This chapter runs parallel to the last. Why was Penny so quick to break things off when Sheldon forgot her? Emotional survival. And not just hers, either.
Penny looked around the small bedroom and sighed. She was going to move. As soon as she gathered the courage to tell Meemaw. She wanted a place of her own. Somewhere nearby, though, because she was going to be visiting, and she was sure Mary and Meemaw would want to come visit her. Penny looked down at the little wand in her hand and felt her heart flutter again. Pregnant. Holy crap on a cracker. She was going to have to call Sheldon.
She didn't want to, though. Not yet. She sat down on the edge of the bed and sobbed softly. Three weeks ago she had been happy. Sheldon had been sweet and tender, if a bit distracted, during her visit. They had talked the night she returned to Texas. And since then, nothing. She had called three times. Sent several texts. And she hadn't heard back from him. Last night she had spoken to Amy and had been shocked and hurt to find out they had skyped just a few days ago. She hadn't told Amy that Sheldon hadn't been in touch. She wasn't sure what had happened between them, and she was afraid to ask.
She pulled out a notebook. Maybe she would just write him again and tell him. Okay, so it was cowardly, but Penny just didn't have the right frame of mind to call him and explain that they were going to be parents. What if he didn't care? She was halfway through the letter when her phone rang. She knew from the ringtone that it was Sheldon.
Penny waited five days. She could hear the women in the kitchen. She leaned against the wall and took a few calming breaths. She pasted a smile on her face and walked around the corner.
"Hello, dear," Meemaw said with a soft smile. Penny knew she was worried about her. She was a wonderful woman and Penny loved her dearly.
Penny took a seat at the table and reached for a handful of beans. She began snapping them and cleared her throat. "Meemaw, Mary, I'm pregnant." She didn't look up, but she could feel their surprise.
"Have you told Shelly?" Mary asked gently. Penny shook her head.
"Will you?" Meemaw asked. Penny nodded.
"I would rather wait a few weeks, though," Penny admitted. "I made an appointment with the company doctor, and this week I am going to go look at a few places to rent so I have more room. Once I get moved I'll tell him." Penny looked at Mary with a plea. "I can't deal with moving and telling Sheldon all at once. My stomach is already churned up just telling you two."
Meemaw sat down with a frown. "Dear, you don't have to move. There is plenty of room here."
Penny smiled at her softly. "Meemaw, I love you. But you don't need a baby underfoot. Especially a newborn who cries at all hours."
Meemaw's eye narrowed. "Young lady, don't you tell me what I do or don't need. How are you going to raise a baby, deal with that thick headed grandson of mine and work all on your own? And more importantly, why should you if you don't have to?"
Mary reached over and placed her hand on Penny's. "Now, darlin', you know me. I love that son of mine. And I love you, too. This child is a blessing, no matter how he or she was conceived, or whether you and Shelly ever marry. But I really think you should tell him immediately. You know he won't try to push you into something you don't want, but it's not fair to keep him out of the decisions here."
Penny sighed and reached for the TUMS she carried with her. She tossed a couple into her mouth and chewed them up. "I don't intend to deny him any access to our baby. He can be as involved as he wants to be. I just need to be settled first. And to be honest, there's really not a lot he can do until the baby gets here, anyway."
"He can offer support," Meemaw said.
Penny's temper burst out. "Sure. Until he forgets me again." Penny stood and rushed from the room before the tears began to pour.
Mary and Meemaw slumped in their seats. "Mom, what are we going to do?" Mary asked.
Meemaw shook her head. "Nothing we can do, Mary. Those two are stubborn as mules. We can suggest, we can advise, but it's them that have to fix this. Maybe this baby will be the push they need."
Mary sighed and began snapping beans again. "Well, if they don't get on the ball soon, I may just take a little trip out to see my genius."
Penny walked through the mall beside Melody, sipping on her Slushie. Her phone rang an she looked at the ID and sighed. Melody pointed out a bench and they made their way over to it. Penny answered the phone calmly. "Hello, Bernadette."
"Hi, Penny. How are you doing?" a worried voice asked.
"I'm doing okay. How are you and Howard?" she asked.
"We're okay. Howie is working on a new video relay system. I have been working with a new virus that looks like it might have some beneficial properties."
"Sounds exciting," Penny replied.
Bernadette sighed. "Penny, we're worried about you and Sheldon. He's back, and he's very unhappy."
"I don't want to talk about this, Bernadette." Penny closed her eyes for a moment and tried to ignore the constant ache in her heart. "Things just didn't work out. We tried. We failed. End of story."
"No!" Bernadette cried. "Please, Penny. Surely you two can work this out!"
Penny brushed away the tears angrily and shook her head. "I have to go, Bernadette. I'll talk to you later." She hung up before her friend could reply. Melody reached over and patted her knee. Penny smiled sadly. Soon she would have to tell her friends about the baby. Once she began to gain weight Melody and Fran would notice.
"Come on, girlfriend," Melody said with a grin. "Let's go grab a couple of large brownies. Nothing cheers a gal up like fudgy, gooey goodness."
Penny stood and felt her stomach roll. Morning sickness was more like afternoon sickness for her. She linked her arm through Melody's and tried to think of an excuse for not eating.
"Hello, Miss Queen," Dr. Kimmer said with a smile. "So, what brings you here today?"
Penny bit her lip nervously. "I'm pregnant. I need a referral to an OB/GYN."
Dr. Kimmer shuffled through the paperwork and found her blood tests. "Hmm, looks like you are about 10 ½ weeks. What made you suspect you were pregnant?"
Penny sighed. "I've always been regular as clockwork. So, when I was a week late and queasy, I knew. I took two home tests and they both were positive. So, I made this appointment a few weeks ago, and here I am."
Dr. Kimmer nodded. "Okay, well then, let's do a quick exam and see how you are doing. You say you have been nauseous?" Penny nodded and laid back on the cold table. The nurse pulled an ultrasound machine closer to the table and reached for the gel. Penny took a deep breath and tried to relax.
There wasn't much to see on the screen. A small bean shaped object, with itty bitty arms and legs, that seemed to twitch nervously. Penny had smiled slightly because it reminded her of how Sheldon would twitch. She looked over the papers Dr. Kimmer had given her about diet, exercise and especially medications. She still had stomach pains sometimes, even though the ulcers were almost completely healed. And acid reflux was a pretty common occurrence. Dr. Kimmer thought that might just be stress, though. Penny rested her head in her open palm. Stress was her constant companion.
Nurse Lisa walked back into the exam room with an appointment card. "Here you go, Penny. Dr. Jameson is a wonderful doctor. You're going to love her. She's the best OB/GYN that I know. She delivered both of my boys."
Penny pulled on her coat and took the card with a thank you. She walked out to the reception area and waved goodbye to the other nurses. Well, she had a due date now, and a doctor. She would need to call Sheldon tonight and tell him. She wasn't looking forward to it.