Page 178 of Safe and Sound

“I can see that,” he mused.

“Another girl,” I said

Niall chuckled. “We can be girl dad’s together.”

I grinned. “Sounds like a plan.

“Sir, we need to take a look at the baby.”

Reluctantly, I handed my daughter over. It was ridiculous how empty my arms felt once she was gone. I kept a watchful eye on what the paramedic was doing to her.

“Would you like to cut the cord?” he asked.

“Hell yeah,” I replied with a smile. After handing me over the scissors, I cut the cord where they had clamped it.

“While everything looks good, we’d like to take your wife to the hospital just to be checked over.”

Although Ava didn’t look convinced, I nodded my head. “Absolutely.”

As they started loading her onto the stretcher, the paramedic holding the baby asked, “Does she have a name?”

Ava and I exchanged a glance. Grimacing, I replied, “Not exactly.”

“It’s okay. I just thought I’d ask to get the paperwork started.”

With a smile, Ava said, “Since I named Piper, I suppose you should get to name this one.”

“You might regret giving me such leeway.”

“Can I make a suggestion?”

Grinning, I replied, “I expected as much.”

She playfully rolled her eyes. “Let’s not give her one that’s Greek or Irish. Like I did with Piper.”

“Can I at least give her Orla for her middle name?”

I couldn’t help wanting to honor my mother. “Of course,” Ava replied.

“Thanks, love.”

“We could give her a name that starts with P to go with Piper.”

“Why do I have the sneaking suspicion you’ve got one picked out?”

“I really like Poppy.”

“Then Poppy is it.”

“Are you sure?”

“It kind of suits her since she popped out so quickly.”

“That’s not what I was going for,” Ava argued with a smile.

I laughed. “I know. But it’s grand.”

The EMT’s wheeled Ava out then. I trailed behind the stretcher. When we reached the ambulance, the paramedic holding Poppy asked, “Would you like to take her?”

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