"Hi Shelby!" Rachel opened the door before her biological mother had barely taken her finger off the doorbell.
"Hi, Rach!" Shelby hugged her daughter and entered the St. James house.
"Jesse will be right down," Rachel said.
"How have you two been?" Shelby asked, as she and Rachel made their way into the family room.
"Good!" Rachel said.
"How have you been doing? Still recovering okay from Maya's birth?" Shelby asked.
"Yes, very," Rachel replied. Where the heck was Jesse? The couple had something very important to tell Shelby and Jesse was taking forever.
"Hi, sorry that took so long," Jesse entered the room.
"Jesse St. James," Shelby said, much like she had in his show choir days - although, she sounded in awe as opposed to admonishing regarding his technique or posture.
"Ms. Corcoran," Jesse greeted the woman with a bow and then a hug as Shelby shook her head.
"Still sassy all these years later," Shelby laughed. "How's Annie?" She asked, referring to Jesse's younger sister, who had also been involved in show choir.
"Great! She's living in New York now," Jesse replied as he and Shelby joined Rachel in sitting down.
"Oh, good. I would love to see her sometime. Give her my number, would you?" Shelby asked.
"Of course," Jesse smiled. "What's new with you…and Beth?" Beth was Shelby's adopted daughter.
"Not much with me - Beth's in the school play though. She's Tree #4 and killing it," Shelby said. Rachel and Jesse laughed.
"Shelby, we're so sorry we missed your birthday," Rachel said. "We have a card for you!"
"Rachel, you had just given birth! I totally understand. And…didn't you guys mail me a card? Also - my birthday was three months ago?"
"We did," Jesse replied. "But…this card is from…someone else - and they didn't um…get it to us in time."
Shelby looked puzzled.
"Jesse St. James, what are you talking about?" Shelby asked. Rachel handed her an envelope.
Shelby opened the card and was so curious as to who it was from that she didn't notice the small photo that fell out when she opened it.
"Happy very belated birthday Grandma Shelby! My mommy and daddy are so sorry they couldn't make it to your party. I can't wait to meet you in November! Love, Baby St. James," Shelby read aloud.
"Wait…" Shelby began. She looked down at the picture that had fallen in her lap. It was an ultrasound.
"What!" Shelby said as an exclamation rather than a question which made Rachel and Jesse laugh.
"Rachel, are you…pregnant? Again?" Shelby asked.
"Yes!" Rachel shrieked. "I know it's soon - and believe me, Dr. Allen certainly had a thing or two to say to us about that but…Jesse and I are so excited to have a baby of our own and for you to be a part of his or her life."
"Wow!" Shelby said. "Two babies in one year…but I'm happy for you both…congratulations!" The trio stood and both Jesse and Rachel hugged Shelby.
Deep down, Shelby was worried about the toll two pregnancies and births so close together would take on Rachel's health, but her excitement for Rachel and Jesse - and about being a grandmother again outweighed her mom fears and she knew Beth would be thrilled at the news as well.