Ella leans into him, glowing. He tucks her close.
“We’re excited. And very thankful,” he clarifies.
Once everyone’s cupcakes are gone, Ella grins. “Now…who wants to guess the name?”
“Something Addison!” Addison blurts out.
“Funny,” Mason deadpans. “Sophia.”
“Emerson,” Karissa throws in.
“Emily,” I add.
They shake their heads.
Dad leans back, serious as can be. “Patty.”
Ella bursts out laughing. Jesse looks like he swallowed spoiled milk.
“She’s not seventy-five, Dad.”
“Well, she’s gonna be one day.” He shrugs.
The table cracks up and then Ella sits straighter, clearing her throat. “Her name is…Hallie Kate.”
Addison gasps. “ILOVEthat.”
“That is precious.” Mom sighs like she wishes she’d come up with it herself.
“Kate’s your middle name, right?” Karissa asks Ella.
She nods. “Yep. Jesse’s middle name is Lee—Cora Lee. Now we’ll have Hallie Kate.”
I turn to Karissa. “Wait, what’s your middle name?”
“Cody!” she scolds, eyes wide, right as everyone else does the same.
I jump. “What? I’m bad with names!”
“Jade,” Karissa laughs, shaking her head.
Wesley chimes in, smirking. “Alright, then what’s Cody’s middle name?”
In perfect unison, the whole table answers: “James.”
I blink. “What the heck? How doeseverybodyknow that?”
Mom looks at me, smirking. “Because you were my troublemaker, and troublemakers need both names.”
The whole table cracks up, and I just shrug.
Chapter 42
Cody
I turn around to find Emma has her scrambled eggs scattered everywhere. All over the floor, smashed into the high chair tray, in her hair… I should’ve taken her pajamas off beforehand.
Karissa comes out of the bedroom, head tilted as she puts earrings on. When she sees the mess that is her ten-month-old she comes to a stop.
