CHAPTER 32

Penny and Leonard were driving home in his car, their delicious Thai food for dinner was still hot and of course they didn't forget that Rocky road ice cream that Amy asked them so eagerly.

"It feels so good to have them back with us, don´t you think?" Penny said with a sincere smile.

"Yes, I must admit that I missed them a lot, especially Sheldon." Leonard affirmed.

"Did you ask Sheldon what they plan to do from now on? I don't know, are they living together or is it just for today? I couldn't ask Amy before." Penny quiestioned Leonard.

"Well, apparently Amy's living with Sheldon since they came back from Stockholm, although I'm surprised Sheldon hasn't made any modification to our Roommate Agreement. It's kind of weird having Amy at the apartment. But, to be honest, I prefer having them close to me, you know, they might need me. I'd like to be there… for them" Leonard answered honestly.

"Yes, you're right! I have the same feeling. Poor Amy, it was obvious her mother didn't like the news about the baby, you could tell she'd cried a lot" Penny told him.

"I noticed it too, that's why I didn't ask them any more questions. Evidently, talking to her mother made her pretty sad". Leonard added.

"Leonard… I was thinking that now that Sheldon and Amy have started a little family… God knows I never expected to say this, but I believe they need some privacy, don't you think?" . Penny had an idea crossing her mind and she wanted to tell Leonard.

"Alright, then what do you suggest?". Leonard smiled; it seemed he knew where the conversation was going.

"I suggest you and I could share my apartment, only if you want to do that. So Amy and Sheldon can have their privacy and we can keep an eye on them and help them with everything they need. You know… because of the baby." Penny sighed.

"I think that's an excellent plan." Leonard had waited for so long for this moment. Finally he was going to live with Penny. He never imagined that she would be the one to propose they lived together, and now Penny wanted him to move in with her, he couldn't hide his happiness.

"Cool! That's cool! I'm glad we agree on this. It's the best for Sheldon and Amy". Penny tried to downplay the importance of this decision, but deep down she knew it was a huge step in her relationship with Leonard and the truth was, it felt right.


Sheldon's mother looked at Amy from head to toe, although she'd seen her only a few times before, something about Amy seemed quite different. Mary Cooper couldn't tell exactly what was it. It could be her hair, her clothes, her skin?. Definitely, there was something new in his son's girlfriend. Mary could tell that Amy looked prettier, almost with a special glow she hadn't noticed before. She walked over to Amy and gave her a sincere hug and a kiss on the cheek… sincere... but not effusive.

Amy could see that look on Mary Cooper's eyes, so inquisitive and analytical. She avoided eye contact with her and feeling very uncomfortable crossed her arms over her chest. Amy's face was blushing. All she could say was a shy: "Hello".

Sheldon still hadn't recovered from the impression that his mother's unexpected visit caused him. As always his nervous tics, took over his facial muscles in just seconds. He swallowed hard and finally spoke, "Mom, I wasn't expecting your visit, why didn't you inform me in advance?".

"Sheldon, I didn't think you were so busy, I see you have company. Maybe I came at a bad time." Mary Cooper looked back at Amy. "However, I must say I've informed you earlier that I'd come to visit you. I wrote you an e-mail two days ago, I found it odd that you didn't answer it".

At that moment Sheldon realized that the last time he'd checked his email or his phone was exactly 48 hours ago, when he was about to board the plane that brought them from Stockholm to Pasadena. Suddenly, he rose from the couch and ran to his bedroom. When he turned on his phone, Sheldon noticed he had several unread text messages and emails, including the one his mother had sent him, two days ago. "How could I've been so careless?" Immediately Sheldon returned to the living room, where the icy silence between Mary Cooper and Amy, froze the atmosphere.

"I'm going to write a complaint letter to the Internet Company, they have a lousy service and I haven't had internet access on the last few days. I've just received your e-mail". Sheldon was a bad liar, his mother could see through him as if he were transparent.

"Well, it doesn't matter, as I told you in that message, I won a trip to Disney Land in a Bingo Night at Church. I decided to exchange it, for a ticket to Pasadena, so I can visit you. We haven't seen each other in a long time and God knows I've missed my baby so much."

Amy had a coughing fit caused by anxiety when she heard those words: "My baby". What would Mary Cooper think when she knows that Sheldon, her baby, was having… a baby?

"Excuse me! Sheldon, could you please give me back that book I lent you 14 weeks ago? Do you remember? That book about the… Gestation period for higher primates", Amy got up from the couch, hoping Sheldon could read between the lines.

