Waiting for Superman

My parents were mad at me. The next morning they said nothing, but packed their bags and called a cab to the airport.
"I'm disappointed in you Kylie." my mother said closing the door behind her.

I stood quietly at the door for a minute.
"Kyls?" Patrick said coming over to hug me.

"I don't even care" I said looking up at him. "I really don't even care."

"They'll come around." he said "They have to."

...
Weeks went by. I called my mother time after time, she wouldn't answer. My father wouldn't answer.

Patrick felt horrible, like the whole thing was his fault.

After a month I stopped calling. If they wouldn't answer why should I call?

The Blackhawks quest for the cup had officially ended getting shut out of the playoffs. Patrick was stung and disappointed for a while, but after a few days he had shifted into off season mode.

"So" He said hugging me from behind as I stirred a pot of pasta, "Will you come to Buffalo with me this weekend?"

I was shocked, I had met Patrick's parents and sisters plenty of times, and we all got along great, but I had never gone home with him before.

"Seriously?" I asked turning around to him.

he nodded smiling.

"Of course." I said kissing him.

It was Thursday so he didn't give me much of a heads up. I didn't care, it would feel good to be around a close family again, considering what was going on with my own.

I picked up my phone to see a texts from all my siblings, and a few friends.

Are you sure you're making the right choice with this? The job is still open, he's just a guy. This job is once in a lifetime.-Kasey, my older sister

Would you call Mom again already, your personal shit is tearing this family apart.- Kyle,my older brother

really Kylie?- Kolby, my younger brother

Kylie whats going on? Why is your mom saying you're never coming back?- Andrea, one of my best friends

I had been getting texts like these daily for weeks, and I answered every one the same. "I tried to reach out to both my parents, neither of them want to cooperate." My friends understood, they could tell how serious Patrick and I were. My siblings always sided with my parents.

But today the texts seemed different more aggressive. I sighed as I sat on a tall, kitchen stool and leaned my elbows on the counter, with my head in my heads, I felt a tear begin to run.

"Hey" Patrick said coming over to me.

"They're just ridiculous." I said picking my head up and wiping a tear.

"Come on" he said putting my phone face down. "Lets go for a walk."

...
The next day was Friday, Patrick went to do his daily work out while I packed for us both. The boy was 25 years old and could not pack a suitcase to save his life.

We would leave Chicago Friday afternoon, and come home on Sunday morning so Patrick wouldn't miss his workouts, and I wouldn't miss work.


I had been promoted to head sports columnist and did most of my work from home. Even with the promotion my parents were still upset with me. Even though I now had my own office, with a direct view of the United Center. Alls they cared about was I wasn't in Boston, writing about their Bruins and Red Sox, and that was enough to shut me completely out of their lives.
...
"You ready?" Patrick said as the plane began to land.

"I guess" I said nervously.

"What are you so nervous about?" he asked laughing,"You text my sisters practically every day and my I think my Dad likes you more than I do."

I laughed out loud.
"Gee thanks" I said, smiling.

"I'm just kidding" He said kissing me on the cheek, "You know thats not possible."

"KYLIE!" Three screaming girls, came flying at me as I got out of the car. They barreled me into a group hug.

"Hi!" I screamed as they moved back.

"Oh hey," Patrick said, holding three suitcases.

"oh you know we kind of missed you too." Jessica said pulling the brim of his hat down.

They exchanged hugs and we headed inside.

"Kids!" Patrick's dad said hugging Patrick and I.

"Hello, Kylie." Patricks mom said, pulling me into a hug, "Hi, Mrs. Kane,"

"Oh, call me Donna" she said playfully hitting me on the shoulder.

"Please don't abuse my girlfriend" Patrick said putting his arm around me.

"AWWWW" Erica, Jessica, and Jacqueline chorused.

"Okay so we've pulled out the extra bed for Kylie, in the girls room." Donna Kane said.

"Ugh, really Mom." Patrick said wiping his hands over his face.

"Patrick, you know the deal." She said pointing her finger at him.

Patrick's sisters and I headed up to their room. We all sat down on Erica's bed and started to talk.

I had become really close with Patrick's sisters. They came to visit for a few games, and we all seemed to click right away. All four of us were pretty similar.

"Sooooooo," Jessica said. "How are things in Chicago."

"Good, really good." I said

"Kylie," Jacqueline said. "How are things with your family?"

"Oh, that" I said "Not so good, they still won't answer me. But this weekends for fun, not that."

"Right!" Jessica said

"We missed you," Jacqueline said."

"I know, I missed you all too, you guys have to come visit soon!"

Just then there was a knock at the door.

"What are we talking about." Patrick said jumping in the middle of the bed. "Oh my god isn't Ryan Gosling so hot!" He said sarcastically, screwing up his face.

We all cracked up, "Anyways," he said sitting up "Mom, told me to tell you all dinners ready."

