Saibo-creator/bookcorpus_deduplicated · Datasets at Hugging Face

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`` just a little bit .
of course , it does n't take much for someone to make me look short . ''
`` you look perfect to me , '' he said sincerely .
craning her neck back to look at him , she gave him a teasing grin .
`` do i ?
are you flirting with me , dr .
nadeen ? ''
he stared down at his feet , trying to avoid the heat of her stare .
he tried to hide the red flush he felt entering his cheeks .
`` okay , now just with the godmother , '' the photographer ordered .
reluctantly , pesh stepped away from megan .
as the flashes went off , snapping hers and noah 's picture , he kept his gaze on her .
as she focused on the camera , megan 's blue eyes sparkled as she stretched her face into a wide grin .
noah 's tiny fingers wrapped around some of the strands of her hair , causing megan to yelp in pain .
`` easy now .
i got ta keep that , '' she said to noah .
`` okay , that should get it , '' the photographer said .
`` here godfather , it 's your turn , '' megan said , as she handed noah to him .
by now , noah was tired of being held and tired of being ensconced in yards of lace .
he peered up at pesh before howling .
`` i 'm sorry , little guy , '' he cooed , trying to bounce noah in his arms .
as noah continued to cry , pesh looked apologetically at the photographer .
just before he was ready to give up , megan came up and started clapping her hands and making noises at noah .
the baby instantly stopped crying .
`` that 's right , noah .
give me a smile , '' megan urged , as she backed up to stand by the photographer .
she continued making the noises , and she even resorted to flashing one of the strands of her hair at him .
finally , noah 's quivering lips broke into a grin .
`` there we go , '' the photographer said .
pesh quickly plastered a smile on his face .
after several flashes went off , the photographer put down his camera .
`` got it . ''
both noah and pesh sighed in relief .
gazing down at him , pesh asked , `` bet you 're ready to get home and get out of that dress , huh ? ''
`` it 's a gown , not a dress , '' megan countered with a smile .
he laughed .
`` regardless of what it 's called , i do n't think he likes it very much . ''
megan brought some of the lace between her fingers .
`` probably a little itchy for him . ''
`` did your son wear this gown ? ''
`` no , this is aidan 's gown .
mason wore my mother 's , which my brothers and i also wore . ''
`` in your culture do they do anything special like this for a baby ? ''
`` we have the namakaran , or naming ceremony .
it 's sometimes held in a temple .
and like this , it 's all about offering blessings to the child-family and friends coming together in support of the new baby . ''
`` i like it . ''
they were momentarily interrupted by aidan and emma walking up .
noah immediately reached out for emma .
`` such a mama 's boy , '' aidan muttered , which earned him a glare from emma .
he merely winked at her in response before starting down the aisle .
pesh saw megan 's mother beckoning her with a wave .
`` guess you need to go , '' he said .
`` but i 'll see you at aidan and emma 's , right ? ''
he swallowed hard .
`` um , yes , i 'll be there . ''
`` good , '' she replied , with an alluring smile .
she gave him a small wave before walking off to join her parents .
shaking his head , he mumbled , `` this is trouble . ''
chapter four when megan arrived with her parents at aidan and emma 's , she was surprised to see a catering truck outside in the driveway .
her surprise continued once she got inside the house .
gazing out into the backyard , she saw where tables were set up alongside the pool .
the tables were adorned with blue and white tablecloths and glittering blue and white centerpieces .
a low whistle behind her got megan 's attention .
turning around , she saw casey shaking her head .
`` wow , this is one epic baptism party , '' she remarked .
`` it 's impressive .
that 's for sure , '' megan agreed .
as emma breezed into the kitchen with noah in a more comfortable outfit , casey cocked her head .
`` so , i was just wondering where the ice sculptures were ? ''
pink tinged emma 's cheeks .
`` i kinda got carried away .
with me not working anymore , the old marketing and pr side of me let loose .
and with my connections , i was able to get everything ridiculously discounted . ''
`` everything looks wonderful .
you waited so long to have a baby that it makes sense you might go a little overboard . ''
emma wrinkled her nose .
`` i never wanted to be one of those moms who threw the over-the-top parties . ''
while casey started to open her mouth , megan smacked her playfully .
`` it 's just catered in food , right ? ''
`` they did the tables , too . ''
`` then i think you 're safe from being a momzilla party monster ... for now . ''
casey laughed .
`` i 'll anxiously be awaiting noah 's first birthday party . ''
with a scowl , emma mumbled , `` whatever . ''
realizing she did n't see mason , megan quickly excused herself and went outside .
she did n't like the idea of him being close to the pool .
even with everyone around , it was still too dangerous for her liking .
just as her chest started to tighten , she saw him on her papa 's lap .
the two of them sat at one of the tables underneath the shade of a massive umbrella .
several of her other younger cousins sat around them , playing on their psps and other hand-held devices .
`` we 're fine , honey , '' papa replied .
`` let me know if he gets to be too much . ''
cocking his head , papa demanded , `` are you trying to say i 'm old or something ? ''
`` no , not at all .
he 's a handful even for me . ''
he waved her away with a hand gnarled with age and time .
`` go on and enjoy yourself .
i 'll keep an eye on mason . ''
she smiled and leaned down to kiss his weathered cheek .

