Shelby left the coffee shop soon after discussing the logistics with the two men. They were going to meet at Hiram's law firm in a few days to sort out the custody arrangement. After everything was arranged legally, Hiram and Leroy would tell Rachel about Shelby and give their daughter a couple of days to process. They made plans to have a "family" brunch together the following Saturday so Shelby and Rachel can meet for the first time. One week. It was only one more week until she'd be reunited with her baby, not just for a little while but for good, for forever.
Shelby was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't realize she started walking away from her car. Deciding that she was too wired to just go home, she started walking towards downtown Lima to enjoy the beautiful fall day.
She wandered down the street for a while soaking in the crisp air and the trees skirted by pools of autumn gold and rust-colored leaves. She watched as the leaves pirouetted down an invisible spiral of breeze spinning through the air as if it was performing an elegant dance. Shelby felt alive. It's like she was seeing the world for the first time. She couldn't wait to experience life with Rachel.
She spotted the local bookstore and smiled to herself thinking that she would stop in and pick up a few things for Rachel.
When she walked into the book shop she immediately heard music playing. Listening to the sounds of the piano, she realized that somebody started playing Lionel Richie's "Hello." Shelby mentally high-fived herself. One of her more random talents is being able to recognize songs after only a few notes.
Using her new knowledge of Rachel's love for Broadway, she started to make her way over to the celebrity biographies. The music got louder as she got closer to her destination. As soon as she heard singing, she instantly recognized the male voice. Shelby smiled inwardly knowing that it belonged to her always-eager-to-please Vocal Adrenaline star, Jesse St. James.
He's probably doing another one of his impromptu concerts for the homeless, Shelby chucked to herself thinking about her favorite student. Sure, Jesse was a little too green and maybe overly ambitious but he was also extremely dedicated and refreshingly passionate. He worked hard and really soaked up everything she had to teach him, and Shelby liked that. It reminded her of herself. She picked up a biography of Patti LuPone and continued to listen deciding that she'd stop and say hi after he was done.
"Hello. Is it me you're looking for?"
At least he sounds good, Shelby critiqued.
"—I can see it in your eyes.
I can see it in your smile.
You're all I've ever wanted, and my arms are opened wide."
A female voice joined Jesse's singing and Shelby dropped the book she was holding in her hands. She knows that voice. Her heart racing, she practically sprinted over to the piano. Shelby's breath caught her in her throat as soon as she saw her. Rachel. And she was singing with Jesse, who was staring at her daughter a little too intensely for her comfort.
Absolutely. Not., Shelby thought. Rachel's 13 and Jesse just turned 16. It was highly inappropriate. She should not be singing with any boys, especially not Jesse St. James. How do they even know each other?
"I long to see the sunlight in your hair."
Shelby watched as Rachel timidly looked at Jesse. Don't you dare sit down on that piano bench, Rachel Barbra Berry. Rachel sat down and scooted closer to Jesse. Shelby groaned.
"And tell you time and time again. How much I care," Rachel sang back.
Shelby, again, was entranced by her daughter's beautiful voice. Rachel had so much raw talent. She sighed and resigned to just watching this play out. Rachel and Jesse started to draw in a crowd just as enthralled as she was. They really did sound great together. An orchestra started playing with them and Shelby rolled her eyes noticing that they were Carmel High School students that Jesse probably conned into performing with him.
When the song ended the crowd started to clap, and Shelby instantly began to panic remembering that she wasn't supposed to see Rachel. She quickly turned around and tried to shuffle her way out of the crowd, but it was too late.
"Shelby!" Jesse called out after her.
Crap. Shelby was fit. She worked out. She wagers that she can probably run out of there faster than Usain Bolt can run the 100 meter, even with her heels on.
Jesse, however, moved even faster and before Shelby knew it, he was standing right in front of her with his signature show smile plastered on his face.
"Shelby, hey! I called for you, didn't you hear me?"
Of course she heard him, but she couldn't exactly hang out with him or her long-lost daughter right now. "No, sorry," she lied. "Great rendition of 'Hello,' though you sounded a little flat toward the end. I really have to go now. See you at school on Monday."
