I finally have a new chapter for you! I am so sorry it took me this long. My muse refuses to work sometimes and I need to wait until she is ready to inspire me. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Thank you so much for all the reviews. They all make my day!
…
"Hurry up, Kurt, we're going to be late!" Rachel told her friend, as they made their way to the bar.
"Let's go to Callbacks instead. We can have some virgin drinks and sing some tunes …" Kurt started to say.
"No, come on! This is a real Broadway gathering, Kurt!" Rachel replied, grabbing her friend's hand and making him walk faster. "They said they'd wait for us at the entrance so we could all walk in together."
"Rachel, wait …" Kurt begged, making Rachel stop her quick pace.
"Come on …" Rachel whined. "What's up with you tonight?"
"Shelby is right, we are not old enough to go to bars and drink and party all night." Kurt explained.
Rachel rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Maturity doesn't come with age, it comes with life experience. How are we going to become mature adults if we haven't lived? I am sure my mom and my grandmother had a couple of drinks before they turned 21. And you know what, Kurt? You don't even have to drink tonight. Let's just have fun, huh?"
Kurt faltered and then nodded. "You're right. I am young and this is what I'd always dreamed of, a real Broadway party!"
Rachel smiled and gave Kurt a quick hug. "Let's go!"
Both friends made their way down Houston Street in a hurry as they realized how late it was.
"Rachel! I'm so glad you could make it! We were just about to go in!" Jennifer, one of the choreographers, said as she gave Rachel an air kiss.
"This is my friend Kurt Hummel. He's also an actor." Rachel said, introducing her friend to everyone.
"We know who he is, Hobbit." Santana spoke from the back of the group.
Rachel gasped and turned to Kurt with an accusing look.
"Hey, don't look at me. I didn't know she was coming." Kurt said.
"Paul invited me." Santana explained with a grin. "I am your understudy, and this is a cast party, so the only one who doesn't belong here is Lady Hummel."
"Shall we go in?" Jennifer asked, interrupting the forthcoming argument between Rachel and Santana.
"Of course." Rachel said, with a wide smile. She wasn't going to let Santana ruin that night for her.
"I've got us all a booth in the VIP lounge." Jennifer said. "You can all go get your drinks and then, we'll meet there."
The group of ten nodded and split up. The only ones who stayed together were the three former McKinley students.
"So, how's life with mommy going?" Santana asked in a mocking babyish tone.
"It is going very well. I am very happy there." Rachel replied.
"Santana, please don't ruin Rachel's night." Kurt pleaded. "This is her night."
"Hey, I'm also here to have fun with my people." Santana said. "Besides, I kinda miss our little midget here."
Rachel tried to do her best to ignore Santana and turned to Kurt. "Are you going to order something?"
Kurt shrugged. "Maybe later. I'm not that thirsty right now."
"I'll have some sparkling water, please." Rachel told the bartender.
"Oh that is so cute! Mommy doesn't let you drink, huh?" Santana said, laughing. "I'll have a Gin and Tonic."
"I'll also have an Amaretto Sour, please." Rachel said, adding the cocktail to her order.
Kurt shook his head, but remained quiet. The last thing he wanted was to make a scene and be asked to show his I.D.
Rachel avoided Santana the rest of the evening, and devoted her time to talking to Kurt. She realized that even though she had always wanted to be part of a 'Broadway gang', she didn't feel comfortable around her peers. The only thing they all had in common was their admiration for Rachel's voice.
"I'm going to get another drink." Rachel said, showing Kurt her empty glass. "I'll be right back."
"Rach, you've already had two mixed drinks and a glass of wine." Kurt said. "How about some water this time?"
"Yes, dad!" Rachel said, winking at Kurt. "Don't worry, I'll get some water. I don't think I can drink any more alcohol."
Santana followed Rachel to the main bar and put her arm around her. "We need to talk, Berry."
"What do you want, Santana?" Rachel asked, annoyed.
"Let's be honest here. We had come a long way since High School, we were even becoming … close." Santana said.
"And then you ruined it." Rachel said.
Santana nodded. "I did. And I miss our friendship."
Rachel scoffed. "How many drinks have you had, Santana?"
"No, no, no, hear me out, Berry. Yes, I am a little drunk, but I am serious." Santana explained. "I am not interested in being a Broadway star."
"Then why did you audition?" Rachel asked, crossing her arms.
"You made it sound like so much fun and I wanted to give it a try. I never thought I'd get chosen as your understudy. And then, you got so upset and it reminded me of that High School Rachel Berry I despised so much that I became that old Santana who wanted to destroy you." Santana confessed.
"This was not a silly solo in Glee club. You were messing with my life, with my future." Rachel said. "I thought you were my friend and then you stabbed me in the back!"
