Chapter 6
Penny slowly opened her eyes, feeling the faint cold breeze from the window as the first rays of the sun shone on her face. She moved her hand and noticed that she was already alone on the bed. She decided to get off the bed and freshen up in the bathroom before joining her family downstairs.
After freshening up, she brushed her hair before tying it up into a bun, knowing that her husband always like it when she ties her hair this way. She came out of the bathroom and went downstairs where she heard Leonard and William talking, probably while eating breakfast with Susan.
"Good morning honey!" Leonard greeted her.
"Good morning." she said before giving him a quick peck on the lips and joining them on the table.
William put the toast down on his plate. "I think I just lost my appetite." he said, making Susan laugh.
Penny then went over and quickly hugged her son from behind, showering him with kisses. "Come here you!" she said as William tried to break free.
"Mom!" said William, finally freeing himself from his mother's arms.
"Now we're even!" Penny said as William pouted his lips, not liking his mother always treating him like a child.
"Aww...Penny...sometimes you have to stop treating him like a child...he's almost a young man now." Susan said.
"Thanks grandma." William said to his grandmother.
"Absolutely not! You are my baby boy...and I'll never get tired of showing people how much I love my kids." said Penny as William rolled his eyes, trying not to let his mother get to him.
"Fine...but can you please divert your kisses from me to Sarah? I'm sure she wouldn't mind being cuddled like a baby." said William, making Leonard and Susan laugh.
Penny smiled at her son, finding him adorable. "Sure sweetheart. Where is your sister anyway?" she asked, looking around.
"She went with grandpa to the barn." said William. "She says she wanted to spend more time with her horse...which is actually a pony, since she's only under fourteen hands." he added.
"Who told you that?" asked Penny.
"Grandpa did, just this morning." said the young man.
"I guess she's bent on really staying here huh?" said Susan.
"Yeah...she can be hard-headed when she gets an idea into her head." said Leonard.
"Well...I surely won't mind if she stays here with us." Susan said.
Penny took a deep breath. "Okay mom, I know you love spending time with your grandchildren but can I ask you not to encourage her with this non-sense?" Penny said to her mother.
"Okay I get it." said Susan as Wyatt and Sarah came into the kitchen, happily talking with each other.
"Hey young woman...where have you been?" Penny asked her daughter.
"Me and grandpa were in the barn, feeding Rainbow Girl...and brushing her off." said Sarah.
"Really? How was it?" asked Leonard.
"It was so much fun daddy...she just stood there eating hay while me and grandpa brushed her mane and her body...she swished her tail at me a couple of times but I guess it's alright." said Sarah.
"What else did you do?" asked William.
"Well...I helped grandpa clean her stall...you know, picking up his poop and putting fresh sawdust in." said the young lady.
"That sounds gross!" William said as Leonard laughed, knowing how his son is slowly using reverse psychology on his little sister.
"It was...but it's okay I guess...she didn't bite me or anything." said Sarah.
"That's great...now come with me...I'll give you a bath so we can get out of here." Penny said, pulling her towards the bathroom.
"Where are we going mommy?" asked the young lady.
"We're going to visit your Nana Juliet." said Penny.
"Do you think she made some apple pie?" asked Sarah, making them all laugh.
"I don't know sweetie...but let's worry about that later." Penny said before turning to face her husband and son. "You guys should hurry and clean up as well." she said.
"You heard what mommy said." said Sarah, sticking her tongue out to her brother before walking away with her mother.
Leonard and William looked at each other and took a deep breath. "It's like they're the same person, but from different timelines." he said, making his father laugh.
"Come on buddy, let's help your grandmother clean up here in the kitchen before we take a shower." said Leonard as they started tidying up the table.
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After almost an hour and a half, Leonard and Penny along with their kids knocked on Juliet's front door with Josie welcoming them in, excited in seeing her cousin and the kids after a long time.
"Penny!" Josie exclaimed while hugging her cousin. "I missed you!" she added.
"It's nice to be back again Josie." Penny said before letting her cousin go.
"Hi Leonard!" Josie said while hugging her cousin-in-law before turning to the kids. "Come here William! Ugh you're so tall now...and so handsome!" she said, kissing him on the cheek while hugging him tight.
"Hi aunt Josie...nice to see you too." William said.
Josie then turned to Sarah and gave her a big smile. "Sarah...you're a big girl now! Last time I saw you, you were still a baby...but now you've grown...and so pretty!" said Josie, touching the young girl's hand.
