Harper and Owen could not.

PART 2 — Two Names Before Morning

My daughter was born at 11:17 that night.

She had a furrowed forehead and an indignant cry that made me laugh and cry at once.

I saw her face, felt her close for a brief moment, and then the team continued the checks they needed to complete.

“Harper,” I said.

The name felt different spoken to a person instead of imagined over a folded piece of clothing.

I had pictured telling Garrett both names over dinner.