Destination, Wedding!

by Xavier Mayne

  Southampton, finally

  “HOW’S IT feel?” Kerry asked as the train glided out of the station, bound for London. “You’re finally on your way to Gabriel.”

  “I maintain an attitude of cautious optimism,” Brandt replied. “You may think that this madcap adventure is a once-in-a-lifetime deal, but ever since Gabriel and I got together, it’s been one ridiculous complication after another. It happens with such regularity I now just expect it to go sideways—at least then I’m not surprised by it.”

  “So you live in a constant state of ‘hell’s about to break loose’? That’s gotta be rough.”

  Brandt nodded stoically. “The price of eternal watchfulness. I’m never caught completely by surprise, but it’s probably bad for my blood pressure.”

  “On behalf of my company, which offers a complete line of pharmaceuticals for blood pressure management, I say thank you. On my own behalf, as your friend, I say you have to loosen up, bro.”

  “Gabriel’s been telling me that for years. One thing I’ve learned this week is that sometimes all the worrying in the world isn’t going to change things, and all I can do is make the best of the hand I’ve been dealt.” He turned and looked out the window at the suburbs of Paris whizzing past. “I just don’t think I can make the best of anything when he’s not with me.”

  Kerry nudged his shoulder. “I wish I had somebody who made me feel that way. All I have ahead of me is a long spinsterhood.”

  Brandt looked at her skeptically. “You’ve been single for what, a month? Give yourself a little time. When you’re ready, there will be no shortage of men eager for your company. And until that day, you can console yourself with an endless supply of athletic surgeons.”

  She giggled and slapped his knee. “You know all my secrets now. It’s like I have a big brother watching out for me.”

  “Something tells me you aren’t going to make it easy,” he said with a laugh.

  “Oh, have no doubt of that. But right now our job is to get you married to the most amazing man in the world. In less than a week, you’re going to be Mrs. Gabriel Donnelly!”

  Brandt’s scowl made her jump back in her seat. “Kidding, kidding,” she said, hands out, eyes wide in mock panic.

  The train ride was smooth, and as long as Brandt didn’t think about the technical impossibilities of riding a train underwater, he could actually enjoy it—every kilometer they traveled brought him closer to Donnelly, and for the first time since leaving San Diego, he felt hopeful. They were actually going to be together again. Tomorrow.

  They changed trains in London and made the short trip to Southampton by midday. The ship wasn’t due to dock until the following morning, so they settled into a hotel that was a decided step down from the penthouse suite in Paris but was comfortable nonetheless. In the restaurant off the lobby, they shared a fish-and-chips dinner with a couple of pints of proper British porter.

  In the middle of a bite of fish, Kerry set her elbows on the table and stared across at Brandt, smiling and shaking her head.

  “What?” he asked, startled by her sudden change of expression.

  “I’ve seen Ethan in charge, Ethan in despair, even Ethan in a turmoil of sexual identity crisis. But this is the first time I’ve gotten to see Ethan in love. You’re practically beaming, and I suspect you will glow even more the closer he gets.” She grinned giddily. “I like this Ethan. I think he’s my favorite one of all.”

  “Not that I don’t appreciate the constant psychoanalysis, but I’m starting to see the advantage of not having any straight women in my life.”

  “Does that mean I’m disinvited from the wedding?” she asked with theatrical despair.

  Brandt smiled—he could take any amount of teasing in his current state. In less than twelve hours he would be reunited with Donnelly after the longest absence they’d endured since their relationship began—hell, since they’d met each other. Nothing could shake his good mood. “I fully expect you to be there, in the front row so you can entertain the other guests at the reception with pithy observations on my mental state at every single second of the ceremony.”

  “Consider it done, my good man.” She dissolved into giddy giggling.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sunday

  At sea, nearing Southampton

  “MR. DONNELLY? Sir?” Rutherford’s deep voice broke through Donnelly’s slumber.

  “Mmmmm?”

  “Mr. Donnelly, I apologize for waking you so early, but it is disembarkation morning.”