"Sweetheart, what are you gonna say?" Penny asked her daughter.
"Hi aunt Josie." Sarah said.
"Can I get a hug?" asked Josie as Sarah stepped forward, hugging her aunt. "Ugh! That's what I'm talking about!" she said. "Where's Buster?" she asked the young lady.
"We left him with our neighbor back in California." said Sarah.
"Oh okay...come on...Nana Juliet is waiting inside." she added, leading Sarah inside while the three followed close.
"Nana...look who decided to drop by?" Josie said, referring to Penny and her family.
Penny ran up and hugged her grandmother. "Nana...I missed you so much!" said Penny. "You remember my husband Leonard and my son William." Penny said, letting Leonard and William come close to her grandmother.
"Hi sweetie...it's nice to see you again!" said Juliet before hugging Leonard. "Leonard..."
"Hi Nana...it's good to see you again." Leonard said.
"And is this William?" she asked, pulling the young man to her side. "Come here sweetheart...look at you...you're a young man now...and so handsome!" Juliet said, kissing William's cheek.
"Hi Nana...I'm glad to see you again." William said.
"You've grown so much!" said Juliet, proudly looking at William from head to toe. Juliet then looked at the young girl standing beside Penny and smiled at her. "And is this Sarah?...come to Nana honey..." she said, motioning for her great-granddaughter to come to her.
"It's alright sweetie..." Penny said as Sarah slowly walked towards Juliet.
Juliet smiled and gently pulled her close, letting her sit on her lap. "The last time I saw you, you were still a baby...but now you're so big and pretty!" said Juliet.
"My mommy made me pretty." Sarah said, making them all laugh.
"I'm sure she did...and are you having fun here in Nebraska?" asked Juliet.
"I do Nana...grandpa let me ride Rainbow Girl yesterday." said Sarah.
"Rainbow Girl?" asked Juliet.
"She's the pony in grandpa's barn Nana." William chimed in.
"Me and grandpa brushed her hair and coat this morning...and we also cleaned her stall." said Sarah, making Juliet smile.
"Did you really ride on the pony's back?" Juliet asked, unable to believe what the little girl said.
"Yes Nana...Rainbow Girl was so well-behaved, she didn't even jump or buckle." Sarah said making her parents and Josie smile at how well she's bonding with Juliet.
"You didn't get scared or anything?" asked Juliet.
"No I didn't...my mommy told me to always be brave." said Sarah, making Penny proud of her daughter.
"You're so brave huh?" said Juliet, kissing the young girl's cheek. "How about you, young man...how are you doing in school?" she asked.
"Well, we start school in three weeks Nana." said William.
"He's right Nana...and I already know how to read and write." Sarah said, surprising her great grandmother.
"Really? And who taught you how to read and write?" asked Juliet.
"My brother did...and mommy sometimes." said Sarah.
Juliet smiled at William and hugged him. "I'm so proud of you...both of you!" she told the kids. "Can you show me how you write your name?" she asked the young lady.
"Okay." Sarah nodded.
"I think we have some pen and paper here...let me check." Josie said as she opened a drawer nearby, pulling out a pencil and a small pad of paper, handing them to the little girl.
Sarah then got off the couch, sitting in front of the coffee table before starting to write on the paper as they looked over, watching the little girl as she scribbled on the pad. After a few minutes, Sarah stood up and gave the pad to Juliet with her name on it.
"You are so smart...I'm sure your teachers will be so impressed with you!" Juliet said, hugging the little girl.
"I can also do math and stuff...like adding apples and oranges." said Sarah, impressing Juliet more.
"Okay...what is six apples and nine apples in total?" Juliet asked.
"Fifteen." Sarah quickly said, earning a round of applause from everyone in the living room.
"That is so impressive!" Juliet exclaimed. "I'm so proud of you!" she said, hugging the young girl.
"Thanks Nana...uh speaking of apples, grandma said that you taught her how to make apple pie?" Sarah asked, making the couple roll their eyes.
"Oh my god...she can really sneak food into anything huh?" Penny told Leonard.
"Well she is your daughter after all." Leonard said, earning a light punch to his arm from his wife.
"You're right, I taught Susan that recipe...in fact, we still have some left in the fridge. If you want, we can ask your auntie Josie to heat it up for you?" Juliet said, looking at the young lady.
"Sarah!" William said, giving his sister a stern look.
