Chapter Two

"So, I got a phone call today," Rory sat down on the couch beside Jess.

"What kind of phone call?"

"I was talking to Shelly," she explained. "You remember her, right?"

"Of course," Jess nodded. "She calls me on a regular basis demanding to know when she can get her hands on my next book."

"Right," Rory nodded, wringing her hands nervously.

"She's also been trying to steal you away from me for the last two years," Jess pointed out, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

Rory bit her lip and gave him a nervous smile.

"Let's have it," Jess sighed and waved for her to continue.

"She's finally taking the plunge and moving Bluestocking out here," she explained. "And she wants me to be her number two."

"Wow," Jess nodded appreciatively. "And how do you feel about that?"

"I don't know," Rory frowned. "But I'm not aggressively opposed to the idea."

"I would be worried if you were," Jess chuckled lightly. "You want to go, don't you?"

"Not go, per se, but the offer is definitely attractive," she nodded nervously. "It's not that I want to leave Truncheon!"

"Rory," Jess took her hands in his, trying to get her to stop fidgeting. "Do you want to help Shelly open a new store?"

"Yeah," she bit her lip and smiled. "I really do."

"Then I think you should call her," Jess smiled encouragingly.

"But what about Truncheon?"

"What about it?" Jess shrugged. "We're established, we've got employees running around keeping everything running smoothly. I mean, I haven't even been there to work in the last month. If you want to go start something new and cool, I'm behind you 100%."

"Really?" Rory asked, obviously not completely convinced.

"To be honest, I'm a little jealous," he nodded. "You know how much I love Bluestocking."

"I'm sure I could find a place for you," she joked. "You'd make a cute cashier."

Jess snorted and hugged her.

"I think you have a phone call to make."

Rory beamed and jumped off the couch, running to make the call.

- - Page Break - -

It was hard work getting the new store up and running, and Rory was forced to pass off most of her workload at Truncheon. She wasn't overly excited about this, but she knew she would be able to go back to it soon.

The day they held the Grand Opening, Rory was so excited she didn't know what to do with herself.

"Would you stop that!?" Jess scolded. "You're shaking the whole table!"

They were sitting at their kitchen table having breakfast and Rory couldn't seem to sit still.

"Sorry," she pulled her legs up underneath her and sat still for a second, only to start drumming her fingers against her coffee cup.

"Why are you so nervous?" Jess laughed. "Everything is going to be great!"

"I know, I know," Rory nodded. "It's just, this has been my entire life for the last year and it's all coming together today. What if we fail?"

"You're not going to fail," Jess shook his head.

"But what if we do?" she insisted. "What if nobody comes and we go out of business in a month?"

"Then it will be very exciting month."

"No it won't!" Rory scoffed. "It'll be the most stressful month of my life!"

"It can't be worse than the last year," Jess assured her. "You need to take a deep breath and enjoy yourself today."

"But-"

"No buts," Jess shook his head. "You're going to have a good time today, and that's that."

"You're very bossy today," Rory frowned.

"Only because you're being stubborn."

"I prefer delightfully difficult," she finally smiled.

"You would," Jess rolled his eyes.

"It's going to be good?" Rory asked.

"It's going to be amazing," Jess promised. "Trust me, I know. I've already had this day, remember?"

"Were you this nervous when you opened Truncheon?"

"More nervous. I even threw up a couple times- so did Matt and Chris."

"Well it's only 8," Rory pointed out. "I still have time."

"You're going to be fine," Jess shook his head. "Now, you should probably go make yourself look presentable. The Gilmores are coming."

- - Page Break - -

Rory's entire family was coming to see her accomplishments. Luke and Lorelai had gotten there the night before with April, planning to try and keep Rory occupied so that she didn't worry about the grand opening. Their plan had backfired when Rory had kicked them out of the apartment and back to their hotel less than an hour after their arrival. Richard and Emily were due to arrive within the next hour, and Rory had to admit she was excited to see them. They didn't get out to Philly too often and Rory had been far too busy lately to get back to Hartford, so it had been awhile since she had seen her grandparents. She was excited to show them what she had accomplished.

She had just finished getting dressed when a knock came at the door.

"Rory!" Jess called. "They're here!"

"Get the door, then!" Rory called back, putting the finishing touches on her outfit.

"What do you think I'm doing?!"

"The entire building can hear the two of you when you shout like that," Emily Gilmore scolded him when he opened the door.

"They're used to it," Jess shrugged. "Come on in."

"Jess, how are you?" Richard shook his hand warmly. "How's the new book coming on?"

"Pretty well," Jess nodded. "It should be on the way to my editor in the next week or so."

"Excellent," Richard smiled. "And you'll be sure to send me a copy."

"You'll be the first to get one," Jess promised. "Emily, how are you?"

"I'm quite well," the older woman smiled at him. "Where's Rory?"

"I'm here!" Rory ran out of the bedroom. "Hi!"

She hurried over and hugged each of her grandparents in turn. "I'm so glad you're here!"

"We're happy to be here," her grandfather beamed.

"Is that what you're wearing?" Her grandmother frowned, taking in her appearance.

"Yeah," Rory nodded and looked down at her outfit, a pair of black skinny jeans with a Vapor Rub t-shirt and a suit jacket, her hair pulled up in a messy bun.

"It hardly seems appropriate. You're the editor and partner."

"It's not that kind of place," Rory tried to explain. "We don't wear business suits or anything like that. It's casual."

"If you say so," Emily pursed her lips.

"Would you like some coffee?" Jess offered, trying to diffuse the situation.

"Coffee would be lovely," Richard agreed. "Let me give you a hand."

They left the women to stare at each other for a few minutes, taking shelter in the kitchen until Emily stopped glaring at her granddaughter.