State of Grace: A Moonflower Cove Romance

by Addison Clarke

  “What is that for?” Isla put a hand on her hip as she turned to face her wife.

  “It’s like looking in a mirror.” Vera gestured toward them as Isla and Blake looked at each other. Not only were they essentially dressed the same, but they were also standing the same way with their left foot crossed over their right leg and their hand on their hip. Blake’s cheeks reddened as she quickly uncrossed her legs and shifted her weight nervously from one foot to the other. “Isla, you’re off today, right?”

  “I am.”

  “Good.” Vera transferred the eggs onto two plates and handed one to each of them. “Eat up while it’s hot. Bacon will be ready in a minute.”

  “You’re the best, babe.” They sat at the counter side by side.

  “So, I’ll take the kids out today so you two can have some time together.”

  “Oh.” Isla nodded as she poked the eggs with her fork. There was hesitation in her voice that made Blake’s heart rate increase as she tried not to overthink it. “That will be good.”

  “I think so.” Taking the bacon out of the pan, Vera put two pieces on each of their plates. Blake smiled her thanks. Everything smelled so wonderful that Blake’s stomach growled loudly. Vera made herself a dish and stood across the counter from them to eat. “So…don’t you think you two should discuss what you want to do today?”

  “Um, we can.” Isla broke off a piece of her crispy bacon and popped it into her mouth. “We can go to Rock N Rolls for lunch; it’s a great little soup, salad, and sandwich shop.”

  “Mmm,” Vera pointed a fork at them while she chewed, “took her there yesterday.”

  “Ok, well, we can drive into Portland or go to one of the parks nearby. You know, we’re only a few hours away from Acadia if that’s something you’re interested in.”

  “I’m not a big nature person outside of the occasional run.”

  “Well, then.” Tapping her fingers on the counter, Isla looked to Vera as if begging for help. Blake hated that it felt like her mother was already out of ideas for what to do with her. If it were up to Blake, they’d grab a coffee somewhere and talk.

  Wait. It is up to me.

  “You know, I’d love to see more of the town if that’s ok with you.”

  “Absolutely.” Nodding, Isla looked from Blake to Vera then back at Blake with a relieved smile on her face. “The kids will be up soon, and then we can get ready and wander the town. And maybe Mason would be free too, although I’m not sure what her schedule is this weekend. Maybe we can all meet up for dinner later? That will give Vera a night off from cooking.”

  “Do you do all the cooking?” Blake laughed as she finished off her eggs.

  “Only if we want to eat.”

  “But you own a restaurant.” She playfully bumped her shoulder against Isla’s.

  “I do, but I also employ the best chef in the state.” Isla picked up her plate and scooped her leftover eggs onto Blake’s plate along with another piece of bacon. “Here, you need to eat. You barely ate your dinner last night.” She narrowed her eyes at Blake. “You don’t like seafood, do you?”

  “Not particularly.” Blake grimaced as she stuffed a forkful of eggs into her mouth.

  “Blake,” Vera whined, “you have to tell me if you don’t eat something.” She seemed panicked that she had made something her company didn’t like. “I would have made you anything you wanted. I hope you know that.”

  “I do, but I didn’t want to be a bother.”

  “Nonsense,” she waved a dismissive hand at her. “You’re not a bother. You’re family.”

  “Although the two can go hand in hand.” Isla winked at Vera, who rolled her eyes in response. She rested her hand on Blake’s shoulder. “Thank you for breakfast, love. I’m going to take a shower. We can head out whenever you’re ready, Blake.”

  “Ok.” Blake finished her breakfast quickly and picked up her empty plate, but Vera held out her hand for it.

  “Guests don’t do dishes.”

  “I thought I was family.”

  “Shut up and give me your plate.”

  Handing her plate to Vera, Blake surprised both of them by giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before retreating to her room. Blake changed into jeans and yet another concert tee as she made a mental note to either invest in new clothes or have Salem send her some from her wardrobe at home. Clearly, Blake’s haphazard packing had resulted in nothing but jeans and concert tees.

