Christmas-Eve Baby (16 page)
Nick’s throat worked, and when he lifted his head, his eyes were filled with tears.
‘I think Annabel would be a lovely name for her,’ he said. ‘A very fitting name. And I’m sure your mother would think so, too.’ He cleared his throat. ‘So—should we wet the baby’s head?’ he suggested. ‘I brought you a bottle of champagne as a peace offering. Not much of one, but I thought you could always hit me over the head with it—it’s nice and heavy.’
Ben laughed, dispersing the tension, and disappeared, coming back moments later with glasses. He opened the bottle with a soft pop and filled them, then lifted his glass.
‘To Annabel,’ he said, and her father’s jaw tensed.
‘To Annabel,’ he echoed, and pressed a kiss lightly to the baby’s forehead. ‘Both of them.’
Lucy didn’t speak. She just lifted the glass and touched the champagne to her lips. Just a tiny taste, because of her milk. And she thought of her mother, of the terrible bitter
ness of the last two years now finally laid to rest, and as Ben’s arm came around her shoulders again, a tear slid down her cheek.
‘To both of them,’ she echoed softly.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7987-6
CHRISTMAS EVE BABY
First North American Publication 2010
Copyright © 2010 by Caroline Anderson
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