Chapter 12: Love Multiplied
Monday morning found Meemaw and Mary up early knocking on Sheldon's door to invite Amy out to breakfast at IHOP. As they waited for a table, the ladies stated their disappointment at not attending the wedding. Thank you for videoing and sharing that lovely ceremony.
Amy had a wistful smile on her face and replied, "Yes it was."
Meemaw and Mary kissed and hugged Amy.
"We are pleased that you married Sheldon and want to officially welcome you to the family."
Finally seated, Meemaw provided Amy with a small storage bin of Sheldon's favorite recipes.
Mrs. Cooper handed Amy her chicken recipe and said, "How did your mother react to the news of your marriage and when can we meet?"
"Mother was surprised and happy for me. She is presently on vacation. It was planned months in advance. She has a gentleman friend and they took a procreation vacation. They thought it would be great receiving all those aphrodisiacs without having to worry about a baby."
Meemaw whispers, "I need to look into booking a procreation vacation as soon as I get home."
Amy and Mary Cooper froze having overheard Meemaw while struggling to process her statement.
Happily moving on with their conversation.
"Amy I want you to call me Mary or Mom."
Amy replied she would prefer to call her Mom.
Meemaw and Mary finally broached the real topic of conversation. Mrs. Cooper held Amy's hand and gave her a piercing stare. Amy you are not getting any younger and we want to hold Sheldon's baby in our arms soon.
Amy blushed, "We are working on it."
The ladies were delighted and settled in to offer baby making tips from food to positions.
Amy eagerly activated her phone's recorder. She didn't want to miss a word.
Max and his dad are at the Original House of Omelet's for some father and son bonding.
Mr. Angel knowingly asked, "Son is Penny my future daughter?"
Max looked his dad in the eye and answered, "Yes sir."
His dad gave him a hug.
"I couldn't be happier for you son. From my interactions with her she seems like a lovely girl. Have you told her yet that you are rich?"
"She knew before we started dating from Phallon."
His father was glad to hear that; it was a sticking point in the past with Max's other girlfriends.
"Don't worry son this conversation will remain private. Any idea of when you plan to propose?"
"I'm thinking during the Nebraska-Iowa game in November."
His dad laughs out loud remembering Max and Penny's sparring.
"Let me know if there is anything I can do."
Max and Penny continued to date throughout September.
Max's family was so down to earth and loving. His dad was a prankster and initiated a prank war with Penny. His mom was very nurturing and called Penny frequently to see how she was doing.
Phallon and Taylor have been together for over three years but they were like an old married couple anticipating each the others needs and so in love. Penny and Phallon expanded their Friday night suppers to include Taylor, Amy, Stephanie, Bernadette, Alex and Yvette.
Penny cherished the time she spent with Max and loved that he is athletic. They could talk about anything and could communicate to each other with a single look.
Max calms her not with sex but by his presence. He is honest, trustworthy and he makes her feel loved. She was falling for him big time.
The end of October found the guys preparing for Stuart's Halloween party.
The gang figured out that the verbal sparring between Max and Penny was their warped way of flirting. The guys decided to have a little fun. They made Stuart select the costumes for his guests as a surprise and for fun. Everyone forwarded his or her costume sizes. Costumes would be decided at random. Which was code for Howard and Raj would select.
The day of the party found:
George Cooper and Leslie Winkle (Blind Date Howard's doing) Fred & Wilma Flintstone
Howard and Bernadette – Mr. and Mrs. Incredible
Leonard and Stephanie – Hulk and Silk Spectre
Missy and Stuart – Marilyn Monroe and Iron Man
Phallon and Taylor – Black Widow and Sexy Harlequin
Zack and Alex – Superman and Wonder Woman
Rajesh and Yvette – A Gladiator and Emma Frost
Sheldon and Amy – Pee Wee Herman and Scooby Doo Velma
Max and Penny – Hawkeye mascot and Cornhusker mascot
Phallon and Taylor got out the car as Max went to park laughing hysterically. Looking at each other and saying how much do you want to bet Penny is a Cornhusker? As they entered Penny had already arrived with Missy and sure enough she was wearing a Cornhusker costume.
