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"Okay, I'm awake," she smiled, her eyes struggling to stay open. "I just caught a glimpse of the time, but I'm still awake."

"Do you know what you want to name the baby, yet?" he carefully inquired.

Abby noticed the hesitant look in his eyes, as if he were about to ask some kind of favor from her.

"No, but you do," she guessed. "What is it?"

"Could we name the baby after Dick?" he hopefully wondered.

"Dick?" sighed Abby, with a small frown.

"He led me to Christ," explained Jake, pained to see the way she was reacting to his suggestion. "Dick was there so many times for me in prison, and I owe him so much."

"Dick Murphy," mused Abby, trying the name out loud. "I don't like it, Jake."

Disappointed, Jake dropped his head back onto his pillow, and Abby could hear him audibly sigh.

"His full name is Richard," he informed her. "It doesn't have to be 'Dick.' Besides you, he was the first real friend I've ever had, and I'd like to thank him, somehow."

"Rich Murphy," Abby frowned. She didn't like the sound of that, any better.

"How about Rick?" proposed Jake, watching her out of the corner of his eye. The fact that she was still listening was enough to make him cautiously hopeful.

"Rick Murphy," she lightly touched her belly. "I suppose, we could nickname him Ricky. If we don't, Uncle Terry will."

"I suppose he would," agreed Jake, trying to hold back his enthusiasm until he was sure he had Abby's agreement.

"I get to pick Ricky's middle name," she laughed, as Jake's face broke out into a wide grin.

"Anything you want!" he exclaimed. "Thank you, Abby!"

"I hope Dick appreciates how much you love him," she sighed, as her husband gratefully hugged her.

"Abby?" asked Jake, suddenly getting a sober thought. "You're not sorry I didn't want to name Ricky after your father, are you? You know I think the world of Dad."

"I know you do," she replied, touching Jake's arm understandingly. "I'm not sorry, Jake. Richard is a good name."

"Dick has been such a faithful friend," breathed Jake, resting his cheek against hers. "I would've been lost without him. I can always rely on his good judgment."

Abby held her tongue. She could have debated Jake's last remark, but for his sake, remained quiet. If it hadn't been for Dick convincing Jake to testify at the hearing... well, the less said about that, the better. The young wife was eager to move on with their lives.

Later that day, Terry loaded the last baby into the three seated triplet stroller, and secured their tiny pink, yellow, and green buntings to keep out the cold. After making sure their blankets were snugly in place, he stepped back to see if it would pass Izumi's watchful inspection.

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