I fell for a man 20 years younger after my hubby died – now we’re a THROUPLE but neighbours always think he’s cheating
AS Maya Angelou once said, “love recognizes no barriers, it jumps hurdles, leaps fences and penetrates walls”.
This quote rings particularly true for 49-year-old Lizz Canon, who fell in love with her toyboy just four months after becoming a widow.
But it doesn’t stop there: the lovebirds, who have a 20 year age gap, are now in a throuple.
Lizz’s husband of 20 years, Josh, died of liver disease at just 49-years-old – and she insists her toyboy is an “angel” sent from her late husband in heaven.
Josh was received his diagnosis in September 2012 and sadly passed away on December 19, 2021, leaving Lizz heartbroken.
While working through her grief in April 2022, she met her now-boyfriend Gabriel Castañeda, 29, at a roller-skating class.
She describes the encounter as “love at first sight” and the pair tied the knot a year later in May 2023.
But around the same time, they welcomed their girlfriend Fatima, 43, into the mix and struck up a throuple.
“Before Josh passed away, he told me he wanted me to live my life to the full,” Lizz, a retired immigration lawyer from Florida, US, says.
“Losing him was like nothing I’d ever been through, which is why meeting Gabriel was so out of the blue – it was love at first sight.
“When I told him about being polyamorous he was so open and interested. Soon after we explored it together and were happily surprised to find ourselves in our throuple.
“I love my husband but he’s not a woman and we communicate differently.
“Me and Gabriel each have our own relationship with Fatima – but I know Gabriel is my angel sent from above by Josh.”
Gabriel, a software developer, said being in a throuple has been a “wonderful experience”.
“Every day I’m thankful that I met Lizz and we’re living life authentically – there’s nothing better,” he shares.
Lizz, who married her late husband Josh in 2001 a year after meeting, had already tried polyamory in the marriage.
“When I told Gabriel that I practise polyamory, he was so open and interested,” she tells.
“Some people might not get polyamory but for Gabriel and I, it aligns with our values and how we want to live our life.
“We make sure to check in with each other about everything, not for permission but out of respect and being mindful of safe sex practices is non-negotiable.
“If you have love and trust at the centre of a relationship, polyamory will work out.”
In May 2023, Lizz and Gabriel got married, in their garden in Florida, and had an outdoor celebration with 45 guests.
The married couple are still blissfully happy and see their shared girlfriend every five weeks for a long weekend.
The throuple go on dates all together but other times Fatima will go on a date with Lizz and Gabriel individually.
“To me, marriage isn’t about being sexually exclusive, but it’s about building a life together – which is exactly what we are doing,” Lizz adds.
“Things have to be healthy and vibrant and that’s why we have a shared girlfriend, but we are open to dating other people, outside of our relationship.
“I’ve had neighbours call me telling me they’ve seen Gabriel on a date with another woman and they’re even more shocked when they realise that I know.
“If others think polyamory is strange then they should start talking to more people.
“I’ll never stop grieving Josh but it has gotten easier.
“I know he would’ve loved Gabriel and we would’ve been so happy.”
WHAT IS POLYAMORY?
Polyamory is the practice of engaging in multiple romantic or sexual relationships simultaneously with the consent and knowledge of all parties involved.
Famous polyamorous relationships include David Haye, Sian Osborne and Una Healy’s throuple in 2023.
Polyamory is often characterised by open communication, honesty, and respect among partners.
In such relationships, individuals typically have deep emotional connections with more than one person.
Polyamory differs from monogamy, where individuals typically have only one romantic or sexual partner at a time.
It’s important to note that polyamory is based on mutual consent and does not involve infidelity or deception.