All Chapters of WHERE LIGHT MEETS DARK: Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

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

The day has arrivedIf ever there was a day that demanded level heads and strategic action, it was this one. Vandaulf Carlston was aware of that. He'd studied the plan for labor day so many times that he could recite it in reverse in his sleep.Which is why, as Lily calmly stated she was in labor—between calculated mango drinks and slitted eyes—Vandaulf sprang into action like a hyper-caffeinated tornado."The bags!" he bellowed, sprinting up the stairs.Lily, grunting with another contraction, glanced to Brenna and Helena."Should I worry that he's bolting like the building's on fire?" she gritted, holding onto the bannister."Oh, absolutely," Brenna replied, lifting her pre-packed Emergency Grandma Bag. "He's in full disaster mode."Helena merely sipped her tea. "Let the man panic. He trained for this moment."From upstairs, thudding, crashing sounds—more like a closet vomiting baby gear, followed by Vandaulf's voice shouting, "Where is the organic birthing oil Helena insisted on?!"

Her voice was trembling with exhaustion, yet her heart pounded with something new and powerful. A love that rooted itself deeper than anything she'd ever known.By her side, Vandaulf smiled and was a bit euphoric himself, still wearing the hospital guest band on his wrist like a badge of honor."She blinked!" he cried out."She's a baby," Helena matter-of-factly replied from the armchair. "She's not winking at you, Romeo.""But it was directed at me," he protested, jabbing his finger toward his chest. "You noticed that, Brenna?"Brenna, seated beside Helena with a camera full of baby photos, nodded seriously. "Oh yes. The baby clearly inherited her father's drama gene.""See?" Vandaulf bragged. "We're in sync already."Lily bit back a laugh. "Then maybe she can teach you how to swaddle properly before we go.""I did swaddle her!""She unwrapped herself like Houdini in under three minutes.""That was an experiment," he defended. "She was experimenting with me. And I passed.""She pushe