Page 66 of Finding Wonderland

“Will you still love me when I’m an elephant?”

“Oh, yeah. Imagine how nice showers would be. You can use your trunk to wash your back.”

Vera playfully shoved Isla’s shoulder. “Stop it. I’m hormonal and this isn’t funny.”

Studying herself in the mirror, Vera ran her hand over her stomach once more. Her baby bump had been noticeable for weeks, much earlier than Vera had expected. She would have been convinced her due date was wrong if she didn’t know the exact date of implantation. And deep down she knew Isla was right. Everyone carried differently. Vera knew that better than anyone with her profession.

“I’m sorry.”

“Hey, there’s nothing to be sorry about.” Isla put her hand on Vera’s stomach. “You’re carrying our child beautifully.”

“I’m so excited to see her today.”

“Oh, so you’re back to calling it a girl, hmm?”

“Well, it seems so impersonal. Besides,” she covered Isla’s hand with her own, “you make pretty girls.”

The decision to use Isla’s eggs again had been an easy one for Vera. They had chosen for each to do reciprocal IVF, with Vera offering to go first. And after her miscarriage, Vera vowed to enjoy every moment of pregnancy. The good, the uncomfortable, and everything in between.

“I just think it’s a girl. I can’t explain it.”

“I believe you,” Isla chuckled. “Now come on. Let’s find you something to wear so we can go get new pictures of our baby.”

After picking out a pair of sweatpants and an oversized sweatshirt, Vera followed Isla down the stairs into the kitchen. Mason was leaned over a bowl of cereal with a magazine laying on the table. She barely looked up at them as Isla poured herself a cup of coffee while Vera opted for a glass of orange juice.

“Mace, do you want to go to the doctor with us?” Isla kept her voice upbeat as she spoke. “You can see your new brother or sister.”

“I guess,” she shrugged in response.

Mason had been excited about the baby, but she was clearly more interested in whatever she was reading in the magazine in front of her.

“Can I do this?” Mason slid the magazine across the table to them. Vera picked it up as she and Isla scanned it. It was an article about a young girl who was training a service dog. “I think it would be fun. And it would help me learn responsibility.”

Oh, she’s pedaling hard for this, Vera chuckled to herself.

“We can talk about it,” Isla said, handing the magazine back to Mason. “It may need to wait until the baby is a little older, but I agree. I think it would teach you some responsibility, like how you’re not supposed to sneak out of the house in the middle of the night to meet your friends.”

Mason sunk down in her seat, obviously embarrassed.

“You’re not in trouble,” Vera added. “Just ask us if you want to go somewhere, okay?”

“Okay,” Mason mumbled.

“Where did you go?”

“To Maddie’s house.”

Of course. Maddie was one of Mason’s best friends. It made sense they’d sneak out together.

“Any drinking or drugs?”

“No.”

“Okay.” Isla was trying to play hardball, but it wasn’t how they parented Mason. She responded better to being treated like an adult than a kid.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Mace. We just don’t want you to get hurt, and anything can happen when you’re out late. We want to know where you are, okay?”

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