Chapter 6
After Shelby picked up Rachel's medication for her infections, the two made it over to a fashionable children's clothing store on 5th Avenue. Shelby wanted to buy Rachel some clothes and essentials before returning home. She also wanted Rachel to pick out a few things on her own that she liked if the tot was up to it.
Karen had gone ahead of Rachel and Shelby to notify the manager that Shelby was coming to buy several clothing items and wanted some possible assistance. Shelby hated when Karen did this when she went shopping; it made her feel like a celebrity. She knew she was a celebrity when she was out at events or performing, but when Shelby was in her regular, everyday life she really just wanted to be treated normally.
Karen thought it'd be best if Shelby had some privacy since she had Rachel in tow, and to her knowledge, the public was still unaware of Rachel's existence. Karen knew after today, it was bound to get out that Shelby had a daughter and a statement from Shelby's publicist was going to be necessary.
Shelby and Rachel entered the store and were immediately met with the manager and an assistant. Shelby noticed the sheepish look Karen gave her, a look she was used to getting from her employee when she knew Shelby wouldn't approve of something, but instead of getting angry Shelby chuckled silently to herself.
"We have placed several pieces of items in the back room for you and this little one. What's her name?" The manager bent down to Rachel who was hiding in between her mother's legs.
"This is Rachel. She's my daughter." The manager and the assistant froze and looked quizzically at one another and Shelby. "She has just recently come into my life and I would like to keep our reunion quiet for right now."
The manager smiled, "I understand. My name is Jennifer by the way and this is my assistant Ashley. We will both be helping you two today."
"Great. I don't want to be here for too long. My daughter is a bit under the weather, so I want to get her home soon. But, we are going to need everything."
"Everything?"
"Yes, we will need: undergarments, pajamas, pants, dresses, skirts, the works." Shelby explains to the managers whose eyes lit up and Shelby could swear she saw green dollar signs appear in the woman's eyes.
"Well, let's get the two of you in the back and get to it." Jennifer motions the mother and daughter towards the back of the semi-crowded store. Karen follows suit and waves at Rachel who is managing to walk between her mother's legs before Shelby had had enough of almost tripping over her daughter and picks her up.
About an hour later, Shelby was satisfied with their choices. Rachel had been measured and tried a few things on, which made it easier for the tired, sick girl to sit with her mother and approve or disapprove of outfits brought to her. Shelby went to pay at the front register while Ashley was packing every item in pretty pink boxes with green ribbons. Rachel was running around the store trying to hide from Karen underneath the clothes. Shelby was overjoyed to see Karen and Rachel getting along well.
"Will this be on the store credit or?" Jennifer questioned.
"No, this will be on my Visa. And you deliver, right?"
"Oh yes, Ms. Corcoran. We strive to please our customers. This will be delivered by five this evening."
"Perfect." Shelby smiles at the overly phony woman. Jennifer was typically who Shelby encountered when she would shop. She could tolerate fakeness, but she didn't like it.
The forced conversation was quickly interrupted, much to Shelby's delight, by Karen carrying an excited Rachel over to her mother.
"Mommy! Look at the monkey! Can I have it?" Rachel pointed to the brown, grey, and yellow Monkey beanie hat that currently occupied her head.
Shelby reached out to take Rachel into her own arms, "let me see this monkey hat." Shelby grabbed at it and tugged at the hat making sure it fit Rachel properly. She had to admit; it was a cute, oversized beanie and looked even more adorable on her daughter's head. "I have to say this is the coolest hat. You have to have it!"
Rachel beamed and hugged her mother. "Thank you, mommy."
"You're welcome." She tells her daughter and turns her attention back to Jennifer, "We'll be taking the hat too. Could you cut off the tags so she can wear it out?"
Jennifer smiled and grabbed a pair of scissors, "of course."
Shelby, Karen and Rachel made their way out into the cold together. Shelby quickly stops them in front of the store and bends down to Rachel who had been holding both Karen's and her mother's hands.
