Chapter 21.

"Friendship isn't about who you've known the longest. It's about who walked into your life and said 'I'm here for you' and proved it."
-Unknown

"What is it like to just suddenly be a mother?" Callie asked Claire, as she sipped a mug of tea in her new friend's kitchen. It was several days after they met, and the two of them became close fast.

Claire held her own mug between her hands, her lips pursed in thought. "It's like... you're responsible for this tiny person, and you just know what to do."

"I don't think I'll know what to do," Callie replied, skeptically.

"You will," Claire promised. "I mean, it's not like you're suddenly a child care expert. You just know what your baby needs, and how to give it to her. It's like your instincts just kick in. And if you need any help, I'm always right next door, of course."

Callie nodded at her friend's advice. "I just want to be the best mom I can be," she admitted truthfully. "I want my baby to always feel loved and wanted."

"Are you close with your mom?" Claire asked, curiously.

"I was," Callie shrugged. "But she died when I was young. I was in foster care for almost seven years. I guess that's why it's so important to me to be a good parent."

"I was raised by my grandmother," the other woman confided, looking down. "My mother had me when she was really young, and she did a lot of dumb things, so my grandmother got custody of me when I was about four. I have no memories of my mother."

Callie was surprised to hear about Claire's background. The young woman seemed to have it all together, to have an ideal life. But her past wasn't so very different from Callie's own. It made her feel a much deeper connection to her friend, and it gave her hope for her future.

"I think you'll be a great mom," Claire told her, truthfully. "You're so good with Savannah. She adores you. She did the cutest thing the other day," she laughed. "She came up to me with one of her baby dolls under her shirt, and she said 'I got baby.' Ever since she met you, she's been all about babies."

"Aww," Callie giggled at her friend's story. "That's so cute." She'd become very fond of Claire's daughter, and the feelings seemed to be mutual.

Claire smiled, nodding. "When you have the baby, you'll feel love you've never felt before. Think of the person you love the most in the world, and multiply that by ten."

Jude and Brandon were easily Callie's two greatest loves, so far. It was hard to fathom loving someone more than them, and it was wondrous to think about. She couldn't wait to experience it for herself.

Just then, Savannah bounded into the kitchen, carrying a doll in her arms. "Cawie!" she cried happily. She ran to Callie, and lay her tiny hand on her stomach. "It kick?" she asked, hopefully.

"Savy, you ask before you touch Callie's tummy," Claire scolded gently.

"Aw, it's okay," Callie smiled. "I don't mind." She turned to Savannah. "You want to feel the baby?" Savannah nodded enthusiastically, crawling into her lap. "Touch right here," Callie told her, feeling for the baby's movements. Savannah patted her baby bump, gently and lovingly.

"What a nice girl," Callie praised, as she noticed the little girl's doll. "What's your baby's name?" she asked.

Savannah mumbled something in reply that Callie couldn't quite make out. "Did you say Bailey?" she asked, curiously.

The toddler shook her head no, turning to her mother. "It's name is Baby,'" Claire explained.

"Oh," Callie nodded. "Baby. That's a nice name." As she spoke, her breath caught in her throat, and the wheels in her head began to turn. "Hey! Bailey... You know, I like how that sounds." She looked up at Claire, smiling. "I think I might have found a baby name." She wrapped Savannah in her arms, kissing her sticky cheek. "Thank you, Savy."

"What I do?" the little girl asked, shrugging her small shoulders.

That night, Brandon and Callie lay in bed, cuddling and talking, as they did every night. Since Brandon wasn't home as much, it was their time to spend together. Callie could hardly contain her excitement, as Brandon cupped her chin, pressing his lips against hers. She still hadn't told him her idea for their daughter's name. She was waiting for the right moment. As they held each other, their conversation punctuated with soft kisses, she felt the baby moving between them. "Kick daddy!" she told her, jokingly, and they both laughed when she did.

"Did you rest very much today?" Brandon asked, concerned.

"I did," Callie told him, running her hands through his soft, dark waves. "I hung out with Claire for a little while. We just sat around and drank tea and talked. And thanks to Savannah... I think I found the perfect name for our baby. I mean, if you like it, of course."

"Yeah?" he asked excitedly. "What is it?"

"What do you think... of Bailey?" Callie asked, grinning.

Brandon's eyes widened, and he nodded in approval. "That's it. I love it."

"I know," Callie chirped, thrilled that he agreed with her. "I wanted a strong name that wasn't too girly. But it's still cute! Now, you get to choose the middle name. It's only fair."

Brandon laid back, folding his arms under his head, and thought hard for a moment. "I've always liked the name Sophia," he told her. "It sounds nice with Bailey... Bailey Sophia. What do you think?"

"That's cute," Callie replied, snuggling into his side. "But wait..." she groaned, as an embarrassing thought occurred to her. "Her initials would be B.S."

"Ugh," Brandon cringed, laughing. "Back to the drawing board." He thought a little longer, this time taking initials in consideration as well as the sound of the name. "Bailey Victoria?" he suggested. "That sounds pretty."

"Oof," Callie gasped, as the baby moved suddenly. "She just kicked me really hard," she laughed.

"I know... I felt it," Brandon told her, smiling.

"I guess that means she likes the name," Callie shrugged, rubbing her stomach. "And I like it too."

"Then I guess it's unanimous," said Brandon, wrapping his arms around her. "Bailey Victoria Foster, it is."

To Be Continued