Chapter 52

It was a couple of months since Leonard and Penny got married and their families has since returned to New Jersey and Nebraska. It took the couple a while to balance their time between work and home especially in driving Sarah to and from school. Leonard would drop off his daughter at school in the morning and Penny would pick her up, usually around five in the afternoon. Sarah was glad her mommy got to pick her up after school since it gives them more time to chat and bond while driving back home to the apartment.

"Honey I'm home!" Leonard said as he entered the apartment.

"Hi daddy!" Sarah said as he hugged her father.

"How's school today?" He asked his daughter.

"It was okay daddy." she said as she returned to the couch while Leonard put his satchel on his desk.

"Where's your mom?" he asked.

"She's in the bedroom." said Sarah.

"Okay, I'm gonna get changed so we could eat dinner alright?" he said.

He entered their bedroom when he saw Penny sitting on the bed, looking out the window. He somehow felt that she was thinking about something serious so he decided to sit beside her.

"Hey honey." he said as he kissed her cheek.

Penny gave him a week smile but didn't respond to him.

Leonard looked at her. "What's wrong honey? Is something bothering you?" he asked while putting his arm around her shoulder.

Penny bowed her head. "I'm thinking of quitting my job." she said surprising Leonard.

"Why?" he asked.

"I've been thinking about it and I want to focus on my acting career again and it kinda involves me going back to acting classes and going to auditions." she said hoping that Leonard would agree. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Leonard shrugged his shoulders. "Well nothing, it's just that you're doing very well with your job now. I mean you're practically earning twice with your commissions and all." he said.

"So you don't want me to continue my dream of being an actress?" she asked.

"It's not that honey, it's just that you said it yourself that there are a million other girls just like you that have the same dream." he said.

Penny threw her hands in the air and stood up, facing her husband. "I can't believe that you wouldn't support my dream." she said, slightly raising her voice.

"I do support you honey. I just think that it's a little risky for you to give up a steady job for something that's unpredictable and unstable." he said hoping Penny would understand.

"So it's all about being safe and stable for you huh?" she said. "You're thinking that if I quit my job, I would just burn through our savings and be a liability for you!" she said glaring at him.

"That is not what I'm saying honey. Please don't be mad." he said as he stood up to hold her hand.

Penny folded her arms and looked him in the eye. "I want you to be completely honest with me. Do you think that I have what it takes to be a famous actress?" she said, not taking her eyes away from him.

Leonard hesitated to answer, quickly realizing his mistake.

"Ugh I knew it! I knew you didn't believe in me making it as an actress!" Penny yelled at him.

"Honey it's not what I meant! Please listen to me." said Leonard as he tried to calm his wife down.

"Okay, you have two minutes to explain!" she said.

Leonard took a deep breath and hoped Penny would listen to him. "Me of all people believe in you but you have to understand that we have responsibilities now. I really think you were really great when you did that TV commercial and you have my full support if that's what you really want to do." he said.

"Then why did you hesitate when I asked you the first time?" she asked never letting him get away that easy.

"Honey I don't know." he said. "You know I get nervous when I'm under stress right?" Leonard added.

"I know you're just saying that to make me feel better but it's not gonna work!" she yelled at him.

Leonard hung his head and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry honey. Please forgive me." he said, hoping Penny would forgive him.

"I can't believe you don't trust me!?" Penny said, grunting in frustration.

"Come on honey!" Leonard pleaded. "If you already made up your mind then why did you ask me about it?" said Leonard.

"Are you kidding me right now!? Of course I'm gonna ask you! You're my husband remember!" she yelled at him as they heard Sarah knocking on their door. Penny sighed at the thought of seeing her stepdaughter crying again.

Penny opened the door and saw Sarah, looking distressed and sad at hearing her parents argue. "Mommy?" said the child.

Penny knelt and hugged her. "I'm sorry you heard that sweetheart. Don't be scared." said Penny, kissing her stepdaughter.

"Are you fighting again?" she asked her parents.

Leonard decided to answer. "No honey, your mom and I aren't fighting." he said.

"Then why are you yelling?" Sarah asked.

Leonard knelt down and hugged his daughter. "I'm sorry about that honey. Just trust me on this one okay?" he said giving his daughter a weak smile.

Penny stood up and held Sarah's hand. "Come on sweetie, let's go to the kitchen and have dinner so I could tuck you in." she said.

Leonard sighed and followed them.

They ate dinner quietly with Penny giving Leonard the look from time to time while making small talk with Sarah. After eating, Penny took Sarah into the bathroom to wash her up while Leonard cleaned up in the kitchen.

"Mommy are gonna sleep here in my room?" asked Sarah.

"Yes sweetie." said Penny.

"But I thought you and daddy are not fighting mommy?" asked Sarah.

"We're not sweetheart." Penny said.

"Then how come you're not sleeping with daddy?" asked the child.

"Because your daddy and I need some space right now" said Penny. "When you grow up, I'm sure you'll understand. Do you believe me?" Penny added.

Sarah looked up to Penny and nodded. "Okay mommy." she said.

Penny hugged and kissed Sarah. "Don't worry sweetheart, your dad and I are gonna talk tomorrow." she said as she pulled the covers over the young lady while snuggling up to her, kissing her goodnight before turning off the light.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

That morning, Penny woke up finding Leonard in the kitchen making breakfast.

"Hey. Good morning." said Leonard while handing her a cup of coffee.

Penny took the cup and drank, feeling slightly energized. "Good morning." she said.

"I'm sorry about last night." he said.

"Don't worry about it honey. We can talk again later." said Penny as Sarah came into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes and yawning loudly.

"Good morning mommy, good morning daddy!" said the child as the couple greeted their daughter.

