Page 229 of Perfect Pitch

“What should we name him, darling?” Paige rasped.

She studied his face as she hummed a song to him. Then I felt my heart flip over when she said, “How about York?” Only I heard her tack on, “Maybe you can help name your future nephew years from now, little man. How does that sound?”

Then her eyes shot to her father. “Dad? What about his middle name?”

Paige spoke up before Beckett could. “Miles. I think it’s right since she was like a sister to your father and we lost her too soon.”

I’m not certain who cried the hardest—me or Beckett—over the strength of our women in accepting what they cannot change, instead using it to forge a stronger armor of love.

Kane brings me back to the here and now when he asks, “Was Mitch able to help you locate the missing bouquets, Austyn?”

Austyn doesn’t spare me a glance. I resign myself to playing second fiddle to a baby in a tux. Still, she doesn’t miss a beat. “No, but if we can’t find them, I’ll rip the flowers from the ground and I’ll make my mother one.”

Charlie rolls his eyes before handing me the diaper bag, which I sling over my shoulder.

Paige’s eyes well up. “That’s something your father would do.”

Austyn swallows convulsively before her eyes lift again to Paige. She says, “Yeah. He would.”

“Do not make me cry on my wedding day, Austyn. I refuse to have mascara streaking down my face in the photos,” Paige warns even as she cups her daughter’s face.

Austyn smiles and holds York with one arm while the fingers of her other hand clasp her mother’s wrist. “Come on, Mama. The press won’t be as vicious as the time you got busted for running out for coffee in your jammies.”

“Austyn Melissa Clifton, just keep it up,” Paige threatens.

Austyn cradles her brother tightly before bumping Paige with her hip to guide her toward the stone stairs leading to the location where—Christ, Beckett’s been waiting the last twenty minutes. And so has Keene. “If someone doesn’t get this wedding started, I’m going to shoot him,” was the last message from the upper garden. I groan aloud. I hope there’s a groom for Paige to marry. Everyone swings their heads in my direction. I try my best to assume a natural expression.

Austyn isn’t having it. She glares at me.

Fortunately, Paige’s exclamation takes the heat off me, “Austyn! Stop herding me like I’m a horse on your grandfather’s farm!”

Kane lifts his fingers to his ear before he walks over and holds out an arm to Paige. “Tyson, Jesse, and Ethan just arrived. Brendan Blake—and heaven help us, Keene—have had an eye on Becks. The minister’s just waiting on...”

Suddenly, five guns are whipped out and snapped in the direction of a harried delivery person. “I’m sorry I’m late. I got held up in traffic and then Mr. Miller’s security team wanted to inspect every petal!”

Kane lowers his weapon. I keep mine at a close rest next to my thigh as Kane strides forward. Austyn waits for me to holster my gun before handing me York. He starts to whimper until I nuzzle his soft cheeks. “Hey, buddy.”

Realizing it’s me, York settles as Austyn pulls out an immense bouquet of bluebonnets and champagne roses that she hands to Paige. Pulling out a smaller bouquet and one boutonniere, she hands the box to Kane and pleads with him sweetly to “Run.”

He does, sprinting toward the remainder of the wedding party waiting at the top of the stone steps.

Paige both hyperventilates and beams, something I’ve never witnessed a woman being able to do at the same time. “It’s really happening. We’re finally getting married.”

“Let’s not pass out now, Mama. Come on. You’re so close to finally legitimizing me,” Austyn teases.

Paige’s jaw drops before she cackles with laughter. “Oh, Austyn. I love you.”

Austyn reaches for her mother just as Paige’s father, Tyson Kensington, approaches. “I love you too, Mama.”

We all fall into a semi-circle around the two women ushering them to the base of the stone steps. As we make our way there, I hold out a hand for Austyn. She squeezes my fingers.

I keep my eyes trained on her as she ascends the steps behind her mother. Once they reach the top, Paige frowns before proclaiming, “I made a mistake.”

Everyone sucks in their breath. That is until she reaches up, whips the hat from Austyn’s head, and sends it flying down the stairwell from which we came. Carys, dressed identically to Austyn, appears to be holding her breath—as do Angie and Leanne Miles—Kane’s fiancée.

Paige gives a definitive nod. “Much better. You looked like a Stepford wife.”

Even as the other bridesmaids send their hats sailing, Austyn accepts the microphone she’ll keep hidden behind her flowers until after her mother’s hand is placed in her father’s.

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