If they had another one later on, he would let Laird use Nick’s name. Nicola if it was a girl. Nicholas for a boy.
But this one would be Cameron.
Laird’s mom tilted her head. “Why yes. That would work. Unless you’re going to tell me the name itself is unisex. Then I will pop you in the nose.”
“Mom!”
She grinned at him, her eyes dancing.
“You can’t tell anyone, okay? Seriously. I mean it. Raven and I are the only ones who know, and Laird doesn’t want to know.”
“I swear. I won’t tell a soul.” Fiona held his gaze. “Just the name.”
“Cameron Raven.”
“Oh…” Her eyes filled with tears. “Cameron Raven McCallum. Baby Cam.”
She grabbed him and hugged him tight, and he hugged her right back.
“Thank you, Devon.”
“Well, it’s our secret, okay?”
She shook her head. “No, that’s not what I mean, honey. Thank you for loving Laird. I’ve never seen him so happy. I’ve never seen him so excited to go to school and make a future with someone.”
“I want him to be happy. He makes me that way too.” If nothing else, he’d never thought he would have this. A husband. A baby of his own. A home with cats and pillows and weird alpha stuff next to his yarn.
“Good.” She nodded to him. “Now, let’s talk about baby things. CRM is a lovely monogram, and the McCallum tartan is blue and green so, you’ve got a perfect excuse to have blues in the nursery.”
Devon blinked. “You don’t think those colors are dark for a baby?”
“Oh, you have a point.” She frowned, but only for a moment. “But I do love a good tartan.”
Devon had to admit that it was nice to have someone to talk to about this stuff. “I was thinking about a light green, and then maybe a border of the tartan up at the top. I can see it on the rocking chair or the changing table. You know, little hints.”
She clapped for him, the sound loud in the quiet of his kitchen. “Oh, I quite like it. I have some of the things from when Laird was a little boy, a couple of teddy bears, some rattles, that sort of thing. You could put them up on shelves as decorations. That might be sweet, especially since they would tie in.”
“Oh, that would be fabulous. I love that idea, and then when the baby gets older, we can redecorate.”
“Are you planning on having another?” she asked with a tilt of her head.
“Not right away. We’re thinking when this one is three or four.” That would give Laird some time to figure out what he wanted. “To be honest, I kind of worried that I sprung this baby on him. I wasn’t trying to get pregnant, but it happened. Magic happens where it wants to.”
“Yes, and so do babies.” She chuckled, nodded her head. “This little one and Savannah are going to be best friends. They can grow up together, be cousins, and have holidays together.” She looked so happy. “I love the idea of having my extended family close.”
“I love it too. I really do. You have all been so kind to me.”
“You are a wonderful human being, Devon. How can we not be?” She reached out to Devon’s cheek. “Now we should look at some things for the nursery.”
“That sounds great.” They picked out all sorts of stuff online, and he knew he would winnow it down to less once she was gone, but it would make a really cute nursery.
Finally, it was time for her to pack up her stuff and head out. She kissed his cheek. “Well, I have to get on. I was kind of hoping Laird would get back before I left, but you tell him how much I love him, will you?”
“I will.”
She beamed at him on the way out the door. “Baby Cam. I promise I won’t even tell Laird’s father, though. Not yet, anyway.”
“Thanks, Mom.” He waved at her before closing the door and turning to look at the cats. “I bet she tells him the minute she gets home.”