Shelby can't help but smile at her daughter whose face is almost non-visible due to the Monkey beanie she so proudly is wearing. "Rachel, are you hungry or do you want to go to the toy store before we eat?" Shelby knows she's going to lose her daughter to sleep soon, but she wanted to get some food in her first. She was hoping they could make it to the toy store, but that could wait until tomorrow or later in the day.
"Oh mommy, the toy store please!" Rachel clapped her hands with excitement.
"Okay then." Shelby couldn't stop smiling at how Rachel's mood seemed to be getting better the more time the two were spending together. "FAO Swartz it is and it's not that far, so we can walk. Sound good, you guys?"
Both Rachel and Karen nod and Shelby grabs her daughter's hand once again so the trio could continue walking down 5th Avenue. A few blocks into their jaunt, Rachel begins to coil in between her mother's legs like she had done earlier in the day. Shelby inwardly sighs wondering what had changed. Rachel had seemingly been much more comfortable being in public after they had left the doctor's office.
Shelby's thought are distracted when Rachel begins to frantically grab and jump at Shelby's legs wanting desperately to be held as if something was going to get her. "Mommy, please!"
The desperation in Rachel's voice put Shelby on edge. Shelby protectively grabs her daughter and holds her close. "Honey, what's wrong?" Shelby's concern grows when she hears a low whimper coming from Rachel whom has her head buried in her mother's neck. "Sweetheart, please. What's wrong?"
Shelby slows them down and Rachel frantically shakes her head, "no, no don't stop. Hurry, mommy." Rachel fearfully cries out. Shelby does not want to traumatize her daughter further, but Shelby stops walking and places Rachel in front of her. She wanted to show Rachel that nothing would harm her while she was with her mother. That the world wasn't always a scary place and if she complied with Rachel's request to run away, then Rachel might always run away from things she's afraid of.
Shelby bends down and places a shaking Rachel down on the sidewalk to stare at her. Rachel cries more and coughs out a barely audible, "mommy, hold me. Don't leave me."
Shelby and Karen's heart quiver at the sound of the desperate, lost, and broken four-year-old in front of them. Shelby wraps her arms around her daughter to try and give her comfort but still wanting to address this fear and put an end to whatever it was. "Rachel, look at me baby." Shelby gently lifts Rachel's quivering chin towards her glance to get Rachel's full attention. "Mommy is never leaving you. I am right here. Tell me what's wrong and I will promise to make it go away."
Rachel breathes in heavily trying to calm her tears after listening to her mother's earnest words. "I-I scared."
"I can see that, bug. Can you tell me why?"
"I don't want to. Please, let's go mommy." Shelby notices Rachel eyeing an alley nearby that has a group of homeless people gathering around a dumpster searching for food. Rachel shivers at the sight and jumps into her mother's arms almost knocking Shelby on her butt.
"Rachel, are you afraid of those people over there?" Shelby motions her head towards the group of homeless people that seemed to offset her daughter's fear.
But, Rachel didn't bother looking towards them. She was clinging to her mother with her eyes tightly shut. "Yes, go. Please." Rachel chokes out her plea sobbing once again.
Shelby looks to Karen for an answer but Karen looked just as perplexed as Shelby does. "Have I missed something?" Shelby asks to Karen.
"I have no clue, Shelby. I mean homeless people were always scary to me as a kid. I didn't, ya know, react this way though." Karen was trying her best not to offend Rachel or Shelby, but she couldn't comprehend the reason behind Rachel's reaction. "Maybe we should just continue to the toy store?"
Shelby nods but really wanted to understand her daughter's fear so she could put it behind her and allow her to feel safe with her mother. "Okay, Rachel. I guess we can get going. I'll hold you, don't worry."
"Hole me. Don't let them get me, mommy."
"Those people won't get you. They don't want to bother us, honey."
"But, they might be there." Rachel cries out.
"They? You mean…"
"The man and the lady." Rachel sobs out, "please mommy. Let's go, now."
Shelby tried to take in all that Rachel had just revealed and spots a taxi cab heading down their way. Shelby kisses Rachel's head and tries to calm her daughter down thinking it's best to get Rachel out of this area. Shelby wanted Rachel to calm down before the two continued the discussion.
