The Koothrapeeny Coupling
Chapter eight
Leonard and Penny's family weekends had become a monthly tradition and they had all gone so much better than the first attempt. They spent Saturday morning having a lazy time and then went to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch. Even though it had been nearly ten years since she worked there, Penny still liked to keep up with Kim, Nancy and many other of her ex colleagues that still worked there. They loved to see her children, so it was lovely to be able to show off her family
"they're all getting so big" Kim smiled, giving Kristian a big cuddle "shall I let the bosses know you're here?"
"yeah sure" Penny answered, anxious to get Kristian back in her hands, still nervous about letting other people hold him "it'll be nice to see them"
Raj was getting nervous, his and Emily's wedding was getting closer and closer and he still hadn't heard from Howard. Raj had sent him emails and text messages with all the information on the wedding, but he still hadn't heard anything back. He hadn't told anyone about letting Howard know, not even Emily, he knew it probably wasn't the best way to deal with it, but he couldn't bare the thought of not giving his best friend the chance to be at his wedding, even if it would upset his friends.
Bernadette was worried about Raj's wedding too, she had a feeling that Howard would have found out about it somehow, although she didn't think for one minute it would be through Raj. If he was going to be there, then fine, that was his choice, and Raj's too, but she wished she knew, simply so she could prepare herself and the kids for what was to come.
Howard sat at his desk at Space X and sighed. The job he had been promised when he left CalTech hadn't exactly been the job he got. He had been promised the best, working on the spacecraft as an engineer, the sky was literally not the limit. He had ended up as a glorified receptionist/PA, checking in any visitors and arranging Elon Musk's diary. He took another look at his phone, the message from Raj remained unanswered, with Howard not sure what to say. Howard wanted to go home as was in an email conversation with President Siebert to do just that. However, it wasn't going to be as easy as that. Where was he going to live? What would Halley and Michael think about it? What would Bernadette say? Would he be able to go back to being friends with Leonard and Raj? Howard wasn't sure. He pulled out his phone, Raj and Emily's wedding was going to be this weekend and he still hadn't responded to the text message.
Howard knew that Raj wouldn't be expecting a text from him anymore, he thought about the time that had passed since the messages had been sent, he imagined Raj getting excited every time he received a message or an email after that time and then the subsequent disappointment after realising that what he had received wasn't a text from his best friend, but something else. Howard thought about how the excitement and checking of the messages got less and less over time, like an infant that has been sent to bed, the crying getting less and less as they realise it's bed time and simply fall asleep.
Hi buddy, I know, long time no see. Job's not working out here, I'm coming home! See you at the wedding, Howard x
Howard knew it was now his turn to get excited every time a message came through, and he hoped it wouldn't be too much disappointment.
Raj felt his phone vibrate on his desk and checked it, he couldn't believe his eyes, a message from Howard? He had been waiting for this for ages. He knew Bernadette wouldn't be happy, but he was desperate to see Howard again, he missed him terribly. He'd have to speak to Bernadette though, he couldn't have Howard turning up at the wedding and upsetting them all. He didn't know how he was going to break it to her. He didn't want her to be mad at him. this was going to take some thinking, maybe he'd run it by Penny first.