BREAKING POINT

Penny wasn’t unaware of the intensity of his gaze. She lay with her head resting against the arm of the chair, a lock of dark brown hair falling across her forehead, her eyelashes dark and dusty against the pale creaminess of her cheeks. One long slim hand tucked under her chin and the other lay along her side, relaxed and beautiful in its unconscious pose.

In those minutes of observation, Joey knew that he loved this girl. That he wanted this woman to be his. It was so sudden and unexpected as the sound of the first shell burst at the start of an attack. All his life he had waited for this moment, and now the realization that it had come at last gave him the same sense of shock as one receives when one expects a loud report, and because of the anticipation is more startled at the explosion.

It took him several moments fully to understand that what he was experiencing were the birth pains of the first real love in his life. He allowed the revelation to flow over him in warm, deep waves. Only gradually did the disadvantages become apparent. He fought hard against their entry into his conscious mind, but they spread slowly like drips of cold water following up on the first warm wave.

Penelope Hampson was engaged to another man. She loved him deeply and hoped to be married to him quite soon. He Joey, would have no hope of winning her for he was all too well aware that Penny was not the type of girl to give her heart away easily. She was content in her love for this man Jeremy and it was not for him Joey, a stranger in her life.. To complicate that happiness. He knew that he would never try to win her love. It was enough just to know that she was here, would be here for three whole weeks, and that there might be some useful service he could render her.

Joey’s nature was to give and as the thoughts raced through his mind, they were only concerned with the things that he could do for Penny. He would ask for nothing in return.

Audrey descended the stairs so quietly that Joey was not disturbed in his reverie. Standing on the bottom step, his sister followed the direction of his gaze, and quickly guessed what was passing through his mind. As suddenly as Joey had known he loved Penny, so Audrey divined her brother’s feelings.

She felt as if she she were invading his privacy and consequently made a slight tap with her hand on the banister. Joey looked up.

“She’s sleeping” he whispered. “Poor sweet… She must have been very tired”

Audrey hid her anxiety behind a smile, and went across to the table collecting her laptop on the way. Joey poured himself a drink and lit a cigarette, then he leant back in his chair, puffing steadily. There was no sound but for Penny’s deep, regular breathing, and the sharp tapping on Audrey’s keyboard.

She was tapping on the keyboard alright, but tonight the tapping kept in pace with her thoughts which were racing and teeming through her brain.

If her guess was right and Joey had fallen in love with Penny what would be the outcome? Oh, if only that Jeremy hadn’t arrived on the scene when he did. She had been planning for so long that her brother and her best friend should meet. She had known all along that Penny was the type of girl Joey would like and admire and deep in her heart, unadmitted until now, she had hoped he would fall in love with her. This wretched man, Jeremy had ruined everything. As far as she could see, he had not made Penny happy, and if this fear about the baby was proved, then he had done her as much harm as any man could do a woman. Unless of course he wanted to marry her. But since she had first heard about him, Audrey had felt that he was not right for Penny. She was so sensitive, so easily hurt or upset, she needed someone more thoughtful, more considerate… Someone like Joey.

Audrey kept typing. It was silly to try and arrange other people’s lives, she told herself, and yet it did not seem as if Penny knew what was best for herself. As for Joey… He was just the sort to go and choose the hardest path. He would certainly not fight for his feelings. He was a selfless, sentimental, old fool and he would no doubt accept the situation as another burden that he was meant to carry. He certainly wouldn’t step in and try to buy Jeremy out even if he thought he might be successful. It was more than likely that if Jeremy refused to marry Penny, Joey would accept her and her child and think himself lucky at that. Poor Joey… Poor dear Joey….

“Is something bothering you Audrey?”

Joey’s voice brought an unexpected flush to her cheeks. For the first time in her life, she felt embarrassed with her brother.

“I was worrying about Penny” she said, after a moments silence.

“Why?” Joey asked.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

“She’s a bundle of nerves. You ought to know that, doctor”

“Yes, you did think as much” Joey said quietly. “But why, Audrey? What’s this fellow Jeremy like?”

“Charming, i believe” was Audrey’s comment. “But I don’t trust him. I may be wrong but my instincts tell me that he’s the type to let her down. It may be very important… That he shouldn’t”

Joey was about to ask for an explanation of this comment when Penny stirred and opened her eyes. Realizing where she was, she sat up quickly, self conscious and apologetic.

“I’m so sorry” she said, pushing her hair out of her eyes and straightening her clothes. “I really didn’t mean to pass out like that”

“There’s no crime in being tired” Joey’s voice said reassuringly. “How do you feel?”

“Awful” Penny replied

“Like a cup of tea?”

“No really. Don’t bother” Penny said.

“Think i will make it anyways. I’m a dreadful old woman about cups of tea” Joey said.

How tactfully, how pleasantly he contrived to give her what she most wanted, she reflected. She felt a rush of gratitude which must have shown in her eyes. Joey turned quickly away from those lovely shining eyes and went out to the kitchen.