“That’s understandable,” Shawn said.
“I think it was the whole pretending to be my friend thing that’s got me so messed up.Had my mom just burst back into my life a stranger, I’d still be upset and angry, but less so.I think I could maybe try to find some common ground, but her being Persia for the past few years just makes me sick.”
“I thought your dad was going to throw up when we told him too,” Trip added.
“Oh my gosh, I never thought about my dad.Does he know Persia is my mother?Have you told him that she’s here?”
“No, that will be your call to make,” Trip told her.
“I feel like it’s really my dad’s.I’d say it’s hers too, but you know what screwed her?She made a lot of big damn decisions without mine or my father’s consult, so this time it’s our turn.I’ll call my dad and tell him she’s here and let him do what he wants from there.”
“Speaking of your mom, she’s Pantera.She may be just who we need to speak with about who we had encountered at the cabin,” Marcus said, switching topics.
He stood up no doubt to go get El’s mother, but El placed her hand on his arm to stop him.
“Could we finish dinner together, just us.”
He smiled his sweet smile at her and kissed her gently on the forehead.
“Of course, my mate.”
“Good, because there is one final thing we really need to figure out.What in the world are we going to name our daughter?”
The guys all sputtered and choked, which only made her laugh.She knew the naming was going to be an obstacle.Two people struggled to compromise on a name; they had five different opinions to deal with.
“I think the first thing we have to get off the table is using anyone’s family names.There’s just too many of us, and it’ll be too much.What do you all think?”
None of the men said anything for a few minutes.El just assumed they were taking time to consider names, so she settled back into her ravioli, excited for what she assumed would be a fun conversation.Picking their baby name.She hated that Ryan couldn’t be involved, but she had already made a note to ask Adam and Leilani if Ryan had ever mentioned a specific name in the past.
“El, we already talked about the name,” Trip said, his tone was hesitant, which had El confused.
“Okay, wonderful,” she said although she was mentally preparing for them to say something she wasn’t going to like.
“We areallgoing to name our baby after she’s born.”
El felt her stomach drop to her toes.She was desperate for them to prepare for her child without her, and they seemed just as desperate to hold out hope that they would find a way for El to be there.It was sweet, but it wasn’t realistic, and as the days ticked by, she was closer and closer to delivering.
“I can’t keep having this same conversation.I love you all, but wehaveto prepare for our daughter to be raised without me, and I’ll be damned if you all are naming her without me.”
“We won’t.You’ll be there, and we’re going to make sure of that.”
“How!”El yelled, slamming her hand down on the table and standing up.
None of them had an answer for her.They were grasping at straws.
“I get it; the thought of raising her without me is terrifying.I’m just as terrified,butI will not be unrealistic about this.We will prepare, and we will do it my way,” she said her voice faltering as tears began to fall.
They all stood up and rushed to her side.They each whispered soft words of love and reassurance.
“We’ll pick a name now, then,” Trip confirmed.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“How about a hot cup of tea on the patio, so that Ryan can listen in on our suggestions,” Marcus offered.
“That sounds perfect.I’m going to go out and call my dad,” she said.
They all nodded, Marcus hung behind to make her tea, Trip strode off to no doubt find Ryan, and Shawn stayed with her.She took his hand, and they walked out to the patio.The weather was perfect with the sun having already gone down.The patio was still well lit by a montage of solar-powered lights.Shawn flipped on the gas-powered fire pit as he and El snuggled on the couch together.He pulled out his phone and handed it to her.
