Scene 3: Saturday, 8 October 2011, 3:12p.m.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dithridge Road Chapel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Connor knocked lightly on the door and peered inside. "Someone said you wanted to see me?"

"Yeah!" Rachel replied, hiking up the skirt of her wedding dress to walk over to him and give him a quick, awkward hug. "Come on in. Sorry, it's kind of a mess in here," she said, gesturing around the Primary classroom that had been converted into the bridal staging area. A large mirror stood in the corner, and flowers and makeup and bottles of hair spray and bits of tulle were scattered around among the stacks of books and buckets of crayons. She sat back down on the low table by the window.

"So…what's up?" Connor asked. He added, "Also you look really nice."

Rachel smiled. "Aw, thanks, bro. T-minus…" She looked up at the clock, "Forty-eight minutes. Well, anyway, we didn't really get a chance to talk last night and I just wanted to be able to catch up and say hey before this all goes down."

"Okay then." Connor looked down at his feet, not sure what to say.

"So, how's school now that you're actually at a real university?"

"It's good. Classes are going fine. I've got a lab job that I like so far."

"Good. Making friends?"

"Eh, it's only been a month. I haven't met a whole lot of people yet. And all the other new undergrads are just out of high school so I'm older than pretty much everyone else in my classes, which is fine but a little strange."

"How's the love life?"

"Geez, Rach, way to be subtle." Connor sighed and shrugged with a half smile. "Same as always. Nonexistent."

"No one special in your life?"

"Nope."

"You're sure?"

"Yep."

"Okay."

Rachel sighed and a sad expression fell across her face that made Connor nervous. She started to speak, slowly and tentatively, choosing her words carefully. "Listen, Con, I know we're not…super close. And that's mostly my fault. But I want you to know that you're my little brother and I love you a lot no matter what. You know that right?" He nodded.

She paused, thinking of how to continue. "If…if I ask you something will you answer me honestly? You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but you can be honest with me. Whatever you say I still love you all the same. And I'm not asking to be gossipy or to take the opportunity away from you or to invade your privacy or because I think I somehow have a right to know, because I don't. I just want you to know that if there's anyone you can be open with, it's me, even if we're not usually the closest brother and sister."

Connor knew what was coming. His mouth was dry and his heart raced as he waited for the question.

"Con…are you gay?"

In his head he counted one, two, three to make sure this was really happening. He gulped and nodded.

"You know that's okay, right? I don't think of you any differently. You're my brother and I love you."

He nodded again. "Yeah… Ugh, how did you know?"

"You know Ruby, the one from Celina, the one I went to high school with? She's the blonde? Well, Ruby happened to be near U.O. last week and happened to catch you on what I guess was a date."

Connor groaned, "Oh no. No no no no. Seriously?"

"It's okay. She only told me. And I'm not going to tell anyone else."

"Thanks… You're really…you're okay with it?"

"Of course, Con. Of course! It's…okay, it's a little weird because it's…different. And I feel like there's a big part of you I didn't know about, but yeah, of course I'm okay with it. There's a lot we've been told about how it's wrong, but I don't think it's wrong. You know I don't—I mean, I'm not as invested in all of this," she gestured to the framed portrait of Jesus up by the wall clock, "as I used to be. To be honest, I'm only having the wedding here and not at Rob's church because I think dad would have had a heart attack otherwise."

Connor laughed. "Yeah, that's true."

"Look…I don't want this to sound rude, but, are you sure about this?"

"About being gay? Yeah, I'm sure. It's not like I chose it, and for as much as I tried to change it and stop being different, it just doesn't work that way."

"How long have you know? I'm sorry, I don't want to pry but…I'm just curious. I mean, you've been going through probably a lot of crap and I wasn't there."

"It's—it's okay. I don't know, I guess I've known for a long time. Since I was at least ten or eleven."

"Was it tough?"

"Yeah. But it's better now, mostly."

"So, do you wanna tell me about this mystery guy that Ruby saw you with?"

