CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
-:- PENNY -:-
The last three weeks or more have been so busy, but it’s close to the wedding now and I am more than a little excited.
I am going to speak with Arrow and Bones today about the possibility of reducing my hours.
Everlee is doing fantastic, and the team that runs reception doesn’t need me hovering all the time.
That’s the trouble with being efficient. You often put yourself out of a job.
My phone rings and picking it up from the corner of my desk I see it’s Stitch. I quickly take the call.
“Hi Stitch.”
“Hi, Penny. Can you come into the clubhouse sometime today so I can talk to you about your results?”
“I can come over in about an hour if that is okay? I just need to finish the stock order for Magnus.” I’ve no idea why I’m telling him that, but whatever!
“That’s good. I’ll see you then.”
“Okay, see you in a while.” I close out the call and quickly place the order for Magnus. I check what may be out of stock and luckily everything he wants is available. I make the payment and print off the order and the delivery information.
“I’m taking this through to Magnus, then I’m nipping out for an hour. There is nothing urgent Everlee, so you okay with me disappearing?”
Everlee looks up and smiles. “Of course, get off. If you need me, I’ll be here.”
Walking to the canteen carrying my purse and car keys, I give Magnus a wave where he’s wiping down the counter ready to stock everything for the lunchtime meals.
“Magnus, I’ve got the order done for you.
Here is the invoice, and delivery is fast this time.
” I hand Magnus the invoice, and after he gives me a nod I grunt as I turn around and walk out of the canteen and make my way outside to my SUV.
Driving back to the clubhouse, I can’t help but think I’m getting great at grunt, and maybe one day I’ll be as good as Ruger.
I’ve got a lot to do to catch up to the likes of Winter, Kya, and Eden.
Crossbows, bow and arrow, weapons, knives, and hand-to-hand stuff.
It’s pretty darn amazing if truth be told.
Waving at Mia and Jo who are sitting in the common room as I pass through to reach Stitch’s medical room. Knocking on the door, I swing it open slowly, and can see Stitch sitting in front of his computer monitor. Looking up, he gives me a smile, and waves me inside.
“I’m not going to mess around, Penny. Your blood results came back with nothing to worry about, but your sugar level was slightly higher than I expected. Are you still drinking sweet drinks?”
Cringing a little, I have to admit, “Well, I have had a bit of a run with Gatorade and double chocolate chip cupcakes of late.”
“Well, that’s going to have to stop. I don’t want to see your blood sugar level rising any higher. I want to check you again in two weeks, you know to monitor you.” Stitch gives me a raised eyebrow look, and the blush runs up my cheeks because shit, I’m going to have to behave.
“Okay, Stitch. I’ll cut down on the sugary stuff.”
“Did you know you are pregnant, Penny?”
“What?” I gasp, plop into the nearest seat and look at Stitch with a little bit of shock. “I only thought the other day I’ve missed having a period, but I was so busy I never went back to that thought.”
Stitch leans forward in his seat. “Do you have any idea when you last had a period?”
“I think I’ve missed one period, so I’m guessing eight or nine weeks!”
“Okay. The rise in sugar can be caused by your pregnancy, but I want to keep my eye on it. Your results show no infections of any kind. No anemia either, which I’m happy about.
I’d like to test a urine sample so we can rule out any infection.
I’ll run the spectrum that is considered normal.
” Stitch is typing something, and I try to look, but he looks over at me knowingly.
I give a weak smile and look at my hands that are sitting neatly in my lap.
Stitch swivels his chair and opens a cabinet next to him, taking out a sample bottle. Holding it out to me, I take it a little embarrassed, but I’ve done this all before so know the routine.
After handing the sample to Stitch who is now wearing rubber gloves I smirk. “Not wanting the preggy lady’s pee-pee on you, Stitch?” I joke, but when he gives me a look, I grunt, then head to the door.
“Two weeks and back here for a checkup on the sugar levels, Penny,” Stitch says in a warning voice, and I nod because I know he’ll chase me up if I don’t turn up.
Back at work, the news hits me. I’m pregnant.
I have a daughter under a year old, and I’m pregnant again.
Rubbing my forehead, I’m switching between delighted that I’m having a baby with Ruger, and shocked I’m having another child so quickly after everything that has happened.
So new into my relationship with Ruger too, and why the heck didn’t the pill work?