Santana sighed. "Pay close attention, Rachel, because I won't be saying this again. And if you tell anyone I said it, I'll go all Lima Heights on you, got it?"
"What is it, Santana?" Rachel asked, not even a bit intimidated by the Latina.
"I am sorry." Santana simply uttered.
"What?" Rachel said, not being sure she had heard right.
Santana took a deep breath and the spoke, "I am going to call Rupert to tell him I am not interested in the show anymore. Broadway is not my thing."
"You would do that for me?" Rachel asked.
"No. I am doing it for me. I don't like this show. I don't like these songs." Santana said. "Seriously, this musical is not good."
Rachel gasped as she put her right hand on her chest. "Don't you ever say that again!"
Santana chuckled as she shook her head. "So, what do you say, Berry, can we be friends again?"
Just as Rachel was about to answer, she was interrupted by Kurt. "Is everything okay? I was worried about you having killed each other."
"Don't worry, we are friends again, right?" Santana said, looking expectantly at Rachel.
Rachel shrugged. "No more being on my way to stardom?"
"I'll text Rupert right away." Santana said, getting her phone and sending a text. "This is such a relief! I don't think I would've been able to continue going to rehearsal and wearing those awful clothes and singing those horrible songs!"
"Thank you, Santana." Rachel said, smiling. If she had been able to forgive the Latina for all that bullying in High School, she knew she could forgive her now.
"How about moving back to the apartment with us?" Santana asked.
"I don't think so." Rachel said.
…
Constance had been reading a book in bed, doing her best to stay awake until Rachel got home. She was growing very restless, so she decided to get up and go to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea.
"What time is it?" Constance asked, yawning, as she walked into the kitchen where her daughter was standing waiting for the kettle to whistle.
"It's nearly 1am." Shelby replied. "What are you doing up, mom?"
"The same as you, Shelby. I'm waiting for our Rachel to get home." Constance said. "What time did you tell her she had to be here?"
"I didn't …" Shelby replied, wondering she should have set a curfew. She was aware her daughter was eighteen and there were things she could not control.
Constance shook her head in disapproval. "Have you tried calling her?"
Shelby nodded. "I am sent straight to voice mail and she isn't answering any of my texts. I am sure the bar is loud and she cannot hear her phone."
"We should go there and make sure she is okay." Constance said.
"Oh yeah, that would go very well." Shelby replied in a sarcastic tone. "I am sure Rachel would be thrilled to see her mother, her grandmother and her little sister there at the exit waiting for her."
"This is not about what she would like or would not like, Shelby, this is about her being safe." Constance said.
"Mom, I am worried too, but Rachel is responsible and I am sure you scared her enough to stay away from alcohol tonight." Shelby said, reassuring her mother.
"I certainly hope so." Constance added. "But I am concerned."
Shelby sighed. "Hopefully, she'll be here soon. I'll wait up. Go to sleep, mom."
"No. I'll wait up with you. Let's have some tea." Constance said.
"I'm so glad you're here, mom." Shelby said with a smile.
"I've missed you, honey. And I couldn't wait to meet my beautiful granddaughter." Constance replied. "She looks just like you when you were that age."
"I know. She's …" Shelby was interrupted by the chime on her phone. "That must be Rachel."
"Is she on her way?" Constance asked.
Shelby opened the text message and read, "Mom, I'll be staying at Kurt's tonight. See you tomorrow."
Shelby sighed in relief and yawned walking out of the kitchen. "We can go to bed now, mom."
"What? No, Shelby, stop!" Constance spoke. "You cannot possibly think that text was acceptable."
"Why not?" Shelby asked. She was too tired to have that conversation with her mother.
"We need to know she's alright. We need to make sure she's safe." Constance said. "Call her and tell her she needs to come home."
"I won't do such thing, mom. I trust her. I trust Kurt. She is fine." Shelby said. "I'm going to bed."
"Shelby, this conversation is not over." Constance said, as she watched her daughter walk into the bedroom.
"Goodnight, mom." Shelby said, closing her door.
Shelby leaned on her bedroom door and closed her eyes. She felt some butterflies in her stomach as she thought that she had just walked out in the middle of a conversation with her mother, but she soon calmed down when she realized she was already an adult, and her mother could no longer control her. She hadn't appreciated Rachel's text either. Not because she didn't like her daughter spending the night at her friend's, but because she had been worried sick all night and hadn't had any news from Rachel until that moment.
…
"Thank you so much for letting me stay over last night." Rachel said, standing by the door of her former apartment.
"Are you sure you don't want to move back?" Santana asked. "I'm not saying you can have your room back, but I am sure we can make the living room a bit cozier so you can sleep on the couch."
Rachel shook her head. "Thank you, Santana, that is very kind of you, but the answer is still no."
Santana shrugged and went back to her breakfast.
