Page 26 of Finding Wonderland

“Believe it or not, I don’t usually accept dinner invites or movie invites from people. And I especially don’t go around kissing people just because there’s nothing else to do.” Tenderly, Vera reached out and took hold of Isla’s hand. “I like you, Isla Mackenzie. And, if I’m being honest, that probably scares me as much as it scares you.”

Isla laughed dryly. “I’ll admit I’m a little scared. My feelings for you are so…”

“Strong,” Vera finished her sentence again.

“Exactly.”

“But you know what?”

“What?”

“There’s no one else I’d rather be scared with than you.” For a moment, neither said anything. They looked into each other’s eyes until Vera laughed. “I’m sorry. That was supposed to be a lot more romantic than it actually sounded.”

“Don’t apologize.” Closing the space between them again, Isla wrapped her arms around Vera’s neck and kissed her. “I know what you mean, and I feel the same.”

“Good.” Vera kissed her again. “Do you want to see Mason? She should be in recovery now.”

“Yes, please.”

Holding onto Vera’s hand, they walked back into the hospital. It felt so natural that Isla could almost convince herself they were an actual couple going to check on their child. But the official stuff would have to come later. Isla needed to see Mason.

When they walked into Mason’s room, she was resting peacefully in the bed. Isla softly kissed her forehead as she tried not to wake her up. Vera squeezed her hand.

“She’s going to be okay.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Vera pulled her close again. “Always.”

And again, Isla felt a wave of safeness wash over her. Somehow, she knew they were all going to be okay as long as they stayed together.

Chapter 10

Vera

There has to be something I can do to help.

Vera tapped her pen mindlessly on her desk as she tried, yet again, to think of some way to help Isla. It was clear that everything Isla was going through was weighing heavy on her, and Vera wanted to help lighten the load. Between moving to a new city, the situation with Blake, and Mason recovering from surgery, Vera had been trying to give her space the last few days. She’d made it a habit to call Isla every night when she got home from work and Vera wasn’t sure which one of them enjoyed their conversations more.

During their last phone call, Isla had complained about the house still not feeling like home and how she wished she had money to repaint and decorate. She’d also mentioned that she was still waiting on a call from her lawyer and was debating watching Blake’s new TV show when it came on the following week. Vera had no idea how to help with either of those, but she could help with repainting.

The longer she sat at her desk, the more she envisioned how she could fix up Isla’s apartment for her. She’d already taken care of Mason’s room, but Isla was right. The other rooms needed a spruce, too. Since Vera’s mother was the one who owned the apartment complex, she knew giving the place a new coat of paint wouldn’t be a problem. Of course, she also knew she couldn’t do it alone.

Heading down to the oncology department, Vera found Cameron in her office squinting at her computer screen. Vera knocked on the open door before stepping into the office.

“Do you have any idea how to work this new thing?”

“Not a clue,” Vera laughed. “I don’t know why we had to give up paper files cold turkey.”

“If it ain’t broke…”

“Pay millions of dollars to fix it.”

They both laughed. It was something they’d been saying the last few months while the hospital transitioned to their new electronic system. Vera and Cameron were over the learning curve already.

“So,” Cameron leaned back in her swivel chair, “what brings you to my section of the hospital?”

“Well, I was wondering if you were working tomorrow?”

---