Page 67 of Finding Wonderland

“Okay,” Mason nodded. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“That’s all we ask,” Vera said with a smile. Mason was a good kid and rarely did anything that needed disciplining. “Now, go change out of your pajamas for the appointment.”

As Mason all but sprinted up the stairs, Isla shook her head and leaned against the counter. They had caught Mason sneaking in late the night before but had agreed to confront her about it in the morning.

“Do you really think that’s the first time she’s snuck out?”

“I don’t want to know,” Vera laughed. “As far as I’m concerned, it was the first and last time.”

“Agreed.” They clinked their glasses together and laughed.

Vera happily thought back to a few weeks ago when they’d gotten the official notice that her adoption of Mason had been approved. She hated there was so much legality surrounding what she already knew, but Vera desperately wanted to legally be Mason’s mama. When the paperwork came in the mail, Vera screamed with excitement.

“What in the world?” Isla came running into the living room. “Are you okay? What happened?”

“It’s official!” Bypassing Isla, Vera Ran up the stairs to Mason’s room. She quickly opened the door, startling Mason. Isla was right on her heels and seemed to have pieced together what had happened. “It’s official!”

“It is?” Mason jumped off the bed, running over to Vera and hugging her. “I love you, Mama.”

“I love you, too, baby. So, so much.” Holding out her arm to Isla, the three embraced tightly.

Vera smiled at the memory.

“You have that dreamy look in your eyes.” Isla’s eyes were soft as she spoke. Vera went to her, letting her wrap her arms around her waist as Vera put her hands around Isla’s neck. “What are you thinking about?”

“How I get to be the mama to your babies. I love you.”

“I love you more, baby.”

An hour later, Vera was lying on an uncomfortable bed with one of the medical students performing the ultrasound. There were three med students spending their semester at the office. Vera loved the training part of her job the most. Well, that and helping women bring babies into the world. Both were highlights of her career.

But the med student, currently staring at the screen as if he was reading hieroglyphics, had Vera questioning if he was ready to perform an ultrasound. Thankfully, her fellow doctor, Stacey Jameson, was standing behind him, whispering intently to him.

Vera would have given anything for the screen to be turned where she could see it. But she knew why they didn’t. If they found something wrong, it was best not to let the mother see.

Her heart sank to the floor.

Is something wrong with the baby?

Not again. I can’t go through that again.

“Stacey, what’s wrong?” Vera could hear the slight tremble in her voice. “Why don’t you take over for him?”

Bryan nodded, dropping the ultrasound wand from his hand. “Yeah, I shouldn’t be the one doing this. You should tell her.”

“Tell me what?” Her voice was a mix of annoyance and panic. Stacey picked up the wand, holding it above Vera’s stomach. “Stacey?”

Beside her, Isla held tighter onto Vera’s hand as Mason stood from the chair in the corner of the room. She stood just behind Isla, and Vera could see the worry on her face as Mason looked down at her.

“Vera,” Stacey’s voice was calm as she spoke, “everything is okay. I promise you that.”

Vera let out a sigh of relief. “Good.”

She took a moment to let Isla comfort her with a hug and forehead kiss as Mason tenderly reached out and put her hand on Vera’s arm.

“So, what was Bryan seeing?”

Stacey’s smile spread wide as she turned the screen around. “You won’t believe it until I show you.”

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