Place Your Betts (The Marilyns) (42 page)
Read Place Your Betts (The Marilyns) Online
Authors: Katie Graykowski
“Her name is Truly.” Betts touched her baby’s tiny hand.
Mama rolled her eyes to Betts. “Truly? Really? You’ve chosen an adverb to name your daughter.” She shook her head. “I don’t get the rich and famous. You name your children crazy things like Dweezil and Moon Unit and Truly when perfectly good names like Cherie are lying around waiting to be chosen. I blame myself. I should have made you eat your green vegetables.”
Betts patted her mother’s shoulder. “A mother’s burden is great. Just think of all those nasty green vegetables you get to make Truly eat.”
Mama pursed her lips. “You’ve got a point.” Her face brightened. “What about Cherie as a middle name?”
“Nope. I vote for Moon Unit. Truly Moon Unit Swanson.” Gabe yawned and stretched. “It has a certain ring to it.”
Two hours later, when Gabe and Betts were alone, he eased into the hospital bed next to her. “You are amazing. What you can do…” He held Truly but looked directly in Betts’s eyes. “I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
Betts kissed his cheek. “Yes, you are. And you owe me big-time. Ms. Truly was the size of a watermelon.”
“Here. Take her.” He tucked the baby in Betts’s arms. “I have something for you.”
“I was sort of kidding, but let’s face it. I deserve a huge push present.” Betts smiled down at her sleeping seven-pound baby. She hardly weighed more than a loaf of bread. She was so tiny and soft and wrinkled and perfect.
Gabe shoved his hand in his front pocket and pulled out a gold chain with two small hearts lined up in a row. “Now you have a locket for both of your babies. See…?” He worked his thumbnail under the clasp of the first locket. “I put a cutting of Tom’s hair in this one.” He clicked it shut and moved to the next one. “And some of Truly’s in this one.”
The world turned watery as tears spilled over. Betts swiped at her eyes as she leaned forward and he placed the necklace around her neck. “Good God, you’re sappy.”
Gabe kissed her tenderly. “One of us has to be.”