Chapter 64
To Luke's surprise, the dates lasted longer than he expected and have gotten to know Nicole, a little more each time. About three weeks into dating when she introduced him to the Broadway shows in New York, Nicole suggested Shelby might like to see The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Luke ran it by Shelby, one night during their guitar lesson. Having enjoyed school plays and shows Miss Patty had put on with her dance classes, Shelby agreed and ended up loving them so much that on the car ride home, she sang all the songs until falling asleep.
Though, with juggling work, Shelby, and now dating, it provided a few conflicts. They weren't minor and Luke was able to work them out, like when he scheduled a date the same night the twins' were spending the night. Thankfully, Jess had been in the diner when Shelby reminded him.
"Hey, Jess, you mind keeping an eye on the kids, Friday night during Shelby's sleepover?"
At first, Jess was quick to point out, "Can't. I got plans with Rory, here, Friday night."
Then Rory reminded him, "I have dinner at my grandparents', Friday. Remember?"
He then stammered, "Uh, I mean, I have to work that night," and snapped his fingers as if Jess suddenly remembered. "Yeah, now I remember. I have to work."
"Jess, it's just for a couple hours," Luke told him, knowing Jess was lying. "They'll probably be playing video games the whole time."
A look of discomfort appeared on the young man's face. If it was just his cousin, Luke knew Jess wouldn't mind. But having an extra set of kids thrown in, however, he would mind very much so.
"How about this," Rory said, "how about you watch them for a couple hours, and when I'm done, I'll come over and help you. Then we can do something afterwards when Luke comes back. How's that sound?"
"I like the 'doing something afterwards part'. Can we just skip everything else and do that part?" he asked, with hope.
"Jess, come on. It's just three kids, and one of them is your cousin, whom you adore."
"And who says I adore her?" Shelby was about to speak up about that until Jess suddenly grabbed onto her, wrapping his hand around her mouth, holding Shelby against his side. "Sorry, just felt the need to hug my little cuz."
Rory just smirked at him, not buying it. "Uh, huh." She then turned her attention over to Luke, "You can count on Jess, Luke," and added, "it'll just be for a couple hours until I can get back here," when Jess grumbled under his breath.
"Okay, fine, but you owe me," he pointed a finger at her.
"Duly noted," she replied.
Jess pushed himself up from the table before leaning over to kiss her and told Shelby to grab her backpack so he could take her to school on his way.
Now that all three had some kind of "friend," worked and/or had school, Luke, Jess, and Shelby hardly saw each other anymore. Luke tried to squeeze in a guitar lesson or quick chat with Shelby before bed, but other than that, they rarely had time to spend with each other which was why Nicole suggested bringing Shelby along when they caught a show in New York.
Even Jess tried to squeeze in time with his cousin, now and then. Because of that, Shelby was sad when he had to tell her they had to reschedule when Rory also convinced him to come to a Friday night dinner to meet her grandmother.
Since Shelby had ridden her scooter to the twins' house, Jess left for work, telling Luke he would talk to Shelby later about it. However, Luke had specifically given her a time frame to be home but when she didn't show, he grew extremely worried.
Luke called the boys' parents to see if Shelby had just lost track of time and was still over there, but their father told him she had left about an hour, or so, ago. He called Lorelai to see if she had seen her, but wasn't answering her phone. Luke was about to go out and turn over every stone in town when Shelby emerged from Miss Patty's with Rory and Dean, lifting her scooter down the steps.
"Shelby Danes!" he exclaimed hurrying over to them, interrupting the conversation the three were having. First, Luke hugged his little buddy tight now that he could breathe, not wanting to ever let go. This time, it was Shelby who was having a hard time, breathing by how tight he was hugging her. Then Luke started in on her before anyone could explain. "Where have you been? You were supposed to be back hours ago, Shelby."
"I was on my way home, then Miss Pa'ty pulled me in to lis'en to some new 'tuff," she tried to explain, nervously. "I didn' have a choice."
Both Rory and Dean came to her rescue, backing the kid up.
