“Why use that color?”
“It will work with the eye color I’m going to put on afterwards,” Daniel answered as he continued working. “It can take hours for me to do this. I usually try to perfect a different look for each performance. Today, though, to save time, I’m re-creating a look I’ve done before.” He painted lines from his eyes, creating exaggerated curves that he filled in with shades of blue that made his eyes look enormous. “Okay, what do you think?”
“Stunning,” James breathed, unable to move as Daniel finished his makeup. It was indeed over the top, with incredibly exaggerated cheekbones and luscious lips. Once he seemed satisfied, Daniel pulled a nylon cap over his head, then attached a tall platinum wig with tape, clips, and even adhesive at the hairline.
“That’s...” James didn’t quite know what to say.
“The higher the hair, the closer to god, and we are going to church...” He cocked his incredibly prominent eyebrows, and James groaned. “You loved it.” He did another look from all sides before standing. “I need to help Holly. You finish getting dressed and then keep your parents and sister calm until the limousine gets here to take them to the church. You will drive me, and we’ll go in the side door so we don’t cause too much of an early stir.”
James rolled his entire head. “You want to make an entrance.”
“If this is going to be theater, then it’s going to be as dramatic as hell.” Daniel’s hand shook a little, the only sign that he was nervous, and no one else would pick up on it, but James did. “I’ve got to help Holly.” He flashed a brilliant smile and then left the room.
James dressed in his black tuxedo with a light gray vest and royal ascot tie. He liked the way he looked, and once he had his cuff links and shoes on, went in search of his parents. Mom was already in the living room, dressed and sitting carefully on the sofa. “Where’s Dad?”
“He’s almost ready. I helped him with his cuff links and tie.” She bobbed her leg slightly, clearly nervous. “What about Holly?”
“Daniel is helping her into the dress. The limousine will be here in half an hour. Her makeup is done and her hair is beautiful. She’s going to be a stunning bride, Mom.” The door to Holly’s old room opened and, in a shimmer of white with a jeweled hairpiece tucked into her hair, Holly floated down the hallway toward the living room.
Mom inhaled sharply as she got her first look at the restyled gown.
“You look incredible,” James breathed as Dad came down the hall behind her.
“Honey, you look like the princess I always knew you were,” their dad said.
Margot joined them as well and even she told Holly how gorgeous she looked. All that praise kept anything Mom might have said to herself.
“Daniel did it,” Holly said, twirling slowly, the dress the perfect length so it seemed to float around her. James saw Daniel sneak back into their room and close the door. He hugged Holly carefully and kissed her cheek, then did the same with Margot, who was stunning in royal blue. It really was her color.
His phone vibrated in his pocket with a message from Daniel to come to the bedroom. He went down and knocked. The door cracked open. “This is for Margot.” Daniel handed him a jeweled necklace. “It’s the mate to Holly’s hairpiece.” He smiled and closed the door once again.
He helped Margot with the necklace, and Mom insisted she get a picture of the three of them together. James also wanted one of his sisters. “Do you have everything?” James asked once he’d snapped an amazing image. “Something old...”
“Mom gave me grandma’s necklace.” She placed her hand at her neck, the diamond sparkling when it caught the light.
“Something new...”
“The tiara from Daniel. It’s new and borrowed, so all I need is something blue, and there are sapphire stones in it.” The tiara really set off Holly’s eyes.
“The limo is here,” Margot announced, then turned away from the window. “I want to see Daniel before we leave.”
“I’m sure you’ll see everything possible when we get to the church. We need to go so we aren’t late.” It seemed Mom still had some snide left over, or maybe the whiskey had worked off and she just needed another buzz. Either way, James shot her a look before herding the four of them out the door.
“Daniel, we need to leave,” he called once they were gone. James was getting nervous and waited in the living room. His attention shifted in an instant when he heard the door open. Lala stepped out in the hall, a red flowing dress trimmed in ermine and sparkling jewels. “Should I bring the cape, or is that too much?”
James couldn’t seem to get his mouth to work. Lala was incredible, but for a second, James didn’t see any of Daniel. It was like a stranger was walking toward him, and he stepped back. The reaction caught him off guard until Lala drew closer and James looked into his eyes. Then Daniel was there and he smiled. “Nope. I think you should go for it. A queen can never have too much ermine.” James draped the cape over his arm and escorted Daniel to the door. It was funny, but even dressed this way, in all the finery and with god knew how many layers of fabric, not to mention a completely different look, it was still Daniel next to him. He smelled the same, the eyes and mouth were the same, even if the rest was hidden and colored—this was still his Daniel.
The thought about Daniel being his startled him a little, given their earlier conversations. But Daniel was his—James was coming to realize that. He simply needed to be sure Daniel understood that as well. “Let’s go. We don’t want to be late, and I have to verify that all the changes we needed to make have been understood and are ready.”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” Daniel said.
“Are you kidding, or have you been dipping into Mom’s whiskey bottle?” James couldn’t help teasing as he followed Daniel out of the house, locking the door and somehow getting Daniel and the dress into the car.
* * *
James joined Howard and the groomsmen once Daniel was inside, using the reverend’s office while they waited for the service to start. “Does everyone know what they need to do?” James asked. “You all know there’s been a change of program due to the fact that the minister is no longer with us.” Yeah, he wasn’t actually dead, just gone, but that was fine.