A Penny for your Thoughts

Chapter 10

Gage

My head is pounding and I hear soft voices whispering around me. "He got some very bad news and he passed out." That was Penny. "What do you mean?" That was Pop. "What happened, Penny?" Will? I hear her sob. "There now, it can't be all that bad, Love." Ross? "Is someone dying or something?" Andy? Well, the whole damn family is here. I strain to remember what happened. I came home from work to find a very upset Penny, but why was she crying? "I told him I was pregnant." Yup, that was it. I blinked my eyes open to see everyone standing around in my living room. 

"Penny, honey?" I called out and her head snapped to me, she was immediately next to me. "Oh, Gage, I am so sorry. I don't know how this could have happened, I mean I KNOW HOW it happened but." I cut her off, "Sweetheart, this isn't bad news, it's good news. I couldn't be happier." She cocked an eyebrow, "That was made perfectly clear when you fainted." Pop chuckled from behind us, "I did the same thing the first time Anne told me that she was pregnant. She beat me senseless for a week after giving her a heart attack." I grinned at him as he looked at Penny tenderly. He really did see her as a daughter and I was going to make it official. "Marry me?" Her eyes snapped up to mine, "What?" I chuckled, "I love you, Penny. I have loved you since I first laid eyes on you at Andy's wedding and I want to be your husband. I want to have a boatload of babies with you and grow old and gray with you. Please, marry me." She eyed me for a moment, "Hang on." 

She stood up and grabbed Pop, Andy, Ross, and Will, forming a huddle across the room. They were whispering for a few minutes before they broke apart and Penny came back and sat next to me,"OK, I will marry you, but I have some concessions I need from you first." I chuckled, "OK, shoot." She had a very serious look on her face and it was far too adorable. "First, don't expect me to be a perfect wife, this is very new to me. Second, I don't want to give up my job. I love working and I don't want to be stuck in the house all day while you work, like some sitcom mom. Third, I would like to buy a house outside of the city. Children need fresh air and a yard to play in. Finally, I want a puppy." 

I laughed, I couldn't help it. "Oh Penny,  I would give you anything and everything your heart desires, you are so sweet. I agree to your terms, wholeheartedly." She jumped into my arms and kissed me. When she pulled back, she had a breathtaking smile on her face. "Nice doing business with you, Mr. McMillian." Everyone laughed at her. "Now, tell us more about this baby." I asked and she nodded, "Well, apparently, I am ten weeks, so the baby will be due round about Valentine's Day. Doc says to eat healthy, take my vitamins, and check in once a month." I nodded, "Sounds about right, from what I have seen on T.V." She smacked my arm, "This is a real baby, not a T.V. baby." 

"Well, Penny, what kind of wedding do you want?" Ross asked her and she froze. "I don't really know. I know I don't want a big circus, a simple wedding would be fine with me, family and friends in a cute little church or something." I smiled, "My thoughts exactly. Do you have people from Texas to invite?" I asked her and she nodded, "My best friend, Trisha. She would lynch me if I got married without her." For the next couple of hours, we talked about wedding plans and the baby. Penny seemed happy about all of it and I couldn't be happier myself.

We climbed into bed a bit late that night, as she snuggled against my chest, I sighed, "Penny, are you happy?" She looked up at me with those big blue eyes, "More than I ever have been before. I love you, Gage." I dipped down and kissed her deeply. "I love you, Penny." The next morning, I left for work and Penny was still getting ready. I hated leaving her, I really wanted to play hooky, but I was going to need the time off for the wedding and when our baby was born. In fact, all day long, my mind whirled around what he would look like. 

I was daydreaming in my office when my assistant buzzed me, "Gage, you have a visitor." Mark's voice said. I smiled, hoping it was Penny, "Send them in, thank you, Mark." The door flew open, but it wasn't the tiny blonde I was wishing for, not at all. It was a tall, red-headed model, Lana Dupont. I groaned, we dated for a few months about three years ago and she left the country for work, so we ended things. "Gage, Darling! I missed you!" She squealed and the sound of her voice annoyed me. "What do you want, Lana? I am kind of busy today." She scoffed, "You are never too busy for me, Gage. I missed you and wanted to come and see you, maybe have a little fun on your lunch break, just like we used to." 

Before I could say a word, the voice I longed to hear answered, "I don't even think so, missy." A very pissed off but sexy, Penny strolled into my office with a basket in her hand. "Who the hell are you?" Lana barked. Penny smirked, "I'm Penny, who are you?" Lana narrowed her eyes, "Lana, Gage's girlfriend." Penny laughed, "Oh and where have you been for the past year?" Lana turned to me, "Who is this bumpkin, Gage?" I smiled as I strode over to Penny and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her to me, "My fiancee, Penny." Her face was priceless.