Hello Lovely Readers!
It's been a while, I know. Here is the next update! In this chapter the Corcoran's go camping! This is more of a light-hearted, comedic, fun chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 36: The Corcoran Camping Adventure
Beep Beep!
"All aboard!" Susan called out of the front door of the RV.
"It's not a cruise ship mom." Shelby mocked struggling with her bags down the driveway.
"You're right! It's better than a cruise ship." Susan winked. Shelby's sarcasm was not going to dampen her mood. At all.
"Shelby. It's 4 days. Did you have to bring the entire mall?" Sarah mocked opening a window in the RV. They had picked Sarah up first at her apartment, before heading to Shelby's.
"I only brought the essentials." Shelby defended.
"This is going to be a long four days." Sarah sighed closing the window.
"Good morning Honey!" Susan said helping Rachel with her bags as she walked out of the house.
"Morning Nana," Rachel smiled.
"Oh sure. Help her. The young and capable." Shelby mocked picking up the rest of her bags with a struggle.
"Let me help Shelly," Paul said with a smile, overhearing his daughter's comment.
"Thanks, Dad." Shelby smiled.
"Alright! Bags packed! Are we missing anything?" Susan asked after closing the storage compartment under the RV.
"No. We're good, right mom?" Rachel asked.
Shelby simply smiled in her direction. Trying her absolute best to be positive about this inevitable disaster.
"Alright! Let's get this show on the road!" Susan called out, loading everyone into the RV.
****Glee****
Two hours into the drive, Rachel, Shelby and Sarah were fixated into their phones.
They had lost interest in staring aimlessly out of the windows while listening to the radio in the background.
Shelby thought she could sneak in whatever time she had left having service, to send some final emails. While Rachel was texting Quinn and Finn with updates.
Sarah who normally had no challenge in disconnecting had been influenced by the two. And pulled out her own phone out of boredom.
"Isn't this nice, all of us. Here in the RV." Susan said looking out at the open road, in the passenger seat of the RV, as Paul drove.
"Yeah, it's great mom." Shelby said absentmindedly. Focusing on her emails.
"You all are really going to love this place, your father and I have had some great recommendations." Susan smiled looking back only for a moment, to see her family staring into the screens of their devices.
She rolled her eyes and looked towards her husband. Signaling him to look back into the rear view mirror and see what she was seeing.
"It's their generation, Honey." He shrugged simply.
Susan rolled her eyes once more and unbuckled her seatbelt, heading back into the RV.
Susan quickly snatched Sarah's phone out of her hands, followed by Rachel's. Shocking both of them, as they hadn't even noticed her in the back of the RV.
"Hey!" Rachel whined. "I was in the middle of a conversation!" She noted.
"This is a family trip. One where we all have the chance to be together and that doesn't mean in front of our phones." Susan added and as a final point snatched Shelby's away as well.
"What?" Shelby said with shock. "Mom! I need to finish that email!" Shelby said reaching back for the phone.
"No. You need to be with your family." Susan said sternly. In a tone that Shelby wasn't eager to mess with. So she let it slide, this time.
Rachel watched the interaction with a slight smirk. There was nothing like watching your own mother, having to follow the rules.
"We are going off the grid! No more phones. You will get these back at the end of the trip." Susan said placing the phones in a drawer.
"Like all day?" Rachel confirmed.
"Yes, Rachel. All day." Susan said.
Shelby's faced dropped. Great.
"We are having family fun! There's no need for technology." She added.
"We're driving?" Shelby added.
"Thank you, Shelby, yes. We are driving. But we can still make driving a part of the family fun!" She said.
"How is that?" Sarah questioned.
"I have an idea!" Rachel said quickly moving towards the radio and putting in a CD.
"Mom?" Rachel asked. "Will you join me?" She smiled.
"Always." Shelby smiled breaking out of her sorrow for a moment. Any chance to sing alongside her daughter.
Rachel sat across from Shelby in the back of the RV. Sarah and Susan sat parallel as well, while Paul was driving in the front.
The music began. The moment the melody began, Shelby knew exactly what song Rachel had chosen. It was one they both had been singing to on the radio for weeks. She smiled at Rachel's selection and began.