Shelby flags down the cab and immediately the cabby pulls over. The three climb in and Karen tells the cab driver where to take them. Shelby places Rachel on her lap feeling a large breath exhale from her daughter. "Okay, bug. You're okay now. Mommy has you and no one is going to take you away. Understand?"
Rachel wipes away some tears and snot with her forearm. Shelby cringes and grabs tissue from her purse, "gross. Here wipe your boogies with this." Rachel allows her mother to wipe her face and melts into the comforting gesture of being taken care of.
"Rachel?"
"hmm?" Rachel tries to lean into her mother, but Shelby holds her upright.
"You can cuddle with me in a minute, but I need to make sure I understood what you told me first. Did that man and lady live outside like…"
Rachel nods and cuts her mother off, "like the homeless people by the trash."
Shelby and Karen look astonished at one another. "So, those awful people are homeless people?" Karen poses the question to Shelby.
"Yes. no more, please. Please, no more mommy." Rachel responds.
Shelby grabs ahold of her daughter and kisses her head. Several questions instantly flowed through Shelby's thoughts: Why would her daughter be with two homeless people? And why would Leroy leave their daughter with those people? No wonder her daughter was frightened by those random people. What could she have seen or been through while she was wandering around the streets of New York for two weeks? And she slept outside, in the cold, with not enough food to eat. Shelby was inwardly furious but needed to let this go for now for the sake of her daughter.
The cab pulled up to the three-story toy store much to the delight of all three passengers. Shelby quickly wiped away any remaining tears from her daughter's cheeks and adjusted the monkey beanie on Rachel's head. Shelby paid the cab driver and quickly exited the vehicle.
Rachel stood next to Karen grasping her hand for balance due to her head being tilted back looking up so far to see the Toy Soldiers lining the walls of the building; she would have fallen backwards if Karen wasn't holding onto her hand. Shelby smirked at the sight and quickly pulled her phone from her purse to snap a photo. It was the first photo she's taken of Rachel and Shelby realized she needed to buy a great point and shoot camera to capture the many entertaining and wonderful moments yet to come with her daughter.
"So, shall we go in?" Shelby grabs a hold of Rachel's other hand as the tot nods her head.
Rachel's mouth drops to the floor and her eyes widen in amazement at the sight of the massive toy store filled with every type of toy one could imagine and a crowd full of adults chasing after their kids.
"Where should we go first?" Karen questions excitedly as Rachel shakes her head amazed and not sure what to do.
Shelby chuckles at the sight of the two, "Actually, Karen, could you take Rachel to pick out some books and maybe read some to her?" Karen looks puzzled over at her boss. Shelby whispers, "I need to take care of something and then I'll join you two."
Karen grins, "Of course, no problem. Come on Rachel; let's go to the books first!"
Rachel manages to tear her stare away from the wonderment of the store upon hearing she'll be leaving her mother, "but, what about mommy?"
Shelby bends down towards the tot, "I'll be right there. I just have to ask that man over there a question." She points to a young man behind a counter. Rachel nods and grabs ahold of Karen's hand. The two don't hesitate to make a run for the book section of the toy store.
Shelby chuckles as she heads towards the counter. "Hello," Shelby joyfully announces her arrival.
The clerk behind the counter and his female partner in crime freeze at the sight of Shelby Corcoran.
Shelby smiles and continues, "There's just something amazing about a toy store! It makes everyone feel, well, like they're a kid again."
The two young adults, probably college-age, nod in sync in response to Shelby. The young man shakes his head trying to gain his composure, "I'm sorry. How can I help you, Ms. Corcoran?" Her turns to his colleague and mouths an 'Oh my God' I just said her name and she's here.
Shelby is amused at the obvious fans, "Actually, I really need your help. You see I have a part of a bear leg that was torn off of another bear. I want to know if the store has the same bear here that I can buy to replace the old one."
"OH, well may I see the remains of the teddy bear, ma'am?" The young female questions.
