Chapter 12
A few days later, Leonard's younger sister Catherine came to California for some business and to visit the. It's a welcome change for Leonard as his daughter would surely enjoy spending some time with her Aunt Cathy. Catherine is still single and owns a small convenience store in New Jersey. She left the store with her assistant store manager who has worked with her for the past eight years.
Cathy picked up Sarah from preschool so Leonard would not have to leave the university. Leonard used the time to finish up more work in his lab. Unfortunately, Penny has the night shift at the restaurant for a few days and wasn't able to meet Catherine. They kept texting and calling to keep up with one another while he makes plans for their date.
L: [Hi! When does your night shift end? I want you to meet my sister. {smiley face}]
L: [I've been planning our date all week {sweaty face emoji}]
P: [Tomorrows my last night shift.]
P: [Hmm...looks like you're putting out all the stops for our date huh?]
L: [I just hope you'll like it. I miss you.]
P: [Miss you too...{sad face}]
L: [Glad to know {smiley face}. Gotta go now. Call you later ok {kiss emoji}]
P: [{kiss emoji}]
Leonard swung by the Chinese restaurant and ordered take out food. Twenty minutes later he was home. As he opened his apartment's door, Sarah ran towards him as soon as he stepped inside.
"Daddy!" she exclaimed as Leonard hugged his daughter.
"Hi honey!...did you and Aunt Cathy have fun today?" he asked her as his sister took the takeout food and put it on the kitchen island.
"Yes daddy...we went to the mall and she bought me a new dress." she said happily.
"That's so nice honey….now why don't you wash your hands so we could eat ok?" he said as Sarah ran to the bathroom to wash up.
"Thanks for picking her up from school." he said to his sister.
"Hey it's no big deal…" Cathy said. "So...who's Penny?" she looked at him.
Leonard was surprised by her question. "Oh...she lives across the hall...but she has the night shift until tomorrow so you can meet her after that.." he tried to say casually.
"Are you...you know….involved?" she inquired.
Leonard didn't answer. He was trying to pick out words from his head but none came to him.
"Hey don't worry….she seems cool...it's just Sarah won't stop talking about her.." she said.
"Oh." he said.
"Leonard...I'm not mom ok...you don't have to report to me…" she reassured her brother.
"Thank you...Uh...now that we're on the subject..I was thinking of asking her out in a few days and I was wondering if you could look after Sarah by then?" he asked his sister.
"Yeah sure...no problem!" she said as she finished unpacking the food on the table.
Sarah came back and Leonard helped her to her seat on the kitchen island. They began to eat and talk about school and work.
The next afternoon as Cathy and Sarah was coming into the building, Cathy saw the elevator was about to close and she told the occupant to hold the door. The door was held as they made their way into the elevator car.
"Penny!...I missed you!" Sarah exclaimed as she hugged Penny inside the elevator.
"Aww sweetie...I missed you too! I'm sorry I wasn't able to come over...I had the night shift at the restaurant.." Penny said as she hugged the child back.
Penny looked up to Catherine and smiled. "Hi I'm Penny!" she extended her hand to Cathy. "You must be Catherine?...Leonard told me you were gonna visit…"
"Hi Penny...nice to finally meet you...this little one wouldn't shut up about you…" Cathy greeted her back.
"Sarah's a real sweetie…" Penny said as she lightly caressed the child's cheek. The elevator door opened and they got out. "Well I have to get ready for work so...I'll come by tomorrow so we could talk more ok?" Penny shook Cathy's hand again.
"Yeah sure!" Cathy smiled at her.
"Bye sweetie!" she said to Sarah.
"Bye Penny!" Sarah waved at her as she entered her apartment.
Once inside, Penny took out her phone and texted Leonard.
P: [Hi honey! I met your sister in the elevator.]
P: [missed you {kiss emoji}]
L: [missed you too...what did she say?]
P: [nothing much...I told her I'll come over tomorrow..]
L: [Oh ok.]
L: [any news on the commercial?]
P: [we start shooting next week. So excited {smiley face}]
P: [it couldn't have happened without you stud {winking face emoji]}
L: [obviously your talent did that..{kiss emoji}]
L: [hey before I forget...our date is the day after tomorrow...{fingers crossed}]
P: [oh yeah..almost forgot about that…]
P: [can you give me a hint where we're going?]
L: [not a chance...trust me you'll like it...{smiley face}]
P: [ok I have to leave now or I'll be late at the restaurant {kiss emoji}]
L: {ok bye {kiss emoji}]
The next day as Leonard was getting ready to go home, he took out his phone and dialed Penny's number.
P: Hi honey! How's work?
L: I'm about to go home now. I'll swing by the Thai restaurant and order takeout. How's your day?
P: Uh...you know...same as yesterday.
