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“Right!” Patty smiles.
Then, the conversation flows on to other subjects and it’s easy and relaxing. My mother has always been this way. Martha can put anyone at ease with a kind smile and enthusiastic manner. I’m glad Patty’s warming up just fine, and she’s playing the role perfectly too. Seeing her with a genuine smile on her face makes my chest swell with pride, and she would look perfect as a blushing bride.
But then my brother speaks.
“So, Patty,” James’s voice cuts through the conversation. “How did you and Luke meet? Spill all the details.”
My mom jumps on the bandwagon immediately.
“Oh goodness yes!” Martha enthuses. “We’d love to know. Maybe you have a friend or two you could introduce to James?”
I roll my eyes. Trust my mom to throw that in, but Patty looks a bit panicked.
“Oh,” she says as she scrambles for an answer. “Um, well …”
Dammit, brother. I could throttle you for making her uncomfortable. I cut in smoothly.
“We met through a mutual friend named Margaux,” I say smoothly. “Margaux introduced us, and we hit it off immediately. What can I say? I knew immediately when I saw Patty that she was the one for me.”
The pretty brunette smiles, relieved. “That’s right. You could say we owe Margaux for bringing us together.”
James settles back in his seat, his expression contemplative while sipping his beer. Meanwhile, Mom prattles on.
“Oh, do you think Margaux knows other eligible women? James could really use some help in that department.”
Patty chokes a bit but manages a smile.
“I don’t think so,” she says. “But you never know!”
“That’s okay,” Martha says. “I thought I’d try at least. But tell us more about yourself, dear,” my mom says, steering the conversation back to safe waters. “What do you do?”
Patty beams then. “Well, I’m a musician actually,” she says. “My dream is to play piano professionally, but I still have a long road ahead of me.”
“A pianist?” my mom burbles. “That’s wonderful!”
My pretty fiancée nods ruefully. “Thanks, but again, it hasn’t quite turned out the way I expected. I actually majored in music, but right now, I can only land gigs playing at a piano bar downtown.”
Martha nods thoughtfully.
“What’s the bar called?”
Patty hesitates for a split second. Then she says, “Jamie’s.”
My mom’s expression brightens. “Wait, I think I’ve heard of it. Is it at Thompson and West Houston? Because if it is, my friends Gary and Roxanne told me it’s amazing, and have wanted me to go for a long time. I’ll have to go to hear you play sometime.”
Patty blushes and nods, biting her lip. “Um, it is at Houston and Thompson, but you don’t have to come. It’s not a big deal.” I place my hand over hers and squeeze her fingers softly. Most likely, Jamie’s is a dive and she’s afraid Martha will feel out of place. I step in.
“Patty’s an amazing pianist, but no need to go all the way downtown, Mom. You and James will have to come to my penthouse to hear Patty play.”
My brother snorts. “You don’t even own a piano, Luke.”
“Not yet,” I reply with a smile. “But I’m buying one because Patty’s moving in with me, did I tell you? We are getting married after all.” I kiss the pretty brunette’s hand and gaze lovingly into her eyes. “Only the best for my love.”
My mother giggles and James scowls at his empty plate, but it doesn’t matter. My attention is focused on my bride and I watch as her blush deepens and her pulse races. Still, I meant what I said. I want the best for Patty Dane, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen.
6
Patty
The lunch was very pleasant actually. Martha Montgomery is effusive and kind, and James? Well, Luke tells me his brother is always like that: surly, with a suspicious look in his eye. Although the two men resemble one another with their dark good looks, I can hardly believe they’re related because their personalities are polar opposites.
Now, Martha hugs me tight as we leave.
“Come again, soon,” she burbles. “And we’ll have to make plans to have a girls’ lunch, just you and me,” she winks.
I laugh and hug her back, and as Luke leads me out of the apartment, I smile shyly at him.
“That wasn’t so bad, right?” Luke asks as we enter his car.
I shake my head. “No, it was totally fine, except your brother is a strange one.”
Luke shoots me a wry smile.
“Yeah, I know. Don’t worry though, James has always been like that. Even when I was in high school, he was always competitive, even going so far as to dating the same women that I did.”
I gasp. “Really?”
Luke nods.
“He didn’t really date them, but he certainly tried. It’s lame right? I was a senior and he was a sophomore, and yet he really wanted to score with Katie Walsh, the head cheerleader, even though she was clearly with me. It was insane, and a little pathetic, to tell you the truth.”
