Chapter Four:

Family

June 2013

Ben Corrigan kept all of his cameras on the top shelf of a large oak bookshelf he inherited from his grandfather. It was well made and sturdy. When he was a kid, he used to climb on it like a ladder and was always impressed by how it never budged. He decided that's how all things in life should be, himself especially.

He was dependable with an air of adventure. As a photojournalist, he strived to capture those traits in his photographs.

After Rory and Ben got married and they moved into their modest home in Hartford, Rory begged her husband to let her place part of her book collection on those solid shelves. He mentioned something about the shelf being sacred but he said it with his near-perfect smile so she knew he was joking.

One day, when she was removing some books to place an antique-luggage on the bottom shelf he became envious but he didn't let her know it. It had been sitting at her mom's house in Stars Hollow the last couple of years where it couldn't be a tangible reminder of something – of someone – lost.

"What's that?"

Rory looked up from her crouched position and answered honestly, "A present for Charlotte."

"From…?"

She sucked her bottom lip in, "Jess."

Ben knew an argument wouldn't be worth it and that he'd accept it eventually so nothing more was ever said on the matter.

As Ben was often away on business, he was more serious and less predictable each time he returned. Rory missed him terribly when he was gone, though Charlotte never seemed to mind. She was a 'Mommy's girl,' through and through and was used to the sporadic absences of her father. This inevitably worried Rory who feared Charlotte was growing up just as she had – omnipresent mother and ever-disappearing father. Things had to be somewhat different though, she and Ben were married and inseparable; that is, unless he was on business and jet setting to whichever state or country needed him in a given week.

One weekend Ben came back and Charlotte didn't run to the front door. She sat one the floor as her coloring book was set on the coffee table. Her crayons were everywhere, though her favorite – periwinkle blue – was perched in her hand as she skillfully colored within the lines. Rory was just coming out of the kitchen with a plate full of apple slices when she saw a very confused looking Ben standing in front of the open door.

Rory beamed and set the plate down on the coffee table and picked up Charlotte. "Look Char, Daddy's home!" She walked them both to Ben and kissed him firmly on the cheek.

Charlotte cupped her mom's ear and whispered in manner that couldn't be described as discreet, "I'm mad at him, remember?"

Ben raised an eyebrow and took Charlotte from Rory, "What'd I do now, cutie?"

She pursed her lips and Rory gave Ben an apologetic smile and gestured to the decorations that filled their living room. "You missed her birthday party. My mom went all out."

Ben pouted at his daughter, "I'm sorry sweetie. But I didn't miss your actual birthday. That's tomorrow. And I have a big surprise!"

Charlotte couldn't hold back a smile, "Really?"

"The biggest!"

"Luke and Mom bought her a pony, I hope you can do better than that," Rory teased.

Ben chuckled, "I bet I can."

Charlotte scrunched up her face as she fidgeted in her dad's arms. "I don't remember getting a pony…"

Rory kissed Charlotte on the forehead. "Keep bothering Grandpa Luke about it, I'm sure he'll give in eventually." Ben set her down on the floor.

"Can we call him now?" she looked up at her parents pleadingly.

"You have to eat your snack first."

Charlotte grinned and walked back to her coloring book and the plate of apples.


When Rory made a trip to Stars Hollow by herself the next Saturday, daddy and daughter were left alone about to embark on a Disney Princess movie marathon. "You're my favorite girl," he told her as he put Sleeping Beauty in the VCR.

Charlotte frowned, "What about Mommy?"

Ben only smiled in response and it was then that the young girl realized that her dad couldn't lie to her. She was four and couldn't imagine being more grownup than she was now. It was then that she had figured out that everything wasn't perfect between her mommy and daddy.

For lunch they ate peanut butter sandwiches and Ben scooped out extra Neapolitan ice cream for dessert. He let her squeeze out as much chocolate sauce and pile on as many maraschino cherries as she wanted.

Charlotte felt sick for the rest of the afternoon but also an overwhelming sense of happiness because she felt like she knew a secret.


In Stars Hollow, Rory arrived at her childhood home to meet up with her mother. What she didn't expect was an unfamiliar car sitting next to Lorelai's jeep.

