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THE PHOENIX WEDDING: The Complete 6 Books Series

Page 51

by CJ Bishop


  Turning away from the protestors, William walked into the club. The place was as beautifully decorated as any church might have been for a wedding, the guests adorned in formal attire. He spotted Lex emerging from the back of the club. The other man smiled wide when he noticed William and walked his way.

  “I apologize for my tardiness.” William shook Lex’s hand. “I was momentarily…detained.”

  “Detained?” Lex cocked an eyebrow teasingly. “Uh-oh, what did you do?”

  William chuckled. “I dared to officiate a controversial wedding.”

  “Ah.” Lex sucked air through his teeth, his face pinching. “Catching flak from your clergy brethren, are you?”

  “Nothing I can’t handle,” William assured with a smile. “Those like myself will always meet with opposition. It’s just a fact of life.” He glanced behind him, toward the front doors of the club. “Are you aware of the activity outside?”

  Lex frowned with uncertainty. “Protestors?”

  William nodded. “Not many. Yet, anyway.

  “Protestors?” A rough-looking cowboy approached, eyes narrowed. He was accompanied by a younger handsome man.

  “Yeah.” Lex introduced the cowboy as Clint and his friend, Cory.

  “Out front,” William told them. “They’re gathering.”

  The cowboy chuffed and looked at Lex. “Want us to go out there and encourage them to leave?” His low, deep voice dripped with a southern drawl that seemed out of place in New York City.

  The brittle look in his jade eyes and the cool emphasis he put on ‘encourage’ caused tiny chills to race down William’s spine. He sensed that this was not a man to cross.

  “No,” Lex chuckled. “It’s their right as Americans to protest. As long as they don’t disrupt the wedding, they can do their thing, and we’ll do ours.” He patted Clint’s shoulder and smiled. “But thanks for offering, cowboy.”

  “Just say the word,” he drawled with a nod. “And we’ll clear the debris.” He didn’t seem fazed by the presence of a preacher as he not-so-indirectly offered to use force to remove the demonstrators.

  “We’re standing by,” Cory winked as he and the cowboy wandered away.

  Shaking his head, Lex grinned. “That cowboy, he’s quite a man.”

  “I wouldn’t want to upset him,” William confessed and laughed softly.

  “Wise man,” Lex chuckled. “Very wise.”

  ♦

  Freddy slowed, his steps faltering as he approached the address on the invitation that Dane had left behind at his parents’ house. The Phoenix Club. The logo on the sign above the entrance was the silhouette of a male stripper with fiery wings. Freddy’s conservative Christian upbringing kicked in and his feet rooted to the sidewalk, refusing to take him any closer.

  His focus was suddenly pulled across the street to a group of protestors holding up signs and chanting things like – “One woman. One man. The only Holy union” And “Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve” and “Man plus Man defies God’s plan.”

  Freddy stared at them, a war raging in his spirit. On the one hand, he was compelled to cross the street and join them. But he remained immobile, unable to go either direction. There were so many realities surfacing inside him that he didn’t know how to deal with…or interpret. Images of Dane and Angel rose in his mind, and he couldn’t deny the deep love that flowed between them. When Angel had kissed Dane before leaving the apartment, had Freddy felt disgust…or envy? The secrets he’d hidden and resisted for so long had burst to the surface when Dane suddenly showed up on his parents’ front porch with his fiancé at his side…proud of who he was and feeling no shame for the love he shared with Angel.

  But regardless how pure and innocent it appeared…was it right? Could he possibly believe that, with the stark scriptures in the Bible implying otherwise, it could ever be acceptable to God? His eyes lingered on the protestors. Some of them motioned to Freddy, urged him to turn away from this ‘den of iniquity’ and the unholy unions taking place inside there today.

  Unholy. Though he himself had used the word in reference to the gay lifestyle and gay marriage, in particular, it felt foreign when he tried to apply it to Dane and Angel. Was it fair to judge something he knew nothing about? He imagined the protestors—and perhaps himself as well—had preconceived ideas of how a gay wedding was conducted.

