“Okay. I get that,” Ronny said.
“Can you send him any proof that you have? This is going to send his entire family reeling, and it could resonate a lot further than that.” Thankfully Daniel took over while James quickly digested all this and slipped into cop mode.
“Sure. I already gathered everything and will send it over now. James, I’m sorry about this.” James jumped slightly when Daniel squeezed his hand, he was so keyed up, then relaxed, knowing he had support.
“Don’t be,” he said, once he had himself a little more together. “I asked you to help, and I can’t complain about the answer I get. I appreciate you looking into this.” His phone chimed softly to indicate an email.
“Let me know if I can do anything more, and good luck.”
James sat on the side of the bed as Ronny hung up. “What the hell am I going to do?”
“Is there a choice?” Daniel asked. “What happens if you say nothing and then your sister’s wedding is invalid?”
“What about all the other people he’s married? My god, this could get really ugly…fast.” He took a deep breath. “The wedding is tomorrow. If I said nothing to anyone except Holly and Howard, they could go through with the ceremony and then get legally married at the courthouse to cover their tracks.”
Daniel stepped in front of him, between his legs, hugging him tightly. “You need to do what you think is right. But let me ask you this: Shouldn’t Holly and Howard be the ones to make this decision? This isn’t up to you. Holly hates the minister anyway.”
He rested his head on Daniel’s shoulder, inhaling the scent that had driven him crazy for days, but now it seemed comfortable and steady, which he needed. “You’re right.”
Daniel hugged him tighter. “Of course I am. I want you to write that in a diary and remember the date.”
“You’re an ass,” James retorted and couldn’t help smiling.
“I know. But for a second you felt better.” Daniel didn’t move, and James soaked in the support.
“I guess we have to tell Holly. And Margot. She deserves to hear what we found too. But what do we do if we don’t use Reverend Creepy?”
“You tell them, and we’ll figure it out from there. Once a decision is made, we can figure things out.” Daniel breathed steadily, and that calmed James’s racing heart.
“I can do just about anything when I’m on the job, but this…”
Daniel nodded against him. “It’s a different skill set. You don’t have to have all the answers. That’s my job.” James snickered and appreciated Daniel’s lightening of the mood a little. “You need to be strong and steady for the family.” Daniel released him, and James grabbed his phone, messaging both of his sisters that he needed to talk to them right away. Then he checked his watch. It was two in the afternoon, which left them with some options, but they were limited to a few hours before the rehearsal.
“Howard and I are on our way,” Holly messaged, and James went to Margot’s room, knocking and cracking the door open to find his sister on the bed, listening to music on her computer.
“Yeah?”
James nodded and put his finger to his lips. “Meet you outside in the yard in five.” He closed the door and returned to Daniel, heading out of the house.
Holly and Howard returned in Howard’s car, and once Margot came out, the five of them took a walk around the block. “Okay.” James wasn’t sure how to break this news. “We have a problem, but before I tell you, all of you are sworn to secrecy until we figure out what to do. Got it?”
“Yes,” Holly and Howard answered.
“Margot…？” James questioned. “A nod isn’t good enough.”
“Yes,” she answered snappily.
“Margot and I did a little investigating of Reverend Nutcase.”
Holly stopped. “And you found something? Is he a pedophile? Or does he beat his wife? I never liked that guy.”
“He’s a fake. He used someone else’s name, and all those diplomas and certificates on the wall are forgeries.”
“Ha,” Margot said, smiling for a second, and then her face fell and she grew quiet.
Howard hugged Holly as she gasped. “Everything is set, and we… Wow do we… What…？” She buried her face in Howard’s neck.
“What do we do?” Howard asked levelly. James hated that his sister was coming apart right there on the street and wished he had thought of a better place to have this discussion, but he didn’t want his mom and dad to overhear anything. Not now. James would have to tell his dad, but only once they had a plan.