Shelby:
You won't find him drinking under tables
Rolling dice or staying out til 3
You won't ever find him being unfaithful
You will find him, you'll find him next to me
Rachel:
You won't find him trying to chase the devil
For money, fame, for power, out of grief
You won't ever find him where the rest go
You will find him, you'll find him next to me
Rachel:
Next to me ooooh
Shelby:
Next to me ooooh
Rachel and Shelby:
Next to me ooooh
You will find him, you'll find him next to me
Rachel:
When the money's spent
And all my friends have vanished
And I can't seem to find no help or love for free
Shelby:
I know there's no need for me to panic
'Cause I'll find him, I'll find him next to me
Rachel:
Oh, the skies are grey
And all the doors are closing
Shelby:
And the rising pressure makes it hard to breathe
(Rachel: Hard to breathe)
Rachel and Shelby:
When all I need is a hand to stop the tears from falling
I will find him, I'll find him next to me
Rachel:
Next to me
(Shelby: Next to me)
Rachel and Shelby:
Ooooh
Rachel:
Next to me
(Shelby: Next to me)
Rachel and Shelby:
Ooooh
Rachel:
Next to me
(Shelby: Next to me)
Rachel and Shelby:
Ooooh, I will find him, I'll find him next to me
Rachel:
When the end has come and buildings falling down fast
Shelby:
When we spoilt the land and dried up all the sea
Rachel:
When everyone has lost their heads around us
Rachel and Shelby:
You will find him, you'll find him next to me
Rachel:
Next to me
(Shelby: Next to me)
Rachel:
Ooh!
Shelby:
Oooh!
Next to me
Rachel and Shelby:
Ooooh
Next to me, yeah
Oh woah!
You will find him, you'll find him
Rachel:
Next to me
Shelby:
Next to me, yeah
Rachel:
Next to me
Rachel and Shelby:
Next to me yeah yeah
Shelby:
Next to me
Rachel:
Next to me ohh yeah
Shelby:
Oh yeah
Next to me
Rachel:
Next to me
Rachel and Shelby:
Yeah, You will find him, you'll find him next to me
Shelby:
Yeah
The family joined in applause as Shelby sang the last note. Rachel proudly stood up from her seat and took a bow. Which caused Shelby to smile with pride, reminding her of her younger self.
"That was beautiful," Susan smiled. "You know. I don't think we've ever heard you two perform together." She added. "It's lovely. You compliment each other incredibly well." She said.
"Thank you, Mom," Shelby smiled.
"There's a lot more where that came from," Rachel smiled.
"Just wait for campfire songs!" Paul added from the front.
"I've never had a campfire!" Rachel beamed.
The family smiled. Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad after all.
****Glee****
The Corcoran's had finally reached their first destination of the trip. Meadow Valley Park, Ohio. Susan took a deep breath of fresh air stepping out of the RV when they had reached their camping site in the park.
"This is beautiful," Sarah said stepping out and quickly pulling out her camera for some pictures of the mountain skyline.
Next was Rachel, followed by Shelby who both looked around their campsite, as well as the beautiful scenery of the mountains in the distance.
"This is a great site, Paul," Susan added looking around at the fully stocked fire pit, and wooden benches circling the pit that were hand carved from tree trunks.
"That's what the reviews said." He smiled pulling his wife beside him and taking it all in.
"What now?" Rachel asked a few moments later.
"Well, it's going to be dinner time soon. So I'll get that fire going, and get started." Paul stated.
"We need to set up camp!" Susan added.
"Aren't we sleeping in the RV?" Shelby asked obviously. I mean if no one else was planning on it. She was.
"Well, yes. For tonight. But we have outdoor patio furniture in the RV, and we can set up the outdoor activities!" She said.
"Outdoor activities?" Rachel asked.
"You'll have to see." Susan winked guiding Rachel alongside her for help.
"AH!" Shelby screamed suddenly jumping backward, swatting away a dragonfly that was circling around her.
"Mom. It's a dragonfly." Rachel said rolling here eyes. "It's not going to hurt you." She said obviously.
"Well, I didn't see what it was!" Shelby defended. "And even so, I'm almost positive it carries some type of disease." She pointed out.
Susan laughed. This was definitely going to be interesting.
****Glee****
The family now sat around the campfire for the final hour before heading to bed.
They had spent most of the evening talking and laughing. Reminiscing on old memories. And sharing stories of the past with Rachel.
The bugs were beginning to multiply by the minute before the family had decided to head inside and get some rest.
"Okay. Rachel. Top bunk." Susan instructed.
