Page 56 of Finding Wonderland

“We’re going to get through this.”

Vera clung to those words and Isla’s hand as Stacey confirmed that Vera had lost the pregnancy. There was no need for any procedure, and Stacey cleared her to go home with strict orders to take the rest of the week off. Melanie brought Vera a clean pair of scrubs to change into before she helped Isla take her out to the Jeep.

The ride home was silent. They held hands as they always did while driving. But this time, Vera felt Isla holding on tighter.

Parking at the farmhouse, Vera gasped.

“What?”

“Mason,” she sobbed. “She doesn’t know.”

“I’ll tell her. If you want.”

“Is she home?”

“It's only two thirty, so she won’t be home for another hour at least.”

Vera nodded as Isla exited the Jeep and walked around to the passenger side. She helped Vera out and into the house.

“Couch or bed?”

“Couch.” Carefully, Vera let Isla help her sit on the couch. Isla kept her arm around her shoulder, and Vera snuggled into her embrace as tears began to fall for the first time since she had heard the news.

She’d had a miscarriage.

She had lost her baby. Their baby. Isla’s baby. The weight of the loss slammed into Vera like a freight train as her tears mixed with Isla’s.

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t keep our baby alive.”

Isla tightened her embrace. “Vera, no,” Isla said through sobs, “Don’t say that. You didn’t do anything. Do you hear me?”

Pausing, Isla lifted Vera’s chin so their eyes could meet.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I just wanted to keep our baby safe.”

“And you did, sweetie.” Isla wiped the tears from Vera’s face the best she could. “This was just all the time we were meant to have him.”

“I want to believe that.”

“And one day you will. But today, we don’t have to.”

Vera let Isla hold her as they both grieved the loss of a child they’d never meet. When the front door opened and Mason came in, Vera could tell by her face that she knew something was wrong.

But Vera couldn’t look at her. At thirteen, Mason had been so excited about being a big sister and Vera felt she’d let her down.

Isla stood and escorted Mason to the kitchen. She could hear them talking; hear Mason start to cry before she ran back into the living room.

“Mama,” Mason sobbed as she stopped a few feet away from Vera.

Vera could see the uncertainty in her eyes. She wanted Vera to hold her but wasn’t sure she should do that. But Vera needed that. Nodding, Vera held her arms out to Mason. Mason buried her face in Vera’s chest as she softly cried. Isla sat beside her, rubbing Mason’s back with one hand while the other was around Vera’s shoulders.

Time didn’t seem to matter as the three of them stayed there grieving together. Isla ordered a pizza, but they barely touched it. Mason helped Vera up the stairs as Isla fixed the bed for her. Without being asked, Mason grabbed Vera’s pajamas out of the top drawer. She helped her change, just like Vera had helped Mason get ready for bed many years ago.

“Thank you, Mace.”

“I love you, Mama.”

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