"It's true. Miss Patty held a lot of us, hostage," said Rory.
Luke looked from the teenagers, back to his own kid, who pretty much looked petrified. Shelby hadn't really been in any serious trouble since she got into the fight with Toby, the previous school year.
Since it wasn't Shelby's fault, Luke let things slide and made a mental note to tell Miss Patty not to kidnap his kid without his knowledge so he wouldn't have another panic attack. Thanking Rory and Dean, he and Shelby headed back to the diner as he asked how her day was. Since she hadn't worked her two hours in a couple of days, Luke suggested Shelby help him with the rest of the shift. It wasn't until past closing time did Jess finally get home from work.
"Hey, Scout," he greeted first thing, stealing a quick peck on the side of her forehead while she was restocking the napkins for tomorrow. Luke could barely believe his eyes when he caught it.
"Did you just kiss your cousin?"
"No," he replied with no thought or hesitation.
"What do you mean, no? I just saw you," Luke pointed a hand out.
Jess shook his head. "No, I think you're seeing things."
"I know what I saw, Jess."
Turning back to Shelby, Jess said, "Scout, I think we may have to check your dad into a nursing home, early. I think he's losing it." Luke caught him give her a quick wink.
Shelby went along with it. "Yep," she nodded with a smirk.
Feeling outnumbered, Luke let it go. Instead, he told Shelby to get back to work. Since Jess helped out that morning, he was off the hook for the rest of the day. Before Jess headed upstairs to shower, he broke the news to Shelby.
"By the way, I know we planned on hanging out next Friday, but unfortunately, I have to take a rain check. Rory wants me to come to dinner and meet her grandmother."
Even though she didn't sound happy about it, Shelby told him, "Tha's okay. We can hang ou' another time."
Jess was leaning over her. "I promise I will make it up to you. Next day off I get, it'll be spent with you. Got it?"
That made Shelby smile and nodded her head while looking up at him, upside down. He then stood up straighter before stealing one last kiss on the same spot and headed for upstairs.
"There. I saw you again," Luke was quick to point out as he watched Jess head around the counter.
"You're really losing it, Uncle Luke," he called as Jess headed up the stairs, making Shelby giggle at the pair. "Work," Luke told her, firmly. She may have but Shelby continued to stifle a snicker or two as she continued restocking the napkins.
Lorelai stopped in the next day asking for coffee, stating she was planning a trip to Manhattan, and needed some new, warmer clothes which Luke tried to point out she had warmer clothes already, listing each one that went with one of her coats. She then reminded him of her love for shopping, mildly annoyed he was trying to talk her out of an excuse to go.
"So, what are you doing in New York?" he asked as Luke poured her coffee.
At first she seemed to hesitate as she sat on a stool. "Uh, a bunch of us are going. It'll be a dinner and a show."
Luke looked at her with interest. "What show?"
"Levittown. It's a new musical."
He nodded. "Yeah, It's in previews. Doesn't officially open for another couple of weeks." Luke snapped the lid on the to-go cup for her.
"Wow," she replied, impressed, "so informed."
"Nicole likes the theater," he explained. "Her firm has an office on Madison. I've met her there a couple times. Saw Hairspray there last week."
Lorelai smiled, seeming very amused. "I cannot picture you watching Hairspray."
"It's okay," Luke smiled in returned. "I liked The Producers better."
"Aren't you just a Broadway baby?"
"We took Shelby to a couple shows," he added. "She fell completely in love with Lion King. Sang all the songs almost the entire way home until she sang herself to sleep."
The smile vanished. "W-wait. You took Shelby with you?"
Luke nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah. In her almost eight years on this planet, Shelby's never been to New York, and she loves music. Plus, we've both haven't been able to spend much time with each other, so Nicole suggested bringing her along."
"Are you sure that's a good idea? Letting Shelby go with you?"
"Why not? Nicole knows how close Shelby and I are, and how important she is to me. So Nicole wants to get to know her and spend some time with her, too."
