Page 1 of Finding Wonderland

Prologue

Vera

In the blink of an eye, Vera Mackenzie found herself sitting across from her wife as they celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary. Their kids had given them a full day packed with manicures, pedicures, massages, and dinner at the Moonflower Cove Inn. The restaurant had decorated their table with a dozen roses and a card signed by all their kids. They even brought them an extra-large piece of cheesecake with the words Happy Anniversary written in chocolate on the plate.

“Today was perfect,” Vera contentedly sighed as she sat her fork down. Across the table, her wife, Isla, smiled and nodded. It was the same smile that had captivated Vera many years ago. “I love you.”

“I love you more.”

Leaning across the table, their lips met softly. Vera couldn’t count the kisses they had shared over the years, but she never grew tired of them. Loving Isla was a privilege she was honored to have.

Although they had been together for almost thirty years, they weren’t able to legally marry until twenty years ago. Vera still remembered that day as if it were last week. She twirled the silver band on her finger, a gift from Isla for their fifth anniversary.

“I don’t want today to end.”

“Well, lucky for you,” Isla smirked, “you’re stuck with me for the rest of your life.”

“Thank God for that.”

Standing, Vera reached out and took Isla’s hand. Vera would always love how perfectly their hands fit together. They truly were made for each other in every single way.

The late May sky was slowly losing its color as the sun set below the horizon. Flashes of fireflies in the pine trees looked like twinkling lights in perfect sync. Vera put her arm around Isla’s waist, pulling her close.

“Are you cold?”

“No, I just love you.”

Isla chuckled. “You’re extra sentimental today.”

“Can you blame me?” Vera asked with a laugh. “Ellie and Brayden are about to graduate high school, Everleigh is almost a teenager, and our new grandkids are about to turn one. And we have been officially married for twenty years. I have a lot to be sentimental about.”

“You forgot about Mason.”

“You’re not supposed to know about that.” Vera playfully pinched Isla’s bare arm. She was wearing a stunning red dress that fit every curve exquisitely. “Doctor-patient confidentiality and all that jazz.”

“Yes, well, I’m glad the rules were bent for me.”

Although Vera had promised their daughter Mason she would keep it a secret, she was unable to contain her excitement over Mason and Chase starting fertility treatments. While they hadn’t had their first procedure yet, Vera had it planned for the next month. Her excitement level couldn’t have been higher about adding another baby to their family.

“I still want to know what changed her mind.” Isla opened the car door for Vera as she slid inside. With the door shut, she watched Isla walk around and get into the driver’s seat. “Mason has spent the last two years saying they weren’t having a baby until after they were married.”

“Plans change, I guess. And besides, they don’t have to be married to have a kid.”

“I know that, but still. I’m a nosy mama and want to know. Besides,” Isla flashed a smile over to Vera, “I want to walk our baby girl down the aisle. Is that selfish?”

“I hope not because I want to do that, too.”

As they often did, they held hands as they drove home.

Home.

Vera still couldn’t believe the farmhouse she’d dreamed about years ago was their home. They had raised their kids there; celebrated holidays and birthdays and heartbreaks there. It was their safe space; the place where everyone was welcomed.

And for some reason, it was decorated like Christmas in June.

“What in the world?” Isla laughed as she stopped the car in their driveway.

An archway of clear lights was at the end of the driveway, and a large banner hung on it that said Happy 20th Anniversary Isla & Vera. Beyond the archway, Vera could see tables set up in the backyard with more strings of lights hanging from the trees and off wooden poles. More people than Vera could count were standing around the archway, all smiling and waving as they got out of the car.

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