Page 47 of Pieces into Place
“I’m sorry. It’s dumb. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No,” Alexis shook her head. “It’s not dumb.”
“Your face says otherwise.”
“My face says that I’m kicking myself for not thinking about that when we got married.”
“What?” Blake sat up on her elbow the same way Alexis was.
“We could have changed our names to Mackenzie.”
“No, we couldn’t have,” Blake chuckled, assuming Alexis was teasing her. But Alexis didn’t laugh. “Right? Like Holland and Calloway were our only options.”
“Says who?”
“I dunno.”
“We could do it now.”
“Do what?”
“Change our names.”
“Lex,” Blake laughed in past shock, part confusion, “we can’t change our last names now. Reese’s middle name is Mackenzie. We’re not sending her to school with the name Reese Mackenzie Mackenzie.”
“Then we’ll change her middle name too while we’re at it.”
The excitement in Alexis’s voice was palpable. Her eyes seemed to dance as she spoke, which made Blake realize how serious she had taken Blake’s seemingly offhand comment.
“You’re serious.”
“Totally serious. I think it’s an amazing idea.”
“Really?”
“Yes!” Alexis squealed as she leaned down to quickly kiss Blake’s lips. “I can tell how much this means to you. You wouldn’t have mentioned it if it didn’t. I know you. And I know it would mean so much to Isla and Vera. And Mason. And me.”
Blake’s voice was barely a whisper thanks to the lump in the throat. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She kissed Blake again. “Babe, this is such a great idea. Oh! We could even surprise Isla and Vera with the name once the baby is born. You know, one of those little chalkboard announcements with the baby’s name and weight? We could put her name on there with the last name Mackenzie.”
“Mom and Mama would flip out.”
Alexis’s eyes soften as her lower lip quivered slightly.
“What?”
“Hearing you call Veramamawas just something I never thought I’d hear.” Alexis cuddled back up with her, pressing their stomachs together again. “I’m so proud of all you have overcome, Blake. I don’t say that enough. But Iamsoproud of you and so glad that I get to be your wife as we go on this crazy journey of life together.”
“Ditto, babe.” As if wanting to agree, Blake felt the baby kick inside her. Alexis felt it too, as she giggled and put her hand on Blake’s belly. “She wants to be a Mackenzie too.”
“Who can blame her? Our girl knows she’s going to be born into the best family ever.”
Kissing Blake once again, the two of them stayed in each other’s arms as they fell asleep. And for the first time in months, Blake went to sleep with a smile on her face and her heart overflowingwith happiness.
Chapter 17
Isla
