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.

passes another name down the bond, and

Because I love it.

And we wait…

I gasp at the same time as we feel

Happy!

say, laughing and sitting up as Roger snatches me to him, pulling me fast

-” he stares at me, thrilled. Laughing, elated, I take his face in my hands and kiss

we just named

beach almost until the sun came up, and then we gathered up all of our sandy clothes and the blanket and trooped back to the house, where

food so we could eat something, and Roger went

bed, instead insisting that I 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 spread of sandwiches and warmed soup and

in bed talking, making each other laugh, sending messages to the baby when he was awake to see what he’d do. And

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 so easy. Just Roger and I simply

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

outside the little bungalow after

me, let it sweep through me. “Maybe not

place. Maybe the owner will let us buy

sigh, but then I put a hand on my stomach. “But, considering that this little guy is coming

eyebrows raising. “And considering what the goddess said that night on the

break into a grin.

more,” he nods, eager. “And I’m going to enjoy the process very much, Cora –

rolling my eyes, shoving him away a little bit. ” You just make the babies,

around my shoulder as we head for the car. ” Nah, I’m going to be a very involved

door for me. “Or, we can just

that?” Roger asks, loading our tiny luggage into the trunk before crossing

say, rolling my eyes and sitting down in the car, closing my door behind me as Roger climbs into his seat. “Ella, loaded up with four of her

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