"Ah, Just where I belong," Rachel smiled with pride climbing up the small ladder. Causing Sarah to burst into laughter. Could her niece be any more full of herself? She thought. Just like her sister, at that age.
"Shelby." Susan pointed. "You can take the bottom." She added.
"Can't I sleep in there?" Shelby requested. Looking over to the welcoming queen size bed in a private area with a door. Assuming it was hers. I did agree to this little camping adventure by force. Not will. At least accommodate. She thought.
"No. That is mine and your father's room." Susan smirked.
Shelby slumped her shoulders and sat on the bottom bunk of the bed. Below her daughter.
"Sorry Mom. Those are the breaks." Rachel smirked.
"Hey!" Shelby pointed leaning out of the bed and up towards her daughter. "Enough out of you." She added playfully.
"You could always sleep outside." Rachel sassed.
"Mhm. So could you." Shelby said with daring eyes.
Rachel took back her statement. She wasn't interested in getting mauled by any bears in the near future. Or any of the other creatures outside of the RV that she had been researching in detail the night before. Rule number one in nature they say is, be prepared.
"Sarah, you can take this bunk," Susan said pointing across from Shelby. "Goodnight everyone. Get a good nights sleep!" She said walking across to her bedroom.
Shelby laid back on her lumpy bunk mattress. I mean. It wasn't terrible. This was a pretty high-class RV, but still. It wasn't her queen size, memory foam, 300 thread count sheet covered dream bed, she had waiting for her back at home.
She almost teared up in happiness at the thought.
She shuffled around trying to get comfortable.
"Shelby. Can you stop flailing around like a fish out of water." Sarah requested in a whisper.
"I am out of my water!" Shelby hissed quietly.
Sarah rolled her eyes.
"I can't get comfortable." She whispered. "Trade me?" She asked.
"No," Sarah said. "Go to sleep."
"You don't think any bugs are in here, do you?" Shelby whispered across to her sister.
"Bugs!?" Rachel said quickly hanging upside down over the top bunk at her mother, startling her. "What bugs?" She asked with fear.
" We're in an enclosed RV. Relax." Sarah said. "There's no dragonflies." She sarcastically remarked.
"Rachel, get back up there. You're going to fall on your head." Shelby said with a smirk at her upside down daughter.
"I'm lonely." She added still hanging her head over the edge. "But then again. They say it is lonely at the top." She smirked sitting back up. Happy to have made this moment into the perfect metaphor.
Shelby and Sarah rolled their eyes in unison. "Do you see what I had to put up with?" Sarah asked.
"I was not that bad." Shelby laughed.
"You're right. You were worse!" Sarah said rolling over, trying to get some sleep.
****Glee****
"Good morning!" Susan called out at 7:00am. Startling Sarah as she was right beside her. Strategically. Sarah had always been the hardest to wake. Being up all night blogging as a teen. School days were next to impossible back then.
Sarah rolled over and pulled the covers over her head. "What time is it?" She asked.
"Time to get up!" Susan said with a joyful grin.
Shelby still in a deep sleep, who had barely slept last night in this environment. It was impossible!
"Rachel, Shelby!" Susan called out. "Rise and shine ladies! There is family fun to be had!" She said waking both of them.
"Mother, it is 7:00am." Shelby said looking down at her watch. "No family fun is to be had, before 9:00am." She mumbled throwing her head under the covers.
"Up! Let's go! The sun is shining! The birds are singing!" She said.
"And we are sleeping," Rachel mumbled. Who normally was a morning person, but yesterday was an eventful day and took a lot out of her.
"Not anymore," Susan smirked pulling the covers off of her granddaughter.
"NANA!" Rachel yelled trying to catch them, in a failed attempt.
"That'll teach you to sass your Nana," Susan smirked. "Up." She said.
Rachel rolled her eyes and climbed down from her bunk.
"What about them!" Rachel pointed.
"I suppose that's up to you," Susan smirked exiting the RV.
Rachel looked over to her sleeping mother and aunt.
'Hmm. Who to wake first?' She weighed her options. She knew her mother was by no means a morning person. Especially before her coffee. But her aunt. Doable.
"Aunt Sarah," Rachel whispered. "It's time to wake up." She said softly.
Sarah showed some movement. That was a good sign. Rachel thought.
"Aunt Sarah..." Rachel said a little louder, touching her back.