"Woah, wait!" Jesse protested. "There's someone I want to you to meet!"
Of course. Of all the scenarios she thought of her in head throughout the years, being introduced to her daughter by Jesse frickin' St. James was definitely not one of them.
"Maybe next time Jesse, but I really have to go," Shelby said as she tried to walk around him.
"Hey Jesse, you forgot your sheet music," a voice said from behind her and Shelby froze.
"Rach! Perfect timing, there's someone I want to introduce you to."
Shelby was paralyzed. The entire room went silent. All she could hear was the pounding of her heart. Shelby slowly turned around and felt time physically stop. Seeing Rachel face-to-face for the first time literally took her breath away. It was like looking in a mirror.
"Rachel, this is—"Jesse said, interrupting the moment.
"Shelby Corcoran," Rachel said in shock and recognition.
Shelby was certain she was going to pass out.
"You're Vocal Adrenaline's head coach. And you're a Broadway actress. And you were Elphaba in 'Wicked.' And you won a Tony," Rachel blurted out. "You're amazing. You're one of my idols. I'm Rachel. Rachel Barbra Berry."
Shelby was speechless. Again. Her daughter seemed to have that effect on her.
Rachel's face dropped at Shelby's lack of reaction and Shelby quickly recovered.
"Sorry, hi Rachel. I'm Shelby," she said as she reached out, tentatively at first, and held Rachel's hand to shake. It was a magnetic feeling.
Rachel flashed her a brilliant megawatt smile and Shelby's heart instantly melted. She would move the stars and the moon to keep that smile on her baby's face.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Corcoran," Rachel said as she let go of her hand. Shelby immediately missed the lack of contact but smiled in amusement at her daughter's manners and professionalism.
"Please, call me Shelby."
"Shelby, Rachel is the one from McKinley who sang 'Don't Rain on My Parade' at Sectionals last week. I just ran into her and was telling her that although I thought she lacked Barbra's emotional depth that she's actually quite talented."
Shelby cringed at Jesse's backhanded compliment.
"I remember, and I thought you were extraordinary, Rachel," Shelby praised honestly. Jesse's jaw dropped in astonishment. It took him nearly six months of blood, sweat, and tears to get a mumbled 'Good job, Jesse' from his stern coach.
"Thanks!" Rachel blushed. "I've been working on it since I was four."
Shelby beamed at her daughter's excitement. She mustered up all the strength she could gather to stop herself from pulling her in for a hug.
"Anyways, I was just telling Rachel about Vocal Adrenaline and how our show choir program is the best in the country," Jesse said.
Before she could reply, Rachel's phone began to ring. "Excuse me, I have to get this, it's my dad," she explained. Shelby's panic spiked internally remembering that she was not supposed to be meeting the young girl right now. She just got done telling Hiram and Leroy that she would let them handle introducing the idea of meeting her mom to her. Shelby was not going to screw this up now.
"Daddy! You'll never guess who I just met!" Rachel greeted cheerfully into the phone as she walked away a few feet for privacy.
Crap again. Shelby acted quickly and pulled out her phone and sent a text to Hiram "Ran into R at the bookstore. Total accident. Didn't tell her who I was."
Hoping that did the trick, she looked over at Rachel who let out a loud giggle that traveled its way right smack into the middle of Shelby's heart. Next to Rachel's singing, her laughter was the second best thing that Shelby had ever heard.
"—So what do you think, Shelby?" Jesse asked, not realizing that his coach was not paying any attention to him at all.
"Jesse, what are you doing with Rachel?" Shelby demanded, turning her focus to the young man.
"Ok fine. I didn't just run into her, but I was just telling her about VA and everything we have to offer because listen coach," Jesse grabbed Shelby's arm, pulled her away from Rachel, and lowered his voice to whisper. "I found out that Rachel just moved here. That means she has no real allegiance to McKinley's 'Right Direction' or whatever they're called. We can totally poach her and convince her to join us instead. I mean you heard us, we'd be unstoppable!"
