Semua Bab WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK: Bab 131 - Bab 136

Brenna hardly even glanced up from her seat when she casually stuck a chocolate-covered strawberry in her mouth. "The only thing the universe is speaking to me right now is that your hat has a shape like a flamingo exploded on your head."Helena grinned. "That's not flamingo, darling. That's victory."Lily, laughing from where she was sitting on the grass beside Vandaulf, watched the two grandmothers, patting her bump with a relaxed hand. "Do we tell them they're both daft or just let them duke it out until dessert?"Vandaulf reclined on his elbows, admiring his wife, utterly entranced. "Let them. It prevents energy from entering baby name debates. We dodged a bullet with 'Gwendolyn Petunia' and 'Daffodil The Third.'"Lily flinched. "The Third? Of what dynasty?Helena, now theatrically waving a napkin embroidered with the words Team Baby Boss, turned to them with a glint in her eye. "So. Now we've got the gender problem out of the way, now we must get down to brass tacks."Brenna shot

“Perfect,” the woman said, clapping. “You’re in the pink cloud section. Right this way!”“Pink cloud section,” Vandaulf repeated flatly. “Sounds like a cult.”Lily leaned into him. “You’re in too deep now, snack knight. Embrace the glitter.”"This one has Bluetooth," Lily said, nodding to a spaceship-looking, really modern stroller."Bluetooth? To play for what—streaming lullabies or ordering an Uber when I freak out during diapering?""Maybe both," Lily replied matter-of-factly.The saleswoman suddenly reappeared. "This model can count steps, monitor the temperature of the baby, and change its angle if she's cranky."Vandaulf scrunched up his eyes. "It's smarter than me.""Most everything is," Lily joked.He put a hand on her abdomen. "What do you think, Raspberry? Do you want the stroller with the inbuilt navigation system or the one that has a cupholder for mommy's rescue smoothies?"Lily giggled. "I believe she would like the pink one with flamingos."They purchased the flamingo s

Later that afternoon, they ventured out for more baby shopping. A sleek boutique downtown caught Lily’s eye—it had neutral tones, handmade mobiles, and employees who looked like they did prenatal yoga in candlelit caves.The moment they walked in, a sales assistant greeted them with the hushed reverence usually reserved for art museums. “Welcome. You’re glowing.”Vandaulf grinned at Lily. “Told you. You’re the queen.”“Would Her Majesty like to test out our all-terrain, collapsible stroller with cupholders and Bluetooth speakers?” the assistant asked, gesturing like she was presenting the Holy Grail.“Yes, she would,” Lily said, then pointed at Vandaulf. “He’s the royal stroller pusher.”“I prefer ‘Sir Push-a-Lot.’”“You’ll regret that nickname.”He tested the stroller, furrowing his brow as he pushed it in a circle. “This thing turns better than my car.”You mean the sports car you wept about trading in for a dad-mobile?""I didn't weep. I whimpered stoically."By mid-afternoon, they