Lizzie and Josie
Lizzie got Sebastian to ride with all the kids and boys loved it. His car was bigger and new compared to Lizzie's. And also Lizzie wanted privacy in case Josie finally tells her what is really bothering her. Lizzie drove and kept glancing at Josie. By now she was sure something was happening with her sister and Penelope. Something was wrong and there was no way Josie could change her mind. They were on the road for more than an hour and about three hours together and during that time Josie and Penelope haven't exchanged a message or a call. Usually they texted or talked million times a day, even when P was in court she would sneak a message to Josie… Even just heart or kissing smiley if she couldn't text. Now, her sister's phone was dead.
''Did Satan get abducted by aliens?''
''What?''
''She haven't called or texted in hours.''
''Oh…She has some big case.''
''Never stopped her before.''
Josie was not in a mood for this conversation.
''Lizzie, just drop it.''
''Is she coming tomorrow?''
''I told you, she is staying in the city with Helena.''
''She never did before.''
''Well, we never had a sixteen year old before that cares about her social life at school.''
''If you say so.''
''Lizzie, please, stop making up stories in your head… It's better for all of us.''
Lizzie stopped talking, but Josie knew she could not avoid this conversation for long. She knew her sister was like a dog with a bone when it comes to things. Lizzie will not drop this and Josie was dreading the moment of telling her what happened and why Penelope is not with them. When they arrived to the house they were greeted by Landon and his kids. They arrived first. He was unpacking the food they got and putting it away to the big fridge and the cupboards. Lizzie made face to things he bought and was disgusted by his food choices. She made face and pointed her finger at his bags.
''I am not eating that.''
He shrugged.
''Ok.''
She got out to make a phone call to see where Sebastian and the kids were and Josie was alone with Landon. She dreaded that moment.
''Are you ok?''
''Yes, I am… Thank you.''
''I was so worried when you called me…and I was scared shitless when I saw…''
Josie had to tell him. He had to know about what happened after they got out of the hospital.
''Penelope knows…''
''Knows what?''
''About the pregnancy and us seeing each other.''
Landon was panicking now.
''What? You told her?''
''She is not stupid Landon… She made the connection.''
''Oh…''
''Oh is not my word of choice, but fine…''
''And what did she say?''
Josie rolled her eyes at him and made annoyed face.
''What do you think she said?!''
''Did she tell anyone?''
''No, that's not Penelope… And she will not tell anyone… ''
Josie made a short break trying to think of best possible answer.
''She will let us cook in guilt until we confess.''
''Oh.''
''We will talk later… Lizzie is onto something and now it's not time or place to talk about this… I need some rest…and I need my stress to be on the lowest possible level…''
She smiled with some sarcasm.
''And I don't see how is that possible given the situation.''
Landon nodded. He had to agree. They were in a messy situation, but also he knew he was sort of relieved that Penelope knew. Now she and Josie would end their marriage and she would be with him and they would raise their children together. He hoped Josie would end things with Penelope and didn't really like her stalling that. This accident was a good thing for two of them. Penelope finally knew and now they were free to end their marriages and start over together. Josie checked the time on her phone and turned to Landon.
'' I'll be in the cottage and tell Lizzie to call me when Sebastian comes with the boys or let Lizzie call me when they come.''
He just nodded and Josie left to their cottage. She opened the doors and windows to let the air in and she took a seat and watched the sea from her favorite chair in the house. Usually she and Penelope would cuddle up in that chair and nurse their cups of coffee exchanging some sweet or naughty words and kisses. Now, she was alone in that chair. She looked around their living room and realized how many memories of five of them lived in these walls. How many happy and sappy moments they shared here. How many breakfasts Penelope made them and how many times they managed to have sex on every surface in this house(…minus the children's rooms) when the kids were swimming or doing something with MG or someone else. These walls held so many nice memories and moments she will never forget. She found out she was pregnant during one of their weekends here. She and Penelope did the test early in the morning and woke all of their friends up to tell them about it. All of them were out of their minds happy for them. She still had that pregnancy test in her and Penelope's box at home. That box held so many memories and secrets…but it was her favorite thing because it treasured seventeen years of being together and being a family.
