Chapter 10
Kurt returned to New York the following day, eager to start his new job. Quinn flew back to Connecticut shortly thereafter to ready her apartment before the summer semester began. She had become friendly with a girl in her degree program and they hit it off well enough to sign a year lease for a two-bedroom apartment close to the Yale campus.
The unexpected will always turn the most ordinary days upside down. Sometimes this is a good thing, and other times, unfortunately, it is not. Such was the case barely a week after the party.
Noah was busy at the Temple, working out a schedule for the summer "camp" program, interleaving crafts with singing and story times, making sure there were enough volunteer adults for their annual trip to the Columbus Zoo, and checking to verify that the sports equipment was still in working condition.
Rachel had taken to her job at the law office with minimal training. She greeted guests and helped them find their attorneys, answered the phone, and assisted the administrative assistants. Everybody had been helpful and friendly and she had her Dad's company during the drive to and from the office. If there was any gossip behind her back because she was one of the senior partners' daughters, she didn't really care; she had dealt with much worse in high school and had managed to survive four years, so the summer would be a cake-walk in comparison.
It was Tuesday at 9:30 in the morning when Millie, her Dad's admin stopped by the desk. Her usually cheerful expression seemed forced, and she asked Rachel to go to her Dad's office. She told Rachel that she would mind the desk in the meantime, and Rachel felt a chill run down her spine. She walked the distance to LeRoy's office, wondering what was going on, growing more concerned with each step she took. She knocked on the slightly ajar door, and LeRoy asked her to come in.
"Dad, what's the matter?" she asked, her voice laden with concern.
"Pumpkin, please sit down for a minute," he gently requested.
She did as he asked, worriedly restating her question, "Please tell me, Dad, what's the matter?"
"Bubbe suffered a heart attack this morning, honey," he told her as gently as possible.
Rachel's eyes welled up with tears, and she hesitantly asked, "Is she gonna be OK?"
LeRoy sighed, replying, "We really don't know, yet, Rachel. I just got off the phone with Auntie Sophie, and it sounds pretty serious." Rachel's tears had now started rolling down her face, and her father handed her a tissue. "We're going to Columbus, Rachel. Millie will take over your duties while we're out of town. Daddy is already on his way home. Come on, let's get going."
Rachel stood up, and LeRoy approached her, grabbing her in a fatherly hug. Rachel began sobbing uncontrollably. "Shh, Rachel, honey; dry your tears," he advised. "Don't worry yourself needlessly. We'll find out what's going on once we're in Columbus." He slid his laptop into his briefcase and carried it out, free arm wrapped around his frightened daughter's shoulders. They stopped by the front desk to gather Rachel's belongings and, wordlessly, they walked out of the building, entered the SUV, and headed for home.
Through her silent tears, Rachel garnered enough presence of mind to call Noah.
Noah's cell phone began ringing "Sweet Caroline". He smiled and answered the phone "Hey, Baby, what's up?" The last thing he expected was a sobbing Rachel, who broke down at the sound of his voice. "Oh, Noah, Bubbe had a heart attack," she brokenly explained. "We're going to Columbus, and I don't know when we'll be back."
"Baby, I'm so sorry," he consoled her, trying to maintain his composure. Rachel's Bubbe was basically a second grandmother to him, and his heart broke at the sound of her crying. "Rach, I'm gonna talk to Cantor Mike and meet you in Columbus," he avowed.
"Noah, you can't just leave your job," Rachel concernedly admonished.
"Baby, camp doesn't start for another ten days, so don't worry about it. I'll see you later…Love you."
Rachel smiled through her tears, replying, "I love you, too, Noah. Thank you."
Rachel looked up dazedly from her phone, explaining, "Dad, Noah said he'll meet us in Columbus later this afternoon." LeRoy was deeply touched by how much Noah cared for his daughter and looked forward to the day when he could call him "son(-in-law)".
Their drive was over all too quickly, and Rachel and LeRoy somberly entered the house, quickly going to their respective bedrooms to pack. As Rachel was gathering her things together, she overheard Hiram remind LeRoy to take a dark suit. Her face fell at the thought of her Daddy's admission, and she struggled to keep her tears at bay. When Hiram entered her bedroom shortly thereafter, she could no longer restrain herself from crying.
