Page 93 of Finding Wonderland

“What about those fan conventions? Does she do any of those?”

Although Vera knew Nora was only trying to help, she was desperate for the talk of Blake to end. She and Isla had tried everything they could think of to get in touch with Blake. Nora didn’t know everything Isla had been through the last twenty years. She wasn’t around like Vera had been.

“She has, but Isla won't go.”

“Why?”

“She doesn’t know what to say,” she shrugged. “I can’t imagine Isla walking up and being like I’m your mom is the best way to go. It would catch Blake off guard, and who knows how she’d react. Isla wouldn’t do that to her. You know Isla. She loves her too much to cause any added heartache.”

“I get that.” Nora leaned back in the chair, crossing her legs. She had the same dark hair and eyes as Isla had, which meant she also favored Mason. “I’m sorry I brought it up.”

“It’s okay.”

Thankfully, Nora changed the subject to her daughter, and the two spent the next hour gushing over their kids. It was a topic Vera would—and could—talk about all day.

“So,” there was a slight hesitation in Nora’s voice, “how’s Mason been?”

Vera didn’t need Nora to elaborate. She knew what she was talking about. Mason had spent a few weeks at the end of the summer in Connecticut with a service dog company, learning what she’d need to do to start her own company. While she had learned a ton and was in the process of establishing her own company, Mason had also had a fleeting relationship with her older mentor there.

When Isla and Vera heard the news when Mason got back from Connecticut, they were shocked. Mason had always shown interest in women; that wasn’t the shocking part. The shocking part was how crushed Mason had been. Even though it had been only a few weeks, Mason fell hard for Ashley Clinton. Vera had resisted the urge—so far—to drive to Connecticut and give Ashley a piece of her mind for hurting her little girl. But Mason kept insisting she was fine.

Even if Vera didn’t believe her.

“She’ll be okay,” Vera said with a sad smile. “She’s never had her heart broken before, so she just has to get through this. She’ll get through it.”

The sisters-in-law were quiet for a moment as Vera sent up a silent prayer for her daughter’s broken heart.

“So, tell me,” Nora leaned in toward Vera, her eyebrow arched. “What’s the deal with Mason and Chase?”

Vera couldn’t contain her laugh at the question.

“Oh,” Nora laughed, too, “did I walk into something there?”

“Well, according to me, yes. But according to your sister, no.”

“Go on.” Nora leaned back in her chair, sipping the margarita she’d made a half hour earlier. “I’m listening.”

“See, I think Mason and Chase will get married.”

“Stop it! I thought that, too!” The two laughed before Nora said, “When River told me they weren’t dating, I was shocked.”

“Give it time. Mason isn’t ready to settle down, but I feel Chase is. But I also believe Chase will wait for Mason.”

“So, what does Isla say?”

“She doesn’t think Mason will ever settle down.”

“Mama hen is just worried about her little chick.”

“We both are, but I know Mason.” Vera smiled at the memory of all her talks with Mason over the years about her future. “She wants to settle down. She’s just not there yet.”

“River’s the same way. I don’t think dating or marriage is even on her radar. She’s married to the stage.”

River followed in her Aunt Isla and Aunt Eden’s footsteps and had been actively involved in theater since before she could talk. She graduated from Juilliard a couple of years ago with a Bachelor’s degree in drama and has been in several Broadway touring productions since then. Although she’d yet to gain her much-desired lead role, Vera knew it was only a matter of time. She had all of Isla’s and Eden’s talent on the stage and then some.

“I guess part of being a mother to strong-willed daughters is learning that they march to the beat of their own drum.”

“I hear that,” Vera laughed. “And Ellie’s already so much like Mason. And River. She loves the stage, too.”

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