Page 72 of Finding Wonderland

“I’m so glad you’re finally getting to feel them.” There were tears in Vera’s eyes but she didn’t wipe them away. “I know you felt Blake and Mason, so I know it’s not that big of a deal.”

“Hey.” Propping herself up on her elbow, Isla looked down at Vera. “This right here? One of the top moments in my life.”

“Yeah?” Vera sobbed.

“Totally. My beautiful wife is carrying our babies. What could be better than that?”

“I love you, Isla.”

“I love you more.”

“We’ll argue about that later,” Isla chuckled as they cuddled back up together and fell asleep in each other’s arms.

Chapter 26

Vera

2006

One last weekend getaway before the twins were born was all Vera wanted. She knew it was risky going to the beach house three hours away from her doctor, but Vera needed one last weekend at the house with just her, Isla, and Mason. Isla had reluctantly agreed. Of course, she’d also made her protests known, but Vera assured her she wasn’t having contractions, and at her last appointment, she wasn’t dilated yet. Things were fine.

Or.

Well.

Had been fine.

The first contraction was so light it barely made Vera shift her position in the recliner. But that was the last easy one she’d had. The last few, however inconsistent in timing, had grown in intensity. They felt like intense cramps that Vera had to mentally work through.

Putting her hand on her huge stomach, Vera took a long, slow breath as she worked through another contraction.

“I know, babies. I know. You’re ready to come out. Mama’s ready, too.”

By the time the sun started to come up over the ocean, Vera knew they had to get home. Isla had stayed the night in the bedroom downstairs, knowing Vera couldn’t make the stairs up to their usual bedroom. Waddling into the bedroom, Vera tapped Isla on the shoulder.

“Isla?”

“Hmm?” Isla groaned, still asleep

“Wake up, honey.”

“Why?” Isla mumbled against the pillow. Before Vera could say anything, Isla sat up in bed and swung her legs off the side. “Are you in labor?”

“Well,” Vera grimaced, “not actively. But I am having contractions. Nothing consistent, but I think we need to get home.”

“Oh, you think, hmm?” Isla teased as she stood and put her hands on either side of Vera’s thirty-eight-week-pregnant belly. “I’m so telling Stacey it was your idea to come here, not mine.”

“Stacey doesn’t have to know.”

“Then you better keep your legs closed until we get to the hospital.”

Vera smirked. “Well, that’s the first time you’ve ever said those words to me.”

Thankfully, Vera's contractions remained manageable as they drove back home to the Cove. Mason had fallen asleep in the backseat, annoyed to have been woken up so early. In the front seat, Vera held onto Isla’s hand as they drove. Isla rubbed small circles on the back of Vera’s hand with her thumb.

“Oh, fuck,” Vera tried to keep her voice down so as to not wake Mason. She knew if she made a big deal about how much the contractions were really hurting it would scare Mason. That much had been evident the first time Mason had watched Vera have a Braxton-Hicks contraction.

“Keep breathing, baby. You’re doing so good.”

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