Chapter 67

Early one morning, but not too early, Taylor sat down at the dinner table in a daze.

"Who was on the phone Tay?" Rita asked.

Taylor was quiet for a moment.

"The, umm, the baby was born during the night." He said finally.

Rita and Zac looked at each other, then back at Taylor.

"So, so what's going to happen?" she asked.

"And you know something?" Taylor asked, apparently not hearing the question. "Whatever-her-name-was died during the birth."

"Oh my gosh."

"Some hereditary thing. She bled to death."

"You know, I never liked the girl, but that's, that's, I don't think she deserved to die." Zac said.

There was a brief silence.

"What, what about the baby?" Rita asked.

More silence.

"Well, her family doesn't want it, but that's understandable seeing as most of them are retired or whatever, and don't want to look after any more kids. So, umm, either I - we - take it in, or I put it up for adoption."

"I guess you finally have to make up your mind Tay." Zac said.

Taylor nodded, and there was more silence. Slow conversation huh?

"Rita? What do you want?"

"Me?"

"Yes, I…you were there too. Maybe not conscious but you were there. And, and if you think you could live with that - that reminder, then I think I could too."

Rita nodded.

"Ok… let's umm… let's take it in. What is it anyway? Boy or girl?"

"Boy." Taylor managed a smile. "Apparently what's-her-name was insisting it be named Jordan Taylor Hanson Jr."

"Talk about obsessed." Zac commented, shaking his head.

"We pretty much have, uhh, naming rights though." Taylor continued. "I don't think I want to name him that though."

Rita nodded again.

"Yeah, well, do yourself a favour and don't ask Ike and Babsie for suggestions." Zac said with a grin. "They'd probably suggest something like Wolverine Spiderman Hanson. Or Iceman Beast Hanson. Or maybe something really dumb like I'm So Hanson. Or maybe…"

Chapter 68