Page 134 of Finding Wonderland

She arrived at Mason’s house a few minutes later and found her waiting on the front porch. Mason walked down the stairs and met her at the car with a big hug. Vera held her close, knowing that Mason needed to know that she was there and she was going to be okay.

But Vera’s mind was also focused on something else.

Because with Mason’s body pressed into hers, she could feel the slightest baby bump against her body. Since Mason had been pregnant in the fall and winter, she’d been wearing mostly oversized sweatshirts or sweaters. And at her appointment a few weeks ago, she wasn’t showing yet. But things were clearly different now. Vera pulled back slightly, tilting her head at Mason as she smiled.

“When were you going to tell me?”

“Tell you what?” Mason looked at Vera with a confused look.

Tenderly, Vera lifted up Mason’s sweatshirt to reveal the cutest little baby bump. Mason’s eyes softened as Vera softly put her hand on her stomach.

“When did this happen?”

“The last few days.” Mason covered Vera’s hand with hers. “I was going to show you sooner, but things have been so busy.”

“Hey,” Vera paused, making sure she had Mason’s full attention, “I am never ever too busy for this.”

“What are you thinking about?” Isla asked, pulling Vera from her memories.

“Mason,” Vera sighed with a smile.

“I figured.”

“I can't believe she’s going to have a baby any time now.”

“For Mason’s sake, I hope it’s soon.”

Vera chuckled. “I know. Poor thing.”

Mason had been more than ready for labor to start for weeks, but Vera told her it would happen when the baby was ready. It wasn’t what Mason wanted to hear, but Vera knew she wanted her baby to be safe for as long as he needed.

“This whole pregnancy she’s reminded me so much of you when you were pregnant with Everleigh.”

“It’s been so weird to see her pregnant. Not in a bad way,” Isla quickly clarified. “She just looks so much like me when I was pregnant that I feel like I’m looking into a mirror.”

“I know what you mean. The other day she did something and I swear, Isla, it was you. I had to do a double take.”

Isla chuckled. “What can I say? I copied and pasted four kids.”

“Oh, I know,” Vera laughed, teasing. “I’m just glad I have Everleigh to balance things out.”

“Although Everleigh is a mini-Mason.”

“Yeah, how did that happen?”

“I still think you used my egg to create her instead of yours.”

Isla was teasing, Vera knew that. They’d joked about it since Everleigh was born because she acted so much like Mason. And even looked like her as she grew up.

Yawning, Isla stretched her arms above her head.

“I’m sleepy. You ready for bed?”

“I guess.”

As they headed upstairs to their bedroom, Vera checked on Everleigh before looking at her messages again. There was still nothing from Mason or Chase. They both made sure their phones were on so they could hear them before snuggling up in each other’s arms under the covers.

It was just after three in the morning when the phone rang. Vera sleepily grabbed it off the nightstand and saw it was Mason.

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