  He turned slowly toward the front of the club. All his traditional teachings warned him not to set foot in there, that it was a trap and he was too vulnerable right now to avoid getting caught. Maybe it was true, but something deep in his soul urged him forward. Was it God? Or the devil?

  The answer remained to be seen as he took a deep breath and walked inside.

  ♦

  Caleb took to the stage and spoke into the microphone. “If I could have everyone’s attention, please.”

  The guests quieted and drifted toward the stage.

  “Gonna give us a little pre-ceremony show?” Ricky winked and grinned.

  Caleb chuckled and shook his head. “Now, now. We have innocent guests with us today. We have to be proper gentlemen.”

  “Proper gentlemen?” Carl snorted. “We all got our work cut out for us.”

  Beside him, Lex smiled. “I’m not sure anyone here even knows what proper means.” He kissed Carl’s cheek. “Especially you, my dear.”

  “Yeah. Me. Uh-huh.” He kissed Lex on the mouth.

  Pastor Thompson stood off to Caleb’s right, quietly observing the banter, a small smile playing around the corners of his mouth. Caleb hadn’t been sure how it would feel to have a preacher in the club, and he’d wondered if, deep down, the man would be critical and judgmental of them all and their profession. But in truth, the pastor felt like a part of them, and Caleb had yet to glimpse a condemning look pass over his face.

  Caleb addressed the guests. “Before the main ceremony begins, we’re going to do something that will allow each of you to add a personal touch to this special event. It was suggested by Savannah.” He smiled at the young girl. “And I think it’s a beautiful, heartwarming idea.” He looked at Pastor Thompson and motioned him forward. “I will let the pastor explain.”

  “Thank you, Caleb.” William Thompson stepped to the microphone. “If you will all gather on the main floor and form a circle…” He nodded to the open area of the club where most of the guest were already mingling, apart from the seated section.

  If this had been a larger wedding consisting of hundreds of guests, this addition to the ceremony would have had to have been weeded down to just those closest to the grooms. But though there were enough guests to create a decent crowd, they were still few enough for all to participate, for which Caleb was thankful; the grooms didn’t want to leave anyone out of this special moment.

  Chapter 4

  The scene Freddy walked in on was nothing at all as he’d imagined. Where he had expected to find flamboyant, raucous activity and flagrant display of “flesh” – he instead discovered a formal wedding atmosphere, as tasteful as any church wedding he had ever attended. The only obvious evidence that this was a carnal establishment was the stage with a stripper pole, and even that was discreetly camouflaged with lace ribbon and flowers.

  Freddy remained in the shadows of the short entrance hall, his focus drawn to the guests as they gathered on the open floor and began spreading out into a large circle. Amidst the adults were two very small boys in tiny tuxedoes, one of which was wearing a little black cowboy hat and matching black cowboy boots. Freddy watched as the tiny cowboy grasped the hand of his friend and excitedly joined the group. He sensed the slow forming smile before he felt it. Once aware of it, the smile faltered with uncertainty, though an unexpected warmth permeated his heart as his eyes followed the two joyful children until an adult version of the little cowboy scooped him up and held him in one arm. The other child was lifted by another man standing next to the large cowboy and his miniature self.

  There was no sign of Dane or Angel.

  Throug
h a partial break in the circle between a couple of the guests, Freddy spotted a preacher standing in the center of the circle, addressing the guests. All was silent but for the preacher, and his words easily reached Freddy where he stood.

  “We will be performing what is called ‘the warming of the rings.’ For those of you not familiar with ceremony, it is a simple act of passing the wedding rings around the circle, allowing each of you to touch them and offer a silent prayer or warm thoughts and wishes to the couples and their new life together.” The preacher smiled softly at a young girl standing in the circle line to his right. “I think this is a very touching addition to this beautiful wedding.”

