The Constable's Child

Deciding on a Name

One cool evening, Ichabod and Katrina were sitting on a stone bench in the small yard outside their house and gazing at the sunset together.

"Breathtaking..." Ichabod lamented.

"Indeed." Katrina said, resting her head on her husband's shoulder and smiling.

"Although, I've been led to believe that the sunsets back in Sleepy Hollow would be far lovelier than this."

"Actually, no. Most of the weather in Sleepy Hollow usually consisted of dark, gray days with the sky covered with clouds and sometimes a bit of rain... especially in autumn or spring."

"Speaking of Sleepy Hollow, I'm glad our child isn't going to grow up living in fear of a Headless Horseman invading."

"You and me both..."

The two sat in silence until Ichabod let out a small sigh. Katrina looked up at her husband.

"Ichabod? What's wrong?" She asked.

"Hmm? Oh nothing, Katrina." Ichabod replied. "I was just... thinking about my mother again. It's just such a shame that our baby will never know her."

"Oh..." Katrina said, nodding her head. "I know how you feel. I'm sad our child will never know any of its grandparents."

Ichabod wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulder and she smiled at him. After another few moments of silence, a thought suddenly popped into Katrina's head; she sat straight and looked back up at her husband.

"Ichabod? Which are you hoping for?" She asked.

Ichabod sat up straight and looked over at her, pausing for a moment. In thinking about it, he couldn't believe that they hadn't discussed this yet.

"What do you mean?" He asked, cocking his head to the side.

"Which are you expecting the baby to be; a boy or a girl?" She asked.

"Oh, well... I'll be happy either way." Ichabod replied simply. "It doesn't really matter to me. What about you?"

"I... believe it doesn't matter to me either." Katrina said, slowly nodding her head before thinking of something else. "Speaking of which, what are we going to name the baby?"

"Name it? Well... I don't know."

"Perhaps for now, we can pick out two names; one if it's a girl and one if it's a boy. How about that?" Katrina suggested.

"Hmmm... Good idea." Ichabod chuckled, nodding his head.

The two sat there in silence for a few long moments, thinking of fitting names to call their baby. Then Ichabod came up with one.

"Very well. What about Jonathon or Charles?" He asked.

"No, I think not." Katrina said. "They both sound a little too formal for my tastes. And besides, I want our baby's name to be unique, something different, something special..."

"Like what?"

"I've got it! How about Wilhelm?"

"Wilhelm? After one the Brothers Grimm?"

"Why not? I've always liked that name anyway. And it isn't very common around here so..."

Ichabod was about to argue before he thought about how nice the name Wilhelm actually sounded. He smiled at Katrina before saying,

"You know, that's not half bad. Wilhelm Crane... I like it."

Katrina smiled widely at his response as he placed his hand on her stomach.

"What about girl's names?" He asked.

"Oh, right... Any ideas?" Katrina said.

"How about Catherine?" Ichabod asked.

"Um... no, I don't think so. I've never really like that name... and it sounds a little too much like my name. Sorry."

"It's alright. Do you have any suggestions?"

"Victoria?"

"No, too common."

"Amelia?"

"Ugh, no."

"Madeline?"

"Sorry, but no; there are still more options. Let me think... Oh! I know. How about Josephine? I've always found it a pretty name."

"It is pretty. Josephine Crane... I like it."

"Then it's settled; Josephine for a girl and Wilhelm for a boy."

Katrina smiled widely as Ichabod smiled back at her. The decisions were sealed with a gentle, quick kiss.

"I love you." Ichabod whispered, giving his wife's belly a pat.

Then he looked down at his hand, still resting on Katrina's stomach.

"I love you both..." He amended.