Page 60 of Positively, Penelope

Penelope:I can actually imagine your expression right now. Like you stepped in dog poo. And thanks for that encouragement, even though you had to evoke a quote fromStar Warsto make it happen.

Luke:Star Trek.TREK. As I recall, you sat through watching most of the episodes with me and Dad. You should remember.

Penelope:Oh, right. The one with the flying blue phone booth that travels through time.

Luke:I disown you. And I know you’re joking now. You didn’t even likeDoctor Who.

Penelope:The robot things made me have nightmares. Besides, Captain Kirk was a cutie.

Luke:I refuse to respond to the last half of that text.

Penelope:Promise me you’ll call me on my birthday. You do remember when it is, right? I’m trying not to make a big deal out of it around here, but I feel as though twenty-four is a pretty big deal. And I have no family here. So I’ve decided that I’m going to take the day off work and go to the beach and... maybe enter the sea up to my knees. As an act of bravery.

Luke:Excellent. It’s common knowledge that sea monsters don’t like kneecaps.

Luke:And, yes, I remember when it is. It’s a life-altering event when you realize you are the lone boy born between two girls.

Text from Matt to Gwynn:Grandfather showed up to work this morning. It took a full ten seconds for me to comprehend what was happening and then another five to remember where his office is.

***

Matt’s phone buzzed to life, and he raised it to his ear.

“What is going on?” Gwynn nearly shouted. Perhaps living with Gwynn helped prepare him for Penelope’s oddities a little. Drama ran deep in the women of his family.

“Is Grandfather all right? He hasn’t been to the office in . . . what? Three years?”

“Longer, if I recall.” Matt leaned to the right to peer through his open office door where he could see into Grandfather’s office across the hall. His grandfather leaned forward at his desk, tapping at the keyboard of his computer with his index fingers. “Bless Evelyn for keeping his office in order and not letting Alec use it for storage, because Grandfather started right back into running things as if he’d never left.”

“I don’t even know what to say.” She paused as if to emphasize her bewilderment. “What do you think caused this change?”

Matt’s lips edged wide. “I think it may be more of a who than a what.”

“Penelope?” Gwynn laughed. “You think she inspired this?”

“I think her enthusiasm is contagious.” Matt leaned back in his office chair and studied a half-eaten croissant Penelope had dropped by that very morning. “And she took a special interest in Grandfather, listening to him reminisce and unravel every story about Grandmother he could remember. Perhaps he needed to do that all along. To be able to move forward?”

“If he really comes back, Matt, maybe you can stop working so hard on the business side and return to dancing.” She softened her tone, almost in entreaty. “I know you miss it.”

He did and he hadn’t realized how much until he’d danced with Penelope.

“I know you’ve been hurt so badly, but I think it’s time for you to dream again, brother.” She chuckled. “I’ll start sending Gene Kelly memes to encourage you. Who knows? Penelope might be the inspiration you need too. Bewitching and all.”

“Very funny.” But his neck grew warm anyway.

“You’re right,” she added. “She’s only here until December and is probably too young for abodachlike you.”

“I’m not an old man!”

“We’ve had a lot of wounds lately, Matt.” Gwynn sighed. “You more than the rest of us. And you’ve borne it all with such strength, but you also buried parts of the brother I once knew beneath the hurt. I can’t remember the last time I heard you laugh.”

His thoughts went immediately to his recent car ride with Penelope. He’d laughed with her.

“I think... well, I think I’m beginning to try. I mean, I did dance this week.”

“You did.” She chuckled. “And that’s a great sign of things to come. Despite the way you hide all your feelings, I know you. You love with such fierce passion, Matt. I don’t want you to give up on finding someone who will love you with as much devotion as you will love her. I know she’s out there.”

“Clearly, since you keep setting me up on all these blind dates to help me find her.”

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