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the way it framed her heart shaped face made her appear much less like jade than he had originally thought .
`` thank you .
maybe we 'll end up together . ''
she licked her lips before adding , `` you know , at the same hospital . ''
`` i would like that .
but i 'm afraid that wellstar pales in comparison to grady . ''
`` surely the suburbs offer some interesting cases ? ''
`` they do .
i 've been there since my residency , so i ca n't imagine working anywhere else .
after all , i would n't be standing here today with you if it were n't for wellstar and your grandfather . ''
`` that 's true . ''
tilting her head , she gave him a very alluring smile .
`` and what a pity that would be if our paths had n't crossed . ''
he sucked in a breath at the directness of her statement .
could she really be interested in him ?
sure , it was common knowledge that aidan and others wanted them to get together , but he had imagined that she had not known their intentions .
and while originally he had been turned off by aidan 's suggestion of fixing them up , he could n't help but be intrigued now .
there was something so refreshingly different about megan , despite her physical similarities to jade .
`` mommy ! ''
a small voice cried .
pesh glanced over megan 's shoulder where a fair-haired toddler came bounding over .
he wrapped his arms around megan 's thigh .
she gave him an apologetic look before bending over .
`` what 's the matter , sweetie ? ''
he grinned up at her .
`` miss you . ''
with a smile , she bent over and picked him up .
when he sat on her hip , she turned her attention back to pesh .
`` this is my son , mason . ''
pesh could n't help noticing how megan searched his face to see if there was any judgment or even disgust at her having a son .
he felt neither of those emotions .
he had to admit he was a little surprised .
aidan had failed to mention that fact as well .
not to mention , she seemed young to be a mother , considering she was just finishing her clinicals .
`` it 's nice to meet you , mason . ''
`` can you tell pesh hi ? ''
megan urged .
`` hi , esh , '' mason said , with a grin .
pesh could n't help laughing , and he was thankful that megan giggled as well .
`` how old are you ? ''
mason held up two fingers to which megan shook her head .
`` he 's seventeen months . ''
pesh smiled .
`` you must be very proud of him . ''
`` i am . ''
she snuggled mason against her chest .
`` he 's the sweetest and best boy i could ever hope for . ''
`` you 're very blessed . ''
`` thank you . ''
they were interrupted by aidan 's sister , angie , who pesh had met earlier .
`` looks like it 's time to start .
come on mason .
mommy has to go be noah 's godmother now . ''
mason reluctantly went to his grandmother .
`` be good for grammy , '' megan instructed .
after angie walked off with mason , the other family members began filing out of the room .
pesh turned to megan and gave her a sheepish smile .
`` i must admit that even though i attended a class with emma , i 'm a little unsure of what i 'm supposed to do . ''
`` it 's okay .
just follow my lead , and you 'll be fine . ''
`` thank you . ''
once it was only the two of them and aidan and emma in the room , aidan motioned for them .
a priest in decorated golden robes appeared at the door with a gleaming crucifix in his hands .
pesh tried not to feel intimidated as the odd man out in the situation .
music struck up on the organ , and the priest motioned for them to follow .
before they went out the door , emma glanced down at noah .
`` please , please , do not scream in there and act like a demon baby .
be the angel i know you can be . ''
he acknowledged her request by sticking his tongue out and flailing his fists .
aidan chuckled at emma 's plea .
`` relax , babe .
if he feels you getting all tense , he 's going to get fussy . ''
emma sighed .
`` he 's already fussy .
he was fine until i put him in the gown . ''
`` i guess he feels that wearing a dress is insulting to his manhood , '' aidan reasoned with a smile .
when emma shot aidan a death glare , megan and pesh could n't help laughing at the two of them .
aidan winked at emma before starting out the door .
at megan 's side , pesh walked up the aisle .
when they reached the baptismal font , the music ended , and the priest began speaking .
he informed the crowd of what was about to take place and the significance of all the religious rites noah was about to receive .
aidan and emma made the sign of the cross on noah 's forehead before megan leaned in to do the same .
when megan elbowed him , pesh reached over to clumsily follow their lead .
after he finished , he glanced at megan .
she smiled and mouthed , `` good job . ''
he returned her smile .
he followed through the rest of the proceedings as aidan and emma pledged to raise noah in the faith .
then it came time for him and megan to agree to stand by noah as godparents .
the priest took a fussing noah from emma 's arms .
when the first trickles of water hit the base of noah 's head , he cooed and kicked his arms and legs .
emma appeared relieved at how noah was n't behaving like a possessed baby as she had feared .
`` thank god he loves his baths , '' aidan muttered beside pesh .
once the baptism part was finished , the priest made a final talk , and then it was over .
just as pesh sighed with relief and was looking forward to making a quick exit , aidan grabbed his arm .
`` do n't go anywhere .
we have to do pictures . ''
inwardly , he groaned .
he wanted , no he needed , a moment alone to process his thoughts .
everything had been so overwhelming-being outside his usual world , meeting all of aidan 's family , and then having the prospect of megan thrown in as well .
awkwardly , he stood around as a photographer came forward and proceeded to take several pictures of aidan , emma , and noah .