Girls' Day Out
Kurt flew home again on Wednesday, September first, for the long Labor Day weekend. The first thing he did when he got to Lima was swing by the cemetery and place flowers on Finn's grave, and his mother's. He then picked up the quads from daycare before heading home to begin preparing dinner for Blaine and the kids, who he expected to be home in less than an hour.
But when an hour had passed, and Blaine and the kids hadn't arrived home yet, he got a little worried. He was about to call his husband to find out what was keeping them, when Blaine called him.
"Hey, sorry we're running a little late, and I hope you don't mind, I'll be bringing a few guests home for dinner. I'll explain when we get there, but can you add four extra place settings?"
Kurt raised an eyebrow, but just agreed. "Of course. There is plenty of food. The more the merrier."
He was waiting in the doorway when Blaine pulled in a few minutes later, followed by a smaller car. Kurt recognized the young woman behind the wheel as she got out of the car. Lydia helped a younger girl out of the child seat in the back of her vehicle as Blaine and the other kids got out of the SUV.
"Hi!" Kurt greeted. He hadn't met the two young boys who climbed out with Lizzie and Bee.
"Hi daddy!" Lizzie said. "This is Mitch and Carson. They're going to spend the night, along with their sisters, Lydia and Lily."
"Oh?" Kurt said, looking at Blaine.
"I'll explain inside. Let's get them settled first." It was only then that Kurt noticed the pale skin and frightened look on the oldest girl's face.
"Come on in," Kurt smiled reassuringly at her. "Dinner is ready. Lizzie can show you where you can put your bags and wash up. Bee, can you get the salad from the fridge, and some juice for your friends?"
Once the kids were all preoccupied, Kurt looked to the shorter man for an explanation.
Blaine looked tired. "Just before we were supposed to start afternoon rehearsals, the school nurse showed up at the door, asking for Lydia. Apparently her dad fell asleep behind the wheel of his car on his way home from work today, after working his third double shift in a row. He ended up hitting a parked car. He's fine, just a minor concussion and a dislocated shoulder, but they wanted to keep him overnight for observations. I told him we'd watch the kids for the night, and get them to school in the morning. Lydia was a little freaked out, of course. I'm really starting to worry about her. I think the stress is getting to her."
Kurt nodded. "No doubt. I think you should have a talk with her dad. I know you said he was reluctant to accept any help, but it sounds like he needs some."
Blaine nodded. "I'm going to talk to him after school tomorrow. In the meantime, I was wondering if maybe you could organize a girl's night for Friday for Lydia? It's a half day at school, so I was thinking Carole, Santana, Britt, Quinn, Zizes and the others, along with Lizzie and her girl friends could hang out Friday afternoon? That way it won't interfere with Bee's Birthday party on Saturday."
Kurt nodded. "I'll call everyone after dinner, see who is available. And why don't you invite Lydia's dad to the barbecue on Sunday? He sounds like he needs a break, too."
Blaine nodded as they settled down to dinner.
Lydia was quiet as they ate, except to admonish Carson for reaching past Lizzie for the salad bowl. Kurt smiled at her. "Your brothers are well behaved, for the most part. Do they help out around the house at home?"
The girl shrugged a little. "They have their chores, cleaning their rooms, and doing laundry, and helping to keep the living room clean. Mitch helps make dinner sometimes, if it's nothing too complicated. And we all pitch in to do the dishes."
"That's good that they help out," Blaine said. "Do you like cooking, Mitch?"
The Jr. high school boy shrugged. "I like to make some things, but sometimes recipes are complicated. My mom used to help me make stuff. She could explain the recipes in a way I understood. Lydia tries, but I think sometimes she gets confused, too."
"I love to cook," Lizzie said. "Bee and I help dad and daddy cook all the time. Maybe they can teach you both how to make some things."
Lydia was blushing. "You don't have to do that."
Blaine just smiled at her. "I don't mind."
Kurt nodded. "I was going to start making some of the food for Bee's party tonight. I could teach both of you how to make cheese spread, cranberry almond crackers, and maybe bread, if there is enough time. Do any of you have homework?"
"Mitch and I do," Lizzie said, "but it won't take long, just an algebra worksheet."
