Page 77 of Finding Wonderland

“I wish all of our kids were here.”

“Me, too. And they will one day. I truly believe that.”

Isla nodded. She believed Vera; she had to in order to stay sane. The idea of never seeing Blake outside a TV screen was too much for Isla to bear.

“You know, I keep thinking we’ve never had a sixteen-year-old before. But we have. We just didn’t get to spend it with her. I’m sorry.” Isla pulled back slightly and wiped her tears away, “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry today.”

“You can always cry when you need to. You don’t have to be strong for me or Mason or anyone. We know today is hard for you. And if you need some time to yourself today to process, we will understand that too.”

“Thanks.” She tried to smile. “But I really want to enjoy today for Mason.”

“Then let’s get this party started.”

And that’s what they did.

After getting the projector fixed, they went to work ordering pizzas and getting drinks and snacks set up in the kitchen. One by one Mason’s friends arrived and congregated in the living room. Ellie and Brayden were in the middle of them all, as usual, but none of them seemed to mind their presence.

From the kitchen, Isla noticed Maddie and Walker getting a little too cozy on the couch and she elbowed Vera to get her attention.

“Should we break that up?”

“I don’t think so?” Vera chuckled. “I mean, it’s not our kid canoodling with someone on the couch.”

“Not now,” Isla picked up her wine glass and took a sip. “She still doesn’t know I caught her and that softball player making out behind the school the other day.”

“I’m never telling her we know that.”

“Nope.” As they went back to dumping bags of chips into multi-colored plastic bowls, Isla smiled to herself. “You know what I just thought about?”

“That we don’t have a single vegetable here?”

“Who needs veggies?”

“Don’t say that to a doctor.” Vera arched an eyebrow at her. “What were you thinking?”

“How we have the safe house. Maddie and Walker don’t have to worry about being seen together here. Mason doesn’t have to come out to us. They can love who they want and that’s okay. I never had that growing up.”

“Me either. But I’m glad our kids have it. All of them.”

Even though Mason’s friends all had families, Isla and Vera still saw them all as their kids. She hoped that as the girls grew older, they would realize their house was a safe space to come to if they ever needed it. They wanted to be the place they never had, and obviously they were becoming just that.

“Mommy?” Ellie tugged on Isla’s pants. “Have milk?”

“Of course, Ellie.”

Opening the fridge, Isla retrieved the sippy cup and handed it to Ellie. As she often did as nap time drew closer, she held up her arms for Isla to hold her. She rested her head on Isla’s shoulder as she used her free hand to twirl Isla’s hair around her finger. It was something both Mason and Blake had done when they were that age, and it melted Isla’s heart each time Ellie did it.

“I’m going to take her upstairs,” Isla whispered as she kissed Vera quickly on the cheek. They had planned the party to start around Ellie and Brayden’s nap time to give the girls the chance to enjoy their party to the fullest.

Ellie and Brayden still shared a room as it was easier for Isla and Vera that way. There were two of everything in the room it seemed and Isla chose the rocking chair she usually sat in. Ellie snuggled up against her chest, still twirling her hair.

“Mommy loves you, Ellie.”

“Love Mommy,” she said back with a yawn. She dropped her sippy cup, which Isla quickly grabbed. But it didn’t matter. Ellie was already out.

Isla rocked her longer than usual but she simply couldn’t put her in the crib. Not when Ellie was so warm and snuggly. Of the twins, Ellie was the most affectionate. While Brayden liked to be held before bedtime, he didn’t like it any other time. But Ellie was her mommies’ girl.

The door to the nursery slowly opened as Mason stepped into the room with Brayden asleep on her shoulder. She smiled at Isla as she walked over to Brayden’s bed and laid him down. Mason ran her hands over his chubby cheeks before kissing her fingers then touching his forehead.

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