Fall for Me (Danvers #3)(61)
“It’s fine, princess. It’s just a name; what’s the big deal?”
“It is a big deal. I’m not having our son beaten up in school all the time for having the name Herman Winston. Did his parents not like him?”
Nick put his hands on his hips and glared at her. “Princess, this is half my son and I’m naming my half Herman. You can name your half whatever you want to.”
Beth crossed her arms and glared right back at him. “Oh, really? Well, I think your half is already getting named Merimon so that leaves the other names to me.”
He opened her car door and motioned her in. When they got in he said, “Buckle up, we’re going to settle this the Merimon family way.”
She looked at him in confusion, but buckled her seat belt, curious to see what he was talking about. The Merimon way had better be pretty damn good if he thinks he’s going to convince me to name our son Herman.
* * *
Nick’s mother looked surprised when she opened the door. “Well, hello, you two.” Then worry played across her face as she studied their expressions. “You had your doctor’s appointment today—was everything okay?”
Nick stepped forward to give her a kiss on the cheek as he ushered Beth into the foyer. “It was good, Mom. We found out we’re having a boy.”
His mother squealed and folded them both in a hug. “I’m thrilled, but you could have called me. You didn’t have to drive all this way.”
“We didn’t drive here to tell you, we are here for your kitchen. Break out the cookware, Beth and I need to make a decision.”
“Um . . . ok. Is there anything I can help you with?” his mother offered.
Nick sensed the perfect ally in his mother. She would surely back him on naming their son after her father. Maybe he could end this argument right here without ever entering the kitchen. “I want to name the baby after Grandpa Norton, but Beth doesn’t.”
Nick’s mother gave her son a proud smile and then looked at Beth with a questioning look.
Beth squirmed as she tried to justify her decision. “Vicky, I think it’s a wonderful idea, but I just think it would make it hard on the baby when he’s older to be named Herman Winston.”
Beth heard a chuckle as Nick’s father joined the group. He hugged and congratulated them both. She was relieved when Nick’s mother gave her a bright smile of encouragement before turning back to her son. “Nicky, I think you two need to bake this out. Go in the kitchen and suit up. You know that’s where we solve our problems and make our decisions.” Then, smothering a laugh behind her hand, she said, “Your dad and I will be there in a minute.”
Beth let Nick pull her through the foyer, toward the kitchen. She couldn’t understand why Nick’s mother and father seemed so amused by their argument over the name. She was relieved though that Nick’s mother no longer seemed offended by her desire not to name the baby Herman. She let Nick tie an apron on her and smiled when he also put one on himself. The man could even make baking look sexy. Down, girl. You are already banned from your sister’s countertops; don’t repeat that mistake with your future in-laws. Beth smiled and vowed to control herself, but she stood firm on two things: she was not naming their baby Herman and she was going to attack Nick Merimon as soon as they got home.
* * *
John Merimon looked at his wife as she dissolved in a fit of laughter. “Why does Beth think that Nick wants to name their baby Herman?”
“Oh, honey,” Vicky said, laughing, “you missed the best part. Nicky wants to name the baby after my father, Herman Winston.”
John looked even more confused as he said, “But your father’s name was Henry, not Herman.”
“I know, I know,” she gasped. “Remember how Dad was always picking on the kids and calling himself different names and saying he was from different places? Well, apparently our son bought in to it. He thinks Dad’s name was Herman and he’s determined to convince Beth to name their son after him.”
John started laughing too after finally getting the joke. “He was pretty young when your dad died so I guess it never came up after that.” Pulling his wife into his arms, he whispered in her ear, “So are you planning to tell them what your dad’s name really was?”
Vicky leaned back in her husband’s arms, with her eyes dancing in mischief. “Well, of course. Just as soon as they have those cakes finished. I’m a little hungry, how about you?”
John laughed as he squeezed her tight. “What difference will an hour make? I hope one of them is making lemon pound cake.”