Page 42 of Christmas on Ice
“Uncle Trask!”
I squatted down to catch the purple blur torpedoing toward me. “How’s my girl?” I asked Mylee.
She frowned and slitted her eyes. “You always say, ‘How’s myfavoritegirl?’ like that song you sing to me.” Shifting in my arms, she pointed to Ryleigh. “Issheyour favorite girl now?”
Yikes, when did four-year-olds get so perceptive? I angled my mouth over her ear. “You’ll always be my favorite. Just don’t tell Ryleigh, okay? We don’t want her to be sad.”
“Oh no.” Mylee looked aghast. “No sadness at weddings!”
To save money, Brooklyn and Brian opted to do the rehearsal dinner barbecue-style in my older sister Marsha’s backyard. After I introduced her to my parents, Kami and I sat with Marsha and her husband, Chad, watching Ryleigh and Mylee swing and slide on the massive playset.
“They’re getting along great,” Marsha said. “Mylee was afraid she’d be the only kid at the wedding.”
“Ryleigh reminds me of Mylee so much,” I said. “I knew they’d be fast friends.” It hit me how easily Kami and Ryleigh were fitting in with my family. Like they were meant to be here.
“They do seem to have a lot in common,” Kami remarked.
Suddenly, the girls erupted in a fit of giggles. I watched as they looked over at us, pointed and giggled some more. I waved, which caused more giggling,
They slid down the slide and ran toward us. Mylee climbed into my lap while Ryleigh went to Kami. “Uncle Trask, is it true?” she asked. “Do they call you the Tiggerman?”
Now we all were laughing. “Just Ryleigh,” I said. “Why?”
“Itistrue!” Mylee’s expression was beyond gleeful. “That’s so funny!” She slid off my lap and ran to Marsha, already on to the next thing. “Mommy, where’s my basket? I want to show Ryleigh how I practice.”
“You left it at your Auntie Brooklyn’s table, I think.”
“Okay!”
The girls were off again, and I just sat there, sipping a drink and smiling. It was good to be home, and any thoughts of Kami feeling awkward around my family were erased the longer we sat here.
I looked up when I saw Brooklyn being pulled toward us, each of the little girls tugging a hand.
“Mylee had an idea, and I think it’s wonderful,” Brooklyn announced.
“I’m gonna be a flower girl!” Ryleigh jumped, pulling on Brooklyn’s hand. “If you say yes, Mommy?”
“Um…” Kami looked from Ryleigh to Brooklyn. “You don’t have a flower girl dress, sweetie. I don’t think there’s time before the wedding tomorrow to get you one.”
Ryleigh’s lower lip stuck out and quivered. Brooklyn spoke quickly. “She can wear any dress she’d like.”
“Can I wear my Thinter Bale dress?” Ryleigh asked. “It’s soooo pretty!”
Kami covered her mouth with her hand, hiding a smile. “I’m not sure that’s what Brooklyn had in mind when she said you could wearanydress.”
“But—”
“I know!” Mylee shouted. “You can wear my first dress, Ryleigh!”
“That’s right,” Marsha said. “Mylee outgrew the first dress we bought her, and I keep forgetting to return it. I’m sure it will fit you, Ryleigh.”
“It’s beeeeeeautiful! Come on! Let’s go to my room and dress up!” She took Ryleigh’s hand, and they were off again.
It was so easy to imagine Kami and Ryleigh fitting into my family. Suddenly, I wasn’t scared anymore. I knew in my soul that they were my future and I’d do everything in my power to hold onto them, even when my job took me away.
22
Kami