"10 more minutes..." Sarah said.
"We have to go have breakfast," Rachel said.
"Later." Sarah waved off.
"Ugh. Fine." Rachel said turning to her mother.
"Mom?" Rachel said leaning towards her bunk.
"Mom..." Rachel whispered.
She nudged her a few times.
Nothing.
Rachel held the top of her blankets and prepared to tear them off, just like her Nana had done to her. Before Shelby spoke up. Stopping her in her tracks.
"Rachel. If you value your life." Shelby responded instantly. "You will back away, slowly." She said into the pillow.
Rachel smirked. And seconds later she slid the blankets away quickly.
Shelby instantly sprang out of bed, hitting her head off the top bunk.
"OUCH!" She yelled, holding her head before looking over at her daughter with daring eyes. Rachel took one look at her face and sprang out of the RV, followed by Shelby.
"Get back here!" Shelby yelled chasing her around the campsite. Rachel laughing loudly as they faced off around the fire pit.
Shelby lunged forward causing Rachel to run the opposite way and trip over one of the benches.
Still laughing she attempted to scramble away from her mother who had caught her now.
"What are you going to do now?" Shelby said, now also laughing as she began to tickle her daughter. Rachel burst into laughter and Paul and Susan smiled at the interaction as they set out breakfast.
"Moooom! Stop!" Rachel said through her laughter.
"Are you ever going to rip the covers off of me again?" Shelby said continuing to tickle. "BEFORE I have my morning coffee!" She added.
"No! No! I won't. Stop!" She said now barely able to breathe.
"Well, alright then," Shelby smiled helping her daughter up.
"Do you need some ice for your head?" Rachel offered with a smirk.
Shelby narrowed her eyes at her and slowly walked back to the RV to get ready for the day.
"I wouldn't have hit my head if I wouldn't have slept on a bunk bed," Shelby mumbled angrily walking past her mother.
Susan smirked watching her walk by and walk into the RV. Followed by an nod of approval towards Rachel who smiled and began to help with breakfast.
****Glee****
It was just before lunch time when Shelby had snuck into the RV as the family was out for a hike.
She had said she was going to lie down for an hour or so. Which had gone smoothly to her surprise? I mean a full 48 hours with her family, anyone would need a breather. She thought to herself.
Shelby was vigorously checking through her emails with the little service she had.
She has barely noticed the RV door open, as Rachel entered.
"Hey! I thought you were napping!" Rachel said breaking Shelby from her trance.
"Shh!" Shelby said. "Not so loud." I just needed to check a few emails. That's all. "I was napping." She lied.
"Mhm..." Rachel said not buying it. "You're not supposed to have that." She pointed out.
"Rachel. I'm an adult. I can have the phone if I choose. Like I said I'm only checking a few emails." Shelby said.
"Uh-huh. Fine. I wonder how Nana would feel about those emails, Nan-" Rachel began to call.
"Hey! Shh! Listen!" Shelby said stopping her immediately. "Here!" She said opening the drawer and tossing Rachel her phone. "5 minutes. I won't tell if you don't." Shelby smirked.
"I can live with that," Rachel smirked. 'Rachel 1- Shelby 0' she thought to herself.
Rachel quickly plopped down beside her mom on the couch in the RV. Reading all of her missed text messages.
It was a few moments later that Susan had entered the RV. Seemingly unnoticed by the two, who now were both emerged in their phones.
"Ahem..." Susan said clearing her throat. Causing the two to jump. "What is going on here." She added sternly.
"Shelby, I thought you were napping. Not sneaking away to answer those emails again." She said with the Corcoran signature eyebrow raise.
"Mom, listen-" Shelby began.
"Mom, nothing. Shelby. This is a family trip. I put those darn devices away for a reason. They take all of your attention. We are in nature, the beautiful outdoors are all around us, and you are in here wasting it on that i-gadget-whatever!" Susan said.
"I tried telling her." Rachel shrugged, immediately throwing her mother further under the bus.
Shelby snapped her head towards her and narrowed her eyes. Rachel smirked with a shrug.
"I see," Susan said.
She quickly took the phone from Shelby's hands and placed it back in the drawer.
"No more phones," Susan said pointing a finger at her eldest.
Shelby averted eye contact feeling like she was 16 again.
Susan pulled her up off the couch and swatted her, twice.
