Page 80 of Honest Boys Don’t Play

Luke chokes on his breakfast sandwich.

“Oh, God.” I cover my face. “I feel like I practically did.”

“Who cares. All that matters is that this little one is here now.” Rosie traces her finger over the baby’s nose.

I’ve really got to figure out a name for him. Calling my son the baby is embarrassing. It’s going to be a blast explaining to him as he gets older that not only did I deliver him in the car, but we didn’t have a name yet either.

I’ve only eaten a few bites of my own sandwich when he starts to fuss with hunger. Sighing, I open my arms, “He’s always hungry, I swear.” Rosie passes him to me, and I quickly settle him against my breast. Rosie surprises me when she picks up the sandwich and holds it out so I can take a bite. I smile in appreciation after I’ve chewed and swallowed. “Thank you.”

“Mama’s gotta eat too.” She rubs my shoulder affectionately. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I was so scared.” I say it like a confession, but I think everyone in this room knows how terrified I was for this. “But I’m happy.”

I swear out of the corner of my eye I see Luke’s shoulders ease from their tensed position.

Rosie helps me finish eating and takes the baby from me once he’s fed and burps him, giving him some more snuggles before she reluctantly passes him to Daire.

Daire’s smile is blinding as he holds the baby. “I want like ten of these.”

Rosie sounds like she chokes on her own saliva. “You’ve got to stop saying that.”

He shrugs, still looking at the baby. “I like being a dad.”

She shakes her head and looks at me, mouthing, “Never. Not ten.”

I give a tired laugh in response.

They stay for another thirty or so minutes before they say their goodbyes and leave. Then it’s just the three of us again. It’s strange, this realization that I’m never going to be alone again. I’m always going to have this little person around.

Luke stands and goes over to his bag. He returns to my side and plops down a shoebox sized thing in front of me. I’m so taken by surprise that it takes me a moment to realize that it’s a miniature toy capsule machine.

“What is this?” I ask, nearly choking in surprise.

“How we’re going to pick the baby’s name. Seems appropriate, right?”

“This is insane but also the cutest thing ever.” Great, there I go crying again. My hormones are a wreck.

Luke’s eyes widen in worry. “Why are you crying? Was this a bad idea?”

“No.” I sniffle, wiping my nose on the back of the hand. “It’s perfect.”

He exhales a sigh of relief. “Good.” He pulls a coin out of his pocket and holds it out for me. “I wrote down all five names we narrowed it down to and since we couldn’t pick, I thought we’d let fate decide if you’re okay with that.”

Nodding, I take the offered coin from him. My heart begins to race slightly.

I slide it into the slot and turn. A ball comes bouncing out and Luke catches it before it can go across the room. He hands it to me. My breath catches as I grasp the plastic little ball.

I can’t believe he thought of this. It’s unconventional, but it seems like the perfect way to choose the name since we’re undecided.

Before I pop the lid off, he asks, “Are there any of the names you’ll be disappointed to find in there?”

I shake my head. “No, I like all of the ones we narrowed it down to.”

He nods. “All right, let’s see what it is.”

My heart races a little faster. Popping the plastic yellow lid off, I grab the folded piece of paper.

“Do you want to open it?” I ask him.