Chapter 12
Three days after being discharged form the hospital, the couple along with Beverly alternated in taking care of Sarah. Leonard briefly went to Caltech to file his leave for a couple of weeks to be with his wife while she recovers from childbirth.
In the first few days since they got home, Leonard noticed some glaring similarities between his wife and his daughter. Like Penny, Sarah doesn't like being disturbed when sleeping and would scream her lungs out whenever she doesn't get much sleep or is awaken by a sudden noise like William running across the hall or the garbage truck passing by in front of their house. He also noticed that Sarah feeds off Penny more than William did when he was a few days old - his daughter's love of food was a trait she surely got from her mother.
He smiled at the thought of remembering the days when Penny still lived across the hall from him and Sheldon when she would always 'show up on time' when him and the guys are about to have dinner around the coffee table. Being a good neighbor and having a 'perpetual' crush on her, he would always invite her to eat with them even if he would receive a look of protest from the guys, mostly from Sheldon. Now that he thought about it, Penny probably owed him and Sheldon a couple thousand dollars' worth of food, not to mention the innumerable favors he did for her when she was tight on cash which would always be the case for him to just to earn her 'approval' and be closer to her. Now, he is happily married to Penny, with their own house and taking care of their four-year old son and newborn daughter. After all the ups and downs that he and Penny went through, it still amazed him that they ended up together. He thought that they would one day have a big fight and would swear off one another but he was glad that didn't happen.
A couple of days before Beverly left, Alfred arrived. William saw him walking up the front yard and ran to meet him.
"Grandpa you came!" the child said, hugging the elder Hofstadter.
"Hi little buddy! I missed you!" said Alfred.
"I miss you too grandpa! Come on, you should see my sister now!" William said pulling his hand towards the house. "Mom! Dad! Grandma! Grandpa is here!" he yelled as they entered the house into the living room where Leonard, Penny and Beverly are sitting with Sarah asleep on the baby carrier.
Leonard shook his father's hand while Penny slowly stood up and hugged him. "Welcome Alfred, come and see your granddaughter." said Penny as Alfred walked up to look at Sarah.
"Wow! She really looks like you Penny! That's amazing!" said Alfred, admiring his granddaughter.
"Isn't she pretty grandpa?" said William.
"She is. I think we should be a little quiet. We don't want to wake her up." said Alfred.
"You're right grandpa. The other day, she screamed so loud it almost broke my ears." said William making the adults laugh. Alfred then turned to Beverly.
"Hi Beverly. It's nice to see you again." said Alfred.
"Hi Alfred. Nice to see you too." said Beverly while fixing her glasses.
"Grandpa, are you gonna stay here with us?" asked William.
"Uh I'm gonna go back to my hotel son but I'm gonna be here every day." said Alfred, smiling at the child.
"We can make room for you dad." said Leonard.
"He's right Alfred. Sarah can stay with us in our room while Beverly can take Sarah's room and you can bunk with William. Right sweetie!?" said Penny.
"Mommy's right grandpa. My bed is big enough for both of us." said William.
"Gee I don't know son. I don't want to impose really." Alfred said.
"What are you talking about dad. You're always welcome here." Said Leonard as Alfred looked at Beverly, waiting for her response.
"Oh? Are you waiting for my permission? This is not my house so the decision is with Leonard and Penny." said Beverly.
"Come on Alfred, it's gonna be fine." said Penny.
"Alright. But I have to go back and pick up my stuff from the hotel." said Alfred.
"No problem dad. We'll go to your hotel and bring William with us later." said Leonard.
"Yay!" William exclaimed suddenly waking Sarah, making her scream as Penny hurriedly picked the baby up and calm her down.
"It's alright honey, mommy's here now." said Penny as she rocked Sarah back to sleep.
The following morning, Alfred came down from the stairs and went directly to the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee when William came in from the backyard and saw him in the kitchen.
"Hi grandpa!" said the child.
"Hi William. Where's your mom and dad?" he asked.
"They went out for a while. Come on, grandma is in the backyard with Sarah." William said pulling his hand towards the backyard.
"Good morning Beverly." said Alfred.
"Good morning." she said as she cradled Sarah in her arms to catch the early rays of the sun. William lightly pushed Alfred to sit beside Beverly. Alfred awkwardly relented, trying hard not to feel awkward with Beverly at his side. Alfred decided to break the ice and focus on their granddaughter.
"She really likes to sleep huh?" said Alfred, lightly touching Sarah's hand.
"Yeah. It's being disturbed that really gets her going." said Beverly as they looked on the sleeping baby.
"I'm sure this one will be as smart as William." said Alfred, glancing at his grandson.
"I hope so too grandpa so I can teach her how to read and stuff." William said.
"Do you wanna hold her?" asked Beverly.
"Gee, I don't know. It's been a long time since I've held a baby. I don't want to hurt her or anything." Alfred said reluctantly.