Kurt smiled at her. "Then why don't you and Mitch get started on that as soon as we finish dinner, while Bee and Carson help Dad with the dishes, and Lydia and I can get the bread dough started."
Once the table was cleared and Kurt and Blaine had gotten the quads cleaned up a little and settled in the penned off area of the large kitchen where they could watch but not get into trouble, Blaine, Bee and Carson set about cleaning the dinner dishes, while Lizzie and Mitch sat at the kitchen table with their homework. Kurt led Lydia over to the breakfast counter and began gathering the things they would need.
"The key to a good loaf of homemade bread is the sourdough starter," Kurt told her. "Believe it or not, I've had this same starter for five years now. You just have to make sure you feed it and keep it properly stored, and you'll always have a good base for your bread. I'll give you the recipe for it before you go home, if you'd like, or I can let you take some of the starter with you, with instructions on how to grow it and store it."
He showed her how to mix the dough, and then how to knead it properly. They set it aside to rise, and as the others joined them, began working on the cheese spread and crackers. He set Lydia and Carson the task of making the crackers with Lizzie and Blaine, while he, Bee and Carson worked on the cheese spread.
"We usually just buy crackers and cheese," Mitch said as they pulled the first batch out of the oven. "These smell a lot better than anything in a box. And they weren't that hard to make, either."
"I can teach you a lot of easy recipes for things you might like," Kurt said. "Of course you'll have to wait until I'm home from DC, but I don't mind teaching you one or two new things when I'm here. Maybe you can help your sister out a little by learning to make meals you can freeze and just have to thaw and reheat."
"That would be awesome!" Mitch said. He then leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "I never told anyone but my mom this, but I want to be a chef when I grow up."
Kurt smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sure you'd be an amazing chef."
Once they'd finished and got the kitchen cleaned once more, Kurt and Blaine took the quads upstairs for their baths and got them settled in bed, while Bee played the piano and entertained their guests.
"Lily can sleep in the quads room," Kurt said, as the three year old started yawning sleepily. "Carson and Mitch can share Bee's room, and you can choose, either share a room with Lizzie, or you can sleep on the couch, whichever you would be more comfortable with."
Lydia bit her lip. "I guess I can share with Lizzie, if she doesn't mind."
Lizzie smiled at her. "I don't mind. There is an extra bed."
While Lizzie and the boys got ready for bed, Kurt made a pot of tea and offered Lydia a cup. "You know, my mom died when I was eight, so I know a little of what you are going through. I was an only child, though, so I can't imagine having to help care for younger siblings."
Lydia shrugged. "It's either help take care of them, or let dad's sister take Carson and Lily. I know they'd take good care of them, but mom wouldn't want that."
Kurt offered her a plate of lemon cookies. "That's nice that you want to keep the family together, but you need to make sure you have time to be yourself, too. When was the last time you just went to the mall, or hung out with friends?"
The girl shrugged, sipping her tea. "I really haven't made many new friends since we moved here. I've been busy with school work, and rehearsals, and…"
"Taking care of the kids," Kurt finished for her. "That's a lot of responsibility for a seventeen year old. That's why Blaine and I are going to talk to your dad about letting us help out some. Mitch and Carson can hang out here after school every day. I can teach Mitch some new recipes when I'm home, in exchange for him helping Lizzie with her homework. My girl likes to think she's an expert in everything, but math is not her strong suit. Lily is welcome too, or if your dad would rather, I know some lovely women who would love to watch her for a few hours each day, so that you have time for yourself."
Lydia just looked down at her cup. "Dad is pretty stubborn about some things. I don't know how you'll convince him to let you help."
Kurt just smiled. "I can be pretty stubborn, too. And if I can't convince him, I'll bring in my dad. No one says no to Burt Hummel."
She actually smiled at that. "Thanks."
"No problem. Now, it's been a really long day for me, so I'm going to head up to bed now. You should probably get some sleep, too."
"Goodnight, Mr. Hummel."
"Goodnight, Lydia." He patted her on the back as he stood and rinsed out his cup before going upstairs.