  Behind Freddy, muffled by the closed club doors, the distant voices of the protestors pushed weakly through. The sound barely reached Freddy’s ears and lacked the strength to extend into the club itself to the guests. He found himself relieved and thankful that those inside the club couldn’t hear, though he was confused about whether he should be thankful. The battle raging inside him left him spiritually disoriented and uncertain about the right and wrong of what he was observing. All he really knew at this moment, was that the scene before him was filling the place with an atmosphere of love and taking on a beauty that he had never witnessed in all the traditional weddings he’d attended.

  The compilation of preconceived ideas he’d had about gay marriage began to crumble, breaking apart piece by piece and tumbling down into oblivion.

  This is what he had been opposing all these years? The thing he’d been running scared from?

  His gaze played over the faces of the guests, the love emanating out of them for those about to be wed, and for one another.

  This was the cause of the demonstration outside? Would they see things different, feel different, if they came inside and saw what Freddy was seeing?

  The far side of the circle parted as four couples emerged from the rear of the club and walked into the center of the guests. Freddy immediately spotted Dane and Angel among them. The circle closed again with the couples and the preacher inside.

  “Savannah.” The preacher addressed the young girl he’d previously smiled at. “The rings.”

  The girl broke away from the others and walked to the stage. From a box tied up delicately in silk ribbon, she withdrew a white satin pillow with light-blue lace trim. On the pillow, four sets of rings were secured with tiny silk bows. She brought the pillow to the preacher then reclaimed her place in the circle next to a handsome boy who looked about her same age, and took his hand.

  “Before we begin,” the preacher said. “I would like to say a prayer for our couples as they prepare to enter into holy matrimony.”

  Freddy’s gaze lingered on Dane’s face. Deep, consuming love radiated from his cousin as he grasped Angel’s hands and faced him. The other couples did likewise and bowed their heads along with the guests as the preacher began to pray. Out of habit or respect, Freddy wasn’t certain which, his head lowered and he closed his eyes.

  “Dear Lord, we come before you now to ask you to bless these four couples as they enter into a life together. Help them to remember when they first met, and the abiding love that grew between them. Please work their love into practical living so nothing will ever divide them. We pray for words both kind and loving, and hearts always ready to ask for forgiveness as well as to forgive. Lord, together with faith and hope, we place their lives and marriages in your righteous hands. Amen.”

  A whispered amen fell from Freddy’s lips as it did the circle of guests. When he opened his eyes, he was startled to find them damp, and his throat constricted with emotion.

  ♦

  A soft, romantic song flowed from the stage speakers as William Thompson placed the pillow in Lex’s hands. There was no rush and each guest took a moment with the rings, some of them whispering aloud their warm thoughts and prayers while others remained quiet, silently offering their well-wishes. One thing remained the same between them all; with each sentiment, silent or whispered, came a shimmering of tears. And when the rings came to Savannah and Maddy, the two teens gazed long at the four couples and didn’t try to hold back the teardrops that slid down their faces as they, together, laid their hands on the rings and softly whispered their hopes, dreams, and prayers for the beloved men so precious to them both.

  As many tears streaked the twins’ faces as they, as well, silently offered their warm, loving thoughts in unison.

  Clint and Nolan Emery held the two small children and let them touch the rings together, before each of the men took their turn.

  When the rings came full circle, the four couples then took the pillow and offered their thoughts and prayers for one another.

  “Thank you all for joining us in the warming of the rings,” William said when the couples had finished with their well-wishes. “All sentiments, no matter how large or…small…” he smiled and winked at the two little boys. “…are received with gratitude and love. Now, if you will all take your seats, we will begin the main ceremony. The best men,” he added. “Please join me on stage.”

  The couples retreated into the rear of the club once more, followed by Savannah and the two small ring bearers who carried the pillow together.

  ♦

  Savannah made her rounds, hugging each of the men. When she came to Max, he held her extra-tight and kissed her cheek. “Thank you, sweetheart, for the ring ceremony. It was very beautiful, and so thoughtful of you.”

  “I want this day to be as special as it possibly can be,” she said softly, her eyes retaining a glimmer of tears. She looked at the eight of them. “You’re all so special to me, each in your own way.”

  “You’re special to us, too, baby girl,” Cole smiled.