Sarah saw her brother's look and knew what he meant. "It's alright Nana...you don't have to bother." she said.
"Nonsense...it's alright. It's not everyday that my great grandkids visit me." said Juliet, nodding at Josie to prepare something for the kids.
"It's not a problem kids..." said Josie. "Penny, can you help me in the kitchen?"
Penny stood up and went with her cousin. "Yeah sure...you kids behave alright?"
"Yes mommy!" Sarah said, earning a smile from her mother.
"I'm so glad you guys visited me...I mean I rarely go out these days." Juliet said.
"Why not Nana?" asked Sarah.
"Well I'm too old...and my bones hurt sometimes from the cold, that's why I choose to stay home most of the time." said Juliet.
"You don't look that old Nana." William said.
"Thank you honey...but I'm already ninety-one...who knows, maybe in a couple of years I'll be joining your great-grandfather Teddy in heaven." said Juliet, making the kids a little sad.
"Are you sick Nana?" Sarah asked.
"No, but I can feel my time is coming." she said, hugging the kids close to her. "Don't be sad sweetie, I've already done everything with my life...and I'm happy in knowing that you and your brother turned out smart like your daddy." She added.
"And pretty like my mommy." Sarah said, making Juliet laugh.
"And pretty...sorry I almost forgot." said Juliet, lightly pinching the little girl's cheek. "Ugh...you're so adorable." she said.
William stood up and went to the book shelf, looking at the picture and books on it. "That's your great-grandfather Teddy." Juliet said, pointing at the picture frame.
William took the picture to look closely at it. "How did he die Nana?" asked William.
"He died of a heart attack...he came home one day after working on the field...he was having trouble breathing so I asked our neighbor to help me bring him to the hospital." said Juliet.
"Then what happened Nana?" Sarah asked.
"We brought him to the emergency room but after a few minutes, the doctor couldn't revive him...he said his heart just stopped." Juliet said.
"I'm sorry Nana." William said.
"It's alright sweetie...at least he didn't suffer that much." said Juliet.
Sarah faced and hugged her great-grandmother. "I'm sorry Nana...I wish you wouldn't be sad anymore." she said.
Juliet smiled, glad to receive her great-granddaughter's affection. "Thank you...you're so sweet." she said as Penny and Josie came back, carrying a food tray and filling the living room with the sweet scent of the apple pie.
Sarah immediately stood up after smelling the sweet pastry. "Mommy that smells so nice!" she said, becoming a little excited and making them all laugh.
"Okay Sarah Hofstadter, hold your horses. We're guests here and you need to behave like your brother." Penny told her daughter.
Sarah quickly sat back down. "Okay mommy...I'm sorry."
"It's alright Penny...let the kids have their way...if you ask me, I would rather you guys come here every day." said Juliet.
"You hear that mommy? Nana said it's alright!" said Sarah as she stood by the coffee table, looking at the snack her mom and aunt Josie brought with them. "Brother look!" she said to William.
"Yeah I see it." said William as Penny started cutting into the pie and serving it.
"Okay, here you go sweetheart...just be careful not to spill food on your shirt." said Penny.
"Yes mommy." said Sarah as she forked a small piece before facing Juliet. "Here Nana." she said, holding the piece of pastry for her, making them smile.
"It's alright honey...you go ahead and eat it." Juliet said as Sarah nodded before putting to pastry in her mouth. "How is it?" she asked the young lady.
"It's so good Nana!" Sarah exclaimed while chewing her food. "It's so much better than what grandma did!" she added while taking another bite, savoring the sweet flavor of the pastry.
"Well I'm glad you liked it." said Juliet.
"She's right Nana...this is better than grandma's apple pie...not too sweet but still very tasty" William added.
"Well if you want, you can help me tomorrow so we could bake some more?" Juliet said.
"Mommy did you hear that!? Nana's gonna make some more and she wants us to help her!" Sarah exclaimed. "Can we do it mommy? Please!?" she asked her mother.
"What about your grandpa? Aren't you supposed to help him take care of the animals tomorrow?" Leonard asked.
"I'm sure grandpa would understand. Right mommy?" Sarah said, making them laugh at how quickly her attention shifts from one thing to another.
"Yeah sure." said Penny.
"I think she wants to help so she can have more of it Nana." William said, making her laugh.
Sarah glared at her brother. "Why do you have to burst my bubble!?" she yelled. "You're such a buzzkill!" she said to William, surprising all of them.