Shelby scrunches her face, "Ah man. Am I that old that I have to be referred to as ma'am?"
"Yes. I mean no. I mean..." The female sighs in defeat to which Shelby wholeheartedly laughs aloud. The two teens smile in awe, admiring Shelby's laugh.
"You know who you are, right?" The male employee chimes in ending Shelby's laugh.
"Uh, yea last time I checked."
"I just, we are just huge fans of yours. And actually we are both majoring in musical theater at NYU, so this, seeing you here is like a dream for us." The girl nods in agreement.
Shelby blushes, "Well, I'm honored to meet both of you. And does this mean you'll help me find the bear?" Shelby pulls the teddy bear's limb from her purse where she had placed it this morning after finding it in her sweater pocket from the night before.
The two grab the limb and inspect the bear's leg in their hands. The two employees look at one another and simultaneously say, "The Vermont Teddy Bear."
Shelby looks amazed at the two and had no clue what they were talking about. "So, you have it?"
"Oh yes, and this was probably from the 'birthday' line or the 'get well' line, but both are very similar." The girl explains to which Shelby just nods still having no clue what they are referring too.
"Okay, great."
"I'll be right back." The young man exits the register area.
"So, who is this for? And what happened to the original bear? Was it dismembered by an older sibling or cousin out of rage? That seems to happen a lot." The young lady proceeds to explain.
"Not exactly, you see my daughter..."
"OH MY GOD! You have a daughter?"
Shelby clenches her eyes shut realizing what she was saying in public to a complete stranger, "Um, Yes."
"She is one lucky kid. You must be an incredible mom."
"Well, thank you. And I'm trying to be. You see the bear was ripped from her hand and all she has left is the leg. She wanted me to see if I could find the rest of her bear…"
The young adult holds up her hand to stop Shelby just as the young male worker approached with a new bear in his hand having heard the end of the conversation. "Say no more; I know what we'll do."
"Excuse me?" Shelby felt like she could not keep up with these two speaking in code and secretly hoped Rachel would not be as confusing when she reached their age.
"We can pretend this is her bear and that you've found it. We can stitch with red or white thread around the leg of the new bear, so it looks like the leg was sewed back on or 'operated on'. That way your daughter will think it's her original bear."
Shelby could not believe the imagination of the young adult. "That would be wonderful. You two are so wonderful. I can't thank you enough. What are your names?"
"Oh, I'm Brent and this is Becca." Brent serves out his hand as if presenting both of them on a platter.
"Becca and Brent, it's so nice to meet you." The duo smile from ear to ear pleased to be helping Shelby Corcoran. "So, how long will this take?"
"Oh, five minutes. Stay here and we'll be right back. We have a sewing machine and kit in the back area for embroidering items."
"Great, thanks." The two left and Shelby was able to look over at the book section of the store and saw Rachel sitting in the lap of Karen. The two were sitting on the floor engrossed in a book, not minding the random people walking over and around them. Shelby grabbed her phone and took another picture of her beautiful daughter and her assistant who is more like family than an employee. It got Shelby thinking about all of the people who have been helping her in the last 12 or so hours. She needed to give back and do something nice for all of the people who have selflessly helped her and her daughter, including the two college students she just met. Shelby sent a quick text to the stage manager at the theater requesting two tickets for that Saturday night's performance for two NYU students.
Becca and Brent returned within five minutes, like they promised, with the perfect bear that had his leg "operated" on and stitched up. Shelby smiled at the sight and knew it would be perfect for her little girl who was desperate to have her bear back.
"Okay, you two are awesome! This looks amazing!"
"Oh we know." Brent cockily responds to which Becca nods confidently in agreement.
Shelby shakes her head amused at the two, "well, I don't know how to thank you except what do you two have planned for this evening around 8 pm?"
The two look at one another with confusion and shock and together say, "Nothing."
Shelby smiles, pleased with herself, "Well I requested two front row tickets for the two of you to see my show this evening."
