Chapter Two

Penny's mind had indeed given up thinking about being trapped in a burning for the time being. The truth remained that there was a part of her that would have much preferred thinking about escaping an inferno than the task with which she was engaged.

She was a graphic designer, excuse me, an ex-graphic designer; not a people person. Getting emotional with a fellow from her sex was about as appealing as dealing with smoke and water damage. And the worse part was that it was her own stupidity that put her in this position. Why did her glibness always seem to get the best of her?

After brushing her hair and locating her car keys, she knew she would have to make a decision about Joan. Should she just go over there and manhandle the girl emotionally so it became Joan’s fault. No, that even seemed a little cruel for Penny. Perhaps she should just apologize plainly, and maybe even give Joan a dose of the truth. The two of them were just too young to give the marriage thing a proper go.

But there was her mother in her head, "Penny, don't you project yourself onto those young people. Leave them alone."

Perhaps stopping at the coffee shop on the corner and taking a couple of lattes over would be just the thing. No, Lattes would not work with a Vegan. And probably the idea of a glazed scone would be out as well since they probably contained eggs or milk or some such product that came out of an animal.

Flowers. She could take flowers. Joan liked flowers. She had spent the last several months outside the little house that she and Rog lived in, putting in various colored this and thats. Penny had no real notion of plants or flowers; they were just beautiful burst of color. She appreciated this side of Joan, and was a tab bit envious of the green thumb that the younger girl cultivated.

No, flowers were not a good idea. Joan would have her own and they would probably be prettier than any generic bouquet Penny would choose. Alcohol was out of the question because the girl was not even old enough to contemplate drinking Champagne at her own wedding. Sparkling grape juice for all. Penny made a mental note to take a flash of Jack with her on that fateful day.

Well, she though, I guess she just gets me and that will have to do.

By this time, she had left her apartment, locked the door, gingerly stepped into the elevator and breathed a relieved sigh that she would not have to talk to anyone on the ride door. Four floors could take a little while sometimes.

Once outside her apartment, she waved goodbye the guard, whom she was not sure she had ever seen before and walked two blocks to her car. She was a little sad to have to give up the parking place. If she had stayed in the spot, she should not have had to get up in the morning and move the vehicle like she would on the streets around the apartment.

But before she could get into her car, much less even get the correct key out to open the door, she felt the pressure of someone’s hand grasping around her arm.