Read Online The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer - Free Book Online

leads us around to the master bedroom and downstairs bath (no tub, only a modified shower) and second bedroom, all of which face the golf course for rare quiet—except for the occasional buzz of golf carts and whacking balls. In the rear is also a sun room, which is,Todd notes, a perfect office.
    â€œOr baby room,” Patty suggests.
    â€œDon’t make me think about my sister having sex. Please,” Todd says, circling us back to the kitchen.
    He’s about to show us the upstairs apartment when his cell rings and he goes outside to take a call. Cecily Blake, probably. The woman can’t seem to leave my brother alone.
    â€œWell?” says Patty. “What do you think?”
    â€œI think it’s fabulous and way out of my price range.”
    â€œYour price range could buy you a closet in Roxbury. This is awesome.You definitely should get your parents to chip in.”
    Lowering my voice so Todd won’t hear, I point out that, unless she’s forgotten, I’m not really getting married.
    â€œYeah. But that’s the whole point of pretending to be engaged. Fake it to make it, baby.”
    â€œEven if that means lying to my parents?”
    â€œ Especially if that means lying to your parents. In case you hadn’t noticed, Genie, they’ve been operating on a two-tiered system with you definitely in the bottom tier. I mean, if you’re not going to help your kids buy a house, that’s one thing. But if you are, then don’t discriminate based on whether they’re married or not.”
    Patty, who cannot keep her voice to a whisper no matter how hard she tries, is working herself to the point where the next-door neighbors surely can hear. And by that I don’t mean Mrs. Ipilito. I mean Connecticut.
    â€œPlus, the quality of craftsmanship is stunning,” she yells. “Twelve-foot ceilings. Crown molding. Custom-made cabinets. Your father’s going to realize the investment potential long after he finds out your engagement is a crock of shit.”
    There is a crash in the other room followed by Greek-sounding swearing. I have to remind Patty to keep it down. We’re not the only ones here.
    â€œOh, he doesn’t care,” she says, waving off Nick.“But you have to admit I’m right.”
    â€œI don’t know.” I must search for reasons to disagree, otherwise when this house gets sold I’m going to sink into the same funk I sank into when I lost the Spring Hill place. “It’s not so great. I mean, take the molding.”
    Patty looks up at the molding. “What about it?”
    â€œIt’s clearly mass manufactured, probably bought at Home Depot. Quality molding would be hand carved, like those old homes in Back Bay. And the cabinets . . .” I tap the cabinet. “Glued. Quality cabinets have no glue. They’re dovetailed together, like the Shakers built. This is just modern carpentry. As Hugh would say, totally without art.”
    â€œI’m not so sure it’s totally without art.” Nick is standing in the doorway, scowling at me. “I happen to put a lot of sweat and creativity in what I do.”
    Super. He’s the carpenter and he’s just heard me trash his work. Well, there’s not much I can do about that now, can I? It’s either stand my ground or apologize so he’ll go away. But I can’t apologize, because I’m right. Hugh taught me how to distinguish fine craftsmanship from its slapdash imitation. And believe me, Hugh knows quality—as he’d be the first to tell anyone.
    â€œI don’t think we’ve really met.” Patty opens her purse and pulls out a business card. “I’m Patty. Call me if you need anything. I’m also a terrific lawyer.”
    Nick momentarily glances at the card and says, "Thanks. But I don’t need a lawyer right now.”
    â€œThe services I have in mind aren’t necessarily legal in nature,”