"You don't want me to take you home, do you?" Kurt asked. "I could, but I … I have some things to do this morning."
Rachel smiled as she hugged Kurt. "Don't worry, I can take a cab. Thank you for everything."
Kurt smiled back, as he opened the door for his friend. "I'll call you later."
Rachel took a cab from Bushwick to her mother's apartment in Manhattan. As she left Brooklyn behind, she started thinking of all the reasons why she couldn't move back to her previous apartment. Even though she had loved the freedom that living away from home granted her, she couldn't deny living with her mom was much better. She was getting to experience something she had wished for her whole life. She wasn't ready to turn her back on that.
Rachel was lost in her thoughts when the cab driver announced they had reached their destination. "I'm sorry. Thank you so much."
Rachel smiled at the doorman as she made her way into the apartment building and as she was waiting for the elevator, she double checked she had the right receipts in her purse. She was sure she wasn't going to need them, but she had to be prepared in case her mother asked to see what she had drunk the previous night. She was lucky she had kept every receipt from Kurt's orders.
"Good morning." Rachel said, smiling as she walked into the apartment where her family was having breakfast.
"Good morning, Rach." Shelby replied, smiling back.
"Rachel, sit down. I will get you some eggs." Constance said in a serious tone.
"Thank you, grandma, but I've already had breakfast." Rachel replied.
"What did you have?" Constance asked, hovering over her granddaughter. "Why didn't you come home last night?"
"Mom, she just came in. Let her take off her coat, at least, before the third degree starts." Shelby said, shaking her head.
"I cannot believe you are not upset, Shelby." Constance said, glaring at her daughter. "She has some explaining to do."
"Mom, please, don't." Shelby said, begging with her eyes.
Rachel frowned as she looked at her mom. She didn't understand what was going on. Her confusion was cleared up when Shelby smiled gently at her and with a glance told her everything was okay.
"How was your night? Did you have fun?" Shelby asked.
"It was wonderful. The club was not exactly appropriate for a Broadway gathering, but it was good. Once I become a star, I will be able to hold parties in much fancier places." Rachel said, taking a seat at the table. "But I had a very good time."
"Did Kurt have fun as well?" Shelby asked.
"Yes, we talked all night long." Rachel replied. "Oh and Santana was there too."
"Did you two get a chance to talk?" Shelby inquired.
Rachel nodded, taking the glass of juice in front of Shelby and having a sip. "We are okay now. She has resigned from the musical."
"Are you thirsty, Rachel?" Constance asked. "I can get you your own juice."
"No, it's okay." Rachel replied.
Constance narrowed her eyes, examining her granddaughter's appearance. She needed to make sure the girl had not had anything to drink the previous night. Not being able to assess whether Rachel had a hangover or not, she decided to ask. She could always tell when someone was lying.
"Did you have anything to drink last night?" Constance asked.
"Only two glasses of sparkling water and a virgin strawberry daiquiri." Rachel said with confidence in her voice.
Shelby smiled as she believed every word her daughter said. She considered herself to be an expert at spotting a lie, and Rachel's demeanor showed that the girl was telling the truth.
"Was that it?" Constance insisted.
"It was." Rachel said, standing up to get her purse. She took the receipts and walked back to the table. "Look, sparkling water and a virgin daiquiri."
"I'm very proud of you, Rach." Shelby said, skimming through the receipts.
Rachel smiled and nodded. She felt a little guilty about lying to her mom, but it was better than arguing with her.
Constance was still not entirely convinced, especially when Rachel produced the receipts. She had learned that the more evidence there was, the more suspicious she needed to be. She was surprised Shelby was acting so calm. After all, Shelby was the one who had taught Constance had lesson.
"Now that we've gotten that out of the way. I'll ask again, why didn't you come home last night?" Constance asked forcefully.
"Mom knows why! I stayed at Kurt's!" Rachel said, getting defensive.
"Watch that tone, young lady!" Constance scolded.
"Please, mom, I'll handle this." Shelby said.
"Mommy, can we go to the park?" Beth asked interrupting the argument before her.
"Why don't you ask grandma to take you?" Shelby suggested. "She'd love that."
Shelby needed to speak to Rachel and she knew she wouldn't be able to do it calmly with her mother hovering over her. She'd been thinking of a way to get rid of Constance without sounding rude and Beth had just given her the perfect opportunity.
"Grandma, we go to the park?" Beth asked, smiling at her grandmother. "Please!"
Constance looked at Beth and nodded. "Finish your breakfast and we can go to the park."
"Yay!" Beth said, clapping her hands. "You come too, Wachel?"
"No, Rachel won't be joining you, Beth." Shelby spoke.
"Why not?" Rachel asked. She didn't want to go to the park, but she didn't like the fact that her mother was making the decision for her.
"I want to talk to you about last night." Shelby replied.
