Page 24 of The Summer Arrangement
“She’s getting there though,” Lanie encourages. “We’ve been watching from the house.”
“You ready?” Ryan asks once she’s settled.
With a single nod, Milli tightens her hold on the handles.
“Chin over the handlebar,” I remind her as she pushes off with her feet.
My breath catches in my throat with her wobbly start, but after a few strides, she seems to get her rhythm, and I finally breathe again.
Lanie and I follow the two of them as Ryan does his best to keep her upright. “Keep it steady, squirt. Look straight ahead.”
This works for a few strides, then Milli’s head drops, and the bike wobbles once again.
“Focus on what’s in front of you,” Ryan encourages. “I won’t let you fall.”
“Chin over the bar, Mills,” I call out, thankful for the reprieve from chasing her.
Ryan’s a saint. I was just about to suggest a break, and he’s clearly saving the day. Milli’s having a blast. His white knuckles grip the seat, and I know he’s the one doing all the balancing in this endeavor, but he encourages her to go further. “You’ve got this, squirt. Watch out for that bench.”
“Iz, look at me. I’m doing it!” Milli shouts when she finally stabilizes again.
Lanie claps beside me as we jog to keep up. “You are! You’re such a big girl!”
Her little tongue pops out the side of her mouth as she pushes the bike faster with her feet.
She must truly be balancing because suddenly, Ryan’s grip relaxes, and his hand hovers inches from the seat behind her.
“Woo-hooo! You’re doing it, Mills!” I shout, getting caught up in the moment.
As if I jinxed her, she suddenly looks down, and the bike wobbles once again.
Ryan’s quick and grabs her seat just as she tilts to one side.
Cringing, I watch as he does his best to settle her. With inches to spare, he hoists her with his other hand and somehow hurdles himself over the bike as it falls. Fortunately, she never grazes the pavement below her.
Whew, crisis averted.
Her bike isn’t as lucky. As it clatters to the ground, I cringe at what could have happened.
Milli isn’t fazed in the slightest as she pumps a fist into the air enthusiastically. “That’s fun! Let’s do it again!”
“All right, squirt. Let’s do this!” Ryan says, once her feet are back on the ground.
The two of them spend the next twenty minutes roaming back and forth along the path. Once I realize Ryan’s got things handled, I stand near the path to our house, out of their way.
When Ryan’s just far enough not to hear, I lean into my sister and whisper, “You’ve got quite the catch there. He’s amazing with her.”
He towers over her but never is more than inches from her seat. It’s almost comical how he contorts to match her size. But the reality is, he’s spending his lunch hour making a practical stranger’s day.
“Oh, I know he’s gonna be a great dad,” Lanie agrees. “This right here… is just one of many reasons I love that man.”
Our conversation stalls as we watch him pick her up, bike and all, and turn them to come back toward us. Once Milli moves again, Lanie says, “Can you keep a secret?”
Raising a brow at her audacity, I state, “You have to ask?”
“I know, you’re the keeper of so many secrets inourfamily. But we’re thinking about trying to start a family of our own soon.”
“That’s incredible!” I start, but she shushes me and pulls me in for the hug I desperately want to give her.