She was frightened of what was going to happen after they come back home and what are the things Penelope will say to her next time they have eye to eye. She was scared of how kids would react to the fact that they might be having a divorce and that she was pregnant with a child of someone who is close family friend. She didn't dare to think about the disappointment of their friends, her family, especially the children, all the people around them…and Marry… She was not sure how she would react and what would happen if she…no WHEN she finds out. Josie was not sure if Penelope would out them to Marry out of revenge, pain, rage. She knew two of them deserved to be outed and to pay the price for what they did, but she still hoped Penelope would keep her secret.
Josie went upstairs and instead of going to the master bedroom, she went to Helena's room. On Helena's nightstand was picture of five of them from last summer and they looked so happy. It was first time after very long time that Penelope didn't work and she even left her work computer in the office so she wouldn't be tempted or forced to work. It was just five of them and their friends. Lizzie was close to giving birth and everyone was excited about it. She took a picture just watched how happy two of them looked. Her walk down the memory lane was interrupted by the message from Lizzie that the boys and Sebastian arrived. Josie wiped her tears and calmed down a bit before she went to the main house and greeted the boys.
''Mamaaaaaa!''
They run into her arms and she held them tight. Jason pulled away first and smiled at Josie.
''We had so much fun!''
''Uncle Sebastian took us to the park and we were playing a bit.''
''I see you really had some fun.''
Sebastian smiled at Josie.
''I had to feed this little girl and the park was the best place I could find.''
''I am glad they had fun.''
Sebastian pulled Josie aside and she felt a bit confused about what was going on.
''Is Penelope coming?''
''She has to work.''
''Shame.''
''Why?''
''Raph wants to propose to Hope over dinner tonight…and I think he hoped everyone would be here. He even flew Kith here for the weekend.''
Josie gave him a smile and took her phone out.
''I might try to get her here… I am sure she wouldn't want to miss Hope and Raph getting engaged.''
''I really hope she could come with Helena, so that entire gang is here for this.''
''Me too… Let me step out and call her.''
She dialed Penelope's phone and she hoped she would answer.
Penelope
Penelope came home with Helena after her practice and went to her study. Helena knew something was wrong, but didn't ask too many questions. Penelope sometimes admired how smart she was for her age and how she knew to give space and time for people to open up. She asked Penelope if she could go to the party that evening and Penelope said yes to her request. She knew that Josie would be the rational one who would say no and explain that she is too young to party, but Penelope felt like Helena might be missing important high school experience by sitting at home. Penelope sometimes felt like she and Josie missed so much because they got together very young and that they might have been better if they experimented in the past. Now, Josie was experimenting at the stage of their lives when they should have had a good and peaceful life…not this mess. Her inside angry rant was interrupted by MG. She answered the phone.
''Hey MG.''
''Hey Peez… You coming to the cottage?''
''Actually, I have some work and Helena wants to go to some party.''
''But Raph is proposing… He hoped that we would all be there…Even Nya and I moved some meetings for that.''
Shit, now she had no excuse not to be there.
'' I will see what I can do… But I know Helena would be pissed.''
''Teenagers man…''
''I hate them.''
''I do too…''
They laughed, but MG felt something was wrong with his friend.
''All good P?''
''it will be.''
''Is it work?''
''It's a lot of things MG.''
''Ok… I've got your back P… Always…''
''I know…''
''Good… Now, go and make your teenager angry, so we could all get drunk over the engagement we've been waiting for.''
''See you MG. Send Nya my love.''
''I will.''
She ended the conversation and saw missed call and voice message from Josie. It took her a moment to listen to it. She was not ready to hear Josie say she was sorry or any excuse she might offer. She pressed the button and listened to the message.