Shelby groaned internally. Teenagers. She turned to look over at Rachel who sounded like she was wrapping up her phone call.
"We will discuss this later," she said to her student seriously. "But do not, under any circumstance, bring up joining Vocal Adrenaline again to Rachel."
Jesse began to protest but Rachel walked over to join the group again.
"Sorry about that! That was one of my dads and he's on his way to pick me up," The teenager said with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
Shelby didn't miss the confusion that spread across her student's face and instantly prayed he wouldn't say anything ignorant.
"I'd better go, but it was great singing with you Jesse," Rachel said as she blushed and looked at him shyly.
"Yeah, we should do it again sometime," Jesse replied. "And if you have any questions about VA, just let me—" Shelby immediately elbowed him in the stomach. "—Know!" Jesse groaned.
"Yeah, I'd like that!" Rachel said eagerly, seeming to have missed Shelby's literal jab at Jesse who started walking away from the two before Shelby could hit him again.
"I really wish I could stay because I have so much I'd like to ask you Ms. Corcoran like what was it like to fly high during 'Defying Gravity?' Or what was your favorite musical growing up? Or what inspires you? Or who was your favorite actor or director to work with? I bet it was April Rhodes, she was great as your Glinda!" Rachel spouted out in rapid succession.
Shelby couldn't help but laugh in amusement at her daughter's passion and Rachel blushed in response.
"Sorry, I tend to ramble but it's also not every day that I get to meet a real Broadway Star," Rachel said in awe. "You really are incredible."
Shelby's heard dozens of people throughout the years compliment her on her skills. She's had some of the industry's toughest critics commend her on performances. She even had a Tony to show for it. But none of it felt as good as Rachel giving her genuine praise.
"Thank you for saying that Rachel, but I also really think that you're incredible as well," Shelby said, offering a kind smile. "You've got a raw and powerful voice, and I see so much potential in you. You're a natural."
Rachel broke out into the brightest smile that Shelby had ever seen. She could get used to that. A few moments of silence passed and Shelby suddenly noticed the wheels turning in her daughter's head and range of emotions playing out in Rachel's expressive eyes.
"What is it, Rachel?" Shelby asked cautiously.
Rachel looked up at her, surprised that Shelby picked up so quickly on her mood change.
"It's nothing," she said apprehensively.
Shelby instinctively grabbed Rachel's hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. "It's okay, you can tell me. I won't mind, honestly."
"Well, I was just wondering if I could actually have a hug?" Rachel asked hopefully. "I know this might sound weird, but next to 'Funny Girl,' 'Wicked' was my favorite musical growing up and I always listened to the cast recording whenever I felt down or anything. And anyway, this past year has been kind of um—challenging—but listening to it, you especially, always comforted me. Sorry I know I—"
Shelby immediately wrapped her arms around her daughter and pulled her close. She smiled realizing how perfectly they fit together with Rachel's head resting right underneath her chin. She breathed in the faint scent of Rachel's cucumber and mint shampoo and let the rightness of it all wash over her. She held on a little tighter and felt Rachel's heartbeat against her chest, and it was as if Shelby's entire world had come into focus. In a blink of an eye, there was an entire new life in front of her.
After a few seconds, Rachel stepped back and quickly wiped away a stray tear. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cry. I don't even know why I am."
"You don't have to apologize," Shelby said, tucking Rachel's hair behind her ears and gently cupping her face. "Please don't apologize. I'm glad I was able to do that for you, Rachel."
"Thanks," Rachel smiled appreciatively. "Well, I should go. My dad's probably outside waiting for me. Maybe you can answer my questions for me another time?"
"I'd love to," Shelby promised. "It was really great meeting you, Rachel."
Rachel grinned in agreement and started to walk away. Before she reached the end of the aisle, she turned around.
"You're really kind, Ms. Corcoran," Rachel said honestly. "And that's unfortunate because it's just going to make it that much harder when the New Directions beat Vocal Adrenaline this year."
"Bring it," Shelby laughed as she accepted the challenge.
Rachel smirked and promptly turned on her heels and stormed away. Shelby chuckled again at her daughter's theatrics.
