“Son?” Now James was in the hot seat.
“Let’s go check on that dress,” Daniel said quietly and hurried past him and down to the other room.
“Cowards,” James called as they disappeared behind a closed door, leaving him to face his father’s glaring indignation.
“Spill it,” his dad growled.
“The girls don’t like the minister. Holly doesn’t, and neither does Margot.” He motioned down toward the living room. His dad sat in his chair and James on the sofa. “Margot calls him Reverend Creepy, and I have to tell you there’s something off about the guy. Have you been in his office?”
“Can’t say as I have.”
“The floor is raised behind his desk to make him seem taller and more imposing. It’s weird, Pop, and that lectern, like he needs to seem closer to god. That’s downright bizarre. I took some pictures while I was in his office, and since Margot says she wants to be a cop, I figured we could look into a few things, make her see that the guy is a little weird but harmless, and then she can move on.” He shrugged.
“And if there’s something to what the girls feel?” his dad asked, carefully.
“Then you need to listen to them. They deserve to be comfortable. He may be creepy, but that isn’t illegal. Is the guy dipping into the communion wine?”
His dad chuckled, but didn’t relax for a second, leaning forward. “You know I’m on the board of elders. Your mother put me up to it last year.” He paused a few seconds as though he were thinking. “I can keep my eye on things, but you know your mother when it comes to the church.”
“Okay, like I said, I promised Margot that I would look into him with her. If we come up with anything, I promise to tell you.” He really didn’t expect anything to come of any of this. “Let me find Margot.” James stood just as Daniel hurried into the room.
“She’s ready.” Daniel grinned from ear to ear as fabric rustled, Holly gliding down the hall. James barely registered his father standing up as he stared at the vision his sister had become. Without makeup, her hair just combed…none of it mattered.
“Holly…” James breathed as she stopped in front of the full-length mirror on the linen closet door. She paused, tears running down her cheeks, and Daniel hurried over.
“God, I’m sorry, I…” Daniel began, and Holly held his hands.
“You turned me into a princess,” Holly whispered as Daniel smiled. “This is how I always wanted to look on my wedding day.” She took the few remaining steps out of the hallway, slowly turning, the dress flowing around her, hugging her hips, and the bodice now accentuating Holly’s figure rather than covering it up.
“Sweetheart,” his dad said, looking at Holly with what James could only describe as astonishment. “My little girl is all grown up,” Dad croaked and turned away. “It’s gorgeous,” he told Daniel with a sniff.
Daniel stepped away, and James wrapped his arm around his waist. “Thank you. You’re a magician.”
Daniel leaned really close, resting his head on James’s shoulder. It didn’t take much intuition for James to know exactly what Daniel was thinking. And the best damned drag queen in Chicago…and don’t you fucking forget it.
“Thank you,” Holly said again, hurrying over to hug Daniel. “If I had room in the bridal party, I’d add you as a bridesmaid for this alone. You deserve a damned round of applause.” She sniffed once more, still hugging Daniel.
“Go take the dress off so I can make sure it’s pressed and steamed for tomorrow,” Daniel explained.
“And whatever you do, don’t let your mother see it until it’s too late for her to try to overrule you,” Dad added. “I’ll deny I said that, and having even seen the dress at all beforehand, to my dying day.” He sat back down as Holly disappeared into James’s bedroom, now a changing room, with Daniel right behind.
“Son, that girl is a keeper. You need to hold on to her with both hands.” His dad turned on the television, and James wondered just what his father would think if he knew that the girl he thought so highly of was really the man who was quickly stealing his heart.
Chapter Twelve
“You really like my brother, don’t you?” Holly asked as Daniel unfastened the hooks on Holly’s wedding dress.
“Of course I do,” he answered as calmly as possible. Since last night he’d been in an emotional tug-of-war. Not that it mattered. Once the wedding was over, the games would end and Daniel would go back to his normal life, one that involved returning to the theater, nightly shows, and not having to tuck his balls every minute of the damned day. And it wouldn’t involve James. That part of the equation was what caused him both pain and relief.