"No, not really," he said, but a small smile formed on his lips as he thought about Kevin.

"Oh, yes you do, I can tell," she said knowingly. "Indulge your big sister, the insufferable gossip, on her wedding day. So did you meet this guy recently?" She pulled herself back on the table and sat cross-legged, leaning forward and waiting expectantly to hear more.

"No, we met a while ago."

"Like, last year when you were at home?"

"No, before that."

"Like during high school? Is he from Celina?"

"No, not that long ago."

Rachel furrowed her brow, confused. "Wait, before or after your mission?"

"Um…during?"

"No! You…you mean he's one of them? One of the Elders you served with?"

"Yeah."

"Holy!—" She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Holy cow, Conner! That's huge. That's a big deal. You could have been sent home."

"Yeah, I know that. I'm fully aware of how wrong it was…is."

"So did you…did you start seeing him when you were in Africa?"

"No! No, not really. I mean, kind of, I guess."

Rachel smiled warmly. "Aw."

"Not officially until now. He came to Uganda a year after me so he just got back in July. We kept in touch and now…yeah."

"Aww. And how did you both end up at U.O.? That's pretty good luck."

"Well…uh, he transferred there when he got back. It was his idea."

"Did he do that for you?"

"Yeah."

Rachel exhaled slowly. "Wow. Geez, Con. That's a big deal. So this has been going on for…two years and you didn't think to tell your sister?"

"That makes it sound like we've been dating for two years, but it wasn't that simple. We were on mission, and then we were in different countries and now we're here and still trying to figure everything out. Sorry, though…I did want to tell you when I got back last year."

"No no no, don't be sorry. I understand, and I'm sorry you couldn't tell anyone. I should have been more…big sisterly." She looked around awkwardly. "So…you must like this guy a lot."

Connor blushed. "Yeah…yeah, I do."

She smiled wide. "Awww. Is it serious then?"

"Um, kind of, I guess. Yeah."

"Does he treat you well?"

"Yes, Rachel."

Rachel put her hands up defensively. "Hey, just checking. That's my job."

"Well it feels like you're giving me the third degree."

"Call it making up for lost time. I've never really had the chance to give my sisterly approval of people you date. You haven't really dated people."

"Hey, that's not true," he countered, "I dated Susie Parks sophomore year of high school."

Rachel laughed. "Okay, I wasn't even there for that, but dad said you went out a total of like four times and then you broke up to 'focus on your studies and scripture' and that you didn't even like her that much."

Connor burst out in a loud raucous laugh. "He actually said that? Oh my gosh, I can't believe he—" He keeled over holding his sides, shaking with laughter. "I can't even—he actually repeated that! Yeah, I thought that was a good cover for 'got freaked out when she tried to kiss me at the fall formal and then felt really bad about it and needed to get dad off my case because he kept trying to introduce me to his patient's daughters.'"

"Wow…" Rachel chuckled, marveling, "Everything is starting to make sense now. You are a much sneakier dude than I gave you credit for." Connor grinned mischievously and shrugged.

"Oh my gosh!" Rachel interjected. "I didn't even ask—what's his name? This guy you're seeing?"

"Kevin."

"And does Kevin have a last name?"

"Yes, he has a last name, mom. Kevin Price."

"And where is Mr. Kevin Price from?"

"Provo."

"Oh my! So he's one of those!"

Connor cracked a smile. "Hah, yeah, guess so."

"So when do I get to meet him?"

"What?" Connor was taken aback by the request. "I—I don't know. I guess I'd like for you to meet him. I mean, you're kind of the first person who knows. I don't know too many people at school too well yet… Do you…" Connor's eyes brightened as an idea dawned on him. "Do you want to talk to him? I was going to call him before the ceremony starts. I could call him, you could meet him that way. I don't know, is that too weird?"

"Do you want me to?"

"Yeah…" he said, nodding slowly, "Yeah I do."

"Would he be okay with that?"

"Yeah. Yeah, it'd be fine."

"Okay then, call him up. I only have a couple minutes though."

