Chapter 14
"Shelby, what the fu…heck are you doing here?" Jesse crossly asked the older woman as he carefully held her little girl.
"I came to pay my respects to Dr. Lieberman, Jesse, not that it's any of your business," she coldly retorted.
"Shelby, you do realize that Rachel and Noah are both there," he reminded her.
"Yes," she primly replied, "it's for Rachel's grandmother, after all, so I figured she and Puck would be here. They wanted to spend more time with Beth, and I couldn't get a sitter, so…'win-win'" she concluded with a shrug of her shoulders and a smug expression.
Jesse was stunned by his former mentor's callous attitude; instead of offering comfort to a grieving family, she was stirring up trouble, and behaving as if she was oblivious. "Were you aware that Rachel's and Noah's grandmothers were best friends, Shelby?" he queried, her self-satisfied expression melting away with every word. "His whole family is there, Shelby; mother, sister, grandmother…even his aunt and uncle and cousins. Look," he admonished, "leave now, before someone sees you and if you decide to return tomorrow, make sure you're alone. If you can't get a sitter, don't come; regardless of what you think, you won't be missed."
"I…I had no idea," she stammered, reaching for the little girl, who reluctantly relinquished Jesse's arms for her mother's. "You're right, Jesse; I don't know what I was thinking," she sheepishly admitted. She turned to return to her car when she heard "Shelby?"
Noah had gone for a walk with his grandmother, allowing themselves a breather from the emotionally draining day. As they came up the block where Rachel's aunt and uncle lived, he was startled to see Shelby, holding Beth and heading toward him, away from the house. Beth noticed Noah first, excitedly crying out "Puck! Puck! Puck!"
As he approached, she held her arms out to him; he looked at Shelby as if asking for permission, and she wordlessly handed the child to him. "Hey, Baby Girl," he teased the giggling toddler as Nana Connie looked on fondly, envisioning him a few years down the road, holding a similarly-aged child with dark curls and creamy olive skin. Beth looked curiously at the older woman, and Noah introduced them: "Bethie, this is Nana Connie. Can you say 'hi'?"
"Hello, darling," Nanna Connie cooed, as Beth looked skeptically at her, slightly wary of the stranger. "Hello, Shirley," Nana Connie looked into Shelby's eyes, coolly greeting her.
"Mrs. Cohen," Shelby hesitantly returned the greeting, greatly taken aback at their sudden presence.
"She's beautiful," Nana Connie complimented; in reply, Shelby barely managed to squeak out "Thank you" as she watched her child, contented in the arms of her biological father, and being fussed over by her biological great-grandmother.
After another minute or so, Noah reluctantly handed her back to Shelby. "Look, Shelby," he stated, "I think it's best if you go home before Rachel sees you. This isn't a good time."
"I only wanted to pay my respects to Dr. Lieberman," she weakly protested, finally aware that her appearance wasn't the best idea she'd ever had.
"I appreciate your concern, Shelby. Call her, or send a card, or make a donation; whatever you feel most comfortable doing. If you want to visit, come back next week; today, your presence will only be disruptive." He looked her in the eye and she nodded, indicating that she would acquiesce. He concluded, "Thank you for letting us visit with Beth. We have to be getting back." With Nana Connie on his arm and having expressed his concerns, Noah escorted his grandmother back to the house, entering the domicile and closing the door behind them.
"Come on, Shelby; I'll walk you back to your car," Jesse offered. Shelby fell into step beside him, Beth resting momentarily in her arms. At her car, she transferred Beth to Jesse while she opened the door, readying the car seat for its occupant.
Once Beth was secured, Shelby closed the door, turning to Jesse. "I don't know what I was thinking, Jesse," she offered, attempting to look as innocent as possible.
"Unfortunately, Shelby, I think you know exactly you were thinking," he retorted. "If you're willing to let them visit with Beth, either invite them to Columbus or drive up to Lima. Otherwise, stay out of their lives." He paused, unsure if he should continue, and then decided to "go for it". "You do realize, once Beth is of age, she can choose to seek out her parents, who will probably be happy to establish a relationship with her; at least, he will. Whether or not she resents your decision to keep them apart remains to be seen. You, on the other hand, are denying yourself access not only to your daughter, but to your own grandchildren." Shelby climbed into the car, and as Jesse closed her door, he leaned in and reminded her to "Think carefully, Shelby. There are people to consider beyond yourself."
Jesse watched Shelby drive off, shaking his head in disbelief. The woman he'd admired in high school was turning out not to be so admirable, after all. Traveling home, Jesse contemplated the scene that would have erupted, sighing in relief that Shelby had recognized her error in judgment and opted to leave, instead.
By the time Noah had returned from his walk, Kurt and Blaine had said their goodbyes and were currently on the road, somewhere between there and Lima. Rachel had rejoined her family in the house, sipping a cup of tepid coffee, lost in her thoughts. Noah joined her on the love seat, putting his arm around her shoulders and drawing her close. "You OK, Baby?" he concernedly inquired.
"As good as can be expected, Noah," she honestly replied. "I'm feeling a little tired, though," she admitted.
Rachel's aunt, who was walking by during the conversation, offered, "Rachel, honey, you're welcome to lie down in the guest room for a while. Dinner will be around six, and people will start showing up again by seven. You know the way…"
"Thanks, Auntie," Rachel acknowledged her aunt's thoughtfulness, "I think I will." Rachel walked into the kitchen, emptying her cup into the sink and washing it out, placing it carefully on the drain board.
Noah, who had followed her, now took her hand. "Come on, Baby, let's take a little nap," he encouraged. Hand in hand, Rachel led the way to the guest room. Both teens toed off their shoes and climbed onto the bed. Noah pulled Rachel close as the two young lovers spooned, and, before too long, both drifted off to a well-deserved slumber.
Author's Notes: Thus ends any significant discussion of death, dying, funerals, or mourning. I hope that it was more informative than depressing.
FYI...if you haven't read "Why Is This Night Different", Rachel's aunt was Shelby's vocal coach when she was in graduate school at OSU. Shelby's "real" name is actually Shirley; most likely, she didn't think it would look as grand on a theater marquee (Shirley MacLaine and Shirley Jones notwithstanding).