“I’m sorry.”
He angled his head to peer at her in puzzlement. “For what?”
“For all the mean things I said to you while I was in labor.”
He waved away the apology. “I knew you didn’t mean any of that stuff. That was the pain talking.”
“Just the same, I’m sorry. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
He choked out a laugh. “Heck, I had the easy part. You were the one who was doing all the work.”
She looked down at the baby and smiled. “And look what I got for my trouble. A beautiful, healthy baby. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
“He’s a keeper, all right.”
The door opened and Marjorie sailed in, trailing a balloon bouquet in her wake. Without so much as a how-do-you-do to Mack or Addy, she headed straight for the bed, her gaze on the baby.
“Oh, let me see that little tiger,” she said eagerly, as she tethered the streamers of the balloon bouquet at the head of the bed.
Addy deftly separated the baby from her breast, rearranged her nightgown, then folded back the blanket, for Marjorie to see. “Isn’t he beautiful?”
“Gorgeous,” Marjorie agreed, then tipped her face up to Addy’s. “Have you named him yet?”
Addy shook her head. “No. I had a girl’s name picked out, but I hadn’t settled on one for a boy.”
“I thought you were going to use your father’s name?” Marjorie said.
“Only his first name.” She shrugged. “I haven’t been able to come up with anything that sounds right with Antonio.”
Marjorie pursed her lips thoughtfully, then swung her gaze to Mack. “What’s your full name?”
Caught off-guard, Mack blinked, then stammered, “Uh, Jonathan Michael McGruder.”
“What about Antonio Michael Rocci?” Marjorie suggested to Addy.
Frowning, Addy shook her head. “I want to use Antonio as his middle name.”
“Then name him Jonathan Antonio Rocci. You could call him Johnny.”
“Jonathan Antonio Rocci,” Addy repeated, as if testing the sound of the name, then nodded. “It’s a mouthful, but I like it.” She glanced at Mack, her expression hopeful. “Would you mind if I gave my baby your name?”
Mind? Mack thought. Hell, he was hoping he could persuade her to give the baby his last name, as well. “I’d be honored.”
The pager in Marjorie’s pocket beeped and she pulled it out to check the display. “Those imbeciles,” she muttered crossly. “You’d think they could run the ER for ten minutes without me.” She slid the pager back into her pocket and offered Addy an apologetic smile. “Sorry, hon, but I’ve got to scoot. I’ll try to come back later, when I’m on my dinner break.”
“Call first,” Addy warned. “I’m hoping I can persuade Dr. Wharton to release me.”
Marjorie wagged a finger at her nose. “You listen to me, young lady. You’ve just had a baby. You have no business going home to an empty house. You stay right here where the nursing staff can take care of you and the baby.”
Addy jutted her chin. “I can take care of myself.”
“But—”
“No, Marjorie,” she said, cutting her friend off. “I’m going home.”
With a huff of disgust, Marjorie turned to leave. “You try talking some sense into that thick head of hers,” she said to Mack. “She won’t listen to me.”
Mack had remained quiet during the exchange, absorbing the conversation and considering how he could use the situation to his own advantage. He knew the idea to adopt the baby was a crazy one and liable to send Addy into an apoplectic fit. But the more he thought about it, the more he was convinced it was the best solution to all their problems, both his and Addy’s.
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