Lorelai didn't seem so sure about that. "I don't know, Luke. What if Shelby gets attached, and it doesn't work out between the two of you? The kid's gonna be devastated."
"It's fine. I had a talk with Shelby, and explained what it meant with me dating, and she understands nothing is set in stone," he assured her. "Jess even gave her a head's up on having your parents date, too, so, she's fine with all of it and understands there might be a good-bye."
She still didn't seem a hundred percent convinced, but took his word for it, anyway. Changing the subject, Luke asked if Lorelai would have any free time during her visit to New York, and recommended a book he had upstairs and could run up to grab it. Thanking him, Lorelai did just that, returning shortly looking freaked out.
"Find it okay?" he asked her.
"Yeah, I found everything, including a couple coupling." She then followed him back towards the counter.
"Rory and Jess?"
"No, Ben and J-Lo," Lorelai responded with sarcasm. "Yes, Rory and Jess."
"Guess I should have told ya." He made his way around, behind the counter.
"You knew they were up there?" she questioned.
"They're up there all the time."
Lorelai scoffed as if in disbelief. "On the couch? Horizontal, on the couch?"
"They come up for air every so often."
"And you just allow this?" she questioned. "Luke! What if Shelby were to walk in on them?"
"Settle down," he told her. "I go up there every ten minutes pretending to get something to keep them from doing something we don't want. Oops, I forgot my pocket knife. Oops, I'm out of ones."
Luke looked underneath to grab the box of stuff he keeps there. "Hey, have you seen a case of mustard up here?" He set it on top of the counter as he continued to explain. "I put the stuff in a box. I take that box upstairs every couple of days then start all over again. And while they're up there while Shelby's here, I have her either working on homework down here or working to keep her busy, and let her know not to go up there until the two emerge."
She stared at him. "And you think that suffices?"
"Look, it's better they're safe and upstairs than some place else, and you going up there just saved me a trip, so thanks." Luke lifted the box, returning it to his hiding spot.
"Glad to be of service," Lorelai replied, sarcastically again.
"It's been a good service," he stated as he shifted the box under there. "It works. I'll probably do it when Shelby's older and dating."
"Every ten minutes?" she asked.
"Like clockwork. Never a minute more."
"Even if you're serving a customer, it's every ten minutes?" Lorelai had gotten her wallet out to pay for her coffee.
"If I'm in mid-pour, I stop and go up."
She let out a sigh as Lorelai returned her wallet to her purse. "Every ten minutes." Lorelai looked away as if she was in thought. "Yep, that's pretty much the time it took to create Rory, and that included getting dressed and freshening my lipstick." She started to leave.
Luke suddenly stared at her in surprise. "What?"
Lorelai thanked him for the book as she headed for the door.
"It took twice that long for us to create Shelby," he pointed out, though a little louder than Luke meant to, receiving strange looks from customers and John.
But Lorelai already left.
Luke could feel himself glow red from the stares, before rushing upstairs, telling Caesar to cover for him. Rushing up to the apartment, he shoved the door open, making both Rory and Jess shoot apart from each other.
"Uh, hey, Jess." His mind raced with some kind of excuse why he was up there again. Then remembered it was about that time for Shelby to get out of Sunday school.
"Yeah," the young man answered, leaning forward with his arms on his knees as if trying to act natural.
"Since the Sunday brunch rush is starting to come through, you mind going to pick up your cousin for me?"
Jess glanced down at his watch. "She doesn't get out for another forty, fifty minutes," he pointed out.
"I'm sure she'll be out by the time you get there," Luke shrugged.
"The church is not even five minutes away."
"Come on, Jess. I'll walk with ya, and we can talk more about that book," Rory told him, standing up from the couch.
Letting out an annoyed sigh, Jess shoved his foot inside his shoe, doing the same with the other.
Luke just about panicked when he saw Jess had taken off his shoes. "Why are your shoes off?"