  Of all the other men, besides Abel, Cole and Gabe felt most like her older brothers…or maybe overprotective uncles. Either way, they had been a constant in hers and Abel’s lives almost from the instant she and Abel had arrived at the club, and even more so since she’d gotten sick.

  “Absolutely,” Dane winked at her. “And we’re trusting you will keep Maddy in line while we’re gone on our honeymoon.” The others chuckled.

  “Of course,” Savannah nodded and laughed softly. “He’ll listen to me…or else.”

  “That’s our girl,” Horatio grinned. “Make that boy behave. Lord knows, none of us men can.”

  A teasing smile quirked her lips. “You men can’t even make yourselves behave.” For some reason, Savannah’s declaration struck the little boys funny and they giggled exuberantly.

  “Hey, now,” Gabe scowled, making an exaggerated face, which caused the boys to giggle even more.

  “I’d argue the point,” Devlin spoke up with a sheepish grin. “But she lives in the same house with us.”

  “She knows all of us far too well to fool her into thinking we’re good-behavin’ boys,” Cole chuckled. He eyed the boys. “But you two—what you laughing at?”

  Jules and Reuben shrugged then giggled again.

  When the music started up out front, Savannah picked up her basket of flowers.

  “Why do you have flowers?” Jules asked.

  “I’m the flower girl,” Savannah explained. “I throw the flowers.”

  “Throw them to who?”

  Savannah smiled. “No one. I throw them on the floor, for the grooms to walk on.”

  Jules face screwed up in a comical frown. “Huh?”

  “Can we walk on them, too?” Reuben asked quietly, his eyes bright.

  “Yeah!” Jules seconded. “Can we?”

  The men laughed. Savannah shrugged and smiled. “Yeah, sure you can.”

  “Yay!”

  “But don’t stomp on them,” she laughed gently. “And make sure you don’t drop the pillow, okay?”

  “We won’t,” Jules assured excitedly.

  “All right,” she smiled. “Come with me. We’ll go out first.” She looked at the men, emotion squeezing her throat. “Ready to tie those knots?”

  “Ready, sweetheart,”
Max murmured warmly, his eyes turning to Horatio. “So ready.”

  ♦

  Savannah took the two boys and walked over to the stage curtain, leaving the men alone. Max’s gaze drifted to each of his boys and the eight of them grasped hands. “I can’t begin to say how much I love you boys and how proud I am of each and every one of you. I’m honored to share this special day with you. I wish you all the very best of life, love, and happiness in this journey you’re beginning today.”

  Their hold on one another tightened. Abel blinked and murmured thickly, “We wish all the same for the two of you.”

  Dane’s dark eyes filled with deep love and warmth as he gazed at Max. “You and Horatio,” he said softly, a thickness to his voice. “You’ve waited the longest for this. I think your joy and happiness must exceed even ours today.” The others agreed.

  Max held Dane’s eyes for a moment, a deep, abiding affection passing between them. “Thank you,” he whispered, and squeezed Horatio’s hand. “But we all have equal cause to rejoice and celebrate this day. We’ve all had our trials and come through them without breaking. We have much to be thankful for.”

  An agreeable amen sifted through the men.

  Thank you, Lord, for bringing us through the fire and making us ever stronger.

  Chapter 5

  To the far side of the stage out of the way, Zoe had set up a keyboard to play the wedding music. Noah and Noel stood between Clint and Maddy, with Noel partially shielding himself behind his brother. Though they knew most of the guests, Noel remained nervous and self-conscious about being up in front of everyone, even more so than Noah.

  Noah’s nervousness stemmed from a different place than Noel’s. It wasn’t being up in front of everyone that caused his stomach to flutter and flip-flop—but thoughts of dancing with Chris the night before, and wondering if he would dance with him again at the reception. Noah tried to focus on the ceremony, but his eyes kept jumping to the seated guests, seeking out Chris. When Chris smiled and winked at him, Noah was sure he would faint right there as his heart raced out of control. He calmed only when Clint rested his hands on his and Noel’s shoulders. Even then, Noah’s heart continued to pump with force.

 

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