Page 14 of Beyond the Rainbow (Pride Camp 2025 #11)

Threads of Tradition

M cCafferty’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’t recognize online 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 for most people, Jeff,” Joshua interrupted. “It’s not true for …” he indicated Colin with a flourish, “… the golden-haired wonder boy of the Albemarle County legal system, who is loved by one and all, and especially by 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 might possibly be 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. “He is a 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’t you ?”

“Ha!” Jeff replied, delivering a light punch to Colin’s shoulder. “He hasn’t spent the past fifteen years watching your maneuvers!” He wheeled to face Joshua. “Josh, tell me you’ve seen the paperwork. I need visual confirmation before I put my vows in this man’s hands.”

“Yes, Jeff, I did. He’s totally kosher … so to speak.”

“You think I’d lie ?” Colin asked, clearly insulted.

“No! I think you’d tease !”

“Not this time, Jeff. Not about this. You will have a traditional wedding ceremony officiated by a nontraditional-but-totally-legit minister,” Colin said, then pointed to himself. “ Me !”

“Tradition is something we—and by we , I mean the gay community—are still struggling to understand,” David added, lifting his stout to toast Trent and Jeff.

“At Camp Pride, we’ll be helping these kids build their own traditions, and I think your wedding is going to be an important part of that process. ”

“Let them see what love really looks like,” Trent offered.

“I think having Colin officiate is perfect,” Nate chimed in. “A gay, married, ex-cop prosecutor?” He turned to Colin and nudged his arm. “Too bad you never did a Magic Mike routine. Imagine you, full striptease, doing the bumps and grinds to ‘Here Comes the Bride’, or in this case, groom!”

“Tell me you’re kidding.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Jeff,” Trent said, laying a hand on his fiancé’s arm. “Will you relax ? These are our best friends. They’re not going to do anything to screw up the most important day of our lives.”

“Well … not on purpose ,” Nate added, grinning.

“Who’s standing up for you?” Colin asked Jeff.

“Well, we were going to ask YOU,” Trent said with a snicker. “But since you’re busy that day …”

“David and Josh will stand for us,” Jeff said. “Nate can be ring bearer.”

“I can’t be flower girl?” Nate whined, winking at Jeff.

“Only if you go toe to toe with our daughter. She claimed the flower girl spot the day Jeff moved in.”

“I will bear your rings like the faithful Frodo that I am,” Nate promised. “Sophie and I can walk down the aisle together.”

“Talk about a nontraditional wedding party!” David said, shaking his head.

“Rufeus asked me if Camp Pride is going to be a yearly thing,” Joshua told the group.

“Who the hell is Rufeus?” Trent asked.

“They’re the corporation that owns Rainier Clinic,” Colin told him, then turned to Joshua. “Seriously, Josh?” Colin asked. “ Is it?”

“I dunno. Maybe. Given the state of the world these days, gay youth need all the support and acceptance they can get.”

“Are there any trans kids in this year’s group?” David inquired.

“Not that I’m aware,” Joshua replied, then grimaced and shook himself as if annoyed. “We should be making space for everyone.”

“So, add one!” Colin told him, finishing off his stout and spinning his finger in the air to ask for another round for the table.

“I’ll try, but just like including a homeless gay youth, including a trans youth has to be handled delicately. Especially in the current political climate.”

“Did we get the unhoused kids?” Nate asked.

“Thanks to Project Hope, we got two,” Josh said. “They’re in foster care now. Only way it could happen legally.”

“Yeah,” Colin added. “Can’t just scoop up gay kids off the street—unless you want kidnapping charges.” He leaned toward Joshua. “I want to meet the boy who,” he hesitated, “…who reminded you of you .”

Trent frowned, his curiosity shifting to concern. “He reminded you of you ? How?”

Joshua’s gaze moved to his husband, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. He hesitated, his fingers tightening around his glass. Then, with a slow inhale, he met Trent’s gaze.

“He was abused.”

“Alex wasn’t just abused ,” Colin blurted out, his voice tight. “They locked him in a dark room for days. No food. No light. Just fists, belts, and words meant to break him.”

“For god’s sake, WHY ?” Trent asked.

“For being gay.”

Nate gasped in horror and reached to grip Joshua’s arm. “My god, Josh, were you ...”

“No. Not for days,” Joshua told his friend. “He’d usually only lock me in the closet overnight.” He gave an involuntary shudder, and Colin wrapped an arm around him and snugged him close to his body.

“What’s his name?” Colin asked, his voice low. “The kid.”

“Alex. Alex Mayfield.” He leaned against Colin’s shoulder. “And I want you to meet him. In fact, I’m going to try to place him in your cabin. But Colin? When you do meet him, please squat down ... or kneel. You’re a big guy, and he’s a very frightened child.”

Colin nodded but said nothing. His expression had grown grim as they discussed Alex Mayfield, and Joshua leaned back, resting both hands on Colin’s arms. “You’ll be good for him, Colin.

He’s scared of men, especially big men. You’ll teach him that not all men are hurtful.

That there are some men worthy of trust.”

“If I ever meet his piece of shit father, it won’t end well for him.”

“Totally with you there, buddy,” Trent added.

Colin acknowledged Trent’s comment with a nod, then stared into his stout, jaw clenched tight.

Joshua placed a firm hand over his, grounding him. “Baby, that’s not what Alex needs.”

Colin exhaled sharply, nodding, but something in his expression said the fight wasn’t over, and, deep down, Joshua understood why. “There’s a restraining order against the dad.”

“Good goddamn thing,” Colin muttered.

Trent sneered out a disgusted laugh. “For him ... and probably for us !”

Later that night, Colin sprawled sideways on the bed, watching Joshua undress. “What do you think of this?” he asked. “Dearly beloved: We are gathered together today surrounded by copious amounts of Murphy’s Irish Stout and many questionable life choices.”

