Chapter 103
The phone number of the limo remained on the checklist. They confirmed last night but asked Pad to call them if the limo hadn’t shown up by eleven-thirty to take them to the reception at Maggiano’s.
RJ told everyone they had to wrap it up by six because their deposit required they had to be out by then. He looked for RJ’s list and couldn’t find it. He delegated RJ to get the music and RJ insisted on planning the honeymoon.
He made a mental note to double-check his carry-on for RJ’s birthday present. His man was turning thirty-five! He didn’t know what to get for RJ until he called RJ’s dad who brought the gift from New York last night.
The church was paid. He had the Orange County forms with him that he would leave with Pastor Ken or Pastor Lisa. The forms still listed the antiquated “bride” and “groom” designations that hadn’t changed since the federal court in Atlanta denied the Florida Attorney General’s appeal, overturning the ban in Florida against same sex marriage as of January 2015.
Pad gave envelopes to both ministers last night and he tipped the organist who was playing. He gave Jen at the wedding rehearsal the gifts for the twins and had her promise to have them open them after the wedding. Jen and Jack’s gifts were doled out already: matching silver portrait frames. RJ bought Chaz a boating GPS and gave it to him last night. Not a traditional best man gift but Chaz loved it.
Shit!
Pad looked at his watch. Dave and Aunt Maddy would be there at ten o’clock to make sure the flower arrangements were placed correctly. They had stayed overnight in a hotel near the church and had hoped to arrange the flowers last night but the florist hadn’t delivered them yet.
Shit! Am I forgetting something?
RJ walked into the kitchen. “Hello, beautiful!” He came over and hugged Pad from behind and kissed him on the cheek. “Are you ready to get married!”
“Yes!” Pad melted into RJ’s chest. “I hope I’m not forgetting something.”
“I’m sure you haven’t. Stop worrying. Everything is checked out on my end.”
“Did I tell you Tristan is bringing Wayne to the reception? And Liam is bringing his new cop friend/boyfriend, whatever it is.”
“Yes. You’ve told me twice already.”
“I don’t think it’s wise, do you? I mean you don’t bring someone you’ve just dated a few weeks to a wedding do you? Weird enough Blackstone was at your bachelor party.”
“You do if it’s open bar.”
“About the open bar. Do you think we should cut it of after two hours?”
RJ shook his head. “No, we shouldn’t. And for God’s sake, just take it easy. Let Wayne see that we’re marrying and as for Liam, I’m glad he seems to be happy. You’ve planned this thing for weeks. Nothing’s going to go wrong.”
“Don’t jinx us.”
“With what?”
“With that saying, nothing’s going to go wrong.”
RJ shook his head. “Get some coffee and take it easy.”
“Pretty soon we’ll be legally married and we both should be happy not nervous as hell.”
“Easy for you to say. Everyone’s going to be judging me on this wedding.”
“Good grief. No one’s judging you or me. They’re there to see us exchange vows, put rings on each other. Have cake and get free drinks. They’re our friends, for God’s sake.”
“Yeah. Our friends, and your dad.”
“My dad is nothing. I’m glad my mom’s not coming. She would be the unbearable one. Count yourself lucky she wasn’t involved in the wedding planning. If she were you would be on Xanax right now.”
“I hope you’re right.”
RJ grabbed Pad who reached for the coffee. “Come here.” He kissed Pad’s neck, and stroked the back of one of his earlobes. He knew that Pad loved that more than anything when they cuddled. “I love you, the future Mister Pad Davis. It’ll be a great wedding.”
Pad sighed before he answered. “I hope.”
* * * *
Like clockwork, Liam picked up Pad and RJ at nine-thirty. The drive to the church was uneventful. As they pulled up, Pad noticed that four of the Washingtonian palms that lined the entrance to the wood-framed church had white balloons tied around the middle of their trunks, approximately five feet off the ground. The humidity was already on the rise so as soon as they exited the vehicle they ran inside to the church.
“Jack was out here at seven putting them up,” said Liam. “I know. He had me come here with my ladder.”
“So you guys are talking?” asked RJ.