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Ansley and her mom join us, and Leona makes popcorn on the stove while Taeli signs in to her streaming service on the television.
“Okay, ladies, what do we want to watch first?” Taeli asks.
“It’s a Wonderful Life,” Ansley chimes in.
“A classic. As the bride wishes,” Taeli says as she types the title into the search bar.
Zoey grabs two fudge squares off one of the plates.
“Um, be careful with those,” Maxi whispers.
Zoey looks down at the treats and back to Maxi. “Why? Do they have raisins in them or something?”
“Or something,” I quip.
“Raisins? Who the hell would put a raisin in a brownie?” Jena asks.
Zoey shrugs.
“Leona’s been known to slip a dash of medicinal herbs into her baked goods, if you know what I mean,” Maxi explains.
“Oh. Ohhh,” Zoey exclaims.
I stand up and call across the room, “Are these brownies spiked, or can we devour them?”
“If they have nuts, you can go nuts. If they’re plain, one too many, and you’ll go insane,” Leona calls back, a mischievous grin on her face.
“Great. She’s a stoner and a poet,” Taeli groans.
Zoey examines the squares more closely and places one back on the plate.
“I’ll just have one,” she says and takes a tiny bite.
The credits roll onIt’s a Wonderful Life. I stand and offer everyone a beverage refill when I notice Maxi is crying.
“What’s the matter?” I ask.
“I’m George Bailey.”
“Huh?”
“I am. I’ve felt like an outsider my whole life, like I didn’t matter to anyone, especially once my mom died. But here I am, having a baby, surrounded by you crazy, wonderful women who treat me like family. And I feel like I belong.”
“That’s because you do. You belong to Corbin, and that makes you ours too,” Sara-Beth says.
“I should marry him,” Maxi declares.
“Oh.” Sara-Beth lets out a yelp.
“Like, before the baby comes, I should marry him.”
“She should probably do it before she chickens out or changes her mind,” I quip.
“I’ll do it,” Isley says.
“Do what?” Sara-Beth asks.
“I’ll marry Corbin and Maxi.”
