Chapter 26

It was a week after Sarah's incident at the school when Penny's father Wyatt visited. Penny picked him up from the airport as it was her day off that day.

"Daddy!" Penny said as she hugged her father.

"How's my slugger?" He hugged his daughter back.

"I'm doing good daddy!….couldn't be better!" she smiled at him as Wyatt loaded his luggage in the trunk of Penny's car. They got in the car and Penny started to drive away.

"So how are you and Leonard?" he asked as they drove along the freeway.

"We're doing good….we're taking things slow….you know for his daughter's sake…" Penny said.

"Penny, I hope you know what you're getting into." Wyatt told her.

Penny didn't answer.

"I only want what's best for you slugger….are you ready for this 'instant motherhood' thing?" he asked her.

"I don't know dad...this is a unique situation for me and Leonard that's why we decided to take it slow." Penny said.

"Well I hope you two figure it out." Wyatt added. "Whatever decision the two of you make, it's always his daughter who will pay the price…..are you ready to take that responsibility?" Wyatt asked her.

"Dad we're not doing anything stupid….and we already talked to Sarah about our relationship…" she said.

"You did?" he asked.

"Yes. Leonard's daughter is pretty smart." Penny said.

"Really? How so?" he asked.

"Well we were in his apartment one morning and Leonard noticed his daughter solving advance algebra." Penny added. "Leonard asked her who taught her, Sarah said she figured it out by herself by reading one of her mom's math books." she said.

"But that kid's only five years old….how the hell can she understand algebra?" Wyatt was surprised.

"Well, her mom taught math in high school….and Leonard's a brainiac so I guess it's no surprise that their child would be smart…" Penny added. "Leonard was as much surprised as I was when Sarah told us that she learned it all herself….even Leonard's mother was surprised…" Penny said.

"Wow…..that is amazing." Wyatt said.

They continued talking about Leonard and Sarah. Penny also told her father about her new job at the boutique. They arrived at her apartment and Wyatt went to the bathroom to wash up and get some rest. Penny sat on her couch and decided to text Leonard.

P: [hi honey! Just picked up my dad from the airport.]

P: [How's work?]

L: [work is fine I guess. How's your dad?]

P: [he's resting for a bit. He says he can't wait to meet you {smiley face}]

L: [okay. We can have dinner at my place later.]

P: [I'll buy dinner honey. Don't worry about it.]

L: [sure. I have to go back to work.]

L: [I'll see you later honey.]

P: [bye honey]

Leonard and Sarah arrived home a little before six in the evening. He texted Penny that they were already home while Sarah sat on the couch to watch TV. Penny replied saying that she's on her way back with dinner. Leonard sat beside his daughter to watch TV with her.

"Daddy is Penny coming over for dinner?" she asked her father.

"Yes honey. She's buying dinner and on her way back now." he added. "Penny's father is going to join us for dinner tonight." he said

Sarah looked at him. "Penny's daddy is here?" she asked.

"Yes honey….is it alright if he joins us for dinner?" he smiled at her.

"Uh huh." she nodded at her father as they continued watching TV.

A few minutes later, Leonard heard a knock on the door and stood up to open it. He welcomed Penny and her father in the apartment.

"Hi honey! We brought dinner." Penny said as she kissed Leonard on his cheek and gave him the paper bag. "Leonard, I want you to meet my dad Wyatt….dad this is Leonard." she said as Sarah ran to hug her.

Leonard shook Wyatt's hand. "Welcome sir, it's nice to finally meet you!" Leonard said.

"Hi Leonard. Nice to finally meet you too….and please, call my Wyatt." he smiled at him.

"Okay...Wyatt." Leonard nodded. "Please come in and have a seat while we prepare the kitchen island.

Sarah ran and hugged Penny. "I missed you Penny." she said.

"Aww sweetie!….I missed you too?" Penny said as she released the child. "Sarah, I want you to meet my dad, Wyatt….dad this little angel is Sarah." she smiled at the child.

Wyatt knelt down and shook Sarah's hand. "Nice to meet you Sarah….Penny here told me you're quite a smart girl." he said.

Sarah shook his hand and just looked at Wyatt, a little shy.

"It's okay sweetie….don't be shy." Penny smiled at the child while Leonard looks at them.

"Hi." Sarah said softly. Wyatt smiled at Sarah.

Leonard decided to butt in. "Okay, dinner is ready….Sarah honey why don't you go to the bathroom and wash your hands…" he said. Sarah ran to the bathroom and came back after two minutes. They started eating as Penny helped Sarah with her food.

"So Sarah, Penny told me you guys went to this ranch to ride horses?" Wyatt asked Sarah. Sarah's face immediately lit up and smiled at Wyatt.

"Yes! I rode Bunny Rabbit! She's so well behaved!" the child said.

"Weren't you scared to ride on his back?" Wyatt asked the child as Penny and Leonard smiled at each other seeing Sarah open up to Wyatt.

"At first I was, but then Penny was there and so was Amanda….they taught me to take it slow so that Bunny Rabbit will not run or jump." Sarah said as she spooned her food.