`` just a little bit .

of course , it does n't take much for someone to make me look short . ''

`` you look perfect to me , '' he said sincerely .

craning her neck back to look at him , she gave him a teasing grin .

`` do i ?

are you flirting with me , dr .

nadeen ? ''

he stared down at his feet , trying to avoid the heat of her stare .

he tried to hide the red flush he felt entering his cheeks .

`` okay , now just with the godmother , '' the photographer ordered .

reluctantly , pesh stepped away from megan .

as the flashes went off , snapping hers and noah 's picture , he kept his gaze on her .

as she focused on the camera , megan 's blue eyes sparkled as she stretched her face into a wide grin .

noah 's tiny fingers wrapped around some of the strands of her hair , causing megan to yelp in pain .

`` easy now .

i got ta keep that , '' she said to noah .

`` okay , that should get it , '' the photographer said .

`` here godfather , it 's your turn , '' megan said , as she handed noah to him .

by now , noah was tired of being held and tired of being ensconced in yards of lace .

he peered up at pesh before howling .

`` i 'm sorry , little guy , '' he cooed , trying to bounce noah in his arms .

as noah continued to cry , pesh looked apologetically at the photographer .

just before he was ready to give up , megan came up and started clapping her hands and making noises at noah .

the baby instantly stopped crying .

`` that 's right , noah .

give me a smile , '' megan urged , as she backed up to stand by the photographer .

she continued making the noises , and she even resorted to flashing one of the strands of her hair at him .

finally , noah 's quivering lips broke into a grin .

`` there we go , '' the photographer said .

pesh quickly plastered a smile on his face .

after several flashes went off , the photographer put down his camera .

`` got it . ''

both noah and pesh sighed in relief .

gazing down at him , pesh asked , `` bet you 're ready to get home and get out of that dress , huh ? ''

`` it 's a gown , not a dress , '' megan countered with a smile .

he laughed .

`` regardless of what it 's called , i do n't think he likes it very much . ''

megan brought some of the lace between her fingers .

`` probably a little itchy for him . ''

`` did your son wear this gown ? ''

`` no , this is aidan 's gown .

mason wore my mother 's , which my brothers and i also wore . ''

`` in your culture do they do anything special like this for a baby ? ''

`` we have the namakaran , or naming ceremony .

it 's sometimes held in a temple .

and like this , it 's all about offering blessings to the child-family and friends coming together in support of the new baby . ''

`` i like it . ''

they were momentarily interrupted by aidan and emma walking up .

noah immediately reached out for emma .

`` such a mama 's boy , '' aidan muttered , which earned him a glare from emma .

he merely winked at her in response before starting down the aisle .

pesh saw megan 's mother beckoning her with a wave .

`` guess you need to go , '' he said .

`` but i 'll see you at aidan and emma 's , right ? ''

he swallowed hard .

`` um , yes , i 'll be there . ''

`` good , '' she replied , with an alluring smile .

she gave him a small wave before walking off to join her parents .

shaking his head , he mumbled , `` this is trouble . ''

chapter four when megan arrived with her parents at aidan and emma 's , she was surprised to see a catering truck outside in the driveway .

her surprise continued once she got inside the house .

gazing out into the backyard , she saw where tables were set up alongside the pool .

the tables were adorned with blue and white tablecloths and glittering blue and white centerpieces .

a low whistle behind her got megan 's attention .

turning around , she saw casey shaking her head .

`` wow , this is one epic baptism party , '' she remarked .

`` it 's impressive .

that 's for sure , '' megan agreed .

as emma breezed into the kitchen with noah in a more comfortable outfit , casey cocked her head .

`` so , i was just wondering where the ice sculptures were ? ''

pink tinged emma 's cheeks .

`` i kinda got carried away .

with me not working anymore , the old marketing and pr side of me let loose .

and with my connections , i was able to get everything ridiculously discounted . ''

`` everything looks wonderful .

you waited so long to have a baby that it makes sense you might go a little overboard . ''

emma wrinkled her nose .

`` i never wanted to be one of those moms who threw the over-the-top parties . ''

while casey started to open her mouth , megan smacked her playfully .

`` it 's just catered in food , right ? ''

`` they did the tables , too . ''

`` then i think you 're safe from being a momzilla party monster ... for now . ''

casey laughed .

`` i 'll anxiously be awaiting noah 's first birthday party . ''

with a scowl , emma mumbled , `` whatever . ''

realizing she did n't see mason , megan quickly excused herself and went outside .

she did n't like the idea of him being close to the pool .

even with everyone around , it was still too dangerous for her liking .

just as her chest started to tighten , she saw him on her papa 's lap .

the two of them sat at one of the tables underneath the shade of a massive umbrella .

several of her other younger cousins sat around them , playing on their psps and other hand-held devices .

`` we 're fine , honey , '' papa replied .

`` let me know if he gets to be too much . ''

cocking his head , papa demanded , `` are you trying to say i 'm old or something ? ''

`` no , not at all .

he 's a handful even for me . ''

he waved her away with a hand gnarled with age and time .

`` go on and enjoy yourself .

i 'll keep an eye on mason . ''

she smiled and leaned down to kiss his weathered cheek .