Chapter 9
Shelby rolled over feeling the morning light shining in her room from underneath her eyelids. She didn't need to reach very far to feel her beautiful baby girl cuddled up next to her. Shelby grinned before she even opened her eyes. Just the thought of her daughter made Shelby Corcoran feel more joy than she's ever felt in her entire life.
Shelby looked upon the sleeping child and noticed Rachel clutching her Edward bear still in a deep slumber. Shelby brushed a few strands of hair away from Rachel's face and smiled in relief that her daughter seemed to be feverless now. She knew Rachel needed as much sleep as she could get, so the young mother quietly crawled out of bed and headed to the front room.
Shelby smiled when she surveyed the great room and noticed Rachel's table and chair set up with coloring books, puzzles, and a pile of books atop the table. She knew she had bought her little bug a lot of toys the day before, but had a notion to get on her computer and order some more toys and books for her darling daughter. The thought of her computer made Shelby crinkle her face remembering all of the messages she left unanswered last night in favor of sleep instead.
Shelby inwardly sighs and knows she needs to face the realities of her world immediately. She grabs a throw blanket from the back of her couch feeling a bit of a chill and heads quietly towards her office not wanting to wake the nearby occupants of her two guest rooms which currently had closed doors. Shelby was glad her family was getting much needed rest, but she was hoping her parents would be awake soon so she could explain Rachel's situation before the tot woke up.
Shelby grabbed a seat in her oversized but comfortable office chair, turned on her Macbook Pro, and picked up her phone to scroll through her texts before she managed her voicemails. About 30 minutes later Shelby had accomplished several tasks she had left undone. She was able to speak directly with her lawyer, who informed her she would have no trouble securing her permanent custody of Rachel as long as no one was going to fight her for custody. Since Leroy Berry had left her the custody papers and Hiram Berry had passed away, neither Shelby nor her lawyer felt there was any danger of Shelby maintaining full, complete custody. Shelby also managed to read and approve of a press release statement her publicist, Angie, had emailed the previous night to be released immediately upon approval. Shelby hoped the statement would free her of paparazzi soon after they got a picture or two of Rachel. She wanted her daughter to have as normal of a life as possible. Shelby, also confirmed a child psychiatrist appointment for Rachel on Tuesday that Doctor Kelly set up for the two of them, and finally Shelby informed her boss she would need time off until Thanksgiving and return to work that holiday weekend. She figured that would give her a few more days with Rachel and please her boss that the holiday rush of tourist would be elated one of the stars was present for the show.
Shelby rubbed at her forehead happy the most pressing matters were completed. She did need to speak with Detective Banks, who seemed to be playing phone tag with Shelby. Although, he promised he'd be over to discuss important matters with Shelby that evening. Shelby turned her head to the sound of rustling coming from the kitchen and figured her mother was the culprit in the kitchen.
Deborah Corcoran was fixing to make a fresh pot of strong coffee when she heard footsteps coming towards her. "Shelby?"
"Morning mom." Shelby side hugged her mother and moved to place her grinning chin over her mother's shoulder. "Making enough for me?"
Deborah huffed, "Of course silly." Deborah turns to give her daughter a bigger hug and kisses Shelby's temple, "did you two sleep well? Is Rachel still sleeping?"
Shelby moves to grab mugs from the cupboard and spoons from a nearby drawer. "Yes I did and my baby girl is still sleeping. She really needs her rest so I hope she sleeps in a bit more." Shelby grabs some half and half from her refrigerator as her father enters the kitchen.
"Good morning." Matthew beams at the sight of his wife and much more relaxed daughter.
"Hi daddy, I'm so sorry I didn't come and speak with you both last night about Rachel."
Deborah holds up her hand stopping her daughter from continuing further, "Oh honey, please don't apologize. You were exhausted and I'm the one who should apologize. I should have known better than to be so forward. It is obvious Rachel has been through a lot. We are here to help, honey, not be a burden."
Matthew nodded along with his wife, "whatever you need, sweetpea."
Shelby smiled at both of her parents realizing she had yet to ask her family how long they intended to stay. Thanksgiving was the coming week, so she figured they'd be around for that. "How long do you guys plan on staying?"
Matthew took a seat on the nearest bar stool, "however long you want us here."
"Well, definitely through Thanksgiving, sweetheart, if that's okay with you. We can always get a hotel room if we'll be too much for you or Rachel."
