Chapter 16: Names
(Simon's POV)
"Hi Allie," I said," sorry I wasn't home. My big sister Mary had her baby."
"Oh really. Is it a boy or girl?" Allie asked.
"It's a boy," I said.
"That's great. What did she name him?" Allie inquired.
"No name yet," I said," I don't think she can decide."
"I always liked the name Clark," Allie suggested.
"I'll be sure and suggest that to Mary," I told her," so how have you been?"
"I've been good. Nothing special going on here, sounds like you got all the excitement," she laughed.
"Yeah, oh and my other older sister Lucy, the one who's married, just told us she's going to have another baby," I explained.
"Wow. I wish someone in my family was the right age for having a baby. I love having babies around," Allie sighed.
I laughed," That's probably just because you are an only child. If you had as many siblings as I do, you might not feel the same way."
"Are you saying you don't like kids?" Allie sounded hurt.
"No, I like kids. It's just that I've had a baby around for big parts of my life and sometimes you get a little sick of all the crying," I said.
"Oh, yeah I guess I could understand that," Allie said," but I've never had another baby in my house. I just babysit for friends and stuff like that."
"Well I hate to be so brief, but I have to go, we're going to visit Mary and the baby again," I said," just wanted to let you know why I wasn't home."
"Okay, it's been nice talking again," Allie said and blew a kiss into the phone.
I blushed, it was a bit awkward having a relationship over the phone," Good bye."
"Bye Simon."
When we got to the hospital, we all got to go visit Mary. She said that lots of people had been calling her and suggesting names. She couldn't find a single one that she felt suited her baby.
"Oh, someone I know suggested the name Clark," I remembered.
"Hmm. That's a new one. I'm not sure though," Mary frowned," this is hard."
"What about Jack?" Dad said suddenly.
"No, don't you remember the pilot?" Mary asked.
"Oh yeah," his face fell," how could I forget."
"I like the name Nicholas," Lucy mused.
"I don't know if I like that," Mary sighed," sorry for all the trouble. I just want his name to be perfect."
"I understand that," Lucy said," it's hard to pick one name that will stick with your kid for life."
Ruthie spoke up," What about the names Kyle or Patrick?"
"Both of them are good," Mary seemed lost in thought.
"I know," I said," Why not Christopher?"
"That's good too," she said.
"What about the name Daniel?" Mom suggested.
"Daniel Camden," Mary tried out the name," Mom, I think that's the one!"
"Good, now what about the middle name?" I asked.
"It could be David if you wanted," David said.
"But your name is already David," I pointed out.
"So? His first name is Daniel. We wouldn't call him David," Ruthie said.
"Daniel David Camden. I like it. And we can call him Danny for short," Mary smiled.
(Eric's POV)
Mary finally settled on a name for her son. Annie, the kids and I left her at the hospital for a few hours while we helped set up her apartment for the baby's homecoming. She already had a cradle and all the furniture, but she hadn't had time to get everything ready. We picked up all the little things off the floor and cleaned the apartment from top to bottom. We reorganized her furniture and when we were satisfied that it was done, I drove to the hospital to bring Mary and her baby home.
"It's a good thing the hospital gives all new mothers an infant car seat because I don't think we still have one," I said to Mary as she strapped the baby into the backseat.
"Well, Lucy probably still has hers," Mary ventured," but it's good to have my own. She's going to need hers again soon."
"You know, it will be nice to have a baby at the house again, I think it gives your mother purpose," I said as I pulled the car out of its parking spot," I mean it's going to be odd for us at first, but then when everyone gets settled in, it will be nice."
"I'm glad that you guys brought me back to Glen Oak, I know I can't do this alone," she caught my eyes in the rearview mirror.
"It's too bad that Daniel won't have a father," I said.
"I know, Dad. I'm stupid," Mary sniffled.
"No, that's not what I meant," I sighed," it's just going to be hard for you to be a single parent. I'm sure you more than learned your lesson. I think you will find that parenting is hard, but it is a joy in the end. Just look at your mother and I. We had 7 kids and you all turned out different, but we're proud of each of you in your own ways."
"I wish there was a father too," she was still crying," it's not fair for Danny to be raised without one, but I already made my stupid decision. Now though, I think I really can be good, Dad. If I do something awful now, it not only effects my life, but it's going to affect my son's life too."
"I have faith in you, Mary," I smiled at her," I know you can finally straighten out your life."
"Oh no," she said suddenly.
"What?" I asked with concern.
"I never had time to finish getting ready for the baby, I'm not ready to have a newborn in the apartment," Mary worried.
"Don't worry about it, everyone got together and helped get it ready for you," I explained.
"Really?" Mary's eyes lit up," you guys did that for me?"
"Yes, we knew you didn't have time to hardly get yourself settled in, let alone get entirely prepared for a baby. So we took care of it for you," I told her.
"Thank you so much," Mary rested her head back on the seat in relief.
