Page 44 of Beyond the Rainbow (Pride Camp 2025 #11)
Reception
S aturday
Overwhelmed with happiness, Trent and Jeff embraced Sophie and Jeff’s parents, then stepped from the gazebo to greet the Camp Pride youngsters who surrounded them, cheering and applauding wildly.
But for Colin, the gathering behind him didn’t even exist. He spun to Joshua and swept him into his arms, burying his face against his husband’s neck, his breath catching, overwhelmed by emotion.
Joshua’s arms tightened around him, gripping tight, his fingers threading through Colin’s hair in a silent, possessive gesture.
“You OK?”
Colin exhaled a slow breath, then pressed a kiss to Joshua’s lips.
“Yeah. It’s just that—” He pulled back enough to look into his husband’s eyes, and saw that their dark brown depths were shimmering with unshed tears.
“Hearing them making those promises—saying those words,” he kissed Joshua again, his breath a slow tremble in his chest. “It hit me like a sledgehammer. How much I love you. How blessed I am to have you by my side.”
Joshua’s lips curved in a tender smile. “I felt the same thing.” He cupped Colin’s face, brushing his thumbs across Colin’s cheekbones. “Every day, Colin. Every day I’ll choose you. Again and again. Forever.”
Before Colin could respond, he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see the two grooms standing behind him, smiling as they reached to embrace him. “My god, Colin,” Trent murmured, his voice thick with tears. “It was just—just so damned beautiful. There are no words.”
Jeff, who had hugged Joshua before turning to Colin, kissed his cheek. “Just perfection, buddy. You took my breath away. I will never, ever forget it.” He leaned back, tears still sparkling on his cheeks. “Thank you.”
Colin embraced both men, then captured Joshua’s hand in his as the campers surged toward them, surrounding them, pulling them into the joyful chaos of celebration.
But even in the midst of the merrymaking, Colin clung to Joshua’s hand, anchoring himself in the one thing that mattered most—this love, steady and unshakable through every storm and every sunrise. Always his.
As the wedding party and guests drifted toward the dining room for the reception, a half-dozen volunteers stayed behind with David and Nate, breaking down the chairs and storing the decorations.
And as the boys lugged the gazebo toward its storage shed, David and Nate moved to stand, hand in hand, on the dock gazing across the lake to the mountains beyond.
David’s hand moved up Nate’s arm and slid around his shoulders.
“Great day,” he murmured, then kissed his husband’s cheek.
“Perfect day,” Nate replied, then drew in a long, trembling breath.
David gave a gentle laugh, reading his thoughts. “It’ll be wonderful, my love. Your boys have written a beautiful, touching piece. It will be the perfect conclusion to an amazing week.”
Nate lifted his hand in front of David’s eyes … with fingers crossed.
In the dining hall, now transformed into a wedding reception hall, a late reception luncheon was being served.
Again and again, the guests tapped spoons on their glasses, demanding a kiss—and the two grooms were happy to oblige, each kiss met with laughter and cheers from their guests.
Trent, ever the showman, dipped Jeff dramatically during one of the kisses, earning an uproar of applause and a playful eye-roll from Jeff, who nevertheless melted into the moment.
David had insisted on being in charge of this very special meal. He meticulously checked every recipe and reviewed the ingredients multiple times to ensure the Verdun cooking staff had everything they needed. He and Nate now sat at the head table with their friends, sipping champagne.
Near them, Colin sat with his broken ankle propped on a chair, Joshua beside him, their fingers loosely intertwined. Joshua leaned in, murmuring against his ear, “ I swear, if they start tapping their glasses for us next?—”
Colin smirked. “What? You’ll refuse to kiss me?” Joshua threw him a disbelieving look and Colin laughed out loud. “I wouldn’t worry. We’re not the center of attention at this meal.” He nodded toward Trent and Jeff who were once again sharing a kiss as the campers cheered.
By four p.m., the meal had been consumed.
The guests had toasted Trent and Jeff at least a dozen times and had demanded that they kiss at least a dozen more.
Now they moved to the wedding cake, smiling as they prepared to cut it, laughing as Nate danced around them snapping photos and shooting videos with his phone.
“Mush it in his face, Jeff!” Nate called out. “Make a great picture!”
Trent laughed and shook his head. “Oh no, no way. I am not ruining this masterpiece.” He gestured toward the beautifully decorated cake, the creation that David and his cooking class had made with such love and pride.
