The Hofstadter Change Continuation

Chapter 7

Leonard drew to a halt in front of the Farmhouse and Penny, in an ungainly fashion alighted from the vehicle.
"Leonard it's fine sweetie, you can get the tyre tomorrow instead," Penny pleaded.
Leonard considered her suggestion but decided that perhaps it would be best to get the tyre now.
If Penny suddenly needed the car she would be driving it without a spare and Leonard was not going to take that chance.
"Leonard sweetie please, At least change out of those wet clothes first."
Leonard nodded in agreement before rushing inside to change only to reappear barely five minutes later. Then giving Penny a brief peck on the cheek Leonard got back into the car turned it around and headed for the main road.

Penny sadly watched Leonard drive away before entering the farmhouse. She opened the door to the kitchen muttering to herself as she did so, 'Why couldn't he just take it in tomorrow?'

"Hi Penny, I just dropped in to see dad and also to find out if your mother-in-law has a couple of places for my two kids. How did your check-up go, are the twins O.K." Penny's sister Lisa asked politely
Penny sighed as she was brought back from her thoughts and ran a hand over her by now, quite large twin-sized baby-bump.
"Yeah everything's O.K. she said glumly, before adding "though they want to see me twice a week now, seeing as how I am an older mother," she said disgustedly adding air quotes as she stressed the terminology.
"So then what are you taking in tomorrow" Lisa queried, then added "Wait a minute, where's Leonard? Have you guys been fighting or something?"
Penny was just about to reply when Her mother appeared with Honey Marie in her arms.
"See I told you your Mommy was back," She told the little girl as she handed her over to Penny. Then looking round she repeated Lisa's question regarding the absence of Leonard, including the addition of 'Have you and Leonard been fighting?'

"No!" Penny angrily replied, "Why do you both assume that I have had an argument with my husband? The truth is we had a puncture on the way back and Leonard has gone to get a new tyre."

"I'm sorry sweetie," Susan apologised contritely, then added, "Though I have been wondering if there was something wrong as you have not been your usual self this past week or so?"
Penny took one look at her mothers questioning look and finally confessed as to what
had been bothering her.
"Fine! It's just that Leonard starts his assignment at the University's new science facility on Monday and for these last two weeks he has either had his nose in books or discussing procedures with the rest of the team, ignoring me completely in the process and I, ugh! I just don't want him to go. It's been so great having him here and us sharing lunch together. You know during the summer we would have picnics and he would teach Honey Marie all about the natural things around us. It was quite cute, one day he taught her all about the clouds, oh! you should have seen her she was so utterly enthralled with her daddy, especially when he told her that the Cirrus clouds looked like the tail on mommy's horse. and what's worse, this Morning I noticed by the way the pouring rain had made his shirt stick to him when he was changing the tyre that Leonard has lost weight and he is looking hot and I am scared that hot Undergrad's will all be hitting on my Leonard.
While I feel just like a fat toothless old 'Okie in comparison, also I know Honey Marie is going to miss her daddy and I'm not too sure how I can cope without him either.
If that wasn't enough my favourite shoes which I only bought two weeks ago are killing me because my man feet have swollen up, and all I want to do is curl up on the sofa with Leonard, Penny explained, reinforcing her explanation with tears.

"So why didn't he just wait for the rain to stop?", Susan puzzled.

"He wanted to get me home quickly so I could change into something more comfortable and relax," Penny explained.

"Ooh that is so funny, Leonard got fitter and hotter while our Penny's got older and fatter," Lisa explained gleefully before giggling helplessly.

Susan glared at her oldest daughter before attempting to console Penny.

"Sweetie, You know it's because you are so full of pregnancy hormones, coupled with the fact that you are utterly crazy in love with your husband."
"I'm not crazy for Leonard", Penny denied, though fooling no one, I mean I knew about my craving weird foods during pregnancy but no one told me about the cravings I would have for my husband?"

