Chapter 12.

"Isabella?"

"Eh," Andi shrugged. "Overused. Charlotte?"

"Meh, too snooty," Amber said. "Ello, my name is Charlotte Quinn," she said in an upper-class British Accent, sticking her pinkie out for emphasis.

Andi giggled. She and Amber were sprawled out on Andi's bed, looking through baby names on a phone app they'd downloaded. Bex's baby was coming any day, maybe even that day; she'd been having contractions. And Andi still hadn't found the perfect name.

"What about Michaela?" Amber suggested.

"Michaela Quinn as in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman?" Andi laughed.

"Huh?" Amber asked, furrowing her brow. "Who's that?"

"It was a TV show from the 90's," Andi explained. "I used to watch the reruns with Cece."

"So, I guess that's a no," Amber sighed, rolling over on her stomach.

"How about Cinderella?" Avery offered from Andi's bedroom floor, where she was coloring in a princess coloring book.

Amber and Andi looked at each other. "No way!" they said in unison, bursting into laughter.

Amber and Andi were getting along better, since their talk on the porch, the night Avery ran away. And Avery and Amber had become closer too. Andi realized it was fun having a friend next door, even if she used to be your enemy. Better to have a new friend than an old enemy, anyway.

Andi scrolled down the list of names again, hoping to find something she loved. Finally, one name jumped out at her... and she knew. "Oh my gosh! I think I found it!" She passed Amber her phone.

Amber's eyes widened. "It's perfect!"

"Come on! I want to tell my mom."

Andi and Amber skidded into the living room, their socks sliding on the wood floors. Avery tagged along behind.

Bex was sitting on the couch, her immense belly sticking up in the air, eating Ben and Jerry's straight out of the carton. "Hey, Andiman!" She held her spoon out. "Want a bite?"

"Not right now," Andi chirped. "Mom, I think I finally found the perfect name for the baby!"

Bex's face brightened, her dark eyes lighting up. "Tell me, tell me!" She clasped her hands together excitedly.

"Feel free to toss it out if you don't like it," Andi told her. "No hard feelings."

"Okay," Bex said, licking her spoon. "But I know I'll love it. Now hurry up and tell me! I need to know!"

Andi took a deep breath. "I want to name our baby... Mackenzie."

"Mackenzie." Bex tested the name thoughtfully.

"Because it starts with Mack," Andi explained. "And she's a Mack too, even though her last name will be Quinn. It would be a way to honor Pops and Cece, and to remember where we came from. What do you think?"

Bex's eyes welled with tears, which she left unchecked. "I do love it! Oh... Mackenzie! We could even call her Mack for short! It's perfect, Andi!"

She gathered Andi in a hug and kissed her cheeks over and over. "I knew it! I knew you'd pick the right name, my amazing girl!"

"Do you think dad will like it?" Andi asked between kisses.

"I know he will!" Bex assured her. "He'll feel it too. The universe has spoken."

Suddenly, Bex went rigid, her face becoming pale.

"What's wrong?" Andi asked.

Bex looked down at the floor. She was standing in a puddle of water.

"Uh-oh," Avery said, putting her hand over her mouth. "You had an accident."

Bex laughed, despite her discomfort. "No, honey. My water broke. It means the baby is coming!"

"What do we do?" Andi asked, her heart pounding.

"We go to the hospital," Bex told her calmly. "And we have a baby. Andi, get my bag from the closet. I'll call your dad."

"Andi," Bowie said softly, shaking his daughter's shoulder. "Honey?"

Andi jerked upright in her waiting room chair, where she'd been dozing on Pops' shoulder. "What's going on?" She rubbed her eyes sleepily.

Bowie looked over at Ham and smiled, then took his daughter's hand. "Andi, honey, you're a big sister. The baby is here. And she's healthy and beautiful."

Andi sat up, becoming more alert. "Oh my gosh! That's great! How's mom?"

"Mom is doing fine," he assured her, giving her hand a squeeze. "She's pretty tired, but she did so good. She's asking for you."

Andi noticed Bowie looked tired too. His hair was a mess, and there were dark circles under his eyes. Bex had been in labor almost a full day, and no one had gotten much rest. "Can I see them now?" she asked, standing up.