Shelby waves off her mother's offer, "please, I have more than enough room in here. It's not like you're next door to my bedroom anyway. Which reminds me, I need to decorate Rachel's new room; I'd love for you to help, mom." Shelby slyly eyed her mother knowing Deborah was desperate for a job.
"Oh Shelby I'd love too!"
"Great! I'll put you and Karen in charge of that this week." Shelby immediately stopped herself and leaned over the counter placing her head in her hands feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Deborah rubs her daughter's back, "everything will get done." She informs her daughter knowing her daughter better than Shelby realizes.
Shelby grumbled out a low moan, "okay, I really need to talk to all of you about Rachel." Shelby went to pour herself a cup of freshly brewed coffee and sat down next to her father on a bar stool and across from her mother who was standing with her own cup in the kitchen. "So, first of all how wonderful is she? She's so amazing. I can't believe she's here." Before she even realized it Shelby had tears streaming down her cheeks, "I –I just don't want to make mistakes or screw her up. She's perfect. She's so beautiful and I just want to hold her and kiss her face all of the time."
Deborah found herself dabbing at her own tears of happiness for her daughter who often seemed broken and distant after having Rachel. Deborah reached for Shelby's hand, "Shelby, she is perfect and you're a wonderful mother to that precious girl. I could tell from the moment you opened the door yesterday."
"And honey I hate to break it to you but you will make mistakes and when you do you'll figure out how to fix it and she probably won't even notice." Matthew gently pats Shelby's back trying to lighten his daughter's load.
"I should probably tell you guys how she came to me."
"There's no rush. Just take your time." Deborah moves to fill up her husband and Shelby another cup of coffee.
"Mom, there are things I'd like to tell you about Rachel and not have her present for them and when my adorable daughter wakes up we are all going to go out and do something fun! Rachel needs it and so do I and the sooner you know about things the better, Okay?"
Her parents nod at their daughter not wanting to rock the boat and allow their daughter to take the lead on the conversation, "Okay," they respond in unison.
Shelby proceeds to explain the events from a few nights prior and the little information about the homeless Man and Lady whom Rachel spent two weeks with as well as the doctor's visit and so on. Upon each bit of information Shelby found an odd comfort in the tightened jaws and clenched fists her parents were motioning but saying nothing and allowing their daughter to finish. When Shelby did finish with what she knew, both parents moved in to hug their daughter a little tighter than normal.
Pulling back from the hug Matthew kissed his daughter's forehead, "don't ever let me get my hands on any of those people." He gently said.
Shelby smirked, "I think you'll have to step in line, Dad."
"We'll help you through this sweetheart. Maybe we can sublet an apartment and stay longer. Your sister is starting her graduate program in January anyway, so we'd be able to help her find a place and help out with my grandbaby."
"I just want to get her into some normalcy and have a routine for her and the sooner the better. Maybe find her a preschool to join and maybe a dance class." Shelby shook off the feeling of being the soccer mom-type. "I don't know, though. Do you think that will all be too much for her?" Shelby looked between both of her parents for some sort of guidance. She really felt lost with this whole parenting thing. She adores her daughter, but the fear of making a mistake and further hurting her child was too much to stomach.
Both parents smiled out of pride. Shelby was already an excellent mother and had no idea. It was a joy to watch their first born learning the job of parenting and how selfless Shelby was towards her daughter.
Deborah stepped in realizing Shelby was waiting for an answer, "Honey, honestly I would ask the doctor on Tuesday about how much she believes Rachel will be able to handle. Rachel seemed very attached to you yesterday, but I'm sure getting her in a routine is best for her. Routines are key with any child."
Shelby just nodded her head and thought about how clingy Rachel is with her. She selfishly loves it, but knows it is probably not healthy for Rachel. And as if on cue, Shelby's heart smiles upon hearing bare feet hitting her hardwood floor in the distance.
"Mommy?" Rachel whines out not seeing anyone when she exits her mother's room and heads down a short hallway dragging her Edward bear along the hardwood floor. She rubs her heavy sleep from her eyes and shoves away a few, annoying stray hairs in front of her face. "Mommy where are you?"
Rachel's lip begins to tremble just as Shelby rounds the corner from the kitchen towards the hallway and sees Rachel slumping her shoulders on the verge of crying. "Baby, I'm right here!" Shelby calls out to her darling girl holding out her arms.
Rachel pathetically pouts yet smiles at the sight of her mother and instantly runs into her arms much to the delight of her grandparents watching from behind. Rachel snuggles her head into her mother's shoulder after Shelby picks her up and begins to walk back towards the kitchen. Rachel huffs a bit not happy she didn't wake up to her mother, "where did you go, Mommy?"
