Chapter 37
The next day, Leonard came into the living room and saw his son deep in thought in front of the whiteboard, with a few unfinished mathematical equations on it.
"Hey buddy...is that what you're working on at Princeton?" he asked, standing beside his son.
"Yeah...this is one of them...it's still in the early stages so I have a long way to go until I finish this one." William said, glancing at his father before turning his attention back to the whiteboard.
Leonard took one marker and wrote something on the board. "Did you try using this one?" he asked.
"I already did that...it'll just lead you to one rabbit hole after the next." said William as he took a book from the coffee table and leafed through some pages, looking for something specific. "I can't figure out how to reconcile this term with that one."
"Hmm…" said Leonard while looking at the board. "Maybe I'm getting too old for this stuff." he said as Sarah and Marty came from the backyard, joining them in the living room.
"Hey dad, what are you guys doing?" Sarah said as she put her arm around her father's waist while looking at the board, while Marty settled on the couch, yawning and lying his head down.
Leonard put his arm over his daughter's shoulder. "I'm trying to help your brother with his work." he said.
"Hmmm...did you try rearranging the terms on this one?" she said, pointing at the board.
"Yeah...I already did that." said her brother.
"Okay...but did you try this one?" she said as she took the marker from her father and began writing on the board, erasing some of the terms as she went along.
"Hey don't erase that!" said William.
"Relax...I'm trying to fix it." she said as she continued writing on the board.
"I think she's on to something." said Leonard, impressed by his daughter's insight and aptitude.
"Okay, let's see where this takes us." said William, curious as to where his sister is taking his work. "Why don't you do this instead…" he added, trying to help his sister.
"Relax bro...I got this!" said Sarah, brushing off her brother's hand. "Just watch and learn okay?" she said, making Leonard laugh.
"Let her do it…" said Leonard.
William sighed. "Fine...if this comes through then I might include you as my co-author." he said.
Sarah looked at her brother and gave him a stern look. "You better be...my services doesn't come free you know." she said, making Leonard laugh.
"Okay that's enough...let's get back to the job at hand here…" said Leonard.
"Just let me at it for a few minutes...I'll let you know if I need help or something." said Sarah as she returned back to writing on the board.
The guys looked closely as Sarah did her thing, writing and double checking the terms on the board, making sure she's on the right track. After almost ten minutes, she stopped writing and stepped back, looking at her work. "Well? What do you think dad?"
Leonard put his hand over her shoulder and pulled her close, kissing her on the cheek. "You did really good honey. I'm so proud of you." he said, earning a lovely smile from his daughter.
"Thanks dad." said Sarah as she rested her head on her father's shoulder.
"Nice work sis...I guess I owe you now huh?" said William.
"Don't worry about it." said Sarah, slightly surprising the two.
"Really? That's odd." said William, unable to believe that his sister is just gonna let it go.
"Oh? You think it's free?….No no no...I'm just putting something in the bank...I'll let you know when I need something." she said, making Leonard laugh and William shake his head in disbelief.
"Fine." said William when they heard someone sniffing at the back. The three of them turned around and saw Penny at the hall, leaning against the wall and wiping the tears off her eyes.
"Mom...what are you doing there?" asked Sarah.
Penny smiled and went near them, putting her arm around Leonard and Sarah, kissing them on the cheek. "Nothing, I'm just looking at my amazing family...doing math and stuff…" she said while pulling William in to kiss his cheek.
"Ugh...we're not babies anymore mom." William said trying to free himself from his mother.
"Why not!? You are my son and even if you're fifty years old, you'd still be my baby boy!" said Penny.
"Ha! Ha!" Sarah laughed at her brother's embarrassment. "You're a baby boy!" she added while resting her head on Penny's shoulder.
Penny held her daughter tight and kissed her temples. "Ugh...my children are so amazing!" she said, feeling high with the flood of happiness in being with her family. "So is Sarah really gonna be in your paper?" she asked her son.
"Yes mom." said William. "I'm sure my boss wouldn't mind." he added.
"That is so cool! You're not even in college and you already have a credit to your name?" said Penny to her daughter.
Sarah shrugged her shoulder and gave them a goofy smile. "What can I say mom...I got it all from you...right?" she said, earning a high-five from her mother.
"You bet it does!" said Penny before turning to face her husband. "See that? Our kids are geniuses because of me!" she said.
Leonard laughed and pulled her close, kissing her on the cheek. "You are so amazing!" he said, earning a glaring look from his kids.
"That's dad...the mood-killer!" Sarah said.
William gave his sister a high-five. "Amen to that!" he said when they heard the doorbell. William went to the front door and opened it, surprised to see Erin standing on the front porch. "Uh...Erin? What are you doing here?" he said, earning a glaring look from his girlfriend.
