Page 54 of Finding Wonderland

“Okay, okay, we'll be there as soon as we can.”

“Hurry,” Isla teased. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

It took Vera and Mason forty-five minutes to arrive and Isla was bursting with excitement. She met them at the front door, hugging them both much to Mason’s annoyance.

“Sorry it took so long. Mason was getting ready on her own time.”

“Mason time does operate differently.” Isla winked at Mason to let her know she was joking. “Come on in, I have to show you two something.”

Leading them inside, Isla showed them to a booth where she had burgers, fries, and sodas waiting on them. She handed Vera and Mason menus, which seemed to confuse them both.

“Why do we need menus if you’ve already brought us food?” Mason asked as she popped several fries into her mouth.

“Look at them.”

Isla watched with excitement as Vera and Mason scanned the menu. She had printed a new cover insert for the plastic folder the menus usually sat in, and hoped it didn’t take them long to notice she had added Owner, Isla Mackenzie under the logo. Surprisingly, it was Mason that seemed to notice it first.

“Are you for real?”

“Yep.”

“Wait, what am I…” Vera’s eyes grew wide as she looked up at Isla from across the table. “Are you serious?”

“I am.”

“Honey,” Vera scooted out of the bench seat she was sharing with Mason and moved beside Isla, “how did this happen?”

“Maureen stopped by today and handed me the paperwork for it. She said the building is paid off and they don’t need or want the money from it. They want it to go to someone who loves it.”

“And no one loves it more than you.”

“I haven’t signed the papers or told her yes yet. I wanted to talk it over with you two first.”

“What’s there to talk about?” Vera leaned in and kissed Isla. “Babe, this is amazing.”

“It is, isn’t it?”

“It’s awesome, Mom,” Mason chimed in.

“I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks. I'm proud of you, too.”

“I’m proud of both of you, but can you save the PDA for home?” Mason rolled her eyes.

Under the table, Vera took hold of Isla’s hand and squeezed it. That was all the confirmation Isla needed to know that signing the papers would be the best thing for their family. And in a few weeks, the bar would be officially hers.

Chapter 20

Vera

2004

Since she was a little girl, Vera had dreamed about being pregnant. She knew she wanted a large family with a house full of kids. When she met Isla and Mason, she was one step closer to that dream. Mason had been the brightest spot in Vera’s life. Along with Isla, they had helped Vera through all her fellowships and start of her first year as a fully certified doctor.

To say Vera loved her life was a complete understatement. She was insanely in love with Isla and had no clue her heart could live outside her body in Mason.

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