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“That’s not right,” Heath said
“Maybe not, but it’s reality. I’ve had a chance to talk with Grace Warner and I have a pretty good idea of the amount of genuine love and respect that’s a part of her relationship with Jack, Ethan, and Adam. I know they’re rock solid. But if it became known that I was involved in that kind of relationship, the board wouldn’t care about how solid it was. They’d label it immoral conduct. I love Divine. I don’t want to live anywhere else. But there’s a small, vocal minority who would have a lot to say about my choices.”
“Is it everyone on the school board who thinks that way, or just a select judgmental few?”
“I don’t know for certain about each member but I’m unwilling to put it to the test. That’s the only reason I didn’t confront Presley Ann Woodworth tonight. Her father is on the school board. He seems like a nice man but then again they all do until you delve deeper. I’d never paid that much attention before I met Lucy and…I don’t know what to say. It’s one thing to spend time with you at the club where people are less likely to notice, but in Divine…I don’t know how to act with you in public. I need…”
“An instruction manual?” Cody asked with an encouraging smile. Spencer was glad that he’d dialed back the disgruntlement. He didn’t like seeing Maizy put on the hot seat like that.
Maizy smiled back at Cody and took his hand, seeming to hold on to it like it was a lifeline. “Something like that. I’m not ashamed of my brother’s relationship, and I’m not ashamed of you. Please don’t think that. I just need time to figure out a plan, I guess.”
Preferring to get everything out on the table, Spencer said, “We could be really careful, but even then, people may talk, Maizy. We can’t stop them, as much as I’d like to, but neither would we rub their noses in it. And we’d be there for you. Do our best to make it worth it to you. We looked for you for a long time.”
“You did, didn’t you?” Maizy observed.
Just then, his phone rang in his pocket. He caught Maizy’s wide smile when she heard the ringtone. “Black Magic Woman.” Heath probably took that as some sort of sign, too. Spencer sighed and silenced the ringer after checking the caller ID. The call was from a number he didn’t recognize so he sent it to voice mail. Whoever it was could wait until the morning. Right then, Maizy was his highest priority.
Cody drew Maizy’s attention with a fingertip under her chin. “Worst-case scenario, what would happen if you lost your job over our relationship?”
“It would break my heart. But I think if everything worked out between us and I somehow lost you, that would break my heart as well.”
Cody glanced at him and Heath, and Spencer had a bad feeling as Cody said, “You have no idea how hard it is to ask this question, but, angel, do you think it’s for the best if we take you home right now? I think it’s true for all of us that the farther we go the more deeply attached to you we get.”
“No,” she whispered, clasping her hands together and pressing them to her lips. “No, I don’t want that. This is special. I know that much.”
“What if we make it worth the risk? Worth the effort?”
“I think it would be…but…”
“But you’re afraid of hurting or disappointing us?” Cody countered. “That’s what you’re concerned about?”
Spencer wanted to scoop her up when her eyes misted up and she cleared her throat as she nodded. “I was remembering backpedalling on you this afternoon and I was afraid that if I told you about the difficulties I’ll face, that you would take me home and tell me to forget about it.”
Cody stroked the back of her head and kissed her forehead. “Angel, you need to get to know us better. You’d know we don’t give up that easily.” He looked over at the two of them and said, “We can work this out between the three of us, to make it as easy as possible with her job, right?”
“Hell yeah,” Heath said with an easy nod. “I’m not giving up that easy.”