''Hey, it's me… I know you don't want to talk and I promise it's not about us. It's about Hope and Raph. He wants to propose to her. Sebastian just told me and I think that this is something you would regret not being part of… I know how much you care about Hope and how hard would it be for you to miss this. I just wanted you to know… I hope you and Helena will make it… bye..''
She took a deep breath and went to Helena's room. She was getting ready for the party and she looked so happy. She was in her new black skinny jeans and black ripped shirt she stole from Penelope. Her hair was down and she had makeup on. She looked beautiful and Penelope was sad that her little girl was a girl now… There was nothing ''little'' about her now. She was sixteen and she was getting ready to grow even more and experience some things parents don't want to know. That made her smile and frightened at the same time. She knew she had to let all three of them grow and gain experiences in life, just like she and Josie did when it was their time, but part of her hoped they would always be her and Jojo's babies. Penelope felt bad for delivering the news of going to the cottage after all.
''Baby…''
''Yes, mom.''
''We need to go to the cottage…''
''When?''
''Now?''
Helena's face dropped.
''Why?''
''Raphael wants to propose to Hope….and he hoped we would be there…all of us.''
''But mom…''
''I know love… But this is bigger than any party.''
''I really wanted to go.''
''I am sorry.''
''Can I stay? I can sleep at Kiki's.''
''Baby…''
''Please mom… It's really important.''
''Fine, BUT you have to answer your phone when mama and I call you. You are not allowed to invite anyone to the house and make a party… You are to make that promise to me and if you brake it, you are grounded for life… Not because of the party, but because you broke my thrust…''
''Mom, I will not make any parties… Maybe Kiki would come and stay with me…but no one else… I promise.''
Penelope smiled at her daughter and looked at her.
''Your mother will kill me for this.''
Helena gave Penelope a wink.
''Somehow I think you have something you can hold against her and she wouldn't be able to say a word.''
Penelope got serious. Did Helena know something?
''What do you mean?''
''Well, after so many years, you know all of her secrets and things she did behind grandpa and grandma's back.''
''Oh…''
''What did you think I was talking about?''
Penelope had to find a way out of this fast.
''I just thought you knew about something Josie did in our restless youth.''
''Mom, I already know too much about you and mom… I don't need any more details.''
She smiled at their daughter. Maybes she was not biologically their child, but she was Saltzman and Park just as much she would be if she was born out of one of them.
''I need to pack and I will see you on Monday evening… If you need something or just want to talk, call me….call us.''
''I will mom. Don't worry… Enjoy five minutes you will have away from work and spend them with mom.''
Penelope noticed Helena was sad.
''What is it?''
''She misses you.''
''Who?''
''Mom… I think she really misses you… ''
Penelope wanted to say something, but Helena stopped her with her hand.
'' I get it… You have to work and spend a lot of time in your office… You are the one bringing money to the house and I am very grateful for all you've given me… Not just material things, but also love, home and safety… We all know how hard you work and how many things you are missing because of it. She is sometimes angry or disappointed when you miss some dinners, school plays, playdates… But she misses you…and loves you very much.''
Penelope was not sure how she felt about what Helena said. It was in opposition to what Josie did. How can you love someone and cheat on them? How can you have someone else's children and say you love your primary partner? Her head was a mess, but Helena didn't deserve to have her party ruined by Penelope's confusions.
''I love you Helena.''
''I love you too mom… And have a nice time… Give my love to aunt Hope.''
''I will…''
Penelope went to bedroom and packed her suitcase. It took her a moment to pick her clothes. She wanted to look her best. She didn't want anyone to see how she really feels and how broken inside she was. She picked skinny jeans, knee-high boots with heels and black shirt that was off shoulder a bit. She let down her hair and her wild curls were finally free from the very tight buns she usually had for work. She picked up her short black coat and fixed her makeup. Show must go on Penelope! She was ready to face their friends and pretend she is happy…just for Hope and her engagement. She got into her car and started driving to the cottage. She didn't want to go, but she also knew she owed it to Hope to share this moment with her. Hope was there for her during her big moments in life and now it was her turn to have her friend's back.