Page 94 of Finding Wonderland

“Isla’s sent me videos of her plays. I showed them to River.”

The back gate to the porch opened as Brayden, Ellie, River, Walker, Chase, and Mason all walked through it. They were all tired, that much was obvious. River, Walker, and Chase quickly took seats at the table while Brayden and Ellie ran to Vera and hugged her.

“Mama, we had so much fun today!” Ellie was beaming with happiness as she talked.

“Yeah, we rode Splash Mountain six times!”

“Whoa! That sounds so fun!” Vera matched their enthusiasm as they told her about their day. But it was Mason that Vera’s eyes kept fluttering to. She was looking for Isla; Vera knew that much. “She’s putting Everleigh down, Mace.”

Mason nodded, smiling at Vera before heading into the house. Ellie and Brayden went on about their day for a few more minutes before she sent them inside to shower and get ready for bed. She told them she’d be in soon to tuck them in. Chase, Walker, and River were clearly exhausted, too, so they headed inside as well. Vera bid goodnight to Nora before she padded up the stairs to the room she shared with Isla.

She wasn’t surprised to find Mason in bed with her. Mason had her head on Isla’s lap as Isla ran her hand through her hair. They were looking at photos and videos on Mason’s phone, so neither had noticed her standing in the doorway yet.

Vera took in the sight in front of her. The darkness surrounding Isla had lifted, for which Vera was thankful. That was the power of Mason. Or, really, any of their kids. However, Mason had a special bond with both of them, so she always understood when they needed her without them having to ask.

As she was about to shut the door back, Isla noticed Vera. She smiled and waved her in, and Vera joined them in bed. Vera picked up Mason’s feet and put them in her lap as she watched the video of Brayden and Ellie meeting Winnie the Pooh and Tigger.

“They had so much fun.” Mason yawned, stretching her arms above her head. “Thanks for letting me take them. I had fun, too.”

“I’m glad, sweetie.” Leaning down, Isla kissed her forehead. “You and Chase and River can go to Universal by yourselves tomorrow if you want.”

“Actually, I think we’re gonna take Ellie and Brayden if that’s okay.”

“Of course, Mace.”

“Well, I should probably get to bed then.” Mason kissed and hugged them both before bidding them goodnight. Vera moved closer to Isla as their eyes locked.

“How are you?”

Isla shrugged as a tear ran down her cheek. Vera hugged her, holding her as tightly as she could.

“Oh, baby, I know. I want her here, too.”

“It’s not fair.”

“No, it’s not.”

“One day, though.” Isla nodded with confidence. “She will be one day.”

“One day,” Vera smiled, “we are going to have all our kids together and it’s going to be amazing. And then they’ll have spouses and kids and our house will be so loud but it’ll be so perfect.”

“I can’t wait for that.”

“One day, my love.” Vera kissed her lips softly. “One day soon.”

Chapter 33

Isla

2013

Each time one of the players on the opposite hockey team crashed into Brayden, Isla cringed. How she agreed to let Brayden play in the youth hockey league was beyond her. He was only seven. And her baby boy. Her precious, sweet, gentle baby boy who was currently being bullied by a kid an entire foot taller than him.

It didn’t matter how many times Vera reassured her that he was okay; the referees and coaches would stop things before they escalated. Isla would always worry about Brayden when he stepped onto the ice.

Brayden had shown an interest in hockey since he could walk. He would use a stick he found in the yard and a tennis ball to play hockey in the driveway. Vera had signed him up for the youth hockey league the day after his fifth birthday, which surprised Isla. Normally it was Vera who worried most about the kids’ safety. But Vera was also fiercely passionate about supporting their kids’ interests. And Isla supported whatever they wanted.

Even if that meant stressing two nights a week while her baby boy skated on thin slivers of metal with other boys whose frontal lobes wouldn’t be fully developed for years.

---