"Okay let's eat." said Leonard as Sarah took her seat while Penny put food on her plate.

After half an hour of showering and getting dressed, Leonard held Sarah's hand to drop her off in school before going to the university. "Say goodbye to your mom now honey." he said.

"Bye mom!" said Sarah as Penny kissed her stepdaughter.

"Bye sweetheart. You have fun at school!" Penny said.

Leonard moved close and kissed Penny on the cheek. "Bye honey." he said to his wife.

Penny kissed him back. "Bye." she said giving Leonard a weak smile.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Later that afternoon, Leonard was in his office typing on his computer when he heard a knock on his door, seeing Penny pop her head in.

Leonard was surprised. "Hey! This is an unexpected surprise." he said welcoming his wife with a hug. "Aren't you supposed to be at work?" he asked as he led Penny to sit on a chair.

"I called them to take a day off. I needed time to think." she said.

Leonard pulled a chair and sat in front of Penny, holding her hand. "Penny, I'm so sorry for last night. I didn't mean to hurt you and if that's what you really want to do, then you have my full support." he said.

Penny looked him straight in the eye. "Do you really mean that?" she asked.

Leonard nodded. "Yes, I mean it and if you really want to do it, then you have to focus your energy onto it." he said.

"Do you think I have what it takes to make it?" she asked.

"Yes honey. And I'm not just saying that so you won't be angry at me or anything. I really do believe in you." he said.

Penny smiled at him and gave him a tight hug, kissing him on the lips. "Thank you honey. But I've been kinda thinking about it all morning and I think you have a point." she said.

Leonard was puzzled. "What do you mean?" he said.

"Well, you were right when you said that if I go back out to acting, that there's no assurance that I'll make it big or even land a part in something good or worthwhile." she said.

"But how can you know if you don't try?" he asked.

"I know but still." she said.

"So you're having second thoughts now?" Leonard asked.

Penny sighed and gave him a hopeful look.

"Okay how about this, you continue with your job and when you get an audition call, you take a couple of days off so you could focus and prepare." he said.

"But I still have to go to acting classes." she said.

"Well, do they have acting classes at night?" he asked.

"I think so." said Penny. "But what about the boutique?" she asked.

"Why don't you talk to them first and explain your situation. I'm sure they'll understand." said Leonard.

Penny smiled at him and nodded. "Okay, I guess we'll do it your way." she said as she hugged and kissed her husband.

"Hmm, I like where this is going." he said, giving her a goofy smile.

Penny glared at him. "Ugh, you're unbelievable." she said, lightly punching his arm.

"Hey, we just made up honey." he said before standing up and pulling something from his desk drawer. "And, ever since we've had sex in my lab and office before, I thought it's nice to be prepared!" he said while showing Penny a couple of blankets.

"Uh, why do you have a blanket in your office?" Penny asked giving him a surprised look.

"I put it here for occasions like this when my beautiful wife would visit me and we can have some alone time to do some 'mom and dad' stuff!" he said while pulling Penny close to kiss her lips.

Penny kissed him. "You're really a jackass." she said, feeling a little excited.

"You keep calling me that and we would spend a lot of time in here." he said.

Penny wrapped her arms around his neck. "But what if someone comes over here?" she asked.

"Well, that's why I had this made so we could have a little privacy." he said showing her a 'Do Not Disturb – video conference in progress' door sign.

Penny was impressed and gave him a lovely smile. "You just keep surprising me mister." she said while Leonard put up the sign and locked the door.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

After an hour of getting busy in the office, Leonard and Penny decided to pick up Sarah from school.

Sarah saw her stepmother's car and was surprised to see her parents together. "Dad? I thought mom would pick me up today?" she asked.

"Well, your mom passed by my office this afternoon so we figured to pick you up together." said Leonard as they hug and kiss their daughter.

"How's school sweetie?" Penny asked.

"It's great mom!" said Sarah.

"Really? Tell me." Penny said.

Sarah reached into her backpack and gave Penny a piece of paper. "I got a perfect score again mommy." she exclaimed.

The couple looked at the child's test paper and was surprised. "Oh my god this is so amazing sweetheart! We're so proud of you!" Penny said hugging her stepdaughter tight.

"I'm so proud of you honey!" Leonard said kissing his daughter.

"Thank you mommy, thank you daddy." Sarah said. "Are you and daddy okay now?" she asked her parents.

Penny and Leonard smiled at her. "We're okay now sweetheart. Me and your dad already talked and figured it out." said Penny.

"About what mommy?" asked the child.

"Honey, your mom is thinking of going back to her acting. You know, going to auditions and acting classes." said Leonard.

"Really?" Sarah asked.

"Your dad is right sweetie." Penny said.

"I'm sure you'll get in mommy." Sarah said.

"Aww, thank you sweetheart! You just made my day." said Penny. "At least someone in this car believes in me." she said making Sarah laugh.

"So that's why you and daddy were fighting last night huh?" Sarah asked while smiling at her father.

"It's not like that honey." Leonard said trying hard not to be embarrassed.

"Well I think mommy is a great actress." said Sarah.

Penny was touched by Sarah's compliment. "Aww, thank you sweetie. I appreciate it." she said.

"I have an idea! Why don't we find a nice place to eat?" said Leonard making Sarah jump off her seat.

"Daddy, can we go to that nice burger place we went to two weeks ago?" Sarah asked.

"Sure honey. Whatever you want." Leonard said as Penny started the car.

"Can I get an ice cream with sprinkles and M&Ms?" Sarah asked making her parents laugh a little.

"Sweetheart, you can get the biggest ice cream you want!" Penny said as they drove down the road.

Leonard looked at his wife and daughter and was glad that Penny and him were able to square it off with her returning to pursuing her dream of being an actress.