Rachel eyed her mother suspiciously but she nodded. She really didn't want to go to the park with her little sister and her grandmother. Constance made her very nervous and she wanted to spend some time alone with Shelby.
"I'll go take a shower. I need to change. I'm wearing the same clothes I was wearing yesterday." Rachel said, leaving the living room.
"Beth, dear, why don't you go put some shoes on?" Constance said.
Beth smiled and ran to her bedroom. She also needed to choose one of her dolls to take to the park with her.
"Shelby, I am afraid Rachel is lying to you about her alcohol consumption last night." Constance said in a serious tone once her two granddaughters were out of sight.
Shelby let out a loud sigh. "She isn't, mom. She even showed us those receipts. I trust her."
"Honey, do you remember what you used to do every time you lied to me and you didn't want to get in trouble?" Constance prompted.
Shelby shook her head as she thought about the question. In her eyes, very few times had she lied to her mother, so she had no idea what the eldest Corcoran was talking about.
"I never lied to you, mom." Shelby said, avoiding her mother's eyes.
Constance chuckled as she raised her eyebrow. "Really? So that time you told me you were going to the movies with Samantha when in fact you went to a party with your boyfriend was not a lie?"
"You knew? But I had the movie ti …" Shelby interrupted herself as she figured out what her mother was talking about. "Oh … But Rachel didn't do that."
"I certainly hope she didn't." Constance said.
Beth came running back into the living room wearing sneakers and holding a rag doll. "Grandma, Penny and I are weady to go!"
"Let's go, dear." Constance said, holding Beth's hand. "Have a good day, Shelby."
"Give mommy a kiss before you go." Shelby said, kneeling so Beth could do so. "Be a good girl. Listen to grandma."
"I will, mommy. Bye!" Beth said.
"Have a good day, mom." Shelby said, smiling. "And thank you."
Shelby cleaned the table and did the dishes while Rachel finished her shower. She went back and forth between asking Rachel again if she had drunk or not, but she decided against it. Her daughter had sounded sincere and she was not going to push her. She chose to believe her, because there was no reason why she would be lied to. There was something more important she wanted to discuss.
"Are grandma and Beth gone?" Rachel asked, walking into the living room. Her hair was dripping wet and it looked like she hadn't brushed it yet.
"Yes. It's just you and me." Shelby replied, smiling. "Go get me your towel and your brush."
Rachel went back to the bathroom to retrieve both items. As soon as she came back, Shelby took the towel and dried her eldest daughter's hair just like she dried Beth's. Then, she instructed Rachel to sit on the couch so she could brush her hair.
"I love it when you do this." Rachel said. "My dads used to brush my hair when I was little, but they were never very gentle."
"I bet they weren't. When my mom had to leave early for work and my dad had to do my hair, I cried every time." Shelby replied.
"Was grandma gentle?" Rachel asked, sounding surprised. "I mean, she just looks so … I don't know."
Shelby laughed as she continued brushing her daughter's long locks. "My mom was very gentle. She looks intimidating, but she is in fact very sweet and kind."
Both mother and daughter enjoyed the moment for a couple of minutes before Shelby spoke again. "Are things back to normal between you and Santana?"
"They are. She apologized and she even quit the show." Rachel replied, still giving her back to her mother.
Shelby finished braiding Rachel's hair and then tapped her daughter's shoulder so she would turn around and face her. "Why did she quit the show?"
"She said she had never been interested in it. I suppose she admires me so much that she wanted to know what it felt like to be me." Rachel said. "But of course, she will never be me."
"Of course not." Shelby said, chuckling. "But Rach, won't Santana's sudden withdrawal from the show delay opening night?"
Rachel gasped as she realized her mom might be right. She had been so happy about Santana quitting than she didn't think of how her departure could harm the show.
"I will talk to Sydney on Monday. I will explain again that I don't need an understudy, since I am not planning on missing a single show." Rachel said with confidence in her voice.
Shelby was going to explain that having an understudy was a requirement for every lead actor in a show, but she figured the director would be explaining the same thing when Rachel talked to him, so she decided against it.
"Okay, honey." Shelby replied, smiling. "I'm glad that feud between Santana and you is over."
"She even asked me to move back to the loft." Rachel said.
Shelby felt her heart skip a beat and her mouth became dry. "Oh did she?"
Rachel nodded. "Don't worry, mom, I said I wouldn't. I feel like I am where I belong."
Shelby hugged Rachel as she let out a sigh of relief. "I love having you here."
Rachel melted into her mother's hug as she thought of all the times when she was a little girl and she wished she had her mom in her life.
"I love you so much, Rach." Shelby said, giving her daughter a kiss on the head.
"I love you too, mom." Rachel said, still in her mother's arms. "Can we watch a movie?"
