Chapter 16
Family
Beverly smiled in her delight as she watched Honey Marie laying on her play mat and concentrating intensely on her activity center, she particularly liked pressing the large blue button which would start a nursery rhyme playing or the tortoise and hare sliders which clicked as she moved tortoise or hare. Left or right.
Penny was glad that Leonard had Decided on a Winnebago, at the size she was now she would have been well cramped in a car.
But this is what she was finally understanding with Leonard, that when she was unhappy, and did not know what to do. She could talk to him, he'd think about it and come up with the right answer,
.
Beverly had learned that loneliness was a hard foe to deal with, Penny was well aware of that, Beverly had explained to her that Penny when feeling acute loneliness would drink, then pick up guys not for sex but just to be held, to make the loneliness go away, but when they had used her body they would just leave and when they did not value her then Penny would feel less valuable in her own eyes adding to her feelings of shame and self loathing, which in turn would cause her great distress which she would try to cover up by this hard emotional barrier she built up to try and protect herself from the hurt.
And when she met Leonard and she saw in his eyes the high value he regarded her with, but because she could not believe it in herself, she would push him away. In fact Penny so relieved at understanding the explanation had Beverly write it all down so she could read it, and learn to see herself through Leonard's eyes.
Penny wished Honey Marie would just press another button for a change, she was getting fed up with the words to Hey-diddle-diddle running through her head. Beverly didn't seem to mind as she laughed delightedly each time her granddaughter pressed that particular button, which only encouraged Honey Marie all the more.
Penny after praying that Beverley never buys her new grand Daughter a drum, went forward to see if her husband was OK and to get away from Hey-diddle-diddle for a while.
Upon entering the cab she noticed Leonard looking tired, and suggested "Look it's getting dark, Why don't we pull over for the night and I'll make some coffee". Leonard gladly pulled over at the first available stop he came to on the freeway, and Penny made some lunch for them all, after feeding Honey Marie and after the adults had all eaten Leonard laid his head down and while Beverly read a bedtime story for her granddaughter. Penny laid down with Leonard in their usual positions her spooning in front of Leonard, and he placed his hand protectively over her bulge holding her gently, Penny thought to herself, "all that time I've been looking to be held just like this, and I find it in a guy I was trying to push away", she noted, "Leonard" she asked, "are you OK, with being away from your work I mean?, because I remember you telling me about the important experiment you were working on last week?".
"It's OK, Alex knows what to do and she can cover for me, and I thought I told you some time ago that my family takes priority now, besides as you know the university is keen to promote a family image now and your attendance with me at that fund raising gathering a couple of weeks ago, got us no end of extra funding from rich businesswomen and rich businessman's wives encouraging their husbands to put more funds into Cal-Tech in fact everyone was saying how so cute we were as a little family. So after success like that I don't think the university can complain too much
then she snuggled closer against her husband and went to sleep. Only to be rudely woken by the ringing of her phone at 2 o'clock in the morning. Penny, Bleary eyed reached for her phone and checked who was calling, "Hello?", Penny answered, and then she struggled to understand what the person was saying over the background noise of some Bar somewhere in L. A.
"OK, and you think it begins with 'W'?, And the bar has leather covered stools, are you sure they are the tiles you want?, right I'll look into it, bye", then with an incredulous expression on her face Penny ended the call.
"What was all that about Honey?", Leonard asked as he too had been awakened by the ring tone.
"It was a client, would you believe she is in a Bar with some girlfriends and has taken a liking to the ceramic tiles behind the bar, probably while still wearing her wine goggles, and the bars name she thinks begins with 'W', and the bar stools are all upholstered in leather, and she thought she would ring me and let me know, so I can go there and see the tiles for myself, and order them for her?", Penny explained.
"Well?, it's not much to go on, you had better write it all down", Leonard suggested.
Penny could not help but to burst out laughing at her husbands suggestion.
"Oh Leonard, I do love you, Sweetie really, by tomorrow morning she won't even remember her own name, let alone remember where she had been, or even if she called me at all", Penny explained.
"Penny, as you get a close up view as you do of famous peoples lifestyles, please be honest, do you ever regret giving up acting?, I mean that could so easily have been you", Leonard asked her seriously.
"No sweetie, not at all, sure I used to when I first moved to Pasadena for a while. But I see now that many of them are so unhappy, they seem to drift from one relationship to another, and if they go shopping or to the gym or anywhere, they are hounded by photographers who sell the pictures to magazines who then make comments about who they are with and what they are wearing that day. Many of them when I go to visit their houses for a contract, I find I often have to go through security first, sure they have the money, but things are so easily purchased that I don't believe they have that same satisfaction on buying something they have worked hard for. I remember one famous actress I went to see once about refurbishing her lounge, was obliviously talking to me while behind her back her husband was outrageously flirting and groping with her P.A., it was just so awful to see, I couldn't get out of there fast enough.