"Ow!" Shelby winced. "Mom!" She said with surprise. "You can't do that, I'm 34!" She said dramatically.
"Mhm, you want another?" Susan said with daring eyes and a smirk.
Shelby narrowed her eyes on her mother. And back at Rachel who had the biggest grin on her face.
"And you!" Susan said taking Rachel's phone from her hands and pulling her up. Not missing the grin on her granddaughter's face.
Rachel's smirk quickly defended when she also felt a stinging swat land.
"Ow!" Rachel cried reaching back.
Shelby now had the smirk to which Rachel scowled.
"If I see these phones again before Monday, a swat will be the least of your worries!" She said to both of them with a pointed finger. "Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Ma'am.." Shelby and Rachel both mumbled.
Susan smirked placing the phones back in the drawer. Feeling accomplished.
****Glee****
"Mother. Is this really necessary." Shelby begged, standing on the dock beside the lake.
"Shelby. Enough with the whining, please. Get in the boat. It's going to be fun!" Susan said as the rest of the family climbed into their canoes.
Sarah and Rachel in one, and Susan and Paul in another.
"Come on Shelly. You used to love this." Paul said thinking back to the many canoe rides he used to take his girls on in the summer time.
"Dad. I pretended to love it for you. You love this, not me. And that's fine! I fully support you. I will be here! Hey, I'll even take pictures from the dock for the family album, okay?" Shelby said.
Paul laughed.
"Shelby," Susan warned.
"Mom. Please. I don't know how to swim, these waters, they are... Just. Not clean, and who knows what kind of creatures live in them." Shelby said continuing to stall.
"Well, it's a good thing we aren't swimming than isn't it?" Susan smirked. "And please Shelby, this water is probably cleaner than the water from the tap back in Lima." Her mother added.
"I have a filter on my tap," Shelby added for argument sake.
Susan rolled her eyes.
"Mom. Just get in the boat. Come on." Rachel said handing her a life jacket.
"Mhm... Yeah... This just isn't my size. So-" Shelby began but was stopped by her sister.
"Shelby. So help me god, if you don't get in this boat, you will be under it with all of those sea creatures! Let's go!" Sarah yelled.
"Alright, alright. Keep your shirt on." Shelby said putting the life jacket on.
"Which boat am I supposed to go in?" She asked looking back up to her family and noticing the numbers weren't even. Isn't that a safety hazard? Ah-ha! Her way out.
"Go with your sister," Paul said pushing away from the shoreline with his oar.
"Her? Does she even know how to steer? You know Rachel has never been in a canoe, shouldn't we go over safety measures?" Shelby questioned.
Rachel smacked her hand against her head and sighed. This was taking forever!
"Shelby, your sister won a badge every year at camp for canoeing, not to mention sailing, and other boating activities, remember?" Susan laughed. "You will survive." She said.
"Fine.." Shelby said sighing noticing she was out of excuses. She carefully stepped into the boat. Slightly panicking as it rocked back and fourth. But found her footing and sat down.
"Okay. Okay. I can do this. I'm in a boat. On a lake. It's fine. I got this." Shelby said to herself picking up her paddle as they began to journey off onto the lake.
"It smells so good out here," Rachel said as she continued to paddle.
"Mhm.. The best air freshener you could imagine." Sarah smiled.
"Rach, you're pretty good with paddling. You've never been canoeing before?" Sarah asked looking ahead as she watched her niece stroke the water with her oar in front of her.
"No, never. But I like it." She smiled
"My Dad's always wanted to do a big camping trip, but between all of the plays and theater camps I was in, it just never worked out," Rachel said. Not with sadness, but with a smile, knowing her dads would be proud she finally did.
Shelby glanced slightly back over her shoulder to give her daughter a reassuring smile. Which Rachel returned.
"Do you want to try to steer?" Sarah offered.
"Um, I don't really know how," Rachel admitted.
"I'll teach you, silly. Come on." Sarah said motioning for them to switch seats.
The canoe rocked slightly and Shelby panicked. Grabbing the sides.
"Okay! How about we all remain seated. No one is ending up in the water today." She laughed nervously.
"Relax Shelby," Sarah said rolling her eyes and taking the middle seat.
"Okay, Rachel. Steering is simple. The two main strokes are a J, and a C. J goes like this-" Sarah demonstrated in the water, gently stroking her oar in a J shape in the water, towards the canoe.
