The Hofstadter Change Continuation

Chapter 9

Three weeks later and Penny had just returned to her hospital room after breastfeeding her twins, she removed her robe glancing at her window as she did so, before scowling in disgust at the driving snow that was hitting the glass.

Because it was a reminder of her foolishness at delaying her arrival at the maternity unit. The delay which had resulted in Leonard, who's usual exercise regime had been walking short distances on the Pasadena city side walks, then recently finding himself having to struggle in haste due to his panic to make the 2 miles back to the farm on foot in a howling blizzard to get to Penny in time to take her to the Hospital ready for the birth of their twin daughters.

Though his fractured collar bone was healing nicely, (due to his fall when trying to climb the fence,) his knee though was not co-operating at all and had become quite swollen and painful after receiving treatment at the trauma unit, which had prevented Leonard being able to visit his beloved wife and new daughters at all.

Though the couple still communicated over Zoom, it still wasn't the same as spending some quality time with her husband the more the days had passed by.

It just wasn't fair. The twins had been given the all clear 2 days ago but Penny had endured a certain amount of blood loss, which had finally stopped 3 days ago, which resulted in her haemoglobin level at a cause for concern.

Her father's question some months ago, when she wasn't sure she wanted children ran through her mind, "Are you sure about this?, I don't want to see you missing out Penny."

She had been so looking forward to bringing the twins home, and enjoying being a family again with Leonard and her now eldest daughter, Honey Marie. And for Penny the parting from husband and eldest daughter was just too emotionally painful to bear.

To try and keep her mind occupied she picked up her magazine. Only to throw it on the night stand in disgust as she realised that she had read it 4 times already.

Unfortunately far from taking her mind off of Leonard she glimpsed the snowflake that Leonard had brought back from the North Pole, (which she carried with her everywhere she went ever since.)

And at that very moment Penny burst into tears. And this was the scene that greeted her mother-in-law, who after knocking had entered the room and immediately moved to comfort Penny.

"I want to go home," Penny wailed

"I know you do Penny, but your blood count needs to return to somewhere near normal levels before you will be allowed to," Beverly sympathised.

And, as if in reminder of this fact, Penny suddenly felt giddy and weak, and had to quickly sit on the bed before she fell.

"How is Leonard, and everyone?" Penny asked, then added, "Is Mom and Honey Marie here too ?"

"Leonard's okay, well apart from that knee. And your dad is fine. Your mother had to take your daughter to the bathroom. So they will be here in a minute," Beverly informed her.

"And before they get here, I really need to thank you Penny."

"You thanked me when you moved in?" Penny reminded her mother-in-law.

"Let me explain," Beverly told her. "When my contributions to the psychiatric field were condemned to the scrapheap, I felt an utter failure. Failure I found very difficult to cope with.

Over half a lifetimes work down the drain and Boy! it hurt. It had always been stressed to me by my parents the need for me to strive to achieve success in my field. And when I told them that surgery was not for me, they looked on me as if I was not up to the grade. But delivering my twin granddaughters, I felt that I had made a difference, I had at last achieved something, I felt a sense of success, and for that I thank you," Then Beverly hugged Penny in gratitude.

Shortly afterwards Honey Marie came bursting into the room and showed her Mom her comic which Penny's Mother Susan had just bought her and Penny picked up her daughter for a huge hug.

Beverly then left the room to let Susan and Honey Marie spend some time with Penny.

Beverly though, was deep in thought, wondering how much how longer Penny was going to have to stay? as she walked down the corridor, when she suddenly encountered Penny's Obstetrician rapidly walking towards her.

"Ah good, you are Dr Beverly Hofstadter I take it?" he asked

"Affirmative," Beverly acknowledged.

"Good, I have just been informed of an emergency, a nasty RTA on highway 80 and so they are desperately in need of beds for the casualties. And I thought as you have had extensive medical training. I would like to send your daughter-in-law home, but only if you are able to keep a close eye on her.

It is imperative that she rests, and her haemoglobin level also needs to be frequently checked. Her blood count is improving but if anything untoward occurs she must immediately return here," he breathlessly told her, before adding, I will give you her diet sheet as these are foods rich in iron but it's also carefully balanced so as to not affect her twins as she quite vehemently insists on them being fed from the breast," Doctor Woods explained desperately.

"Beverly smiled feeling relieved for Penny. "Yes Certainly, I will be glad to." Penny is yearning to go home and her husband will be so relieved to have his wife back," Beverly informed him.

"Right, splendid, I will need your contact number and I will let the staff know so they can get her twins ready," then he rushed to begin preparations.

Beverly rushed back to Penny's room and told them all the good news resulting in Penny shedding tears again, though happy ones.

Susan quickly left to return to the farm to collect the twins car seats while Beverly helped a very excited Penny to get dressed.

XXXXXXX

Leonard and Penny's reunion, as an observer may regard, demonstrated the strong bond that existed between the couple and it was some time before either of them could stop embracing with many kisses, (even though it caused Leonard a fair degree of pain from his clavicle and knee,) For he had his beloved wife Penny back in his arms where she belonged, and that was all that mattered.

Honey Marie was enthralled as she 'helped' Grandma Susan wash and change April into her sleepwear. While Wyatt gently bounced Angela on his knee. Before an excited Stella rushed over to greet the twins, taking Angela from Wyatt and into her arms for a cuddle.

As Leonard, his arm still around Penny as she snuggled against her husband, he remembered a letter that Bernadette had written which had arrived yesterday. And after asking Susan if she could get it for him he handed it to Penny who eagerly began to read.

Dear Penny, Leonard, Honey Marie, Angela and April.

Wow! How things have changed for you Penny? from a single woman working for a minimum wage as a waitress, to managing a farm and also happily married with 3 children.

We would never have believed back then that the day would come that we would be wives and mothers did we?

Things are OK here and Howard sends his love and congratulations.

Rajesh has met a nice girl in LA, her name is Jaswinder, she comes from the Punjab and is also a Sikh, Raj is dreading the day when he takes her to meet his Hindu parents. It never does go smoothly for him does it?.

Sheldon and Amy seem to be happy living together in your old apartment. I never would have thought Sheldon would bear being married to anyone?.

I nearly forgot to tell you the big news. Denise is Pregnant!

We wondered if it is Stuart's? But apparently Howard had spoken to Captain Sweatpants and he said that they are still all over each other so Stuart must be the Father I guess? I never would have thought he had it in him?

Also Stuart's business is going so well thanks to Denise that he has bought another comic store, "Capitol comics", The arrogant owner, 'Jesse', was forced to sell due to cheating the IRS by using the tax money to provide Complimentary muffins, popcorn and coffee to his customers. You just cannot cheat the IRS

Howard discovered that Stuart has hired Dale & Lonely Larry to run it for him.

Howard and I are hoping to fly up soon, I'm so longing to see you all and to meet your new twin girls.

Hope to see you soon, and love to everyone

Bernadette.& Howard. x x x

"Shut the front door!" Penny exclaimed as she read about Denise's pregnancy, and after telling Leonard, who had asked the reason for her sudden outburst then smiled delightedly as he observed, "Oh Boy! Karma is so sweet. Now Sheldon will have to cope with a baby in the near vicinity instead of us."

"That's right? We have suffered much looking after that man sized baby that is Sheldon. Now it's his turn," Penny delightedly acknowledged as she resumed her position snuggled against her husband.

"Things are really going well,) she thought to herself happily, then she began to doze her head on her beloved Leonard's shoulder..