A sequel to my 2018 story "The Recluse of 4B and the Waitresses". Story starts the day after the end of the previous story.

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Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Bernadette entered The Cheesecake Factory together. Just after they entered they saw Sheldon's new Monday Physics discussion colleague Dr. Sally Garcia walking towards the exit.

Sheldon "Good evening Dr. Garcia, fancy meeting you here."

Sally "Good evening to you Dr. Cooper, this is my boyfriend Dr. Simon Edwards."

Sheldon shook hands with Dr. Edwards.

"Pleased to meet you Doctor, I work at Caltech with Dr. Garcia. These are my Caltech friends Dr. Hofstadter, Mr. Wolowitz and Dr. Rostenkowski."

Simon "Pleased to meet you, if you will excuse me I need to get to the hospital. Unlike Sally I am a real Doctor."

Dr. Garcia and Dr. Edwards left the restaurant together.

Penny was already waiting by their usual table, she had seen everything.

"Oh sweetie, I am sorry..."

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The next day Leonard, Howard and Bernadette were all having lunch in the Caltech canteen

Sally "Hello, may I join you for lunch."

Leonard "Please join us Dr. Garcia."

Sally "Thanks, sorry we couldn't stay and socialise at The Cheesecake Factory but Simon's free time is very limited, he really had to get to the hospital."

Leonard "No problem, my sister is a medical researcher."

Howard "How are you enjoying Caltech?"

Sally "I've been here a month, I am not getting as lost as often these days."

Bernadette "I know the feeling, I've been here nearly 2 months. Did you enjoy The Cheesecake Factory?"

Sally "It was fine, why do you ask?"

Bernadette "I used to work there when I was a graduate student so I could pay the bills."

Sally "I worked in a bookshop when I was studying for my PhD..."

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Over the next few months Sally continued to join in with Sheldon and Leonard's Monday Physics discussions. She also got to befriend Bernadette and Howard, she would frequently meet up with them for lunch. Then one Friday lunchtime...

"Hello Leonard, lunchtime again."

"Hello Sally."

"No Howard or Bernadette today?"

"Oh, didn't you hear. Howard's mother passed away last night. She had a heart attack, it was all very unexpected :-("

"Oh, that's terrible, poor Howard."

"Obviously Howard is not at work today, Bernadette is with him."

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One week later there was a memorial service for Mrs Wolowitz, there had been a private funeral for family members 2 days earlier. Howard was in the front row with Bernadette and lots of family members, although Howard's father was conspicuous by his absence. Bernadette's parents were also there as were several Caltech friends and colleagues. Just before the service started Leonard, Penny and Sheldon were joined by Sally.

Sheldon "Hello Sally, thank you for joining us on this sad day. This is Leonard's girlfriend Penny"

Sally "It's the least I could do. I know what poor Howard is going through, both my parents died a few years ago when I was a graduate student. A shame I never met her, Howard often talked about his mother. Pleased to meet you Penny."

Penny "She was mother to all of us in her way. Hello Sally."

Leonard "If only my own mother could be that nice."

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After the death of Mrs Wolowitz there were some changes in the social group. Howard inherited the house from his mother and Bernadette gradually moved in with him. At the same time Leonard gradually moved in with Penny. A couple of months after the memorial service Sheldon now lived in 4B with Leonard and Penny as his neighbours across the hall in 4A. Sheldon continued to mostly work from home apart from his Monday Physics discussions with Leonard and Sally.