  “Mmmmm-hmmmm.”

  “I’ve brought coffee, sir.”

  “Why thank you, Rutherford. You are a credit to your profession.”

  “It is my pleasure, sir.”

  A few minutes later, after coffee and then showering and dressing, Donnelly and Sandler sat down to breakfast in their suite for the last time.

  “I expected to see Ankur,” Donnelly said as he poured maple syrup on his blueberry pancakes. “Did he not make it here for his final go at homosexing?”

  Sandler smiled. “He got here at about two and could only stay a little while. We made good use of the time.”

  Donnelly shook his head. “I hope he’ll be happy. I’m not sure I could get out of bed with someone like you and know I would never get back in.”

  “Gabriel Donnelly, are you flirting with me?” Sandler replied in mock-scandalized tones.

  Donnelly, by way of answer, stuck out his tongue. “You know what I mean. Being with you wasn’t just a light dalliance with being gay—anyone who’s going to take what you’re giving has to be committed.”

  “I am flattered by your oblique reference to my endowment,” Sandler said with a courtly bow of his head. “But don’t worry about Ankur. He’s actually remarkably mature about all of this, and he knows what he’s doing.”

  “I wish him well,” Donnelly said.

  “So, how’s it feel to be just a couple of hours away from seeing Ethan?”

  “I can hardly believe it. And seeing him won’t be enough for me to believe that we’re actually in the same place at the same time. Until I can lay hands on him—all over him—it won’t be real to me.”

  “When’s the wedding ceremony? I wouldn’t want to show up late.”

  “It’s Saturday afternoon, but of course you’ll be coming with us to the castle. We have the whole place for the week, and our families and friends will be arriving daily. You said you didn’t have plans, right? There’s plenty of room, and it’ll be a nice break for you.”

  “That’s a very generous offer. Thank you.”

  “Plus, it’ll give you time to get to know Ethan,” Donnelly added playfully. “I’m sure he’ll be very interested to hear all about our voyage from your perspective.”

  “Um, yeah,” Sandler said, looking deathly afraid of the very idea. “That’ll be… great.”

  Southampton docks

  IT WAS still well before dawn when Brandt gave up on sleeping, having stared at the ceiling for most of the night. He got up and showered, not waking Kerry who was sound asleep in the other bed. He dressed by the faint glow of the bathroom night-light and made his way out of the hotel and toward the water. Standing just above the docks, he looked out over the Southampton Water toward the sea. It was nearly five thirty when the riding lights of the great ship emerged from the misty distance, forming up into a brilliant city of the sea as it approached. Brandt could hardly stand still, his heart pounding as the ship grew larger, nearer. Donnelly is on that ship, he thought, and soon he’ll be right here next to me. Brandt could smell him, just as clearly as if they were already shoulder to shoulder, and his knees grew weak as his pants grew tight. Soon they would be together again.

  The ship slowed as it approached the dock, then turned elegantly and came to a graceful halt alongside. Knowing that disembarkation would take some time, Brandt turned and walked back to the hotel to get breakfast and try to keep himself from smiling like an idiot. It would be a challenge.

 
“So he’s here?” Kerry asked when Brandt returned to the room. In his absence, she had gotten up and showered, and was finishing getting dressed when he arrived.

  “He’s here. Still on the ship, though. I kind of expected to see him dive off the side and swim to shore.”

  “That’s insane.”

  “It’s what I would have done,” Brandt said with a sniff.

  Kerry burst out laughing. “Let’s get some breakfast. Something tells me that with this reunion ahead, you’re going to need your strength.”

  After staring at breakfast and not being able to eat a bite, Brandt urged Kerry down the street at a pace that nearly had her flying headlong toward the pier.

  “I think the people in the suites can get off first,” he said, practically vibrating with excitement. “We should see him soon.”

  “Does he know he makes you this crazy?” she asked, watching him bob up and down.

  “What do you mean?” Brandt asked, not tearing his eyes away from the ship to even glance her way.

  She laughed and shook her head. “Never mind. I’ll tell him myself.”

