Behind The Truth

Penny vs Zoe part ii

June 29th. Zoe and Dave were driving home from the hospital when Zoe’s phone rang. It was the nanny.

“Zoe,” the nanny said, her voice trembling, “the kids are gone! I’ve looked everywhere at school.”

“What?!” Zoe exclaimed, her heart leaping into her throat.  “Did you ask everyone at school?”

“Yes, but they said someone took them after class and took them to a number of different places,” the nanny replied, her voice filled with panic.

Dave, his face grim, reacted angrily. “Why are you so naive? If you’d been at school earlier, this wouldn’t have happened!  Anyway, I’m calling my crew. We’re going to find them. Just stay there.”

Then Zoe remembered something crucial. “Don’t they have GPS trackers on their watches? I bought them last week!”

“Right!  But I’m still calling my crew.  We need backup,” Dave said, his voice firm despite the rising fear in his chest.

They quickly pinpointed the kids’ location using the GPS trackers.

“Aha! They’re here,” Zoe said, pointing to a location on the map.

The couple raced to the address, their hearts pounding with anxiety.  They burst through the door to find Penny and Sam sitting at a table with DM and George, who were enjoying a lavish dinner.  Suitcases were neatly stacked in a corner, and Dave spotted three airline tickets to the UK.

“Dad, what are you doing here?” Penny asked, her eyes wide with surprise, but her demeanor was calm and collected.

“And what the hell is going on here? Why are my children here without my permission? Penelope Annetoinette Morris Priest and even Samuel Peyton Jones, you’re under arrest for kidnapping!” Dave roared, his voice filled with fury.  Police officers who had been waiting outside rushed in, handcuffing Penny and Sam.

“You’re arresting us without knowing the truth! How could you do this to me? I’m your daughter!” Penny shouted, her voice echoing with disbelief and hurt.

“And I’m your father! I can’t believe you did this to your siblings! If this isn’t kidnapping, explain the luggage and those three tickets. Were you planning to sell them?” Dave thundered, his voice shaking with a blend of anger, disappointment, and pain. The scene was charged with raw emotion, the festive atmosphere of the preceding celebrations replaced by a stark reality of betrayal and conflict.

Tears streamed down Penny’s face as she began to explain.  “Do you know the truth? I tried to contact you, but my calls didn’t go through. I tried to visit my siblings, but Zoe said they weren’t home. I left their favorite treats and asked her to tell them I loved them. I tried to contact DM, but I was blocked!”

Dave’s brow furrowed in confusion.  “What? I didn’t receive any calls. I’m confused… Wait a minute. Let me see my phone.”  He pulled out his phone, checked his call log and contact list, and saw the blocked numbers. His eyes then landed on Zoe’s face, a mixture of anger and hurt in his expression.

“Zoe? Did you block her number and account on my phone?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Zoe, unable to meet his gaze, began to cry.  “Yes, I did it. And I threw away her gifts. I was jealous of her. I’m so sorry, Penny,” she sobbed.

“Okay, I’m confused,” Dave said, turning his attention back to Penny. “Then explain the luggage and the tickets. I thought you…”

Penny took a deep breath. “Dad, the truth is, I didn’t actually quit my career. I asked my boss for a six-month vacation to the US, but he gave me thirteen months so I could spend time with Grandpa. Sam didn’t quit either; he came to support me.  I didn’t come here to study medicine or nursing; I lied. I already passed my medical exams.”

Just then, Penny’s grandpa and Aunt Jean arrived. Her aunt’s voice was sharp. “Why did you lie to us? I thought you wanted to be a doctor like me.”

“I did,” Penny replied, “but I actually graduated med school without pre-med at twenty-one. I went to that school to teach first aid training.”

“How?” her aunt asked, bewildered.

“After becoming a firefighter at eighteen, while working, I enrolled in med school and graduated at twenty-two. I’m a fast learner. I finished my residency in one year,” Penny explained, her voice filled with a quiet pride.

Dave shifted his attention back to the mystery of the tickets.  “Okay, then answer my question. Why are there three tickets instead of two?”

DM stepped forward. “Dad, Mom didn’t just block Penny on your phone; she blocked her on mine too, and you grounded me. I’m sorry I didn’t ask for permission. I just wanted to go to the UK with Penny.”

“You want to go to the UK?” Dave asked, surprised. DM nodded, her eyes shining with excitement. “I have no choice but to give you permission.”

Dave turned to Penny.  “Why don’t you give us at least two weeks to process everything and sort out DM’s school?”

Penny nodded, relieved.  Dave signaled the officers to remove the handcuffs.  Hugs were exchanged, apologies offered, and the misunderstanding, born from jealousy and a series of unfortunate lies, began to unravel.  The tense atmosphere began to ease, replaced by a tentative sense of reconciliation and the promise of a family reunited.