Page 62 of Positively, Penelope

The song “Concerning Hobbits” started playing from Penelope’s phone. She smiled and placed the phone to her ear. “Hi, Izzy.”

“You’re not a failure, Penn.” Izzy’s voice slid over Penelope with a sweet sense of home. “Believe me, I know what it feels like to second-guess and waffle around like a one-flippered seal.”

“A one-flippered seal?” Penelope laughed, closing her eyes to enjoy Izzy’s familiar voice.

“Okay, not the best analogy, but I understand trying to find where you belong. To be honest, if Brodie had come into my life when I was twenty-three—”

“Almost twenty-four,” Penelope amended.

“Almost twenty-four,” Izzy repeated with added emphasis, “and asked me to move to Skymar, there’s no way I could have done it. I wasn’t ready. Just because your heart loves home doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Home may be exactly where you’re supposed to be for now, and then somewhere else may turn into home in the future. And even if the rest of your life is spent in these Blue Ridge Mountains with the joys of family and theater and the familiar all wrapped around you, then I’d consider that a pretty wonderful life too. Like Samwise.”

“Your dog?” Penelope could almost feel Izzy’s smile. “Okay, I know. The hobbit.” Penelope settled into the thought. She’d never pictured being a hobbit. The elven ladies with their lovely gowns always appealed to her more, but how could she argue against the virtues of a hobbit who carried the love and hope of home with him through the greatest perils, only to find his greatest contentment and joy in returning home at the end of the story? “Who are you to talk, anyway? You’re the woman who is moving across the world to be with her Bookish Charming.”

Penelope could almost feel Izzy’s dreamy smile. “I am. And I’m going to miss this place and especially my family, but I know in my heart that I belong there with Brodie. And I’m ready to belong there, Penn. But don’t discount the good of staying near what you’ve always known. There’s no shame in that.”

Penelope ran her finger over the edge of the plate in front of her where half the quiche she’d cut for herself still waited uneaten. No, there wasn’t. And to live her dream of running her own theater? While near her beloved mountains and family? Something in her embraced the idea with full heart and hands.

“I think you’ve convinced yourself of an idea that isn’t necessarily true.” Izzy chuckled. “You do that sometimes.”

“I know.” She dropped back in the chair, digesting Izzy’s words. “And you’re right. I think I may have gotten lost in those fairy tales and famous-people stories a bit too much. Imagine that.”

“Hey, you may talk the fairy-tale-musical talk, but you have a very good head on your shoulders. When youmustreturn to the real world, you know how to handle it.”

“Thanks, Iz.”

“And it sounds like the job with JMC will allow you to travel a little, so you could possibly get home and a little fairy tale too.”

“That’s true.” She nodded as if Izzy were in the room to see her. “There’s a lot to be said for living the life of my favoritest of hobbits.”

“Exactly.” Her voice warmed with her ardent devotion. “And don’t let your love of home stop you from loving the right now, too, Penelope. You have so much love to give people, and you may even be surprised at how much love can come back to you in the process. From Grandpa Gray or the theater group or Iris, or even the Gray boys. I’m a living example of the unexpected becoming the best decision of my life.”

Penelope dipped her chin with determination. “Then that’s who I’m going to be. A hero at home or abroad.”

“Perfect. Seize the day and pump your sunshine all over the place.”

They exchanged a few other updates and then ended the call, only to have Penelope’s phone buzz with a message.

Text from Izzy to Penelope:Just a quick reminder of a quote from one of your favorite childhood storybooks,Winnie-the-Pooh: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

Penelope smiled down at the message and then looked out the window into the deep blue-purple of “gloaming,” as the natives called the dusk. It was a perfect word for the dying glow of sunset into the twinkling glow of stars. There was a sweetness in loving home, but—her smile grew—a sweetness in the new too. She closed her eyes and drew in a long, deep breath, gratitude pressing into herchest. Yes, she’d take all the strength and joy she’d learned at home and sprinkle it through her last weeks in Skymar. Love big, celebrate authentically, and embrace the relationships God had brought to her along the way.

And she’d learned so much already. About herself and her work. About people she’d grown to care about.

She opened her eyes and walked to the window, staring up at the stars. And surprisingly, just talking through her heart struggles brought about a wonderful sense of contentment. An acceptance of the now, wherever the now might take her.

It was impossible to think of the present without her thoughts moving in the direction of Matthias, which made her realize she’d never sent him a message earlier about a certain rumor she’d heard.

Text from Penelope to Matthias:You hired Dani???? That’s an amazing decision.

Matthias:I think your encouragement along the lines of getting more involved with the community theater has truly made me reassess a lot. I’ve even found a few of Grandmother’s old contacts and have been making calls most of the afternoon.

Penelope:That’s wonderful, Matt. I know you want to do more than work on the budget and I know you love these people. I’m so glad you’ve found your joy for it again!

Penelope:And Grandpa Gray was in the office again today!! (He looked ten years younger too.)

Penelope:I adore bow ties. He looks incredibly dapper in them. I told him so and promptly kissed his cheek. He hugged me! I feel as though I’m deficient in hugs since leaving home and that one just made my day.

Matthias:It sounds as though a visit with Iris is long overdue. And she will fill your hug quota to overflowing.

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