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,

Because I love it.

And we wait…

gasp at the same time as we feel

Happy!

say, laughing and sitting up as Roger snatches

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

we just named the

up all of our sandy clothes and the blanket and trooped back to the house, where we closed the doors and slept for hours and ignored the whole

up in 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,

elaborate dinner he made. Well, elaborate for Roger, who never learned to cook. But the spread of sandwiches and warmed soup and crackers he

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 when he was awake to see what he’d do. And honestly, the baby never did much, but it made us laugh to

of the day as we napped,

it was wonderful. But after the second day, we knew we had to get back – because as

this again, yes?” Roger murmurs, pulling me close outside the little bungalow after we’ve

laugh and let him kiss me, let it sweep through me.

another little peck, before looking around. “I really like this place. Maybe the owner will

hand on my stomach. “But, considering that this little guy is coming along? We’re going to

considering what the goddess said that night on the

break into a grin. “You’re thinking

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

little bit. ” You just make the babies, I’ll grow them, and carry them,

head for the car. ” Nah, I’m going to be a very involved dad. You’ll see. You’ll

door for

Roger asks, loading our tiny luggage into the trunk before

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 own kids and as many nieces

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