“They’re worth it, though. They are worth it, right?”
For some reason, this made us both burst into laughter. And then we had to hush each other so we wouldn’t wake the kids.
“We’re losing our minds.” Callie gasped, trying to stifle the hysteria.
“Just a bit.”
“Why is it so hard? I mean, Harley was hard, but it was manageable hard. Two of them … it’s like they’ve quadrupled on us. Like gremlins when you pour water on them.”
I snorted. “What’s with the gremlin analogies?”
“Is that an anal … an anal?—”
“Are you sayinganal?”
Now she snorted. “No anal … ahnahlogy. Analogy. Couldn’t get that out. You’re not getting anal, by the way.”
Lips trembling with amusement at her tired nonsense, I replied, “I don’t remember asking. Though at least I wouldn’t get you pregnant.”
“True. We can do anal. When I’m not tired. Which could be awhile. Though I suppose I wouldn’t have to do much, so have at it.”
“As sexy as that offer was, I’ll pass. Mostly because I’m too fucking tired to fuck any part of you.” I stared at the ceiling in horror. “What have we become?”
Callie laugh-groaned again and patted my stomach. “Sleep. It’ll all seem better in the morning.”
I cuddled her closer. “I love you. I love our children, too, by the way.”
“Love you and love them and love sleep,” Callie mumbled.
My eyes closed and I was out like a light.
An hour later,Xander woke us again.
The next morningI called Sloane. She was always offering to help, and I knew Callie didn’t want to take her up on it just yet, but we were done. We were both zombies.
I pretended to get ready for work as usual, all the while trying to help Callie change and feed Harley and Xander. About tenminutes before I’d usually leave for work, we heard the vehicle pull up outside.
Callie looked up from putting Harley’s shoes on. Xander was in his high chair, slapping his hands against the tray that usually contained his food and thankfully no longer did. “Who could that be?”
“It’s your mum.”
“My mum? Why?”
“I called her.”
My wife’s face fell. “Lewis, you didn’t.”
“Granny!” Harley jumped to her feet from her little stool. “Granny’s ’ere!”
“No arguments,” I told Callie as I strode downstairs to open the door. Relief thrummed through me at the sight of my sunny mother-in-law on the other side.
“Gran is here to save the day.” Sloane swooped in, rushing past me with an energy I envied as she took the stairs two at a time.
“Granny!” I heard Harley scream.
As I came upstairs, Harley was jumping up and down at her granny’s feet, showing off her teeth in a delighted grimace.
“Is that a new dance?” Sloane asked, jumping up and down with her.
