Chapter 8

"...We're working"

"We? You got tired from packing empty boxes."

"Okay, no need to get defensive...but he's a monster" she whispered.

"He is not a monster." She reprimanded sotto voce taking care of his stuff.

 Darby squirmed in the basket, she took a picture of him and saved it to her home screen, Sam slowly lifted her shoulders and mouthed "why?"

 They were staying off work to avoid spending the night at the store, just to be safe.

Sam shook her head and picked up Keira's laptop, wiping it dry, denied access.

"Keira, what's your password?"

"My birthday," She said with sarcasm.

"When's your birthday?"

Keira's eyes were reduced to slits at that but dictated her password to her. Sam made a thumbs up and logged in, browsing for accessories online, a news notification popped up.

She smiled at the picture of a yellow leather clutch, she cursed when she tapped on the notification instead and a man's picture kept hanging on her face, while the page loaded, her annoyance evaporated when she recognized him and gasped.

"Keira, come look at this"

"I hope it's not another unnecessary shipping fee because you owe me two hundred dollars for that machine you bought" She complained moving to her side leaning over to see what she was fussing about.

A squeal escaped behind them and she turned, giving him attention. His brownish eyes enlarged teething on his fist.

"Wook who's awake" She lifted him out of the basket and his legs stiffened, he made a 'cryface' and screeched, squirming, not sensing his mother.

"The Great Kraken awakens" Sam flipped the overheating laptop shut.

"Hold him"

"Ew, no, remember the last time he barfed on my favorite T-shirt?"

"You were shaking him too hard, let it go"

Sam groaned lifting her hands with an indifferent look, Keira passed him to her searching for his drinking bottle.

"I think he's hungry" she muttered and heard a fart noise.

Sam looked like she was about to throw up, he was heavier and the bottom of his onesie was sagging, he gurgled.

Keira shook some baby powder on him and spread it gently while he jerked and kicked, refusing to stay put.

"Wook who's a happy camper"

She cooed and sighed when she finally got him into a diaper.

Sam dumped his clothes in a clean laundry basket, passing her a navy blue cotton sweater and matching pants, Darby cried irritably trying to shrug out of them.

He cried for about an hour, resisting the spoonful of baby formula she put out, Keira's arms were hurting from carrying him for too long.

"... Little Baby pa ra pa pam pam..."

Darby's crying lessened, following the sound to Sam's direction, she sat back with headphones on, singing Little Drummer Boy. He wriggled till Keira granted him the freedom to crawl over to Sam.

She felt something tugging at the end of her jeans, staring down at the source, he giggled falling on his backside.

"I think he likes the singing"

Keira puffed and collapsed on a chair. Sam pulled up one ear.

"What?"

Darby squawked imitating her.

"...I played my drums for him pa ra pa pam pam..."

He giggled and she lifted him to her thighs, singing, he reached up to clutch the headphones.

Keira hit the snooze button later on and woke up.