He sat down on the bed and motioned that she come to him. Rachel joined him, and he hugged his tearful daughter, kissing her on the forehead. "Daddy, will Bubbe be all right?" she hopefully asked.
"That would be wonderful, Pumpkin," he admitted, "but it's not very likely. The heart attack caused extensive damage, and, at 86, she's not a candidate for surgery. I'm telling you this, Rachel," he confided, "because you're an adult, now, and we want you to understand the situation rather than fill you with false hope."
"Oh, Daddy, I'm so sorry," she cried, clinging tightly to her father.
Hiram sighed; death was never easy, and, although he was dealing with his mother's imminent passing, his current obligation was to calm his daughter. He rubbed her back and held her until her tears had subsided. He broke the hug, one arm still around her shoulders, and gently recommended, "Rachel, I'd suggest that you pack something dark…"
Rachel immediately responded, "I just bought a new black jersey dress…"
"No, honey," he corrected her, "nothing new. New clothes are for festive occasions. Please take something you've worn before; I'm sure you have plenty of options," he reminded her, winking.
"Oh, Daddy," she teased him through her waning tears, "now isn't the time to remind me about the size of my wardrobe."
"Come on," he gently prodded her, "let's finish packing and get going."
Something suddenly occurred to her: "Daddy, what about Sam?"
Hiram replied, "I spoke with Ms. Schuester and asked her to call Sam to her office. I talked to him there and explained the situation. Naturally, he wanted to leave, but I told him that he needed to stay in school, and I would call and let him know of any changes in the situation." He looked at Rachel pointedly, continuing, "After all, Commencement is next week, and he has to concentrate on his finals."
"Tomorrow is the last day for seniors," Rachel reminded him.
"Well then," Hiram replied, "Knowing Sam, I expect we'll see him Thursday. Your Bubbe is quite fond of that boy."
"As he is of her," Rachel acknowledged.
By 2 PM, the Berrys arrived at the intensive care unit in the OSU Wexner Medical Center and were directed toward the waiting room. Seated among the other patients' families and loved ones were Sophie and Max (Hiram's sister and brother-in-law), heads together in quiet conversation, and Rachel's Zadie, currently reading a story to his great-grandchildren, 13-month-old Madison on his lap, and three-year-old Jeremy, who was thoroughly engrossed in the story, seated on the chair next to him.
Upon seeing her brother approach, Rachel's Aunt Sophie stood up, and as they embraced, she began to cry. "Oh, Hi, I can't believe it…I just talked to her last night." Hiram did his best to comfort his sister, taking her hand and sitting down next to her, LeRoy sitting beside Hiram. They began a quiet conversation (LeRoy, Hiram, Sophie, and Max) as Rachel approached her grandfather, kissing him on the cheek and sitting down next to him, taking Jeremy onto her lap in the process. She sat quietly, absent-mindedly toying with her little cousin's curls. A few minutes later, Karen (Rachel's cousin and the children's mother) entered the room, sitting down beside Rachel.
"How is she?" Rachel quietly asked.
"She's resting, now, Rachel. Give her a little time; then you can go back for a visit. I think she's looking forward to seeing you," Karen suggested, smiling sadly.
"The children are beautiful, Karen," Rachel commented as she held the little boy who had found a comfortable place in her lap and snuggled in.
Karen smiled, more broadly, now, replying, "Thanks, Rachel. They're amazing. You'll love being a mom."
Rachel smiled demurely and blushed. Before she had a chance to reply, Noah walked into the waiting room with his Nana on his arm. He scanned the room hurriedly, eyes resting on Rachel and her cousin talking, the little one nestled into her lap. He envisioned Rachel holding a toddler with dark curls instead of Jeremy's sandy brown, and he felt a little flip in his chest and a small smile cross his lips. As his Nana left his side to speak with Rachel's fathers, aunt, and uncle, Noah approached Rachel.
"Hey, Baby," he said quietly, bending down to kiss his girlfriend.
