The River Denial

April 23, 2016

Stars Hollow

It was a cool yet sunny spring afternoon, a perfect day for a birthday party. Today family and friends were gathering to celebrate Kwan and Steve's ninth birthday. This one was extra special because it was also the debut of Kwan and Steve's yet to be named band, which they formed along with four other friends at school.

Parenthood has it own interesting joys and challenges, and Lane and Zach's experience was no exception. They were a very close family, with Lane, in particular, working hard to create a more open atmosphere than that of her parents. To say that Lane and Zach were excited and overjoyed when their sons showed an interest in music was an understatement. The day that the boys asked their parents to teach them something on their respective musical instruments was one of the happiest days of their parental lives.

However, with the joy came the bewilderment and confusion. While the boys developed their love for playing music, classic Jazz, french fries, and good-natured with irreverent senses of humor, they also couldn't go a day without a gluten-free vegan flax muffins, didn't have much interest in watching TV, and, much to Mrs. Kim's delight, enjoyed going to church. Shocking as it was to Lane and Zach, they supported their interest in religion, and in particular The Seventh Day Adventist lifestyle. They kept the Sabbath, tried to be vegetarians for a month (Lane and Zach admiringly cheated with a Luke's run.) They even went to church services, eventually stepping back and letting Lane's parents take over, at least this task (nice to have Sunday morning off, they reasoned.)

All various influences that helped fuel the growth of the Kim-Van Herbig Boy were converging today. In addition to their band's debut, they were also debuting their first composition, "Jesus is Peace" a work that made Mrs. Kim pleased as punch while further fueling Lane's maternal confusion.

An hour into the party, Steven, Kwan, and their friends took the stage. Rory, Lorelai, and Luke took their places in the audience next to Lane, Zach, and Mr. and Mrs. Kim. Their 6-song set was all covers, spanning all sorts of genres that reflected the boys' audiophile upbringing. When it was time for the last song, their song, Steve took the mic. "I want to thank you all for coming and celebrating our birthday. This next song is an original composition. We are dedicating this to our grandparents and to our Mom and Dad. A little old school/retro tune just for you." The band

began to play. It started out as what you would expect from a contemporary Christian song. A clean and reverent beginning, which quickly turned taking on the flavor of the mid-1980s – early 90s mash-up. A bit of The Clash, mixed in with the Ramones, with an underline beat that reflected early 90s hip-hop all comingled with lyrics reflecting on how Jesus was peace. It was a combination that left Rory and Lorelai a bit bewildered. Their confusion, however, turned into amusement when they turned and looked at Lane and Zach who, at the end of the song, jumped out of their seats clapping and whistling. It was obvious, it didn't matter what Lane and Zach would cheer for anything their kids did.

Later that evening Rory was at Lane's house helping her put away items from the party. "So, Jesus is Peace." Rory opened cautiously, "That was interesting."

Lane busted out laughing.

"Honesty? I don't know how to feel about it! I mean, I am immensely proud that they even had the idea and even more that they were able to create a song that was influenced by so many different artists. But wow! A religious song influenced by The Clash, Tribe Called Quest, and sermons by Pastor Cho? That's weird right?"

"It's not your typical piece of work."

" I don't know what was more strange. The song itself, or my mother's reaction to it. Had that been me, I would have been grounded for a month. Steve and Kwan? They're geniuses! "

"Grandparent prerogative I guess"
"Yes, it is. Did you take any pictures? I was so set on videoing that I didn't take any stills."

Yea, I took a bunch. Here," Rory said as she unlocked her phone and handed it to Lane, "pick the ones you like and then message them to yourself."

Lane sat down to look at the photos while Rory continued to clean up. As she worked, Rory could hear Lane reacting to the pictures of her sons as she scrolled through the pictures. "These are really great Rory! Oh, I like that action shot of Kwan on the snare...Oh! My! God! Oh! My! God! My eyes! My eyes!"

Upon hearing Lane Rory ran over to the living room to find Lane her hand over her mouth, staring shocked at Rory's phone which she had thrown on the couch. "What's the matter?! What happened?!" Rory urgently asked, Then it hit her... her phone...her pictures!

