Page 89 of Finding Wonderland

“Well, shit,” she wiped tears from her eyes. “I didn’t mean literally.”

“We actually had the name picked out for a few weeks.”

“Wait,” Mason’s eyes narrowed at them, “did you pick that name because I had it on my list?”

Isla sheepishly smiled. “When we saw Everleigh circled, we knew.”

Smiling, Mason leaned down and kissed Everleigh on the head. “Hi sweet, Everleigh. I’m your favorite sister, Mason.”

As they laughed, Vera savored watching Mason with Everleigh. Their lives felt complete with the newest addition.

Well.

Almost.

Blake.

Isla must have sensed her thoughts because she gently squeezed her hand. “I love you.”

“I love you more.”

Chapter 31

Isla

2012

Everleigh Claire Mackenzie had made her grand entrance into the world almost six months ago and yet Isla still couldn’t figure out how so much time had passed. It seemed like only last week that her water was breaking and Vera was helping her deliver their child into the world. The birth had been slower and harder than her previous two and even when Everleigh was born Isla couldn’t believe she was actually done pushing and holding her baby girl for several minutes after.

And six months later, Isla still couldn’t believe their new baby girl was upstairs asleep in her crib while their six-year-old twins slept in the room beside her. Although Mason had a dorm at the local college she was attending, she often spent her weekends back at home with them. Not that Isla was complaining. She would never complain about having all her babies under one roof.

Well, almost all of them…

Isla sighed as she sunk into the couch as she cuddled up closer to Vera. Mason was asleep on the recliner a few feet away while her service dog in training was asleep by the fireplace. Nala was a one-year-old black Labrador that Mason had been raising since she was six weeks old. She had thrived under the added responsibility and Isla was beyond proud of her. Letting Mason work with the service dog organization out of Connecticut had been the best experience for Mason.

“The husband totally did it,” Vera commented as she put more popcorn into her mouth. The murder documentary they were watching wasn’t keeping anyone’s attention but Vera’s apparently. “It’s always the husband.”

“Thank God we don’t have one.”

“Amen to that.”

The quiet moment at home with her wife and daughter was exactly what Isla needed. Both Brayden and Ellie had brought home the flu the week before and Vera had caught it as well. Thankfully, Isla had avoided it but it meant she had to care for all three kids and her wife while trying not to expose her breastfeeding baby to the virus. It had been stressful, to say the least. But finally, everyone was starting to feel better and Isla could finally relax.

Nala perked up and sniffed the air. Hopping up, she walked into the kitchen and out of sight. Isla assumed she was getting a drink of water or using the doggie door she and Mason had installed a few months ago. But the ear-piercing bark that echoed through the house a few moments later proved that wasn't the case.

Vera, Isla, and Mason all scrambled to their feet. Nala was still in training, but she knew that barking without a reason wasn’t okay. They all ran into the kitchen toward the barking as Nala came charging down the stairs. She barked a couple more times before running up the stairs again.

“Something’s wrong.” Mason bolted up the stairs behind Nala.

Isla’s heart was in her throat as she and Vera followed behind her. Ellie and Brayden were awake and in the hallway, wondering what was going on as well. But all Isla could focus on was the loud barking coming from Everleigh’s bedroom.

And the lack of crying.

“Mom!” Mason shrieked as Isla and Vera rounded the corner into the bedroom.

Inside the crib, Everleigh was lethargic. She wasn’t moving or responding to anything, and Vera immediately stepped into doctor mode. Vera picked up the baby, checked her airway, and looked at Isla.

“She’s breathing.”

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