Chapter Six: The Maternal Communication

Penny and Bernadette stayed behind to speak with Sheldon.

"Sheldon, thank you so much for organizing all of this. I don't know what I could have done on my own."

"As I've told you many times Penny, you are my friend. Is this not what friends do for each other?"

"Yes, Sheldon. But you have gone way beyond that. Between what you did last summer and what you're doing now…"

"Penny, we are all helping. Even Leonard. But we have much to do. While we know where Paul Hernly got the first episode of his television program, we do not know where he gathered the information for subsequent episodes, which seem to also have been drawn from our lives. Did you give him any additional information?"

"No, Sheldon. I'm sure of it. I think you have all of my diaries. Why don't I take those back and take a look at what's in them? Maybe something will come to me."

Penny went back to her apartment and turned on her laptop. There was another email from her mother.

"Hi Sweetie.

How did you like the show? I was really nervous but it looks like it's a hit and maybe I'll get some more acting work. Would you like to get together for lunch? I have something important to discuss with you.

Love,

Mom"

"Bernie, what should I do?"

"I'm not sure, but I think you should have lunch with her. Sheldon said to gather as much information as we can. This is a chance to do that. But for now we can't tell her what's going on."

Penny would have liked to say "But I can't lie to my mother" but she really couldn't say that. Over the years she had actually lied to her mother a lot. About boys. About sex. About drugs. About drinking. About Kurt. About Leonard. About her life in Pasadena. No, lying to her mother wouldn't really be an issue. Especially since she was still angry over how her Dad had been treated. Lying wasn't an issue. Penny's temper was going to be much more of an issue.

"Bernie, I'm just afraid I won't be able to keep it together. I might lose my temper and blab about everything."

"Okay Penny. Why don't you ask her to come to lunch at The Cheesecake Factory? I'll just happen to be there and make sure I get a table nearby. If I see you start to lose it I'll just pop by to say "Hi" to interrupt. How does that sound?"

They went over and informed Sheldon.

"That sounds like a reasonable plan. Remember, Penny, this is about information gathering. Your mother has been on the program and I saw this Hernly fellow with her entering your apartment. There is a connection. We just at this time do not know what it is. Your mission is to determine the extent of that connection. Do you understand?"

"Aye Aye, Captain."

"Penny, I have not yet assigned ranks to our little cabal and I'm not sure if Captain will be the rank I assign myself."

"Well, Moonpie, I've already assigned you a rank and it's Best Friend. Probably my best ever!"

"Thank you, Penny. I shall wear that rank proudly. Now, to work."

Penny went back across to her apartment and realized that was probably the first time she had told Sheldon that he was her best friend out loud, For some reason it warmed her heart more than all of the "I love yous" she had ever shared with Leonard. She replied to her mom's email proposing lunch at The Cheesecake Factory on Wednesday. Her mother replied almost immediately.

"Sweetie,

The Cheesecake Factory is perfect. I like that place a lot. I met someone very special there. See you Wednesday at noon.

Mom"

"I wonder what that means." Penny said out loud.