It’s been quite the controversy according to Bella. Both sets of parents wanted to weigh in, and none of them agreed. Bella’s parents want a timeless or biblical name and Lennon’s want something unique and modern.
“Eight pounds, six ounces, twenty-one inches long. Mom is doing great. They didn’t have time for an epidural, so she’s really sore right now, but you should have seen her face when they handed her our son. I don’t think she’s ever looked so happy in her life. Well, except when I proposed. That was a special moment.”
“What!” My voice cuts through Lennon’s montage, and the room falls silent waiting for him to answer.
“Oh, did we forget to mention we’re sort of engaged. Yeah. I asked her like two months ago, but the ring wouldn’t fit on her swollen finger, so she told me no. She wants me to ask her again when she’s not, and I quote, huge and pregnant.”
Jace chuckles next to me. I mean, it’s funny she said no when we’re all very aware that she would marry him in a heartbeat. Still, she could have mentioned it to someone.
Maybe her best friend? Me!
“Stop stalling, damn it,” Lennon’s father says, his voice booming. “Your mother is cutting off the circulation in my fingers. Tell us his name.”
Lennon’s smile widens as he says, “Remington Michael. We’re going to call him Remy for short.”
I love it. And they found a way to please both sets of parents. At least I hope so.
“Can we see him?” Bella’s mom asks.
Lennon shows all the parents back to the nursery and then, one by one, the rest of the family. Once it’s finally our turn to see Remy, we’re surprised to find he’s taking us to a room instead of the nursery. And when we walk through the door, there’s Bella, with a tiny little bundle in her arms.
Lennon kisses her on the forehead before caressing a sleeping Remy’s cheek with his finger.
“He’s so perfect,” I say, moving closer to Bella’s side.
“Oh my God. Make sure you take the drugs when they offer them,” is all she says as she hands him to me. “I’m never going to let that kid live down the pain I went through bringing him into this world.”
We all laugh, including Bella, as I admire his perfect little nose and the tiny tuft of hair on his head.
“I’m mad at you,” I whisper to Bella as I rock back and forth with Remy in my arms.
“What the hell did I do?” she asks, gawking at me.
“Did you or did you not turn down Lennon’s proposal?”
Lennon quickly takes a step away from the bed, just out of Bella’s reach, as she swats at him. “You asshole. You weren’t supposed to tell her. You knew she would get mad at me. It was a secret.”
“I’m surprised Jace didn’t already let it slip,” he says, looking over my shoulder.
Lifting my eyebrow, I slowly turn to find Jace standing behind me with his hands raised in the air in surrender. “You’re holding a baby right now. No sudden movements.”
“I know where you sleep,” I threaten in a sickly-sweet voice.
“Damn it, Lennon. Why’d you have to drag me into this mess?”
“I assumed you told her. You tell her everything.”
“Not when I know things are going to piss her off. You’ll learn how to conveniently forget things when you get married too.”
“If I marry him,” Bella announces.
“Oh, you’re going to marry me. One day. And I don’t plan to ask until I know you’re going to say yes.” Lennon says as Bella holds her hand out to him, a peace offering, and he takes it, only to wince in pain. “Careful. I think you may have broken a knuckle.”
“Isn’t that the hand you almost shattered?” Jace asks.
“I made the mistake of letting her hold it when she was in labor. Pretty sure I need an X-ray.”
Bella only shrugs and motions for me to bring Remy back to her. As soon as he’s in her arms, he begins to cry. She tries soothing him, but nothing works.