"Of course you can," he nodded. "For a little while." He gestured to Ham. "Both of you."

They followed Bowie to Bex's delivery room. Bex was propped up in bed, and Andi could see that she really did look exhausted, but she was absolutely glowing. And in her arms, she cradled a tiny bundle, wrapped in a striped receiving blanket.

"Mom?" Andi said quietly.

"Andi." Bex smiled proudly. "Come here. Come meet your baby sister."

Andi went to her mother's bedside, as Bowie moved the blanket back from the baby's face.

"Andi," Bex said. "Meet Mackenzie Celia Quinn."

Mackenzie's eyes were closed, but Andi could tell she was beautiful. She had chubby cheeks, and pink rosebud lips. A pink hat covered her wispy black hair. In awe, she watched the baby yawn silently, wriggling in Bex's arms.

"She's beautiful," she finally breathed. "I can't believe she's real."

"She's lovely, honey," Ham said. "Oh, let me hold her!" He took the infant from Bex's arms, cradling her delicately. "She reminds me so much of you when you were born." He looked down at his wife, who was sitting next to their daughter's bed. "Doesn't she, Celia?"

"Her middle name is Celia?" Cece asked quietly. Tears slid down her cheeks. She dabbed at them delicately with a tissue.

Bex nodded, reaching for her mother's hand. "We wanted her to be named after a strong woman, and you're the strongest woman we know."

"That's wonderful, you guys," Ham smiled, tearfully.

Cece reached out to touch Bex's cheek. "Thank you, Rebecca." She looked up at Bowie. "Both of you. You don't know what this means to me." She smiled softly, stroking Bex's damp hair. "I love you."

Bex blinked back surprised tears. "Mom... you haven't said that to me in so long. Not since... I don't even remember."

"I've always loved you, and I always will," Cece told her firmly. "You're my daughter."

"I love you too, mom," Bex said.

Celia bent down and kissed Bex's cheek. "We'll give the four of you some time alone."

Ham passed the baby to Bowie. Then, he kissed Bex, too. "We're so proud of you, honey," he told her. "I love you."

"I love you too, dad," Bex said.

Andi smiled, realizing that an empty space had just been filled in her mother's heart, too.

On their way out, Cece patted Bowie's shoulder. "Congratulations, daddy," she winked, before she and Ham left the room. Bowie smiled proudly.

After Cece and Pops were gone, Bex looked to Andi. "Can I have a hug?"

Andi looked down at her mom, unsure.

Bex laughed. "It's okay. I'm not going to break." She held her arms out for her daughter.

Andi bent down to hug her mother as best as she could, laying her head on her chest. "I love you, mama."

"I love you too, baby." She pressed her dry lips to Andi's temple.

"I still can't believe I have a baby sister," Andi breathed. "Can... can I touch her?"

"Andi, you can hold her," Bex said. "Sit down and daddy will give her to you."

Andi sat down in the chair next to her mom's bed. "Make sure you're supporting her head," Bowie said, gently placing the infant in her waiting arms. Mackenzie whimpered softly, almost like a kitten mewing, and scrunched up her tiny little face. She was so soft, and so light. "There you go," he said, adjusting Andi's elbow. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "You look like a big sister already."

Andi cradled the baby close. "Hi, Mackenzie," she cooed. "I'm your big sister, Andi. You're so pretty!"

"She looks just like you did when your were born," Bex told her proudly. "This really takes me back."

"She does?" Andi asked, unable to tear her eyes away from the infant.

Bex nodded. "There's no doubt you two are sisters."

"I agree," Bowie smiled. He took his wife's hand and kissed her knuckles. "We make beautiful babies."

"I love her so much already," Andi said. "And I just met her."

Bowie took Bex's camera out of her bag. "Let me get a picture of our girls." Andi looked up and smiled as her dad snapped a photo. Slowly, the Polaroid ejected from the camera.

Then, the baby began to fuss, and Bowie lifted her from Andi's arms and placed her back on Bex's chest.

Andi picked up the developed photo and looked at it with a smile. It was definitely going in her memory box.

The end... thanks for reading!