Chapter Nineteen

Stepping into the house, Penny immediately felt at home. The western feel was overpowering but welcoming. The smell of the aforementioned pecan pie was lingering in the air.

Pushing her purse farther up her arm, Penny stepped further into the room. The three siblings moved through the house with such ease that Penny felt the anxiety slowly start to seep back into her. Sheldon moved towards a doorway, but turned around to look at her.

"Penny are you coming?" he extended his hand out to bring her forward and Penny latched on. His bemused expression made her want to punch him, but she restrained herself. 'Until later that is.' Penny was pulled into a brightly lit kitchen where the smell of pie was more pronounced. She didn't have time to turn before she was once again hugged fiercely. 'What is with this family and attack hugs?' she thought as she brought her arms around Sheldon's mom.

"Aw Sweetie! It's so nice to see you. I'm so glad you made it without killin my Shelly. Those trains of his are just awful."

"Mother. Trains are.."

"Yes Yes, Shelly. You love trains. He used to play with his toy trains for hours. He'd just"

"Mother! Please to do not share the more humorous anecdotes about my childhood with Penny. I'm sure she is not interested." Penny smiled at this. 'He doesn't want his mom telling embarrassing stories. That's a good sign.'

"Yes Mary. Sheldon does not want you to embarrass him in front of his little girlfriend." The voice swept over Penny and she immediately knew the speaker. Turning to face the infamous Meemaw, Penny just had to smile. In a family of giants, here was the tiniest, sweetest looking old lady that you ever saw. Her platinum white hair was contrasted lovely with her tan skin. Piercing blue eyes brought Penny back to the present and listening to what Sheldon's mom was saying.

"You're right of course. Thank you Penny for bringing Shelly down. The way he prattles on you'd think he was as busy as a funeral home fan in July." Missy burst in on this.

"Ma! Penny don't want to hear any of your creepy metaphors. Pen, Trey took your bag to the room Ma is putting you up in. So sit down for a bit and relax. You've been with Shelly for long periods of time. No one but Meemaw can do that without goin crazy."

"That's just because y'all don't understand my Moonpie. He's special." Turning, Penny saw Sheldon bending down to hug his grandmother. He looked so content, being bent nearly halfway over and actually hugging a person. Penny's smile felt like it was going to split off her face.

"So Pen" Missy brought Penny's attention away from the adorable seen "the party is all set up"

"What party?" Sheldon asked as he took the chair next to Meemaw.

"The party we decided to throw. I just told Penny about it so she could pack appropriately" Missy shot Penny a look "everyone of importance is going to be there."

Penny fully understood the look. Penny made sure that all the bullies of Sheldon's past were going to be there. She just hoped her idea for the alter worked. Mary smiled at the girls, not getting the underlying exchange going on, and grabbed her purse off the counter.

"Well, Penny, I do believe it's time you got the 3rd degree from us"

"Excuse me?" She had to have misheard Sheldon's mom. She couldn't have said what Penny thought she said.

"Nails, darlin. We're off to the nail salon for mani/pedis" at Penny's incredulous expression she continued, "Sweetheart. You've been traveling. Nothing more relaxing then gettin your nails did. Now let's scoot. I've gotta get home to make supper" Laughing loudly, Trey slung his arm around Sheldon before punching him lightly.

"They're gonna be giving your little mamacita the rundown. You better be careful Shelly or she may air your dirty laundry" Sheldon plucked his brother's arm off of his person before turning to Penny.

"Penny. You are not under any obligation to go with the female members of my family on this 'nail' excursion. You may decline if you so desire"

'He's so sweet…sometimes' Penny thought before looking at the women. They were the most important women in Sheldon's life. If she was going to make any headway in her plan to help Sheldon, she was going to need their help eventually. She would rather it be on good terms than being an enemy of the matriarch part of the family.

"Don't worry, Moonpie. I've got this" she smirked at his frown, grabbed her purse, and followed Missy out the front. Missy called back to her mom, telling her that they'd meet the two older women at the salon. Getting back into Missy's jeep they set off.

It was only a short ten minute drive to the salon which was ten extra minutes for some more anxiety to build in Penny. Missy signed them in and they sat down. The door chime rang and Penny saw Sheldon's mom and Meemaw walk in. Missy leaned in close to whisper in her ear.

"You ready for this?"

"Well, we're gonna figure that out"

*****School consumes all my time. Again, I am sorry for the late update. I am on Fall Break right now so I'll try to write more this weekend. As always, Much Love!************