Page 11 of Finding Wonderland

She wasn’t thinking.

That was the answer.

At least she wasn’t thinking about her job. All she had been thinking about was Isla and how she wanted to see her again. Never in her life had Vera been so hyper focused on someone. It was as exciting as it was confusing.

On the other end of the line, Vera heard Mason talking followed by Isla whispering something before returning to the phone.

“I have to go.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Thanks for calling.”

“What about the coffee?” Vera hated that her voice had the slightest bit of plea in it.

“Thank you for the offer, but I have to pass. Bye, Dr. Forsyth.”

Without another word, Isla hung up.

The dial tone of the phone filled Vera’s ear as she sat frozen in place. She could never show her face to Isla again. If she saw her out in town now, she’d dive into a trash can before she’d speak to her. And there was no way she could ever see her as a patient again.

Another chance ruined.

Dating as a lesbian wasn’t the easiest thing in the world, especially when more hours were spent at work than anywhere. Not that Vera would date if she had the time. Finding someone you clicked with, who understood you, and wanted to be with you forever seemed like a myth. Her mother would remind her that was why she was single, but Vera would then remind her that’s why she has three kids with three different men. Maybe her lack of ability to date someone was passed down from her mother.

Untangling the phone cord from around her finger, Vera hung it up and sighed. At least she took a shot, right? Too bad it was a shot to the foot.

Chapter 5

Isla

Grocery shopping was Isla’s least favorite way to spend her Saturday morning. But if she and Mason were going to eat anything other than peanut butter sandwiches every meal the next week, shopping had to be done. Especially with Mason starting pre-K on Monday. Isla knew she couldn’t send her to school with the same thing every day.

Not that Mason would care. She was beyond excited to start school and hadn’t stopped talking about how she was going to drink chocolate milk every day for lunch. Isla was beyond thankful the pre-K program at the local elementary school was accommodating and let Mason join a few weeks into the school year. Now she just hoped it lived up to Mason’s high expectations.

They had already stopped by the school supply section of the store and picked out a backpack and a few school supplies that would hopefully be enough for pre-K. She wasn’t sure her budget could accommodate much more. At least Maggie had offered her a job a few hours a day during the morning breakfast rush. That, along with working the lunch shift at Straight to Ale, should better help her make her ends meet.

“Mommy, are you sure I can’t get this?” Mason was still clutching the lunch box that matched her new backpack to her chest. Isla hated to tell her no, especially after everything Mason has been through the last year. But it was coming down to a lunchbox or hamburger meat, and Isla knew which she had to pick.

“Not today, sweetie. I’m sorry.”

Mason sighed, looking dejected. “It’s fine.”

Isla knew it wasn’t fine, and she wished she could cheer Mason up. Maybe the idea of chocolate milk outside of school would distract Mason from her sadness.

“Hey, why don’t we see if they have those little bottles of chocolate milk?”

“To go with my spaghetti?”

“Of course!” Isla matched her enthusiasm as she carefully took the lunchbox out of Mason’s hand and put it back on the shelf. “And I promise, we’ll get you a lunchbox before kindergarten next year, okay?”

Mason nodded as she walked alongside the cart. They meandered through the store toward the diary section and Isla stopped a few feet back from someone who had the milk case door open. The glass was so fogged up with the temperature change that Isla couldn’t see who it was.

At least not until they shut the door.

Then Isla nearly had a heart attack.

“Vera,” she gasped, trying to maintain her composure. Which was easier said than done with Vera looking like she’d just stepped out of a Jane Fonda workout video in her yoga pants, a tight, long-sleeve workout shirt, and tennis shoes. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, and her smile could easily captivate even the coldest of souls. “Dr. Forsyth. Hello.”

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