Believe me Leonard, I am firmly convinced that I have the best life now, I have a certain amount of fame through fronting the makeover program on T.V., I love using my creative talents in interior design and I am happy to earn a good living from it, and the program, and I have the best Husband and family in the world, I could ever have dared hope to have", Penny took Leonard's face in her hands and looked him straight in the eyes, "Truly Leonard, Darling, I would not swap my life now, for all the fame and money in the world", Then she kissed him passionately in a very special way to convince Leonard of her deep deep love for him, then they snuggled down close together and went back to sleep.
The next morning Leonard made breakfast for them all, while Penny had her shower and Beverley watched cartoons with Honey Marie. At which point Penny entered and was enchanted at the sight of Beverley heartily laughing along with her granddaughter at Top Cats efforts to thwart Officer Dibble, then even more laughter after that at the antics of the Flintstones.
How wonderful it was for Penny and indeed also for Leonard to see his Mother enjoying life with loved ones and laughing at silly things like cartoons that the old Beverley would have considered utter nonsense. Yes Penny was glad to admit she wholeheartedly loved the new Beverley very much indeed.
she was interrupted in her thoughts by Beverly's request for Penny to look after Honey Marie, and while Beverly moved up towards the cab and prepared for her turn at driving. Penny sat on the couch and cuddled Honey Marie as they watched some more cartoons on T.V. And after half an hour Honey Marie fell asleep, Penny placed her into her crib and began making herself another coffee then sitting on the couch she began to read her magazine which they had bought at the last stop (Leonard was again disgruntled at the lack of science magazines available at truck stops) but Penny was happy at finding several celebrity gossip mags, "I'm so happy for you", Leonard told her sarcastically as she boarded the Winnebago with an armful of them, at this Penny set her bottom lip trembling and with wide open eyes and in a little girls voice said "don't you love me anymore" which prompted Leonard to hug and kiss her in reply. Beverley warned her they were going to make a move and the Winnebago headed for the highway. Penny finishing her magazine put on a DVD to watch with Leonard, thought again how much more comfortable this way of traveling was. three hours later Leonard woke to see his wife who had also fallen asleep on the couch and sitting beside her he began to gently rub her back and on rousing she smiled at him laying her head on his chest and began to doze but then Honey Marie woke up and began crying for a feed. Penny got up using Leonard's shoulder for support to help her stand and went to change her Daughter and feed her.
It was on Leonard's turn at the wheel, that they finally entered Nebraska, and the nearer they got the less anxious Penny felt in herself, especially when she began to see surroundings that were so familiar to her.
finally 45 minutes later, late that afternoon they rolled up the drive to the farm. Wyatt & Marcia were waiting as they pulled to a halt Leonard let Penny go first before Beverley carrying Honey Marie then Leonard brought up the rear.
"Hey Slugger, You know I wanted grandchildren but I sure wasn't in that much of a hurry", he said hugging her. "anymore cracks like that Pop and I'll leave them behind with you when we go", a smiling Penny warned him. Then another long warm hug from her mother. Leonard held out his hand to Wyatt who, ignoring the hand caught him in a bear hug as if saying more than words could, his thanks for the love and care Leonard continued to bestow on his Daughter.
Beverly smiled at Marcia and deposited little Honey Marie into her arms. Then, "Leonard and I are just taking a walk together we'll be back in a bit", Penny informed them, "OK honey see you soon suppers on so don't be too late", her mother said.
Leonard puzzled "where are we going", he asked Penny.
"to a very special place that will always forever be in my heart", Penny told him, and taking his hand they walked to the barn.
Suddenly Penny Knew now this was where she was going, where she wanted to be, something had to be said and where they exchanged their vows was the place to say it.
Inside the barn Penny turned to Leonard and holding his hands said "You know I have difficulty to say what's in my heart but I just had to let you know Honey, that I well know that you have suffered so much from my problem these last couple of years, and before you say anything", she said seeing Leonard about to open his mouth in protest, "I know also that you would have done exactly the same thing again out of your deep love that you have for me. I love you so much Leonard and the vows I made here I repeat to you that forever my love will always be for you.
Leonard was too over come for words and they stood there holding each other tightly.