  The first to emerge from the ship were crew members, followed by officers with increasing numbers of gold bars on their shoulders. Finally, the first people who were clearly passengers started down the passageway from the ship. There was an elderly couple—she with a cane, he with a walker—who descended at a regal pace. Behind them strode several couples and small groups, who kept a polite distance while moving slightly faster than the first couple. Then a gap, followed by a single figure: a tall man in white tie, bearing baggage in both hands. Behind him was a man dressed far more casually than any of the preceding passengers, and next to him—

  There he is.

  “That must be him,” Kerry observed. “You stopped breathing altogether.”

  “That’s… him,” Brandt whispered, more to himself than to her. “He’s really here.” He took two deep breaths. “Gabriel.” He hardly made a sound.

  Donnelly, more than a hundred yards away, instantly snapped his head toward Brandt, as if he had heard his name called. When he caught sight of Brandt, a wide smile burst across his face, and he waved energetically. Then he touched the elbow of the casually dressed man and pointed in Brandt’s direction.

  “Looks like Gabriel made a friend,” Kerry observed. Then Donnelly tapped the formally dressed gentleman on the shoulder and repeated his gesture. “A couple of friends.”

  “He makes friends everywhere he goes,” Brandt replied, his voice a little thick. “He’s just amazing.”

  “Well, let’s hope he gets down here soon, before you hyperventilate.”

  “I’m fine. It’s all fine. Now he’s here, it’s all fine.”

  She put her arm around him. “I’m so happy for you.”

  He laughed. “Me too.”

  Dockside

  THEY FINISHED their breakfast while watching the dock come nearer and nearer, until finally, with a groan and a shudder, the great ship came to rest.

  “Never thought we’d get here,” Donnelly said with a sigh of relief.

  “In my line of work, arriving usually happens after I’ve already gotten ready for the next departure. It’ll be nice not to have anywhere to go for a while,” Sandler replied.

  A few minutes later, Rutherford appeared at the door. “Gentlemen, that sad hour is upon us. It is time to disembark.” He picked up their hand luggage and summoned the elevator. “As suite guests, you will be among the first to depart, and I will accompany you to the customs desk to ensure your efficient processing.”

  “That’s very nice of you,” Sandler replied, “especially since I no longer have the diplomatic pouch. I’m suddenly a tourist. Never been that before.”

  “Might I suggest cargo pants, a baseball cap, and a large camera to complete the look, sir?”

  “Rutherford, you are having fun at my expense, and I love you for it.” Sandler gave the butler a kiss on the cheek.

  “My goodness, sir, they did not prepare me for this in butler school,” Rutherford said with a roguish wink as he held the elevator door open for the men to precede him. “I do hope my virtue will be safe as we descend.”

  “I cannot guarantee that I won’t be overwhelmed by your charm and do something foolish,” Sandler replied. The three of them shared a laugh on the way down.

  Rutherford led them through the ship, just as he had conducted them to their suite on the first day, and soon they were nearing the large door that led out through the hull.

  They stepped into distinctly un-British bright sunlight, and Donnelly scanned the entire port area for a sign of Brandt. Then, without his even being aware of it, his head turned to the precise point where Brandt stood, and their eyes locked. Electrified by the sight of what he had been so long denied, he burst into a wild grin and waved energetically.

  “There he is,” Donnelly said to Sandler, touching him on the elbow and pointing.

  He then tapped Rutherford on the shoulder and pointed again. The butler looked up, then nodded approvingly to Donnelly.

  “Looks like he brought a friend,” Sandler observed.

  “She’s probably a secret agent he recruited to help him cross borders without a passport or something.”

  “If your fiancé turns out to be just a nice, regular guy rather than some kind of superhero ninja, I’m going to be kind of disappointed, really.”

  “Don’t worry,” Donnelly assured him. “Ethan’s both sweet and deadly.”

  “Awesome.”

  Southampton

  AS DONNELLY and Sandler emerged from the customs area, Brandt sprinted toward them, nearly leaping over three rows of chairs. Donnelly surged forward as well, and they collided, crashing into each other with a mighty thump of muscle and yearning.