"Nowhere, bug. I was here."
"No you were no- no not there." Rachel sits up and points towards the room.
Shelby smiles and kisses her daughter's cheek, "honey, I woke up and came out here to your grandparents."
Rachel frowned and shook her head to look down to play with her Edward bear after Shelby placed her on lap once she took a seat on the barstool next to her father. "I don't like when you aren't not there, mommy." Rachel informed her mother and pushed out her bottom lip, which made all three adults melt and swallow a lump in their throats. All three adults were willing to do anything to make Rachel feel safe and loved after all that she had been through. They were putty in Rachel's hands even though the preschooler had no clue, yet.
Shelby kissed Rachel's head, "I know baby, but mommy was still here in the house. I'll always be right here and if you wake up and can't find me just come and look for me and I'll be here in our home. Okay?"
Rachel nods her head, "okay mommy," and reaches up and rubs her nose against her mother's nose giving eskimo kisses.
Shelby bites on her lip and rubs her nose back, "You're going to be the end of me. Cuteness overload." Shelby tickles Rachel's sides which makes the young girl burst out in laughter. Both grandparents and Shelby can't contain their joyous laughter as well.
"Good lord could you guys be any louder?" Emily drags herself into the kitchen looking similar to Rachel's entrance not ten minutes prior. "Kid, can you keep the adorable stuff down to a minimum at least until midmorning? And is there coffee?"
"Your Aunt Emily is not much of a morning person." Shelby not so lowly whispers in her daughter's ear.
Rachel nods her head in agreement. "cranky like a baby lion, grawr" Rachel let's out an adorable high-pitched growl towards her aunt.
Emily hastily turns around after having been pouring herself a cup of coffee and suddenly hears her niece mock her. "Were you talking to me?" She points to her chest with a spoon in her hand.
Rachel smiles and nods clearly teasing her aunt.
Emily smirks and walks towards her feisty little niece and bends down to her eye level giving her niece a sarcastic smile.
Immediately Shelby frowns at the sight hoping her sister wasn't going to be unnecessarily harsh, "Em…"
Emily holds up her hand at her sister not looking at Shelby but still maintaining eye contact with Rachel, "hush." Shelby raises and highbrow and shifts on her barstool ready to pounce. "I have to take in the sight of this little beauty in front of me who clearly has more sass than her Aunt. You know what this mean, Rachel?" Emily held up her right hand in a claw-like manner.
Rachel shook her head unsure of what her silly aunt was going to do next. Shelby and her parents smiled at Emily knowing full well what the 22-year-olds next move was.
"HA! This is the hand of a monster!" Rachel shot up straight, opened-mouthed and wide-eyed at her Aunt's movement. "And its first name is Tickle and it's about to attack!" Rachel screamed as her aunt dove in to tickle her niece's sides as Shelby laughed whole-heartedly and held on tight to her daughter's flaying body.
After a moment of tickles everyone needed to catch their breath and Rachel relaxed back into her mother still breathing heavily, "you silly, Auntie!'
Emily beamed at her new name being used by her precious niece. "So, what are the plans today peeps?" Emily questioned taking a much needed sip of her coffee.
"Actually, I was thinking we could all eat some breakfast first and then get ready and bundled up and head to the zoo." Shelby nuzzles into Rachel, "what do you think my bug?"
Rachel nods rapidly not sure of what to say. She can't remember the last time she did something fun with anyone since she was with her father Hiram. The thought makes her cling onto her mother.
"Okay, then let's get breakfast ready so we can get on with the day. I haven't been to the zoo in, well, since we've taken you girls." Deborah began pulling pans out of cupboards overly excited about being here with her finally completed family.
After the four Corcorans and little Rachel chowed down on Deborah's famous French toast, the family sat staring at one another content in their food coma-states. Shelby rubbed at her belly, "okay that was amazing, mom. Thank you."
"My pleasure. I love being able to cook for my family."
"But, we need to get ready, though, and be on our way. I'd like to be able to get back at a decent time. I'm gonna get into the shower now, okay?" Shelby began to leave the kitchen table with everyone still sitting and nodding along knowing they too needed to get up and begin to get ready. But, Rachel shot up like a rocket upon hearing her mother was going to leave the kitchen. Rachel quickly climbed down from her chair and tightly grasped her mother's hand to go with her into the master bedroom.
Shelby bent down to Rachel wanting the young girl to stay in the front room with her grandparents and aunt, so she could get ready more quickly. "Sweetheart, why don't you play with some of your new toys while I get ready? I bet your Auntie would love to color with you." Shelby looked up towards Emily for backup.