They slowly walked back hand in hand to the house and as dusk fell and the stars were just faintly beginning to appear, they arrived back at the house. It was a warm and comforting scene they saw in the kitchen Honey Marie was in her high chair eating a rusk, a large pot of a beef stew sat in the middle of the table and Marcia and Beverly were in animated conversation on the acts of genius seen in their granddaughter Wyatt had disappeared, and while Penny & Leonard were eating he reappeared carrying a beautiful rocking horse for Penny and Leonard's Daughters. Again a present from old Claude, Penny decided then and there that Leonard and she would visit him the next day to give their heartfelt thanks. and after eating Penny changed her Daughter and put her to bed and then she and Leonard retired themselves. Penny was at first unable to sleep so Leonard stroked her hair while holding her close to him and Penny fell asleep soon afterwards.
Penny woke and felt really energized and full of life, whether it was being back in the place she grew up and loved, she did not know, but again she was so reluctant to rise feeling so comfortable at being held so tenderly by her Husband.
However she was given a helping hand by her twins pressing on her bladder so reluctantly she rose for her bathroom break and with a smile at her sleeping husband she went to see if Honey Marie was awake and to make some coffee. On entering the kitchen Marcia was holding Honey Marie, "you should have called me Mom I could have seen to her", Penny said to her mother with a smile.
"It's OK Penny we were just getting reacquainted, sides you were busy getting some rest for the twins, Here take some coffee up to Leonard, and here's yours, Penny took the mugs and returned to Leonard. "Honey" she said softly, "Coffee", Leonard stirred opened his eyes and smiled at her, His special smile that was always just for her that was reflected in his eyes whenever he saw her, "And that's why I get so excited over him", Penny realized, "his whole heart is in his eyes, for me".
Borrowing Marcia's car they traveled the 12 miles to Claude Harrison,s place, the house was surrounded with the evidence of old Claude's craft, logs sawn into planks, axes and chippings everywhere, entering the house Leonard was struck by a picture it seemed of Penny dressed in old fashioned clothes, "See your admirin' the picture mister", he said, "that's Esther the Sister of your Grandmother", he said to Penny, "folks said she wouldn't go for a feller like me but she did to the surprise of a lot of folks, I often think back to the times we shared, tell the truth It's the only thing that's kept me going these 7 lonely years or so, that and my whittlin'".
"I just wanted to come and say thank you so much for the lovely walnut bed and the beautiful rocking horse Penny said then looking at Leonard for his agreement", but the old man seemed to have lost the power of speech for the moment till finally he said "I should thank you Penny, I saw the look on your face when you looked at your husband there and it reminded me of how my Esther used to look at me, you've just made an old man very happy with that memory", he said his eyes filled with tears. Then rising from his chair he retrieved an envelope from a shelf and handed it to Penny, "I'd be obliged if you would give that to your Pa", he told her. they then stayed for an hour or so after that and then returned to the farm and that evening the news came that Claude had died that night in his sleep, they said he must have gone peacefully as they found him in his bed with a smile on his face.
Penny couldn't bear to hear anymore and burying her head in Leonard's shoulder she wept. Later after hearing of old Claude's death. Wyatt opened the envelope. "well I'll be durned, It's old Claude's will, seems he's left everything to you Penny.
Penny gasped in surprise as the land old Claude had left to her was about 80 acres in size.
"He didn't have anyone else to leave it to, I guess and he must have decided to give it to you, with your young family and all", Wyatt considered.
As the days passed Leonard would once again help out doing chores on the farm for Wyatt and Penny liked nothing better than to watch him work, often cuddling Honey Marie while she sat
In fact Penny would often not the only one watching as one day Wyatt, Marcia and Beverly were watching the couple, "that's sure a fine boy you got there", he said to Beverly, "you must be proud", "I am, Very much so", she replied smilingly.
A week later and "OK Penny the first head is crowning, deep breaths now push", and once again Penny squeezed the life out of Leonard,s hand Before giving birth to April, then 15 minutes Later her sister Angela followed, now the little family had increased to 5.
Penny gradually overcame her illness, firmly convinced she was that it was due mainly to Leonard's deep love for her.
And with old Claude's legacy she decided to build accommodation and riding stables for tourists, which would be run by her mother and her brother and his wife, which would bring extra income to the farm
The Hofstadter's had their extension built on the back of the house for two extra bedrooms.
Penny as well as the makeover show, was also given the assignment of fronting a baby and toddler show, trying out new products for the audience of mothers to be and mothers of young children and babies, and Honey Marie, April and Angela would also often appear on the show.
"Leonard If you're sure honey, I don't want to force you into anything", Penny reasoned.
"It's OK Honey I think our family is complete now so I think it would be best", so Leonard had the snip. Stuart married Jeannie then finally at a dinner party they held for the gang it was announced By Sheldon, with Amy by his side that they were expecting a Genius, "Get outa here", was all that Penny could say, and Leonard gave her that smile that was always just for Penny.
