“Do y’all have a name for baby boy?” Dr. Mitchell asks.
Charley peers up at me, her blue eyes wet and red-rimmed, before she shifts her gaze to the doctor. “Baker,” she says softly. “Baker Thomas Astor.”
My throat tightens as I scratch my hand along my jaw, a fresh wave of tears blurring my vision.
“That’s beautiful,” she says. “Is there any significance there?”
“Baker is my dad’s middle name, and Thomas is mine,” I reply, my voice rough as my eyes find Charley’s. When we discussed baby names, we had two picked out for each, and I told Charley she could choose whichever one she felt fit the baby once we met them. I knew Baker was an option, but I didn’t know if that would be the one she picked. Tear-soaked eyes cast downward as I rub our son’s cheek with the back of my thumb. “You hear that, Baker? You’re named after your grandpa and your daddy.”
Grace:We just got here. Is it okay to come up?
Me: Yeah, she just finished feeding him.
“They’re here,” I say, shoving my phone back in my pocket.
“I’m so excited for her to meet him.” Charley’s eyes are already glistening with more unshed tears. It’s been a few hours since Baker was born, and we’ve both been antsy for Ellie Mae to come here and meet her new baby brother. “You think she’ll be excited too?”
“Oh, absolutely.” I chuckle. “I’m gonna meet them in the hall so I can bring her in.”
Smiling, Charley nods.
In the hall, my sisters exit the elevator, Grace holding my daughter. Once Ellie Mae spots me, Grace sets her down, and she runs to me. “Daddy!”
Scooping her in my arms, I give her a tight hug and kiss her on the cheek. “Hi, baby. Your brother was born. Do you want to meet him?”
“Yeah, please!”
One by one, my sisters hug me before we walk into the room. Charley’s gaze lifts from Baker to us, and as soon as she sees Ellie Mae, she loses it. Tears stream down her face as we approach. Her smile’s so wide, it causes her eyes to squint, and a choked sob escapes her throat.
“Hi, sweet girl, you wanna sit beside your brother?”
Ellie Mae nods, giggling as I set her down between Charley’s legs. Her curious gaze flits all over his face, and she places a gentle hand on the blanket swaddling him, which causes Charley to sob harder.
“You guys,” Georgia murmurs. “He’s so precious.”
“And so little,” Gemma squeals. “It’s only been a few years, but my gosh, I forgot how small they are.”
“Can I hold him?” Grace asks, her eyes misty and her voice soft.
“Of course, you can,” Charley says, handing him off to my sister. Glancing at Ellie Mae, she asks, “Wanna sit in my lap, pretty girl?”
“Gentle, though, baby,” I tell her gently. “She’s sore so we gotta be careful.”
Ellie Mae nods, her face turning serious as she whispers, “I be careful.”
My breath catches in my throat, watching my daughter wrap her arms around Charley’s neck and snuggle against her chest.
“What’s his name?” Grace asks, keeping her voice quiet.
A smile tugs on the corner of my mouth, pride swelling in my chest as I say, “Baker.”
My sister’s bottom lip pokes out as a tear spills over. “Stop, that’s adorable. Does Dad know yet?”
I shake my head. “Y’all are the first ones to come here. We wanted Ellie Mae to meet her brother before everyone else.”
“He’s gonna cry when he finds out,” Georgia says.
Charley chuckles. “I can’t picture your dad crying.”