Once inside, the first voice she heard was haunting. As it bounced and echoed off the walls, Rory followed the sound to the kitchen. Luke and Lorelai were seated at the table facing her. Another figure had their back toward her, though she would recognize the messy hair anyway. "Jess," the name escaped her mouth in a soft-whisper that seemed to take her breath along with it – as if her soul was escaping her body.

Jess turned around in his seat and offered her a kind smile. "Hey," he greeted. By then, Rory was gone, just a shell standing with her lips slightly parted as if she had just seen a ghost.

When Rory finally came to, she quickly excused herself from the room mumbling something about needing to grab something at Doose's.

"What the hell was that?" Luke asked.

"Beats me," Lorelai added. "Anything you'd like to explain, Jess?"

"No idea." He shrugged with arms outstretched for full dramatic effect. He glanced at Luke, "Women, right?"

"Jess…" Luke scolded.

"Fine," Jess rolled his eyes and stood up. "I guess I'll go ask."

He grabbed his coat off the back of the chair and escaped out the kitchen door. Just before he closed it, he heard Luke ask Lorelai, "I thought they were okay?"

Jess sighed as he buttoned up his jean jacket and walked into the October afternoon.

At Doose's he found Rory standing in front of a shelf with bags of marshmallows stacked on top of one another. "Wow. With necessities like these, it's no wonder you bolted so fast." He shoved his hands into the pockets of his black slacks.

She turned to look at him as she crossed her arms. Her shopping basket was still hanging off one of her arms.

"Do you need some help?" He picked up a bag, "Because the colored ones really do something for me."

"Jess…"

He blinked slowly, "Yes, Rory."

"What are you doing here?"

He faked confusion across his features, "I thought we were deciding which marshmallows to get."

She rolled her eyes, "I meant Stars Hollow, genius."

"Ah," he remarked but didn't say anything further.

"You're not going to tell me, are you?"

He put the marshmallows in her basket. "You know what we should make? Some Rice Krispies treats." Jess started walking to the cereal aisle.

Rory begrudgingly followed, "Uh…"

"Your kid likes those right?"

Rory frowned as he put the box of cereal in her basket. "Yeah."

"Okay. It's decided then." He took the basket out of her hands and walked to the register.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought I just said." The cashier told him the total and he pulled his wallet out of his pocket. "Her birthday was recently, wasn't it?" He handed the woman a ten-dollar bill and gestured for her to put the change in the latest 'Save the Bridge' fund box as he picked up the paper bag.

Rory couldn't help but smile, "Yeah. Last week."

"Four now?" he led her outside.

"Yeah." Rory ran a hand through her hair, "God, that makes me feel old."

He smirked as they walked side-by-side back to the Gilmore house. Jess motioned toward the bag, "Consider it a belated present from Uncle Jess."

She laughed and raised an eyebrow, "Uncle Jess?"

"I'm sure it's an upgrade from whatever it is you call me under your breath."

"I've never said anything bad about you." He looked at her skeptically, "Well, to Charlotte at least."

Jess nodded as they walked onto the porch, "Sounds about right."

Rory led the way as they entered the house through the back door. Jess set the bag on the table where Luke and Lorelai were now noticeably absent. A brightly colored Post-it caught their attention. Written in Lorelai's loopy scrawl:

Hey Sweets! Luke and I went to the diner. You two have fun and call if you need anything!

Jess took out the groceries and made his way around the kitchen to get out the proper supplies while Rory scowled at her mom's note. "I can't believe it."

"What?"

"You two are in cahoots." Jess began to take off his jacket but said nothing. "Oh my god!"

"I don't know what you're talking about." He set a mixing bowl on the table.

"You wanted to see me!" she smiled. "Admit it."

"I was in town," he stated simply.

"This definitely explains why Mom said it was urgent that I come home today."

Jess chuckled, "What excuse did she use?"

"I didn't actually ask."

"Quality trait in a reporter," he quipped.

"Shut up."

He ignored her and pointed at the table, "Are you gonna help me, or not?"


Rory collapsed on the couch holding her stomach. "Ugh, food coma…."