"Noah, thank you for being here," she responded, returning his kiss as her eyes yet again welled up with tears.
Karen stood up motioning to her grandfather, "Come, on, Zadie, let's say 'hi' to Nana Connie." She first took the baby from her grandfather, helping him to steady himself, and then handing a drowsy Madison back to him. She extricated a reluctant Jeremy from Rachel's arms, and the little group walked away, giving Rachel and Noah a few minutes of privacy.
Rachel stood and was quickly enveloped in Noah's strong arms. He felt her body shudder as she became wracked with silent sobs. "Shh, Baby, I'm here," he told her, rocking her gently.
As the two teens stood there, locked in each other's arms, the effect was not lost on their family. "So, Uncle LeRoy," Karen teased, "have you booked the Temple, yet?"
LeRoy and Hiram looked at each other knowingly before he replied, "Not until they finish college, dear."
By this time, Rachel and Noah had sat down, his left arm around her shoulders and their right hands joined, fingers intertwined. Rachel rested her head against Noah and closed her eyes. He kissed her on the top of her head, whispering, "Rest, Baby."
While Rachel and Noah were lost in their own protective bubble, Nana Connie visited and returned from Rachel's Bubbe. "Rachel, dear," Nana Connie addressed her softly, gaining her attention, "your Bubbe would like to spend some time with you."
Rachel opened her eyes, smiling gently at the Noah's grandmother. "May Noah come, too?" she inquired.
"Of course," Nana Connie replied, "I'm sure she would love to see him, as well."
The two teens stood up, and, hand in hand, left the waiting area, walking down the long corridor until they reached the room. They approached the bed as Rachel's Bubbe's face registered delight at seeing her not only her granddaughter but her boyfriend, as well. "Rachel; Noah, how lovely to see you!" she softly greeted them. Rachel quietly said "Bubbe" at the same time as Noah called out "Bubbe Ess". They each kissed her cheek, and then sat down in the two chairs near to the bed.
"So, children, I heard you're putting on a play," the older woman began.
"Yes, Bubbe, 'Peter Pan'," Rachel answered.
"How lovely, dear," her grandmother commented. "And you're 'Peter', I trust," she commented with a smile.
Rachel nodded her head, further elucidating, "And Noah will be 'Captain Hook'."
Rachel's Bubbe smiled (albeit tiredly), replying, "I think you'll be great, dear…both of you."
"Thanks, Bubbe Ess," Noah acknowledged her compliment. "It's for a good cause. They're setting up an awards program at McKinley in Finn's memory, and the play'll fund the awards."
"That's wonderful, children," she commented. "I'm so proud of both of you. One year of college under your belts, living on your own, getting good grades…staying out of trouble…" she cocked her eyebrow a bit and looked at Noah, who chuckled at her thinly veiled reference to his past behavior.
"Don't worry, Bubbe Ess; that's all behind me, now," Noah confirmed.
Noah took Rachel's hand as they sat and chatted for another few minutes; inconsequential things that didn't really matter, as if nothing was wrong and everything would go on as before. Shortly, it was apparent that Rachel's grandmother had tired, and the two teens bid her farewell, kissing her on the cheek again and telling her that they loved her. Her parting words were: "Make sure to give Samuel my love. Always be good to each other, children."
As Rachel and Noah made their way back to the waiting room arms wrapped around each other, Rachel burst into tears, expressing her worst fears: "Noah, she's not getting better, is she?"
Noah drew Rachel closer, confessing, "I honestly don't know, Rach. I guess it's just a 'waiting game', now."
Sophie's son Jason had gotten off early from the physical therapy clinic where he was working for the summer, and, by ones and twos, the friends and family visited with Rachel's grandmother. The last to go in were Rachel's Zadie and Nana Connie, her closest friend for 80 years, and Hiram and Sophie. They returned about a half-hour later, ashen-faced, and Hiram simply announced, "She's gone."
Author's Notes: Unfortunately, the actress whom I originally "cast" in this role passed away a couple of months ago, so this, although very sad, was the most appropriate thing I could do. It will, however, serve as impetus for a couple of story points (that are significantly less sad in nature).