“It’ll be appropriate,” Joshua promised. “I like the idea of the campers participating in the day’s events.”
“Maybe they could walk down the aisle—whatever the ‘aisle’ ends up being—between two rows of campers.”
“Like an honor guard. I like it.”
“Do we know who’s going to officiate?”
“I’m not suretheyknow yet!”
“I want to do it!”
“Can attorneys marry people?”
Colin laughed again. “No. Only judges. But I could get myself ordained. The Universal Life Church will ordain anyone, anytime, free of charge.”
Joshua leaned back in his chair and stared at his husband in complete silence, his face blank.
“I’m not kidding. I think it would be fun.”
“Are youserious? And it’s …legal?”
“Well… yeah, once I get a judge to help me out.” He shrugged, wrinkling his nose. “But that’s not hard. And they even give you a script to follow.”
“You. Officiate at Trent and Jeff’s wedding.You!”
Colin grinned and nodded. “Me.”
Joshua shook his head in amazement. “Well … I’d run it by the two grooms before you go shopping for a cassock.”
“No cassock,” he glanced down and gestured to his black suit, “This suit’s plenty priestly.”
“I’d still check with the grooms first. They may have someone in mind already.”
“That they’d like more thanme? I doubt it.”
The air fryer went off, startling them both. “Dinner’s ready!” Colin announced, flashing his dimples.
Joshua rose from the chair, his movements slow. “Forgive me, myyedid. I’m still grappling with the image ofyouas an ordained minister.”
“You talk like I’m more apt to play for the other side!”
Joshua yanked the air fryer basket free and dumped the carrots into a bowl. For a moment, he leaned against the counter, smiling and shaking his head, then he turned to Colin. “My darling, that is thelastthing I’d ever think. You’ll always wear the white hat, Colin. No matter what role you’re playing.” He picked up a plate and began to pile it high with chicken, garlic potatoes, glazed carrots, and mushroom gravy. “It’s just not easy for me to see you as Father Mulcahy.”
“I’d be a minister, not a priest,” Colin said with a wink.
“The kind of teasing that Nate is going to level at you when he hears about this will be nothing short of mythical.” He handed Colin a filled plate. “Take this to the dining room?”
“Certainly, my son.”
They carried their plates to the dining room and sat down. Colin stared down at his food for a moment, then turned to Joshua. “Listen, people aren’t going to see my doing this as nothing but ajoke, are they? Because that’s not how I mean it. I genuinelywantto officiate at their wedding.”
Joshua covered Colin’s hand with his own. “Listen … I’m sorry, sweetie. I shouldn’t have teased you. I don’t think of it as a joke. I was merely surprised to hear you suggest it.”
Colin nodded and scooped up a forkful of chicken. “No worries, my love. We’ll call the grooms tomorrow and see whatthey think of the idea. But right now,” he leaned closer and stroked Joshua’s cheek, “I want to eat this fantastic dinner.”
The house had sunkinto the kind of quiet that only came after a long day—soft creaks in the walls, the hum of the air vents, the distant sound of a train rolling through Charlottesville. Joshua lay curled against Colin, his head resting on his husband’s chest, fingers idly tracing along the cotton of his T-shirt.
“You’re still thinking about it,” Joshua murmured.