Shelby had almost forgotten what she wanted to talk to Rachel about and was trying to decide whether the time was right to bring it up or not. She didn't want to ruin the perfect moment they had just had.
"Of course we can. I just want to talk to you about something else first." Shelby said, making her mind up and deciding it was better to have that chat in that moment.
"Okay …" Rachel said, getting a bit nervous.
"We've never discussed curfew and …" Shelby starting saying but was interrupted by her daughter.
"Mom, I'm eighteen! I can't have a curfew!"
"Hey, Rach, hear me out, okay? I am not saying I want to impose one." Shelby explained. "I know you are eighteen and you can come and go as you please. And while I do appreciate you texting me last night to tell me you wouldn't be coming home, it was after one in the morning and I had been worried sick until then."
"I never thought you'd still be up." Rachel admitted. "I texted you because I had some missed calls and some texts from you, and I didn't want to call so I wouldn't wake you up."
"I was still up." Shelby said. "I couldn't go to sleep until I made sure my baby was safe."
Rachel smiled, but stayed silent as she didn't know what to say.
"Wait, did you say you texted me because you saw I had been calling you?" Shelby asked.
"My phone was in a purse, and the club was too loud." Rachel said.
"Would you have let me know you were staying at Kurt's if I hadn't called or texted first?" Shelby asked, getting a bit annoyed.
"Uh yes?" Rachel answered, figuring that was what her mother expected to hear.
"I need to know where you are or at least where you will be spending the night. I am serious, Rachel, I won't impose a curfew, but I will ask you to let me know, preferably before midnight, where you are and whether or not you are safe." Shelby said in a serious tone.
Rachel sighed as she said, "Okay, mom."
"If you can't do that, then I am afraid I will have to set a curfew and you will have to be here at a certain time." Shelby added.
Rachel resisted the urge to roll her eyes and simply nodded. "Okay, mom."
"Choose a movie while I go get us some tea." Shelby said, smiling. She was glad that talk with Rachel had gone well.
…
The next few days were hectic for the family. Shelby was organizing a festival to showcase the talent of the toddlers she taught at daycare and Beth had wanted to join, so both mother and daughter spent long hours rehearsing. Rachel had spent almost the whole week rehearsing and trying to find another understudy, something she didn't agree with. The only one who didn't have much to do was Constance. She had spent her days going to museums, walking around the city and cooking for her daughter and granddaughters.
"Good morning, grandma." Rachel spoke, coming out of her bedroom. She had finally had a chance to sleep in, since rehearsal started at 10 that morning.
"Hello, dear." Constance replied. "Would you like some breakfast?"
"No, thank you. I'll just buy some tea and some energy bars on my way to the theater." Rachel replied.
"I can make you some eggs or some waffles, I don't mind." Constance said. "Or I could make some French toast. Your mother and your sister had some this morning."
Rachel glanced at the clock on the wall and then smiled. "You've cooked for us every day, how about if I cook this time? Have you had breakfast, grandma?"
"I was waiting for you. I've only had a cup of coffee." Constance said.
"I'll make a frittata." Rachel said, walking into the kitchen and getting everything ready. "I am sure you're going to love it! Mom said it was wonderful the first time she tried it."
"I am sure I will." Constance replied. "Do you have school today?"
"No. I don't have classes on Thursdays. But I do have to go to rehearsal later." Rachel responded as she cracked some eggs and cut some pieces of squash.
"I would love to see you on stage." Constance admitted.
"I'll send you a first row ticket for opening night." Rachel replied, smiling. "I'd love to have you there, next to mom and my dads."
"I was wondering if I could come to rehearsal with you this morning, dear. I would love to see how a show is produced." Constance confessed. She had grown tired of sightseeing by herself and she wanted to spend her last day in the city with her granddaughter.
"Oh. I don't know if we are allowed to invite anyone to see us rehearse." Rachel said, turning to face her grandmother, who looked disappointed. "But I am the star of the show and they wouldn't have a production without me, so I am sure they won't have a problem with you being there."
"Thank you, dear." Constance answered, smiling. "Do you need any help?"
"No. I'll just flip it in a minute and it'll be ready." Rachel replied, focusing on the dish on the pan and carefully placing it on a plate.
"This is delicious, Rachel." Constance said. "Where did you learn to do this?"
"My friend Kurt taught me." Rachel replied. "After nearly burning down our apartment, he decided I needed cooking lessons and he made it his mission to teach me some basic things."
"I am glad he did. This is marvelous." Constance said, taking another bite.
After breakfast, both grandmother and granddaughter headed to the theater. Rachel was thankful Constance was going with her, because that way, she had an excuse to take a cab. Otherwise, she would've taken the subway.
"Mister Greene, this is my grandmother." Rachel said, introducing Constance to the producer.
"I can see good looks run in the family." Sydney replied.
"That is very kind, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you." Constance answered.