Joshua closed one eye, his face twisted in a dubious grimace. “I’d rethink that one if I were you.”

“Yeah. You’re probably right. I’m beginning to think that I’m not the best person to rewrite these marriage vows.”

“So, go with the script,” Joshua suggested, as he tossed his shirt into the hamper. “Or let them write the vows.” He nudged Colin’s leg. “Babe, get undressed and actually get into bed rather than lying across it sideways with all your clothes on.”

Grumbling, Colin crawled out of bed and began to undress. “I should probably talk with them. See what they want. What they envision.”

“I’d say that’s a wise decision.” Joshua watched as Colin stripped off his clothes and then moved toward the bed dressed only in his underclothes “Um, maybe take the T-shirt off?” Joshua suggested with a shy smile as he got into bed.

“Aw,” Colin drawled out as he tossed the T-shirt to the floor. “Happy to oblige, mo chroí .” He crawled onto the bed and snuggled Joshua close in his arms, smiling when he heard Joshua’s soft, satisfied moan. “You just love it when I take my shirt off, don’t you!”

Joshua trailed his fingers down Colin’s bare chest, the skin warm and firm beneath his touch. “When it comes to you,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to Colin’s throat, “I’m incurably weak.”

Colin laughed and leaned back to gaze into Joshua’s eyes. “I keep thinking about our wedding,” Colin told him. “Us saying our vows.”

“When I finally managed to stop crying and get them out,” Joshua said, his gentle laugh echoing his touch to Colin’s cheek.

“You were emotional. So was I. It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment, one I’ll never forget.”

Joshua nodded as he traced a fingertip along Colin’s jaw. “I meant every word I said that day. Every vow I made.”

“I know you did. And so did I.” For a long time, Colin stared into his eyes.

Then he drew in a deep breath. “I have to tell you, Josh. Tonight, listening to you talk about Alex ...” Colin hesitated.

“I’m not sure I ever fully understood just how much you went through.

” Colin’s fingers curled into a fist. His jaw tightened, a muscle twitching beneath his cheek as he fought back a wave of painful realization.

“ No ,” he choked out, his voice a rasp.

“No, that’s not ...” He hissed out a breath.

“I’m not sure I wanted to understand how much you went through. ”

Joshua’s expression softened, but he didn’t look away. “You saved me, Colin. Long before we stood at that altar, you saved me. And you did understand how much I went through. You’ve tormented yourself for years because you couldn’t protect the child I was then.”

“But ... maybe I can protect Alex ,” Colin whispered. “Maybe I can be there for him .” Colin swallowed hard, pressing a kiss to his husband’s temple. “I want them—all of them: Jeff, Trent, those kids, but Alex most of all—to know that kind of love exists.”

Joshua smiled, tugging him closer. “That our kind of love exists.”

Colin’s kiss was filled with tenderness. “We’ll show them, mo chroí .”

Joshua hooked an arm around Colin’s neck and pulled until Colin lay fully on top of his body. “Mm,” he murmured, licking along the base of Colin’s throat. “We will. But right now ... how about if you show me !”

On the other side of town, Trent and Jeff lounged together on the couch.

Trent had just returned to their apartment after dropping Sophie off at her mom, Jennifer’s, house, and he couldn’t help but smile as he recalled her joyful chatter as she informed her mother about the upcoming wedding and her role in the proceedings.

“She’s just so excited and happy, Jeff,” Trent told him. “Seeing her like that means everything to me.” He gently touched Jeff’s cheek and turned his face toward Trent’s. “Thank you.”

Jeff accepted Trent’s gentle kiss, then shook his head.

“Trent, she isn’t any happier than I am.

I don’t deserve any thanks. I was holding back out of fear, not because I didn’t want to marry you.

I did. I always have, I think.” He gave a quiet laugh and nuzzled his hair against Trent’s cheek.

“I know you’re going to love this, but we’ll always have Colin to thank for finally kicking me over the finish line. ”

Trent scoffed out a laugh and rolled his eyes. “Oh, goodie .”

“Yeah, I feel sure you’re never going to hear the end of it.”

“Nevertheless, I’m grateful for whatever or whoever got you there. Even him.”

“You’re OK with him officiating, aren’t you?”

“I’m thrilled with it.”

“He’s over the moon about doing it. And in a way, I don’t think it’s just about us. I think it’s about the way the world is right now. He wants to be able to help. To stand for something in the gay community. To be a pillar.”

Trent nodded, then took Jeff’s hand and lifted it to his lips. fsau“Don’t ever misinterpret the kind of back and forth that Colin and I engage in. “I love the guy. I’ve already told him I’d be honored to have him join us in marriage.”

“It’s going to be an amazing day for all of us, even for the Camp Pride kids. We’re building a life for Sophie. But those Camp Pride kids? Some of them are building one for the first time.”

Trent leaned into Jeff’s embrace, sighing against his shoulder.

“I never thought I’d have this,” he admitted.

“A real family. A home. You. God, Jeff. Two years ago, I didn’t even know I had a daughter .

I had no hope of ever having a family—of having that kind of love in my life.

I thought I’d be lonely for the rest of my life. And now look at me! Look at us !”

Jeff squeezed his hand. “That love is yours now. And it always will be.”

Trent smiled, the warmth of Jeff’s words settling deep in his heart. “We’ll build our own traditions together. As a family: you, me, and Sophie.”

Jeff grinned. “Starting with letting Colin officiate our wedding. Not to mention Nate as ring bearer.”

Trent groaned. “God help us.”

Laughter bubbled between them, easy and full of promise, as the city lights flickered outside their window—two men, bound by love, ready to take on forever.