Colin scoffed. “Me?Dignity?”
Trent chuckled. “Fair point. I do have to check with my groom about all this, though.”
“I know. Tell him I won’t make him promise to ‘obey’ in the vows.”
“What? That’s the one thing I was counting on!”
Colin laughed, shaking his head. “Josh wants me to wear a cape.”
“With a giant ‘S’ on the back?”
“What else?”
Trent hummed thoughtfully. “Well, if you’re going to go full spectacle, I expect you to end the ceremony with, ‘I now pronounce you husbands, and you may now smooch your bride.’”
Colin snorted. “AndI’mthe undignified one?”
Trent grinned. “You know Jeff would love it.”
Colin sighed, feigning reluctance. “Fine. But only if I get to say, ‘By the power vested in me through the Internet.’”
Trent groaned. “Oh, dear god.” He heard Colin burst into laughter.
“All joking aside, Trent. Your ceremony will be dignified, traditional, and deeply moving. We’ll create a beautiful, wonderful memory for you guys. I promise you.”
“I believe you, Irish. All joking aside, frommyend, there’s no one I’d rather have unite us in matrimony than you. Maybe a little of what you and Josh share will rub off on us.”
Colin’s voice softened. “You don’t need anything to rub off on you, Trent. You and Jeff already have something real—something special that’s unique to the two of you. You’ve both fought your way through a lot of pain and unhappiness to reach this moment. And I’ll be lucky to stand beside you when that moment becomes forever.”
Chapter 8
Threads of Tradition
McCafferty’s hummed with warmth and laughter as the six friends lingered over the remnants of a celebratory dinner, toasting Trent and Jeff’s engagement with generous pours of Murphy’s Irish Stout.
“Colin, I read that the state of Virginia doesn’trecognizeonline ordinations,” Jeff Kerry worried.
“True. They don’t,” Colin replied. “Virginia is among the most restrictive states in the country when it comes to such things.”
“But then …”
“Ah, but that’s only true formostpeople, Jeff,” Joshua interrupted. “It’snottrue for …” he indicated Colin with a flourish, “… the golden-hairedwonder boyof the Albemarle County legal system, who is loved by one and all, andespeciallyby Judge Anthony Robinson.”
Colin snickered and gently elbowed his husband, then turned to Jeff. “Virginia law says you need a judge’s approval before officiating a wedding—or risk a five-grand fine and a cozy little jail cell.”He leaned toward Jeff. “Tell me, Jeff: As an officer of the court, do you think I mightpossiblybe acquainted with a few Charlottesville judges?”
“I—I guess you would be.”
“Judge Robinson signed off on my ordination himself. I’ve got the official seal, the paperwork—hell, I’m basically Virginia’s gay justice of the peace. You’re covered, Jeff.”
“He’s serious,” Joshua assured Kerry. “Heisa duly appointed and authorized minister of the Universal Life Church, free to perform marriage ceremonies in this state for anyone he wishes. And he has the paperwork to prove it.”
“Are you writing the ceremony?” Jeff asked Colin.
“I have a suggested script. But it’s too bland, so I’m going to punch it up a bit. Maybe add a dramatic entrance, some musical underscoring … oh! And a smoke machine.”
“Oh my god,” Jeff moaned.
Colin gestured to Trent, who was shaking his head and laughing. “Your fiancé’s laughing. Why aren’tyou?”
