Page 126 of Perfect Playbook

Shay quickly pulls back, looking for Nino, and crouches. “What do you think? Can you handle being a big brother?”

Rio puts his hand on his nephew’s shoulder. “I’ll teach you everything I know.”

Enzo, constantly reminded he’s younger by five minutes, refrains from correcting him this time.

Nino is beaming. We didn’t leave it until now to talk about having a sibling with him. I already know he wants this, too.

He pushes his glasses up his nose. “Can I name her?”

Shay and I glance at each other, scanning each other’s gazes for the consequences of saying yes. Nino has an eclectic vocabulary, andCayenneis the least of it. We could end up with a daughter called Pythagoras or Khartoum, his newest favorite capital city name.

Finally, Shay offers up some of that diplomacyshe’s so good at. “Maybe you could. What kind of name did you have in mind?”

“Carmen.”

The room goes still. Shay’s lips drop open with this unexpected answer, and I imagine her heart swells instantly with a sense of longing for her mother. It’s sad my father won’t ever meet my son, my wife, and my soon-to-be daughter. Shay carried one child and now carries another without the support of her mom. Maybe she’s not thinking about these things. But I am.

I dart my gaze to Luis; he wears one of those smiles where the lips turn down instead of up, but I catch sight of a glimmer of hope we actually say yes.

I bend down next to Shay and take Nino’s hand in mine. “I can’t think of a more beautiful name.”

Shay glances up at her dad, and I know in her gaze is an ask for approval. He nods, subtly.

My wife puts her hands on her belly and speaks to our unborn daughter. “Baby Carmen, you better put your chaps on, because with these men, you’re in for a wild ride.”