With A Little Help From My Son-Ch 4
Penelope smiled as she looked around, everything looked amazing, from the tiki torches to the beautiful lilac and honeysuckle center piece on their dinner table. She said, "it looks like you two boys have went all out", Hank smiled and said, "we wanted everything to be perfect", Penelope sighed happily and said, "well Hank, you've definitely succeeded".
Derek watched as Hank pulled out Penelpoes chair, she smiled and said, "thank you", he said, "you're very welcome", Derek smiled proudly as Penelope said, "such the gentleman". Derek said, "what would you like to drink, tea, lemonade, wine"?, she said, "tea sounds great", he said, "I'll be right back".
Hank smiled at her and said, "sooooo Penelope"?, she said, "yeah", he said, "you're not married are you"?, she laughed and said, "no, no I'm not, I guess I haven't met the right man yet". Hank nodded his head and said, "dads not married either, not since mom died when I was a little boy".
Penelope put her hand on his and said, "I'm so sorry honey", he said, "thanks", Derek walked out onto the patio with their drinks in his hand and said, "here ya go buddy" as he handed Hanks drink to him. He then said, "malady" as he handed Penelope her tea, he then said, 'is everybody ready for dinner"?, they nodded their heads eagerly as they watched Derek setting it on the table.
Derek and Hank had prepared meat kabobs, baked potatoes, rolls and of course the double chocolate brownies for dessert, during their dinner they all laughed, ate and talked. When they were through some time later Penelope looked out over the beach and said, "everything is so beautiful here, isn't it"?, Derek said, "it is, we love the beach don't we Hank"?, the little boy quickly said, "yep, sure do".
Penelope took a sip of her tea as Derek said, "so tell us a little about yourself", she sighed and then started filling them in on everything she thought they would want to know. When she was finished Derek said, "we're so sorry about your parents", Hank said, "I know what it's like to lose a mom, I'm sorry Penelope".
She smiled at the two men in front of her and said, "thank you", she then said, "okay boys, tell me a little about yourselves", Derek started and Hank jumped in from time to time causing Penelope to start giggling. When they were through she said, "Hank had told me about your wife, I'm so sorry".
Derek said, "it was a long time ago but it still hurts sometimes, ya know"?, she nodded her head and said, "I do, not from losing a husband but from losing my parents". Derek said, "yeah I lost my pops when I was 9 so my mom raised me and my two sisters all on her own", Penelope said, "she sounds like an amazing woman", Derek said, "she is, she is".
About an 45 minutes later Hank said, "are you ready for dessert Penelope"?, she said, "all of this and dessert to, I do believe you two are trying to spoil me". Hank said, "I hope you like chocolate"?, she said, "of course I do, I think it should be it's own food group", Hank laughed and said ,"me to, me to" as he ran into the house to get the plate of brownies.
Derek said, "you're good with him", Penelope said, "he's a sweet little boy", Derek said, "he is and he really likes you, I've never seen him take up with anybody as fast as he has with you". Penelope said, "I'm flattered and honored, he's an amazing little boy", Derek nodded his head in agreement as they looked up and saw Hank stepping out onto the patio."?, Hank said, "double chocolate brownies".
Penelope said, "we're going to be gooddddd friends Hank, very good friends", he laughed and said, "I hope so" as he handed her the plate. Derek couldn't help but smile as he watched the bonding that was going on between his son and a woman that he was falling hard and fast for.