Page 18 of Finding Wonderland

“Beauty and the Beast?” Vera asked with a smirk, which got a giggle from Mason.

“Duh.”

“Mason, don’t say duh.”

“Sorry, Mommy.”

The rest of dinner was filled with more silly conversations between Vera and Mason while Isla and Vera occasionally reached for each other’s hands under the table. Isla tried not to overthink what it meant. Or how she was supposed to act when dinner was over. Did she dare make a move and kiss Vera? Or should she let Vera be the one to make the move?

Why isn’t there a handbook for these kinds of things?

After dinner, Isla rinsed off the dishes quickly before joining Mason and Vera in the living room. There was only a couch and an old bean bag for sitting, so they’d all have to pile onto the couch. Mason usually wasn’t one to cuddle, but she was contentedly cuddled up against Vera. Since Vera sat in the middle of the sofa, the only place for Isla was beside her. Right beside her. The couch wasn’t big, so their hips were touching.

But neither of them moved. Not for the entire hour and a half the movie played. By the time it was over, Mason had fallen asleep on Vera’s lap. Vera had been methodically stroking Mason’s hair, which Isla knew only put her to sleep faster. She was her mother’s kid, after all.

“You know,” Vera shifted ever so slightly in her seat, “she might be right.”

“How so?”

“Belle is a pretty damn good princess.”

Isla chuckled. “Just don’t tell Little Miss that. You’ll never hear the end of it.”

Standing up, Isla stretched her arms above her head. She gently scooped Mason up into her arms and carried her into her bedroom. Isla didn’t think Vera would follow, but she did. Vera watched from the doorway as Isla tucked Mason into bed and kissed her cheek. Turning on the nightlight by her bed, Isla slowly walked out of the room and shut the door.

“That’s why I always have her change into her pajamas before movie night.”

“Smart woman.” As they walked back toward the living room, Vera glanced down at her watch and sighed. “I guess I should head home.”

“You don’t have to,” Isla blurted out. “I mean, I don’t have a bedtime or anything. Mason does, but that’s because she’s four. I’m not four, so I don’t have a bedtime.”

Vera was clearly amused by Isla’s nervous ramblings. “That’s good to know. But, as much as I would love to stay, I have an early day tomorrow.”

“Of course. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have made you stay for that movie.”

“Isla,” Vera stopped her from another ramble by placing a hand on her shoulder, “I had a great time tonight.”

“Me, too.”

Slowly, Vera reached up and twirled a strand of Isla’s hair around her finger. Something was different in her eyes; something that Isla had not seen before in anyone. Not even her ex-husband.

Desire.

Isla knew it should scare her, but she was more concerned about why it wasn’t scaring her.

“Maybe,” Vera slowly licked her bottom lip, “we can do this again sometime.”

She leaned in closer to Isla’s ear.

“Just the two of us.”

Isla’s voice was barely a whisper as she responded, “I’d like that.”

“Me, too.”

Before Isla knew what was happening, she felt Vera’s hand wrap slowly around her waist. She pulled her close, their lips once again tantalizingly close to each other’s.

“May I kiss you?”

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