As they approached, Penny said, "You guys look hot. However, I don't have to stretch my imagination to guess Max's costume. I am going to keep my cool."
Everyone was soon placing bets on who will lose there cool first and at what time. The anticipation was stimulating and everyone was having a great time. Sheldon was having fun even though he sulked about wearing a Pee Wee Herman costume.
An hour into the party both Max and Penny were still cordial so Howard decided to up the ante by cracking mascot jokes. The party soon turned into Team Max and Team Penny or boys versus girls, with a free for all by the end of the night partner against partner.
Later that night found Howard lying on his guest bed looking at the ceiling, that idea backfired big time.
The following day Penny planned to catch up on her paperwork and inventory at the store, then have dinner with Max.
She allowed her employees to leave an hour early since it was slow due to heavy rain. She thought about Max and how much she enjoyed spending time with him and missed him when they were apart. They had so much fun with each others competitive nature.
Her secret delight was the ability to wear heels when out with him. She missed out on some great shoe deals because Leonard was so self-conscious of his height.
They hadn't made love, it just never seemed like the right time. She would be a lucky girl if her calculations of the size of his package was correct.
Penny knew that she was in love with Max. She wanted to be his wife and have that family.
As she refocused, the trash needed to be taken out before she could close shop. The dumpster was located in the alley behind the store. So she grabbed her umbrella and bat for protection and headed out.
Returning from the dumpster she saw two dark figures run up to her and try to grab her. She swung her bat and connected with the arm of one assailant.
He screamed and was holding his arm. His partner came after her and she swing and connected with his head, he dropped and didn't move. The screaming partner managed to pick up a lead pipe nearby and swung hitting Penny in the leg, she went down in intense pain. He swung again and made contact with her side. She couldn't tell which was worse her leg or her side. She grabbed the bat and swung with all she had at the same time he swung at her head. They both connected he fell and hit his head on the edge of a brick step and was out cold.
Penny was unconscious from the blow to her head.
Max was worried. Penny was late and hadn't called. She was coming over after closing the store, which was forty-five minutes ago. He phoned Sheldon.
"Hi Sheldon. Is Penny home? We planned to go out to dinner after she closes the store. However, she is not answering her phone."
Sheldon kept Max on the line while he checked her apartment. He used his key to enter.
"Max, Penny is not home. Give me a few minutes and I will call you back."
Concerned Sheldon called Howard.
"Howard can you look at the surveillance cameras at the store to see if Penny is working? She is not answering her phone."
Howard checked the interior and told Sheldon that the lights were on and Penny's purse was in her office.
"I am checking the exterior."
He switches the feed to the exterior. The alley feed is dark and hard to make out. Through the rain he sees three figures on the ground and shouts at Sheldon, "Call the police and an ambulance."
Howard sends a group text to everyone, "Emergency Penny at store may be injured will text in a few minutes with details." He yells for Bernadette and they head to the store.
The police arrive at the store within minutes. Max is the next to arrive. He notices the police lights in the alley and heads in that direction. He sees Penny lying on the ground next to two other men. A police officer was protecting her head from the rain. Max runs over and identifies himself as a doctor and Penny's boyfriend. They let him through to assess everyone's condition.
Max's first priority is Penny. He assess her condition then proceeds to look at the other two. The ambulance arrives and Max tells the paramedics, "The female has a contusion on her head and probable concussion. Her breathing is shallow possibly broken or cracked rib, and her leg is swollen possible fracture."
"The first male has a head injury. The second male has a broken arm, head injury, and possible fractured leg."
The detective in charge walks up to Max as he advises the paramedics as to the condition of the three persons. Max turns to the detective to ask, "What happened?"
The detective introduces himself as Sergeant Evans, "It appears that the female may have come out to dump trash and was accosted by these two gentlemen dressed in black with gloves on. She gave them a can of whup ass that they didn't expect. Unfortunately it appears she got hurt in the process."
