Page 92 of Finding Wonderland

But she and Isla had overcome that obstacle like they did everything else: together.

Reaching out, Vera took Isla’s hand, which was hanging off the side of the Adirondack chair. They were lounging by the pool while Nora fed Everleigh her bottle a few feet away under an umbrella. Although Vera couldn’t see Isla’s eyes due to the dark sunglasses, she felt she was asleep. But when she squeezed her hand, Isla squeezed it back.

“What are you thinking about?”

“How we let Mason take Ellie and Brayden for the day.” Isla sat up a little, a smirk on her face. “What were we thinking?”

“That we wanted a nice day alone.”

“Yes, with my sister,” Isla teased, sticking her tongue out at Nora, who did the same back.

“You two are worse than Mason and Ellie.”

“This is what happens when we only see each other once a year,” Nora laughed. “We’re going to make it a point to see each other more. I hate how much I’m missing with the kids.”

Roads work both ways.

Vera kept her comment to herself. She loved Nora; she did. But Nora was very focused on what was best for Nora and no one else. Well, and her daughter, River. River was a year younger than Mason and the light of Nora’s life. Although they had kids close together in age, Nora and Isla barely saw each other until the last five years. Vera knew sibling relationships were complicated, but Nora and Isla were so different it was hard to imagine them as sisters.

If it wasn’t for the fact Mason and River could pass as sisters, Vera wasn’t sure she’d believe the familial connection.

And it wasn’t as if Vera could talk about healthy relationships with her sisters. It had been years since Vera had seen Lena, and she’d yet to meet Everleigh. It hurt Vera more than she would ever admit to have a sister who seemingly didn’t want to be in her life.

Then there was Walker. She was an adult now, and there was little Vera could do to protect her anymore. Walker had to find her own way in the world, and Vera had to focus on her family. Her kids came first, always.

“And I can’t believe Miss Everleigh here is almost one,” Nora cooed as she sat Everleigh’s bottle on the table and held her up above her head. Everleigh laughed, enjoying all the attention on her. “I remember Blake’s first birthday.”

Vera felt the air get sucked out of her lungs at the mention of Blake's name. She caught Isla’s expression out of the corner of her eye, noticing how she grit her teeth. It was clear she wasn’t in the mood to talk about Blake, but Nora wasn’t picking up on that cue. Not that Vera could blame her. Vera could read Isla better than Isla could read herself. She’d known that for years, and it came in handy at times like this.

Nora continued as Isla dropped Vera’s hand and sat straighter in the chair.

“She just loved that birthday cake. Put her face right in it and started eating.” Nora was still talking to Everleigh, who kept laughing. But it meant she wasn’t seeing that Isla was now noticeably uncomfortable. “Yes, she did. Are you going to do that, too? Are you going to be like your sister Blake?”

Clearing her throat, Isla stood. Vera hesitated momentarily, unsure if she should say anything or just let Isla be. She decided on the latter.

“I should get Everleigh ready for bed.”

Isla walked over to Nora, took Everleigh, and walked inside the sliding glass door. Although it was still an hour before Everleigh’s bedtime, Vera didn’t say anything. Vera kept her eyes on her, knowing she was upset, but she knew more than anything that she had to let her feel those emotions right now. Going to Isla now would lead to an argument. Vera knew that. So she’d just have to give her space.

Nora slowly stood and walked over to Vera, taking the seat Isla had just occupied. “I’m sorry, Vera. I wasn’t thinking.”

“It’s okay, Nora.” Vera finally pulled her eyes away from the glass door. “She gets this way sometimes. It seems to get worse the longer time goes by, too.”

“I can’t imagine.”

“Me either. I’ve tried,” she laughed sadly. “I’ve tried to take her pain as my own to get her through this, but at the end of the day, I can’t ever fully understand what she has gone through. I can’t imagine not having my kids in my life. Isla loves them all so much, and she loves Blake just as much.”

She felt a tear slide down her cheek, and she wiped it away quickly before continuing.

“I know Blake’s okay; that’s what gets us through most days, but still.”

“You want her in your lives.”

“We need her in our lives,” Vera corrected.

“Have you had any luck contacting her?”

“We send letters regularly but have never gotten anything in response.”

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