…
Thursday morning Kurt got up early and made waffles and fruit salad for breakfast for everyone, and packed lunches for all six of the older kids. Blaine drove the Quads to daycare, Lydia drove Lily to preschool, while Kurt dropped the older kids off at school, and then swung by the garage. Burt was officially retired, which meant he was in the office every morning making sure Tony and the other guys were doing the books right and checking inventory.
"Do you even know the definition of the word retired?" Kurt asked.
Burt just grunted. "Yeah, it means sit around and be bored until you die. That's not for me. What's up, kiddo?"
"I need a favor. Two, actually. First, do you think you can ask Carole if she'd be up for a girl's day tomorrow afternoon? Blaine has a student who could really use some female companionship, especially some older women who can help her out with advice and things. I'm going to ask Quinn, Santana, and Britt, and any of the other women I can get a hold of to take the girl out for a day of pampering. I was thinking Lizzie and her friends could join them too, so the girl doesn't feel overwhelmed."
"I'm sure Carole would be up for that. What's the second favor?"
"Well, the girl in question is the one I was telling you about last week, the one from the grocery store. Her dad has been pushing himself to the limit just trying to make ends meet, and ended up falling asleep at the wheel yesterday. Fortunately he wasn't too seriously hurt, but Blaine and I are worried that there will be a next time, and that time might be with the kids in the car. The dad is pretty stubborn about accepting help, trying to prove to his family that he doesn't need them to take the two youngest kids from him. I just need to know what I should say to him to let us help him, so he can keep the family together, without killing himself, or exhausting his oldest daughter."
Burt considered what he'd said. "Well that last part seems like a convincing argument. Why don't you start with that? He got lucky this time. He walked away. Next time he might not, and then it won't matter if he wants to keep the family together or not, the court will decide that. If that isn't enough, try pointing out how unfair it is to his daughter to have to step into the role of mom when she's basically still a kid herself. And then drag him to one of your Friday night get togethers or whatever, and show him what a community is about."
Kurt smiled at that. "Blaine actually suggested inviting him to the barbecue on Sunday. I gather he won't be allowed back to work for a few days anyway, because of the accident. Maybe Blaine and I should hold off on the big talk until then, and just let him know about the girls night tomorrow for Lydia."
"Sounds like a plan," Burt said.
…
Kurt and Blaine met with Luke that afternoon when they dropped Carson and Mitch off after school.
"Hey, I hope the kids weren't too much trouble," he greeted them, once Blaine had introduced him to Kurt.
"Your kids were absolutely perfectly behaved,"Kurt said, smiling. "They even helped me prepare some of the food for Bee's birthday party on Saturday. Mitch was eager to learn some new recipes, and I think Lydia found kneading bread dough therapeutic. I was going to ask you if it was Okay for Carson and Mitch to spend the night again tomorrow night. Bee is having some of his other friends over for a pre-birthday sleepover, and I thought Mitch might like the chance to learn a few more recipes. He really seems to like cooking."
Luke gave them a slightly chagrined smile. "Yeah, he was always in the kitchen with Jo. My wife, their mom. She was about to fulfill her dream of opening her own restaurant before the accident. We'd invested our life savings in it, cashed in our life insurance policies. That was a mistake, obviously. After the medical and funeral expenses, we had pretty much nothing left."
"I'm really sorry to hear that," Blaine said, sympathetically.
"Thank you. And I suppose it would be alright for the boys to spend the night tomorrow."
"Great!" Kurt said. "We'd also like to invite Lydia and Lily to join our daughter Lizzie and a bunch of her friends, as well as some older ladies, for a girls day out after school tomorrow. They're going to have lunch, treat themselves to a spa day, and do a little shopping."
Luke frowned. "I don't know if I can afford to give her any money for that."
Kurt shook his head. "You don't have to worry about it. We've already talked to Lydia about doing some tutoring to earn a little money. She can just pay us back when she can." When Luke still seemed a little reluctant, Kurt just powered through. "Lydia needs a chance to be around some mature women who can help her out. She's seventeen, and she's missing her mom. And there will be a couple of girls there around her age. She needs friends she can relax with."
The older man let out a sigh. "You're right. Okay. You two drive a hard bargain, don't you?"
