On the following Monday morning, the four teenagers had to wake up early, only to be greeted by a fierce storm raging outside. Rachel, who had already fully dressed in her favorite yellow raincoat and rain boots, was about to head out when Shelby peeked her head in Rachel's door. She insisted that Rachel shouldn't go to school that day due to the severity of the storm. However, Rachel, with her determined spirit, was adamant and refused to stay at home with the other girls, despite Shelby's genuine concerns for her safety.
Shelby, realizing that Rachel was not going to change her mind about staying home, put her foot down and firmly told her that she would be staying home whether she liked it or not. Concerned about Rachel's safety, she decided to call Rachel's school to inform Principal Figgins that Rachel wouldn't be attending today due to the storm.
Rachel, visibly frustrated, rolled her eyes and walked past Shelby, but Shelby grabbed her arm and told her in a calm tone, "You need to treat me with respect while you're living in this house."
Rachel, trying to shrug off Shelby's grasp, replied, "Yeah, whatever," but Shelby held onto her arm, preventing her from moving. "I understand that you're upset with me right now, but I need you to meet me halfway on this, Rachel," Shelby urged.
After a tense moment, Rachel took a deep breath and spoke in a calmer tone, "I apologize for my rude behavior this morning. I understand your point." Shelby, visibly relieved, released her arm, glad that the situation was diffusing. "You should try to get a couple more hours of sleep while I talk to your sisters," she suggested. Rachel nodded in agreement, feeling the exhaustion from the morning's events. She removed her raincoat and boots, placing them neatly by the door. As Shelby made her way down the hall, Rachel, feeling the weight of the morning, settled at her desk. She switched on her antique bronze desk lamp, its warm light filling the room, and began organizing her notes and thoughts before starting on the essay homework that she had forgotten to do.
After Shelby and Cassie informed the three teenage girls, Santana, Kitty, and Quinn, that they would be staying home due to the severity of the storm, the girls felt a wave of relief and went back to sleep. Cassie then checked up on Rachel, the next eldest of the four, and found her quietly writing at her desk.
"Rachel, honey, I thought you went back to sleep," Cassie said, concerned. Rachel looked up, then glanced at her alarm clock which read 7 am. She then looked at her mama and replied, "I'm going to in a minute. I'm just trying to finish up writing this. I'm on my last sentence."
Curious, Cassie asked, "What are you writing, Rachel?" as she walked closer to her daughter.
"I finished my essay for school, and I forgot to let Shelby read it. Now I just have to finish writing her an apology letter because I acted out of line this morning."
"Since you had apologized to her right afterwards, I'm not going to lecture you right now," Cassie said. "But you need to understand that your well being comes first."
"I know," Rachel said softly, putting her pencil down. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Sometimes I feel envious of them," she admitted, not looking at Cassie.
Cassie, her heart aching for Rachel, put her arms around the petite girl. "Ah, honey, you don't need to feel that way. We love all of you girls equally and we will move heaven and earth for all of you."
Rachel managed a small smile through her tears and leaned into Cassie's comforting embrace. "Can you hold me until I fall back asleep, Mama?" she asked softly.
Tears of joy filled Cassie's eyes as she held Rachel tightly in her arms, the warmth of their embrace filling the dimly lit room. The soft glow of the lamp cast a comforting ambiance, illuminating the love that enveloped them. "I love it when you girls call me mama," she whispered, her voice filled with tenderness and love. "And of course, I will stay in here with you."
The gentle rustle of the bedcovers added a soothing rhythm to the room as Cassie helped Rachel back into her bed, ensuring she was snug and secure. Tucking her under the covers, Cassie wrapped her arms around Rachel, creating a cocoon of safety and warmth. She softly sang a lullaby, the melody floating through the air and filling the room with a sense of peace as Rachel drifted off to sleep in the embrace of Cassie's love.
