Page 135 of Finding Wonderland

“Mason,” Vera sat up in bed, hitting Isla’s back with her arm to get attention, “honey?”

“Mama,” she could hear the slight panic in Mason's voice and wanted nothing more than to comfort her. “My water broke. Let me tell you, sex works.”

“Yes, well,” Vera stumbled out of bed and went to the closet to change. “It worked for your mom, too, so it must be genetic.”

“Mackenzies do love a good orgasm.”

Vera could only roll her eyes and laugh. “I’ll say. Are you having contractions?”

“Yeah, they started just around midnight. Chase has been keeping a log of them.”

“They’re every fifteen to twenty minutes,” Chase responded.

“Okay, that sounds good. Should we meet you at the hospital, or do you want us to pick you up?”

She could hear Mason ask Chase.

“Can you pick us up?”

“Of course, baby. We’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“Okay. I love you, Mama.”

“I love you too, Mason.”

Hanging up the phone, Vera pulled sheets off Isla.

“What are you doing?” Isla groaned.

“Our daughter’s water broke.”

“It did?” Isla jumped out of bed, framing Vera’s face with her hands. “Oh my God. Sex worked for them, too.”

Vera couldn’t help but laugh. “Apparently. Now come on and get ready. I’m going to go wake Ellie up and ask her to watch Everleigh. I told Mason we would pick her and Chase up in ten, so hurry.”

“I have a better chance of being ready in ten minutes than you have of waking Ellie up in ten.”

Rolling her eyes, Vera bounded downstairs with a laugh. It was an ongoing joke that Ellie could sleep through anything. And she was definitely not a morning person. Especially not at three a.m. Since she started college in the fall, Ellie had been living above the detached garage in the apartment. Vera hurriedly descended the stairs and gently rubbed Ellie’s shoulder to wake her up.

“Ellie, baby, it’s Mama. Wake up.”

Ellie only groaned in response.

Like mother, like daughter.

“Ellie, honey, I know it’s early,” Vera rubbed her back, just like she used to do as a baby, “but I need you to watch Everleigh. Mason’s water broke.”

“What?” Ellie sat up in bed so fast it nearly scared Vera to death. “She’s in labor?”

“Good, lord, child.” Vera dramatically clutched her hand to her heart. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”

“Mason said I can be there when the baby is born.”

“And you will be.” Sitting on the bed, Vera tucked Ellie’s long brown hair behind her ears. “Her labor is just starting; it will be a while before she’s ready to push. Mom and I will go pick them up, and I’ll get Mason all set up. If you can watch Everleigh for a bit, then I’ll have Alexis or Blake pick her up later today so you can come to the hospital, okay?”

“I won’t miss the birth, will I?”

“Of course not, baby,” Vera smirked. “Unless you’ve talked yourself out of seeing a live birth.”

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