Aside from the images of the party, Rory phone also contained photos of a weekend getaway with Logan to Santorini, which included some rather racy pictures.

"Oh no, oh Lane, I'm so sorry, I forgot about those pictures."

"It's ok. I'm a big girl. It was just shocking. And well ummm...Rory? Is that who I think it is in those photos?"

Rory let out a deep sigh. She was caught, there was no point in lying. "If you mean are those pictures of Logan, yes, that is him."

"Those look pretty recent. As in I gave you that sweater you were wearing for Christmas recent. Rory, what going on? Are you back with Logan? I thought he was engaged?"

"I'm not back with Logan per se. We have an agreement, we are together when we are together, we are not when we're not."

"You didn't fully answer my question. Is he still engaged?"

Rory stood there silent, not looking at Lane.

"Oh, Rory..." Lane exclaimed with drama and pain, "how long has this been going on?"

"For almost a year. We ran into each other last summer and well, it started from there."

"And what does his fiancée have to say about this? "

"I don't know...We don't talk about her"

Lane just looked at Rory in silent shock.

"Look, it's not like we see each other all the time. Those photos were taken after a couple of months without seeing each other."

"I don't know, you've been going to London an awful lot. Tell me do you communicate with him when you are not in London?"

"Yes."

"How often?"

"I don't know. Once a week we text. We email and had the occasional Facetime conversation."

"Oh yes, that sounds casual."

Don't you start judging me. We are both adults. I did not force Logan into something he didn't want to do."

"Rory, it's not like he is seeing someone else casually, he is engaged! "

"I know! This is supposed to be just casual fun, no strings attached. It's Vegas. Whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."

"There is one problem with that logic."

"What's that?"
"You hate Vegas."
"No, I don't"

"Excuse me, but I seem to remember a rather long phone conversation with someone who, on her first and only trip to Vegas, sat in a coffee shop and read a book rather than hit a Casino or take in a show."

"You point being?"
"It didn't work for you in reality, what makes you think theory would be any better?"

Exasperated Rory turned and walked to the dining room where she started pulling table clothes out of boxes.

"Look, we are adults, we entered into this with our eyes wide open. I don't need to be judged by you."

"Whoa, whoa" challenged Lane, " I am not judging you. Ok, maybe a tiny tiny bit, but I am more concerned. Rory, situations like this never end well. There is no getting out of this unscathed. How do you plan to handle things when he gets married?"

"I don't know just move on."

"Just like that?"

Rory kept sorting through the table clothes in silence.

"You haven't talked about that have you?" Lane asked.

"No, we haven't"

"What does Lorelai have to say about this?"

"She doesn't know, I haven't told her."

"Lorelai doesn't know? Well, ok."

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"You haven't told Lorelai? You never ever not tell Lorelai, unless it's something you don't fully believe in. I don't think you're ok with this at all Rory."

"I am!"
"Keep swimming in that river honey." Rory glared at Lane.

"Look," said Lane, changing to a softer tone. "Yes, you are adults. Yes, this is your decision and none of my business, but I see you swimming towards danger. You think I'm just going to say, 'it's ok, you're just in a relationship with an engaged man who you were in love with not too long ago.' No, Rory."

"I don't moralistic lectures. You don't need to save my soul."

"This is not about soul-saving! This is about you setting yourself up for a world of hurt. I can't sit back and watch you do that."

"Then don't. This is my business."

"Ok then."

"Ok!"

The two friends stood there looking at each other waiting for the other to make the next move."

Rory spoke first, "You know, I'm going to put these table clothes in the washer, and then I think I will take off. Alright with you?"

"That's fine. I have to take these boxes and sort them in the attic. It may take a while, so I might not be able to see you go."

"That's ok. I'll be sure to say goodbye before I leave." "Ok, well thanks for coming and for your help." "You're welcome."
"Good."

Rory took the tablecloths and headed to the basement. Lane stared after her with a look of deep worry.