Once she was sure Rachel was peacefully asleep, Cassie leaned down to give her a tender kiss on the top of her head. Quietly placing Rachel's head on the pillow, she tiptoed out of the room after turning off the lamp on the desk and made her way downstairs. The soft glow of the lamp illuminated the living room, casting gentle shadows on the walls. There, on the couch, sat her wife Shelby, her face streaked with tears.
Without a word, Cassie enveloped Shelby in a warm, comforting embrace, offering silent support as Shelby cried softly on her shoulder. After a while, as Shelby's sobs subsided, she revealed the source of her distress. "I just can't do anything right with the girls," she confessed, her voice heavy with emotion. "Both of them are mad at me for not spending enough time with them."
Cassie gently placed a hand on Shelby's shoulder, offering a reassuring smile. Shelby's eyes were filled with tears as she struggled to contain her emotions. "That's absurd, Shells," Cassie said, her voice filled with conviction. "They both adore you. They're just moody teenagers, and they're lucky to have you as their mother."
Shelby wiped her tears with a Kleenex, her warm smile shining through. "No, we're lucky to have all four of them with different personalities," she said, nodding in agreement.
"I'm going to spend quality time with all of them because I don't want any one of them to feel left out," Shelby said, determination in her voice. She was referring to their four daughters, each with their unique challenges and needs.
Cassie, her wife, leaned in, asking, "Do you have in mind which of the girls you're going to start with?"
"I was going to start with Tiger first after we had our one-on-one talk yesterday, but Rachel has so many insecurities about me that I need to address first," Shelby answered, concern evident in her voice. "I just hope I'm making the right choice. I love Tiger very much since the day I found her all alone, but I can't forget about all the insecurities Rachel has about me. Whichever one I choose first, one of them is Bound to get upset."
They've been through a lot, and Shelby was determined to navigate through the complexities of parenting each daughter with love and understanding.
"When that time comes we're going to talk to Tiger together and I know she's going to lash out at both of us, but we have to be united when we do," Cassie said.
"I know, Babe. I just don't like to see Tiger get heartbroken after our talk," Shelby said softly.
"She will be alright in a few days," Cassie said, holding her wife close. Then they let go to start on breakfast. Then called the schools.
When they woke up at 9:30 AM in the morning, the Rachel, Quinn, Santana, and Kitty walk out of their respective bedrooms before slowly making their way to the inviting aroma of freshly made blueberry pancakes and sizzling applewood-smoked bacon emanating from the kitchen.
The kitchen, adorned with the morning sun's warm golden glow, welcomed the sisters as they gathered around the oak-topped kitchen island. A beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers adorned the centerpiece, adding a touch of natural elegance to the space.
As they indulged in their delicious breakfast, the sisters engaged in lively chatter, discussing their plans for the day. Quinn, renowned for her impeccable organizational skills, expertly stacked the used dishes, meticulously placing them in the stainless steel sink. Meanwhile, Santana, with her trademark efficiency, wiped down the pristine white marble countertops, leaving them gleaming in the morning light. Kitty gracefully took charge of organizing the leftovers, ensuring that everything found its place in the custom-built pantry with neatly labeled containers.
With the kitchen now sparkling clean, Rachel dashed back to her room, her heart aflutter with anticipation, to retrieve the carefully crafted essay and apology letter she had poured her heart into. She was eager to receive Shelby's insightful feedback before finalizing them.
Entering Shelby's office, Rachel handed over the essay, a deeply introspective piece that delved into the profound impact of the most important person in her life. As Shelby immersed herself in Rachel's heartfelt words, she was visibly moved to tears, embracing Rachel as she expressed her love for the essay.
After the emotional exchange, Shelby composed herself and turned her attention to Rachel's apology letter. With bated breath, Rachel watched as Shelby carefully examined each word, her eyes reflecting the depth of emotion conveyed in the letter. As Shelby reached the end, she paused, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. Finally, with her eyes glistening with emotion, Shelby expressed how deeply touched she was by Rachel's sincerity. Their ensuing conversation was filled with genuine emotion and a palpable connection as they delved into the profound impact of Rachel's words on their relationship.