  Blake had managed to pack a pair of Asics, though, and she laced the sneakers up on her feet. Opening the bedroom door, Holly greeted her by rubbing her silky fur along Blake’s legs in an attempt to receive pats, which Blake willingly gave her. She knelt to the retriever’s level as the dog covered her face in sloppy wet kisses.

  “Good morning to you too. Have you been for your walk yet?” At the w-word, Holly’s ears perked up as she trotted over to the back door and looked back at her. Blake followed her and snapped the red leash onto her collar before opening the backdoor. Growing up, Blake had never owned any pets, but if Holly was any indication, she’d missed out on a lot there as well.

  Heading out into the early morning light, Blake took in the serenity that the farm offered. A gentle breeze blew through the trees, creating a soft rustling sound as they walked along the worn dirt path. Smells of honeysuckles and fresh-cut grass mingled together to create a fragrance that instantly made Blake calm. Holly pranced back and forth from one side of the path to the other as she investigated each stick and leaf in her way.

  “I see you’ve found a walking buddy.” Isla’s voice startled her, and Blake felt as if she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t have been. Whirling around quickly, Blake was nearly tangled in the leash as Holly ran toward Isla. “It’s ok that you took her. She loves her walks.”

  “I can see why.” Blake nodded around the farm. “It’s gorgeous out here.”

  “It’s home.” They walked side by side a few feet down the path before Isla spoke again. “So, I wanted to say something before we start our day of bonding. Vera’s words,” Isla laughed as she held up her hands, “not mine.”

  “I was about to say.”

  “But seriously, Blake.” Coming to a stop, Isla waited for Blake to stop walking and turn toward her before she finished her thought. “I wanted to tell you that I am glad you are here. I’m so glad that you are home. I know you didn’t grow up here, but I would like you to see this as your home now. If you want.”

  Blake nodded, unable to say anything at that moment.

  “And I want you to know that if at any time today you are overwhelmed or want to come back here and chill out, I need you to know that’s ok.” Isla nodded as Blake did the same. “I want to introduce you to my friends around town, but I want you to know it’s because you are my daughter. Not because you’re an actress or anything like that.”

  “I get it.” Waving a hand at Isla, Blake smiled to let her know she understood. “Besides, I wouldn’t think Moonflower Cove would be a place where a mass of fans would ever gather to meet me anyway.”

  “Oh, you’d be surprised,” Isla said with a laugh. “There are many people in town who watch the show, but there are only a handful of people who know you are my daughter. Of course, most of those figured it out based on our resemblance and not from me telling them. Not that I am ashamed you are my daughter.” She quickly tried to backtrack. “I’m proud of you, Blake.”

  Blake put a gentle hand on Isla’s shoulder as she smiled at her.

  “I know, Mom.”

  Excitement and relief played out on Isla’s face like a movie screen. Blake hadn’t called her ‘mom’ since she’d been back in town. She’d avoided calling her anything because she wasn’t sure what to call her.

  “It’s been so long since I’ve heard you call me ‘mom.’”

  “It felt good to say.”

  “It felt good to hear.”

  “And Mom?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I’m excited about meeting
your friends.”

  They walked farther down the path without another word as Holly picked up a stick and trotted over to them with it. Isla pried it from her mouth, unclipped her from her leash, and sent the stick flying through the air. In a flurry, Holly took off after it and brought it back to them. For a few minutes, the game went on as Blake enjoyed a simple Saturday morning with her mom on the farm. Blake had made the right decision to come to Moonflower Cove.

  Chapter 6

  A sliver of light came in through the slit in the aqua blackout curtains that Alexis had installed in her bedroom. They’d been one of the most significant investments she’d ever made, and the lazy days when she could lay in bed and enjoy them were the best. Beside her in bed, Harper stirred before moving her body closer to Alexis’s. She yawned, and Alexis knew she was on the verge of waking up, but she soaked in the moment. Alexis was beyond thankful that Harper was such a snuggle bug; she loved their cuddles more than anything.

