“I know my own mind,” James told him.
“But do you know your own emotions?” He pressed closer to James, resting his head on his shoulder. “We have to listen to our hearts. So rather than getting worked up right now, let’s give each other some time. That’s all I’m asking for.” He caught James’s gaze. “If you got anything from last night, it should have told you pretty clearly how I feel about you.”
“Okay. I think that’s fair,” James whispered, and Daniel held him close once again.
“Right now, we have to figure out how we’re going to get your sister married.”
The bedroom door burst open, with Holly standing in the doorway, glaring at both of them. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded, stepping inside and kicking the door closed. “I’m so angry at both of you I could spit quarters.”
“Oh, for god’s sake, knock it off, Holly. I’ve already had a talk with Mom and Dad last night, and another one with Mom this morning.” James sighed, but didn’t step away. Daniel liked that he wasn’t ashamed. “Suffice it to say that I’m gay, and this is Daniel.”
“But...”
James rolled his eyes, which was adorable. “Fine, you get the quick version. I’ve known since I was fifteen. I didn’t tell anyone here because you know how Mom can be and I thought it would be easier. I thought about saying something before the wedding, but didn’t want the drama. And yeah, I see how that worked out. I told Mom that I loved Daniel, and he heard it. The two of us are trying to figure shit out, and when we know, I’ll tell you. I promise.” James took a deep breath. “Right now, we have to figure out who is going to officiate at your wedding, because I can’t. There isn’t time for me to become legal. You’re all up-to-date now, so let’s move forward.”
Holly shook her head. “You sure know how to give a girl whiplash.” Daniel found himself edged out, and Holly gave James a hug. “Nothing has changed as far as I’m concerned. Margot feels the same way.” Holly stepped back. “Now, you get me married, because I’m not going to go through all this shit again. What are our options?”
James nodded and wiped his eyes, clearly relieved. “I can perform the ceremony, and then you and Howard can make the marriage legal on Monday. That way all the plans can go on.”
“Except Howard and I are supposed to leave Monday morning for our honeymoon.” A tear ran down her cheek. “He wanted to surprise me, but because of all this, he told me about the trip to Europe last night. Ummm, that means that...” Holly held her hand over her face. “I have to go on my honeymoon and not be married.”
James sat next to her, holding Holly’s hand while she cried.
“There is another option,” Daniel said softly. “But...it’s a little unorthodox.” He hadn’t brought this up because before yesterday it hadn’t been a possibility. But with them both being outed...
“What is it?” James asked.
Daniel sighed. “Holly.” He sat on the other side of her. “This has to be your and Howard’s decision, not your mother’s or anyone else’s. James has seen me onstage in full drag, and my professional name is Lala Traviata. The thing is, Lala has been doing Pride weddings for years, all over the country, and I did a fly-in wedding three years ago at a Pride event in Helena.”
Holly sniffed. “So you can perform the ceremony?” She blinked, and Daniel met James’s gaze.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” James asked. “This solves everything.”
“Not exactly. Lala is the one who performs the weddings. Not Daniel. When I sign the license, it will be as Lala.”
“But that’s okay. I don’t care how the license is signed,” Holly explained as she perked up.
James patted her hand. “You don’t understand. Lala only performs in full drag. That means that Lala can perform the wedding, but it will be in theatrical drag. Granted, from what I’ve seen it will be gorgeous, but it will also be Lala.” Damn it all. Daniel had been trying to keep his distance so he could think, but James got it. He understood, and Daniel’s heart rejoiced at that. Daniel had thought that James might have been giving his mother lip service earlier, but he was wrong. James got it.
Holly turned to Daniel, and then looked back to James before her gaze shifted to Daniel once again. “Okay. I’ll call Howard and we’ll talk and decide. You two need to stop eye fucking each other, because this place is starting to smell like a locker room.” Holly skittered out of the room, shutting the door after her.
“Oh god,” James groaned.
“Look, if this is going to cause even more problems, then you can forget it.” He didn’t want to cause trouble. “I can do the wedding as Daniel and then sign the certificate and...”
James whirled around. “Don’t you dare. Lala does weddings, and if Holly and Howard agree, then Lala is doing it, and they are going to get all her fabulousness and over-the-topness. This will be a wedding that everyone is going to be talking about for years.”
“But your mother...” Daniel said, swallowing.
“I know. She’s going to blow the top of her head off and steam is going to come out of her ears if Holly and Howard go forward with this idea.” James grinned devilishly. “Wanna watch when I tell her?”
“Is that what you were choking up over? I thought you were upset.” Daniel put his hands on his hips, and James took a step back. God, he loved that reaction. “You are one evil son. Of course I want to watch.” Daniel lowered his hands. “But you need to give your mom a break too. Yeah, she can be pushy.”
“More like dictatorial.”
Daniel rolled his eyes. “Let’s go with pushy—it sounds better, and I like your mom, I really do. She’s fierce. I bet she stood up for you in school when shit happened, and nobody hurt any of her kids without paying the price.” Daniel could respect that a great deal.
“Yup!” James agreed.
“I understand fierce. It takes a good dose of that to do what I do. I stand onstage in all my finery and put part of myself out there each and every night. Yes, I’m a performer. But it’s still me under all the glitz. So give your mom a break.”
“And how do I do that?” James asked, his hands on his hips.
Daniel shook his head. “You’re doing it wrong. If you want to do the hip thing effectively, put your one foot forward, cock your hip slightly, and project attitude. It isn’t just the stance, but the whole picture.” James tried, bless his heart, but he couldn’t quite get there. “Maybe you have to picture your balls pushed up into your body, your dick taped back, multiple layers of underthings, layers of padding, and a gown worthy of Cher on Oscar night to be able to do it right.”