"Just know, we are always here to help you with anything you need," I offered," both your mother and I. And Ruthie's quite good watching the baby if you need to get out after a few weeks."
"I'd be lost without you guys. I have the best family in the world," Mary smiled through the tears in her eyes.
"We all love you, Mary, no matter how many bad things you have done, you are still our daughter. You are still the other kids' sister. Nothing will stop us from loving you," I teared up a little myself.
"Thank you, Daddy," she whispered.
I pulled the car into the driveway and turned off the engine. I went around to the backseat to help Mary with the baby. I carried her bags in for her and she carried her son up the stairs. Everyone was waiting in the apartment for Mary and I. They had a cake that said 'Congrats! It's a boy!' on it in blue icing.
"You didn't get a baby shower, so we all have presents for you now," Annie announced with a grin.
"Wow, I didn't expect this," Mary said, surprise apparent in her voice.
"Here's what I got you," Ruthie handed her a small package.
Mary handed her son to Annie and opened the present. Inside was a yellow knitted blanket with the name Daniel David Camden stitched into it.
"I put the name on this morning," Ruthie explained.
"Thanks," Mary pulled her youngest sister into a hug.
"Me next," Lucy handed Mary a gift.
She tore open the wrapping paper to discover a tiny pair of pajamas that said "I love my Mommy" on them.
"They're cute," Mary hugged Lucy as well.
David stepped up next," It's not new, but I want him to have it." He held out his favorite teddy bear.
"Oh David, you don't have to," Mary started.
"No, he needs it. He's a baby, I'm a big kid now," he explained.
"Well thanks, I'm sure Danny will love it," Mary kissed the top of her brother's head.
Simon gave her a baby swing," I spent part of my last paycheck on it."
"You didn't have to spend so much on me," Mary started to cry," you guys are all very sweet."
"We love you Mary," Annie hugged her daughter while Ruthie took her turn holding the baby.
"Your father and I bought you a bunch of diapers, you'll need them," Annie explained.
"Yes, you will find that they come in very useful," I said," you should be set for a while."
"I love all of you guys," Mary smiled, teary-eyed at her family.
"Time for cake!" Annie announced.
Everyone waited patiently while Annie cut the cake. Ruthie brought Danny over to me and placed him in my arms. My first grandson, I thought as I held the tiny bundle. He was tiny, but he looked very healthy. As I watched him, he reached his tiny arm up and placed his hand on my cheek. I shivered as the baby's smooth, tiny hands brushed against my skin. It was as if that moment he was saying," Hi Grandpa."
(Simon's POV)
"Hi Allie," I said," sorry I wasn't home. My big sister Mary had her baby."
"Oh really. Is it a boy or girl?" Allie asked.
"It's a boy," I said.
"That's great. What did she name him?" Allie inquired.
"No name yet," I said," I don't think she can decide."
"I always liked the name Clark," Allie suggested.
"I'll be sure and suggest that to Mary," I told her," so how have you been?"
"I've been good. Nothing special going on here, sounds like you got all the excitement," she laughed.
"Yeah, oh and my other older sister Lucy, the one who's married, just told us she's going to have another baby," I explained.
"Wow. I wish someone in my family was the right age for having a baby. I love having babies around," Allie sighed.
I laughed," That's probably just because you are an only child. If you had as many siblings as I do, you might not feel the same way."
"Are you saying you don't like kids?" Allie sounded hurt.
"No, I like kids. It's just that I've had a baby around for big parts of my life and sometimes you get a little sick of all the crying," I said.
"Oh, yeah I guess I could understand that," Allie said," but I've never had another baby in my house. I just babysit for friends and stuff like that."
"Well I hate to be so brief, but I have to go, we're going to visit Mary and the baby again," I said," just wanted to let you know why I wasn't home."
"Okay, it's been nice talking again," Allie said and blew a kiss into the phone.
I blushed, it was a bit awkward having a relationship over the phone," Good bye."
"Bye Simon."
When we got to the hospital, we all got to go visit Mary. She said that lots of people had been calling her and suggesting names. She couldn't find a single one that she felt suited her baby.
"Oh, someone I know suggested the name Clark," I remembered.
"Hmm. That's a new one. I'm not sure though," Mary frowned," this is hard."
"What about Jack?" Dad said suddenly.
"No, don't you remember the pilot?" Mary asked.
"Oh yeah," his face fell," how could I forget."
"I like the name Nicholas," Lucy mused.
"I don't know if I like that," Mary sighed," sorry for all the trouble. I just want his name to be perfect."
"I understand that," Lucy said," it's hard to pick one name that will stick with your kid for life."
Ruthie spoke up," What about the names Kyle or Patrick?"
"Both of them are good," Mary seemed lost in thought.
"I know," I said," Why not Christopher?"
"That's good too," she said.
"What about the name Daniel?" Mom suggested.
"Daniel Camden," Mary tried out the name," Mom, I think that's the one!"
"Good, now what about the middle name?" I asked.