"Wow...is that how you greet your girlfriend after being away for two weeks?" Sarah said, teasing her brother as they join in welcoming Erin.
Erin gave William a quick punch in the gut. "Jackass!" she exclaimed.
"Ow! What was that for!?" William asked, holding his gut.
"What was that for? You don't see me for a couple of weeks and that's how you greet me?" Erin said, making his parents and sister laugh a little. "You guys are not helping at all." he said to his family.
"Oh we're just gonna stand here and make sure she doesn't give you a black eye or something." said Penny, making Leonard and Sarah laugh.
"Well?" Erin asked William.
William took a deep breath and faced his girl. "Look babe, of course I'm happy to see you here...I mean, I missed you so much...I just wasn't expecting you to come all the way here." he said while lightly touching her arm, moving close to her. "Come on babe...I'm sorry." he added.
Erin sighed. "Fine...I'm gonna let you make it up to me." she said.
William smiled. "Thank you...how did you even know where our house was?" he asked.
"Who do think it is?" said Erin. "I've been talking to Sarah ever since your dad got that heart attack." she said.
"Fine...come on...let's get you settled so you could get some rest...you must be tired from your trip." he said, taking her luggage and leading her into the living room. Erin immediately shook Leonard and Penny's hands.
"Hi Mr. Hofstadter...I'm so glad you're doing alright." said Erin.
"Thank you Erin...you just make yourself at home alright?" said Leonard.
"Thank you." said Erin as she sat on the couch when Marty came into the living room, curious with the visitor. Marty ran towards Erin and William and barked, wagging his tail and sniffing Erin's feet and legs, slightly agitated of the unfamiliar scent from Erin. Sarah quickly held the dog, afraid that he might bite Erin.
"Calm down boy…that's just Erin...William's girlfriend." said Sarah as the dog slightly calmed down, wagging his tail and whimpering a bit.
Erin leaned over and held her hand for the dog to smell. Marty looked up and slowly walked towards Erin, cautious of her. He then carefully smelled her hand, eventually licking it until he grew accustomed to her. They all smiled in seeing the dog warm up to Erin. William then lifted the dog to sit on his lap, to get more familiar with his girlfriend.
"Aww...you're a sweet boy huh?" Erin said, rubbing the dog's neck and belly.
Marty barked and tried to jump on Erin, licking her face and snuggling to her. "I think he's okay now." said Erin, lightly patting the dog.
After having lunch, Erin chose to wash up and take a nap, settling in William's room to get rest from her trip coming from New Jersey. William made some space in his cabinet to put Erin's stuff in, telling her how glad he was that she took the time off to visit him in California.
"I'm so glad you came babe...really I am..." said William, kissing her on the cheek as she sat on the bed.
"I missed you..." Erin said, smiling at him.
William hugged her tight. "Don't worry babe, I promise I'll make it up to you." he said. "Now why don't you get some rest? You had a long trip." he said as Erin laid on the bed before closing her eyes to rest.
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Later that night after dinner, Leonard and William volunteered to wash the dishes while the three girls retired in the living room, catching up to have a little girl talk while watching some TV.
After a few minutes, Leonard and William joined the girls in the living room, seeing them laughing and giggling about something.
"Hey guys...looks like you're having fun?" said William, sitting beside his girlfriend.
"Your mom is just showing me some of your old pictures...see?" Erin said while holding an old photo album.
"Ugh...can you please put that away?" William said, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Why not sweetheart...I'm just showing Erin how cute you were when you were still a baby boy." said Penny while turning another page of the photo album.
William turned to his father. "Dad...a little help?" he said.
Leonard took a deep breath. "What do you want me to do? We all know that your mom's been in-charge around here for how many years now..." he said making Penny and Sarah laugh.
"Why don't you want me to see your baby pictures? I mean look at you...you're so cute in here!" said Erin while looking closely at the photos.
"Look at this...he just came out of the potty when Leonard took this picture..." said Penny, making Erin and Sarah laugh.
"Aww...look at that...your tushy is so cute!" Erin said, giggling and laughing.
"He was very clingy when he was that age...always following me around...always mommy this, mommy that..." said Penny, teasing her son. "I remember when we were at the supermarket buying groceries and he figured out our total bill all in his head."
"Really? That is so amazing!" said Erin, giving William a lovely smile.
"I've never been so proud of him." said Penny.
"Hey I have an idea!" Sarah said.
"What is it?" asked Leonard.
"Well I promised Erin we'd go to the beach when she visits. So...what do you say Erin?" said Sarah.
"That sounds like a great idea...right babe?" Erin said to William.
"Yeah sure." William said.
"Really? Thank you babe!" said Erin, giving William a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Yeah...why not...it's not like we're doing anything important here in the house, right?" said William.