Max makes his way back to Penny as they are loading her into the ambulance when Sheldon arrives. Max tells him about Penny's injuries.
"I am riding to the hospital with her. Sheldon can you lock up the store? I will text the name and location of the hospital."
The ambulance doors close and they were off. Max held Penny's hand without a doubt he knew he loved her she just needed to be well so he could tell her.
Sheldon spoke to the police and locked up the back while Amy grabbed Penny's purse. They waited to receive the hospital location before leaving.
Sheldon and Amy arrived at the hospital minutes behind Penny's ambulance. They were followed by the arrivals of Phallon and Taylor followed by Howard, Bernadette, Raj, Yvette, and Leonard. Stephanie was on duty in the emergency room when they bought in Penny. She saw Max walking beside her stretcher as they entered an examination room.
An hour later Max came out to the lobby to give them an update.
He related the police's theory on Penny's assault.
"Penny has a severe concussion, a couple of broken ribs, which caused her lung to collapse and a leg fracture. Her collapsed lung is minor and only requires supplemental oxygen as a treatment. Her leg will be in a cast for 6 weeks. They scanned her brain to diagnosis any injury. The doctor's see no major abnormalities to cause alarm however they will monitor her concussion daily until they are sure. I'm going back in, Sheldon you can come with me I told them you are her brother."
Amy notifies the family in Texas. Phallon notifies her family. The gang settles in praying and anxiously waiting to see Penny.
Thirty minutes later Penny is transferred to her hospital room still unconscious. The gang files in to see her sleeping. There is nothing they can do so they go home worried with the promise from Max and Sheldon to call if there is any change.
Sheldon and Amy remain. Amy's head is leaning against the wall with her eyes closed sleeping. Sheldon enters the room having spent a nerve racking half hour with hospital administration supplying Penny's medical and billing information. Max turns to Sheldon and gently places his hand on his shoulder.
"Take Amy home. A pregnant woman needs her rest."
"How did you know?"
"I am a doctor trained to see little subtleties like turning away from food, hand placement near the stomach and the famous glow, congratulations!"
"Next to Amy, the baby, and Meemaw, Penny is the most important person in my life. I know you love her Max. If you are not serious please walk away now. If you hurt her, I will divide you into small particles and wipe you off the face of the earth."
Max chuckled and said duly noted. "Go home Sheldon I've got it covered."
Max had a cot placed in Penny's room and fell asleep holding her hand.
Max awakens to a sound. He hears it again and it's coming from Penny. He jumps up and leans over whispering that he is here and that he loves her. Her eyes flutter open. She slurs and says her head hurts and the room is spinning. He pushes the nurses call button. When the nurse arrives he tells her to find the doctor. Penny closes her eyes but remains awake.
"I need an aspirin or anything that will stop the pain. Uggghhh, I'm going to be sick."
Penny throws up and passes out.
The doctor arrives and tries to revive her but she is deeply unconscious. He tells Max it's a wait and see scenario.
Phallon arrives around noon to bring Max a change of clothes.
Penny awakens again around 2 pm for thirty minutes before she is out again. Her brain functions and memory seem intact barring any problems she will be fine to go home in a couple of days if she has someone to take care of her. Max texts the gang the news.
That evening everyone drops by to see Penny. She is lucid for a few minutes then out. Sheldon and Amy tell everyone that they are pregnant and are surprised when Howard and Bernadette announce they are expecting also. Bernadette and Amy excitedly talk about pregnancy symptoms, cravings, due dates and birthing methods.
Penny's moments of lucidity increases throughout the evening. Max contacts the police to tell them that Penny recalls the assault. They take her statement and it's what they deduced.
The officer chuckles and says, "The two thugs are claiming Penny attacked them. However, their prior arrests and the store's surveillance video ended that story." He smiles at the couple and leaves.
Max kisses her gently looking into her eyes and says, "I love you."
Penny smiles with a single tear leaking from her eye and replies, "I love you more."
They talk for a little while before Penny falls asleep.