Lindsay comes out first, and according to Josie, she’s wearing a light pink chiffon (whatever that is), off the shoulder dress. Apparently, just calling clothes by their name isn’t okay. Me, I’m in a black tux made by Armani – that is something I do know.
Once Lindsay is in her spot, the twins walk out and start dropping rose petals for their aunt. They wave at me when they walk by and I notice that their dresses match Lindsay’s. As soon as they get to the front, it’s my cue to play the Wedding March.
When Harrison and Yvie step out, I get choked up. She’s been like a sister to me and I couldn’t be happier to see her finally settling down with an amazing guy. I let the music trail off when they reach Xander, who stands there patiently waiting for his bride. I know what that’s like. It’s pure torture. I quietly take my seat next to Josie and kiss her on the cheek. Paige is sleeping in her arms and wearing a dress very similar to Lindsay, Peyton and Elle.
“Who gives this woman to be with this man?”
“Her family does,” Harrison says and I want to stand up and say ‘damn right’, but I bite my tongue. I’ll do that later.
Harrison kisses Yvie on the cheek and shakes Xander’s hand before taking a spot between his mom and Katelyn. I pat him on the shoulder and remind him he has two daughters, he better get used to it.
“We are gathered here today to witness the union of Yvie James and Alexander Knight. The meaning of true love is different for each of us. We can find it in a friend, a lover and if you’re one of the lucky ones, your soul mate. It’s what you do with that love that carves a path for your future. Yvie and Xander have taken their love for each other and shared it with the rest of you today.”
His words give me pause. I hadn’t realized that the love I have for Josie has been carving our path, but it makes sense.
Yvie and Xander exchange their vows and Quinn delivers the rings like a champ. Once they kiss, I’m out of my seat and back at the piano to play their song as they come back down the aisle. When Yvie gets to me, she presses her lips against my cheek. “Thank you, Liam.”
I continue to play until all the guests are out of the area. The reception is at the marina, not far from here, and most people are on their way there by the time I get the piano put away.
“Are you ready?” Josie asks me as I take Paige from her.
“Yes, let’s go party,” I say, holding my daughter’s arm up in the air and waving it around gently. Josie rolls her eyes, but she loves me so it’s okay.
The reception is huge, with all their college and work colleagues. I can see why they kept the ceremony to just family; the beach isn’t big enough to accommodate everyone. It’s a slight exaggeration, but we’d probably need three hundred chairs.
Dinner is served, champagne is flowing and I’m not drinking. It’s not some new lease in life, but out of respect for my wife and the fact that she’s breast-feeding and didn’t pump beforehand. However, being that I’m Liam Page, I can still have a good time.
“Uncle Liam, we’re ready,” Elle comes over and tugs on my jacket. Just like at my wedding, the kids have put together a musical number for Yvie and Xander. Harrison and I are helping them get set up and making sure everything is tuned properly.
“Okay, Elle, do you remember your lines?”
“Yep, I know them.”
“Noah, are you good?” He gives me thumbs up.
“Quinn?”
“I’m good, Uncle Liam.”
That leaves Peyton, but Harrison is taking care of her.
“This is for our Aunt Yvie and Uncle Xander,” Elle says into the microphone. Once the music starts people start moving in their seat. As soon as Elle sings the first verse to Elton John’s Tiny Dancer, Yvie and Xander are up dancing. Once they start, everyone joins in. I want to dance with Josie, but I need to be available for the kids in case something goes wrong.
The whole room is cheering loudly for the kids as they finish the song. They all bow and run off stage. One song a night is all they’re good for.
“That was awesome,” I say to Noah when he gets off stage.
“Thanks. I really like playing.”
“Me too,” I tell him.
The DJ starts in with his music and Noah asks Josie to dance. I take Paige from her who is wide awake and watching everything around the room.
“Someday, this will be you,” I tell her, earning a punch to the face from her flying hand. She starts to whine, so I stand and move back and forth with her for a bit until I decide that if I’m going to dance, I’m dancing with my daughter on the floor so everyone can see her.
Paige and I move out on the dance floor and stand next to Noah and Josie. Paige and I move to the music and she coos when she sees her mother and brother doing the same. There’s no shortage of love in this family, that’s for sure.