk to her.

Composing herself enough to stop the sobs, Blake recounted her conversation with Salem and how she’d have to leave the next day to film the show and how the pictures of her and Alexis had ended up online and the fight. Blake could see the sadness grow deeper on her mothers’ faces as they realized she was leaving as well. Vera slipped an arm around Blake’s shoulder and pulled her close.

“I’m sure Alexis just needs time.”

“Yeah, Vera’s right.” Isla firmly nodded. “She’s Alexis and it throws her off her axis when things don’t go according to plan. She just needs time to recalibrate and think. I’m sure things will be fine with time.”

“But time isn’t really on my side.” Wiggling her shoulder just enough to loosen Vera’s embrace without seeming rude, Blake looked at each of them before continuing. “I have to leave tomorrow for Vancouver for god knows how long so I have to talk to her tonight. Which right now, is seeming like a major improbability.”

“Maybe go over there again.” Vera’s optimism was back in full force. “Go take a shower and maybe a nap and then go back over there. That will have given her some time to cool off and think and she might be ready to talk then.”

“I don’t know. She seemed pretty pissed at me.”

“Alexis loves you.” The statement came from Isla. “I’ve known Alexis for a long time and I know she’s done everything in her power to protect Harper and that’s meant not dating anyone. Until you. You were different for her. I watched the two of you fall in love and I know that a love like that doesn’t come around every day.” Isla reached out around Blake and intertwined her fingers with Vera’s. “You fight for what you love. Right now, Alexis is fighting for Harper to make sure she doesn’t get hurt in all of this. But it’s your job to fight for Alexis and Harper to show them how much you truly love them.”

“I do love them.”

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