“That’s right.” Myles trotted back to his place beside the minister. “Let’s try that again.”
The processional started. The attendants, predictably, made it down the aisle. Then it was time for Preston. With one last look at his aunt, he trotted the length of the aisle, albeit at about twice the tempo of the song. But he made it, coming straight to Myles.
“Great job, buddy!” He gave the boy another fist bump, then lifted him up on his shoulders to watch the rest of the show.
Preston immediately grabbed his ears, as if they were reins, leaning forward to look for his aunt. “Pie?”
“She’s coming. Just watch.”
She’d opted not to be escorted and flounced down the aisle with a bow bouquet and a silly face for her nephew that was clearly trying Gram’s tolerance for lack of decorum. Preston bounced, clapping his hands against Myles’ head. Myles shifted his grip on the kid to make sure he didn’t slide down in his excitement.
Tucker leaned in. “Your grandmother doesn’t look thrilled with the deviation from the plan,” he murmured.
“Nope.”
“She’s really going to have a fit over what you’ve really planned for tomorrow.”
“Yep.”
“You really want to go through with it?”
Myles thought of the surprise he’d roped their theater friends into for Piper. They’d been working feverishly all week to pull it off. “At the end of the day it’s our wedding. Gram wants a production. We’ll give her one.”
Piper took her place beside him beneath the vine covered pergola. “Good job, Pres.”
“MyPie!” he cheered.
“That’s it,” Myles said. “We’re legit now. We’ve officially been made a portmanteau.”
Piper grinned. “Well, I supposed it’s better than Myper or Piles.”
“Dearly beloved. Uh, Myles, would you like to divest yourself of your passenger?” Reverend Emmons asked.
“Nah, I’m good. He’s happy. The sooner we get through this, the sooner we can all go eat.”
That ended up being an excellent tactic. They were able to zip through the steps of the ceremony in twenty minutes, with one more trial run of the processional for Preston to walk down to Myles and wait for Piper—from the ground this time.
“And then you’ll all recess in reverse order and make your way to the elevator and down to the top floor to wait, while guests clear out to the reception in the ballroom before coming back up here for pictures.”
“By jove, I think we’ve got it,” Myles declared. “And I think we’re all starving. You hungry, little man?”
“Yeah!”
“Me too!” Myles handed him off to Leah, who shook her head in amazement.
“Piper may have competition for favorite relative. You’re great with him.”
“I get a kick out of him.” Way more than he’d expected. Myles had never been around small children that much. All his friends from his big city paper days were focused on career, as he’d been. Few of them were married and none of them had been thinking about families. Watching Leah walk away with a waving Preston perched on her hip, he thought they were probably missing out.
At the head of the aisle, Piper leaned in to give her nephew a smacking kiss, making the little boy giggle with delight. She was so relaxed and easy with kids. It was easy to imagine her beaming at another little face with her impish grin and his eyes. She’d make a great mom, and it’d be fun to see what kind of trouble their little black sheep family could get into.
Family.
Well, holy shit.
Piper slipped her arm through his. “You realize you’ve just been drafted for the official babysitting roster, right?”
Still reeling from his little fantasy, he murmured, “I don’t mind. It’s good practice.” He didn’t realize that had slipped out of his mouth until he saw the stunned expression on Piper’s face. “You know, for someday.”