"Mmm… Gestation period for higher primates? I don't recall asking you for that book. You know Biology isn't my… Oh Yes! Yes, now that you mention it, your book's in my room, come with, we'll look for it" When Sheldon realized, the almost desperate look on Amy's eyes, he finally understood what she was trying to say.

"Shelly, what did I tell you about having girls in your room?" Sheldon's mother asked him.

"I should always leave the door open and… Jesus looks everything we do, even with the lights off" Sheldon replied sheepishly.

"Amen" Mary Cooper exclaimed.

Amy and Sheldon ran to the bedroom as if they could escape from the embarrassing circumstances. Amy sat on the bed and placed her hands on her head as a gesture of despair. Why did she have to go through this uncomfortable moment and just after what happened with her mother? She had to calm down and think clearly; Amy took a deep breath and stroked her tiny baby bump.

"Amy! I didn't know my mother was coming. Why didn't I check my emails?" Sheldon whispered very quietly so his mother couldn't listen. He was pacing up and down the length of his bedroom with long steps, until he finally sat on the bed, next to Amy, holding her hands.

"We won't tell her. Don't worry Amy! We'll have time to do that, when we're ready. Let's get out of here; otherwise, she'll come for us" Sheldon was trying to comfort Amy.

"I'd better go home; I can't imagine what your mom would think of me if she realizes that I'm staying with you, in your bedroom" Amy confessed.

"I don't like the idea of having you and our baby far from me, but I guess we have no choice at the moment. Maybe you can spend the night with Penny. I hope my mom doesn't stay here for too long". Sheldon kissed Amy, very gently. She nodded and took the hand he offered her, helping her to get up from the bed.

Sheldon felt like a coward, not being able to face his mother and tell her he loved Amy and they're having a baby, whether she liked it or not. He couldn't stand seeing Amy so sad and heartbroken. Her argument with Ms. Fowler a few hours ago was too rough for her; he couldn't let her go through another disappointing experience. The fact that both grandmothers of his little homo novus were as hard and inflexible in their beliefs was poignant.

Amy and Sheldon returned to the living room, separating their hands, just before heading out of Sheldon's room. Mary Cooper was in the kitchen, checking what was in the refrigerator, like she was about to prepare something for dinner.

"Sheldon, your fridge's almost empty! It seems that you hadn't been home for weeks" Mary inquired.

"Oh… I've been quite busy at my job, and Leonard's been busy too; so we didn't have time to shop. Anyway, Leonard and Penny are buying something for dinner. They should be here at any moment" Sheldon replied uneasily.

"We're having Thai food for dinner" Amy was trying to look cheerful.

"Thai Food? I've never tried it before, I hope it isn't like that sushi you made me eat the last time I visited you" Sheldon 's mother said in a tone of disgust with her distinctive Texas twang .

"No, it isn't sushi. Amy can't eat sushi because she's... she is... allergic to seafood". Sheldon inhaled deeply, for a second he was about to tell his mom that Amy was pregnant. "That was close" he thought.

"Yes, I am very allergic to seafood, and I'm not sure, but I think, the salad I had for lunch today, contained some… shellfish; so don't be alarmed if I abruptly excuse myself to go to the bathroom. I'm not feeling very well. I'm having some digestive issues." Amy said, rubbing her belly, hidden under her cardigan and pressed tightly by her skirt.

"Oh, sweetie, do you want me to make you a cup of herbal tea?" Mary Cooper asked Amy, staring at her, too intently.

"No, please don't bother. I'll be fine" Amy replied uncomfortably.

At that time Leonard and Penny got home, as sent from heaven. Mary Cooper's attention was briefly diverted by them.

"Mrs. Cooper, I had no idea that you were coming" Leonard couldn't be more surprised.

"I'm so glad to see you. What a nice surprise!" Penny said, as friendly as ever.

"Is it just me or you're kind of shocked by my visit?, I still can't understand why is it so strange that I wanted to see my Shelly Bean" . Sheldon's mother started to suspect there was something hidden from her. Sheldon and his friends were certainly peculiar, but not that much.

"No, we're just pleasantly surprised. That's all" Leonard added. "Why don't we start with our dinner? Guys, your mee krob is getting cold."

"Mee... krob? Why do you have to invent strange food here in California? It's so easy to prepare a nice, medium rare steak with traces of blood" Mary Cooper looked with disgust at the plate that Penny offered her.

