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`` i 'm so , so sorry . '' |
`` thank you , '' he murmured . |
since he was ready to change the subject before his emotions overcame him again , he motioned for her to have a seat . |
`` so , what brings you here ? '' |
`` i have a favor to ask of you . '' |
his brows rose in surprise . |
`` you do ? |
another flight for aidan perhaps ? '' |
emma laughed . |
`` no . |
i think it 'll be a long , long time before he ever gets in a small plane again . '' |
as noah began to squirm , she shifted him from her lap to her shoulder . |
he spit out his pacifier and started to fuss . |
`` here . |
let me , '' pesh suggested , bending over to take noah into his arms . |
noah 's surprised blue eyes met his , and then he smiled at pesh . |
`` hello , little one . |
my , how you 've grown since i saw you last . '' |
noah cooed and reached for pesh 's stethoscope . |
`` you were saying ? '' |
he questioned emma . |
`` i know it 's a lot to ask , considering you 're not catholic , but i was wondering if you would be noah 's godfather ? '' |
pesh could n't hold back his surprise , and his mouth dropped open in shock . |
`` you 're serious ? '' |
emma nodded . |
`` since i 'm not catholic , i 'm basically humoring aidan 's father by having a baptism for noah . |
you remember him ? '' |
pesh laughed . |
`` how could i ever forget mr. fitzgerald , the matchmaker ? '' |
emma smiled . |
`` that 's right . |
well , you can understand how persistent he is . '' |
`` oh yes , i do . '' |
`` we 're allowed one catholic and one non-catholic godparent . |
we 've chosen aidan 's niece as godmother , and then i wanted you . '' |
`` but what about your good friend ? '' |
`` connor ? '' |
`` yes , him . '' |
emma waved a dismissive hand . |
`` besides the fact that connor is a non-practicing baptist , he 's refused on the grounds he does n't want to have any moral or religious responsibility for noah . '' |
she grinned and shook her head . |
`` while he and casey were obvious choices , let 's just say they 're looking forward to corrupting noah , rather than guiding him on a spiritual path . '' |
pesh smiled . |
`` i see . '' |
emma 's auburn brows knitted together in worry . |
`` i hope you 're not offended that i told you that . |
i do n't want you to think you were a second best choice . |
when i thought of someone to protect and guide noah , you were one of the first people to pop into my mind . '' |
pesh worked to free his stethoscope from noah 's mouth . |
`` and what does aidan say about this ? '' |
he knew that although he and aidan had come to some sort of friendship on the night of noah 's birth , he could n't imagine , as possessive as aidan was , that he would want a potential ex-flame of emma 's having a major part in his son 's life . |
`` he 's fine with it , '' emma replied , as she toyed with the strap on her purse . |
`` emma , '' pesh pressed . |
she threw up her hands as she met his gaze . |
`` okay , so he was n't thrilled with the idea at first . |
it took some convincing on my part , but he 's totally onboard now . '' |
`` as honored as i am , i would not cause contention between you two for anything in the world . '' |
`` and you wo n't . |
i promise . '' |
emma reached out and took his hand . |
months ago , that touch would have electrified him from his head to his feet . |
now it was nothing more than the caring touch of a friend . |
`` in this day and age , it is so hard to find a truly honorable man . |
you have such a kind heart and a caring spirit . |
coupled with your integrity , i could n't ask for a better person in my son 's life , and aidan agreed . '' |
she squeezed his hand . |
`` please say yes . '' |
pesh brought his gaze from emma 's intense one to noah 's inquisitive one . |
how could he say no ? |
he loved children , and he wanted nothing more than to have a house full of them one day . |
the fact that emma thought so highly of him truly melted his heart . |
as he stared into noah 's sweet face , he wanted to be a part of his life . |
`` emma , it would be a privilege . '' |
emma 's green eyes widened as she bounded out of her chair . |
`` really ? '' |
he smiled at her excitement . |
`` of course , it is an honor and a pleasure . '' |
`` thank you , pesh . |
thank you so , so much ! '' |
she cried , throwing her arms around his neck . |
noah squealed happily between them and kicked his legs against pesh 's chest . |
when emma pulled away , noah grinned at the two of them , which caused emma to smile . |
`` i think noah approves of his new godfather . '' |
pesh returned her smile . |
`` i think he does , too . |
or he realizes his mother 's talents for manipulating any man within a mile radius . '' |
`` you 're terrible , '' she replied , swatting his arm playfully . |
kristi poked her head in the room . |
`` sorry to interrupt , dr. nadeen . |
but you have a patient in exam room a . '' |
`` thank you . |
i 'll be right there . '' |
he shook his head at emma . |
`` i 'm sorry , but i have to go . '' |
`` no , it 's fine . |
i understand . '' |
she reached for noah and took him back into her arms . |
`` the baptism is in two weeks . |
i 'll send you all the details . |
it 'll be at transfiguration in marietta since it 's closer to our house . |
Subsets and Splits