Page 125 of Finding Wonderland

“Oh, baby,” Isla held her tighter, “you didn’t do anything wrong.”

It was barely a few minutes later that Mason came into the room. It wasn’t a surprise to Isla anymore; Mason would always drop everything for Everleigh. Kneeling down in front of Isla, Mason methodically tucked Everleigh’s dark blonde hair behind her ears.

“How you doing, sis?”

“I’ve been better,” Everleigh said with a smirk. She’d started saying that when she was little, and none of them knew where she’d picked it up from. But the fact it always made her family laugh meant Everleigh kept doing it. “Did you bring it?”

“Of course.” Mason pulled out Everleigh’s favorite apple juice from her bag, opened it, and handed it to her.

They stayed like that for fifteen minutes before checking Everleigh’s blood sugar again.

“Sixty-eight,” Mason said as she looked at the test.

“Almost there, baby.” Isla cuddled Everleigh closer as Mason handed her a granola bar. She was halfway through it when Vera came in.

“Mama,” Everleigh said, holding her arms up to Vera, who immediately picked her up. Everleigh wrapped her arms around Vera’s neck and her legs around her waist as she held onto her mama.

It took nearly an hour for Everleigh’s blood sugar to reach a level they were comfortable with. The low blood sugar had zapped Everleigh of her energy, so they took her home instead of sending her back to class. Mason joined them at home and lay on the couch, snuggled up with Everleigh as they both took a nap. Isla watched from the archway to the kitchen, worrying about their little girl. Vera came up behind her, putting her arms around Isla’s waist and resting her head on her shoulder.

“How did we miss this?”

“I’ve been asking myself that all day,” Isla sighed. “She never lets it get that low. She knows better.”

“She does, but she’s still just a kid.”

“I know.”

“And I’ve been thinking.” Vera shrugged. “Maybe we should homeschool her.”

Everleigh had asked to be homeschooled before the school year started, but Isla and Vera didn’t take the request seriously. They both worked, so homeschooling her wasn’t really an option.

“I thought we talked about it.”

“We did, but that’s before she had her two lowest lows in the last four months.” Vera shook her head, sighing. I keep telling myself she knows better and she wouldn’t let it get low on purpose, but…”

It was Isla’s turn to sigh. “I know. I thought the same thing.”

Since she was born, Everleigh had been the center of their world. And that had only been amplified with her diabetes diagnosis. But the last few months had been pulling Isla and Vera into a hundred different directions. Their savored one-on-one time with Everleigh was much less than it usually was. The same for Mason and Everleigh.

“I don’t know,” Isla finally said. “But we need to talk to her.”

“I know. But Isla, I’ve been thinking.”

“That’s dangerous,” Isla teased with a smirk.

“Shut up,” Vera rolled her eyes and laughed. “I’m serious. I am going to cut back at work so I can homeschool Everleigh this year.”

“What?”

“I’ve been thinking about it since Everleigh first mentioned it, but I think we can make it work. We have enough saved up that my taking time off won’t matter that much. And I can go part-time at work and just keep my current pregnant patients and not add new ones. Expect Alexis and Blake. They’d be my exception.”

“Are you sure we can handle that financially?”

Although both Isla and Vera had well-paying jobs, they also had two kids going off to college soon and one that needed constant medical attention. Money wasn’t super tight, but they also didn’t live above their means.

“Do we honestly care about that?” Vera wasn’t angry, but there was a sternness in her voice that told Isla she’d already made up her mind. “I’ll sell everything we own for our kids.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Isla nodded. “I’m sorry for questioning you. So, you’ve really thought about this before today then, hmm?”

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