14
His father was wrong about things looking better in the daylight. If anything, the bright sunshine only highlighted the stark reality of the church nearly being destroyed.
As he and his father drove up, the sight of the venerable old building, its walls blackened by soot, tore Ianto apart. Brianne and her entire family were already clustered on the grass. Even Beatrice and her new husband were there.
They weren't alone. A large part of the congregation had formed a semi-circle around the building and they were all staring at the fire-ravaged house of worship as if transfixed. Ianto saw neighbors and friends, including Eddy Williams and Rhys and his wife Gwen from the towing service, her parents the Coopers, as well as the rest of the elders and deacons.
The one person Ianto didn't see was Jack Harkness.
Where had he gone? Other than his cryptic statement about keeping him out of a tower, he had no idea.
Disappointment rose up in him. As the next pastor he should've been the first one here.
"The Fire Chief is inside," Brianne said as Ianto and her father approached. "Nobody is allowed in until he declares the building safe. They should also be able to tell us what started the fire."
Mr. and Mrs. Cooper made their way over. "Good morning, Pastor. Ianto," Geraint said. "It's such a shock to see this."
"It's just terrible," Mary echoed as she fought back tears.
"I know, we're all still reeling," Ianto's father said.
Geraint shifted closer. "That may be, but we still need to figure out what to do about Christmas services and the pageant," he said, dropping his voice as if he didn't want anyone else to hear. "Not to mention after the holidays. It's obvious we won't be back in for quite some time."
Ianto's father nodded. "I know. I didn't sleep for trying to come up with a solution."
Ianto knew he'd had another reason for being kept up.
"I'll put in a call to the high school," Mrs. Cooper said. "I'm sure they can accommodate us in the auditorium for a few weeks."
Ianto had no doubt the school would agree as Mary Cooper had just retired as the principal a year ago.
"Unfortunately, that won't solve the problem of the pageant," Mrs. Cooper continued. "The school has its own Christmas play on the stage right now and the set won't be struck in time."
"It's too bad that old dinner theatre on the edge of town is in such disrepair," Brianne said. "No one's used it in years."
"The Paradise? We'd be lucky if that place didn't fall down on our heads," Mrs. Cooper said.
Ianto knew what they were saying. Everyone else knew it too. The truth was in their eyes as they all turned in his direction.
Even as his heart took a nosedive, Ianto lifted his chin.
"It's okay if we have to cancel the pageant. It's only one year," he said, grateful that his voice didn't tremble and break.
The show of bravery must not have worked because the gazes of sympathy trained on him didn't waver one bit.
Thankfully, a distraction appeared when a short, stout man sporting a buzz cut liberally peppered with gray strode out of the church. Ianto instantly recognized Joe Brady, the town's Fire Chief.
Joe took in the gathering crowd. "Word is out, I see."
"What else did you expect in Cardiff?" Ianto's father asked. "Joe, what can you tell us?"
"Well, the good news is the structure is still intact and it's safe to go in. No danger of the roof coming down. The other good thing is that the fire was contained to the sanctuary so the Sunday school rooms were spared."
"I hear bad news coming," her father said.
Joe pursed his lips. "Unfortunately, the smoke and water damage is pretty extensive in the sanctuary. The floors and walls will have to be completely redone to prevent mold or other hazards."
"How long will all that take?" Geraint Cooper asked.
"You might be back in by summer."
"What about the fire? Could you determine the cause?" Ianto asked.
"Electrical." Joe grimaced. "We see it a lot. The wiring in these old buildings can be a real hazard. This one caught fast because it started in the wall behind the Christmas tree. Tree went up and it was off to the races. Since you're going to be making repairs, I'd get an electrician in there and see about redoing all the wiring. Make sure this never happens again."
Ianto's father shook Joe's hand. "Thank you."
He gave a weak smile. "I'm only sorry I couldn't give you better news. This is my church, too. Hate to see the old girl damaged, but we'll build her back stronger than ever."
"Of course we will," Ianto's father said. "Reverend Harkness will see to it."
If Jack ever showed up, Ianto thought, with growing ire. Where was he anyway? Off taking a nap somewhere?
Had he worn himself out throwing pebbles at his window?
Why would he kiss him with such passion and then just disappear?
"Ianto!"
He was here.
Ianto knew it immediately, and everything in him rose in a spontaneous cheer as Jack's voice reached him. He turned, and there he was, striding up the sidewalk. Ianto broke away from his family and ran to meet him, stopping short of throwing himself in his arms.
"Where have you been?" he asked, clasping his hands together to keep from reaching for him.
"Getting you a Christmas present," he said, grinning down at him. "I think you're going to like it."
He shifted and that's when Ianto noticed Jack wasn't alone. A tall, lanky man with dark blond hair came up to stand beside him.
Ianto glanced at the stranger in confusion, before looking back to Jack. "You brought me a man?"
He chuckled. "No."
Since he'd waited so long to show up–and because he'd made a point of embarrassing him so thoroughly last night–Ianto decided to make him suffer a little.
"Are you sure?" he asked, giving the stranger a blatant, full body assessment. "He's pretty good looking. Does your friend come with wrapping paper and a pretty bow?"
Jack's smile disappeared in an instant. "Absolutely not."
"I mean, I did vow to get a life and find a man."
Jack scowled. "Don't even think about it."
The stranger laughed and reached around Jack's shoulder to shake Ianto's hand. "Hi, I'm Noah Johnson. I don't come with a bow, but I do have a hammer and nails."
"And I'm sure you know how to use them," Ianto said, batting his eyelashes and enjoying the sight of Jack losing his cool.
Served him right for showing up in the middle of the night and pelting his house with rocks. For waking his father up and making him feel like a teenager sneaking out to see his boyfriend.
A low growl issued from Jack's throat as he glared at his friend's hand, which still engulfed Ianto's. "Off."
Shoulders shaking in quiet mirth, Noah held his palms up in surrender and pointedly took two steps back.
Ianto rolled his eyes. Men.
Oh wait… yeah.
Huh, he was acting so much like a damsel in some romance novel he forgot … he was one too.