Chapter 22
"Really!? Are you serious!?….dude I'd be happy to help!" Raj excitedly said to Leonard as they sat in the university cafeteria eating lunch.
"Thank you Raj….we appreciate it….and it's just to help with the preparations – food, decorations, the works." Leonard continued. "But you have to let Penny know what your plans are, she still wants to be in-charge of this wedding." he said.
"Ok got it." Raj nodded his head.
Leonard then turned to Sheldon. "Sheldon, I was thinking if you could be my best man." he asked his friend.
Sheldon Looked at him. "I will do it only if I could give my speech in Klingon." he said back.
"It's fine by me as long you get Penny to agree to it." Leonard smiled at him.
Sheldon's face then turned blank. After a few moments he spoke. "Fine. I'll be your best man but don't expect any wedding presents from me." he demanded.
"That's fine Sheldon. Thank you. It means a lot for me and Penny." Leonard said.
They continued to eat while making small talk about the latest physics news and sci-fi show they've seen.
Meanwhile, in a wedding dress shop somewhere in Pasadena, Penny is trying out wedding dresses for her wedding. She went out of the fitting room and paraded the dress for Amy and Bernadette to see.
"Penny you look amazing!….it's so beautiful!" Bernadette said.
"You think so?...it's not too revealing?" Penny asked as she looked in front of the mirror. "Do you think Leonard would like this?" she asked.
"Of course!...you know Leonard wouldn't mind what your wedding dress looks like….knowing him, he's just happy to be marrying you in the first place." Amy added.
"I know….I just want to look my best for him…" she said as she inspected herself in the mirror.
"Well in any case, get back in there and try another one." Bernadette said as she and Amy took a sip of their champagne.
"Bernie I have to ask you something." Penny added. "Leonard and I were thinking if you would be willing to officiate our wedding?" Penny gave her a hopeful look.
"Really!? Of course I'd be happy to!" Bernadette happily said.
"Awww thank you Bernie...this means a lot for us!" Penny hugged Bernadette. "Now I'll go back in there and try some more dresses…." she said excitedly.
Penny must have tried almost a dozed wedding dresses before settling for a simple yet elegant design. The seamstress took her measurements and assured her the dress would fit perfectly. Amy also settled for her dress as a maid of honor. All three girls were excited for the wedding.
"Look at us, almost a year ago Howie and I had our wedding and now it's Penny and Leonard's turn to get married!" Bernadette excitedly said.
"I wonder when Amy and Sheldon will get married?" Penny looked at Amy.
"Oh...in about four years….but don't tell Sheldon...he's still a flight risk." Amy said.
The girls laughed out loud as they continued to talk about the wedding preparations.
Meanwhile in apartment 4A, "I can't believe you invited your father to the wedding!" Beverly yelled on the phone.
"Mom this is my wedding and I want dad to be there….can you please just soldier thru this and not make a big deal out of this?….it's just gonna be for one day." Leonard said.
"Fine. I suppose I can get through a few hours of being in the same room of that cheating bastard." Beverly said.
"Thank you mom. I'll hang up now before this gets any more awkward." Leonard hung up the phone.
Leonard sat back down on the couch and sighed deeply. He felt a little bit relieved that her mother agreed to come to his wedding. Hopefully his mother and father would be civil enough to keep themselves from going at each other's throats. Knowing his mother, it would be a tall order.
Leonard and Penny spent the next few days ironing out their wedding details. Raj was on overdrive overseeing the preparations fro the wedding and went with them most of the time to suggest the kind of decorations and food to be served at their reception. They were lucky enough to find a restaurant with a garden specifically used for occasions such as weddings and parties. It was big enough to hold all of their family and friends.