Connor dialed, stepped a few paces away and held the phone to his ear, turning his back to Rachel. "Hey, it's me," he said. " … No, it hasn't started yet. Still waiting around. … Yeah, I know. … So, hey, um, could you do me a favor? …" He ran a restless hand through his hair. "No, I mean…um…do you want to meet my sister? I'm here with her right now. … Yeah. … Yeah, I told her—well, I mean, she found out but it's okay. … No! No, nothing bad. …Yeah. …" A wide smile spread across his face. "Yeah, me too. … Um, terrified and relieved? … We kind of had a heart to heart, I guess. It was weird. … So do you want to say hi? … I don't know. Say good things about me. … Well if you can't think of anything, just make something up. …" He sputtered and laughed. "No, you can't say that! … Haha, no, I don't think that'd be appropriate either. … Yes, that is fine. … Yes, you can say that, too. … Aw, okay, okay, okay, I'm putting you on speaker now, okay? Okay."

Connor turned around and passed the phone to Rachel, then stepped back and put his hands in his pockets, waiting anxiously. She greeted him brightly. "Hello Mr. Kevin Price!"

Kevin's voice crackled through the speaker. "Hello soon-to-be Mrs. Rachel McKinley-Foster! Congratulations on this momentous occasion, and even though I'm not there to tell, I'm sure you look lovely right now."

"Aw, well thank you, Kevin. Now, it has come to my attention that you are in a relationship with my brother."

"That is true, yes."

"Are you ready for the battery of questions? It'll be quick and painless, I promise."

"Go for it."

"Good. First: what are your intentions with my brother?"

"Honorable and pure, I assure you."

"Good. Do you love him?" Connor blanched at the question—he didn't expect her to ask that.

"Yes I do, very much so." Connor sighed in relief.

"And does he love you?" Connor tensed up again.

"Yes, I believe that he does." Rachel looked up at Connor to confirm and he bit his lip sheepishly and nodded, trying to hold back a smile. She grinned and mouthed an exaggerated 'awww', then turned back to the phone.

"Good good good. So are you a smart kid, Kevin? You get good grades?"

"Yes."

"You work hard?"

"Yes."

"You have a career in mind?"

"Teaching."

"Ah, okay, admirable. Would you say you're a man of strong faith, Kevin? Moral? Principled? Honest?"

"As much as I can strive to be, yes."

"You not involved in anything illegal, you don't do any drugs or anything?"

"No, ma'am."

"You're not going to cheat on my brother or treat him badly, now are you?"

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"You're going to be good to him? Make him laugh, be supportive, call him out when he's being an idiot, take care of him?"

"For as long as he'll have me, there is nothing else that would make me happier."

"Well…that's really all I can think of. I believe you've passed. You seem like a good guy, Kevin. It sounds like my brother has made a good choice."

"Thank you. That really does mean a lot to me."

"It was nice to talk with you, Kevin. I hope sometime we can actually meet in person. I'm going to pass you back to Connor, now, okay?"

"Okay. It was a pleasure meeting you, too. Again, congratulations on today."

"Thanks." Rachel tapped the phone off speakerphone and passed it back to Connor.

He took it with a shaky hand and snapped it to his ear, not saying anything for a few moments. "So…hi. … Thanks for—for doing that. … Yeah, it was great. … What do you mean a 'piece of cake'? I was dying over here! … Yeah, well, you would say that. … Haha, no, I know you would. … Yeah…I know you meant it. … I know. … Same. … Okay, I've gotta go. … No no no, I mean it, I've got to go. It's getting late. …" He put an embarrassed hand over his eyes. "Stop it! You're going to make me blush even more. … Kevin. Okay, I've got to—I've got to go. … I love you, too. … I'll talk to you later. … Okay. Love you. Bye." He hung up and stared down at the phone, lost in thought.

"He seems like a good guy," Rachel said, snapping Connor from his reverie. "He seems to like you a lot."

Connor smiled bashfully. "You really think so?"

"Yeah, I really do."