Chapter 28
"I can't believe this is happening." William said as he took his duffel bag from the airport conveyor system.
"Me too. I mean, what is it, like four months ago when your grandma passed away and now this?" Erin said as she put her hand around his arm.
"I know what you mean. My sister told me my mom fainted and collapsed on the floor when my uncle Randall told her that my grandpa died." William said.
"Oh my god!" Erin said.
"Well, my mom was the youngest child so you could imagine how close she was with my grandpa." said William as they made their way to the exit, getting a rental car on the way out.
William drove straight to the funeral hall where his grandfather's remains lie in state. He didn't mind that he had very little sleep during his flight from New Jersey to Nebraska. He thought of his mother and sister and imagined how devastated they must be right how, crying their eyes out over the loss of his grandfather. He tried to push the thought out of his mind and look at his girlfriend who gave him a lovely smile, trying to make him feel at ease and let him know that she is there for him.
They arrived at the funeral hall and went straight in, finding her grandma Susan sitting at the front with Sarah resting her head on her shoulder while Penny sat beside them, being comforted by his dad. Penny turned around and saw her son walking towards them. She stood up and started crying as William ran to hug her with Sarah joining in. William then sat beside Susan to comfort her, telling her it's gonna be alright.
"Grandma." said William.
"Oh honey, I'm so glad you made it here safe and sound." said Susan.
"I flew out once I got Sarah's message." he said. "By the way, this is my girlfriend Erin." he added, pulling Erin to meet his grandma.
"Hi Erin. Sarah told me everything about you." said Susan, shaking Erin's hand.
"I'm so sorry for your loss." said Erin.
"You're so kind Erin." Susan said as they take their seats while William went around to greet his aunt Lisa and uncle Randall and their families. He returned to sit beside his grandma while Erin sat beside Sarah, holding her hand.
"How are you feeling?" Erin asked Sarah.
"I don't know. I don't think I can cry anymore." Sarah said.
"I know what you mean. First your grandma, and then this." said Erin.
Sarah kept quiet while resting her head on Erin's shoulder. Somehow the events of the past few days when Erin and William told them about their relationship has been overshadowed by Wyatt's passing. Sarah looked at her mother and saw how sad she was, her eyes all dried up from crying since learning of her father's passing. Penny hardly said a word since they arrived yesterday, and if she said something, her voice was hoarse and dry, a clear sign of the grief she's going through.
William then came over to comfort his mother. "Mom, do you need anything? Water? Coffee?" he asked.
"I'm fine sweetheart." said Penny, resting her head on her son's shoulder.
"But you look like you haven't eaten yet. Do you want me to get you something to eat?" William said.
"I've been saying that since we arrived yesterday but she just doesn't want to eat." said Leonard.
"Don't worry about me. I'll eat later." Penny said as Erin sat beside her. "Thanks for being here Erin." she said, touching Erin's hand.
"Of course I'll be here." said Erin. "You guys have been nothing but kind to me and Kim."
"How is Kim anyway? Is Jimmy treating her good?" said Penny.
"They're doing good actually." Erin said.
"That's nice to know." said Penny. "I guess I should congratulate you two huh?"
"Thank you. We never really planned for this to happen Mrs. Hofstadter." Erin said.
"Hey, you don't have to explain yourself to me. My husband is right, you're both adults now and can decide on your own." Penny said. "Just call me if he does something stupid or something, alright?"
"Like his stupid comic books and goofy space movies?" Erin said while teasing William.
"Hey those are not stupid." said William. "Blame my dad for that, he's the one who kept pushing me in that direction."
"Now it's my fault?" said Leonard.
Sarah decided to butt in. "Everything's your fault dad." she said, earning a high five from Penny and Erin.
"Hey, do you think that your mom and I have already forgotten about your infraction young lady!?" said Leonard making Sarah slink back to her grandma.
"Why? What did she do this time?" Susan asked.
"Dad please!?" Sarah protested.
"Well, Penny found a stick of cigarette in her backpack." said Leonard as they all looked at the young lady.
"Oh honey!?" Susan said to her granddaughter.
"I'm sorry grandma. I only tried it once and mom grounded me for two weeks." Sarah said.
"You're lucky you only got grounded. If it was up to me, I'll cut off all your hair and tie you around the tree in the backyard." said Penny.
"I said I'm sorry okay, And I promise I won't do it again." said Sarah.
"I can't believe you would do that. Don't you know that our father has asthma?" said William.
