Penelope had totally forgotten about the Auction. Her life was too hectic, too rushed to allow her the luxury of ordinary events.
Thinking back, she realized it had all begun years ago, in college. Her freshman roommate, Katherine, was her antithesis. They spent the first few weeks warily circling each other, not to sure how to co-exist in the tiny cell of their dorm room. Katherine was always perfectly dressed, perfectly groomed, perfectly on time. She met and fell in love with a perfect frat guy, and went about her day, perfectly happy.
Penelope was not perfect. She was short and a little pudgy, with features she hated. She didn't see the brightness of her soft brown eyes, the way her whole face lit up when she beamed a smile at someone. She thought her nose was too big and her dimples too deep. She found her roundness to be too much, and envied the women who effortlessly looked like sticks. But she was bright and clever, witty and so very charming. None of these traits seemed to attract shallow college men however, so Penny spent most of her days, and nights, alone.
One night, nearly October, Penelope came home to find her perfect roommate crying, mascara smeared down her perfect cheeks, blubbering into a wad of tissues. Between heart-wrenching sobs, Katherine poured out her perfectly broken heart to Penelope, sealing a friendship that would endure everything in years to come. From that night on, they were the best of friends, accepting the other's imperfections and loving each other wholeheartedly.
After college, Penny began working at an entry level job in a software company and quickly moved up into management. Katherine took a position in a very exclusive private school for young ladies, moving in the best circles of society, meeting the most eligible bachelors. When she met Robert Bennett March, her search ended and she happily agreed to be his wife.
Penelope had been maid of honor at Katherine's wedding. She had helped her move from one little apartment to another as Robert grew more successful. And she had been second in line to hear the news of her much-anticipated pregnancy. It had been Penelope who had stood in the waiting room, breathless to hear about her new niece or nephew. Penny was the third person to see and hold baby Meg, truly falling in love for the first time.
Over the years, Penny was a frequent visitor to the March household. She would arrive in time for breakfast, just to watch Meg open her adorable little mouth and eat her disgusting baby food. She took Meg to the zoo and the park and swimming lessons. Her heart melted when that tiny voice called out to 'Aunt Pelopothy'. There was nothing she wouldn't do for the child.
So, when Meg needed to sell tickets to the "Auction of Promises", Aunt Penny was right in line for the first ones. She bought tons of tickets, which pleased Meg. She beamed as she counted her money, sure that she would win the coveted prize for the most tickets sold. Penny quickly forgot the Auction, placing her wad of tickets in a box on the living room shelf. She even forgot the form she filled out, which asked for her most cherished wish. Penelope thought of the person she had searched for through the years, the man she always hoped she would find. She had whimsically described her Prince Charming, the man she had waited all her life to meet. After pensively re-reading the form, she placed it in the box with the tickets, forgetting it and continuing with her real life.
One night, there were tons of messages on her phone, most of them deletable. She listened with a smile to Meg's voice, calling repeatedly about something important, but never saying what it was. She called back, but got the machine at the March house. This went on for a few days, messages left at both households, never quite connecting with a real person, then Penelope forgot about it and went on with her busy, busy life.
After work one day, she stopped at the supermarket to buy something quick for dinner. She decided salad would be perfect and gathered all the ingredients for a huge one. She needed lemon juice for the dressing and pushed her cart in that direction, suddenly tired and eager to be home. Rounding the corner of that aisle, she saw an incredible man, gazing at the array of juices, with a smile on his face. He was tall, solidly built, with sandy hair and green eyes, behind wire-rimmed glasses, that just radiated delight in everything, even groceries. She took in his casual outfit, khakis shorts and a green Polo shirt. He wore white socks and sneakers, his long legs shapely, walker's legs.
Penny shook her head, wondering when she became a woman who assessed every male she saw. Next, she would be checking out his ass! At that thought, she couldn't help looking at his ass in the well-fitted shorts, couldn't help noting that it was, indeed, a very nice ass. Penny laughed at herself and continued down the aisle, blushing at her thoughts.
He nodded to her as she passed and returned to his studies. Penny shook her head and forced herself to recite her grocery list, to get this chore done and get home. She reached for the lemon juice bottles and noted that, once again, her favorite brand was on the top shelf....the very high top shelf. She stretched for it, her fingers not even coming close to the prize. Then she tried to step on the bottom shelf, but it felt too unstable to her. As she gazed longingly at the lemon juice, imagining her salad without it, a hand reached past her and snagged a bottle, bringing it to her. It was the green-eyed man, graciously offering her the bottle. She smiled up at him, thanking him and taking the juice happily. He brushed off her thanks, his voice smooth and polished, his smile devastating.
