I looked nervously at Sam. We hadn’t yet settled on a name. Everything I liked, he shot down, and vice versa. I did have an idea, though. I had wanted to run it by Court first, but everyone was looking at me in anticipation.

I licked my lips, deciding there was no time like the present. “Well,” I started nervously, “I’ve been playing with the names of important women in my life, trying to come up with a combination that worked. My mother’s name was Kay, and I know that your mother’s name was Katherine.” I looked at Janice when I said the last part.

She nodded, smiling at Jessie. “Yes, my other granddaughter, Katie, is named after her.”

I nodded, acknowledging that before continuing. “Annie, you have been like a mother to me, ever since my own mother passed away.” Annie smiled at me through her tears when I said this.

I turned to Court. “Courtney, you are the sister I never had.” She took my hand as I continued, “You told me once that the only kind thing your mother ever said to you was about your middle name.”

I paused then, waiting for some sign indicating her permission to continue. I hadn’t discussed this with her, and I wasn’t sure if she would be open to me sharing this story with the group. She smiled then, as if starting to understand where I was going with this. She picked up where I had stopped. “Yes, my mother told me once that she named me Courtney Belle because Belle means beautiful, and I was the most beautiful baby she had ever seen.” She had a tear in her eye from the only fond memory she had of her mother.

“This is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen.” I smiled down at my tiny child before looking around the room. Everyone was looking at me with anticipation, no doubt wondering where I was going with all of this. The only opinion that I really cared about was Sam’s, so I looked at him when I continued, “So, I was thinking we could name her Annabelle K. Davis, and call her Anna.”

“Just an initial for the middle name?” It was Jessie who spoke first. “How chic!”

I was glad that she approved, but I wanted to know what Sam thought. At my questioning gaze, he nodded. “It’s perfect, just like she is.”

Joe arrived a few minutes later carrying a huge balloon bouquet. The room was boisterous and happy, but I still managed to hear him say to Jessie, “Sorry I called your brother an asshole.”

I strained my ears to hear her response. “Well, he can be an asshole sometimes, but I’m the only one who gets to call him one. Deal?”

“Deal,” Joe agreed, and they grinned at each other like two sappy teenagers.