BREAKING POINT

She could suggest to him they get married quietly and that she went back to Cornwall when she began to grow bigger… Have the baby there. Then he didn’t have to bothered with the difficult part of pregnancy. Funny that she had not felt sick or faint.

“What are you thinking about?” Jeremy asked suddenly. “It isn’t so often you stay silent for any length of time”

“Oh just day dreaming about Cornwell” Penny told him, letting the opportunity pass. “there, I have finished now. Let’s make a cup of tea and go back to the sitting room”

“I’m gonna miss you tomorrow night, honey. Wish we’d thought of that sooner. You could have easily have gone down the next day”

“I have already told Audrey to expect me tomorrow” Penny told him. “Never mind, darling. I’ll be there when you get there”

“Mmmm” murmured Jeremy. “Still wish you weren’t leaving me alone tomorrow night”

Penny smiled in the dark, knowing that it was worth s night away from him to hear him say he hated to be without her. But she knew better than to tell him. Every sign of his love was precious to her and she felt that her instinct had not been wrong when she had decided to share her whole life with him. These last few weeks had brought them very close, and from all appearances, Jeremy was more in love with her than before. As for herself… She knew she could not think of a life which did not include him. Any ambitions she might have had for a career as an artist were completely replaced by her plans for the future as Jeremy’s wife. Her thoughts merged slowly into sleep.

Penny had breakfast the next morning and started her journey to Cornwell. While she was struggling with her suitcase and dog, a young man offered to help her into her seat. He appeared to be traveling to the same place and after a few preliminary remarks, Penny discovered that this was actually Audrey’s brother, Joseph Raines, whom Audrey called Joey.

“What an amazing coincidence” she said, holding out her hand. “I have heard so much about you of course, I knew you were coming down today. But never thought I would meet you on the bus”

“So you are Penelope Hampson” Joey said, holding her hand firmly in his own. “Audrey must have mentioned you a hundred times in her texts and calls. I fell like I know you already. It’s very nice to finally meet you. You are not at all as I imagined you”

Penny studied the dark haired, hazel eyed officer sitting opposite her. She said after a moments hesitation.

“I think I might have recognized you. You do look like Audrey… Especially about the eyes and the shape of your faces.

He seemed embarrassed by this and Penny suddenly realized that the man… Doctor or not… Was really shy. She wondered if he were like this with all women… So very different from her Jeremy.

“Are you glad to be coming back home?” she asked Joey, making conversation to relieve the awkwardness of the moment.

“Yeah I am” he said. “I had some very interesting work to do with you medical corps up there… But I suppose like everyone else I want to settle down to my job as a doctor… Plus I get to see my sister. I have really missed her”

Penny nodded. “You are lucky to have your profession waiting for you” she said. “My fiance has no idea if he’s ever going to get the job he wants”

“Are you engaged?” Joey asked in a tone of surprise. And realizing that his question had been kinda personal and perhaps a little rude, he added hastily, “I mean, Audrey never told me. Of course, I should have known that anyone as pretty as yourself without be bound to get engaged… Or maybe have a boyfriend.. Or something”

His compliment was awkward and Penny observed that he was embarrassed again. He appeared Ill at ease after Jeremy who was so assured. The two men were complete opposites, she thought, but she liked Joey nevertheless. There was something attractive about his short nose, the deep serious eyes underneath that thick short black hair. It was not curly like Jeremy’s, but straight and wiry and very thick. His eyes dominated his face. They were such an extraordinary shade of hazel… Deep green, really, and very serious. Even even embarrassed, he held her glance without wavering. Penny had an impression of calm and strength. Physically, was shorter than Jeremy. His shoulders were square and he didn’t have Jeremy’s length of leg or litheness of body. But he was very good looking.

Penny suddenly realized that she had been starting. A faint color rose to her cheeks. It was her turn to blush. ‘Jeremy says I’m very feminine’ she thought. ‘too feminine sometimes. I ought not to look at other men’

When she faced Joseph Raines again, she saw that he was smiling… As if something had amused him. She wondered if she had been the cause of his amusement. He must have read her thoughts, for he said,

“It’s funny.. Our meeting like this. I have really known you for years.. Yet never met you. I feel as if I have known you for much longer”

“I feel as if I have known you too. It’s because we both love Audrey”

“I hope we are going to be good friends. Are you coming to stay for long?” he asked her.

“Three weeks. That is, if you can put up with me. My fiancé has some work to do and I hope to be able to see something of him while I’m here”

“Are you going to be married soon?” Joey asked suddenly.

“It depends rather on Jeremy’s job… When he gets his dream job” Penny said. “He doesn’t want to get married now because he’s worried about expenses and the fact that he might not be able to concentrate.. So I don’t suppose we will be married just yet”

“I see” Joey replied. “Well, I hope you will be very happy”

Penny looked at him. This brother of Audrey’s was a strange young man. A bit brusque… He had none of Jeremy’s facile grace and manner. He was obviously not used to the company of women. Perhaps he did not like the opposite sex.. Which was, in itself, a challenge. She would be especially nice to him and make him change his mind about her, as a friend for the future, she thought.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.