Page 21 of Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming

PATRICK

B eing with Aimee is a dream. Now that they’re older and wiser, their relationship is deeper and more thoughtful.

He knows he can trust her and tell her anything, and she knows the same.

At least, he hopes. She said she forgave him, and he believes her.

He hopes she sees him as a safe space and believes he won’t hurt her again.

His phone buzzes. It’s her.

How did she know I was thinking about her ? He smiles down at his phone.

He answers, “Hey, baby! How did the signing go? Again, I’m sorry I couldn’t be there.”

“No worries, Patrick. Courtney’s soccer game was more important. But speaking of Courtney, her mom paid me a visit at the bookstore.”

Patrick takes a breath and closes his eyes.

This is not good .

Patrick and Sheila had a talk after his first date with Aimee, who was asleep when he headed to the guest house and had to remind the mother of his child of what boundaries are—and how she needed to remember them. Looks like he has to do it again.

“What did she say to you?”

“Not much, just that I was disrupting your family, my presence wasn’t needed, and to stay away from you.

She also mentioned what we did in your garden too, by the way.

Patrick, I don’t think I need to remind you that being an author is my job just as much as being a teacher is.

That woman showed up at my place of work and acted a fool. ”

“I’ll take care of this.”

“See to it that you do. I didn’t sign up for this bullshit. I signed up to be with you and develop a relationship with your daughter. I don’t do baby momma drama. I’m too old for that shit.”

“Nor should you. Don’t worry, Aimee. I will take care of this. I promise you.”

“Thank you. I have to go. The girls and I are having dinner. It was supposed to be a celebration of my book event, but now it’s basically to cheer me up.” Aimee sounds despondent.

That stings . Aimee should be celebrating this accomplishment, not worrying about my ex .

“I’m going to fix this. I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Okay. I love you, Patrick.”

As much as his heart is soaring hearing Aimee utter those words, he wishes the circumstances were better.

“I love you too, baby.”

Patrick calls Hector, the real estate agent.

The truth is, Patrick found a plot of land that would be perfect for Sheila and Courtney’s house months ago.

So, he bought it and had the house constructed, painted, furnished and ready to move into for a while.

He wanted to wait until Courtney was done with school to get them moved in, but moving day is coming a lot sooner for Sheila.

“Hello, Patrick,” Hector says.

“Hey, Hector. My ex is going to be moving in tonight. In about thirty minutes, as a matter of fact. Could you please have someone take care of the alarm system before she arrives?”

“No problem. Someone on my team will make sure it’s online by the time she gets there.”

“Thank you. Appreciate you.”

Patrick ends the call and calls Ranson.

“Hey, bruh. What’s up?” Ranson asks.

“I’m getting Sheila out of my house.”

“It’s about fucking time! When is she moving?”

“Tonight.”

“You bought a house already?”

“I had it built over the past few months, and it’s ready to be moved into. It’s actually been ready for a few weeks. I just wanted to wait until Courtney was out of school.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you would have tried to intervene and convince me to get her out sooner.”

“And I would have been right.”

“This is true.” Patrick scratches the back of his head. “Did Lyric tell you what happened?”

“She came home before heading to Aimee’s for dinner and she told me that she had to bribe some employees. And when I asked her what happened, all she said was, and I quote, ‘Patrick’s baby momma almost got jumped today.’ I can discern that Sheila was up to some shit.”

“Yep. Up to her fucking eyeballs in it showing up at Aimee’s book signing and acting out. I appreciate the ladies for showing restraint, even though she was asking for it. I don’t know what the fuck she was thinking.”

“She was thinking that she’s running out of time,” Ranson says.

“What are you talking about?”

“Pat, Courtney will be eighteen in the blink of an eye.”

“Don’t remind me.”

“Shut up, fool. Listen. Sheila is on her last legs, as far as getting you to want her. Using Courtney isn’t working, and pretty soon, it won’t work anyway.

She’ll be off to college, and the one thing Sheila has connecting the two of you will be gone.

And now Aimee’s in the picture? These are the actions of a desperate woman. Remember my dad’s fifth wife?”

“That woman was a hot mess. I don’t think Sheila’s that bad.”

One of Ranson’s former stepmothers wasn’t pleased to be set aside by his dad, Parker.

So, she did what any logical person would do.

She hired some thugs to bust Parker’s kneecaps, but unfortunately, the guys she hired were as effective as five hundred dollars will pay for.

She got caught and is currently serving eight years in Chino.

“She’s not too far from it, bruh. Going to your girl’s book signing to act a fool is some hot mess behavior.”

“You’re right. Let me go and handle this.”

“Good luck.”

Patrick ends the call then leaves his house and heads to the guest house.

It’s a two-story Italian villa that matches the Tuscan style design of the main house.

It boasts five bedrooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom.

It also has a Jacuzzi, a wave pool and a game room.

There’s a state-of-the-art kitchen and a private gym.

He also hired a housekeeper, a personal trainer—at Sheila’s request—and a personal chef.

How is she not satisfied with this setup ? Most women would kill for this . Imagine living like a millionaire’s wife but without the headache of actually being married to a millionaire . Who the fuck wouldn’t want that ?

Patrick knocks on the door, and Courtney answers. “Hi, daddy.”

“Hi, baby girl. Can you do me a favor? Go to the main house and ask Tamarind to make you a snack. I need to talk to your mom.”

“That works. She made me the most amazing smoothie the other day.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

“What did mom do anyway?” Courtney asks.

“What makes you think she did something?”

“Daddy, I’m twelve.”

“I’m aware of how old you are.”

“Then you should know that hiding adult matters from me doesn’t work anymore.”

Patrick raises an eyebrow. “And what exactly do you think you know?”

“You’re dating a woman named Aimee, and mom’s upset. She’s been on the phone with Auntie Sadie for hours. She was in her room, and I could only get every other word. But I heard, ‘ Four-eyed, no-writing ass b-word .’”

Patrick’s jaw ticks, and he has to take deep breaths.

“Go to the main house, sweetheart.”

Courtney does as her father says and heads to over.

He enters the house and hears Sheila cackling like a hyena to her sister. He walks up the stairs and knocks on the bedroom door before opening it.

She says, “Sadie, I need to call you back.” She waits a few seconds. “Yeah, it’s him. Okay, bye.” She ends the call.

“We need to talk,” Patrick says.

“I’m assuming your little girlfriend told you?—”

“You know what? I should have said I need to talk, and you need to listen. You’re moving into your new home right now.

It’s literally three blocks away, and it’s already furnished with clothes in the closets.

A car will come get you and take you there.

Courtney can stay here, if she chooses, and will join you after I have all your stuff sent over. ”

“How can you do this to me?”

“Do what! For the love of God, woman, you act like I’m sending you to a gulag. You’re going to an eight-bedroom mini mansion in Bel Air.”

“I can’t believe you’re kicking me out over that?—”

“Watch your mouth!” Patrick roars. He takes a breath and calms himself down.

“I broke that woman’s heart when we were eighteen, and by the grace of God, we’ve been reunited.

I’m not letting anyone fuck that up; do you hear me?

No one is coming between us ever again. It’s always been her, and it will always be her. ”

“I wish you said something sooner. Why am I just know learning about her?”

“Losing her was the worst thing that ever happened to me, aside from losing my mom. I didn’t like talking about it. Besides, my saying that I don’t do relationships should have been enough.”

Patrick types into his phone. It buzzes seconds later.

“Your car will be here in an hour.” He turns to leave.

“Patrick.”

He turns back. “Yes?”

“Why her?”

“Because she’s the love of my life.”

Patrick turns and walks away.