"Where did learn that word!?" asked Penny.
Sarah slunk back, moving closer to Juliet to seek some protection. "I heard it from you." said the young girl.
Penny sighed and looked at Leonard. "Fine...but I don't want to hear you say that word again...do you understand?' Penny said, giving her daughter a stern look.
"Why not?" Sarah said.
"Because I said so!" Penny said.
"Yes mommy." said Sarah before facing her Nana Juliet. "My mommy can be scary sometimes." she said, making Juliet laugh.
"If it makes you feel any better, your mom was just like you when she was your age...always running around...always getting excited when it comes to food...always causing trouble around the house..." said Juliet, making the kids laugh.
"Okay Nana...I think that's enough for now." Penny said.
"Don't worry Nana, you can tell me all your stories tomorrow when I help you make the apple pie." said Sarah.
"Sure sweetie...it's a deal." Juliet said.
"Well I guess it's gonna be just you, ma and your mom tomorrow huh?" Leonard said to William.
"It's fine with me dad." said William.
"Uh...where are you guys going?" asked Sarah.
"Oh, your mom and I are gonna take your brother out to town tomorrow...check out all the cool places...maybe find a nice burger place...just normal, boring stuff." said Leonard.
"Are you gonna go to the mall or the park?" Sarah asked.
"I guess...I mean we don't have a plan yet...but I think we'll just go around and find something fun to do." said Penny as she smiled at Leonard, knowing that a little reverse psychology with her daughter goes a long way.
"What about me?" asked the young lady.
"You said you wanted to help your grandpa in the barn...and bake with your Nana?" asked Leonard.
"I did." Sarah said, somehow wishing that she could join her family on their trip to town.
"So it's settled then...you'll stay behind and help your grandpa and Nana while we go out and have fun." Leonard said, giving his son a high five.
"But I wanna come with you!" said Sarah.
"What about your grandpa? He's gonna be disappointed when you tell him that you're not gonna help him out in the barn...and you just promised Nana that you're gonna bake with her." Penny said, giving her daughter a straight face.
Sarah gave her mother a sad look. "Why do you and daddy always make it hard for me?"
"What are you talking about?" asked Leonard.
"You guys always come up with some way to have fun without me!" said Sarah.
"I didn't do anything." William said.
"Aren't you gonna have fun when you're with your grandpa in the barn with all the animal? Especially Rainbow Girl?" Leonard asked his daughter.
"I do." said Sarah.
"And aren't you gonna have fun when you bake that apple pie with your Nana and have some of it afterwards?" Penny chimed in.
"I do...but I wanna come with you and daddy to town tomorrow." said Sarah.
"Then you have to decide now...do you want to stay or come with us?" asked Leonard.
Sarah then turned to Juliet. "Nana...can we make the apple pie another day...please?" she said, giving the old lady a weak smile.
Juliet pulled her close and hugged the little girl. "Come here sweetie...of course it's alright with me...we can do it another day...it's not a problem." she said, kissing the young lady.
Sarah got on the couch and hugged her Nana. "Thank you Nana...you're so great." said Sarah.
"You're welcome sweetheart." said Juliet, savoring her great-granddaughter's affection.
Sarah sat back down. "Now I just have to find a way to tell grandpa." she told herself before facing her brother. "William...can you help me find a way to tell grandpa?"
"Why do you have to always drag me into your stuff?" William said to his sister.
"Because you always find a way through things...please?" said Sarah, making the adults laugh.
William sighed. "Okay fine...we'll talk about it later." He said, making Sarah smile.
"Thank you...ugh I'm so excited!" said the young lady, amusing all of them.
"Why are you so excited? We're just gonna go to town and look around...it's not like we're going shopping or anything." William said.
Sarah pouted at him and sat beside Penny. "Ignore him mommy...he always has to make everything boring." she said.
"Okay that's enough...you already had your way young woman." Penny said.
"She really took after your mother huh?" Juliet said to William.
"Oh you can say that again Nana." William said, making Juliet and Josie laugh.
The young family stayed in Juliet's house for the rest of the day, letting the kids share stories with their Nana. As expected, Sarah was in the middle of it all, jumping in on every topic and asking all sorts of silly question, amusing Juliet and Josie to no end. Leonard looked at his children and felt proud, not only of how smart and insightful they are turning out to be but also at how affectionate and sweet they are, especially the young lady who doesn't shy away from expressing her affection to her great-grandmother and aunt.