"Hey! I'm doing it!" Rachel said as she felt the boat begin to turn slightly.
"You are," Sarah smiled.
"Great job sweetheart, you got it!" Susan encouraged from the next boat.
"Okay, now a C, the same thing just the other way." She instructed.
"Okay!" Rachel said trying it out. A little too fast. Causing the boat to rock again.
"Lord help me." Shelby prayed in a whisper. Once again grabbing the sides. It was like teaching Rachel to drive all over again. But even more stressful. Because this water. Simply wasn't happening. Shelby thought to herself.
"It's okay Rach, you're doing great," Sarah said.
For another twenty minutes, Rachel learned the ropes of steering. She was practically a pro by the time they made it back to shore.
"You did great my love," Paul said with pride wrapping his arm around his granddaughter with pride.
"Well, I am an overachiever." Rachel pointed out. "I learn quickly." She added.
Shelby smiled. That's my girl.
"How about we get dinner started, hmm?" Susan asked as they walked back up to their campsite.
****Glee****
"Shelby can you connect the poles," Sarah said pointing to the tent poles on the grass.
Shelby nodded picking them up and attempting to figure it out until Rachel jumped in and helped.
Shelby smiled looking towards her daughter as they clicked together several poles, making four large poles, and two small.
Shelby and Rachel attempted to put together the tent, as Sarah had gone off into to collect firewood with her Dad.
Susan watched with a smile from a far as she prepared lunch at a nearby picnic table.
"Mom, I think it goes in here," Rachel said pointing to the tiny opening.
"But then where does it come out?" Shelby asked looking to the other side.
"Maybe it just goes in?" Rachel shrugged.
"I don't think so Rach" Shelby laughed.
"Where are the instructions?" Rachel asked looking around.
"I don't think there are any," Shelby said knowing that her parents had most likely thrown them away. Her Father was always a "do it yourself" kind of man. Instructions were for people with lack of problem-solving, he used to say.
"Let's try to put it through here, and then we can lift this side," Rachel said.
Shelby nodded and the two got to work. Of course. Nothing better than a challenge for this mother daughter duo.
****Glee****
"Alright! Looks pretty good!" Shelby said dusting off her hands.
"It kinda looks lumpy," Rachel said looking at the tent with her head slightly turned. "I don't know if it's supposed to look like that.
"Rachel, it is simply individual. That's all. Who said every tent had to look the exact same." Shelby defended.
"I guess..." Rachel shrugged.
"Hop in, see what it looks like inside!" Shelby said gaining pride in her creation. Who said she couldn't camp. Please.
'This should be good.' Sarah thought sitting back on the stump, watching the scene before her.
"How is it?" Shelby asked Rachel from the door.
"It's good. Come in!" Rachel said.
Shelby walked carefully into the tent and stood in the middle with Rachel.
"Ha! Would you look at that? The two non-campers built a tent." Shelby said giving Rachel a high-five.
Less than a moment later the tent shook slightly before completely collapsing, causing both to scream.
Sarah burst into laughter, followed by Paul and Susan. Sarah pulled out her camera immediately.
"Mom!" Rachel screamed. "Where are you!" She said in a panic as all she saw was tent fabric and poles around her.
"I'm here!" Shelby said reaching forward through the rubble of the tent that once was.
"How do we get out!" Rachel yelled.
"Hold on ladies," Paul said barely through his laughter as he held up the door of the tent, allowing them to climb through.
Shelby stepped out first, her hair in every direction and filled with static electricity. It was practically standing straight up.
Sarah quickly jumped up and took some photos, as she laughed at her sister's unimpressed look.
Rachel climbed out with the same hair do. The two looked at each other, and back at the tent and began to laugh.
"Now. That is a hazard. Dad, where the hell did you buy this?" Shelby asked.
"Shelby language," Susan warned.
Shelby rolled her eyes. She was 34, and still, 'hell' was considered to be 'bad language' seriously? Shelby thought to herself.
"I've had it for years. We've never had a problem before." He laughed.
"Well, clearly it's defective." Shelby insisted.
"No. Just the one who built it was." Sarah laughed.
"Sarah!" Shelby said pushing her sister's arm.
"Don't worry. I have all of the evidence." Sarah said turning her camera towards the two and showing them the pictures.
"How about a hike?" Susan asked.
"Yeah!" Paul said with a clap.