L: Oh ok….I'll let you know when I'm home so we can eat dinner together ok?
P: Ok honey. Drive safe alright?
L: Yeah bye!
Leonard was home after half an hour. He put the takeout food on the kitchen island and his sister started to unpack the food on the table. Leonard took out his phone and texted Penny that dinner is ready. After a few minutes, Penny came through the door and greeted Leonard and Cathy. Sarah came out from the bathroom and ran towards Penny as soon as she saw her.
"Penny!" she exclaimed as she hugged Penny.
"Hi sweetie!...did you miss me?" Penny hugged her back. Sarah just nodded.
"Ok let's dig in!" Leonard announced as he handed a plate to Penny and helped his daughter up to her chair. They started to eat while making small talk.
"So Penny...Sarah told me that you are doing a TV commercial?" Cathy asked.
"Yes...we start shooting next week...hopefully this will be my big break!" Penny said smiling at her.
"Wow that's amazing...so I guess this restaurant job is just temporary until you get your break huh?" asked Cathy.
"Yes...fingers crossed…" said Penny.
"Well good luck...at least you're following your dreams." Cathy said.
"Thank you I appreciate it...it wouldn't have happened if these two didn't rescued me that day. Right sweetie!?" Penny said as she patted Sarah on her back.
"Uh huh!...and we ate pizza bagels and pretzels aunt Cathy! They're Penny's favorite too!" Sarah said as she took a bite of her food.
"Really? Wow... that's great baby." Cathy said.
"...and Penny has a pet pig back home in Nebraska...I asked daddy to get me a pet pig too but he said we don't have a place to put it here…" Sarah continued.
"Well you father's right honey...if you want...you can get a fish or a hamster? It's easier to take care of…" Cathy explained.
"It's alright Aunt Cathy…" Sarah smiled as she took another bite.
They continued to eat while talking about Cathy's store in New Jersey and Penny's life back in Nebraska. Leonard joined the conversation from time to time. After eating, Cathy offered to clean up the kitchen island while Penny joined Sarah on the couch to watch TV. Leonard excused himself and went to the bathroom. After a few minutes Leonard went back to the living room and sat beside Sarah, putting his daughter between him and Penny.
"So how was work today?" Penny faced Leonard.
"Oh...a grad student almost got his hand crushed but luckily he was able to pull his hand out in time.." he said.
"Oh my god!...what happened?" Penny was a little shocked.
"Well...he got careless...he got chewed out by his supervisor though...almost got suspended…" Leonard replied smiling at her.
They continued to chat while Sarah was leaning onto Penny as she put her arm over the child to comfort her. After cleaning up, Cathy joined them sitting on the sofa chair to watch the TV. After almost an hour, Sarah was already asleep so Cathy volunteered to take her to bed. As Cathy was in Sarah's bedroom, Leonard quickly scooted over and gave Penny a kiss which she happily accepted.
"You're crazy!" she whispered to Leonard slightly pushing him away.
"What!?….I missed you." he kissed her again then sitting himself up as Cathy came back to the living room.
"So...what's the plan for your date tomorrow?" she asked her brother.
"Oh...it's a secret actually.." he smiled at Penny. Penny blushed a little.
"Hey Penny I bought some red wine yesterday...do you want some?..Leonard?" Cathy offered.
"Uh..yeah sure." Penny smiled and Leonard nodded.
Cathy poured the wine and brought them to the couple.
"Thank you." Penny said as she took the glass from Cathy.
Cathy sat on the sofa chair and turned to watch the TV.
Leonard held Penny's hand as they looked at each other. He then released his hand and moved his arm over her shoulder to bring her closer to him. Penny felt relaxed as she leaned onto Leonard. He gave her a quiet kiss on her forehead as they continued to watch TV.
After about half an hour, Cathy stood up and told the couple she was turning in. They bid her good night as Cathy walked to Sarah's room to sleep.
Leonard turned to Penny. "Hey...what are you thinking?" he said softly.
"Nothing...I'm just nervous for tomorrow…" she said as she looked straight into his eyes.
"Don't be nervous...trust me...it's going to be great!" he kissed her on the cheek.
Penny leaned her head onto his shoulder and wrapped her arm around his body. "I missed you.."
"Yeah me too.." He kissed her head.
"Honey….do you think we're making a mistake by going out tomorrow?" Penny said softly as she moved her arm to snuggle closer to Leonard.
"Why would you think it's a mistake?" he asked her.
"Uh...I don't know...I can kinda feel your sister's concern for Sarah…" Penny said.
"Hey...I already talked to my sister...she's cool with it...really!" he rubbed her back and tried to comfort her. "Don't be scared ok."
Penny looked up to him. "Ok." she smiled at him.
Leonard kissed her on the lips as she kissed him back. They broke their kiss as Penny sat up and hugged Leonard tight.