"Enjoying life, huh?" asked Penny. "Not as much as I should. There's some talk of research work and I may find my self working with a new partner. That will make me a senior, which would be a step up financially" "I'm glad. You deserve it" said Penny. He looked at her with an emotion he was trying hard to repress. "Penny, I want make it clear to you that I'm in good position to look after you and the baby. I know you are worried about being in this alone. I do nothing but think about you. I know the position but he won't be here before the baby is born, that's certain " Penny turned away. All the old feelings of insecurity and despair shivered through her. "No. He won't be here" she said in a low voice. "Then how about you stay and let me be here for you.... Till Jeremy comes" She looked at him, her face crimson, her

"Sometimes I don't understand your gender" Joey said with a smile. "You guys can be so inconsistent sometimes" "The only men who do understand women are those with quantities of experience" Audrey said wisely. "They are the dangerous ones because they know just how to act... And attract. Jeremy is a typical example" "Audrey, I believe you hate him" Joey said. "It isn't often I hate anyone. But you are right. I do hate Jeremy. I blame him for putting Penny in this position. Oh I know she is to blame too, but she loved him and she is, nor ever would be, the promiscuous type. She really believed deep in her heart that Jeremy wanted to be with her and wanted to marry her once it became financially possible. But I don't think Jeremy ever meant to. I don't think he will.... In spite of the baby. I think he will walk out on her when she tells him about it. Penny fears it but she refuses to believe it. And frankly Joey, I hope h

"Oh, you will be worse before you are better, dear. Now, don't you carry on. You will forget all about it when it's over. I have seen dozens vowing that they will never have another baby while this is going on and once it's over they start talking about their next " Penny gave an hysterical laugh. Her next! There might never be a next. Perhaps this would be her last. Oh God, what a pain... It would be her last. She was not going through this again for anybody. Joey called up that he was in touch with the doctor and he would be here shortly. Audrey left Penny to nurse Caroline, and suddenly Penny felt horribly deserted, left in the hands of a stranger who had complete control over her just as this pain was controlling her body. She could not get away from any of it. Nurse Caroline was a nice little woman with grey hair and powerful spectacles behind which there beamed a pair of blue and kindly eyes.. 

"She may want you, Audrey. She will be coming round now" Audrey ran up the stairs, hesitating for a brief moment outside the bedroom door. With a sudden pang of desolation, she thought : 'If things had worked out between Alex and I, my children would have been born here in this house,... In that room' She brushed aside such reflections and knocked on the door. Penny felt as if she were returning from a long, long way... From eternity itself. She opened her eyes to see Audrey bending over her. For an instant she did not speak but she listened and heard the cry of a baby... Her baby, an amazing exciting sound. It was an incredible relief to be able to lie quite still without suffering, no more of that awful, racking pain, just to lie drowsily, contentedly, listening to the cries of the new born baby. "Is it a boy or a girl?" she whispered, and was surprised at the effort it cost he

"I'm certain he smiled this morning" Penny said eagerly. "Really, Joey, don't laugh, he did. His little face wrinkled up and I thought for a moment he was going to cry, but he smiled instead"  "Wind" remarked Joey caustic ally, and Penny joined in the general laughter.  Audrey took another parcel from the tree and handed it to Penny. Opening it, she found a thin, gold bracelet on the inside of which Joey had had inscribed : 'For Penny, with love'  "Oh Joey" she whispered. "It's beautiful"  'But I can't accept it' she thought. 'It must have been very expensive. I shouldn't take it' "Please, Penny, put it on" Joey said quietly as if he had understood her thoughts. "It would give me so much pleasure" Obediently, Penny slipped the bracelet over her hand. The gold links felt cold against the warmth of her flesh. Slowly it t