At 2 a.m., Shelby quietly entered Kitty's bedroom and gently woke her up. Meanwhile, Cassie went to Quinn and Rachel's room and softly roused them from their sleep. After Kitty had awakened, Shelby made her way to Santana's room and gently woke her, instructing her to quickly get dressed so they could make it to the airport for their 8 a.m. flight.
Santana rubbed her eyes as Shelby reassured her, saying, "I know you're still sleepy, tiger. You can catch up on sleep once we get to the airport and on the plane." Santana replied with an understanding "ok," grabbed her clothes from the chair, and Shelby left the room.
As everyone finished getting dressed, Shelby walked past the four teenage girls who were gathered in front of her. She noticed that they were all holding their cellphones. With a gentle tone, she reminded them of the conversation they had the previous night. "Remember what we discussed last night. It's important," she said softly.
"We understand, Mom," Santana replied, with a hint of attitude in her voice.
Cassie gently swatted Santana on the bottom and said, "You can speak kindly to your mother, Tiger, instead of being rude. All of you, get to the car while we have a chat with Tiger." "Yes, Mom," the other three girls acknowledged, picking up their suitcases. Cassie handed the car keys to the Escalade to Quinn and watched as the girls made their way out of the house.
"I know, Mama, I didn't mean to be rude," Santana apologized, looking at Cassie and then at her mom, Shelby. "I'm sorry, mom, I'm just grumpy because I'm still sleepy," Santana admitted remorsefully.
"I understand, Tiger, but that doesn't excuse your behavior. We'll discuss this a bit later, okay? And once we reach the resort, let's stick together and make the most of our time. I want this family vacation to be special for all of us," Shelby said, putting her arm around Santana.
"Of course, Mom," Santana said as she wrapped her arm around her mom.
"I love you, Tiger, and I want you to know that your words can sometimes come across as too harsh, which can make people feel sad and upset," Shelby said, gently lifting Santana's chin to meet her eyes.
As they strolled together towards the car, Santana responded to her mom, "I love you too, Mom. I promise I will work harder on my attitude." Cassie then took the initiative to load their suitcases into the back of the car, while Shelby kindly held the door open for Santana. Santana settled into her usual seat and diligently fastened her seatbelt, while Shelby assumed the driver's seat and Cassie occupied the passenger seat.
"Is everyone ready for our vacation?" Cassie inquired, to which all four teenage girls replied in unison. With that, Shelby began driving to the airport while Cassie turned on the radio to catch up on the news.
Upon arriving at Akron–Canton Airport, Shelby and Cassie gently roused the four teenage girls who had dozed off during the journey. After gathering their belongings, they proceeded into the airport and joined the line at the check-in counter to complete the check-in process and drop off their luggage. While waiting for their flight, Cassie held all six boarding passes, and they found seating together. The teenagers engaged in quiet conversations and checked their cellphones until the announcement for their flight was made over the intercom.
When their flight was called, they walked to their designated gate. Cassie presented the flight attendant with their plane tickets, and they boarded the aircraft, finding their seats. As more passengers filed onto the plane, the flight attendant locked the door in preparation for takeoff.
As the airplane ascended higher into the sky, the group of teenagers entrusted their precious cellphones to Cassie for safekeeping. With great care, she secured the devices in her purse, ensuring that everyone's gadgets were well-protected. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as they exchanged subdued conversations, eagerly discussing their expectations for the upcoming trip. When the flight attendants brought around the meals, the group hungrily savored the delicious food while marveling at the breathtaking views outside their window. As the flight continued, the cabin lights gradually dimmed, and everyone settled in, looking forward to some much-needed rest before their impending arrival at their destination.
Upon touching down at the Atlantis Paradise Island resorts, the teenagers and their parents eagerly disembarked the aircraft and made their way into the terminal. Retrieving their luggage, they were warmly greeted by a pre-arranged shuttle adorned with a sign bearing their names. Full of excitement, they joyfully boarded the shuttle, ready to be whisked away to the luxurious hotel where they would be staying for the next two weeks.
En route to the hotel, they delighted in taking captivating pictures of their journey using their cellphones.
Upon arriving at the hotel, Cassie and Shelby, along with their family, checked into their rooms. They were delighted to find that they had two adjoining rooms, providing them the convenience of keeping a close eye on the four teenage girls – Santana, Quinn, Rachel, and Kitty.
As everyone settled in, Shelby approached the girls and invited them for a brief chat while she spoke with Tiger. She reassured the girls that it would only take a few minutes and promised that they would all go out as a family to have dinner, followed by sightseeing the next day. Santana, Quinn, and Rachel quietly left the room, allowing Shelby and Santana to have a private conversation.
Sitting face to face, Shelby addressed Santana with empathy, acknowledging the earlier events that morning. "I've reflected on what happened, and I realize I overreacted. I'm sorry for my actions. Can you forgive me?" Santana's voice carried a hopeful tone as she expressed her willingness to move forward.
In a gesture of reconciliation, Shelby reached out and held Santana's hands. "I forgive you, sweetheart. However, it's important to choose your words wisely. I understand mornings may not be your favorite, but next time, try counting to 20 before responding. I won't discipline you this time, but please consider this as your first and final warning," Shelby firmly advised.
Santana sincerely acknowledged her understanding, assuring Shelby with honesty that she would keep this in mind. They then joined the rest of the group to share a meal. After a pleasant dinner and conversation, they returned to their hotel room, prepping for an early start the next day. Each taking turns to freshen up and change into comfortable pajamas, they exchanged goodnight kisses before settling into bed. Cassie reminded the girls not to stay up too late as they messaged their friends before finally retiring for the night.