Rachel rolled her eyes as she watched the scene before her. "Can we start?"
"Of course. We will be starting with 'Who Are You Now?'" Rupert said from the back.
"Do you need the lyrics, Ms. Berry?" Sydney asked.
"I've known this musical since I was three. Of course I don't need the lyrics." Rachel replied. "I am sure I know this musical better than you, Mr. Greene."
"Rachel, dear, don't be rude. He was just asking." Constance said.
Rachel glared at her granddaughter and clenched her fists. How dare she tell the star off in front of the producer and the director?
"It's alright, ma'am. I should've known better." Sydney said. He was used to Rachel's outbursts, so he was immune to them anymore.
The rest of the rehearsal ran smoothly. Rachel sang as beautifully as she always did and boasted with pride when her grandmother clapped at the end of every song.
"That was wonderful, Rachel!" Rupert said. "You were born to play Fanny Brice."
"I know." Rachel said, nodding her head.
Constance shook her head and tried to hide a smile. Rachel truly reminded her of Shelby when she was a teenager.
"That's it for today. See you tomorrow, Rachel." Rupert added.
Rachel grabbed all her things and walked out with her grandmother.
"You were marvelous, dear." Constance said. "I am so proud of you."
"Thank you, grandma. It was great having you there." Rachel replied. "Hearing you clap after every song was very encouraging."
"You remind me so much of your mother." Constance said, with a sweet smile.
"She is also very talented." Rachel added.
"She certainly is." The grandmother said. "I am getting hungry. Is there a decent place to have lunch around here?"
"There is a vegan place I love." Rachel replied, starting to walk and expecting her grandmother to follow her. "It's right around the corner."
As they were walking to the restaurant, Rachel received a text message from Shelby. "My mom will be joining us for lunch."
"Table for four, please." Constance said when they got to the restaurant.
"Three." Rachel corrected her. "Mom mentioned it was only going to be her. Beth must be with Megan."
"Table for three, please." Constance said.
"Right this way, please." The hostess said. "Is this table okay?"
Rachel nodded. "Perfect, thanks."
"Who was the older gentleman in the theater?" Constance asked.
"Sydney? He is the producer." Rachel replied. "Why?"
"He seems very nice." Constance said.
"I suppose he is." Rachel replied, unsure of where the conversation was going.
"You were quite rude to him, Rachel." Constance said in a serious tone.
Rachel was relieved to know her grandmother didn't have a crush on the producer as she originally thought, but she didn't appreciate her mentioning the incident again.
"No, grandma, I was simply stating that his question was rather dumb." Rachel argued.
"He was doing his job, dear. There was no reason for being that unmannerly." Constance explained.
Rachel shook her head as she took a deep breathe. "Look who's talking."
"Excuse me?" Constance said, raising an eyebrow.
"You were the one who was rude, grandma." Rachel accused. "You had no right to undermine me at the theater!"
"I had no right? I am your grandmother, Rachel." Constance said in a threatening tone.
"And I am a professional actress!" Rachel said, rising her voice. "We were at my job, we weren't home!"
"Lower your voice." Constance ordered.
"Even if we were home, you have no right to tell me off! I am eighteen years old, not three, like Beth!" Rachel spoke, ignoring her grandmother's order.
"You will not speak to me in that tone, Rachel." Constance threatened.
"This is ridiculous." Rachel said, standing up. "Mom should be here soon."
As Rachel was making her way to the exit, she bumped into Shelby.
"Where's the fire?" Shelby asked, shocked at her daughter's determined face.
"I'm leaving. Enjoy your lunch with your mother." Rachel said, trying to get out of the restaurant.
"What's going on?" Shelby asked, blocking Rachel's path.
"Your mother is insufferable." Rachel said, gritting her teeth. "See you at home later."
"No, no, no, you're not going anywhere." Shelby said, gently holding Rachel's upper arm. "Talk to me. What happened?"
"Your mother thinks she has the right to treat me like a child." Rachel spoke in an angry voice.
"I'll talk to her, but I need to know what happened exactly." Shelby said, calmly. She knew how intense her mother could be, and she was ready to defend her daughter if there was a need to.
"Why don't you ask her?" Rachel said, pointing at her grandmother with her head.
"Let's go back to the table so we can all talk." Shelby suggested.
Rachel huffed and glared at her grandmother, before nodding and walking back to the table with Shelby.
"Hi, mom." Shelby said, giving Constance a sweet and quick kiss on the cheek.
"Hello, dear." Constance replied.
Constance had a stern look on her face that was making Shelby nervous, but she knew that she needed to get to the bottom of the issue between her mother and her daughter.
"Okay, what's going on here?" Shelby asked, cutting to the chase. "Mom, you look like you are ready to murder Rachel."
"I do not wish to murder her, dear, I simply think a trip to the bathroom would do her some good." Constance said.
