#Chapter 428 – Names

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.

Roger passes another name down the

Because I love it.

And we wait…

and I gasp at the same time as we feel

Happy!

as Roger

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

just

sandy clothes and the blanket and

we could eat something, and Roger went to get it while I curled

elaborate dinner he made. Well, elaborate for Roger, who never learned to

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 blurred in with everything else we did, a usual part of the day as we napped, and

to get back – because as much as we like each

do this again, yes?” Roger murmurs, pulling me close outside the

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

peck, before looking around. “I really like this place. Maybe the owner will let us buy it,” Roger murmurs,

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

considering what

into a grin. “You’re thinking

I’m going to

I say, laughing and rolling my eyes, shoving him away a little bit. ” You just make the babies, I’ll grow them,

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

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

tiny luggage into the

door behind me as Roger climbs into his seat. “Ella, loaded up with four of her own kids and as many nieces and nephews as

a deal,” he says, half serious and grinning at me as he buckles his belt and

say, smiling down at him and stroking my belly fondly. “We’re lucky. We’ve got a

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