Little Leslie
Ann had given birth to her second child in the spring. Leslie and Ben were there within a few hours, of course they were. Chris had been on the phone to Ben as Leslie frantically packed the car with the presents that she had accumulated over the past few months.
“Everyone is happy and healthy. We also have a surprise for Leslie.”
“You do?” Ben asked, a smile in his voice. “What does that mean?”
“You’ll see, Ben Wyatt.”
Leslie had been a ball of energy in the car, but she was even worse when they actually got to the hospital.
“ANN!” Leslie said, in the loudest stage whisper Ben had ever seen. He rolled his eyes fondly, moving to hug Chris, who had a big hug on his face.
“Leslie!” Ann said, a grin on her face.
“You look radiant. And so does the baby, oh my goodness. The most beautiful child I have ever seen!” She paused, turning to wince at Chris. “Aside from Oliver, obviously. Sorry.”
“And… our children?” Ben said, his face confused. Leslie waved him off, moving to hug Ann.
“Hello, little one!”
“She’s a she,” Ann told her. “Meet Leslie.”
“I’m pleased to meet you,” Leslie whispered. “What’s her name?”
Ben looked at Chris, getting the gist immediately, and feeling a burst of happiness. Chris nodded, a grin on his face. Ann’s own grin got wider.
“Meet Leslie,” she said again.
“I know, she’s met me, we're well acquainted. But what’s her name?” There was a long pause. Leslie froze, her eyes wide. “Oh. Oh.”
Before they knew it, she was crying tears of joy.
“Oh, you guys. Are you- are you sure?”
“Of course!” Ann said. “Of course we’re sure.”
“There is literally nobody else we would rather name our child after,” Chris said. Then he moved to take the baby, so Leslie could hug Ann tightly.
“I love you so much,” Leslie told Ann, who laughed.
“I love you too, Leslie.”
“Do you mean me or the daughter? Wait, stupid question. That’s the last time I’ll say that, I promise.”
Ann just laughed and squeezed her tighter.
When that was complete, after what felt like hours, Ben hugged Ann, and then the baby was returned and Leslie moved to hug Chris, and then Ben, who squeezed her tightly and kissed his wife’s forehead.
“She’s beautiful, you guys,” Ben told them. Ann smiled at him.
“Thanks, Ben.”
“She takes after her beautiful goddess mother,” Leslie said. “And her Dad too, of course.”
“Oh, it’s all Ann,” Chris said, kissing Ann on the lips. “Definitely.”
“Little Leslie,” Ann whispered.
There was so much love in that room, and the amount of love for Little Leslie only increased. She was just as radiant as her namesake, and Ann knew she had made the right decision in who to name her after. She never once doubted it.