(Author's note: I've put SMS emoji inside { - } brackets as the graphical emojis are removed when I upload my files in the system)
Chapter 4
It was two days after Penny's audition and she had the afternoon shift in the restaurant. She was organizing the menu rack along with the utensils and napkins when Bernadette came to her.
"So who's the lucky guy?" she teasingly asked her.
"What are you talking about?" Penny raised her eyebrows back at her.
"Come on Penny." she said while nudging her side. "You came in today with the biggest smile on your face, you're humming, which I've never heard you done before...clearly there is a guy!"
"What!" she said defensively. "There is no guy. I'm just having a good day that's all!" she protested. "And why would you think there is a guy?"
"Don't play dumb with me Penny, I've been working with you for the past two years and believe me, I know." she said sternly looking at her.
"It's just the audition I went to the other day. I just have a good feeling that I would get the part." she said smiling. "Oh...and didn't I told you that my car was wrecked in a freak accident that day but guess who showed up to rescue the day?" she said still smiling. "Leonard and his daughter!"
"Ah. So it's Leonard huh?" Bernadette said smiling back at her.
"It's not what you think. This other car lost control and slammed into my car which was parked along the road. My car was wrecked and he was just walking by when he saw me with the police officer at the scene." she paused. "I didn't have a way to go to my audition which is a forty-five minute drive so he offered to drive me there." she added. "He's such a great guy Bernie!"
"Uh huh." Bernadette looked at her not wanting to interrupt.
"And the best part was, he insisted on waiting for me to finish my audition because he would feel better if I get home safe and not have to spend so much on a cab." Penny went on with her story. "His daughter was with him so they just went to a nearby mall to wait for me to finish so they could pick me up. He was so considerate that after my audition, he bought me some pizza bagels and pretzels which is my favorite food in the whole world and also happens to be his daughter's favorite as well! How cool is that!?"
"But he is married right?" Bernadette calmly asked Penny.
"That's the sad part Bernie. Sarah's mom passed away four years ago due to cancer." Penny said. "It's just been him and his daughter all this time. They were engaged but were never married."
Then she realized all of a sudden.. "Oh my god Bernie now I know!...The flowers were for Sarah's mom's grave!" Penny put her hands on her cheek.
"What are you talking about?" Bernadette raised her eyebrows.
"When they were here, I heard Leonard tell his daughter that they were buying flowers on the way to San Gabriel." Penny said.
Bernadette replied. "So?"
"Bernie, there is a cemetery in San Gabriel!" Penny gasped putting her hand on her chest.
"That's interesting. But you say he is great guy huh?" Bernadette asked her again.
"And super smart too! Did you know that he is an experimental physicist at the University? You know like high power lasers and stuff?" she continued beaming. "Anyway, they are moving into a new apartment this weekend and I told them I'll treat them out to lunch or dinner. You know as a 'thank you' to them." she said.
"Looks like you have returned to dating huh?" Bernadette teased her.
"Wha..! No!" she protested. "It's just to say thank you to them for helping me out."
"Penny has a date?" Linda suddenly appeared behind Penny. "It's about time girl!"
"Guess who?" Bernadette asked Linda. Linda raised her eyebrows. "Leonard. You know the cute guy with curly hair and a daughter that came here about three weeks ago?"
"Right... Leonard huh?" Linda nodded teasing Penny.
"It's not what it looks like and will you two please stop looking at me like that!?" Penny said.
"Linda did you noticed something different about Penny today?" Bernadette asked playfully.
Linda looked at Penny. "You know what, now that you mentioned it, there is something different about you today! I just can't seem to put my finger on it…" Linda squinted at Penny.
"I heard her humming a few minutes ago. I've known her for two years and this is the first time I've heard her hum." Bernadette told Linda.
Penny suddenly felt warm on the inside.
"Oh my god Penny, you're blushing!" exclaimed both girls.
Penny put her hands on her cheek feeling embarrassed. "Will you two stop it! It's not what it looks like!"
"Ok we'll stop but you have to tell us everything after our shift is done." Linda demanded Penny.
"There is nothing to tell really!" Penny said.
"Not an option Penny!" Bernadette and Linda walked away to attend to some customers that came in.
Penny continued arranging the menus, utensils and napkins. Her mind was thinking of the events that happened two days ago.
She took out her phone and began to text Leonard.
P: [Hey just checking in! Ready for your move on Saturday? {smiley face}]
Her phone beeped after a few minutes.
L: [Hi! How was your day? We just started putting some stuff in the boxes last night. {Smiley face} {smiley sweat face}]
P: [Hey don't forget, I still have to take you and Sarah out to lunch right? Or dinner? {smiley sweat face}]
L: [Yeah ok. If you insist but after we finish with the move.]
P: [Ok great! I gotta go now. Give Sarah a hug for me! {Smiley face} {smiley sweat face}]
L: [I will. Bye!]
P: [Bye Leonard!]
Penny didn't notice that Bernadette was in front of her. She almost jumped and dropped her phone when she saw her staring at her.
"So is that Leonard you're texting?" She teased her.
"No!" Penny tried hard to hide her smile.
"Oh my god Penny!...you should see your face right now! You're blushing!" Bernadette shrieked.
"Bernie please stop it!" she protested as she put her phone in her pocket.
Bernadette grabbed Linda by the arm as she was passing by. "Linda, girl's night tonight at Penny's! Are you in!?"
"Is this about Leonard?" Linda smiled at Penny.
"You bet!" Bernadette smiled.
"Ok. I'll bring some wine!" Linda answered smiling. "I'll bring the popcorn" said Bernadette.
Penny stood there defeated. She could not help but wonder why she couldn't stop smiling when thinking about Leonard.