If she didn't know that she would be reunited with Rachel a week from now, seeing her daughter walk away would've devastated her. Instead, it fueled her excitement. If Shelby had any expectations, Rachel just absolutely shattered and exceeded all of them.
Now where did Mr. St. James escape to? Shelby wondered as she headed back over to the celebrity biographies aisle. She quickly spotted him flipping through a Gene Kelly biography.
"Looking for lifestyle tips?" Shelby teased.
Jesse put the book back on the shelf and faced his coach nervously. "I'm sorry, Coach," he said earnestly. "I didn't know that I was doing anything wrong with talking to Rachel. You heard her, she's pretty good and I just thought I'd at least tell her about VA—you know, to help the team."
Shelby's expression softened and she sighed. Jesse continued to avert eye contact.
"Hey Jesse, will you look at me?" Shelby asked. "Listen, I love that you're so dedicated to this team. I really appreciate it. But it's not your job to recruit for VA."
"I know," he said sounding a little more contrite. "But Rachel is really good and I didn't want to miss this opportunity! I really thought I'd be able to convince her."
"But it's not your job to convince her," Shelby continued to admonish. "And we can't go around 'poaching' students from other teams. It's sneaky and we don't want that kind of reputation. Not to mention, it's completely against the rules. Your only job is to keep working hard, focus on regionals, and just have fun. That's it, Jesse."
"Alright Coach C," Jesse said, finally understanding what his coach was telling him. "I hear ya."
"Yeah?" Shelby grinned at him. "So no more Seal-Team-Six-Esque secret missions for VA?"
"No," Jesse laughed, enjoying his coach's unusual silly side. "But you have to admit that it was a pretty good solo operation, huh Coach?"
"Don't push it, St. James," Shelby rolled her eyes, nudging him slightly. "But just to be clear that's all you wanted with Rachel, right? You're not interested in singing with her for any other reason?"
Jesse was puzzled at first but then realized what his coach was really asking.
"Yeah totally," he said truthfully. "I mean don't get me wrong, Rachel's gorgeous and rather talented, but I don't have time for girls right now. I'm a junior and my focus right now is getting a good SAT score and winning a third national championship, so I can get into New York Academy of the Dramatic Arts—in New York—next year."
Shelby let out a sigh of relief. "That's good Jesse, just keep focusing on those things."
"I will Coach. I won't let you down," Jesse promised.
"I don't expect you to be perfect Jesse," Shelby replied. "And also, you don't give yourself enough credit. You're just as talented as Rachel. But not only that, you're forgetting that you have me and your teammates. We don't need anyone else. We've got this—especially with your dedication and your leadership."
Jesse's striking blue eyes widened in shock at the unexpected praise from his coach. Maybe it was Shelby's good mood from the entire day, but she thought it was important to squash Jesse's insecurity. He was usually so confident and although Jesse could be arrogant at times, Shelby thought that his confidence was justified for the most part. He was always the first to practice and the last the leave. He got good grades and was respectful to his teachers and peers. And as much as he'd deny it, he always put his friends and teammates first always willing to help them learn a new song or dance or give them encouragement or advice. None of that went unnoticed by Shelby. His drive—along with the dedication of her entire team—is what helped Shelby build VA into the show choir force that it was today.
"Thanks Coach," Jesse said, still speechless.
"Of course and I mean it. You're more than enough, so no more recruiting people behind my back, okay? Just stick with me St. James, and we'll make sure that you get into New York Academy of the Dramatic Arts—in New York," she joked.
"Okay Coach, no more recruiting," he assured her. "Well, I actually better go. I promised the orchestra kids that I'd take them to Breadstix for performing with me."
Shelby shook her head in disapproval at her student's hijinks.
"Alright, get outta here. But if you tell anyone that I just said any of that to you, I'll deny it," Shelby teased as she turned around swiftly and stormed down the aisle.
Take that for a dramatic exit, Rachel.
A/N: As always, I appreciate all the thoughtful reviews. We'll be meeting Shelby's family in the next chapter!