Ch 64

Ch 64
“Jade?" suggested Ian.
Eden was speechless.
“Really? You want to give her the name Ivan wanted for his child?”
“Would you mind very much? I think she should have something that connects her to her father, even if he doesn't deserve it. Maybe not as a first name: people know that Ivan and I weren't very close. But as a middle name, why not? What was your mother's name, or do you have an idea?”
“Nadia. My sisters are called Hanna and Selena. why not Amara?”
“Are you sure?”
“And sure, even if you don't realize it yet, you're her father Ian. I want her to have a name that connects you to her.”
“Amara-Jade Boyle”
“Oh, yes Did you hear that, Amara? Your dad gave you a name.” 
Eden glanced briefly at Ian and said to herself.
“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said Dad, like that. I just thought.”
“You were just thinking. I've already explained to our daughter that she has to listen to what her daddy says. So she stopped crying and looked at me attentively. Squinting a little, of course, but hardly”
Eden burst out laughing and rested her head on the pillow. 
Ian took the opportunity to put an arm around her.
“A family," Eden thought as she drifted off to sleep. 
“We're a family, and that's fine," the omega suddenly felt a twinge of sadness. 
All was not perfect, however. 
The man laying here was not in love with her. 
But he was tender and looked after her. 
Ian undoubtedly loved her, in his own way. It would have to do. 
And that was probably more than most omegas got. 
Eden felt the muscles in Ian’s arm tighten. 
He must have been tired too. But there was still one point they hadn't discussed yet.
“Who would her godparents be? Eden asked.
“I've heard that, in the aristocracy, they always appoint more than one.”
“That's right. There'll be my aunt, of course.”
“And Iris?”
“If you like. And your sisters, whom you can represent in church.”
“Oh, yes! Thank you, Ian. What about godparents? I think we could ask Lucas”
“Good idea. Lucas, Jasper and my cousin Alastor, the Duke of Avery…”
“A duke? Wow! Are you very close to him?”
“Yes, we're very good friends. He's young, rich, influential, everything you could ask for in a godfather.” He sighed.
“I feel I'm going to have a lot to do, as the father of this young lady. All these gallants I'm going to have to chase away with my cane.Because I see she already has her mother's sweet face.”
“And your eyes too. so brown.”
“And a duke for a godfather! I'll have to endow her miserably," joked the alpha.
"to keep the crowd of suitors from rushing to her feet.”
“When's the christening?”
“Not before the New Year, now. Everyone's off on a trip: the Westwoods in Yorkshire, Alastor in his Lincolnshire lands, Lucas, from what he tells me, with friends in Bristol..As for my Aunt, she’s off to London, as she always does, and won't be back for a while. We'll choose a date, talk to the vicar, write to the godparents, then draw up a guest list and organize a reception.”
“We'll have to invite your aunts from London," suggested Eden. 
“I'd love to meet them.”
Eden was delighted to welcome new guests to her home, whereas just a few months earlier, the very prospect had made her tremble. 
How she’s changed! If only he could have invited her sisters.
“I'll see if I can't get Bishop Huntingford to perform the christening himself," said Ian, his voice growing drowsy.
“A duke and a bishop," murmured Eden, impressed. 
“What great characters we have here.”
Eden’s only response was her husband's deep breathing and the barely audible breathing of the baby, who was also falling asleep.
“I think I'll do as you do," murmured the omega, before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep, happier than ever.