Phillip remained silent, just sitting, and slowly his color returned. “How did we miss this?”
“Because no one looked, is my guess. They were taken in by his personality, and he had all those plans that everyone fell in love with. He simply carried everyone along with him. It’s what people like this do. They’re very good at taking people in and covering their tracks.”
“After all this time, he felt secure and didn’t think anyone would follow up. But your son is no fool, and neither is your daughter.” Daniel met Phillip’s quizzical gaze.
“Looking into him was Margot’s idea,” James explained. It hadn’t been totally, but Daniel liked that James was giving her the credit.
“The rehearsal will happen?”
“Yes. So that everyone knows what they need to do tomorrow. We will find someone to step in for Reverend Nutcase if we can, and the reception will go on as planned. That’s how we envision things now.” James did a good job of keeping his father calm. “We haven’t told Mom, and I don’t know if we should until it’s absolutely necessary.”
“But I should…” Phillip stammered.
“You don’t need to do anything other than get through the rehearsal as though nothing has happened. Let me handle this. I know what I’m doing. I’m going to call the local police and have him arrested for fraud, embezzlement, taking money under false pretenses, and anything else I can think of. I know there’s a chance that the church could decide not to press charges, but how many people has he married illegally? He isn’t a minister, so all the things he has done are now suspect. I’m sure there will be enough people clamoring after his head that he isn’t going to stay around.” James hugged his dad. “I’m also doing this to try to take this out of everyone else’s hands. That way the church can hopefully move on.”
Phillip nodded. “I pray we can.”
Daniel hoped the same. But there was going to be pain. “I have a friend who is contacting the person whose identity he’s been using as cover to create his fictional background, and I suspect he’ll press charges.” James was a rock, supporting his father in this. “Just trust me on this.” He winked, and Daniel rolled his eyes.
“Very funny, son,” Phillip said. “Okay. I’ll go along with this.”
“And if it goes wrong, you know nothing and had nothing to do with anything. It was all me, and I’ll take the fall so you can hold your head high.” James was a good son.
Daniel leaned in to Phillip. “This man, the reverend, isn’t normal. He’s a sociopath. I had a director who was the same way years ago. He isn’t concerned with anyone but himself. No one else matters, and he’s taken the entire congregation down the garden path because it was what he wanted. Nothing more. The pulpit, the church building, the weird office, all of it was done for his aggrandizement and self-importance. He wasn’t trying to help anyone or do any good work at all. Everything was about him. It’s that simple, and you don’t need that kind of person leading the congregation. You need someone who actually wants the best for everyone, not himself.” There were so many more things he could have told James about his experience with the director, but he didn’t need to hear all the ugly details or how stupid Daniel had been. He didn’t want something like that to happen to James’s family.
“Can you do that, Dad?” James asked.
“It’s hard keeping things from your mother, and she’s nervous enough as it is. I won’t say anything, but you’ll have to tell her this evening. She deserves to know, and not tomorrow when there’s no minister at her daughter’s wedding.”
“I’ll take care of it,” James agreed, and Daniel could almost feel more weight falling on James’s already encumbered shoulders. “Besides, you have bigger things to worry about. Margot is going to be speaking at the dinner tonight.”
Phillip gasped. “Are you nuts?”
“Your daughter is a young lady now,” Daniel said. “She needs her moment to shine, and I think she’ll surprise you.” Margot had promised to show him what she wanted to say so Daniel could help her with it. He really wasn’t worried. Though there were bound to be a few jokes at her sister’s expense, Daniel actually expected Margot to do a good job.
“I’d better go back in the house and get dressed for the rehearsal,” Phillip said. “You all should do the same. It’s going to be an interesting night.”