  Turning her body toward Harper ever so slightly so as to not wake her up, Alexis gently ran her hand through Harper’s strawberry blonde hair as her fingers brushed over her cheeks. Her daughter was perfect. Alexis knew that every parent thought that, but she knew, in her case, it was the absolute truth. Harper had saved Alex from herself; she’d made her realize there was a life to be lived outside of the darkness Alexis had lived in before Harper came into her life.

  A darkness that Alexis most likely would have succumbed to had it not been for Harper.

  “Morning, baby.” Alexis kissed her forehead as Harper blinked her brown eyes open.

  “Mornin’, Mommy.” Cuddling closer into Alexis’s embrace, Harper appeared to be falling back asleep before she bolted up onto her knees like a rocket. “Mommy, can we work on my LEGO set today?”

  “Umm, absolutely.” Alexis matched her enthusiasm as she wrapped her arms around Harper and pulled her onto her chest. She covered her face and head with kisses and Harper giggled, all the while Alexis begged her brain to forever remember the sweet sound. “Go change out of your pajamas, and we’ll get started.”

  “Can we have toast for breakfast?”

  “Yeah, but you have to eat it at the kitchen counter.” She playfully patted Harper on the behind. “Mommy is not cleaning out breadcrumbs from the Death Star again.”

  As Harper ran across the hall to her bedroom, Alexis pulled herself out of bed and opened the curtains. The morning sun shone right into her bedroom window, making the fact that Alexis felt like a vampire somedays all the more ironic. There were some days when she saw more of the glow of the neon signs at the bar than the warming glow of the sun.

  She was blessed to move into the apartment after her mother kicked her out when she told her about Harper. Sophia had used the space for storage but enlisted their contractor friend August to clear it out and make it into a habitable space for Alexis and her new baby. Both she and Harper had grown up in their apartment, and she wouldn’t have had it any other way.

  The view outside her windows was stunningly breathtaking. From her bedroom and the living room, she could see the entire town square out one way, and out the other way was the Atlantic Ocean. She’d set up a reading nook in the living room for her and Harper that offered the best view with its large bay window which gave them a bird’s eye view of the town square. Most nights, they curled up on the oversized chair Sophia had purchased for her when she was pregnant with Harper and read books or watched TV or played games until they couldn’t keep their eyes open anymore.

  Alexis pulled herself away from the town square view with its budding trees and stepped into her small closet. She discarded the basketball shorts and t-shirt she typically wore to bed and exchanged them for a tie-dyed pair of yoga pants, a matching sports bra, and a Star Wars tee. She quickly ran her hand through her dirty blonde hair to finish her typical Saturday at home look.

  Down the hall, Alexis heard the all too familiar sound of LEGOs scattering on the hardwood floor; she took a deep breath and smiled.

  “Sorry,” Harper’s voice was soft but held the hint of playfulness. Alexis ran down the hallway to find her daughter innocently standing surrounded by more LEGOs than she wanted to think about that early in the morning. She’d told her numerous times not to open the bags to the LEGO set without her help, but Harper was too strong-headed and stubborn. Like mother, like daughter.

  “It’s ok, baby.” Alexis got down on her knees and started to clean up the pieces and put them on the large coffee table she’d bought explicitly because its large size gave them ample space to build LEGOs. Harper had gotten her love of the building sets honestly from Alexis. Still, Alexis’s friend Maddie Carlson had purchased more sets for Harper every few months, to the point that Alexis’s apartment was covered with about as many LEGOs as there were pictures of Harper.

  The newest addition to the collection was the Death Star from Star Wars. Not only was it the most extensive set they’d ever worked on, but it was also the most expensive one. Alexis had nearly had a cow when Maddie had shown up to Harper’s birthday party with the massive set a few weeks earlier. She’d tried to get Maddie to at least let her pay for half of it, but Maddie wouldn’t hear any of it. Not for the first time in the last five years, Alexis thanked her lucky stars for her friends.

  “Ok,” Alexis ran her hand over the rug once more to check for straggling pieces, “how about you work on sorting these out while I go make breakfast?”

