Chapter 2
Leo's tiny bare feet carried him faster than anyone could possibly intercept.
He bounded over the edge of the paved walkway and directly onto the pristine white runner.
Ahead of him, Clara took another slow, graceful step toward the altar.
The endless expanse of her beautiful silk train followed obediently behind her.
It looked incredibly soft, like a perfect cloud resting right there on the grass.
Without a single second of hesitation, the little boy stepped directly onto the expensive trailing fabric.
The smooth, cool silk felt absolutely wonderful against his bare toes.
For a brief moment, he simply stood there, admiring the bright white material beneath his feet.
Then, Clara took another deliberate step forward in time with the sweeping music.
The sudden movement of the fabric beneath Leo's feet caught him completely by surprise.
His little arms flailed in a dramatic, windmill motion as he tried to keep his balance.
The effort was entirely futile, and he toppled forward with a breathless giggle.
He flopped directly onto his stomach, landing safely on the thick, cushioned layers of the magnificent gown.
It was like diving into a giant, incredibly comfortable pile of pillows.
The bride took another step, and the fabric shifted again beneath him.
The momentum gently coaxed Leo to roll over completely onto his back.
He looked up at the clear, blue afternoon sky stretching out above the venue.
To his absolute delight, the sky above him appeared to be moving.
He was being smoothly pulled along the manicured grass as if he had just boarded a magical carpet.
The friction of the heavy silk sliding over the lawn created a very subtle, rushing sound.
Further up the aisle, Clara felt an unexpected, heavy resistance pulling at her waist.
It was not the gentle snag of a twig or a pebble catching the delicate lace.
This was a distinct, solid weight that had suddenly anchored her beautiful dress to the earth.
She paused for a fraction of a second, her mind racing to figure out what was wrong.
Had one of the bridesmaids accidentally stepped on the hem by mistake?
A soft, unmistakable sound of a child's gleeful laugh drifted up from somewhere behind her knees.
The gathered crowd simultaneously sucked in a breath of air, unsure if they should intervene or simply watch.
Clara felt another firm tug as the tiny stowaway settled himself more comfortably into the silk.
She instinctively knew that something hilariously unscripted was happening behind her back.
"Oh my goodness," Clara whispered softly to herself, a gentle chuckle escaping her lips.
She decided to keep moving forward, completely trusting the joyous, harmless energy of the moment.
May you like
With every step she took, the makeshift sled glided perfectly across the aisle.
Little Leo was officially along for the ride, and he had absolutely no intention of getting off.