The girls all got up to leave, and Patrick pulled me over to kiss me, "Get a room!" Erica said, looking back. "How about this one?" He said holding my waist.

...
After dinner, Patrick and his Dad went outside to play basketball, while his mother, sisters, and I cleaned up.

After, his sisters went upstairs to watch a movie, I turned to go with them when Donna called me back, "Kylie," she started "You know we all love you, but for Patrick and this families sake, I have to ask, do you love my son?" she picked up both my hands, and looked at my eyes.

"Mrs. Kane," I said, "I love your son more than anything."

"Oh thank god." She said letting go of my hands.

I laughed,

"I mean the boys 25, were not getting any younger here" she said laughing.

We both laughed, as Patrick came in with his father. He looked concerned to find me standing in the kitchen with just his mother. I met Patrick at the bottom of the stairs,"So what was that?" he said smiling pulling me in and kissing me on the forehead, "nothing, just asking me something," I said putting my arms around his neck. "Oh really?" he said smirking.

"Patrick!" I heard his mother yell. "Get in here!"

He sighed.

"See you in the morning?"

"of course." I said kissing him, one more time as I turned to go upstairs.

Patrick's POV:

It was amazing how well Kylie got along with my mom and my sisters. I hadn't ever brought a girl home, to stay for the weekend before. I had only brought a few girls home to meet my mom before and she had hated every one of them. My mom was picky, but she thought the world of Kylie and that made me happy.

"So?" my Dad said bouncing the basketball back to me. He didn't have to say anything else, I knew what he was talking about.

"So." I answered giving him the same stern look back.

"Patrick," my Dad said. "have you thought about it anymore?" he asked

"Yea," I said. "I'm just waiting for the right time."
...

My Dad and I walked into the house to find Kylie leaving a conversation with my mom. My mom was practically beaming with her hands clasps together. I kissed Kylie goodnight which was interrupted by mother.

"Patrick," my mother started "She's perfect."

"I told ya." I said leaning against the kitchen counter.

"When are you gonna do it? When? Your sisters and I need to know everything?"

"Leave the boy alone, would ya?!" I heard my Dad yell from the living room.

My mom and I laughed. "I don't know yet." I lied, I knew exactly when and where I was going
to propose to Kylie.
...

I woke up the next morning to Erica, and Jacqueline fighting over a tank top.
Even though they were best friends, they were still sisters and some fights were expected.

"Dammit Erica!" Jacqueline yelled, "I already planned my outfit!"

"Jacq this is mine!" Erica said pulling it back.

"Hey you guys, I have the same one," I said pulling it out of my bag and tossing it to Jacqueline.

"And this is why we all love you." Jacqueline said.

We spent a perfect day at the beach and by five o'clock we decided to head home.

After a small barbecue, Patrick, his sisters and I decided to head to a small bar in central Buffalo.

The girls and I all got ready, in similar outfits. Mostly in colored shorts, and a light flowy shirt,and flat sandals or ballet shoes.

The bar was crowded when we got there.

"Pat!"
"Kaner where ya been?"

Remarks like this chorused through the room as soon as Patrick walked in.

Patrick took my hand and lead his sisters and I over to a table.

Once we had ordered drinks, people continuously came over to us.

After two hours Patrick sisters and I had barely been able to talk to him, it seemed like every time one person left another one trailed right behind.

Around 11, we decided to leave.

When we got back, Erica, Jessica and Jacqueline went right upstairs.

"Come with me," Patrick said taking my hand.

We walked out of the house and down the street to find a big lake, we sat down on a bench overlooking.

"This is pretty," I said.

The moonlight shined over the lake, making it glow.

"I used to skate here in the winter." Patrick said.

"you know" Patrick said "You're the first girl I've brought home to Buffalo, "

"Really?" I said pulling in close to him.


Patrick's POV:

Kylie looked so beautiful, the moonlight glistened off her golden hair, as she clung to my arm.

"You know you're the first girl i've brought home to Buffalo," I said staring down at her as she looked off into the lake.

She seemed a little surprised at the fact, but it was true.

"Annnd, " I said down onto one knee, "I want you to be the only one."

Kylie shot up to her feet, a look of shock on her face.

"Kylie," I started pulling a small black box out of my pocket. "You have made the past year and a half the happiest months of my life. You've given me more than I could ever dream of, and I want more than anything to spend the rest of my life with you. So," I paused looking up at her, one tear ran down her cheek, and her hands were clasped over her mouth. "Kylie Bridget MaCauley, will you marry me?"

Kylie's POV:

Oh my god, I couldn't breathe, was this really happening?
"Absolutley!" I screamed, Patrick slid the ring on my finger and stood lifting me up to spin me around, while kissing me hard.

"holy crap," I said. "We're getting married."

He smiled and said "We're getting married." and pulled me in to a long, soft kiss.

Notes