Josie and Penelope
Josie looked at Penelope and their daughter on the telephone screen.
''I am waiting for the answer. How long are we going to play a happy family and pretend nothing is wrong? How do we explain mom's miracle conception?''
''Well, you'll get the answer in two hours because you've just earned yourself a train ticket to here… Your mother and I will pick you up and three of us are having lunch together.''
''What? I am not coming…''
''Yes, you are.''
''You can't force me mom…''
''Are you sure about that Helena Abigail Park?''
''You are serious?''
''Yes, I am… You are to pack your bag and get here.''
''Fine… But can Kiki give me a ride?''
''No, because we want to talk to you alone… In a few minutes, you will get your email with ticket and you better show up… You don't want to test me.''
Helena ended the conversation and Josie sat on the bed speechless.
''Are you ok?''
''No, I am not. She knows? You told her?''
''No, I haven't told anyone about it….''
''How does she knows?''
''We will find out soon…''
''I think I am going to be sick.''
Josie got up from the bed and went into their bathroom.
''I'll go feed two of them and you take some time to rest.''
''Ok.''
Penelope got downstairs and was surprised to see Hope making pancakes with the boys. Jason and Dylan were covered in chocolate syrup and they looked so happy.
''I see you are having fun with aunt Hope...''
''She gave us to eat…We were hungry.''
''You couldn't wait for us to come?''
''Well…''
Penelope sensed Dylan was hiding something. Hope winked at her and spoke.
''Kids said you were busy…''
''Busy doing what?''
The look Hope gave her spoke more than million words.
''No, we were not… We were talking to Helena.''
''You just talked to their sister and you kicked them out?''
''Yes, it was private.''
''Oh….Oh….''
Penelope figured that Hope understood that as the talk of Helena's sex and she was ok with it. No matter what, that was the topic three of them had to cover during lunch… Helena had one of the towels from their bedroom on her head… And Penelope was pretty sure that she was not taking that shower alone….No matter how scary it was for her to think of her daughter having sex in the shower.
''We need a favor…''
''I am not giving you money Penelope.''
''I don't need money.''
''Ok… What do you need?''
''Can you watch the boys for a few hours this afternoon?''
''Bootie call?''
''No, we are picking up Helena from the train station and we are taking her to lunch.''
''Oh… Grownup talk?''
''Yes, precisely.''
''Sure, I'll take care of them…and tiny part of me is desperate I can't overhear the talk you are about to have.''
Penelope took a bight of the pancake and rolled her eyes at her friend.
'' You are insane…You know that?''
''I know… But it would be fun to see you blush and squirm listening about her sex life and being forced to face how we all felt with your sex life in our face.''
''I don't know why you are all so into our sex life.''
''Because it was in our face.''
''Not really… Don't be so dramatic. And it was your own fault. You were never good with knocking.''
Boys finished their meal and Penelope helped them clean up. They rushed outside and Hope gave Penelope coffee.
''So, what is going on with you and Josie?''
''Hope, I am not talking about it.''
''I will not tell anyone.''
''I am sorry… We agreed on not sharing any info about it.''
''I am your best friend.''
''And she is my wife.''
''Fine!''
''Will you take your wife some pancakes and coffee…''
''Yes to pancakes and no to coffee.''
''Why? She loves coffee…''
''Well, she is trying to cut coffee…''
''Why?''
''She drank too much? Maybe just the morning one would be ok.''
''I am sure she would be happy to have it.''
''Thank you Hope.''
''You are welcome… And if you change your mind, I am here for you…''
''I know.''
''Penelope…''
''Yes?''
''I have your back.''
''Thank you Hope.''
Hope went out of the cottage to watch the boys and Penelope took the tray from the table and took it into the bedroom. Josie was with her back to the door, but by the movement of her body, Penelope knew she was crying. She put the tray on her nightstand and got into bed.
''Jojo, are you ok?''
She turned to face Penelope and busted into tears.
''I screwed up everything and now Helena will hate me.''
''Oh, Jojo.''
Penelope pulled her into her arms and held her. Josie was crying again. Penelope held her and they were both silent. Penelope held her and played with her hair. That was always something that could calm Josie, her head on Penelope's chest and Penelope playing with her hair. When she calmed down Penelope kissed her forehead and smiled.
''Let's feed you Jojo… Hope made pancakes.''
''I am sick…''
''I know, but you must eat.''
Josie settled to her side of the bed and Penelope passed her the tray. She started eating and smiled.
''She is a good cook.''
''I know… Boys ate her pancakes like there was not tomorrow.''
''Where are they?''
''With Hope. She is taking care of them. I think she and Raph might take them to collect shells.''
''Good, they love that.''
Penelope smiled at that.
''I hoped we would do that with them… But we have to meet with Helena and talk to her.''
''I am dreading that moment.''
''I know, but you will be ok. She will understand.''
''Will she? Do you understand Penelope?''
