Chap. 3 Distress
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« Eddie, please don't hang up! » Penelope pleaded.
"I need to do some rehab, I may be able to walk after that." She said with a hopeful voice.
"Why do I call you? You're family!" she cried.
"I can't work! I can't before regaining the full mobility of my right arm!"
"I wished that unlike the others you had a heart! Fine, I won't call either of you again. I just thought that after my first call you would have thought about it… I was wrong." She said before hanging up.
She sobbed hard for some time, after that she was spent and stared at her whining puppy.
"I'm sorry McKey sometimes I wonder if I hadn't been selfish picking you, I just can't do anything.
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After hearing his whining for quite some time, she decided to have a walk with him.
"Let's go or it's going to be too late."
McKey run towards her happily.
"Someone's happy at least." She sighed;
She hated her bad moments when she couldn't see a bright future for her. She wanted to walk as before, to have a job she loved and some friends… for now she would have to go on with McKey.
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"Ok, boy. I think we should head back, it's going to rain and we're really far from home." Penelope said after walking a while with her dog.
Just some minutes later, the rain started to fall hard.
"Oh god, it's not my day;" she muttered.
She was in a residential street; her thought shad led her really far from her place.
She was happier after this time outside but the rain saddened her and she began to cry again.
She saw a man running by her and stopped in his tracks.
"Are you okay?"
"Sorry?"
"Are you okay?"
Penelope looked at the man.
"I'm okay. We already met, didn't we?"
"Yeah, I bumped into you at the supermarket."
"Oh yeah;"
"Are you okay? You are crying."
"I'm okay. I have to go, I'm really far from my place and I can't be ill."
"Where are you living? I could drive you. My family house is just over that street."
"No thank you, that's ok."
"You're really damped and it's no disturbance, really." He said with a smile.
Penelope looked at her dog that was jumping at the man.
"McKey stop it."
Derek took the leash from her hand and pulled the dog.
"You have no choice now; I promise you that I'm safe I work for the FBI."
"Ok okay Mr FBI; I have no choice McKey seems to like you."
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She silently followed him inside the house.
"Are you sure?"
"Come on, it's better inside don't you think?
"Derek honey…" Fran said getting out of the kitchen. She stopped when she noticed the young woman with him and the dog as well.
"Mom, this is…" Derek started realizing that h didn't know her name.
"Penelope Garcia." She said holding out her left hand.
"Nice to meet you. Fran Morgan and over there it's Derek." Fran said raising her eyebrows at Derek.
"Hem I met her not far away from here, it is raining hard and I proposed her to drive her back;
"That's kind of you. Come on Penelope, I'll give you a towel and some tea while Derek gets change. Fran said.
Penelope smiled and followed her in the living room.
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"Are you ok, dear? Your eyes are red and puffy."
"I'm fine thank you." Penelope said uncomfortable.
"Where's McKey?" she asked when she notices her puppy disappearance.
"Derek took him upstairs, don't worry. He had always wished to have a dog."
Penelope thought that maybe the puppy would be happier with a walking person.
"I'm sorry Mrs Morgan. I have to go." Penelope said suddenly.
"But it's raining and the tea is almost ready.
"Thank you but…"
Derek arrived, the dog at his toes.
"Your dog is adorable, Penelope."
"Isn't he?" Penelope said smiling.
Derek nodded and took the puppy in his arms.
"I'm sorry Derek, thank you for your offer but I need to go."
"Penelope let my son drive you please."
Penelope nodded but stayed silent.
Some minutes later, she was back in front of her place.
"Thank you very much. She said ashamed because Derek had to carry her inside the car and put her wheelchair in the backside.
"You're welcome Penelope. Do you need help to go outside?"
"No I'm okay thank you." At that moment, McKey escaped.
"Oh no!"
"Go inside, I'll bring him."
"You're sure?"
He nodded. Several minutes later, he knocked at her door; she let him in.
"Thank you so much."
The phone rang but she didn't move.
"You don't pick up?"
"No, it's surely a mistake."
He stared at her surprised.
"Penelope Garcia, you better pick up that phone! We told you to not call us! You're not part of that family anymore!"
Penelope looked away ashamed and broke down again.