"It's gonna be fine." said Beverly as she slowly placed Sarah onto Alfred's arms, careful not to wake her up. The baby stirred a little as Alfred carried her in his arms, gently rocking the baby.
"You have the same nose buddy." He said to William.
"I know grandpa. Do you think her eyes will be the same as mommy's?" asked William.
"I'm not sure but it probably will." Said Alfred.
"Was my daddy like this when he was a baby grandma?" asked William.
"Uh a little bit, yeah. I remember he liked being thrown up and caught in the air by his uncle Carl." said Beverly.
"Yeah I remember that." Said Alfred. "Your father always loved reading books when he was your age, even borrowing some from the neighbors when he was done reading every book in the house." said Alfred.
"Really?" said William.
"Yes dear. Your father was a real bookworm." said Beverly.
"I love reading too grandma. I always learn something new." said William.
"That's great dear. If you want, I can send you some books I have in New Jersey." said Beverly.
"Really? You'd do that?" asked William.
"Of course. Maybe I'll send some of your daddy's old books." Beverly said.
"You're really great grandma, you and grandpa." said William making the elders smile as they looked at Sarah peacefully sleeping.
After about half an hour, Leonard and Penny came back carrying some groceries. The couple went straight to the kitchen when Penny noticed the grandparents and grandchildren in the backyard. She motioned for Leonard to follow her as they quietly looked at the backyard, seeing Alfred and Beverly sitting together with William as Sarah slept quietly on Alfred's arm. The baby suddenly woke and cried, slightly startling Alfred as Beverly took the baby from him.
"Give her to me. You're making her uncomfortable." said Beverly.
"Yeah, you're probably right. Thanks." said Alfred as he handed the baby over to Beverly.
"Maybe she's hungry grandma." said William.
"I think you're right dear. Why don't you and your grandpa warm up a bottle of milk from the fridge so we could feed your sister huh?" she said.
"Come on buddy. I'll show you how." said Alfred, taking William's hand towards the kitchen when he saw Leonard and Penny looking at them. "Hey! What are you guys doing?" asked Alfred.
"Nothing dad. We just came back from the grocery store." said Leonard.
"Sarah's hungry again mommy. Me and grandpa are gonna give her some milk from the fridge." said William.
"Good job honey! I'm so proud of you!" said Penny while touching William's face.
Alfred then took a bottled milk from the fridge and showed William how to heat it using a bowl of warm water.
"Okay now you have to be careful, you don't want to burn your hand alright?" said Alfred as William put the bottled milk on the hot water bowl.
"I got it grandpa." said the child as they waited for a few minutes for the milk to warm up. After a few minutes, Alfred shook the bottle and put a few drops of milk on his hand to see if it is warm enough. He did the same with William's hand.
"Do you feel that?" he asked.
"Yes grandpa." said the child.
"If it doesn't hurt you, then its probably okay for the baby." Said Alfred. "Now bring this to your grandma so your sister can eat." he said.
William took the bottle and ran to the backyard, giving the milk to Beverly. "Good job dear. We're very proud of you." she said as she began to feed Sarah who immediately latched on the milk bottle, satisfying her hunger.
"Why can't we just give her some cereals or pudding?" William asked Beverly as Alfred, Leonard and Penny joined them in the backyard. Beverly laughed and smiled at William.
"Your sister's stomach isn't ready for solid food yet dear, just like you when you were a baby." she said.
"Your grandma's right William." said Alfred as Sarah happily ate while looking at her grandmother, the youngest Hofstadter unaware at the significance of the moment when her grandparents has seemingly tolerated each other's company, a turn in the right direction as far as Leonard and Penny are concerned.
After a couple of days, the family along with Alfred dropped Beverly off the airport. William kept quiet along the way, saddened to see his grandmother leave.
"Don't be sad dear, I'll come and visit again alright?" said Beverly as Leonard took out her luggage from the trunk while Penny carried Sarah in her arms.
"Don't worry grandma, I'll take good care of Sarah. I promise." he said, hugging his grandmother.
"I'm sure you will dear." Beverly then stood up to kiss Sarah goodbye. The baby stirred a little and went immediately back to sleep.
"Thank you Beverly." said Penny.
"You don't have to thank me Penny." said Beverly. She then gave Leonard a quick hug. "Goodbye dear."
"Bye mom. Thank you for helping us out." said Leonard.
"Don't mention it dear." Beverly added then turned to Alfred. "Goodbye Alfred." she said and without warning, gave him a quick hug. Leonard, Penny and William was pleasantly surprised seeing the two have a tender moment.
"Take care of yourself Beverly." Alfred said as she released her hug.
"Thank you. Well, I guess I should get going now." she said, pulling her luggage and walking to the airport gate.
"Good job grandpa!" said William giving the elder Hofstadter a fist bump.
"Thanks buddy." Alfred said as they walked back to the car.