The shrieking that ensued got the attention of several customers whom started to take notice of Shelby's presence in the store. Shelby knew she needed to end this conversation quickly and get to her daughter, "So, I'll take that as a yes?"
"YES!" the friends and co-workers shout simultaneously.
"Great I'm sure you'll love it and Eden is wonderful!"
The two immediately freeze mid-jump upon realizing that Shelby would not be performing. Brent pipes up, "wait, so you aren't performing tonight?" The two friends deflate faster than they had previously screamed.
Shelby saw the disappointment in their faces and hadn't thought twice about the two wanting to see her in the play. Shelby rolls her eyes at herself in a very 'duh Shelby' moment. "Right. I'm not performing tonight. I'm taking a few days off, but why don't you two write down your numbers for me and I'll be sure to have someone call you when I return. That way the two of you can see me perform the role if you'd like."
"If we'd like?!" Becca yells and then quickly tries to compose herself, "Ms. Corcoran you are fabulous. Everything people say about you is true. We would love to see you in the play at a later date."
"Great, but I'd love for you to see tonight's show as well and please let me send you two to Carmine's for dinner beforehand, my treat."
The two co-workers were stunned by her generosity. "Wow! We'd love to. Thank you, Ms. Corcoran." Brent manages to muster out.
Shelby waves it off like it's nothing, "Now, I need you to hide this bear in some sort of bag for me and if one or both of you could help me with a few other items for my daughter that would be great. Also, does this story deliver? I don't think I'll be able to manage bringing everything home I plan on buying from here today."
"Yes, we do and I will personally deliver your items, Ms. Corcoran." Brent volunteers.
"But, Brent you won't have time. You'll have a dinner and show to get ready for later." Shelby winks and motions for the duo to follow her towards her daughter.
Rachel notices her mother heading towards her and jumps out of Karen's lap not caring the two were in the middle of a story. Rachel missed her mother's presence in the last few minutes and was not going to allow her mother out of her sight anymore.
Rachel throws her arms open, "Mommy!"
Shelby bends down to pick up her daughter and kisses the top of her head. "Hi baby." It had only been five or so minutes but Shelby too did not like the separation from her daughter. Going back to work was going to suck, but Shelby decided she'd put off that thought and worry about that later.
"Did you like any books, sweetheart?"
Rachel nods ferociously, "Oh yes!"
Karen picks herself up off the floor and gathers a rather large pile of books, "These are keepers and that pile she didn't want to look at because the covers were 'unattractive' is the word I believed she used and this pile we started to read, but she was bored so we stopped."
Shelby laughed wholeheartedly for the umpteenth time that day. "Well, this pile looks like a good start for now. I am happy you like books. I look forward to reading them to you."
"Me too mommy. I read them to you too, okay?" Rachel informs more than questions her mother while playing with a silver heart necklace around Shelby's neck.
"Sounds good to me, baby. Now how about we check out the rest of the store and pick out a few more toys before we head to lunch. How does that sound?"
"Good."
"Okay." Shelby moves to place Rachel down on the floor, but Rachel locks her legs securely around her mother's waist and wraps her arms tightly around her mother's neck.
"Please mommy. I hold you." Rachel nuzzles her nose in her mother's neck.
Shelby could not resist her baby girl and the desire to be held, especially since she's slightly under the weather. "Okay, you can hold mommy."
Karen leads the way towards the furniture section that Shelby wanted to go to. Shelby points out a few different table and chair sets for Rachel to have at home. She needed a kid-friendly place for Rachel to sit. Rachel ran over to a pink and green table and chair set that Shelby and Karen both enjoyed. Brent showed Shelby a toddler/kid-sized armchair that matched the table and chair set. Shelby couldn't resist and requested both items be sent to her house later that day.
Shelby could tell Rachel's fever and infections were taking its toll on her daughter, but Rachel was resilient and she didn't slow down. She continued to drag her mother and Karen around the ginormous toy store. Rachel made her way to several different areas of the store and Shelby couldn't resist buying her some items whenever Rachel pointed out something she liked. She picked out a baby doll she could feed that had pink and lace clothing. Rachel also found a yellow and purple blanket to snuggle with and a couple of animal puzzles and princess coloring books. Shelby grabbed a tea set wanting to have a tea party with her daughter sitting at the new table she was purchasing.