"Okay...but you have to bring me and Sarah to the mall tomorrow...I don't have a bathing suit with me." said Erin.
"Is that really necessary?" William asked, earning a glaring look from the girls.
"That is the most stupid question ever." said Sarah.
"Babe...I'm not the only one getting a bathing suit...we'll find something for you as well." said Erin. "End of discussion!" she added.
"Son...I think you have no say in this matter." said Leonard, tapping William on the shoulder.
"Your dad is right sweetie." said Penny.
"Ugh...we're gonna have so much fun...I'm gonna get a new bathing suit as well." said Sarah, giggling with Erin.
"I know right?" Erin said as William sat there, deciding not to argue anymore, realizing that he's already outnumbered.
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The next day, William, Erin and Sarah went to the mall to buy some stuff that they're gonna bring to the beach. They started by buying themselves some bathing suits, picking out the design and colors they like while William stood by, feeling awkward in seeing his sister choose her outfit.
"Is this gonna take long?" William asked.
Erin and Sarah folded their arms and gave him a stern look. "You just sit tight and let us do this." she said.
William sighed and took out his phone. "Fine."
The three of them continued going around the mall with William letting Erin and his sister do their thing, realizing that he had no chance against them. After a few hours, they arrived home, seeing Leonard and Penny on the couch, watching some TV.
"Hey guys! How was it?" Penny said as Erin and William sat down. Marty ran to welcome them as Sarah scratched the dog's head and belly.
"It was fun mom." said Sarah, sitting between her parents.
"What did you get?" asked Leonard as Marty jumped to where Erin and William are sitting, finally settling himself between them.
Sarah took one of the paper bags and showed her parents the new bathing suit she bought, a skimpy two-piece bikini with a floral pattern.
Penny and Leonard looked at each other and can't believe what they were seeing."Oh god!" said Penny, trying hard not to freak out about her daughter's choice of swimsuit.
Sarah then exploded with laughter, obviously joking to her parents.
"You should've seen your faces! It was priceless!" said Sarah, laughing and hugging her father.
Leonard quickly reached for the side table drawer and took out his inhaler, breathing the medication to help with his breathing.
"That is not funny young woman!" Penny yelled, slapping Sarah's arm.
"I'm only joking mom!" Sarah said. "I'm sorry dad."
Leonard took a deep breath, feeling relieved. "I thought I was gonna have another heart attack." he said.
"Relax dad...look, I know you won't approve that's why I got this instead." she said, pulling out a one-piece bathing suit and a couple of bandanas to cover herself up. "It's really cute, right?" she asked her parents.
Penny took a deep breath. "Fine." she said. "Whose is that anyway?" she asked.
"Oh that's Erin's bikini." said Sarah. "And we got dad his own beach shirt...see!" she added, puling out a floral Hawaiian shirt for her father.
"Wow...thanks honey...this is so nice!" said Leonard while holding up the shirt. "Did you pay for all this?" he asked his son.
"Yeah...I really didn't have a choice." said William, making them all laugh.
"Come on babe...this is the first time we're doing this." said Erin, touching his face.
"Fine..." said William while rubbing Marty's belly. "You wanna come with us to the beach tomorrow?" he said to the dog. Marty barked and wagged his tail, obviously excited for their upcoming family trip. "I think he's excited." he said.
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Later that night, Erin entered William's bedroom after washing up in the bathroom, wearing a robe that she borrowed from Sarah. She saw William at his desk, typing something on his computer so she decided to join him, putting her arms around his neck.
"Hey...what are you doing?" she whispered, trying to get him excited.
"Just finishing up some stuff." he said as he continued typing.
Erin tightened her arms, smelling his neck. "Put that away...come on." she said as William turned around to face her, giving her a goofy smile.
"This happened to me before and I'm not gonna fall for that trick twice." he said as he held Erin's hands and led her to the bed.
"Babe...lock the door and get the lights." said Erin. William hurriedly locked his door and turned off the lights before joining his girlfriend on the bed as they started kissing and undressing each other. William then moved on top of her when they heard his bedframe squeak.
"We have to be quiet." William whispered to her as they try hard not to laugh at what they were about to do. They went back to kissing each other when Erin tried to yank off his shorts, hearing another squeak from the bed.
The couple sighed and looked at each other, breaking their momentum. "This is ridiculous." said Erin.
"Let's do it on the floor." said William as he quickly got off the bed and pulled the sheet to lay on the floor. Erin laughed a bit and followed him, laying on their makeshift bed before pulling William close to kiss him. "This is better." he said.
"Shut up and kiss me." said Erin as they made love on the floor, trying to stay quiet or risk them being heard by William's sister and parents.