(They've had this talk often enough now, in fact, that he doesn't feel any particular need to go through it again. His position is that they made a point of giving their daughter a name with many different possible variations, so there's no reason not to use any given variation until she's old enough to express a preference of her own.

... in the meantime, he'll probably use Jessie as often as anything else.)

Simon cradles her against his shoulder with the crook of his arm, fingers spread to support her back and head, as he carefully gets to his feet.

"If she stays this sleepy," he says with cautious optimism, "I'll be back down in time to help with dinner."