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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.”
Roberta turned in a huff and stomped away, drawing the curious looks of many of the guests, before they went back to their conversations as the music continued on.
“She hates when you call her Prissy.” Amelia chuckled and said, “She deserved that nickname way back when and she still deserves it. That nasty Tabitha Lester has had too much influence within my family and I’m just about tired of her. The next time she calls to talk to your father in the guise of church business I may just tell her to kiss my lily-white ass and hang up on her.” She let go of Cody’s arm and looked behind him at Heath. “Young man, I think we need to get to know each other a little better, if we’re to be related.”
Heath winked at Maizy when she giggled and held out his crooked elbow to her mother. “Care to dance?”
“I would be delighted. Lucy told me you’re a charmer and I can see she was astute in her observation. Maizy, we’ll be back in just a few minutes.”
Cody raised an eyebrow and looked at Maizy. “Well, I suppose that explains where your father got his information the day he paid you a visit at the school.”
Maizy firmed her lips. “Mom is right. Tabitha seems to take delight in making trouble. She holds up her Bible and beats everyone over the head with it and I for one am sick of it. Roberta sounded just like her.”
Lucy hugged Maizy and said, “I know how you feel. I recall a similar recent confrontation with Roberta. Rhonda is coming around okay but Roberta seems to only get worse with time. Even your dad has eased up. He actually hugged me after the wedding.”
Cody watched Maizy as her gaze followed her sister across the yard and around the house and she said, “I’m sorry for disrupting your wedding like that, Lucy. If we hadn’t said anything she might not—”
Lucy held up a hand to cut her off. “Bullshit. She’s been building up a head of steam all afternoon. I’m thrilled with your news and I hope I get to help with planning your wedding. Oh, and it’s about time for us to leave anyway. Go say your good-byes and we’ll do the same.”
When Cody would’ve gone with Maizy, Lucy put out a hand on his arm and stopped him while Spencer went with her.
“Cody?” she said softly. He leaned close. “I can’t stand it but Roberta is right. The shit is seriously going to hit the fan.”
Cody nodded, melancholy filling him. He didn’t want that for Maizy. “I know.”
“Take good care of her and make it worth it?” Patrick said as he stroked Lucy’s shoulder.
Cody reached out to shake Patrick’s hand and said, “I swear to it.”
Lucy smiled and hugged him. “Congratulations, Cody. I’m so happy for all four of you. She needed you in her life. Don’t let Roberta’s drama ruin your celebration.”
Cody nodded and turned to go find Maizy and Spencer and wait for Heath, who was currently being taught the Funky Chicken by Mrs. Owen. He shook with laughter, thinking that for every negative aspect in this situation, there were so many more positives.
