BREAKING POINT

“Sometimes I don’t understand your gender” Joey said with a smile. “You guys can be so inconsistent sometimes”

“The only men who do understand women are those with quantities of experience” Audrey said wisely. “They are the dangerous ones because they know just how to act… And attract. Jeremy is a typical example”

“Audrey, I believe you hate him” Joey said.

“It isn’t often I hate anyone. But you are right. I do hate Jeremy. I blame him for putting Penny in this position. Oh I know she is to blame too, but she loved him and she is, nor ever would be, the promiscuous type. She really believed deep in her heart that Jeremy wanted to be with her and wanted to marry her once it became financially possible. But I don’t think Jeremy ever meant to. I don’t think he will…. In spite of the baby. I think he will walk out on her when she tells him about it. Penny fears it but she refuses to believe it. And frankly Joey, I hope he does wall out on her ”

Joey had never heard his sister speak so vehemently before and he couldn’t believe that she really meant those last words… Not Audrey.

” Yes” Audrey went on. “He is not the right man to make her happy. I hope he walks out on her and that she comes back and the both of you get together”

Joey felt nervous and he rubbed his hands together.

“Don’t be shocked” Audrey said with a smile at Joey’s bent head. “Deep in your heart that is what you are hoping for too, only your horribly generous nature won’t allow you to admit it… Even to yourself. Seriously, Joey, I think you and Penny would make a go of it. Of course it might be months…. Even years…. Before Penny recovers, but in time she would get over it. People do get over these things you know ”

“Can you say that?” Joey asked pointedly.

“You mean do I still miss Alex?” Audrey said quietly. And when Joey nodded his head she went on “It hurt a lot when he left but I can say that I’m over it. I learnt from it”

“Don’t you want anything more?” Joey asked gently.

“Yeah. Maybe. Buy I don’t feel anything like that for anyone yet so I’m not really sure. I’m content for now. Let’s leave it at that”

Joey switched off the light. They went slowly up the stairs to her, burdened with their own unsatisfactory thoughts.

————-

Penny had been feeling more tired than usual all day. How her back was aching too. She straightened and put a hand to her side.

‘I don’t feel too well’ she thought.

She could not concentrate on anything. She decided to go to bed.

‘Of course, I must be prepared for aches and pain in my condition’ Penny told herself.

It was when she she rose, and stooped to pick her phone from the table that the first real stab of pain caught her and made her draw in her breath sharply.

Audrey was looking at her.

“Anything wrong?” she asked.

“No” Penny said in a queer voice. “Just a pain”.

Audrey exchanged glances with her brother. Joey put down his phone and he too took a long look at Penny’s face. With the quick perception of a doctor he saw that sudden, hot flush sweeping over her face and he knew.

He moved quietly to Penny’s side.

“How long have you had the pain?” he asked

“Only just now” she said. “I expect it will pass off”

“It may or it may not” said Joey. “Let me know if you get another”

It dawned on Penny then what he inferred and her heart plunged..

“You don’t mean…. It can’t be?”

“It certainly can” he finished for her with a smile. “You are a week late already, don’t you remember?”

For an instant the room spun around her. She felt wildly excited and thrilled, and a little afraid. That pain meant that she was going to have her baby. It was beginning. It would be followed by another plan, then another. That wasn’t such a good thought. It had been quite a nasty jab just now and she had heard that it might go on for a long time and the pains would get longer and stronger. It wouldn’t be at all funny. It was scary, having a baby for the first time. One didn’t know what one was in for. It was like taking a leap in the dark and not knowing where you were going to land.

“Oh” she said with a gasp.

Then she felt Audrey’s hand close over hers on the one side and Joey’s strong firm one over the other arm.

“What about coming upstairs dear?” came that voice of Audrey’s which was always so tranquil and comforting.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Penny gave a nervous laugh.

“I’m sure I’m not going to have my baby. It’s just a pain”

Joey looked at her.

“Well, take it easy and call down if you have another pain, then I will have time to get hold of nurse…. the  doctor knows that we might be calling for him at any time”

Penny walked upstairs slowly with Audrey’s arm around her. Her heart was still beating fast and she felt hot and excited and as thought she were on the brink of a great adventure.

She was still not convinced that it was the baby coming, but once she reached the bedroom she calmed down and decided that if it were so she would behave well.

She began to talk, cheerfully and rather more fluently than usual to Audrey who was helping her undress.

It was while she was brushing her hair that the second pain took away her breath and made her drop the brush with a clatter on the floor. She looked at Audrey with dilated eyes.

“I have had another” she said in the voice of a frightened child.

“That’s fine Penny” said Audrey. “I think we can take it that Joey is right. A good thing too. You must be glad to know it will soon be over”

Penny sat down on the edge of her bed and drew her dressing gown around her. Audrey went to the top of the stairs and called to her brother.

Penny heard Joey’s voice from the sitting room, strong and reassuring.

“Take it easy Penny. It will be fine and you have nothing to worry about”

She thought ‘It will be awful if he thought me a coward. I wish Jeremy were here. I wish Jeremy were here’