Page 41 of Beyond the Rainbow (Pride Camp 2025 #11)
Wedding Day
S aturday
Joshua awoke on the wedding day to the sound of grumbling and shuffling. He let out a groan as he sat up, then glanced to his left to see Colin struggling to pull his best dress pants over his ankle cast. “Babe?”
Colin glanced at him.
“I—um—don’t think that’s gonna work.”
“Well, I’m not going to rip these pants. They’re the ones I wore on our wedding day!”
“Colin, wait.” Joshua hopped out of bed and laid a hand on his husband’s shoulder. “Sweetie, you may have to wear your jeans or shorts.”
Colin released the grip he had on his pants and stared at Joshua, mouth open.
“You may not have a choice.” Joshua squatted down and tugged on the pant leg, trying to ease it over the cast. He pressed his lips together and looked up at Colin, shaking his head. “Nope.”
“Oh, fuck me!”
Joshua snickered and got to his feet, resting his hands on Colin’s waist. “Tempting, but we’re on a schedule.”
Colin huffed out a laugh, and gave Joshua’s ass a quick, loving squeeze. He eased the dress pants off and tossed them onto a chair. “I can’t believe this. Dammit ! I wanted to look good for their wedding.”
“You will !” Joshua assured him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “You just might have to redefine ‘formal wear’ for this one event. Hey, the grooms will understand.”
Colin sighed, looking down at his leg as though it had personally betrayed him. “Jeans while I’m officiating at my first wedding ?”
“Hey! At least you know the jeans will fit over the cast! Or… we could ask David if he has any ideas? He’s the king of making things work.”
Colin snorted. “David’s idea of a fix will probably involve a fancy cummerbund and a black bowtie.”
Grinning, Joshua waggled his eyebrows. “Could be sexy.”
Colin threw him a look under narrowed brows. “You lookin’ for trouble?” He breathed out a heavy sigh. “What’s going on right this minute?”
“Nate and the kids are lining the aisle and arch with flowers, then moving the archway to the dock next to your iPad stand.”
“Are Trent and Jeff still asleep?”
“Dunno. Breakfast is in twenty minutes, so they’re probably getting dressed. Trent has to go get Sophie at nine, and then he and Jeff—and probably Sophie—are heading to the airport to pick up Jeff’s folks.”
Colin threw his slacks a dirty look, then husked out a disgusted sigh and reached for his jeans, wincing out a short groan as he did so.
“Pain?”
“Ah, it’s the rib. If I stretch too far, it reminds me that it’s cracked.”
A knock sounded on the cabin door, and Joshua opened it on a grinning Trent. “How’s Pastor Campbell this morning?”
“ Pissed !” Colin told him, sliding his jeans over his legs. “My dress pants won’t fit over the goddamn cast.”
“What the hell do we care?” Trent asked. “We’ll be just as married no matter what you’re wearing.”
“Jeans with my suit jacket?” Colin asked.
Trent shrugged his indifference. “I’m heading out to get Sophie. I should be back in a half hour or so. Is there anything you need?”
“Yeah,” Colin grumbled, then tapped his cast. “A chainsaw.”
Trent barked out a laugh, then patted Colin’s arm and moved out the door, shaking his head and snapping out a final order to his patient. “Leave your cast alone !”
As Colin and Joshua walked toward the dining hall, they noticed that the path leading to the lake was now lined with small baskets of flowers and that the arch under which the two grooms would stand had been set up on the dock and was also adorned with flowers.
In the dining hall, Jeff stood near the head table, talking to his nature hike and terrarium-building class. At the center of the table rested a beautiful terrarium jar, which, unknown to him, had been created by his class in honor of his and Trent’s wedding day.
The terrarium jar itself was a large round glass vessel, its clear surface catching the soft glow of the dining hall lights. Inside, layers of rich dark soil and fine white sand created a striking foundation, leading up to a carefully arranged miniature landscape.
At the center, a small jade plant, pruned and shaped with care, stood like a tiny tree, its thick, twisting branches giving the illusion of a bonsai.
Surrounding it were clusters of vibrant green moss, delicate ferns, and small succulents, creating a lush, woodland feel.
A few carefully placed river stones and a piece of driftwood added to the natural, serene aesthetic.
Nestled among the greenery, almost hidden, was a tiny wooden heart carved with Trent and Jeff’s initials—a special touch from one of his campers.
This terrarium wasn’t just a decoration; it was a living, breathing tribute to love, growth, and the deep-rooted connections the campers and counselors had formed during Camp Pride.
