Page 84 of Finding Wonderland

“Wanna talk about it?

Picking up Mason’s hand, she placed it on her stomach where she could feel the baby kicking. She’s been active all day, not that Isla minded. Mason giggled.

“What does that feel like?”

“Amazing.” Isla thought for a moment. “You know when you’re on a roller coaster and your stomach does that drop feeling? Like that. But also like an alien is inside me.”

Mason giggled again.

“You know,” Isla played with Mason's hair with one hand while she covered Mason’s hand on her belly with the other, “it’s been twenty years since I was pregnant.”

“Are you gonna tell me a story about baby me?” Mason snuggled closer to Isla. “Cause you know they’re my favorite.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know that,” Isla teased. “You, my sweet Mason, were the most chill of my three babies I’ve carried. You would just find a spot and not move until you had the hiccups—which, by the way, you always had at the most inopportune time for me.”

“My bad,” Mason laughed.

“I will say, though, that your birth was much easier than Blake’s.”

“You’re welcome.”

Isla chuckled, pulling Mason closer to her. “When you were born, Blake called you an alien.”

When Blake’s name was mentioned, Isla felt Mason move her hand off her belly and around her waist instead. Isla held her close, knowing they were both missing Blake without having to say it out loud.

“So, I guess you could say I’ve just got a lot of emotions surrounding this pregnancy. Especially since it’ll be my last.”

Mason pulled back, looking at Isla. “You and Mama are done having kids?”

“After this one, I think so.” Isla shrugged. “We’d always talked about having two more, but then we got blessed with three more. The universe has been pretty damn good to me and your mama. All things considered.”

Isla had struggled for years to be happy in Blake’s absence. She felt by living her life she was forgetting Blake, but that was never the case. Blake was always on her mind. Especially as the baby inside her kicked her in the ribs.

“Ow,” Isla gasped, putting her hand where the kick was. “Now see, that was what Blake would do. She loved kicking my ribs.”

“I would never have done that, Mom.”

“No, you’re my perfect angel.” Isla kissed the top of her head. “I love you so much, Mason.”

“I love you more.”

“Oh, no, little Vera. We’re not starting that tonight.” Isla laughed, which made her need to pee. But there was no way she was interrupting her precious time with Mason.

Mason reached into the pocket of her sweatpants and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She handed it to Isla, who unfolded it. The list contained six names, and Isla read over them a few times to figure out what they were for.

“They’re baby names that I like,” Mason said with a smile. “I thought it might help you and Mama.”

“Thank you, honey.”

As Isla pulled Mason back into her embrace, she looked over the list again. She said the names in her head as she rested her hand on her stomach. When she got to one name, the baby kicked her ribs again.

Everleigh, Isla repeated again to herself. And the baby kicked again.

“Hmm,” Isla tried not to smile too widely, “I think I have a favorite on this list.”

Chapter 30

Vera

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