Aunt Ann had called Penny at lunch time, her voice trembling a little with anxiety in spite of her courageous attempt to withhold her fear from Penny.
"I thought you would want to be with your uncle at such a time. Will you be able to come?"
"Of course, aunt Ann. I'm terribly sorry. You mustn't worry too much. Uncle had one of these seizures before, didn't he? And he has been perfectly all right since" Penny said.
Yes I know dear, but your uncle is quite a few years older now.
Aunt Ann's voice trailed away into silence before she rallied with one of her clichés.
"All good has an end but the goodness of God. We must trust in him, dear"
"Is it as bad as that?" Penny asked, her heart sinking.
"I'm afraid it's pretty serious" her aunt replied. I need to hang up now, and see you soon "
"Yes, I will come right away" Penny said, hanging up you.
<"Trouble aways comes in threes" aunt Ann said tactlessly and with a worried frown. "I wonder what the next one will be?"'My baby' Penny thought with a twisted smile.She spent the afternoon in a fever of impatience. The hours dragged themselves away and everytime she gazed at her watch, she was certain that the hands had not moved since last she looked at it. By five o'clock she knew she could not wait another moment.She went outside to call Jeremy herself. When he finally picked up the call, Penny breathed deeply."Hey," she said. "I'm sorry I couldn't wait for you to call. I know you said you would call me but I'm kinda worried. What's going on? Is something wrong?"Jeremy hesitated, before he said, "Yes. I mean.... It's not such a big deal but it's still a big deal""Just tell me, Jeremy, please" Penny begged."Okay, babe, I'm being
"What do you mean?" she asked. "I love him, Audrey. I just can't imagine a future which does not include Jeremy. I love him""Sure it isn't just physical attraction?" Audrey queried."Of course not. It isn't the sleeping with Jeremy that matters. It is.... Oh, lots of little things, having him come home to me in the evening, waking up to find him there beside me, seeing his clothes, his toothbrush, his shaving kit in my bathroom, seeing the way his hair curls after a night's sleep, how he looks at me with a funny little half smile, the smell of that stuff he puts on his hair. Oh so many silly things. I want to be Jeremy's wife and share his intimate life for ever. ""We often want things that aren't good for us" Audrey said."You do remind me of my aunt Ann" Penny said, suddenly smiling. Then her eyes narrowed. "You don't like Jeremy, do you Audrey?"Audrey chose her answer carefully. "I don't know
He stopped talking and Penny saw that the hand holding his phone was trembling."I would say I was sorry if I thought you needed any sympathy" she said. "But frankly speaking, Joey, you are well out of it. I'm not worth your love""Don't say things like that, Penny. You are everything I ever imagined a girl could be. Sweet, intelligent, beautiful and much too modest. Just to know that you see me as a friend is more than enough now.... Since it can't be different""Oh Joey, of course I look on you as my friend. And you and Audrey are the best ones I have and I terribly, terribly fond of you both. But don't love me. Please don't. I couldn't bear to feel responsible for causing you any unhappiness."Joey took her hand and held it in his own for a moment."You could never do that Penny, except by being unhappy. It would make me sad to see you miserable. I told Audre
Penny and Jeremy texted and called each other. He didn't call much because he said he was mostly busy, but he texted her. He told her about his journey and assured her that he was safe and that he loved her.One of his texts read: 'I have been settling down in the most luxurious flat in the center of Cairo. It has three bedrooms, sitting room, dining room and a an enormous very modern kitchen. The place is very comfortable. It's incredible. Your apartment doesn't compare to it very favorably... Except of course when I remember you are in it... Which is very often 'Penny smiled happily to herself when she read that, unaware of Joey's steady gaze with those deep greenish eyes of his.She kept reading the text: 'You have to know that I miss you the hell of a lot, darling, especially nights when I get so lonely. I'm pretty busy as far as work is concerned and we might not get to talk on the phone for long. I didn't want to tell you thi
"Audrey, do you really think Joey is in love with me?" Penny asked suddenly, distressed by her own thoughts. "I mean, might it not be... Well, force of circumstances? After all, I was practically the first girl he met when he came back from abroad""That would be so if I didn't know my brother so well. But you are everything he ever dreamed about. Penny, he told me so himself. I think that if he had met some girl first, he would still have waited till you came along"Penny bit her lip."Audrey, do you think i should just go away?" she asked on an impulse. "While I am here things will remain as they are. If I weren't here, he might forget about me and look around for someone else""I doubt it, Penny. Honestly, if I thought it would help, I would say so. But Joey isn't the type to forget easily... If at all. He would be utterly miserable if you went away now. He would worry himself sick about you. Now
"It is always wise to be prepared for the worst. Joey loves you Penny. He is prepared to be there for you and your child. He's ready to give you both his protection. He won't ask anything more of you. I am sure of that. You could just go on together the way you are now... Being good friends and nothing more, unless you wanted it ""It wouldn't be fair to Joey" Penny said. "I can't let him make such a sacrifice just for me""That is dramatising the situation" Audrey replied. "Supposing the position were reversed... That Jeremy had been in love with a woman who died giving birth to a baby, that you were in love with him but knew he still loved the other woman. Wouldn't you take responsibility of his child for his sake and for the pleasure of being with him... Knowing that he would always be a part of your life?""Yes" Penny said without hesitation."You wouldn't think it such a dreadful sacrifice?"
"Enjoying life, huh?" asked Penny."Not as much as I should. There's some talk of research work and I may find my self working with a new partner. That will make me a senior, which would be a step up financially""I'm glad. You deserve it" said Penny.He looked at her with an emotion he was trying hard to repress."Penny, I want make it clear to you that I'm in good position to look after you and the baby. I know you are worried about being in this alone. I do nothing but think about you. I know the position but he won't be here before the baby is born, that's certain "Penny turned away. All the old feelings of insecurity and despair shivered through her."No. He won't be here" she said in a low voice."Then how about you stay and let me be here for you.... Till Jeremy comes"She looked at him, her face crimson, her
Jeremy called Penny later that day. Joey watched her as she picked the call. Jeremy told her he was having a good time in Cairo. He had made many friends and was out at parties all the time."But there isn't a girl here to touch you for looks or charm" Jeremy continued saying. "I miss you so much darling, so much that sometimes I wish I didn't accept this job. Anyways Six months isn't such a very long time and with the way things are going over here... With all the fun... I'm not even going to notice how long it is"His words brought Penny no comfort. She felt cold, almost dried up and emotionless. Jeremy was beginning to show himself as such an appalling egotist and so shallow, it horrified her.The months did not pass quickly for her. As she grew bigger, she felt unable to tackle the long walks up to the cliff tops with Joey and spent most of the day in the garden.Penny's prayer now was that this