“Do Mom and Dad want to know the sex of the baby because it’s quite obvious,” the technician teased.
Unable to speak, they nodded their heads in agreement. “Congratulations, it’s a boy!” The technician pointed to what looked like an extra arm and Nick started chuckling.
By now, Beth’s silent tears had become more of a loud sobbing. Nick handed her some tissues, but couldn’t tear his eyes from the picture of his son, who appeared to be attempting some in-utero acrobatics. The technician handed them pictures and a DVD to keep, then left them alone in the room. She probably thought they needed to get control before they saw the doctor.
Nick helped her from the table and pulled her down into his lap. “Thank you, princess.”
Surprised, she asked, “For what, honey?”
“For giving me this moment, for loving me, and for carrying our baby. I can’t think of another time in my life when I have been this happy or this content.”
Beth stroked her hand down the face of the man she loved and said, “It’s my pleasure, Mr. Merimon. Heavy emphasis on the pleasure part.”
* * *
Beth dropped her fork on her plate with a contented sigh. Nick had insisted on breakfast after their doctor’s appointment and she was more than happy to join him. The doctor had been pleased with the ultrasound, and the baby continued to measure on target. Nick paid their bill and took her hand as they crossed the parking lot.
“You know, princess, since we’re having a boy, I would like to name him after my grandfather, my mother’s father. I was crazy about him. He died when I was ten. I know he would love for my son to carry his name.”
“I think that’s a great idea. I know it would mean a lot to your mom. So, what was his name?”
Nick kicked the ground with his shoes, refusing to make eye contract.
“Honey, what was his name?”
“Herman.”
“Um, what?” Beth asked, thinking she had heard him wrong.
“Herman.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Honey, I love you, but I’m not naming our child Herman. Didn’t he have a middle name?”
Nick continued to look down and finally muttered, “Winston.”
Beth jerked around in surprise. “Your grandfather’s name was Herman Winston?”
“Yeah. We can call him Hermie, for short.”
Beth looked at him incredulously. “You think that sounds better than Herman?”
“It’s fine, princess. It’s just a name; what’s the big deal?”
“It is a big deal. I’m not having our son beaten up in school all the time for having the name Herman Winston. Did his parents not like him?”
Nick put his hands on his hips and glared at her. “Princess, this is half my son and I’m naming my half Herman. You can name your half whatever you want to.”
Beth crossed her arms and glared right back at him. “Oh, really? Well, I think your half is already getting named Merimon so that leaves the other names to me.”
He opened her car door and motioned her in. When they got in he said, “Buckle up, we’re going to settle this the Merimon family way.”
She looked at him in confusion, but buckled her seat belt, curious to see what he was talking about. The Merimon way had better be pretty damn good if he thinks he’s going to convince me to name our son Herman.
* * *
Nick’s mother looked surprised when she opened the door. “Well, hello, you two.” Then worry played across her face as she studied their expressions. “You had your doctor’s appointment today—was everything okay?”
Nick stepped forward to give her a kiss on the cheek as he ushered Beth into the foyer. “It was good, Mom. We found out we’re having a boy.”
His mother squealed and folded them both in a hug. “I’m thrilled, but you could have called me. You didn’t have to drive all this way.”
“We didn’t drive here to tell you, we are here for your kitchen. Break out the cookware, Beth and I need to make a decision.”
“Um . . . ok. Is there anything I can help you with?” his mother offered.
Nick sensed the perfect ally in his mother. She would surely back him on naming their son after her father. Maybe he could end this argument right here without ever entering the kitchen. “I want to name the baby after Grandpa Norton, but Beth doesn’t.”
Nick’s mother gave her son a proud smile and then looked at Beth with a questioning look.
Beth squirmed as she tried to justify her decision. “Vicky, I think it’s a wonderful idea, but I just think it would make it hard on the baby when he’s older to be named Herman Winston.”