Jeff smirked, eyes glinting with mischief. “You sure about that?” Before Trent could react, Jeff swiped a dab of frosting onto his fingertip and smeared it across Trent’s nose. The room erupted in laughter with the campers cheering the loudest.
Trent groaned, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. “Oh, there will be payback for your sass.”
Jeff grinned and lifted a forkful of cake to Trent’s lips. As his husband devoured the tidbit, Jeff leaned close and whispered: “Do I get to pick what kind ?”
Nate, still snapping photos, giggled. “That one’s going on the highlight reel!”
After the two grooms had savored a bit of their wedding cake, pieces were passed out to everyone. Colin, still seated comfortably at the head table, nudged Joshua’s knee under the table as he munched. “What’s next?”
Joshua smiled and nodded toward Nate who had gathered his writing class around him. “You’re going to be wonderful,” Nate told the group, then laid a hand on Rowan’s shoulder. “Are the campfire and shooting star all ready?”
Rowan nodded and pointed to a fake campfire that was set on the stage. “The campfire’s all set and Jordan is going to run the shooting star across the stage for us.” He blew out a nervous breath.
“OK. I’ll see you after the performance.” Nate smiled at his students. “Be amazing!” Then he moved to stand in front of the stage and clapped his hands. “Camp Pride campers,” he said. “Trent and Jeff, wedding guests, and my fellow counselors.”
The murmuring of conversation faded as all eyes turned to the makeshift stage at the front of the room, where Nate’s students were gathered, shuffling a bit with nervousness.
“Welcome,” Nate continued. “As part of this incredible week, the Camp Pride writing class has created a very special moment to honor Trent and Jeff’s wedding, and the celebration of Pride Month.
This is a story crafted from their hearts, inspired by their experiences both in life and here at Camp Pride.
” He turned toward his students, his hand introducing them with a proud flourish.
“I am deeply honored and extraordinarily proud to present the very first performance of The Campfire Wish .”
A round of applause rippled through the dining hall as the lights dimmed slightly, the young campers taking their places.
The Campfire Wish
Written by: The Camp Pride Writing Class
Taught by: N athanial Gardener-Reese
Performed by:
Wesley Harrington as The Narrator
Caleb Monroe as Lonely Amos
Jasper Whitman as Teenage Amos
Elliot Greyson as Adult Amos
Rowan Calloway as Elder Amos
At the center of the stage, a small campfire flickered.
From the sidelines, Wesley spoke: “Before the campfire sits a young man named Lonely Amos. He is alone, and his heart aches with sadness.”
“I wish I had someone to sit with me,” Lonely Amos said, his voice low.
“Maybe I never will. Maybe I’ll be lonely for the rest of my life.
” He sighed out a muted breath, then glanced up.
A shooting star flared, its brilliant light leaving a glittering trail as it traveled across the sky.
“I wish,” Lonely Amos murmured. “I wish I could meet my future self. I wish they could tell me that I won’t always feel this sad and alone. ”
A breeze seemed to stir the air, rustling the trees at the edge of the stage. From the shadows, a figure stepped forward—young, hesitant, barely more than a boy himself.
Amos startled. “Who—who are you?”
The visitor hesitated, his posture unsure. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, as if trying to summon courage he wasn’t sure he had. “I’m you, Amos. I’m the you that you wished to meet. I’m the teenager you’ll become in just a few years.”
“But—but you’re still alone.”
Teenage Amos nodded. “I am. But the real reason I’m still alone is fear—fear of reaching out.
I know what fear feels like, Amos. It knocks you down, over and over, until you start believing it’s safer to stay down.
But staying down isn’t living. You have to stand up, take a breath, and step forward, even when it’s hard.
Because you’ll never find where you belong by hiding in the shadows.
You can’t find a friend if you’re too afraid to be seen.
And more importantly, you can’t be a friend if no one gets close enough to know you. ”
“But I’m too shy to reach out! Even if I shout, no one will listen anyway!”
Teenage Amos took a step toward him. “You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room to be heard. Just speak your truth and eventually the right people will hear you.” Then Teenage Amos turned and faded away into the night.
Lonely Amos watched him go. “Be brave,” he whispered.
From the side of the stage, Wesley spoke again. “Now Lonely Amos is visited by confident Adult Amos.”