Great. Almost killed by a tent and now forced to walk for miles with no destination. Living the dream. Shelby thought subtly rolling her eyes.
****Glee****
"That hammock is nice Dad," Sarah said. Looking over at the hammock hanging between two trees looking out at the sunset over the water.
"Yeah. It is isn't it?" He said. "We will have to get one like that for the yard." He said poking the fire.
Paul looked over at the hammock which held Susan, and Shelby. Who had been laying in it for about an hour now. Watching the sunset together. He smiled. Picturing a younger version of Shelby in a similar hammock during their annual Fourth of July picnic. Time flies. He thought to himself. Shaking his head.
Rachel had taken a nap after their hike. She had been out early in the morning with Sarah in the canoe. She had only laid down in the tent for a few minutes before falling asleep.
"I'm so proud of you Shelby," Susan said as she cradled her daughter in her arms as they laid in the hammock. "You're really doing a great job with Rachel." She added.
"Thanks, Mom." She smiled. "She really gives me a run for my money most days." She chuckled. "But she really is perfect, in every way." She said warmly.
"Well, so did you, my love. Welcome to motherhood. But, you and Rachel really have a deep connection. You just get each other so well. Two peas in a pod, for sure." Susan chuckled.
"Yeah, I guess we are," Shelby smiled. "She's my greatest blessing." She said truly. "She has brought out the best in me, and maybe the worst, sometimes." She laughed. If we were being honest. Motherhood, especially to a teenage girl was no walk in the park.
Susan laughed.
"Did Sarah tell you about the candles?" Shelby asked.
"Candles? No. I don't think so?" Susan said.
"Oh. Buckle in. This is wedding toast material." She laughed telling her mother about that eventful, mess filled day.
****Glee****
Rachel had woken up shortly after her nap and joined Paul and Sarah out by the camp fire.
"They look comfy," Rachel smiled looking over at her mom and Nana in the hammock.
"You can join them if you like," Sarah smiled.
"Oh, no. I don't want to interrupt." Rachel said.
"Rach, you're not interrupting." She laughed. "Go on." She said with a gentle push. Seeing how much her niece wanted to join.
Rachel walked towards the hammock.
"There's my girl," Shelby smirked. "How was your nap?" She asked.
"Nice. Relaxing." Rachel smiled.
"Hop in?" Susan said moving slightly off to the side, allowing Rachel to climb into the middle.
"It's a Rachel sandwich," Susan smiled laying her arm across her granddaughter, as Shelby did the same on the other side.
Rachel smiled, taking in the love from both her Nana and Mother. Something she had always dreamed of. She felt warm, but not in a temperature way. In a heartfelt-full way.
The three laid, talking in the hammock for some time until the sun completely set.
"My Dad's would have loved this," Rachel said.
"I'm sure they would have, love," Shelby said brushing through Rachel's hair with her hand.
"What was your Dad's favorite thing to do," Susan asked. Curious to know more about the men who raised her granddaughter for all of those years, so wonderfully.
"The Berry-Magnificent Monday Dinner," Rachel said with a smile.
"What in the world is that?" Shelby asked with a chuckle.
Rachel smiled.
"Well, every Monday, my Dad's and I would order a really fancy dinner, and we would put on a show in our basement. Which had a stage." Rachel added. "Usually a Broadway number." Smiled thinking about it.
"That's fun!" Susan smiled.
"Yeah, it all started on my 8th birthday. We had gone to a show, beauty at the beast. When we got home, my Dad's had a really fancy dinner planned and dressed me up like Belle." Rachel smiled thinking back to that day.
Flashback:
"Mademoiselle, dinner is served," Leroy said taking a gentleman's bow as he lifted the silver tray in from of Rachel.
Rachel sat with a giant grin on her face as she looked up at her Dad's as they broke into song.
Leroy:
Be our guest! Be our guest!
Put our service to the test
Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie and we'll provide the rest. He sang as Hiram tied a fancy napkin around their daughter's neck.
Hiram:
Soup du jour
Hot hors d'oeuvres
Why, we only live to serve
Try the grey stuff
Both:
It's delicious
Rachel giggled
Leroy:
Don't believe me? Ask the dishes
They can sing, they can dance
After all, Miss, this is France
And a dinner here is never second best
Hiram:
Go on, unfold your menu
Take a glance and then you'll
Be our guest
Oui, our guest
Be our guest!