"Babe, let it go. She already apologized for it." Erin said.
"Thanks Erin." Sarah said, giving her a high five.
"Don't mention it and besides, we all did something stupid when we were young right?" Erin said, facing William.
"Speak for yourself. I never did anything like that." William said.
"Why do I find that hard to believe." Erin said, giving William a suspicious look.
"It's true. I never did any of that stuff." he said while looking up. "Although, I may have hacked my high school's computer system once or twice."
"And did what?" Erin asked.
William shrugged his shoulder. "Well, there was this event where some delegates from another school were visiting for some conference or something and I may have messed around with their names in the invitations or something." he said before continuing. "I think I replaced their names like Griff the Overlord, or Arwin the Leafblower and Orlov Shieldbreaker...I'm telling you, the look on Principal Turner's face was priceless when he was trying to read the guest list while he was standing on the podium." he said making them all laugh.
"But that's just being a smartass. Do you really think I believe that you didn't do anything stupid like drinking beer or something?" Erin said, looking him straight in the eye.
William sighed. "Fine, I may have drunk beer once or twice." he said surprising his parents.
"Sweetheart!" Penny said.
"Sorry mom." William said.
"How come you're not getting mad at him right now?" Sarah asked her parents.
"Because he didn't get caught." said Leonard.
Sarah sat back and folded her arms. "That's not fair. You're always taking his side."
"Look at that, did you know that when your brother was seven or eight he said the same thing about you? He felt like we were always taking your side of things." Leonard said to his daughter, surprising her.
"He did?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah, he got a little jealous because he thought your mom and I was always focusing our attention on you and he felt like we were ignoring him." said Leonard.
"Really?" asked Sarah.
Leonard smiled and pulled his daughter close. "That's right honey." he said as Sarah rested her head on her father's shoulder.
Erin turned to William. "I'm gonna go and freshen up."
"Okay." William said.
Sarah quickly stood up. "I'm coming with you." she said, following Erin to the restroom.
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Later that night, Susan insisted on Erin staying over at the house with William, giving them Randall's old room for them to settle in while Sarah bunked with Susan in her bedroom. The couple took Penny's old room, making themselves fit on the double bed.
After dinner, they all decided to retire in the living room, sharing stories about Wyatt.
"I can't believe your husband would do that!" Erin said to Susan.
"Well, I wasn't there when he talked to Leonard." said Susan.
"So what you're saying is that your husband practically gave away your daughter to Dr. Hofstadter?" asked Erin.
"Yeah, I mean Leonard's the best guy Penny has ever dated and we certainly didn't want her marrying those stupid hunks who only cares about how their hair looks like." said Susan making them all laugh. "It's a good thing Leonard never gave up on her."
"Alright mom, I think that's enough." said Penny.
"I'm telling this story so your kids would know better." said Susan.
"I know and I'm lucky Leonard never gave up on me, even if I was sometimes mean to him." she said, giving her husband a loving look.
"Hey, if I gave up on you then we wouldn't have these two with us right now." he said, referring to his children.
"It's a good thing you're so stubborn huh?" said Penny before standing up. "I'm gonna get a beer from the fridge, do you want one?" she asked her husband.
"Yeah sure. Thanks honey." said Leonard.
"How about you Erin?" Penny said.
Erin smiled. "I'll come with you." she said.
"Can I have one too?" William asked, surprising his parents and grandma.
"Leonard!?" Penny asked her husband.
Leonard sighed, realizing that the occasion calls for it. "Fine, but only this once." he said.
"Can I have one too?" Sarah asked.
"No!" Penny quickly said as she pulled Erin to the kitchen.
They returned shortly, handing William and Leonard their drinks and toasting to Wyatt's memory. Leonard looked at his daughter and saw her looking at them and feeling left out. He stood up and went to the kitchen, bringing back a glass with him before filling it halfway with his own beer.
"Here." he said, giving the glass to her daughter.
"Leonard are you crazy!?" Penny said.
"It's alright honey." he said to his wife. "I'm just being fair to both of them, but just this once, do you hear me?" he said while facing his daughter.
"Yes dad." said Sarah.
"Good." he said. "And this doesn't mean that you're previous infractions are already forgotten. Do you understand?"
"I get it dad." Sarah said while taking a small sip of her beer, slightly frowning at the bitter taste of her drink.
"So?" Penny said to her daughter. "How does it taste?"
"Not what I was expecting." said Sarah.
"Don't be in a hurry to be an adult honey." Leonard told his daughter. "Because the moment you become one, then you'll wish you were a kid again." he added.
