Page 101 of River
“Ten?” My eyes flew up. “You’re joking.”
“Then five maybe. I don’t know, it’s just the experience of seeing a tiny person made out of love in your image. It’s a powerful feeling, and I’m so freaking in love with this little guy that I can just sit and hold his little hand while he lies on my chest.”
“What’s his name?” Noah asked.
“Lucas,” I said.
“That’s a beautiful name.”
“I already know what I want to name my firstborn if it’s a boy,” I said and rocked my nephew in my arms.
Nathan gave Noah a quick look as if to see if my statement scared him, but Noah had a soft expression on his face and reached out his little finger to Lucas.
“Don’t you want to know what I’ll name my son?” I asked them.
“Mhmm.” Nathan nodded.
“William.”
“After the prince?” Nathan asked.
“No, I just like the name William.”
Nathan reached out to take Lucas back. “You have time to figure that out, and don’t forget to ask the father what he’d like.”
“Noah can name our second child.”
Nathan grinned. “Geez, sis, give the poor man a chance.”
Noah didn’t look fazed, and placed an arm around my shoulders. “I’m not the type to be pressured into anything I’m not ready for, so don’t worry about me.”
“Good to know. I’m gonna get this little guy back to Serena. She wants to breastfeed before the party starts. If we’re lucky, he’ll sleep all through dinner.”
The wedding reception was as traditional as I’d hoped it would be. Toasts were made, and I had to translate quite a bit because with Kit’s family being from Northern Ireland, they had a strong accent and spoke fast.
Damian, however, was easy to understand. “Owen, my brave friend, I’m delighted that ye’ve married my sister today. She’s waited a long time for this weddin’. But I think it’s only fair to warn ye. Kit has a fierce temperament, and she’s one of the finest detectives in all of Ireland. If ye do her wrong, there isn’t land enough in the world for ye to escape her fury. Just sayin’!” Damian held out his hands as Kit laughed and nodded.
Owen didn’t look concerned.
“I’d like for us all to raise our glasses to two of the finest people I know. Owen and my beautiful sister, Kit.”
We all raised our glasses as Damian led us in a toast.
“May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to know where you are going, and the insight to know when you have gone too far.Sláinte.”
All around us, people cheered. “Sláinte.” I clinked my glass against Noah’s. After we drank, he leaned in and gave me a kiss. I’d been to so many weddings these past two years, but this was my favorite so far, simply because Noah was here with me.
