When Constellations Form (Light in the Dark 4)

Was it crazy there for a while? Yes, but overall it wasn’t too bad.

Finn kicks his feet in his sleep and makes this adorable little purring sound.

I brush my finger over his chubby cheek. “You’re not so bad. I think I can do this whole mom thing.”

It’s definitely not easy, that’s for sure, but it doesn’t seem so bleak anymore.

I might also be riding high still from the fact that I had an easier time than Xander.

I thought for sure Mr. Perfect would do just fine and I’d be the one floundering with this whole babysitting thing.

Xander finishes his shower and changes into a pair of sweatpants. He doesn’t bother with a shirt—lucky me.

His phone rings and he answers quickly before it can wake Finn.

“Hello?” he whispers. “Yeah, they’re all sleeping. Yep, all of them. Uh-uh. Okay. See you in a few. They’ll be here in ten minutes. Should we try putting him in his car seat?”

I shake my head. “I think we should let them do it, they’re probably used to doing it and can do it without waking him.”

Xander nods in agreement. “That’s true.”

When Jensen and Katrina arrive, Xander lets them in. He comes back up with the carrier and Katrina behind him.

“Thank you so much for doing this,” she whispers, so not to disturb the sleeping baby. “I hope they were good.”

“They were great,” I answer, and Xander snorts which makes Katrina raise a brow.

“There was one incident … or two with Ryland.”

She laughs. “Those terrible twos truly are terrible,” she sighs. “What’d he do?”

“It wasn’t too bad. Just some screaming and he stripped naked. There might’ve also been a bathtub incident.”

She laughs, shaking her head. “That boy will be the end of me. Thank God, so far this one seems to be calm.”

She gently lifts Finn and places him in the car seat without waking him up.

“Thank you again, guys, this meant a lot.”

She buckles Finn into his seat and he lets out a small cry before stilling.

“I’ll carry him down for you,” Xander tells her. “This thing is heavy.”

“Thank you,” she tells him gratefully. He leaves and to me she says, “I’m busy with the kids a lot, I don’t like to leave them with other people, but if you’d ever like to come over for lunch I’d love that.”

I nod. “I’d actually like that. It’d be nice to have a mom my age to talk to.”

“Great.” She smiles. “I’ll give you my number.”

She points to my phone lying on the bed and I hand it over so she can put her number in.

“I sent myself a text so I’ll have yours. I better go now. The kids will be grumpy we woke them up.”

I wave goodbye and collapse on the bed, exhausted.

Xander joins me a few minutes later and we lay side by side, looking up at the ceiling.