"So what's the plan again?" Jesse asked the next morning.
"Maya is coming over at 11:00 tomorrow. Blaine and Kurt's flight doesn't leave until that evening - and they'll need time to pack beforehand.
"11? So Olive will be at her ballet lesson."
"Exactly. Will you take her by yourself so I can spend some one-on-one time with Maya, and Olive can spend some one-on-one time with you before…you know."
"The girls enter the boxing ring," Jesse muttered.
Rachel gave him a playful swat on the shoulder.
"Jesse, please. I'm already on edge. I just want things to be…okay between them. I'm not expecting them to ever be best friends - as much as I would love that - I just want them to be able to be in the same room without fighting and maybe even…have fun together."
"It could still happen," Jesse acknowledged. "But it's so important that we don't force it - that'll make it even harder for them. In fact, I think we should give Maya the guest room instead of having her sleep on Olive's trundle bed," Jesse said.
"But, Jesse - what better way for them to bond than to share a room?" Rachel replied.
"They're going to each need their own space to cool off if things get heated," Jesse pointed out. "And this way it's less likely someone will get hurt because they can give each other space."
As sad as Rachel was at the prospect of the girls not sharing a room, she knew Jesse was right and could tell he had really thought things through.
"Okay. Guest room it is," Rachel agreed reluctantly.
Soon, the couple heard the pitter patter of Olive's feet down the stairs.
"Good morning!" Olive greeted her parents enthusiastically. She was wearing a reindeer onesie, despite it being October. Rachel's dads had gotten it for her for her last birthday, which was in December - and she basically wore it year-round - summertime? Didn't matter. She would just sleep with her blankets off and her fan blasting.
"Morning, Oli baby!" Jesse picked Olive up and planted a kiss on her forehead. Olive winced.
"Daddy!" She cried in protest. Olive and Rachel were very close but Olive was a daddy's girl through and through. That being said, over the past few months, Jesse had noticed, much to his dismay, that she was starting to bemoan his forehead kisses and nicknames.
"Oh, all right!" Jesse set her down, laughing.
Rachel also gave Olive a hug and then set her breakfast parfait down on the table.
Something Jesse and Rachel had debated was whether or not to raise Olive vegan, like Rachel. Jesse himself wasn't vegan or even vegetarian. They had finally agreed to raise her on a meat-free diet but eggs and dairy were fair game (a handful of times a week) - although Olive did enjoy oat milk and dairy-free ice cream.
"Thanks, Mommy," Olive smiled up at her mother and began to eat.
Rachel looked at Jesse, and he nodded knowingly. It was time to break the news to Olive. The couple knew they should've told her sooner, but had a hard time finding the right time.
"Olive? Darling…someone is going to be staying with us for five days. They will be arriving tomorrow," Rachel started
"Who?" Olive asked, not looking up from her parfait.
Rachel took a breath. "Maya," she responded slowly.
Olive paused mid-bite. "What?"
"Kurt and Blaine are going on vacation so Maya will be staying with us for that time," Rachel explained.
"Why?" Olive whined, setting down her spoon. "I hate her!"
Rachel gasped, "Olive Maria St. James!" Rachel scolded. While Olive's past actions toward Maya had certainly indicated she wasn't a fan of her half-sister, Rachel couldn't recall Olive ever explicitly saying that she hated Maya.
"That's not true," Jesse chimed in, actually sounding firm with Olive for the first time in a while. "You don't hate her. Why would you say that?" Jesse was not only trying to defuse the situation , but also was hoping Olive could give some insight into why she felt that way about Maya. She had never truly expressed why she didn't like her, and if she could do that, maybe her parents could help her figure out how to actually make things work.
"She thinks she's better than everybody!" Olive cried. "She acts like she's the queen of the world. But she's just annoying."
Neither Rachel nor Jesse had ever gotten the indication Maya had much of an ego. She had always been very sweet and polite to them personally, and actually pretty quiet and mellow - unless she was arguing with Olive of course.
"Why do you think she thinks she's better than everybody?" Rachel asked.
"It's the way that she smiles at everyone and walks around and just…everything!" Angry tears came to Olive's eyes.
"Hey," Jesse said softly. He pulled Olive's chair out from the table and scooped her up - this time, the girl didn't cringe. Jesse rubbed her back for a minute and set her down. Olive clung to her father who started stroking her hair.
"We don't expect you to be best friends with Maya," he said reassuringly. "But we do expect you to treat her with respect. You haven't always been very kind to her," he pointed out gently.
Rachel's heart swelled. Not only was she proud of Jesse for being the one to put forth the expectation that Olive be respectful toward Maya, but her heart melted watching him console her. She had never imagined all those years ago when they first met that Jesse St. James could be such a big softie.
Olive nodded, although she didn't say anything about trying to be nicer to Maya.
"Where is she sleeping?" Olive asked suddenly.
"The guest bedroom," Rachel replied.
"Why does she get the big bed?" Olive whined.
"Well, it was either that or she sleep in your room," Jesse said. "Is that what you'd prefer?"
"Hell, no!" Olive exclaimed.
"Olive Maria!" Rachel chided again, stunned. She'd never heard her little girl swear before. Meanwhile, Jesse was trying to stifle a laugh. Rachel shot him a look.
"But Daddy says that!" Olive protested. Rachel shot Jesse another look.
"Daddy is a grown up, but he shouldn't talk like that around you," Rachel said.
"Mommy's right," Jesse mumbled.
"When is she coming?" Olive suddenly changed the subject.
"She'll come over while you're at your ballet lesson with Daddy," Rachel replied.
"Daddy, after ballet can we go to New Jersey?" Olive asked casually.
Jesse had to fight the laughter again, and even Rachel smiled a bit.
"Olive -" Rachel started.
"Okay, okay. I'll come home after - but I won't like it," Olive pouted.
"Good girl," Rachel gave her daughter's shoulders a squeeze.
