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I smiled down at Ivy. “Yeah, it is.”
“Oh, well, will you look at you? Totally at ease with the miracle of childbirth now. You were pretty green a little bit ago. White as a sheet.”
“Like you noticed.” I stepped forward to look at the tightly wrapped baby. A shock of dark hair whorled around the front of his head. “Wow. That’s a lot of hair.”
“I know, right? Takes after his da, right, little man?” Ian nuzzled the baby’s cheek. The baby let out a squall. Ian sighed. “He keeps doing that.”
Ivy crowded in next to me. “Babies cry. Don’t they?” Her voice was gentle and easy with almost a song-like quality to it. The baby settled and tried to drag her finger into his mouth. “Hungry little—what’s his name?” She peered up at Ian.
“Elvis.” Ian’s smile was wide and proud.
“Pardon?”
“It took some doing, but Zoe finally capitulated. I mean, how can he not have such a rock and roll name, right? Especially with this pompadour.”
“You named your child Elvis?” I slowed my words to make sure I had that right.
“Yeah.” Ian’s eyebrows waggled. “It’s perfect.”
I looked down at the little bundle of pink in the muslin blan
kets. “Of course it is.”
“Right? Simon is still making fun of me, but he’s coming around.” Ian swayed back and forth in that way people had when they held a baby. The baby started to fuss then Ian sighed. “Come on, come see the one who created this little miracle.”
We followed him back into the barn and Zoe was now settled into an oversized leather chair with a huge sandwich half eaten in front of her. “Have you finally brought my child back to me?”
“I was showing him off.”
“As if you did any of the work.” She pushed the small table to the side and held her hands out.
“He’s beautiful, guys.” Ivy was smiling as she gripped my hand tightly.
“Yes, utterly perfect. The name though.”
Zoe sighed. “I tried to fight him on it, but the hair.”
“You do know Elvis was a blond.”
She laughed and smoothed the baby’s hair back. “I know, but the hair really cinched it. Even I couldn’t deny this idiot his request.”
“The baby will hate you.”
Zoe grinned up at me. “I know. Isn’t it great?”
“You two are very odd.”
Ian laid a gentle hand on Zoe’s shoulder. “Yeah, we know. But we’re never boring.”
I couldn’t fault them there. “That’s the truth.” I cleared my throat at Ivy’s sudden death grip. Right, being a best friend. I cleared my throat. “Thanks for letting me be a little part of this.”
Ian came around and hugged me hard. “Of course. You helped me so much.”
“I didn’t do a damn thing.” But I hugged him back.
He eased back and slapped me in the arm. “It’s called moral support.”
“Right.” I guess that was exactly what it was. “Just so you know, I’ll need it in return.”