"Is that what you're thinking dad?" asked Sarah.
"Sometimes. I mean it's fun thinking about all the things I could do if I didn't have responsibilities but then I look at you and your brother and realize that I made the right choice in never giving up on your mother." he said while putting his hand on Penny's while smiling at her.
"Aww honey! That is so sweet." Penny said, kissing Leonard on the cheek to the disgust of her children.
"Please excuse my parents. They literally have no boundaries or inhibitions when it comes to these things." William said to Erin, making her laugh.
"Yeah, makes me wish I was drinking something a lot stronger than this." Sarah chimed in, giving her brother a high five.
"I think I'm gonna turn in." said Susan as she slowly stood up with Sarah quickly supporting her.
"Let me help you upstairs grandma." Sarah said.
"You are so sweet honey." Susan said "I'm so lucky you're my granddaughter."
After helping her grandma to bed, Sarah went back to the living room, finding Erin and William alone.
"Where's mom and dad?" asked Sarah.
"They went upstairs to sleep. Mom's kinda tired." said William.
Sarah took her glass and drank her beer in one swig. "Ugh that's good." she said. "Hey uh, what was Kim's reaction when you guys told her?"
"Surprised and confused." William said while Erin laughed.
"I wish I was there to see it." said Sarah.
"How about you and Jason, are you two doing okay?" asked Erin.
Sarah nodded. "We're doing great. He got mad at me when he found out about that cigarette stick in my bag." she said.
"What did he say?" William asked.
"Basically what mom and dad said, but without the grounding and hair-cutting thing." said Sarah.
"What were you thinking anyway?" asked William.
"Nothing! I just wanted to find out why those kids kept hiding behind that abandoned warehouse next to the school to smoke that thing." said Sarah.
"And what did you learn from them?" William said.
"I got your point okay!? I'm not gonna do it again!" Sarah said, slightly becoming agitated.
"Fine." said William. "Hey, how are things at your school?"
"Jeez William, you sound just like dad!" said Sarah.
"Okay relax. I was just being curious." said William.
"Babe, Sarah's smart enough to know these things. Just let her do things her way." said Erin.
"Thank you Erin. That means a lot!" Sarah said.
"Hey we're basically sisters now, right?" Erin said.
"And that means we can gang up on him every time and he has no choice but to play along!" Sarah said.
Erin gave Sarah a high five. "That's exactly what I'm planning to do!" she said.
"Okay, I think you've had too much to drink little sister." he said. "Why don't you go upstairs and get some sleep."
"Fine!" said Sarah, quickly standing up only to become a little light headed and fall back on the couch.
"See that!?" said William. "A little alcohol and you're already falling on your butt." he said as he stood up to help his sister on her feet. "Go to bed!"
"Okay I'm going!" Sarah said as Erin looked on, laughing at them.
"Why are you laughing?" William asked Erin.
"Nothing. It's just funny watching the two of you." Erin said. "You're like Batman and Joker, one cannot exist without the other." she added surprising William.
"You keep up that nerd talk and I'll drag you to the bedroom right now." William said, becoming a little excited.
"Okay, you keep your hands to yourself mister! I'm not gonna have sex with you while your parents and your sister can easily hear us." said Erin.
"What if we do it in the barn?" William whispered.
"You're joking right?" said Erin, folding her arms and glaring at her boyfriend.
"Aww come on babe, it's gonna be fun. And besides, I'm feeling a little sad with everything that's happening right now." said William, giving Erin a sad face.
"Oh no mister! Don't you dare use that dead grandpa card on me!" said Erin.
William sighed. "Okay fine, I'm sorry. That was uncalled for."
"Good." Erin said. "Now let's go to bed, I'm tired." she said, pulling his hand towards the stairs when William suddenly pulled her back, kissing her lips.
"Babe what are you doing?" Erin asked, trying to free herself.
"What do you think!" he said kissing her again. "You're free to stop me if you want." said William while continuing to kiss her.
Erin found it hard to resist and let her boyfriend have his way, feeling his affection as his hands roam all over her body. Erin sighed before pushing William off her. "Okay, to the barn it is."
William smiled. "I'll just get some blankets and sheets. You wait right here." he said as he quietly went up the stairs to their bedroom to get some sheets before coming back down, pulling Erin out of the house and towards the barn. William looked around, making sure that no one sees them as they enter the barn, finding a quiet place to lay the sheet and get comfortable with each other.