At this, Penny's sister snorted in derision.
"Pregnancy! Are you kidding? Come off it Penny soon after you moved there after breaking up with Kurt, Mom and me, whenever we called you on the phone, started to hear you mention this guy's name Leonard every two minutes.
It was always Leonard said this or Leonard did that. In fact, I've never ever heard you mention a man's name so much before. Not even your ex Kurt. Pregnancy? Pull the other one Penny"

Susan bestowed on her eldest daughter some more dark looks. Which resulted in Lisa suddenly remembering that she needed to see Beverly right now.

Susan watched Lisa leave then turned her attention to Penny, "Lisa is right in a way Penny.
Did you know that your father was still angry over Kurt treating you badly, that he went racing down to Pasadena to check out this new guy and warn him not to mess with his slugger, only for him to discover that Leonard was a sweet, highly intelligent man who was clearly very much in love with his daughter which is the reason why we both love Leonard?
And, as I understand it, Penny, Leonard has been placed in charge of the installation and setting-up crews, and they have all got a tremendous amount of work in front of them before the undergraduates even arrive?"

Penny had always assumed that Leonard was approved by her parents because he had a good job and letters after his name. It was quite a revelation that it was because of the love that he had for their youngest daughter, also it was true that they had a lot of work ahead just to be ready for the undergrads, let alone get everything done that needed doing.
"I know it's just me being stupid but I can't help it, I really feel the need to spend some quality time with my husband before he goes back."

She headed for the Hofstadter bedroom to get changed into something more comfortable before ringing Leonard to get him to pick up some take out, only to hear Leonard's phone ring from the pocket of his still wet trousers lying on the bedroom floor, Penny groaned in her frustration then assumed that Leonard must have been in quite a hurry to get away from her, for usually, he would deal with his dirty clothing himself.
She collected her daughter from the bed where she had left her while she quickly got changed and headed back downstairs to the lounge before collapsing on the sofa after placing her daughter in her playpen with a few toys only to have to change Honey Marie 5 minutes later.

Leonard did not return until almost three hours later, which succeeded in Penny's stress increasing to a level of paranoia.

Leonard withstood Penny's anger before to Penny's astonishment Leonard just smiled and said, "Who is going to have a nice meal tonight?"

"If you think I feel like dressing up and going out for a meal now Hofstadter you are crazy!" Penny informed him in a state of disbelief.
"No Penny I have brought us back some special take out, you only need to travel as far as this coffee table. I would have rung you but I forgot to take my phone with me," Leonard explained.
Then he left to bring in the food and some other purchases he had made.
"Right then we have pad thai for starters and some nice teriyaki salmon for main and I got you some key lime pie for dessert," and he proceeded to get some plates and cutlery and set the meal out on the coffee table.
Penny, who had fed and changed her daughter earlier including reading her a story was now mollified by the fragrant smell of the food as well as Leonard's thoughtfulness and immediately began to tuck into the pad thai.
"I'm sorry I was so long," Leonard explained between mouthfuls, "But the tyre guy told me that the two front tyres were very near the limit so I had to get three tyres instead of one then I got something special for you before collecting the food on the way home."
At once Penny's curiosity, her hunger now sated by pad thai and salmon, looked at the parcel Leonard had indicated.
"You've bought me chocolates? Do you not think I'm big enough already," Penny asked.
"No, not chocolates, you'll see," Leonard told her mysteriously.

After clearing away the plates and cutlery, Leonard brought in a bowl of warm water which he placed in front of Penny, then he brought out the box and took out a small bottle before pouring the contents into the water.
"I got you a foot pampering gift set," he revealed then he proceeded to clip Penny's toenails before he signalled for Penny to soak her feet.
"After you have soaked your feet, I dry them then I just have to massage them with this special scented cream," he explained.
Once Penny's feet had been pampered, Leonard reached for his other purchase a shoebox.
"I managed to get these in a larger size for you," he told her as he produced the same style shoes as the ones that Penny had bought causing his wife to gasp in astonishment and delight.

Soon, Penny, feet pampered toenails painted, and with the addition of a full tummy, was now comfortably laying on the sofa watching some friends episodes while hugging her Leonard shaped pillow, while thinking to herself that this was just one of the many reasons why she was crazy in love with her man.
"I can't wait to tell Lisa all about this, she will be so mad. I bet her husband wouldn't do the same for her.