Cora

Matthew? Roger tries, passing the name down the line to the baby and I grip his hand, and we both wait…

But nothing.

“The baby doesn’t like the name Matthew,” I whisper, laughing a little. “Well, it was just a starter,” Roger murmurs, grinning at me again. “You try one.”

“All right,” I say, leaning my head back and taking a deep breath. And then I pass a name down, trying… Oliver.

“Oliver!?” Roger bursts out in disgust and I gasp, glaring at him.

“You are biasing our son!” I accuse, sitting up to smack him. “I said nothing when you said stupid Matthew!”

“Matty is a cute name “he protests, laughing and blocking my blow. “Oliver is the name of a sickly Victorian child who wants more gruel -”

I growl and lay back, taking a deep breath and gathering myself. “Well, let’s see what the baby thinks,” I murmur, sending Roger another glare. And then I try again, whispering Oliver? down the bond. But nothing comes back.

“Good baby,” Roger murmurs, kissing my stomach again and making me laugh. “Don’t let her call you that. It’s terrible.”

“Okay okay,” I say, taking a deep breath. “Let’s try one more.”

“I’ll pick it?” Roger asks.

“Sure,” I reply, relaxing. “But this time, pick one you really, really like. One that you’d actually want him to be called – your favorite.”

“Okay,” he murmurs.

then Roger passes another name down the bond, and

Because I love it.

And we wait…

gasp at the same time

Happy!

up as Roger snatches me

thrilled. Laughing, elated, I take his face in my

just

up, and then we gathered up all of our sandy clothes and the

early afternoon to the owner of the bungalow tapping on the door, bringing us a basket of food so we could eat something, and Roger went to get it while I curled further up in bed, deciding that I was

come and sit with him on the couch for the elaborate dinner he made. Well, elaborate for Roger, who never learned to cook. But the

more days like that, surviving on whatever the landlord brought us every day in baskets and otherwise laying in bed talking, making each other laugh, sending messages to the baby

in with everything else we did, a usual part of the day as we napped, and went swim and laid out in the sun. The entire time it was just…so natural, and

wonderful. But after the second day, we knew we had to get back – because as much as we like each other, we

outside the little

it

really like this place. Maybe the owner will let us buy it,” Roger murmurs, looking fondly at the

sweet, baby,” I sigh, but then I put a hand on my stomach. “But,

what the goddess said that

break into a grin.

he nods, eager. “And I’m going to enjoy

I say, laughing and rolling my eyes, shoving him away a little bit. ” You

Nah, I’m going to be a very involved dad. You’ll

on my toes to kiss his cheek as he opens my car door for me. “Or, we can just pass them all

luggage into the trunk

“Ella, loaded up with four of her own kids and as many nieces and nephews as we can

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