Blaine laughed. "Well, there is one more thing. We're having a barbecue on Sunday. We'd like to invite you and the kids to come along and relax and have some fun. There will be games for the kids, and music, singing and dancing, lots of food, and great friends. And we won't take no for an answer, either. It's Labor Day weekend. You deserve to relax and enjoy yourself, too."
Luke laughed again. "Well, since you put it that way, I guess I can't say no."
…
Classes were dismissed at eleven fifty-five on Friday, district wide. Angie Rogers and her daughter Grace had been invited to join the girl's day out, and along with Zizes, Marley and her daughter Delilah, Santana and Britt, a caravan of sorts started from the High school. Lydia picked up Lily from the preschool, while Carole and Santana picked up Lizzie, Kendra, Joani, Daniella, Cara, Kathy and Audy. Amelia and Abby were with them as well. As the caravan made its way south, they were joined by Tina and her two girls, Tess and Trina, Julia, Georgia, Quinn, Emma and Kat. Once they reached Columbus, they picked Belinda up from the hospital, and headed to lunch. The twenty eight females had made quite the impression on the other customers as they were shown to the private room they'd reserved.
Lydia and Grace both felt a little overwhelmed with so many older women, but were put at ease when they were included in the conversations. Even Lily was asked her opinions on certain topics. By the time they'd finished eating, the two teen girls felt much more relaxed around everyone, and each other. They then went to a spa for mani-pedis and facials. Even Kathy and Audy got their finger and toe nails done.
Lydia was surprised that all the women seemed to take turns taking care of the two youngest girls, three month old Abby and five month old Amelia. When one Kathy needed to go to the bathroom, it was Emma who took her. And later, when Lily needed to go, Carole told Lydia to relax, and took the girl herself. Grace was slowly starting to get used to the way this group of women took care of each other, but it was a new experience for Lydia. Later, at the mall, when Belinda needed help going to the bathroom, Lydia offered to take her. Georgia smiled at her.
"You're catching on quick," the older woman said. "Welcome to the family."
Lydia smiled back at her, and took the six year old's hand to walk her to the restroom. The young girl was starting to tire, worn out from the excitement of leaving the hospital, if only for the weekend. Lydia helped her wash her hands, and then readjust the scarf that hid her bald head. She then offered her a piggyback ride back to where they'd left the others. Just before they met up with them, Lydia spotted a cute hat that would look perfect on Belinda. She didn't have very much money on her, but decided to buy the hat when the girl oohed in delight when she tried it on. The pink sun hat had a little beehive and bumble bee stitched on it.
She'd just paid for it when the others spotted them and came over to check out Belinda's new accessory. Georgia beamed happily, seeing her little girl's happy smile. They rented a stroller for Belinda, since the other strollers they had were currently occupied by the five youngest kids, all of whom were napping. Belinda also fell asleep soon after.
By the end of their shopping excursion, Carole had bought Lydia two new tops and a pair of jean shorts she'd liked, while Georgia had bought her a light weight sweater and a pair of shoes. They'd also bought Lily a couple of outfits. They stopped for dinner before heading back to Lima. Lydia was smiling and looking happy when they dropped her and her sister off at their home. She and Grace had agreed to go to a movie along with a couple of the other members of New Directions on Monday, since there was no school.
Luke noticed how much younger his oldest daughter looked as she put her little sister to bed, and he wanted to thank Kurt and Blaine for insisting on the outing for her. He'd known he'd been putting a lot of pressure on her to take care of the younger kids, and he realized how wrong he was for doing that.
As she said goodnight, he stopped her and pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry, sweetie. I should have realized how much you had to grow up so fast this past year. I promise, we'll figure something out so you don't have to be the mom all the time." He kissed her forehead.
"It hasn't been all bad. And I know how hard it's been on you, too. I just don't want you working yourself so hard. There must be an easier way."
Luke sighed. "I've been putting in applications everywhere, but I haven't found anyplace looking to hire someone with my skills."
Lydia hugged him. "I'm sure you'll find something. Anything has got to be better than what you're doing now."
He sighed, and held her for another moment before letting go. "You should get some sleep."
"Night, dad. Love you."
"Love you too, Lydia Love."