Beck chuckled and said, “All three of them look like that. What’s up, lovebirds?”
Maizy giggled behind his back and he had to smile. “Maizy has had a change in status and would like to know if you’d mind if she left here with us after the three of you take off.”
Lucy frowned. “A change in status?”
Cody pulled his and Maizy’s linked hands out from behind his back and displayed her ring for Lucy.
“Oh!” Lucy suddenly cried out and jumped from Patrick’s lap and grabbed their hands. “Hot damn! Yes! Hell yes! You should go. You probably have lots to…talk about, right?”
Cody gave a single nod and then turned to Patrick. “Is that okay with you, Patrick?”
With a dry chuckle, Patrick replied, “What? And have Maizy mad at me if I tell you no?”
Maizy growled, “Patrick—”
Patrick stood and cut her off. “Of course I approve. The real question is what you plan to tell Dad.” He turned back to Cody and stared at him, now completely serious. “You know there will be plenty of people who have something to say about it at school, right?”
Cody and Maizy both nodded and Cody said, “We’ve talked about it at length and know that it’s likely. We’ll be there for her. We’ve all accepted the risks.”
Her sister, Roberta, burst into the conversation, startling Maizy. “Are you insane? It’s one thing to be a freak in private but you can’t go through with this!”
Cody released Maizy’s hand as she rounded on her older sister, cutting her off. Spencer frowned and nudged Heath back when he moved as if to protect Maizy.
“I can’t? Last I checked, I was a grown woman. I’m in love with three wonderful men. I’m engaged to them. Deal with it.”
“You’ve taken leave of your damned senses!” Her voice rose in volume as she continued. “Do you have any idea the repercussions—”
Maizy was about to speak when Amelia Owen stepped into their midst and turned on her daughter. “You lower your voice this instant, Roberta.”
“Mom! You have no idea what’s going on! Maizy is engaged to—to—” Roberta sputtered in her fury as she jabbed a finger in the men’s direction.
Amelia’s eyes went wide and a beatific smile filled her expression. “The bears!” She reached for Maizy’s hand and she clapped a hand to her cheek. “Oh my goodness. I feel woozy.”
“Here, Mom, sit down,” Patrick gently directed her into a chair.
She fanned herself with her hand and said, “Maybe I should. Come here, Maizy.”
Maizy sat in the chair next to her and Cody watched as her mother took her hands in hers. “Is this what you want? Are you happy?”
Maizy smiled and nodded her head. “Very. Mom, I’m very happy.”
Roberta made a sound of disgust, drawing her mother’s attention again.
“Roberta, either apologize or leave this gathering,” Amelia said in a familiar, steely tone, and Cody kept his grin to himself. Now he knew where Maizy got it from. “You’ve made your feelings about polyamorous relationships abundantly clear to everyone who will listen to you spew your nonsense at this gathering, several of whom are involved in loving, committed poly-relationships. They were just too kind and polite to tell you, for fear of making the groom’s sister uncomfortable. But I’m setting you straight now, girlie. If Maizy is truly happy, then I’m happy for her. Instead of judging them, you should get to know these delightful men.”
Roberta screwed her lips up into a prissy little twist and said, “I don’t want to get to know them, Mom. You’re being an idiot! And, Maizy, you’re throwing your degrees and all of your hard work away.”
Maizy replied easily, “You’re just worried about what Tabitha Lester and your Bible study ladies will say when word gets out. And don’t worry about me and my degrees. We’ll be fine.”
“Throw your life away on this perversion then. But I’m warning you, the shit is going to hit the fan.”
“I’m duly warned, Prissy,” Maizy said in a cold tone as she slid her hands around Cody’s and Spencer’s arms. Heath slipped in behind her.
Amelia sighed and stood from her chair. “This has gone on long enough, Roberta. Maizy is right. You’ve allowed that harpy, Tabitha Lester, to influence your thinking and it’ll cost you your relationship with your sister if you don’t stop this right now. You’ve disrupted the gathering, which I think was your goal. The only shameful behavior I see is yours, dear. You should go. We can talk more about this later.” She stepped over so that she now stood on the other side of Cody, clearly showing solidarity. “I treasure all of my sons-in-law, both present and future.”