Thinking about Ruger and how he is with Arabella, his Punkin, I can’t help but know he’s going to be delighted. Maybe I could tell him this in a good way, rather than blurt it out?
“Everlee, I’m going to speak to the bosses about cutting my hours. Will you be good at covering things on your own? I’m thinking of coming in twice a week.” I blurt it out much to Everlee’s surprise if the shocked look on her face says it all.
“I can manage, Penny. But it will be good if you are still coming in twice a week. If I have a problem, I can discuss it with you on those days. I think I have everything you want me to do here…” tapping a finger to her head. All with a smile on her face.
Nodding to show I’m good with that I quickly make my way to speak with Arrow, Bones, or both depending on who is in the office at the moment.
The door to the office is open, so I give a small knock and smile when Bones turns from his monitors. “Hi, Penny, what can we do for you?”
Arrow doesn’t look my way, but I can tell from the small tilt of his head he is listening.
“I want to drop my hours from five days a week to two days a week. I have Everlee trained, and she is more than capable of doing what is needed. You really don’t need two people doing the job now.
But it will be good for me to keep on top by coming in those two days. ”
Arrow swivels his chair so he can look at me, and Bones rubs his chin before responding. “Is there a problem at all?”
“No, Bones. No issues or anything. I just want to spend more time with Arabella and Ruger. As I just said, the office is now working efficiently, and the reception area is covered effectively by Jayne, Wren and Bentley. Magnus has the kitchen covered, and the cleaning is more than covered with Scarlett and Jordyn. That is all my administration taken care of.” I take a seat because my legs are aching this morning with all the damn training we get on Sunday mornings.
“When do you want to start this two-day week, Penny?” Arrow asks.
“After the wedding, if that is okay?”
“You okay with this, Bones?” Arrow asks, and I look toward Bones, who is looking right at me, and for a second I see something in his eyes before he looks at Arrow.
“Yeah, I’m fine with it. But if you ever want to come back to the usual five-day week, Penny, then we’ll be good with that, too.
” Bones nods, turns back to his row of monitors, and I suppose that is the subject closed.
Looking over at Arrow, he is also back to looking at his monitors. Sheesh, you talk about being dismissed.
Back at my desk I feel lighthearted about my decision. I really feel that it’s for the best especially now I have this news. Taking out a blank card, I write, ‘You are going to be a Daddy,’ and slip the card into an envelope and then into my purse. I have an idea of what to do with that.
My phone vibrates, and picking it up from the desk I see it’s the Bridal Shop.
Bridal Shop: Hi, Penny. This is Beulah. I just wanted to let you know that all the dresses are ready, and the other things ordered.
Penny: Oh, my, that is great news.
Bridal Shop: Things are being delivered to the clubhouse and Mia is having everything either placed at the clubhouse or at her house. She said you would understand.
Penny: Yeah, I understand.
Bridal Shop: OK. Thank you for using the Bridal Shop, and if there's anything we can do to help, just give me a shout.
Penny: Thank you, Beulah, and thank Spell, Colleen and Nancy too because I’m sure they have had to pitch in and help.
Bridal Shop: I will, take care now.
Wow, that is great news. Everything is happening as it should, and I know the bill is being paid by Ruger.
He was happy to pay for whatever I wanted.
The ladies had insisted on paying for their own dresses, so that wasn’t on Ruger's bill. At least he’ll not know what’s going on until the day…
just as it should be, or the surprise wouldn’t work.
I leave work early as Everlee has everything under control. I grab a pot pie from Magnus just because I love his chicken pot pies, and he even gives me a carton of brown gravy to take, too.
Walking into the house, I take a deep breath. It’s odd to think this is our home now. We’ll be moving in as soon as the place is ready, and it’ll be at the latest the wedding night. Nyx has insisted she has Arabella for the night, so our wedding night can be an intimate one.
“Hi, Penny. We’ve nearly finished here.”
I come to a halt as I see the Three Stooges standing in the kitchen. They have empty boxes, bags and general litter all around them. But I also notice the dishwasher door is open and has been emptied, and Bitty is piling in the baking things that were purchased.
“Wow…I didn’t know you three were coming over to help?” I question.
“Well, we got Ruger’s key and thought we could get some of the washing done, empty some of the boxes and just give you a bit of a rest. You look tired, and with having Arabella after work you are not getting much rest are you?
” Sybil states, and gives me a look that I’m not sure is a knowing look or not?