''No, I don't… But I can try to understand and try to leave that behind with you.''
''Can we leave it behind? I am pregnant…''
''Jojo, if we chose to stay married and work on this…They are part of Brady bunch…''
''Five kids… Are we insane?''
''I am sure we are…''
''And we have time to fix our marriage until they are born…''
''Why until their birth?''
''Because after birth, there will be hell… Six year olds, sixteen years old and babies… We are in for a ride.''
''I know…''
''You will need help.''
''Will you be there?''
'' And after you give birth… I will get Elizabeth to give me few weeks off… I want to be there for you and for them…My wife and our five kids need me too… Not just my job… I will make sure that I am there for our family and not leave you alone to be mother with all of them.''
She took Josie's hand and kissed it.
''I don't want to make the same mistake again. I have to learn to put our family first… We have to find some balance in work and family.''
''I want to work… I want to help you Penny… I want to feel useful.''
''Jojo, you are not useless… You are doing huge thing… You are raising our children… You are making them into someone who will be good men in the storm.''
They got dressed and went out. When they got to the common area they saw that MG and Nya came. MG got up from his chair and hugged Penelope.
''Hey P… We missed you.''
''I missed you too...''
''How about some dinner next week?''
''I am going to New York for a few days, but I'll call you.''
''Ok… I need you for something…work related.''
''Oh, ok.''
Nya and Josie interrupted the conversation before it went to work talk before that dinner or lunch they wanted to have.
''Milton Grizzly, you better stop monopolizing Penelope and talking shop! We said we need time off from work and work related things. Penelope is also off work, so let her enjoy some time with her wife. This one barely sees her.''
''Yes, love.''
Nya laughed at him.
''You are insufferable.''
She kissed him and they smiled at each other.
''You are lucky I love you.''
''I know that… I'm the luckiest man alive! ''
Penelope and Josie were happy for MG and Nya. They were really good couple and Penelope was happy that he had someone who is really in his corner. After epic fail relationship with Lizzie, Penelope was happy he had someone who really loved him and saw all his qualities and how amazing he really was. Josie was talking to MG and Nya and Penelope was looking around. She saw Hope playing with twins and she looked so happy. Penelope was waiting for Hope and Raph to have their kids and to watch how she enjoys her own babies. And then she saw Landon watching them and her smile was gone. Tension was back in her body and urge to do something was growing again. Josie didn't stop talking to two of them, but she put her hand on Penelope's side and took her other hand lacing their fingers together. That calmed Penelope a little bit.
When time came to leave, Josie grew nervous. Penelope went to pick up her purse and their coats. MG and Nya were surprised to see them leave.
''You are going home?''
''No, we are picking up Helena.''
''Oh… I had no idea she was coming.''
''Well, she is… We'll see you soon.''
Penelope turned to walk to the car and Josie walked after her. They got in and Penelope started the car.
''I am so scared of seeing Helena… I feel like she is parent and I am a child that did something wrong.''
Penelope gave her a sad smile.
''It will be ok… Just give her time and be honest why you did things or what you felt at that moment. She is often a dog that barks, but doesn't bite for real. She loves you very much.''
''I hope you are right.''
''I tend to be… She is…hm… hurt because she is very loyal…And thing you did is against everything she believes in… But you are her mom…and she will get back to being your little girl.''
''Penelope, she is your girl… Let's not lie to each other… You are her superhero.''
''I am not.''
''Yes, you are. You tend to be like that… You saved her from that foster care and life she had before us… And when she entered our life, you were her savior, and that is why she is angry at me… To her, you are center of her world.''
''Josie, she loves you too… You also gave her love and support… Not just me. You are her mom too… Just as much as I am.''
''Not like you. You have same back story and I can never compete with your past and bonds you share.''
''Jojo… it's not competition… It's…life…''
''I know… It's strange and scary when you realize that your very young daughter has more life experience than you in your twenties.''
''Jojo, it's not like that…''
''It is Penny… It's like two of you are members of some secret and exclusive club…''
Penelope stopped the car and took Josie's hand.
''Listen to me Jojo… I would never wish to anyone to be member out that club… You are lucky Jojo… Your parents loved you and protected you… Yes, they had issues with us, but they never abandoned you… They were by your side always and you can always count on them… We never had that… We have much different and darker past and stories… So, you are lucky not to know what does it feel for a girl like us.''
''I just wish I could understand.''
''I don't…''
Penelope started the car and drove to the station. She arrived just in time when Helena was getting out. She got into car and she sat in the back angry at them.
''I'm here.''
''It's nice to see you honey.''
''Why am I here?''
''Because we have to talk.''
''About what mama did?''
Josie flinched at the tone…
''Well, we can either talk about that or about you and Kiki having sex in our shower?''
Josie and Helena were shocked by what Penelope said and Penelope was sporting huge smirk. Josie turned to face Helena that was blushing.