  “Oh my God, I can’t believe we’re finally—” Donnelly began, but soon found his mouth commandeered by a frenetic, desperate kiss.

  Their traveling companions stood off to the side for an awkward moment. If they were expecting introductions, it would be a long wait.

  “Hi, I’m Kerry.”

  “Sandler. Pleased to meet you.”

  They watched the two men for a moment, then turned back to look at each other.

  “So, have you known Gabriel long?” Kerry asked.

  “No, we met in the airport when he was on his way to New York to get on the ship.” Sandler took a sidelong glance at the two grappling men. “How about you? Longtime friend of Officer Brandt?”

  She laughed. “Can’t say that. I think I’ve known him about twenty-four hours longer than you’ve known Gabriel. We were introduced at a conference in San Diego by a mutual friend.”

  “And that’s when you decided to travel around the globe with a man you’d just met?” Sandler asked with a grin. “Like I did?”

  She nodded. “What is it about these two? Ethan and I somehow became like brother and sister almost instantly. And having spent a week with him, I can tell you that he’s about the nicest guy you’re ever likely to meet.”

  “I cannot describe how relieved I am to hear that,” Sandler said with a deep sigh. “Gabriel is exactly the same. And how is it fair that the sweetest, hottest guy I’ve ever met happens to be getting married to an equally hot, sweet guy?”

  “Right? This is the universe telling us to lower our expectations.”

  Their eyes darted over to where Brandt and Donnelly embraced, staring into each other’s eyes, silent. Behind them a small group of elderly women, having come through customs behind the troopers, stood and watched, beaming at the two men so very much in love.

  “This may take awhile,” Kerry observed, plopping down into an open seat.

  “Gabriel’s been half-crazy with missing him,” Sandler added, sitting next to her.

  Kerry laughed and rolled her eyes. “Ethan’s been full-crazy. I kind of expected Gabriel to be some kind of wizard or something with the way Ethan was pining for him. There’s some strong magic at work here.”

&n
bsp; “I was worried Ethan might be upset that Gabriel and I ended up sharing a room on the way over.”

  “I wouldn’t worry. He and I did the same.”

  Sandler turned and looked at Kerry, eyes wide. “But Ethan’s…,” he murmured, then leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “Straight,” he hissed.

  “Yeah, that came up once or twice,” she replied, matching his conspiratorial whisper. “There was this one time when he—”

  “Well, isn’t this nice, our traveling companions are already gossiping like sorority sisters,” Donnelly said. He and Brandt had materialized without warning not three feet away.

  “Let’s hope they’re not telling each other all of our secrets,” Brandt added.

  “Sandler Birkin, I’d like you to meet Ethan Brandt,” Donnelly said.

  Sandler shot to his feet and stuck out his hand with a hesitant bravado. “I’ve heard so much about you, Ethan,” he said and nearly managed to keep his voice from cracking.

  “I may have some questions for you later,” Brandt replied, shaking his hand and looking a little suspiciously into Sandler’s eyes.

  “Great,” Sandler whispered, then dropped like a stone back to his seat.

  “Stand down, Officer,” Donnelly scolded, but his beaming expression hadn’t changed a bit.

  Brandt flashed a grin, then held out his hand to Kerry. “And I’d like to present Kerry Mercer,” he said. “She’s a friend of Greg’s who somehow managed to put up with me all week.”

  Donnelly leaned forward and took her hand. “I shall be honored to support your application for sainthood.”

  Kerry burst out laughing. “No need. Your man handled every setback with grace and aplomb.”

  Donnelly shot a puzzled glance at Brandt. “Unless by ‘grace and aplomb’ you mean ‘barely contained fury,’ I’m not sure we’re talking about the same guy.”

  “I see we understand each other,” Kerry replied. “It is a real pleasure to meet you, Gabriel. I’ve heard so much about you. And, even more than that, I’ve seen the effect your absence has had on Ethan. You two are really something special.”