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“We told Dad the truth,” Allie answered.
“Really?” He was intrigued to hear what the old boy had to say.
“You’ll be pleased to know that he agrees with your hypothesis,” Penny told him.
“You should wait for the brain scan results before jumping to obscure conclusions,” Clare interjected.
“Have you had my blood results back yet?” Penny asked.
“I shouldn’t really discuss those with you here.”
“It’s okay, we’re a family. I don’t mind Allie and David knowing the results. Is something wrong?”
David picked up on her anxious tone and moved behind where his wife sat. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he gave a reassuring squeeze. He was gratified when her small palm reached up to cover his hand.
“No, all normal,” Clare said and sat down.
“Phew, you had me worried there,” David said, crossing to his own chair and sitting opposite Penny.
“Me too!” she echoed.
Allie picked up the bottle of chilled white wine and poured herself a glass.
“It’s not fizz but at least now I am home I can have a drink.” She waggled the bottle at Penny. David watched anxiously as his wife nodded and her sister poured her a glass. Penny downed half in one swig. Should he warn her off more alcohol or keep quiet? If she had beenhisPenny he would have forbade her any more to drink, knowing what a light head she was, but the situation was difficult enough as it was, without him stirring the pot. While he debated with himself, Clare spoke up.
“I am not certain wine is a wise choice after the Asti. You have a brain scan coming up. We don’t know if there is anything serious going on, but too much alcohol might exacerbate whatever could be wrong. Wouldn’t you rather have a Coke, Penny?”
David took the opportunity to swoop in and remove the glass of wine.
“Hey!” Penny protested.
“I can have half a glass since I’m driving. No point in wasting what’s left,” he replied reasonably.
She glowered at him but made no further protest. Clare winked at him and fetched Penny a Coke.
* * *
They arrived home aftermidnight. Penny was asleep. Turning off the ignition and removing the key, David turned and looked at her. A tendril of hair lay across her nose, which he tenderly smoothed back from her face. The empty ache of loss clutched him while he surveyed her. Penny, yet not Penny; how often the thought recurred. He loved her but that only led him down a path of confused loyalty. How could he care for this version of Penny, when his own sweet wife was God knows where? He’d posed the question time and again without reaching a logical conclusion and it frustrated him. I am a logical man and there is no logic to be applied in this situation.
Sentiment had ruled him since he’d collected her from Heathrow, and since emotional roller coasters were alien to him, he was flummoxed. With a huff of frustration he opened the car door and stepped onto the gravel. Going around to the passenger door, he opened it and undid Penny’s seatbelt. She didn’t stir. Leaving her asleep, he went to unlock the front door.
Arriving back at his wife’s side, he scooped her out of her seat and carried her inside.
Once upstairs in the master bedroom he hesitated by the foot of the large double bed. How he longed to tuck her in and slide in beside her to spoon around her warm body and initiate some sleepy sex. His cock lengthened.
“Down, boy,” he huffed under his breath, continuing on into Penny’s little bedroom.
It didn’t take long to undress her and pull on a sleep shirt covered in pink teddy bears. Penny opened her eyes and mumbled complaints about being disturbed but once he helped to lie her down, she settled. He fetched her cleansing wipes and gently removed most of her makeup. Clicking off the light, he left her door ajar and went to prepare for bed.
* * *
Screams woke him fromdeep slumber.Penny!
Flinging back the duvet, he stumbled across the room. White light flashed, illuminating the bedroom for a brief moment. A sudden impact unbalanced him as Penny rushed at him. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he steadied them both. She sobbed into his chest.
“Hush, it’s only a storm,” he reassured gruffly, his voice still rough from sleep.
“I hate them, especially since the plane! What if I vanish and this time I go somewhere different and not back home? Oh, David, I can’t cope with living with this fear!”
