Page 124 of Finding Wonderland

Isla smiled sweetly at her daughter-in-law.

“Not at all, Lex.” Standing from her chair, Isla motioned to the door. “Close the door.”

Like Isla and Vera had, Alexis and Blake were doing reciprocal IVF which meant they were both having hormone treatments to prepare them for their procedures. They would be using Blake’s eggs for Alexis to carry, and Isla couldn’t help but think back on how she and Vera had done the same thing. She wouldn't trade that experience for anything in the world and knew Alexis and Blake would feel the same way.

Getting the shot ready, Isla waited as Alexis pulled down her pants to allow Isla access to her behind. Isla had too much practice with giving other people shots to not be a doctor. She’d helped Vera with her treatments for IVF and was constantly giving Everleigh shots or finger pricks. The constant practice did little to calm her nerves as she carefully gave Alexis the shot.

“Sorry,” Isla apologized. “Vera’s better at this than me.”

“Don’t tell her, but Emily’s better than Vera.”

“Do you not want me to tell Emily or Vera that?” Isla joked as Alexis laughed.

“Both.” Alexis rubbed her behind and pulled up her pants. “We’re almost ready for the next procedure.”

Isla could read the unspoken words Alexis wasn’t saying. She’d had three failed IVF treatments before, and she needed this one to work. Which, of course, Isla understood. After everything Vera went through to get pregnant with Ellie and Brayden, Isla felt almost embarrassed that she’d gotten pregnant with Everleigh on the first try.

On the desk, Isla’s phone alerted with a sound she hated. Everleigh’s blood sugar had dipped below 70. Isla knew it without looking.

“Shit.” Isla snatched her phone off the desk before grabbing her keys. “I gotta go. It’s been dropping all morning.”

“Go. I got this. Emily will be in later.”

“Thanks, Lex.” Quickly kissing Alexis on the cheek, Isla bolted out to the Jeep. She called Vera and put the car in reverse.

“Are you going over there?” Vera answered, obviously panicked. “I have a mom about to crown but I am trying to find Stacey.”

“I’m on my way.”

“Tell her I’ll be there ASAP.”

“I will.”

There was a moment of silence on the line before Vera said, “It’s been dropping all morning. I think it’s the pump.”

“It could be.” Isla knew the pump was on its last hours before they needed to change it anyway. “I’ll text you when I get there and check on her.”

“Tell her I love her.”

“I will, Mama. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Isla sped to the elementary school and parked in the first handicapped spot she could find. Grabbing the bag of snacks they kept in the car, Isla bolted inside to the school nurse’s office. Everleigh was already there, a terrified look on her face. As soon as she saw Isla she went to her and let her hold her.

“It’s okay, baby. Mommy’s here.” Isla carefully sat down in the recliner she’d become all too familiar with since Everleigh had started kindergarten. Everleigh snuggled up against her in her arms, and Isla fished out the test strips from the bag the nurse had given her.

“I was going to call you, but Everleigh said you were on the way.” The nurses at the school knew by now that Isla, Vera, and Mason all had the app on their phones so they could check Everleigh’s blood sugar. Everleigh also had their locations shared on her phone so she could see where they were and if they were on their way. “I’ll leave you two alone. I’ll be outside if you need me.”

Thankfully, the school had a small exam room attached to the nurse’s office. The Mackenzies had stockpiled it over the years with snacks, drinks, test strips, and any other supplies Everleigh might need at school. But even as prepared as they were, Isla still got flustered when it was only her and Everleigh.

She gave Everleigh an applesauce packet as she checked her blood sugar. Isla wanted to cry when she saw it was now below sixty. Gently rocking Everleigh in the recliner, Isla prayed for her blood sugar to go up soon.

“Mommy?”

“Yes, Evie?” Isla kissed her head.

“I’m sorry.”