After selecting a few baby doll outfits to dress her doll in, Rachel also found her way over to a series of Kitchen sets that she was in awe of. Shelby took note but realized Christmas was a little over a month away and Rachel had a birthday in February; she wanted to save some items to buy for a later time.
The group had made it to the top level of the store and found themselves in front of the giant, floor-sized piano which had about 10 kids bouncing all over making the giant keys light up and play various notes.
Rachel turned to her mother wanting desperately to try and bounce on it, "come on, mommy." Rachel tugs at her mother's hand.
"Oh, honey you go on it. I'll stand right here."
Brent and Becca, who were still with the trio, encouraged Shelby, "Go with her." Brent added, "You should sing. Do a little song. Everyone would love it and so would your daughter."
The adults who were watching their kids jump on the giant piano pulled their kids quickly off of the toy at the sight of Shelby Corcoran. They wouldn't mind a free show from a world famous entertainer.
Shelby noticed the quietness come over the small crowd and looked to Karen for a way out, but Karen shrugged her shoulders and gave her an encouraging nod and smile.
"Okay, honey. Do you know any songs?" Shelby questions Rachel who scoffs in return.
"Lots, mommy. Let's do Annie!" Rachel jumps randomly on keys making noise rather than music. "I jump and sing, you sing." Rachel instructs.
Shelby chuckles and bends down towards her daughter realizing their audience has grown a little. Shelby whispers, "which song, baby?"
"Hmm you pick. GO!" Rachel takes off running and jumping on the notes and begins singing It's a Hard-knock Life before Shelby has time to decide. The irony of the song did not go unnoticed by Shelby or Karen. But, Shelby goes with it and plays along with her daughter. She jumps in after listening to a few lines of her daughter singing and sings along with the dramatic and entertaining tot. Shelby also hops around on a few piano keys of her own, not really caring who are watching this impromptu performance.
As the song goes on, everyone, including Shelby, is astounded how clear and pitch-perfect Rachel's voice sounds despite the out of tune piano keys. Shelby beams with pride and can't remove the smile plastered across her face even if she wanted to. The two finish on their knees with jazz hands to a crowd erupting with applause. It was the best and most memorable performance Shelby had ever experienced.
Shelby pulls her smiling daughter in for a hug to which Rachel easily complies. "I love you, mommy." Rachel whispers in her mother's ear and Shelby can't help the immediate lump formed in her throat preventing her from weeping out of pure joy.
Shelby picks her baby girl up in her arms and walks them off their make-shift piano stage. Shelby plants several kisses on Rachel's flushed cheek and whispers in her ear, "I love you too, baby. I love you more than anything."
Rachel lifts her head off of her mother's shoulder, "more than anything?" She questions her mother, "more than ice cream?"
Shelby laughs, "yes!"
"More than puppies?"
"Yes!"
"More than cupcakes?"
Shelby chuckles some more, "yes!"
"More than the stars in the sky, Mommy?"
Shelby walks the two towards the escalators feeling the need to exit the store now that several people became aware of her performance and the existence of her daughter. "Yes, baby. I love you more than there are stars in the sky. I love you more than anything."
Rachel snuggles into her mother, "I love you more than anything too, Mommy, even pannycakes."
"Oh good cause I know how much you love pannycakes. Now let's go get some lunch and head home, okay?"
"Yes my tummy just go graw graw graw, which means feed me." Shelby and Karen laugh at Rachel's explanation of her hungry stomach sounds.
"Well let's fill that tummy up then. I love you my silly, little love bug. I'm so happy you're here with me." Shelby kisses her daughter a few more times after Rachel snuggles into her mother's embrace. The afternoon was looking up.
Thank you all again for all of the reviews, follows and favorites! You guys are awesome and I appreciate it! I hope you enjoy this chapter and as always thank you for reading! -Tessa