"Mmm..."
"If... if it's a boy, what do you think if naming him Duane?"
Taylor was silent for a moment, then stared into Rita's eyes.
"I think it's a very bad idea."
"You... you do?"
"Yes."
There was quiet for a moment.
"Why?"
"A few reasons. Firstly, if we actually called him Duane in day-to-day, I think it would be... confusing, especially to the kids. Secondly, it would feel like we're trying to, to replace Duane. Which we aren't. Are we?"
"It wouldn't feel like that to me. Wouldn't it be more like honouring his memory?"
"Not like this. Not to me. And think about how the other kids would feel huh? Their brother dies and the next thing they know, their parents have another baby and name him Duane. Yeah, I would feel like it was an attempt to replace him. And you can't replace people, Rita. It's a dishonour to their memory, and it's not fair on the person that the baby will grow to be. He can't grow up thinking he's a substitute for someone. He shouldn't have to live thinking he's supposed to be someone else."
"It was just an idea."
Taylor gave her a smile.
"I'm not trying to replace Duane."
"I'm glad to hear it."
"You think I am, don't you?"
Taylor chewed his lip for a moment.
"I can't help but remember that after you lost one baby when you were shot, you got pregnant soon thereafter. And now..." he trailed off. "I kept telling myself that you wouldn't behave like that but..."
Rita burst into tears and Taylor enveloped her in his arms.
"I miss him so much!" she wept.
"I understand, Rita. I do! But I think... I think the worst thing we can do is have a baby for the sole purpose of pretending he's someone he's not. The hole Duane has made in our hearts can never be replaced, and we shouldn't try to. Let this baby be his - or her - own person, okay? It's the most important thing we can do. And the best thing. We'll never forget Duane."
Rita sniffed.
"Especially when we have 'Duane's Song'," she said with a woeful smile.
Taylor smiled back.
"That too."