Rachel rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, scoffing. "See, mom? This is ridiculous."
"Let's all calm down." Shelby demanded. "Rachel, tell me what happened."
"She told me off in front of everyone at the theater!" Rachel said, getting worked up again. "And just now, she accused me of being rude when she was the one who was rude!"
Shelby turned to look at her mother and asked, "You told her off in front of everyone?"
"It was only in front of one gentleman, not the entire cast." Constance explained. "And she was very ill-mannered, so it was my job to correct her."
"No, it wasn't! Not at the theater!" Rachel yelled.
"Rachel …" Shelby said, giving her daughter a stern look. She agreed with Rachel and she was going to explain to her mother why she shouldn't have done what she did, but Shelby wasn't going to allow Rachel to be rude.
"Mom, I know that as a parent, it is very difficult to control oneself sometimes, but Rachel invited you as a guest to see her rehearsal and you should have been a silent spectator." Shelby stated. "If she was being so rude, you should have waited until you were outside the theater to talk to her about it."
"I am her grandmother and this not something I can turn on and off, but I concede, the timing was not appropriate." Constance admitted. "However, I do have to say that she was very arrogant and I am concerned about that."
"Can we drop this?" Rachel asked, getting tired of listening to her grandmother speak about her in third person.
"Don't worry, mom. I understand your concern and we have talked extensively about this. Rachel knows she has to learn some humility and we are working on that, right, honey?" Shelby said, turning to look at Rachel, who simply responded in an uninterested shrug.
"That is not an appropriate answer, Rachel." Constance reprimanded. "Use your words."
Rachel scowled and shook her head.
"We are no longer at the theater, and I do not have to be a silent spectator anymore, so it is my prerogative to call on you when you are not being polite. I am your grandmother." Constance admonished. "Now, use your words and answer your mother."
"Yes, mom." Rachel said to Shelby and then turned to Constance. "Happy?"
"Thank you, dear." Constance said, wanting to end the tense moments they were currently experience. "I love you, Rachel, I always have. Please do not mistake my strictness for lack of love. It is because I love you so much that I feel the need to correct you."
Rachel nodded. She still didn't understand why her grandmother had to be that way, but she didn't feel like fighting anymore.
"Okay, now give each other a hug and let's eat. I'm starving!" Shelby said, smiling.
Constance smiled at Shelby and hugged Rachel, breaking all the tension.
"So, how are rehearsals for the festival going, mom?" Rachel asked. "Do any of the kids show any real promise?"
"They're only two and three years old, Rach. They're too little to show any promise." Shelby explained. "But they are all very cute!"
"I won a dancing competition when I was still in diapers. By the time I was two years old, I was already very talented, mom." Rachel said, outraged at the idea of those kids being too young to be talented.
"I know, honey, but you are the only kid I know who's won a dancing competition when she couldn't even walk yet." Shelby said, remembering what Rachel had told her once about winning a competition when she was only three months old.
"You're right, mom. I am pretty special." Rachel said, smiling.
Constance chuckled as she looked at her daughter and her granddaughter. "Oh Shelby, she's just like you."
…
"I wish you could stay longer, mom." Shelby said, saying goodbye to her mother on Friday. She couldn't believe two weeks had already gone by.
"I know, dear. I will miss my three girls so much." Constance replied. "But I'll be back soon."
"You have to go?" Beth asked, pouting.
"I'm afraid so." Constance said. "Give me a warm hug."
Beth crashed into her grandmother and gave her a big hug. "I'll miss you, grandma."
Rachel had been hiding in Shelby's room while her mom and her sister bid farewell to her grandmother. The previous day had been very confusing and tense for her, and she didn't know how she felt about her grandmother leaving.
"Where's Rachel?" Constance asked.
"She's in my room, I think." Shelby said. "Let me go get her."
"No, dear, I will do that." Constance replied.
Constance headed to the bedroom and knocked gently on the door, opening it a little. "May I come in?"
"Of course." Rachel said, smiling shyly.
"I have to go now, Rachel." Constance said. "But I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to my beautiful granddaughter."
Rachel smiled at her grandmother, but she didn't say anything. She didn't know how to process what she was feeling. Constance had welcomed her into the family with open arms and had never made a difference between Beth and her, and that had truly warmed Rachel's heart, but the young brunette was still getting used to having an active parent in her life and she didn't know how she felt about Constance being another authority figure.
"Sit down next to me, Rachel." Constance said, sitting on the bed. "Let's talk. Please let me in."
Rachel sat down next to her grandmother and sighed. "I'm just … I don't know."
"Dear, look at me. Look into my eyes. There's nothing here but love for you." Constance stated, sweetly. "Are you still upset about yesterday?"
Rachel shrugged and then hesitantly nodded.