Both:
Beef ragout
Cheese souffle
Pie and pudding "en flambe"
Leroy:
We'll prepare and serve with flair
A culinary cabaret!
You're alone
And you're scared
But the banquet's all prepared
No one's gloomy or complaining
While the flatware's entertaining
We tell jokes! I do tricks
With my fellow candlesticks
Hiram:
And it's all in perfect taste
That you can bet
Come on and lift your glass
You've won your own free pass
To be out guest
Leroy:
If you're stressed
It's fine dining we suggest
Hiram:
Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest!
Both:
Get your worries off your chest
Let us say for your entree
We've an array; may we suggest:
Try the bread! Try the soup!
When the croutons loop de loop
It's a treat for any dinner
Don't believe me? Ask the china
Singing pork! Dancing veal!
What an entertaining meal!
How could anyone be gloomy and depressed?
Hiram
We'll make you shout "encore!"
And send us out for more
So, be our guest!
Leroy:
Be our guest!
Rachel smiled and quickly got up out of her chair and danced around with her fathers as they sang the chorus together.
Rachel:
Be our guest! Be our guest!
Our command is your request
It's been years since we've had anybody here and we're obsessed
All:
With your meal, with your ease
Yes, indeed, we aim to please
While the candlelight's still glowing
Let us help you, We'll keep going
Course by course, one by one
'Til you shout, "Enough! I'm done!"
Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest
Hiram & Leroy:
Tonight you'll prop your feet up
But for now, let's eat up
Be our guest!
Be our guest!
Be our guest!
Rachel:
Please, be our guest!
They ended the last note spinning Rachel's small body into a dancing dip, as her yellow dress spun out in the air.
"Perfect pitch my love." Leroy said lifting Rachel as Hiram clapped with a smile.
"Thanks, Daddy." Rachel smiled and wrapped her arms around her Dad. "My music teacher at school said so too!" She squealed with excitement.
"You must always take a bow Rachel, every true performer does." Leroy said.
Rachel nodded.
Hiram and Leroy stepped off stage allowing their pint-sized protégé to have her moment.
Rachel smiled and took her best now, lifting the corners of her fancy yellow Belle dress.
With the biggest smile, she waved both hands in the direction to come up on stage.
"You have to bow too daddies!" She said holding their hands.
"Well of course we do!" Leroy said.
Leroy, Hiram, and Rachel took their best bow, Rachel standing in the middle.
Following the bow, they lifted Rachel into their arms. Giving her a hug.
"This is fun, can we do this every day?" Rachel asked.
"Every minute, of every day for you, my love." Hiram smiled. "Never get too big for this." He said.
"I say we make this our little tradition. We can call it "Berry-Magnificent Monday's! " Leroy said proudly.
"Fantastic!" Hiram cheered.
Rachel smiled looking back and forth between the two men holding her. Her family was the best family.
End of flashback.
"I can picture it." Shelby smiled.
"Eventually, my Dad's started creating costumes, and an entire set-list. It turned into a full performance." She said proudly.
"Maybe we should do that." Susan said with a chuckle.
"Mom, I'm pretty sure Sarah would walk home if we made her do that." Shelby said Rachel laughed.
"Ah. This is just perfect." Susan said looking out at the water.
"Yeah, it is nice." Shelby said.
"Look who likes camping now?" Rachel smirked looking over at her mother.
"Yeah, yeah." Shelby said brushing the comment off.
"I love our family." Rachel sighed happily. Sinking further into her mother, and grandmother's embrace.
"Aw, honey." Susan said hugging her a little tighter.
"So do I." Shelby smiled.
The three eventually drifted off to sleep in the hammock. Paul didn't have the heart to wake them so simply took a blanket out of the tent, and draped it over them.
"Goodnight my loves." He said looking at the three generations before him.
A sight he thought may never come. It was indescribably beautiful. Sarah came out of the tent and snapped one last picture of the three before heading to bed.
All in all. The perfect camping trip.
****Glee****
A happy ending! What did you all think of this chapter? Favorite scene perhaps?
I would love some chapter ideas going forward! Please leave them in the review section. I have a few ideas, Andrew Returns? Quinn's Labor/Delivery? Rachel & Finn take the next step? Or anything else? Feel free to be creative! I would love some ideas! Anything you want to see more/less of? I'm curious!
Please review guys!