Chapter 16

After Max had helped Penelope clean up after dinner and then joined his friend in the library to either talk or watch football, Penelope slid up on one of the stools and swiped open her iPad. Randall, Sybil, Arlena, and Sam were still in the dining room, lingering over pie and coffee. The kids were in the library too, sitting on bean bag chairs Sybil had brought for them and playing video games on their iPads.

A thought came to her and she Googled the name Richard Sotheby, adding the words “Manhattan” and “murder.” One result came up, a short piece in the New York Times. She read through it quickly.

“What are you doing in here by yourself, Penny?” Joey called from the doorway. “Wanna come watch some football?”

“I’ll be there in a little bit,” Penelope said with a smile. “Just having a quiet moment, decompressing after dinner service.” She picked up the stemless wine glass in front of her and took a sip of red. Joey came over and hugged her from behind, glancing at the tablet on the counter. “What are you reading?”

“It’s an article about Mrs. Sotheby’s husband. He was shot and killed back in the seventies, when they were first married.”

“Yeah, I remember her saying something about that once,” Joey said. He sat down next to Penelope and picked up the iPad. “They never caught the guy who did it, if I remember correctly.”

“Yeah, that’s right,” Penelope said. “I checked in on her yesterday, brought her some tea when I was in the city.”

“How is she doing?”

“Good,” Penelope said. “They are happy.”

“Hey,” Joey said. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Penelope said. “It’s just, I’m not going to see my folks for the holidays this year. I think it’s making me a little sad.”

“You want to go visit them soon? I’ll take a look at some flights.”

“Maybe in the spring,” Penelope said. “They’re taking a cruise over Christmas.”

Joey rubbed her shoulder and she put her head in her hand.

“That’s something about Arlena and Sam, huh?” Joey asked.

“Sure is. I had no idea.”

“It’s good timing, you ask me,” Joey said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She leaned into his touch, the familiar feel of his rough finger on her cheek.

“Why’s that?” Penelope asked.

“Well, when we find the perfect house, you know, it won’t be as hard for you to move,” Joey said. “They’re going to be all into each other, starting a family probably.”

“Yeah,” Penelope whispered. She bit the inside of her cheek. “I didn’t say it was going to be hard.”

“Hey, what’s the matter?” Joey asked. “You upset you’re the only girl at the table who didn’t get a ring at Thanksgiving?”

Penelope laughed quietly. “No,” she said, “it’s not that at all. I’m happy with you and me, us, how we are. Totally. It’s just…I don’t know.”

“What? You know you can tell me,” Joey said, brushing her cheek again.

“Change is hard,” Penelope said. “I know it has to happen, but I think of Arlena as family, and this is my home. I haven’t even told her yet about us thinking of moving in together.”

“You haven’t mentioned it?” Joey asked.

“I don’t know, it hasn’t ever seemed like the right time,” Penelope said, avoiding his gaze.

“Are you sure you still want to move in with me?” Joey asked.

Penelope hesitated. “I think so. Yes.”

“You sound like you’re having second thoughts,” Joey said, deflating.

Penelope grabbed his hand and held it tight. “I’m not having second thoughts about us, Joey. I just get a little panicky thinking about the future and the uncertainty ahead.”

“You can always count on me, Penny,” Joey said. “I won’t let you down.”

“I don’t think anyone goes into a marriage or takes big steps in a relationship thinking things aren’t going to go well. And yet people split up every day.”

“If you want to take more time to think about it…” Joey said half-heartedly.

“No,” Penelope said with another squeeze of his hand. “I believe in us.”

“Well, like I said, no time like the present, then, to let Arlena know,” Joey said. “The metaphorical present, I mean. Not right now.”

“But what if me moving out changes everything between me and Arlena? What if we drift apart?”

“Aw come on,” Joey said, pulling her into a hug. “You guys are always going to be close. You’re best friends. Everything that’s happening is good. Growing up and leaving the nest will be rough, but I’ll be there to help you.”

Penelope laughed. “Don’t tease me,” she said. “My parents moved away when I was in culinary school, sold the house I grew up in. I felt like I was all on my own and I wasn’t really ready for it.”

Joey tipped her chin up with his finger and looked her in the eyes. “You’re not going to be alone, or feel that way ever again. Trust me, Penny Blue.”

He kissed her lightly on the lips and she brushed her worries to the side, if only for a moment.