As soon as the car stopped, Cassian hopped out, leaving his pregnant wife behind with the love of her life so that he could see the love ofhislife as soon as humanly possible.
James must have been watching for him from the window because the moment Cassian reached the door, James opened it and flung his arms around him. Cassian squeezed him back.
“Oh, God, I missed you,” James said, clinging to him. “I know it’s only been fourteen and a half days, but still, I missed you so much.”
“I know you did,” Cassian replied, pushing a hand through James’s soft brown hair. “I missed you, too.”
“Thank the Lord you’re finally here, Cassian,” Maggie said cheerily, coming up beside them. As soon as Cassian and James parted, Maggie insisted on a hug as well. “James has been so eagerto spend time with you. He’s been worried as well. About Ethel traveling in her condition.”
“Yes, well, I think this will be the last big trip for us for a while,” Cassian said, pulling back from Maggie’s hug. “We’ll live here through the holidays and then head back to the city whenever the weather seems favorable enough so that she can have the baby there.”
“Can I be present for the birth, maybe?” James asked, somewhat shyly.
Cassian smiled fondly at him. He’d known James would most likely want to be there for the birth, the sweetheart that he was.
“Of course,” Cassian said. “I’d been considering having you with me as well, though we’ll have to be on our best behavior while you’re staying at the main house, what with all of my servants constantly milling about.”
“I believe we can manage,” James said, his lovely smile blossoming.
Oh, how adorable he was. Cassian took hold of his shirt and pulled him in for a kiss. Dammit, he could barely resist the urge to order James right into the house and up to one of the bedrooms. Groaning softly, Cassian broke away.
“I’m starting to think otherwise,” Cassian said. “I might have to find us a hotel for a night while we’re waiting for little Quinn to arrive.”
James laughed warmly. “Whatever you want, Cassian. You know that.”
Ethel and John reached them on the walkway. James and Ethel hugged.
“Have you and John settled on the name Quinn?” he asked.
“John isn’tcompletelyconvinced yet, though Cassian keeps insisting that it would be a lovely way to pass on John’s family name,albeit unofficially,” Ethel said. “I have to admit, I love the idea, personally. Quinn is such a sweet name.”
“I think so as well,” James said, looking at John pointedly before pulling him in for a hug, too. “Quinn is awonderfulname.”
“Oh, my,” John laughed. “You, sir, will be spending the next month trying to convince me to name my child Quinn, won’t you?”
“I think we all will,” Maggie chimed in. “Quinn Livingston. It’s perfect.” She pursed her lips for a moment. “Quinn Penn Livingston for a boy?”
Ethel hummed. “Quinn Cassian Livingston, instead, maybe.”
“Yes, I, for one, really like that name,” Cassian said, his smile broadening.
With a roll of his eyes, James said, “Why am I not surprised?” Cassian threw him a mock-threatening look. Immediately, James took Cassian by the lapels and pulled him close. “I’mteasing,” he said before pressing a fast kiss to Cassian’s lips. “I think I like it as well.”
Maggie laughed. “Me too.”
Everyone looked at poor John Quinn expectantly. He held up his hands.
“I’m clearly outnumbered,” he said, laughing. “I suppose I’ll consider it, then, though I think we’ll need a different middle name if we have a girl.” Glancing back at the car, he said, “Now that the matter of my child’s future name is practically settled, I believe it’s time for me to attend to my responsibilities.” He caught James’s eye and thumbed over his shoulder. “Care to help me bring the bags inside?”
James nodded. “Happy to.”
He kissed Cassian once more and then left to fetch the luggage. Cassian headed inside the cottage, following Maggie and Ethel. All three of them walked to the small first floor library, whereMaggie had some refreshments waiting for them. Cassian started over to the sofa but stopped when he spotted a few envelopes on the closest round table. He plucked the first one off of the pile.
“Ah, yes, that’s all yours, Cassian, except for one,” Maggie said as she poured Ethel a cup of tea. “I believe one of the letters is for Ethel and John instead, thanking them for their contribution toCarpathia’s crew.”
Cassian smiled to himself. John and Ethel had certainly put that five thousand to good use, splitting the bulk of it between theTitanicsurvivor’s fund and money to show their gratitude toCarpathia’s crew for their rescue efforts.
Maggie continued after a moment.