"I don't want to leave knowing you're hurt or upset with me, Rachel." Constance declared. "I apologize for what I did. I wasn't thinking. I can be too quick to scold sometimes. I am sure your mother can confirm that."
"I just felt you were treating me like a child." Rachel admitted. "And I didn't like that. Mom tells me off sometimes, but she is my mom."
"And I am your grandmother." Constance added. "I might not have exactly the same rights as your mother, but I do have the right to correct you or Beth when it is needed."
Rachel furrowed her brows as she thought about what Constance had just said.
"But I'm not Beth's age." Rachel said, after being silent for a minute.
"I know, dear. But unfortunately, you and Beth will always be children before my eyes." Constance replied, noticing her granddaughter wasn't too thrilled to hear that. "Your mother is still my little girl."
"Does that mean you would still scold mom?" Rachel asked, surprised.
"If she did something I didn't approve of, I would." Constance said, trying to suppress a chuckle after seeing Rachel's shocked face.
"But she's old!" Rachel said, shaking her head.
"As I said, Rachel, she is still my little girl." Constance reasoned. "Do you think I was too happy with her when she told me what she had done to you four years ago? When she said she had walked away? I wasn't, dear. I yelled at her and I pointed out why she was wrong."
"You did?" Rachel asked, half smiling.
"Of course. I was disappointed, but after she explained her reasons for doing it, I understood all she wanted was the best for you. " Constance added. "But my first reaction was to reprimand her for her actions, even if she was already in her mid-thirties."
"I guess I understand." Rachel said, with a hint of confusion still in her voice.
"Do you understand it was never my intention to humiliate you in front of anyone?" Constance asked.
"I do." Rachel replied. "We all make mistakes. I understand that you telling me off yesterday was a mistake."
Constance shook her head. "Telling you off in front of that gentleman was a mistake indeed and I have apologized. But Rachel, it was not a mistake to call you out on your disrespectful attitude, both at the theater and the restaurant. Is that clear?"
"Yes, grandma." Rachel said.
Constance smiled at Rachel. "I need to go now, Rachel, but I will come back for opening night. Please save me a seat on the first row. I am so proud of you."
Rachel hugged her grandmother. "Thank you so much, grandma, I wish you could stay longer."
"I am always a phone call away." Constance said, getting emotional at the fact that Rachel had initiated the hug. "I love you, Rachel."
"I love you too, grandma." Rachel said, squeezing Constance tighter and then letting go.
Constance stood up and pulled Rachel with her, putting an arm around the girl's shoulders and walking out of the bedroom.
"Is everything okay?" Shelby asked in a slightly worried tone.
"It is now." Constance replied, smiling sweetly. "Well, the taxi must be downstairs already."
"Are you sure you don't want me to take you to the airport, mom?" Shelby asked. She felt bad about not driving her mother there.
"No, dear, a taxi is much more convenient, and you know I am not good at goodbyes. It's better to bid our farewell here." Constance said. "Now, the only thing I need is another hug from my girls."
Shelby lifted Beth, so they could both hug Constance at the same time. "Come on, Rach, join in."
Rachel smiled and hugged her grandmother as well. She was feeling a rollercoaster of emotions.
"I love my three girls so much." Constance said, giving each one a kiss on the head and breaking the hug. "I'll call you when I land."
"I'll walk you down." Shelby said, helping her mother with her bag.
Constance said goodbye one last time and then walked out the door with Shelby as Rachel and Beth waved goodbye to her.
"Have a safe trip, mom." Shelby said, before Constance got into the cab and drove away.
…
Shelby spent the rest of the day cleaning the house while Rachel and Beth watched a movie.
"Rach, could you help me get your things to your room, please?" Shelby asked, after changing the sheets on Rachel's bed and making sure the room looked exactly as Rachel had left it.
"Mom, I'm playing Candyland with Beth." Rachel said.
"Wachel's playing, mommy." Beth added.
Shelby looked at her two daughters, who were sitting on the floor playing, and smiled. She was glad that they were playing together. Even though she had already cleaned most of the house without any help, she thought taking Rachel's clothes, shoes and some toiletries to her daughter's room would not take long and she could do it herself, so she could then sit down and play another board game with her daughters.
Shelby didn't say anything else and went back to her bedroom to pick up some of her daughter's clothes. After going back and forth between both rooms over five times, all that was left was a pair of shoes and a black coat. She picked the coat, and noticed some pieces of paper had fallen from it. She wasn't going to read them, but when she noticed the logo of the bar Rachel had gone to the previous week, she got curious. However, Shelby did not expect to find what she did.
Shelby discarded the coat on the bed and rushed out of the room.
"Rachel Barbra, would you care to explain what this is!?" Shelby said in a stern voice, showing her daughter the pieces of paper she had found. "I cannot believe you lied to me!"