* * *
Ed had taken the news of Penny’s pregnancy pretty calmly, considering.-He had been a little concerned at Penny’s having to go through that again at her age.-And, he knew that mid-life pregnancies were more risky both for mother and baby—or babies.-He was quite aware that Penny could be carrying twins again.-As for Candy and Andy, they seemed to have mixed feelings.-They just might be a little jealous; maybe a bit embarrassed, but, all in all, considerably excited there would be another little one around to play with.
As for Penny, she took turns laughing and crying; but, of course, that was, at least partially, hormones.-Without a doubt, she would love another child with all her heart but she still had some misgivings about her ability to cope with the situation.-She felt, too, that it was incongruous that she would have a child and a grandchild the same age.-Sure, she knew it happened; but somehow it just seemed out of place.-It happened to other people—not Penelope Marie Wroe.
When Penny and Ed went back in two weeks for the ultra-sound, they realized they were almost as excited as they had been when she was pregnant about six years ago with the twins.-Would there be two tiny little lives inside her this time?-The doctor let them both look at the ultra-sound with him and when the image came up on the screen, it appeared to be a normal, healthy little girl; at least they couldn’t see a “weenie” as the doctor put it.-The “weenie” had been prominently on display when Chrissy had gotten her ultra-sound a few days earlier.-So Johnny and Chrissy would be having Thomas Allan, “Tommy", for short.
Ed and Penny had talked about names but they decided to wait and see, first of all, how many; and the sex, before they did much name-choosing.
“I’d kind of like to name her after Aunt Lorraine.-After all, they did leave us this house and farm.-I had thought about naming a boy ‘Calhoun’ and call him ‘Cal’ but since it seems we’ll have another girl, how about calling her ‘Lorrie Anne?’”-
“That would be after your mother, Anna Lou, and Aunt Lorraine; and I like ‘Lorrie’; that’s a cute name.-Little Lorrie, how are you baby girl?” Ed said as he gently patted Penny’s already pooching tummy.-Penny dissolved into tears.-No reason, really, except hormones and just because Ed was being so sweet.-
Penny found herself teary-eyed again when she called her Aunt Genny and Uncle Jack to tell them her news.
"I feel like such an idiot.-I called to tell you I would be a grandmother in August and now I'm calling to let you know I'll also be a new mother in August.-I had been so sure I was through with my monthly cycles and here I am pregnant."
"Penny, dear, you act as though you're the first woman who had children as young or younger than her grandchildren.-It happens all the time, honey.-You mustn't feel badly about it.-You're such a terrific mother, the good Lord just decided you needed one more.-It is just one this time, isn't it?"
"Yes, thank goodness!-I know I'm going to love this little one every bit as much as I do the three I already have but…..I don't know.-I just feel so old and I'm going to be a grandmother."-Her voice caught on a small sob but she managed to finish the conversation without breaking down completely.
Penny insisted that Ed should call his father and brother in California and tell them and he finally agreed to do that.-Ed wasn't really what you'd call delighted about the new baby but, like Penny, he knew he would love it dearly when it got here.
Things, it seemed, were slowly getting back to normal.-Johnny talked to the sheriff fairly often and learned that things were looking up in that department as well.-Of course they couldn’t give out any details but he could know that the investigation was definitely progressing and plans were being made. The new house was almost done.-There was still a little inside work to be completed.- But, if all continued to go well, they should be living in the new house before the babies were born.-Dr. Jennings was still predicting August twelfth for both of them and both Penny and Chrissy were ‘showing.’ They had made a trip to Owensboro last week to buy some maternity clothes and some things for the babies.-
Grandmother Lydia was still rather weak and Janet and Bruce had elected to stay on.-In fact, Bruce had made an announcement as he and Janet were getting ready for bed the evening before.
“I’ve been thinking about it and I’ve about decided to see if there are any openings with the engineering firms in Owensboro.-I do like living in Kentucky and I feel we’re actually needed here.-With the new baby coming, Johnny and Chrissy aren’t going to be in a position to watch after Lydia as she needs to be looked after.-So, what would you think about making this a semi-permanent move to Kentucky?”
“Oh, Honey, I think that would be a fantastic idea.-Mom does need us and I think the family back home would understand.-Kathleen will graduate in a few weeks from high school and will be entering college in the fall.-I guess we could give her the choice of coming to live with us and going to school here or staying there.”
“Yes, but with Sean married now, I’m thinking he’ll prefer staying in Athenry in Ireland to be near Marcie’s family.-I remember Grandma Bonnie saying, ‘a daughter’s a daughter for all of her life; but a son is a son ‘til he takes him a wife.’-And I guess it’s probably a true statement.”
“If you’re sure you want to do this, I’m just so pleased, Bruce.”-Janet was actually more than pleased; she was relieved.-She had hated the idea of leaving her mother alone now that they were reunited.-It had taken twenty-five years for Lydia to forgive her for running off and getting married without her permission.-Now, as two adults they had formed a bond as mother and daughter and an even deeper rapport as friends.-It was wonderful to have a mother for a friend, too, and Janet felt that it would be really painful to give up that closeness now.
So it was settled; they would stay in Kentucky at least as long as Lydia was alive and needed them.-Lydia was already finding it difficult to climb the stairs, so with her consent, she and Bruce and Johnny had moved her bedroom to the first floor.-There had already been a bedroom on the first floor; but Lydia enjoyed having the furniture she had used for years.-Therefore, they had swapped the bedroom suite on the second floor with the one that had been on the lower level.-That way Lydia had all the things she was accustomed to having around her still close and she didn’t need to climb the stairs so often.-They had put up new wallpaper in the downstairs bedroom and painted and fixed it up, put down new carpeting, put up new drapes and bought new comforters for her bed.-It did look nice and Lydia loved it.
Lydia declared she was well enough now to do most of the cooking and that was her contribution.-If, on occasion, Lydia looked a little too tired, Janet would insist on fixing the meals that day.-Janet also took care of the cleaning, the laundry and other household chores.-Of course, Bruce did the feeding, the milking, and took care of the lawn and other outdoor jobs.-Everything was working out well and everybody seemed happy and contented.-If Lydia felt up to it, Janet would take her on her shopping trips and Lydia seemed to enjoy that very much.
Often, in the evenings, the phone would ring and it would be for Lydia.-Janet kept teasing her mom until she found out it was Ed's father, Fred, who was calling.-She would hear her mother almost giggling like a teenager sometimes and she couldn't help wondering what on earth she and Fred were talking about.-But she was happy for her mother and so glad she was feeling enough better to be joking and teasing.