"I like to be comfortable indoors. Relax, we didn't do anything," he assured his uncle. Once Jess had tied the laces, the teenagers headed downstairs. Jess was quick to point out, with sarcasm, "Gee, this is some late Sunday morning crowd we've got this week," seeing as there were only a few customers as they left the diner.
Luke felt he scored a victory. Or hoped, anyway.
On Friday, Jess picked Shelby up from school. When they got back to the diner, Jess hurried upstairs as fast as possible, stating he had to get ready for tonight.
"What was all that about?" Luke asked of Shelby, confused why Jess had sped passed so fast.
"Uh, he has to pee," Shelby replied.
Luke caught onto the pause, looking at her sideways suspiciously. "What's going on between you two."
"Nothing, Dad," she tried to say.
He folded his arms across his chest, firmly looking the kid in the eye. "Alright, Shelby. Tell me what's really going on. You know you won't be in trouble if you tell me the truth."
Shelby nervously stared up at her dad, holding her hands in the pockets of her jacket.
"Shelby," he said.
Biting her lip, she looked towards the floor for a long time. Softening up, Luke unfolded his arms to lift Shelby up onto the counter. He then leaned against the edge, one hand on either side of her.
"It's okay, kiddo. Just tell me what happened," Luke encouraged her softly.
There was a long pause as Shelby fidgeted her hands in her lap. "J-Jess... go'..." Luke lifted his right hand to rub it along her arm, comfortingly. Suddenly, Shelby blurted out, "Jess and I were wres'ling, and I acciden'ly punched him and gave him a black eye!" Her eyes had snapped shut while she was blurting the confession out. There was another long pause before Shelby slowly opened them and stole a look up at her dad.
"You punched him?" Luke couldn't help ask in disbelief that a little kid like Shelby had enough strength to leave a black eye. "And gave your eighteen-year-old cousin a black eye?"
She nodded pitifully. "I'm sorry, Daddy. I didn' mean to." The kid looked close to tears it made his heart putty.
Pulling her in, he wrapped his arms around the little girl and kissed the top of her baseball cap. "I know you wouldn't intentionally hurt your cousin, kiddo. It's okay. You're not in any trouble," Luke reassured her, rubbing her other arm this time.
Shelby pushed away to look at her dad. "Bu' don' tell him. He's really embarrassed abou' i'." Technically, that last comment should have been a red flag something was a missed, but Luke assured her everything would be fine.
Jess eventually came back downstairs but didn't stop to chat, yelling out he was leaving for Hartford. He was still acting sort of strangely but chalked it up to Shelby's story. It was late when Jess had finally returned. Both Luke and Shelby had already gone to bed.
Luke was still dozing off to sleep when he faintly heard the bunk bed creak and Shelby's tiny voice ask how his eye was.
"It's fine, Scout. Go back to sleep," Jess seemed to whisper, aggressively. By the sound of it, it seemed like the guy was in a sour mood. Shelby tried to ask if he was okay, catching onto the tone in his voice. Jess softened a little. "I'm fine, just tired, is all. Okay?"
"Okay," she too was whispering but loud enough Luke could still hear. "Good nigh', Jess."
"Night, Scout." There was a long silence before the bunk bed squeaked again, indicating Jess had laid down.
Since Jess came in late, he was the last up the next morning. When he finally came downstairs, that's when Luke finally got a look at the black eye.
"Whoa." Shelby really did a number on him.
Jess snapped back with, "What?"
"You're Petey the dog."
"I prefer to not talk about this," he stated.
"Boy, Shelby really let ya have it, I guess," he snickered.
"Huh?" Jess bolted his head back as if he had no clue what Luke was talking about.
"When you guys were wrestling, and she accidentally punched ya," Luke reminded him. Though, when Jess still seemed surprised, that was when it finally caught up to him, Shelby wasn't exactly truthful in her confession. But Jess continued to push the matter aside, wanting to get to work instead. So Luke just dropped it and told him to start clearing dishes.