"Babe, are you sure about this?" Erin said.
"Don't worry, we'll be quiet." he said as he pulled Erin close and started to undress her while they kiss, warming each other up as William pulled the blanket to cover themselves. Once they were both naked, Erin wrapped her arms around her boyfriend as he moved on top of her, their bodies becoming one as they quietly made love with the slightly cold air breeze blowing in between the wooden slats of the barn.
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Wyatt was buried after a couple of days at the nearby cemetery. Penny's eyes were dried out as she held on to her husband while Sarah stood beside Susan, comforting her grandma over the passing of her beloved husband. Erin held William's hand, reassuring him of her love as they listened to the priest as he administered the funeral rites, offering a prayer and saying a few good words to remember Wyatt by. Only Randall chose to say a few words about his father, telling everyone what they already knew, that Wyatt lived a simple and humble life, doing everything in his power to provide for his family and being the best father that he can be.
After the funeral, Leonard and his family said their goodbyes to their relatives as William and Sarah did the same with their cousins. After saying their goodbyes, they went back to the house, feeling empty as they try to move on.
"Do you want something to drink honey?" Leonard asked Penny.
"Tea would be nice." Penny said.
Sarah stood up. "Come on Erin, let's make some tea." she said, surprising her parents.
Erin stood up, following the young lady to the kitchen. "Let's put some lemon and honey while we're at it."
"That's a good idea." Sarah said as they disappeared into the kitchen.
After almost ten minutes, Sarah and Erin came back, carrying a tray of tea cups while Erin placed a few crackers on the coffee table.
"Here's some tea grandma." Sarah said while handing a cup to Susan.
"Thank you honey, you're so sweet." Susan said.
"You're welcome grandma." Sarah said before sitting down beside her, facing William, "See that?...I'm a..."
William quickly cut her off. "We get it! You're a sweet pumpkin!" he said making their parents and Erin laugh.
"What was that all about?" asked Erin.
"That's her thing every time someone tells her she's sweet or thoughtful, she makes it a point to rub it in my face." said William.
"Aww, that is so cute. But what if when she acts like a mad dog or something?" Erin asked, slightly teasing the young girl.
"Well then you better get out of her way or risk facing her wrath!" Leonard said, making them all laugh.
"That's Penny Two-point-O to you." Susan said, surprising her grandchildren with her techie reference.
"Grandma, you just talked nerd to us!" said William.
"Well, I always hear you two talk like that every time you're here so I guess I might have picked-up a thing or two from you guys." said Susan making them laugh, somehow relieving the pain they went through for the past several days.
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The next day, William and Erin said their goodbyes to Susan and their family.
"You give us a call when you arrive in New Jersey okay?" Penny said while hugging her son.
"I will mom." said William before shaking his father's hand.
"I'm gonna miss you sweetheart!" said Susan while hugging the young man.
"I'm gonna miss you too grandma." said William.
"Thank you for coming Erin. I appreciate it." Susan said, giving Erin a hug.
"You're welcome." said Erin before facing Sarah to say goodbye to William's sister. "Bye Sarah, say hello to Jason for me alright?" she said.
"Bye Erin. You tell me if my brother does something stupid alright?" Sarah said making Erin laugh.
"Sure!" said Erin before facing Penny and Leonard to say goodbye to them. "Bye Mrs. Hofstadter, bye Dr. Hofstadter."
"Bye Erin, you take care alright?" said Penny.
"Bye Erin, and you give us a call if you need anything okay?" Leonard said.
"I will, and don't worry about your son, I'm gonna make sure he stays in line." said Erin, making Penny laugh.
"Hey, I'm behaved well enough!" said William.
"Yeah, like how you two behaved the other night when you sneaked around in the barn!?" Sarah said, surprising William and Erin.
"Uh..." William said.
"Don't play dumb big brother. I heard you guys the other night." Sarah said, teasing the young couple.
"Oh my god!" Erin said, turning around and covering her face from the humiliation.
"Sweetheart?" Penny asked her son.
"Mom, please let it go." he said as he turned around towards the car, pulling Erin with him.
Sarah pumped her fist, happy for getting back at her brother. "Yes! That's what I call sweet revenge!" she said.
"Oh god!" Penny said while facepalming herself as she tried to keep calm, unable to react to her son's adult actions as Leonard rubbed his hand on her back, trying to calm her down.
"Let it go honey, it's not like we can ground him or anything." Leonard said as they waved goodbye to the young couple while they drive away out into the back road.