Page 52 of Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming

He gives it a go for a third time. “Marry me, Aimee.”

His grandfather, Waylan, enters his room.

“Patrick, your grandmother and I need to talk to you.”

“Okay, I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Now, son,” Waylan insists.

Patrick nods.

He enters the sitting room where his grandmother, Celeste, is waiting. She’s the brains of their marriage, and he’s the muscle. He usually stands back and stays silent unless Grandmother Celeste needs back up, and she never does. She always looks impeccable and wears nothing but designer clothes. Mainly slacks and blouses. Patrick hasn’t ever seen her in anything that wasn’t elegant. The woman doesn’t do casual. He’s never even seen her in pajamas. She once told him she wouldn’t be caught dead in jeans. Right now, she has on a Monique Lhuillier—her favorite designer—high neck floral print blouse and a checked tweed midi skirt by Alexander McQueen. She’s had Patrick escort her on may shopping trips over the years. Aside from gardening and museums, he knows a lot about women’s fashion. Aimee’s the only person outside his family who knows that.

“Hello, grandmother. How are you this evening?”

Grandmother Celeste is older than old school. Using words like “Yeah,” “Kinda,” and overusing words like “um” and “like” are big no-nos around her. As much of a stickler as she is forall things proper, she’s one of the warmest, most loving people Patrick knows.

“Hello, Patrick. Have a seat, my love.”

He sits across from her. She smiles as Grandpa Waylan sits next to her.

“Patrick, I’m afraid you cannot propose to Aimee.”

“How did you?—?”

“Mitzy Pepperton saw you shopping at Van Cleef and Arpels.”

Damn.I should have thought about the gossipy old women who live to shop and spread everyone’s business.

“Patrick, stop frowning.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Patrick fixes his face. “Grandmother, I know Aimee and I are young, but?—”

“That isn’t my only concern. Aimee is a nice enough girl, but she isn’t who we pictured you with. Patrick, you are a Bryant, and there are expectations that come with your family name.”

“Is this about Aimee being from Compton?”

“It is an issue.”

“But how come? Mom didn’t come from money.”

“That may have been the case, but your mother knew to play by the rules. Aimee’s ambitions are also an issue.”

“You seem to think a lot of things about Aimee are an issue.”

“Unfortunately, they are. She plans to major in creative writing. While I fully support the arts, pursuing a career in them is unrealistic and unbecoming of the future wife of a Bryant.”

Patrick isn’t totally naive. He knows that Grandmother Celeste is a bit snobbish. This comes as no surprise given the fact that she’s the wife of a renowned real estate developer and her son is a venture capitalist, but Patrick also thought she wanted him to be happy. His mother’s death has left an ache in him that Aimee’s presence in his life helps soothe.

“But I love Aimee.”

“Patrick you’re only eighteen years old. You don’t know what love is, yet. You are far too young to be wed, and if we’re being honest, things between you and Aimee should be coming to an end. You’re starting college soon. There will be much more suitable young ladies for you to build a future with.”

“I’m not breaking up with Aimee. I refuse.”

“I’m sorry, young man. I know you’re upset, but that’s no excuse to be disrespectful.”

“You’re being disrespectful. You’re looking down on Aimee because of where she’s from, and what she wants to do with her life. That’s not right.”