"Well it's the same with everything else sweetie….Penny told me that you also went fishing?" he asked.

"Yeah!….it was so cool and I caught a fish before my dad and Penny!" Sarah said.

"That's amazing sweetie." Wyatt said. "Penny also told me you're good at math."

"Uh huh. My daddy told me I should go to this special school for smart kids…" she said.

"Well I'm sure your father's very proud of you and want what's best for you…" Wyatt smiled at her.

They sat quietly for a moment while eating until Sarah spoke to Wyatt.

"Sir can I ask you a question?" Sarah said.

Wyatt was a little surprised. "Uh yeah sure. What is it?" he said.

"Was Penny a good girl when she was little?" she asked him.

Leonard looked at Penny and smiled. "Here we go." he said then looking at Wyatt waiting for his response.

"Well...Penny was a handful when she was your age….always running around, always up to something fishy…" Wyatt said.

"Okay dad, I think that's enough…" Penny said slightly uncomfortable.

Wyatt continued to tell Sarah his story. "there was this one time when Penny came home all covered in mud….it turned out she was at the barn riding the pig around the pigpen like a horse!" he smiled at her.

Sarah laughed out loud. "Is that true Penny!?...that sounds like fun!" Sarah continued laughing.

"No it wasn't. Her mother got so mad that she grounded her for two weeks!….no horsing around…..just school and house…" Wyatt said.

"What happened to the pig?" Sarah asked.

"Well nothing. It just kept rolling around in the mud like it always did…." Wyatt said.

"Okay I think we've had enough of stories from the farm." Penny looked at her father. She looked at Leonard who just smiled at her. They finished eating as Leonard and Penny cleaned up in the kitchen while Sarah and Wyatt sat on the living room watching TV.

"Do you want to play a video game sir?" Sarah asked Wyatt.

"Uh, I don't think I might be good at any video game sweetie…" Wyatt said smiling at her.

"But it's very easy. I can teach you….we even have a fishing game" Sarah said.

Penny turned around and asked the child. "You have a fishing game?" she asked.

Sarah looked at Penny. "Yeah...it's just like real fishing but without the icky worms…" she said.

"Come on dad….why don't you give it a try?" Penny said.

Sarah looked at Wyatt. "I guess I could give it a try." he said. Sarah was so excited as she ran to the TV to turn on her Nintendo Wii. She took two controllers and gave one to Wyatt.

Sarah showed him how to work the controller. "Okay, so you push this button and then you cast your line….like this and then turn the handle when the fish bites….see….like this…." she showed Penny's father as Leonard and Penny smiled while watching them from the kitchen island. The couple finished cleaning up and went to the living room to watch how the game is going. "Look daddy! I caught three fishes already." said Sarah to her father.

"That's great honey….and Wyatt's not far behind…" Leonard said. Leonard and Penny then took turns playing the game while making small talk. Sarah yawned and Leonard told her to get ready for bed when Penny cut him off.

"Don't worry honey, I'll put Sarah to bed." she gave the controller to Leonard and winked at him. "Let's go sweetie. You go wash up in the bathroom so I can tuck you in and read you a bedtime story." she said as she took Sarah to the bathroom.

Leonard and Wyatt played silently when Wyatt decided to speak.

"You really did a good job there Leonard." Wyatt said as he tried to focus on the game.

"Uh excuse me?" Leonard asked.

"I'm talking about your daughter….she's such a sweetheart. You really raised her well…" Wyatt added. "Penny told me what happened to her mother and I'm sorry for that….I cannot imagine how difficult it is for you raising her by yourself." he said.

"You have no idea Wyatt….there were times when I wanted to give up especially right after June died….but I just kept telling myself that my daughter has no one else but me…" Leonard said.

"Well you have my respect son which is why I want to ask what your plans with my daughter are." Wyatt said to him.

Leonard was slightly surprised but answered him anyway. "Well, Penny and I are taking it slow. We're trying to avoid making any rash decisions especially now that my daughter has grown close to her." Leonard said.

"I'm sorry for being so upfront….as one father to another, I'm sure you understand my concern." Wyatt looked at him.

Leonard nodded. "I understand Wyatt and believe me….I sometimes have trouble sleeping at night thinking that if Penny and I screw up, my daughter's going to have to pay for it….I can't stand seeing my daughter cry." he said.

"Thank you for being honest Leonard. I really appreciate it and if you need any advice, you can give me a call anytime." Wyatt said.

"Thank you Wyatt and just to let you know, I love your daughter and I don't want to force her into something she's not comfortable with….she gave me another shot at life and I'm thankful that after everything that happened, she's still with me…." Leonard said.

"Well, she said you were pretty great...at least you're not like her past boyfriends….those skateboarding, tattooed beefcakes dumber than a pile of horse manure…" Wyatt said. Leonard laughed at Wyatt's last comment.

The two men continued sharing stories about their daughters while playing the game. Unbeknownst to them, Penny was standing in the hallway by the bedroom listening to their conversation.