ittle and womanly." According to the book of baby names Maggie had given Charlie, that's what the name "Charlotte" meant. Charlie wasn't sure she liked it very much, but since her figure was presently so big, anything that called her little or small had to be positive. A rumble of night thunder sounded outside their bedroom, and Charlie noticed that it didn't disturb the man sleeping beside her in bed. For once, Adam had fallen asleep at bedtime like a normal person, and unwittingly left Charlie to endure her wakefulness alone. She usually wasn't the one to battle insomnia, and it had taken Charlie by surprise.

Wearily, Charlie flipped through the small book. Even though Maggie had known that Charlie's unborn son already had a name, Maggie had insisted that Charlie at least have a look. "It's fun finding out what names mean!" Maggie had laughed.

As Charlie scanned the list of "M" names, she had to admit this was interesting. To her delight, she discovered that "Matthew" meant "gift from Jehovah."

"How appropriate," Charlie mused quietly. Her hand gently caressed the belly in front of her, while the baby inside continued to kick. "Are you ready to let your mother go to sleep yet, Matthew?"

As if the caress had touched him as well, Adam stirred beside Charlie, and he sleepily looked up at his wife. "Can't sleep?" he blinked groggily.

"Matthew's awake," Charlie shook her head. "It's two in the morning, and I'm afraid he's already taking after his father."

Adam placed a warm hand on Charlie's belly and smiled in spite of the late hour. "He's really moving around in there!"

"Adam, why can't you have insomnia when I do?" she lamented. "I've been struggling to go to sleep all night!"

"Hardly seems fair, does it?" he grinned at her sympathetically.

"There goes Matthew again," sighed Charlie, as she felt another kick inside her womb.

"Why don't you get up and move around?" suggested Adam. "Maybe the movement will rock him to sleep."

"I've already tried that," Charlie whimpered. "Every time I lie down, he starts up again!"

Tossing the covers back, Adam climbed out of bed. Even though it was late spring, the carpeted floor felt cold to his bare feet. "I'll be right back," Adam yawned, nearly stumbling over the dog as he left the bedroom. "Stay off the bed, Wally."

Harmlessly, Wally raised her head and watched until Adam had left the bedroom. Then, seeing her chance, the dog jumped onto the mattress and found a warm place beside Charlie. The young woman petted Wally and continued to read from her book.