Chapter Twenty-Two | Chad

They were running late. I savoured my wine as I waited for my brother, Harold, and my sister, Agnes. She was back in town for a visit, and we had agreed to meet for dinner.

I rose to my feet when I saw them approaching.

I was still giddy after last night. Owen had agreed to move in with us … or us with him. We hadn't decided yet. We'd made such intense love after that; my heart was still in a state of ecstasy.

"Hey, Harold." I hugged him and pounded his back.

I turned my attention to my sister. She was quick to accept my hug. It felt good. I was thrilled we were in a place where Agnes could be in our lives again. It was unfortunate that my younger brother, Lester, still wanted nothing to do with us. He was running the farm now. He and his wife had moved into the family home. My parents had moved into a retirement residence.

Without Agnes, I wouldn't know what my family was doing. I wondered if she ever talked about Harold and me with them. It was unlikely. Probably for the best.

We took our seats, and the server came over and took their drink orders. I waited until we were alone before launching into what I wanted to tell them.

"Skylar and I have expanded our family."

Agnes' eyebrows shot up. "You've adopted a child?"

"No, but that might be in our future." I fiddled with my wine glass, holding its stem and turning it slowly. "Skylar started seeing someone a few months back. "

This wasn't news to Harold, but Agnes set her glass down and stared at me.

"I don't understand," she said.

"He started dating another man. We have an open relationship."

"So … both of you can do this … date other men?"

I nodded. "A month ago, I started dating him too. His name is Owen."

Agnes' mouth popped open and then snapped closed. "I think I know where this is going."

"The three of us are together now in a committed relationship. Last night we decided we should combine our households. Make our fabulous union a permanent situation."

"But you're married."

"There's enough love in my heart for both of them."

"I'm not sure what to say."

"How about that you're happy for Chad," Harold said to her. "He's in love."

"And that does make me happy. Just wish it was a more conventional happiness."

"I can't wait for you to meet them," I said to Agnes and then turned to Harold. "And you're going to love Owen. He has shades of your boring and uptight husband."

Harold smiled. "My favourite, apparently."

"Can we save it until my next trip out?" Agnes asked. "I need time to process."

My heart deflated a little, but Agnes' reaction was understandable. She was a devoutly religious person. Polyamorous relationships weren't something she'd been taught to accept.

"Thank you for being honest," I said to her. "Take all the time you need."

To her credit, Agnes asked me about each of my men. What they did for work. About their hobbies and interests. A complete rundown of their personalities, positive traits, and quirks.

Why I loved them.

I looked back and forth between them as we moved on to other topics. More about my sister's son and how his transition was going. Harold's win in getting his husband to go out to dinner with another couple from Harold's work. They were a straight couple, but they'd had fun.

I felt content with the measure of my childhood family I'd been blessed with.

On the way to Owen's, I felt a rush of fulfillment with my life. Made fuller when I found my men waiting for me. They wanted to hear about everything we had discussed at dinner.

The next morning, Owen and I were working on his car in the garage. Like clockwork at 10 am sharp, Skylar brought us a couple of cappuccinos. Then at noon a plate of sandwiches.

This was the life we were moving toward.

My chest expanded as my heart beat hard, taking up enough room to choke my breath. I still couldn't believe I had found big love . My very soul connecting with two men.

Skylar gave each of us a kiss and then headed back to the house.

Owen wrapped me up in his arms, one arm around my waist, his other hand on my face. "We love you so much," he whispered across my lips then took control of them.

Bliss.

Absolute bliss.

Forever.

This was my forever.