Daniel squirmed under James’s intense gaze. “What?”
“I’m glad you came here with me.” The words were simple, but the sentiment and the implication went much deeper. Daniel swallowed hard, trying to work out for himself what he thought of the whole situation. “Somehow I know that things aren’t going to be the same once I get home.”
Daniel was intrigued. “What do you mean?”
James glanced in the direction of the restrooms. “I think I had these conceptions of what it meant to be a guy…a man… I’m not sure. But I can see they’re meaningless.” He leaned closer. “You’re more of a man…wearing a dress…than I think I’ve ever met in my life.”
A lump formed in Daniel’s throat. That little declaration was more affirming than just about anything he had ever heard in his life. James had changed quite a bit—at least his outlook had—and yet he was still the same person who made Daniel’s heart beat a little faster with just a glance.
“I don’t know what to say…”
James smiled and sat back. “Now, there’s a first.” The mirth in his eyes was adorable. “Not that I want you to change for anything.” And just like that, Daniel had some of the acceptance he had gotten remarkably little of for much of his life. Oh, he put on a show when he had to because you should never let them see you cry or bleed, no matter how much they hurt you. That was how the bastards won. But Daniel had lived his entire life fighting the bigots and the shortsighted, and it felt good to be appreciated for who he was.
“Are we ready to go?” Margot asked when she returned to the table, breaking the moment of intimacy. Daniel sat back in his chair, wondering what would truly happen when they returned home, and hoping it was something other than what he feared.
Chapter Thirteen
James sat at the kitchen table back at his parents’ house with Holly, Daniel, and his mother once they arrived home from the restaurant. Margot had gone right to her room, apparently to put together what she wanted to say that evening and to make arrangements for decorating the car. Lord help Holly and Howard.
“You have to be kidding me,” Holly said, aghast. “You told Margot she could decorate the car? If there’s some animal inside, so help me I will never forgive you.”
“Holly,” his mother cautioned.
“You didn’t give her a real role in the ceremony other than bridesmaid, and she felt left out. So I gave her one.” He leaned closer. “And she’s going to talk tonight, so hold on to your garter.” He grinned, because it was funny seeing Holly so on edge. Okay, he was taking perverse pleasure in the situation, but so what?
His phone chimed. Call me now, the message from Ronny said, and James excused himself, meeting Daniel’s gaze. Thankfully, he understood and followed him down to their room. James made the call as soon as Daniel closed the door.
“What did you find?” He put the phone on speaker and turned down the volume.
“Nothing…” Ronny said. “Absolutely nothing at all. No records of any of the degrees, no record of graduation from a divinity school of any type…nada. I wish we had something else to trace, but Reverend Richard Peterson in Missoula, Montana, is a complete and total falsification. The man does not exist in any of the forms he has stated. Did the church do a background check at all?”
“I have no idea, but obviously not,” James answered, as a chill raced up his spine. “My sister’s wedding is tomorrow.”
“For goodness’ sake, don’t let him perform it. Who knows if it will be legal, or if anything he’s done is legal.” James turned to Daniel, at a loss.
“I’m Daniella, a friend of James’s, and I think you shocked him completely. Do you know who Reverend Dickhead Imposter really is?”
All James could do was worry for Holly and her wedding. He had to get himself together, and fast.
Ronny cleared his throat and chuckled. “No idea. He took the name of a real person and seems to have spun his identity from there. I checked the church’s website and pulled down pictures, but they aren’t telling me much. If he has a record, I might be able to find something out, but it’s a wide world and a huge search. I’ve been able to do this much in my spare time, but that kind of search is going to take a lot more resources than I have right now.”
“I understand,” James said, finding his voice again. “I thought something might be wrong, but this…” He gasped. “My sister…her wedding…my parents…the guests…this is a disaster.” James wanted to sink into himself, but he couldn’t. This had to be handled, and he had to be strong for the rest of the family, who were in for one hell of a shock.