Before long, the phone rang. Luke answered it to find it was Rory calling for Jess, who didn't want to talk. That added to the bewilderment. Luke had to tell her, Jess went somewhere. Once he hung up, he called Shelby over before literally dragging both of them into the back room, crossing his arms once again.
"What is this?" Jess demanded, annoyed.
"Look," Luke pointed a finger between the cousins, "you two are my responsibility. You," pointing at Jess, "are exhibiting signs of violent behavior, and you," pointing over at Shelby, "seem to be covering up for him when you know better than to lie. And I don't care how much you," pointing at Jess again, "don't wanna talk about it. Neither one of ya is leaving until somebody spills. Now tell me. Where did you get the black eye?" He tucked his hand back into his other arm, firmly.
Shelby nervously looked from her dad to her cousin, not saying a word.
"Jess," Luke said, trying to take some of the pressure off the kid.
"You wouldn't believe it anyway," he stated and tried to leave, but Luke grabbed onto him to keep Jess from leaving.
"Try me, tough guy."
There was a slight pause. The cousins exchanged a quick look with each other. Finally, it was Jess who spoke first with some hesitance.
Assuring Shelby it was okay, he said, "A swan."
Luke wasn't sure if he had heard right. "Excuse me?" he questioned, shaking his head.
"I was attacked by a swan, okay? You happy? A stupid swan."
Shelby nodded as if to back him up.
Luke cleared his throat, not at all buying it. "Come on, Jess. Shelby's fake story was better than that."
"That is the real story," he protested. "It hangs out by Larson's dock. We were just walking by, and the thing came out of nowhere, and bam!" He waved his hand towards his own face. "Beaked me right in the eye."
"It beaked you?"
"You still don't believe me."
"Tha's the real 'tory this time, Dad. Hones'," Shelby spoke up that time.
"It's not that I don't believe him, Shell. I just never heard anyone use the word beaked as a verb before," Luke told her while trying to stifle a chuckle.
"No, this isn't funny," Jess shot at him. "That... stupid bird attacked me. He could have blinded me. He could have attacked your kid had I not pushed her behind me. It's a very vicious, vicious bird..."
Luke was still trying to stifle a chuckle and tried to keep a straight face.
"Fine," he finally said. "Forget it." Jess then stormed from the room.
Luke stared at nothing before looking over at Shelby, who was holding her hands behind her back.
"I'm sorry I lied, Daddy," she told him, sincerely, trying to meet his gaze.
"Just... go start wiping down tables," Luke told her. "And there will be no video games or TV for the rest of the weekend."
Shelby frowned at the sound of no TV or video games, looking like she wanted to cry. "Bu' Jess didn' wan' anybody to know," she tried to plead her case.
"Doesn't matter. I told you to always tell me the truth. Now go." He motioned towards the doorway. Shelby dropped her gaze towards the floor and headed out to wipe down the tables, shuffling her feet like she was walking to her execution.
Even after all this time, it was still difficult being the tough dad. Luke eventually followed his little buddy out to the front of the diner where Jess seemed to be looking for something.
"What are you doing?" Luke questioned of the guy.
When Jess finally found what he was looking for, he held up what looked like a ladle before heading around the counter with it, towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
Jess stopped in his tracks to look back at his uncle. "I'm gonna do a little beaking of my own." He then headed out as Luke called after him, "Jess, not the ladle. That's a brand new ladle."
Luke let out a silent sigh under his breath when Jess pushed through the door. "Take the baster."
Telling Caesar he'd be back and to keep an eye on Shelby, Luke hurried after his nephew. He ended up following Jess all the way to the lake where Jess jumped into a boat. They did see a swan swim by, seeming peaceful and minding its own business, but not before the two had a nice chat about a fight Jess and Rory apparently gotten into.
On the way back to the diner, after a long silence, Jess said, "Listen. Go easy on Scout. I told her not to say anything, alright?"
"I know, she told me. But she also still knows better. I appreciate you sticking up for her, though."
Jess just shrugged as they continued walking.
Pretty sure the kid could survive one weekend without watching TV or playing video games, anyway.