"I forgive you, Rachel," Shelby said, her voice filled with warmth and understanding, giving her a tight squeeze before letting her go. After a couple of minutes, Shelby handed Rachel back her essay so she could put it in her bag and instructed her to call her sisters downstairs. Rachel ascended the stairs, feeling a sense of relief and gratitude as she prepared to share the good news with her sisters.
As the family gathered on the cozy couch in front of Shelby and Cassie, the atmosphere revealed that it was an off day for everyone. The soft glow of the living room lights enveloped them as they settled in.
"I know today is a break for all of you," Shelby began. "But we still want each of you to at least read a couple of chapters in your English and history books. This will help you stay focused and be at the top of your game."
"Mom, none of the parents at school make their kids do work when they don't have to go to school," Quinn blurted out, with her three sisters nodding in agreement.
"Quinn, I'm not like every other parent at the school. I have high expectations for all four of you," Shelby said firmly.
Cassie chimed in, "Not everyone is a school teacher like us who care about their children's grades as much as we do."
"Fine," Santana said, standing up. Quinn and Kitty followed their sister to the other room.
"Don't worry, Shelby, I will talk to them," Rachel said with a smile as Shelby returned the smile, leaving the living room.
After finishing their English and history lessons, the children eagerly raised their hands to answer questions, while their mother, Cassie, meticulously reviewed their papers, providing personalized guidance and assistance where needed. As they neatly packed away their colorful binders, the siblings – Rachel, Santana, Quinn, and Kitty – excitedly gathered around the dining table to play a few rounds of Monopoly, Clue, and Scrabble.
The competitive spirit quickly escalated into an intense dispute between Rachel and Santana. Rachel accused Santana of stealing money from the Monopoly bank, while Santana claimed that Rachel was peeking at the clue cards in Clue. Accusations of cheating and foul play flew back and forth, escalating the tension in the room. Sensing the rising conflict, Kitty, the youngest of the siblings, attempted to calm the situation by reminding them to keep their voices down before their mom entered the room. However, both Rachel and Santana lashed out at her, causing further chaos.
Quinn, the peacemaker of the group, tried to diffuse the argument by emphasizing that it was just a game, but her efforts were met with continued accusations and protests. In an attempt to shift the mood, Quinn suggested playing a different game, like Pictionary or Charades, but the idea was unanimously rejected by the rest of the group.
Amidst the escalating commotion, Cassie, their mother, entered the room, drawn by the noise, requesting everyone to quiet down. When the argument continued, she removed the game from the table, much to the disappointment of the children.
At that moment, feeling discouraged, Quinn excused herself from the table and retreated to the living room to lie down. Meanwhile, Kitty and Rachel decided to tackle a challenging 1000-piece puzzle together, working in tandem to piece it together. Santana, seeking a change of pace, joined Quinn in the living room and invited her to play a couple of card games. The two engaged in a spirited competition, playing five rounds of Uno until Quinn emerged victorious by a single point.
As the evening progressed, Shelby, their mother, wrapped her arms around Quinn and Santana as they sat together on the couch, enjoying a peaceful moment of togetherness while watching their favorite TV show. Cassie joined them on the couch. After Kitty and Rachel finished their puzzle, they joined their family in the living room to watch TV. They all ended the evening with laughter and warmth, enjoying each other's company.
Cassie turned off the TV, and Shelby announced, "I'm going to heat up the soup so we can eat." She walked into the kitchen. Meanwhile, Quinn sat down on the other couch, by herself, covered herself with a light blanket, and picked up her book.
Santana rolled her eyes at her sister and then texted Brittany to ask if she was okay. Brittany responded, saying that Lord Tubbington had sold her phone to his girlfriend and she had just gotten it back. Santana laughed at Brittany's response and sent her a text back before putting her phone away. Then eating dinner with her family.