"A son," he says again, still awed. "What should we name him?"
"Not Alexander Junior."
"God no. One of me is enough for any family." He's quiet for a moment. "What about Samuel?"
"Samuel?"
"My father's name. The one good man in a long line of complicated Colborne men."
"Samuel Colborne." I test it out. "I like it. Samuel Robert Colborne, after my brother too?"
"Samuel Robert it is."
The baby—Samuel—kicks as if in approval.
"We should get ready for dinner," I say reluctantly.
"Or we could stay here. Call and say you're not feeling well."
"Alex."
"I know, I know. Family is important." He helps me sit up, then immediately starts fussing with pillows to support my back. "But after dinner, you're mine. I want to spend the rest of the night showing you exactly how much I love you and our son."
"Deal.”
The drive to my parents' house is familiar now. Alex knows the route by heart, knows where to park to avoid the worst of the photographers who still occasionally show up.
The house is chaos as usual: kids running everywhere, my siblings talking over each other, Mom orchestrating dinner.
"Jonah!" Emma launches herself at my legs. "Uncle Alex! Did you bring me presents?"
"Emma," Corinne scolds. "We don't ask for presents."
But Alex is already pulling out the bag he keeps in the car for exactly this purpose—small toys and books for all the kids. He's learned that bribing the children goes a long way toward making them happy and seeing the children happy makes the adults happy and that goes a long way towards family acceptance.
"You're spoiling them," Robert says, but there's less edge to it than before.
"That's what uncles are for, right?" Alex responds, helping Emma with her new puzzle.
Dinner is its usual chaos. Pastor David is there again, leading grace, making pointed comments about guidance. Alex holds my hand through it, squeezing gently when the pastor's words get particularly barbed.
"We have news," I announce once everyone's served. "We found out what we’re having."
"It's a boy," Alex says, pride evident in his voice. "We’re naming him Samuel Robert."
Mom starts crying. Robert looks stunned.
"After me?" Robert asks.
“Yes, and after my father,” Alex says. “After men worth honoring."
It's the perfect thing to say. Robert actually extends his hand across the table, and Alex shakes it firmly.
"You've changed," Robert says quietly. "Six months ago, I wanted to kill you for hurting my brother. Now..."
"Now you only want to maim me slightly?"
Robert laughs. "Something like that."
