Chapter 29 - THE NAMEEveryone wanted to know the baby's name.
James and Grace had chosen one months earlier.
But James hesitated before announcing it.
Grace squeezed his hand.
He looked down at their daughter.
“Anna Laura Whitmore.”
Evelyn covered her mouth.
James's mother cried.
Daniel lowered his head.
Chloe stared at the baby.
“That's two names.”
Grace smiled.
“She's named after two people James loved very much.”
“Your sister?”
James nodded.
“And your first wife?”
Another nod.
Chloe considered this.
Then she kissed the baby's forehead.
“Hi, Anna Laura.”
James's eyes filled again.
Grace leaned against him.
Nothing had been replaced.
Nobody had been erased.
Love had simply made more room.
Later, Chloe whispered to Grace:
“Can we call her Annie?”
Grace smiled.
“I think she'd like that.”
James heard.
May you like
“So do I.”
And Anna Laura became Annie before she was twenty-four hours old.
