Page 6 of Finding Wonderland

“Do you feel like elaborating?” Vera didn’t pause to allow her to answer. “You don’t have to. Only if you feel like it. I’m not a therapist, but I have a good listening ear.”

Isla seemed to relax as her shoulders dropped slightly. “Thank you. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it like that. But yes, I have been very stressed lately. We just moved here and I’ve started a new job and am trying to find childcare for Mason. It’s been overwhelming. Plus, a lot of other stuff is going on that I won’t bother you with.”

“My daddy took my sister,” Mason flatly stated, never looking up from her action figures. Any relaxing that Isla had done was immediately undone as she leaned in closer to Mason.

“Mason, sweetie, we don’t talk about that with anyone, remember?”

Vera had learned a lot in medical school and during her residency. She’d learned how to handle difficult patients and to keep a neutral face no matter what was going on or said. But Mason’s five innocent sounding words hit Vera like a ton of bricks. She could almost feel her eyes bugging out of her head.

My daddy took my sister.

Mason’s words echoed in her head. What did that mean? She knew Isla had two live births, so was that the other child? Was the child okay? Isla had made it clear she wasn’t married, so were they divorced and each got custody of a child? Vera knew that wasn’t the usual arrangement, but who knows what worked for every family.

But how did she respond to that? It was an answer she needed to figure out sooner rather than later.

“I’m sorry,” Isla couldn’t even look her in the eye. “That’s not something I want to talk about.”

“It’s okay.” Vera blinked a few times, then shook her head. Forcing a smile, she tried to get the appointment back on track. “So, would you be more comfortable if one of my nurses could watch Mason while we do everything we need to do?”

“Really?” Isla looked relieved again. “That would be great. Normally I wouldn’t bring my kids to this kind of appointment, but I didn’t have anyone to watch her.”

“Hey, I get it. Give me a minute, okay?”

Excusing herself from the room, Vera tracked down her favorite nurse, Leanne, to watch Mason. It had taken some convincing for Mason to agree to go with her, but the promise of visiting the therapy dogs downstairs seemed to be all the bribery she needed.

Once alone, Vera retook her seat in the rolling chair as she studied Isla. She was staring out the skinny, frosted window, so Vera knew her view was nothing but discombobulated rays of sunshine mixed with blue light.

“Thank you, Dr. Forsyth.”

“You’re welcome. I know it can be hard to do it all as a single parent.”

“Do you have kids?”

“No,” she shook her head, “but I raised my younger sisters, so I have an idea of what it’s like.”

“It’s never easy.” Isla sighed, turning toward Vera. It was then she could see the tears welling in her eyes. “My ex-husband took our eldest daughter, Blake. It’s a long story that I really don’t want to get into today, or ever, but he has full custody of Blake now and I have full custody of Mason. And I don’t know if,” her lower lip quivered, “I’ll ever see her again.”

Breaking all the boundaries she had set for herself with her patients, Vera crossed the room and pulled Isla into a hug. She was learning that, sometimes, being a shoulder to cry on was better than being a doctor. And in this case, it was apparent Isla needed a moment to not have to be so strong for Mason.

“I’m sorry I’m such a mess.”

“It’s okay, we all are.” Pulling away, Vera grabbed a few tissues from the box and handed them to Isla. “For example, my mom has three kids by three different men. She’s a mess.”

Isla laughed, which made Vera smile.

“And my boss is counting down the days until he retires because he hates his job but won’t quit so he’s a mess, too. And me?” She snorted a laugh. “And me? Please. I’m a mess. I work way too much and have no life outside this hospital.”

“You’re not a mess.”

“Did I mention that most of my meals come from the vending machine or the cafeteria?” Vera chuckled, as did Isla. “No one’s perfect. We just have to find the people who are compatible with our imperfections.”

Isla’s eyes softened. “I love that.”

“Thanks,” Vera smiled and forced herself to get back into doctor mode. They proceeded with the appointment and Vera promised to call her as soon as possible with the results of her testing. She walked her out to the elevators, where Leanne was returning with Mason.

“Mommy! Guess what?”

“What?” Isla matched her enthusiasm.

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