An hour later, they still hadn’t picked a name. Nick helped her from the bed to the chair as she prepared to nurse. As the baby fed, the one name they never discussed all but rolled off her tongue. Staring down into the tiny dark eyes intently watching her, Summer felt in her heart that the name she decided on was perfect.
Stretched out on the hospital bed, Nick flipped through channels as Summer nursed. He needed to focus elsewhere as she fed the baby. Summer’s exposed breast was making his mind go places it had no business going. It didn’t seem right to lust after her as she tended to the infants needs.
“Nick.”
“What’s up?”
“I have a name.”
Sitting up, he swung his long legs over the side of the bed disregarding the rampant lustful thoughts running amuck in his head. He wanted to give her his undivided attention.
“You do?”
He figured it would be another day or two before deciding on a name. So far they hadn’t agreed on a suitable one.
Summer nodded her head. “I want to name him, Nicholas Christopher Stiles, Jr.”
Stunned he asked, “Are you sure?” Even after everything he had put her through she wanted to give their son his name.
Summer nodded.
“No, Summer. I want to hear you say it. Tell me that you’re sure.” This woman, his woman was talking about giving their son his name. That’s right, Summer was his woman. If he hadn’t been sure before he was sure now…she still loved him.
“Yes, I’m sure. He looks so much like you. I think the name perfectly suits him. We’ll call him NJ, short for Nick Jr.”
Rising up from the bed he went to her, kneeling down so that they were eye level. Brushing his lips against hers, Nick whispered, “Thank you.”
Summer raised her hand to Nick’s face gently stroking his jaw. “You don’t have to thank me.”
For the second time that day Summer had to remind herself of her resolve to let Nick go. Would she be able to do it? That was the question she asked herself later that night as she sat alone holding her son. I have to let him go, Loving him hurts too much.
Chapter 24
The next six weeks rushed by in a fuzzy haze as Summer returned home from the hospital with her parents and baby in tow. She enjoyed having her parents with her, but by the fourth week she was ready to pull out every strand of her hair from frustration. As much as she loved them they were driving her crazy, especially her mother. Nita had something to say about everything. If it weren’t for her father continuing to act as buffer Summer didn’t know what she would do. The first argument was over Nita wanting to go to NJ’s first doctor’s appointment. It was a no brainer that Nick would accompany them. When Summer suggested her mother stay home, Nita nearly had a bird.
Summer didn’t really care. She wanted her baby’s first appointment to the pediatrician to be a pleasant memory. That wasn’t likely to happen since every now and then her mother slipped a snide remark pass her lips aimed at Nick. On this special day she did not want it marred by unpleasant memories of any smart comments, courtesy of her mother. Though Nita was outright rude to Nick, he remained on his best behavior. He patiently held his composure, ignoring the remarks of the older woman.
Like always, James stepped in sternly informing his wife she would wait at home while Summer and Nick took their child to his first doctor’s appointment. After hearing the sternness in her husband’s voice, Nita resentfully complied. During those six weeks, Nick and James became at ease with one another. On many occasions they would leave Summer and Nita at home while they went to the sports bar with
Kevin to watch whatever basketball team was playing. It didn’t bother either woman one bit since the men acted like teenagers hooting and hollering when their favorite team scored a point. Or let out a string of foul language when a basket wasn’t made. Not to mention all the beer cans that littered Summer’s living room as they watched the game. Summer had to put her foot down when Kevin pulled out a cigar to smoke, which was absolutely ridiculous since he didn’t smoke cigarettes.
Coming out of the kitchen with a bowl of chips she spied Kevin about to light up. With chips in one hand and the other on her hip, Summer said, “Kevin, you know I love you like the brother I never had and everything, but if you think you’re gonna smoke that stinking cigar in my house, around my baby, you’ve got another thing coming.”
Kevin flashed his trademark boyish grin. “Come on Sis, NJ’s upstairs sleeping, this smoke won’t bother him.”
“Kevin, if you light that cigar up in here you’ll be eating it instead of smoking it.” Summer warned as she glared at him.