Penelope politely greeted, “Hello, my name is Penelope Seinfeld. Thank you for helping me. You were so cool!”
David responded, “Thank you for the compliment.”
Penelope was about to say something like, ‘I admire your skills…’, but Warren stopped her.
“Then, until next time,” Warren extended his hand to offer a handshake.
David accepted it, “If you happen to stop by in Manchester, I’ll treat you to dinner.”
“Sounds good,” Warren smiled.
With their goodbyes exchanged, everyone headed home.
“Who was that man just now? His skills were amazing!” Penelope asked curiously as she got into the car.
Warren glanced at her.
Penelope quickly explained, “That man accosted us, and we got him drunk. He might have felt embarrassed. It was completely accidental.”
Warren continued to look at her. No matter what she wore, she always seemed to attract attention. “Didn’t you say you would have dinner with your classmates? Why did you end up at a bar?”
“They suggested it, and I was worried about them,” Penelope replied, pouting her lips.
Warren pointed out, “They should be the ones worried because you’re there.”
Penelope paused for a moment and patted the seat. “What do you mean?!”
Warren looked at her and said, “Don’t go to these places in the future. Remember, there’s a little boy waiting for you at home.”
Penelope hid her worried expression and responded, “I won’t always run into these people. I just had bad luck today.”
Warren snorted, not fully convinced.
“You haven’t answered my question yet. Who is Mr. Lee, and how can he crush someone’s fist so easily?” Penelope asked.
“You watch the news every day. Do you know Felix Lee?” Warren asked.
Penelope tried to remember the name. She snapped her fingers. “He’s the high-ranking officer in the Royal Navy.”
“Yes, that’s David’s dad.”
Penelope blushed. “What?”
“Didn’t you mention his impressive skills? He’s a soldier,” Warren explained.
Penelope was shocked.
Trying to sound composed, she asked, “Does he have a girlfriend?”
A remarkable man like him should be introduced to the outstanding women she knew, like Monica.
Warren looked at her. “What? Are you interested in him?”
“I definitely need to introduce this remarkable man to my friends,” Penelope smiled as she explained.
Warren responded, “Just that? You have no personal interest in him?”
Penelope feigned shock, saying, “Me? My husband is much better than him. Why would I be interested in him?”
Warren chuckled, “Your lying skills are improving.”
Penelope playfully swore, “If I were interested in him, you’d know what I think in bed tonight.”
He nodded contentedly and added, “He’s been divorced for two years. His ex-wife is the youngest associate professor at one of the top three hospitals in Britain. I attended their wedding, and his ex-wife is very beautiful. So even if you had any ideas, he wouldn’t be interested.”
Penelope felt a bit disheartened. Even though she was not interested in that man, her husband still scolded her.
She took a deep breath and smiled.
****
How’s life after marriage?
Warren: “I’m certain she’ll stay by my side, so I’m happy every day.”
Penelope: “I can use his money openly!”
This question immediately revealed their differing views, but in reality, things hadn’t changed much for Penelope. He hadn’t changed, and she hadn’t changed. The only one changing was Chris.
He was getting heavier and heavier and had started teething. Around this time, Penelope finished her final exams and completed her first semester of study. Her grades weren’t exceptional, but they weren’t terrible either. However, Penelope wasn’t complacent. She set high standards for herself and enjoyed studying even during vacations. She read various books except for finance-related ones. For students, the best part was having a summer break. For Chris, the most annoying part was his mom having plenty of time every day to bother him. Six-month-old Chris could already play on his own.
His playmat was filled with all sorts of toys. He could play all day without getting tired, and Penelope loved joining in. Sometimes, she took him to see the flowers in the garden downstairs. Other times, she placed him on the sofa to listen to her poetry.
Chris’s tummy was growing bigger, maybe because he was upset with his mother and had a stomach full of anger. However, Chris was born with a bit of a stubborn streak. If there were a day when Penelope wasn’t home, he’d insist on going with Mrs. Brown to search for her.
If he couldn’t find Penelope, he’d cry until Mrs. Brown called her back. As soon as Penelope appeared at the door, he’d ask for her embrace with tears in his eyes.
Out of the blue, Warren remarked, “Chris is an affectionate boy. He has a bright future.”
Penelope responded, “Really? Won’t he seem delicate?”
He picked up a book and chuckled. “Whether it’s a man or a woman, being emotional isn’t a bad thing.”
Penelope smiled and asked, “What about me? Do you think I’m emotional?”
Warren put down the book and led her to the bed. As they undressed, he said, “This… I need to take a closer look…”
Penelope teased, “From the inside out?”
“From the inside out,” he replied with a chuckle, and they embraced each other.
Although they were newly married and filled with love, they still had their disagreements. One such issue was whether Penelope should have dinner. Penelope, being a yoga teacher, preferred not to eat dinner to maintain her figure. But she had three meals a day during pregnancy for the baby’s sake.
Now, after giving birth, she returned to skipping dinner. At first, Warren didn’t notice because he was busy with work and rarely dined at home. It was only when Mrs. Brown informed him that Penelope hadn’t eaten dinner in a week that he found out.
“You must eat; it’s not good for your health,” he insisted.
Penelope quickly comforted him, “Don’t worry. I used to do this, and my health was fine.”
“You’re still young, but as you get older, your health might suffer. Having three meals a day is a healthy habit supported by science. Don’t focus only on losing weight; you need to prioritize your health,” Warren admonished her.
Penelope remained firm in her decision not to eat dinner, citing her psychology teacher, who hadn’t eaten at night for seven years and had maintained perfect skin and health.