Emily got up from her chair and went to bend down next to Rachel, "yea I love to color or I could read you a story?"
Rachel folded her arms into her body and shook it, "No. I want mommy." She firmly informed her aunt.
Deborah attempted to walk towards her granddaughter hoping she could convince her to stay with them, but before she reached Rachel, the preschooler turned towards her mother and tangled herself between Shelby's legs and held on. "I'm going with my mommy, okay?"
Shelby bent down and picked up Rachel realizing the young child needed to feel comfortable and she didn't want Rachel to feel unsafe. "It's fine, guys. Thanks though. We will be back soon. I'll get little miss Rachel here ready as well." She waved off towards her family and headed back to her room with her daughter in tow.
Rachel nuzzled her head into her mother's neck, "no- no leaving me, Mommy."
Shelby gently rubbed circles on Rachel's back and whispered, "never" in her baby's ear and planted a few kisses on her cheek. Shelby quickly took a shower while Rachel insisted on sitting on the tile bathroom floor during her mother's shower. Shelby kept talking to her Rachel while she washed herself up realizing her daughter wanted to hear her voice after Rachel called out for Shelby when she couldn't hear her. Shelby inwardly sighed knowing her mother was right about Rachel being clinging. When she exited the shower and moved to her room to put clothes on, Rachel was close behind holding on to her mother's bath towel.
Shelby pulled on some jeans and a blue off the shoulder sweater before hauling Rachel into her lap and sitting on the corner of her bed. "Rachel, is there a reason why you don't want to go out in the front room while I get ready? Wouldn't you rather play than watch me get ready?"
Rachel was playing with her mother's necklace as she listened to the question. "I don't know." Rachel shrugged her shoulders in response to her mother.
"Are you scared? Do you not want to be around your grandparents or your aunt?" Shelby wanted to see if she could get Rachel to open up to her a bit in hopes of helping ease any fears her daughter might have.
"No mommy I like them."
"Okay."
Shelby was going to leave the topic alone and begins to stand the two of them up but Rachel wraps her legs around her mother's waist and holds her tightly, "where are you going, Mommy?"
"Nowhere without you," Shelby explains putting Rachel down on the floor and holds her hand out for Rachel to grab. "How about we get you ready too so we can go, Okay?"
Rachel hops towards her mother and clasps her hand, "Yes!" Rachel moves in closer and sits on top of her mother's foot and wraps her arms and legs around her mother's right leg. Shelby laughs at the notion and glides her right foot along the floor dramatically like she's carrying more than a ton of weight. Rachel giggles and clings tighter to her mother's leg.
Shelby could not blame her daughter for her desire of physical contact. Rachel had been through a lot and needed the security and comfort of her mother. She needed something steady and Shelby was more than happy to be that security for her baby girl. So, if that meant Rachel was going to be needy and cling to Shelby for a while then the new mother wouldn't complain.
Over an hour later, Shelby found herself convincing her four year old to put on her boots rather than her pink converse because there was fresh snow on the ground. The little tike felt that it was easier to walk in shoes than boots and pink was much prettier.
Shelby was trying to prep her family for on how to handle the paparazzi awaiting the family downstairs. They decided it would be easier to have Shelby and Rachel follow behind everyone else. Shelby would hold Rachel and Matthew could lead the group. There was a car already waiting outside of the building for the family, but the anticipation of how Rachel would react to the paparazzi was filling the awkward silence in the elevator.
The elevator made it to the lobby floor and as soon as the doors opened an explosion of flashing cameras blinded the family. Matthew began to lead the group out towards the lobby and to their waiting vehicle. But, as Shelby walked further into the lobby, shouting from the paparazzi frightened Rachel to the core. The young girl shivered in her mother's arms and a high pitched cry rang out through the lobby. Shelby stopped in her tracks, gripping even more tightly to the now hysterical girl. She didn't want to force Rachel into this situation further, but she didn't want Rachel to fear the paparazzi either. She was at a loss of what to do next.
Okay, so I know that is not the best place to leave this chapter but I will be updating this story hopefully more often and I wanted to leave it at this point. I have not forgotten about this story at all. I have been working on a lot of other projects and work and life. I'm so thankful for all of the messages and comments/reviews I have received on this story. I love hearing what you have to say. Even if I can't update often, I am promising I will finish this story (not that it's near finishing). I hope you enjoy this small chapter. TESSA :)