  With a nod, Harper kneeled in front of the coffee table and went to work sorting out each piece by shape, size, and color. Alexis never saw more of herself in Harper than in those moments hunched over the coffee table with building bricks in small piles that were perfectly organized.

  “Shit.” Mumbling under her breath, Alexis frantically opened and closed cabinets all over the kitchen for the bread she knew she’d purchased when she was at the store earlier in the week. When the search came up empty, she put a hand on her hip and turned to Harper. “Harp, did Nonna make you a grilled cheese last night?”

  “Yup.”

  “Figures,” she mumbled as she took her bag off the peg by the door and slipped on her favorite pair of Chaco sandals. “Ok, Little Miss, change of plans. Let’s go run down to the store and get some bread.”

  “Mommy, no,” Harper whined as she looked at Alexis with her sad, puppy dog eyes. “I wanna build my LEGOs, not go to the store.”

  “Well, let me see if Nonna or Emily are up to watching you for a few minutes.” Walking across the small foyer, Alexis slowly opened the door to the other apartment. Emily was on the couch drinking coffee as a Disney movie played softly on the large TV. She turned toward Alexis with a smile.

  “Hey, Lex. Come on in.”

  “I’d love to, but I need to run down to the store to get some bread, and Harper’s more interested in her LEGOs than bread.”

  “Thank Maddie.”

  “Exactly.” They laughed. “Is it ok if I leave the door open and you listen for her? I’m sure she’ll be fine, but if you could, I would appreciate it.”

  “No worries; I’ll go over there and hang with her for a few.” Emily paused the TV and carried her mug over to the door. She walked past Alexis and into the other apartment before sitting down on the couch near Harper. Harper acknowledged her with a goofy grin before turning back to her LEGOs. “Go on; we’ll be fine here.”

  “I’ll be right back.” Waving a quick hand, Alexis headed down the stairs that led out to the street. Thanks to Sophia’s security system for the place, they often left the doors to their apartments open, but they never, under any circumstances, left the entrance to the outside unlocked. There were three locks on it: the regular lock, a deadbolt, and an automated deadbolt. All three were locked when they were all inside, but when one left, only the motorized deadbolt locked behind them, which was what Alexis did as she stepped out into the Maine sun. Her eyes blinked rapidly to adjust to the increase in light, and as she turned on her heels toward the store, she ran right into someone.
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  “Oh, my gosh, I am so…Isla.”

  “No, I’m Isla.” The brunette laughed as she helped Alexis steady her balance from colliding with her. “Where are you going in such a rush? You’re not late for work for another,” she glanced at her watch, “thirty-six hours.”

  “Very funny.”

  It was then Alexis noticed that Blake was standing behind Isla with a bemused look on her face. Blake looked even more gorgeous in the sunlight than she’d been the last two times Alexis had seen her in person. Her long, dark brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she wore the same baseball cap over it as she had before. It was probably to go incognito, but the dark wash jeans and Fleetwood Mac t-shirt did little to hide Blake’s natural beauty. Looking at her now, she looked more like Isla than Alexis had ever noticed before.

  “Anyway,” Alexis tousled her hair nervously as she bit her lip, “I was on my way to the store for bread to make toast for breakfast.”

  “Please tell me you’re feeding that little girl more than toast.”

  “Oh yeah, the nachos, hot dogs, and frozen yogurt are for later.”

  “Hey,” Isla snapped her fingers, “what are you two doing for dinner tonight?” She didn’t give her time to answer. “We’re all going to get pizza tonight if you two want to join us. It’s going to be us, Vera, and the kids.”

  “Oh, I, um,” Alexis wished any excuse would come to her mind but instead, she shocked herself by saying, “yeah, sure. That’d be fun.” Nervously, she twirled the ends of her hair around her finger as she looked at Blake. “I’m sure my daughter would love to meet you.”

  Alexis didn’t let her brain linger on the fact she’d filtered out saying Harper’s name out loud to Blake out of fear she’d think it was weird Alexis had named her after a character on her show. There were always two kinds of people when Alexis told people that information: those that loved it and those that thought she was a psycho-obsessed fan. She didn’t know Blake well enough to know which camp she’d fall into yet.