When Amy heard Mary's words, she inevitably recalled the last time she ate red meat and how she'd spent all night vomiting. Amy suddenly felt that familiar sensation of spasm in her esophagus with intense salivation and nausea. "No, please! Not now!" she told herself. Once again the smell of the food, in front of her, was too intense and penetrating. She couldn't help it; she covered her mouth with her hand and ran to the bathroom. "Excuse me!" was the last thing she could say.

Sheldon got up from his spot in a single bound, he was about to run to the bathroom following Amy, as he always did. He decided to stay in the living room when he saw his mother's questioning look. "Hopefully, Penny and Leonard won't mention anything about the baby" he thought, as he sat back on the couch, his face was completely flushed. Leonard and Penny looked at each other and remained silent.

"Poor girl, I think her lunch... actually made her sick. I'll make a cup of chamomile tea for her" Mary Cooper rose from her chair and headed to the kitchen. She put the kettle on the stove and went back to the living room. She took her purse and pulled out a small cardboard box. "Shelly, I almost forgot, your grandma made you some oatmeal cookies. They're your favorite cookies".

"Yee Haw! My Meemaw made me cookies". Sheldon's face lit up when he grabbed the box and perceived the smell of the best oatmeal cookies in the world. "By the way, they're just for me" , he told Leonard and Penny.

Amy returned from the bathroom, feeling terrible. She sat next to Sheldon who offered her some Thai food. Amy couldn't even look at the food because of the nausea. Why was her body acting in the most unpredictable ways?, she thought as she stirred the food with a fork.

"Amy, you don't have to eat that if you're feeling sick" Mary Cooper approached her with a steaming cup. "I made you some chamomile and ginger herbal tea; this is the best remedy for nausea".

"Thank you!" Amy said with a smile, trying to contain her need to cry. Wasn't nausea supposed to last until the thirteenth week? She thought.

The tea was actually making Amy feel better. Sheldon had finished eating his dinner, and although he insisted Amy to try a few bites of the food, he ended up eating Amy's dinner too. Sheldon was really hungry, so he decided to eat the cookies for dessert. He went to the kitchen and poured a glass of milk.

Looking at those tasty oatmeal and cinnamon cookies, Amy couldn't resist the temptation to try them. Sheldon never shared the cookies that Meemaw makes for him, but Amy wanted to try at least one of them. Sheldon sat on his spot with a glass of milk and the box of cookies. His mother enthusiastically chatted with Leonard and Penny, and from time to time, she gave Amy and Sheldon a glance.

When Sheldon realized that Amy stared at him while he was eating; he handed her the box of cookies, so she can take as many as she likes. Mary Cooper, Leonard and Penny looked at him in disbelief. Sheldon never shares his cookies.

Sheldon was right, those were the best oatmeal cookies in the world; Amy had never tasted anything so delicious. The cookies tasted like home, like love. She ate a cookie, then another one and… another one. Sheldon seemed happy to share with Amy, and only with Amy.

When she was satisfied with the cookies, Amy stood up and went to the kitchen to wash her cup and some dishes. After eating Meemaw's cookies, the neurobiologist even forgot about her craving for Rocky road ice cream. Sheldon was now playing video games with Leonard and Penny. Mary Cooper walked to the kitchen, to help Amy to do the dishes.

"I see you're feeling better Amy; you've recovered the color of your cheeks" Sheldon's mother casually told her.

"Yes, thank you for the herbal tea, it was really helpful" Amy replied.

"You're welcome darling; that tea's a recipe my mother taught me, it works wonders for nausea. When I was expecting, it was the only thing that helped me. I had the most terrible morning sickness with George Jr. and it was even worse with Sheldon and Missy because they were twins". Mary Cooper looked into Amy's eyes. She had the same look that Sheldon had when he made some important discovery. Amy tried to look away, but Sheldon's mother took her gently by the arm.

"It's getting late, I better say goodbye and go home" Amy mumbled shakily, with her lips trembling.

"Before you go, there's something I want to ask you", Mary Cooper was not going to let her go, so easily."Amy… how far along are you?".

Amy paled suddenly; she didn't know what to say. Mary Cooper had discovered everything.

"How far along… am I?". Amy was feeling desperate, but Sheldon's gaze remained focused on that video game.

"Yes, I'd like to know, when will my grandbaby be born? You're three… or maybe four months pregnant. Right?". Mary smiled sweetly at Amy.