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“Showtime!” Gillian grins, squeezing my arm. “See you out there.”
I kiss my sister’s cheek and then kiss baby Aurora who is babbling excitedly on Gillian’s hip. Aurora came only a few months after Owen and is a carbon copy of her sister, Stella, when she was a baby, which reminds me –
“Good luck, Aunt Kira,” Stella says, popping up beside me.
I can’t believe how tall Stella has gotten over the past couple of years. Nearly ten years old, shooting up like a weed. “You look beautiful, Stell.”
We hug as she takes her place next to Gillian, resting her head on her mother’s arm.
“Thank god I don’t have to carry a baby down the aisle, my lower back is killing me from these shoes,” Harley groans, swooping little Tana by the hand and into their spot. Tana toddles excitedly, nearly tripping over her little fairy dress. Tana won’t be an only child for long. When it became clear to Harley and Grant it would be harder to conceive another child than it was to conceive Tana, they immediately set their sights on adoption. They’re heading to Haiti next month to collect their little boy, Henri.
From the corner, I hear a wail. “No!”
“Mia, you have to –” Dana coos gently, trying to pick Mia up off the ground.
“No, no, no! No up!” Dana and Drew’s little one has gotten very good with her words, “no” being her favorite one.
“I have to pick you up for just a little bit, baby,” she says.
“Walk,” Mia says, crossing her chubby arms across her chest. She’s also gotten very good at walking, a skill she apparently wants to show off today of all days.
Dana sighs.
“Dana,” I call out, bobbing Owen on my knee. “It’s fine. Let her walk.”
“It will take forever, Kira,” my older sister says.
“That’s fine. We all get along just fine back here, don’t we?” I twiddle my fingers against Owen’s belly and he squeals with laughter.
I feel Dad’s hand on my shoulder. “Kira’s right. You take your time.”
Smiling, I glance up at my dad. He’s been rather quiet through all the hubbub of my sisters getting themselves and their little ones ready. In fact, he’s been quiet for a while. Weeks if not months. Something’s on his mind. I’m determined to find out what.
“Go,” the wedding planner whispers to Amy.
While the wedding planner bids my sisters into their order, Dad and I hang back. Owen reaches his hands up to Dad. “You want Grandpa?”
“Yes, he does. Who doesn’t want Grandpa?” Dad says, swiping Owen into his arms, peppering his chubby cheeks with kisses.
“Guess I should probably stand and act like I’m actually getting married,” I say with a wry laugh. I get to my feet, spread my hands down my dress, and take a deep breath.
“You’re remarkably calm. Never seen someone so calm,” my dad says.
I shrug. “I don’t know. Kind of just feels like another day. A great day, but still…” Just another step into my forever with Orlie. That’s what it’s like every day. Since Owen came into the world and our bond was sealed, Orlie and I have been a team. Strong and solid. Whether it’s at the office working on our latest project or at home teaching our son ‘The Itsy Bitsy Spider’, we are a united front.
Dad wraps his arm around me and kisses the side of my head.
“Okay, last call –” Dana says from the doorway. “Am I picking her up or –”
“Let the girl walk, Dana!” Dad says.
The wedding planner holds the curtain open and Mia toddles through, Dana hurriedly grabbing her hand to help her down the step. “I’ll give you two a moment,” the planner says softly before scuttling outside.
Dad and I make our way to our spots and I take Owen back, tucking him onto my hip. His near-permanent spot. He’s such a mommy’s boy.
“How does it feel? Giving your last daughter away?”
“Uh –” He gives me a quick fleeting glance. “Good.”