Jess shook his head as he lifted her legs so that he could sit on the couch. He placed them in his lap and reached for the remote so he could turn on the TV. "I tried to tell you. You were the one who insisted on eating the first batch." He began to flip through the channels.

"I told you. Quality control. I can't give Charlotte any substandard goods. What kind of mother would I be?"

"Lucky she has you then."

"I whisper that in her ear every night before she falls asleep."

Jess scoffed, "You're becoming more and more like Lorelai every day."


When Rory arrived home, she heard Charlotte's bare feet pad across the hallway. "Mommy!"

Ben followed quickly behind and leaned casually against the living room wall. "What'd you bring us?"

Rory just seemed to remember the plate of treats she was holding in her hand. Charlotte began to jump up and down excitedly trying to sneak a peek. "Your Uncle Jess made you some Rice Krispies for your birthday!" Rory tried the title out for the first time. It seemed to fit.

Ben squirmed, "Jess was in Stars Hollow?"

Rory walked up to her husband and pecked him on the cheek. Charlotte was holding on to her leg as they both headed toward the kitchen. "Yeah. I guess he was visiting Luke. I only found out when I got there."

Charlotte looked confused. "Which one is Uncle Jess again?"

"Grandpa Luke's nephew."

"I don't think I know him," she pursed her lips.

"You haven't seen him since you were reallysmall." Rory set the plate on the kitchen counter and grabbed a piece from underneath the saran wrap cover. She handed it to Charlotte. "But he's the one who bought you all those books, sweetie."

The girl took a bite of her snack, "The ones I can't read?"

Ben patted his daughter on the head, "The ones you can't read yet. You'll get there soon." He got a glass from the cabinet and moved to the sink to fill it with water.

"The words are harder than my other books."

Rory squatted down to Charlotte's level, "They just have a lot of words you don't know yet. How's your Rice Krispie?"

"Really yummy."

"You'll have to thank Jess the next time you see him."

"Maybe I'll read one of the stories he bought me to him!" Charlotte exclaimed excitedly.

"I think he'd like that." Rory grinned as she picked her up. "But right now, it's bed time."

Charlotte pouted and turned to her dad, "Will you read me a story?"

"Of course, squirt."

She beamed and tugged on Rory's hair, "Mommy too. That way she can do some of the voices."

They started for the stairs. "Mmk, but you have to brush your teeth first."

Ben flipped the light on in Charlotte's room. "I'll pick out the book while you get ready for bed."

Rory set Charlotte down and let her run off to the bathroom. "Pick one of Uncle Jess'!" she yelled from down the hall.

Ben gave Rory a look as she sat on the edge of Charlotte's bed. "What can I say? She has Gilmore blood and Gilmore's can always be bought with food."

He grabbed an anthology of short stories out of that old suitcase that had made its way up to Charlotte's room once she became determined to read them all. He sat down next to his wife, "She barely remembers meeting the guy and I think she has her first crush."

"At least it's getting her to read more," Rory offered.

Ben wrapped an arm around Rory's shoulders and kissed her on the temple. "Missed you today."

"You should have come to Stars Hollow with me."

"I think Char and I needed that one-on-one bonding."

"Oh yeah?"

Ben smiled, "Yeah. I think she may like me better than you now."

Rory laughed, "Impossible." She pecked him on the lips. "I like it when you're home."

"There are benefits, aren't there?" He cupped her cheek with his free hand and kissed her deeply.

"Ewwwww!" They broke apart and saw Charlotte standing in the doorway with her hands covering her eyes, "Did you stop?"

"Yes, we stopped," Ben let out a dry laugh. He stood up. "C'mon, let's tuck you in."

Rory lifted the sheets and Charlotte crawled in between them. Rory and Ben sat on either side of her and sat against the headboard. The fit was cozy. Rory handed Charlotte the book to hold. "Pick one out of here."

Charlotte opened to a random page. "This one!"

Ben flipped a few pages back to the beginning of the story and began to read:

'One hot evening in Padua they carried him up onto the roof and he could look over the top of the town. There were chimney swifts in the sky…'

Charlotte constantly made them stop whenever a word she had never heard came up. They took turns explaining definitions in ways she would understand. The three of them huddled together and they continued a life together that had formed a family.