"It could be David if you wanted," David said.
"But your name is already David," I pointed out.
"So? His first name is Daniel. We wouldn't call him David," Ruthie said.
"Daniel David Camden. I like it. And we can call him Danny for short," Mary smiled.
(Eric's POV)
Mary finally settled on a name for her son. Annie, the kids and I left her at the hospital for a few hours while we helped set up her apartment for the baby's homecoming. She already had a cradle and all the furniture, but she hadn't had time to get everything ready. We picked up all the little things off the floor and cleaned the apartment from top to bottom. We reorganized her furniture and when we were satisfied that it was done, I drove to the hospital to bring Mary and her baby home.
"It's a good thing the hospital gives all new mothers an infant car seat because I don't think we still have one," I said to Mary as she strapped the baby into the backseat.
"Well, Lucy probably still has hers," Mary ventured," but it's good to have my own. She's going to need hers again soon."
"You know, it will be nice to have a baby at the house again, I think it gives your mother purpose," I said as I pulled the car out of its parking spot," I mean it's going to be odd for us at first, but then when everyone gets settled in, it will be nice."
"I'm glad that you guys brought me back to Glen Oak, I know I can't do this alone," she caught my eyes in the rearview mirror.
"It's too bad that Daniel won't have a father," I said.
"I know, Dad. I'm stupid," Mary sniffled.
"No, that's not what I meant," I sighed," it's just going to be hard for you to be a single parent. I'm sure you more than learned your lesson. I think you will find that parenting is hard, but it is a joy in the end. Just look at your mother and I. We had 7 kids and you all turned out different, but we're proud of each of you in your own ways."
"I wish there was a father too," she was still crying," it's not fair for Danny to be raised without one, but I already made my stupid decision. Now though, I think I really can be good, Dad. If I do something awful now, it not only effects my life, but it's going to affect my son's life too."
"I have faith in you, Mary," I smiled at her," I know you can finally straighten out your life."
"Oh no," she said suddenly.
"What?" I asked with concern.
"I never had time to finish getting ready for the baby, I'm not ready to have a newborn in the apartment," Mary worried.
"Don't worry about it, everyone got together and helped get it ready for you," I explained.
"Really?" Mary's eyes lit up," you guys did that for me?"
"Yes, we knew you didn't have time to hardly get yourself settled in, let alone get entirely prepared for a baby. So we took care of it for you," I told her.
"Thank you so much," Mary rested her head back on the seat in relief.
"Just know, we are always here to help you with anything you need," I offered," both your mother and I. And Ruthie's quite good watching the baby if you need to get out after a few weeks."
"I'd be lost without you guys. I have the best family in the world," Mary smiled through the tears in her eyes.
"We all love you, Mary, no matter how many bad things you have done, you are still our daughter. You are still the other kids' sister. Nothing will stop us from loving you," I teared up a little myself.
"Thank you, Daddy," she whispered.
I pulled the car into the driveway and turned off the engine. I went around to the backseat to help Mary with the baby. I carried her bags in for her and she carried her son up the stairs. Everyone was waiting in the apartment for Mary and I. They had a cake that said 'Congrats! It's a boy!' on it in blue icing.
"You didn't get a baby shower, so we all have presents for you now," Annie announced with a grin.
"Wow, I didn't expect this," Mary said, surprise apparent in her voice.
"Here's what I got you," Ruthie handed her a small package.
Mary handed her son to Annie and opened the present. Inside was a yellow knitted blanket with the name Daniel David Camden stitched into it.
"I put the name on this morning," Ruthie explained.
"Thanks," Mary pulled her youngest sister into a hug.
"Me next," Lucy handed Mary a gift.
She tore open the wrapping paper to discover a tiny pair of pajamas that said "I love my Mommy" on them.
"They're cute," Mary hugged Lucy as well.
David stepped up next," It's not new, but I want him to have it." He held out his favorite teddy bear.
"Oh David, you don't have to," Mary started.
"No, he needs it. He's a baby, I'm a big kid now," he explained.
"Well thanks, I'm sure Danny will love it," Mary kissed the top of her brother's head.
Simon gave her a baby swing," I spent part of my last paycheck on it."
"You didn't have to spend so much on me," Mary started to cry," you guys are all very sweet."
"We love you Mary," Annie hugged her daughter while Ruthie took her turn holding the baby.
"Your father and I bought you a bunch of diapers, you'll need them," Annie explained.
"Yes, you will find that they come in very useful," I said," you should be set for a while."
"I love all of you guys," Mary smiled, teary-eyed at her family.
"Time for cake!" Annie announced.
Everyone waited patiently while Annie cut the cake. Ruthie brought Danny over to me and placed him in my arms. My first grandson, I thought as I held the tiny bundle. He was tiny, but he looked very healthy. As I watched him, he reached his tiny arm up and placed his hand on my cheek. I shivered as the baby's smooth, tiny hands brushed against my skin. It was as if that moment he was saying," Hi Grandpa."