As Colin and Joshua moved toward the group, they saw Jeff wipe tears from his cheeks before reaching to embrace his students.
When they reached Jeff’s side, Colin leaned over the magnificent centerpiece, giving out a long, low whistle of admiration as he examined it from every angle. “My god , Jeff! That’s beautiful!”
Jeff drew in a shaky breath, both arms still wrapped around the shoulders of his students.
“I had no idea,” he choked out. “None at all.” He turned to face them, still wiping tears from his eyes.
“Trent and I will cherish this always. It will have a place of honor in our home forever.” He clasped his hands over his heart and bowed, “Thank you.”
“And no worries, Teach,” Oliver told him with a wide smile. “We didn’t pick any of the flowers.” He leaned toward Jeff and whispered: “We bought most of it, but we did snag some stones from the river.”
Joshua, after admiring the terrarium, patted Jeff’s shoulder. “I hate to break this up, but you’re due at the airport in an hour or so.”
Jeff embraced his students one last time, then waved as he headed toward the door. “I'll be back later!”
“You’d better be!” yelled Colin.
Everyone had finished breakfast and were helping the decorating crew transform the dining hall into a lovely reception hall for Trent and Jeff, when the campers erupted in a round of applause and a chorus of cheers.
Turning, they saw Trent enter with Sophie at his side, adorned in her beautiful flower girl dress.
She spotted Colin and ran to greet him, with her father in hot pursuit.
“ Easy , Sophie! Uncle Colin’s hurt! Don’t hug him too hard. ”
Colin laughed and returned her embrace, then took her hand in his and turned her in a circle. “My god, you get more beautiful every time I see you! Look at you!”
Sophie blushed and smiled up at him. “Thanks, Uncle Colin.” Then turned to embrace Joshua.
“He’s right, you know,” Joshua added, smiling down at Trent’s daughter. “You’re growing up way too fast.”
“Where’s Pops?” she asked.
“Helping set up, I think,” Joshua told her. “Are you and your dad going to the airport with him?”
She nodded. “I think so. Dad, are we going with Pops to get Granny and Gramps?”
“Honey, you go if you want to. I have to get my clothes ready.” He bent and muttered in a fake whisper. “Pops is making me marry him today.” He mugged comically. “I tried to get out of it but …” He wrinkled his nose, mugging.
“Dad!” Sophie protested, laughing. “You did not!”
“Where’s my girl?!” Jeff’s voice called out as he entered the dining hall. “Did someone say my daughter was here?”
Sophie ran to Jeff, who smiled and embraced her. “My god, sweetheart. You’re so beautiful, you make me want to cry.”
“You taking her with you?” Trent asked, sliding an arm around Jeff’s shoulder.
“If she wants,” Jeff said, Sophie’s hand still in his.
Colin leaned against the counter, watching them. “Look at that,” he said to Joshua. Both Trent and Jeff had an arm around Sophie as they talked to each other, and she gazed up at her two fathers, her youthful face alight with happiness.
Joshua nodded. “That’s a family .”
Everyone else at Camp Pride gulped down breakfast and then hurried off to complete the final decorating tasks.
Meanwhile, Jeff and Sophie left for the airport to collect Jeff’s parents.
In the dining hall, David and his cooking class carefully placed the wedding cake at the center of the head table, right beside the terrarium centerpiece created by Jeff’s class.
They then arranged the dining area for the reception, adding fresh flowers to every table.
Outside, campers bustled around the wedding site, setting up speakers, arranging chairs for the guests, and positioning the small stand that would hold Colin’s iPad.
Excitement filled the air as the final preparations came together, ready for the celebration ahead.
Once the last details were in place, everyone rushed to their cabins to change into their finest—and cleanest—clothes for the big event.
Back at their cabin, Joshua donned his suit while Colin, still fuming, stood staring down at his dress pants. Finally, Joshua smiled and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Wear your new jeans and your Camp Pride sweatshirt.”
Colin’s mouth twisted in a scowl, but Joshua squeezed his shoulder. “Babe, what matters today is what you say , not what you wear . Everyone here knows why you’re not wearing a suit. You broke your ankle trying to save a lost camper. That’s cause for admiration, not recrimination.”
Colin nodded and grabbed his Camp Pride sweatshirt. “Well, I hope so, since I really don’t have a choice.” He dressed, then turned to Joshua, his iPad in his hand, arms outstretched. “OK. This is it. What you see is what you get.”
“You look gorgeous. Everything’s on your iPad?”
“It is.”
“OK, then, Pastor Campbell-Abrams. Time to shine.”