Chapter Eleven: Sweet and Low
ONE AND A HALF YEARS AGO
Logan walked around his apartment in San Francisco making sure he packed everything. He didn't want to let a single thing stay behind. He hated moving more than ever before, his father seems to think it entertaining to refuse him a chance to settle in one location. He was now grabbing the change of address papers that were lying on the table by the door. With one last sweeping look around the place he shut the door. What he hated the most about this move is that it was back in the New England area, closer to memories he walked away from leaving them in a hospital. He regretted not listening to Lorelai but one thing he learned was that life was full or regrets but the one thing that matters most is that you learn from them and move on. Friends and relationships were a luxury he could no longer afford. He rarely talked to Colin because he and Stephanie seemed to be to busy to answer a phone, and Finn was well he was Finn, drunk and passed out.
While he was walking to his limo waiting to take him to the airport he noticed someone sitting in there, figuring it was Mitchum wanting to have some type of discussion about his new venture in Boston.
"Look Dad, I don't plan on making this a permanent move, I just want to get the paper up and running then I am coming back to San Francisco. I understand that you want me to help…" He finally looked over at the figure and lost all train of thought. "What in the hell are you doing here?" He didn't intend for it to sound so mean, but he didn't have the patience to small talk.
"Hi Logan." The bubbly blonde sitting across from him smiled but only lightly. She new she was still on his bad side after siding with their parents about banishing from Connecticut, but she didn't expect him to hold the grudge this long, she was his sister after all.
"Hello, again what are you doing here, in my limo?"
"Now is that a proper way to greet your sister?" She tried to make light of the conversation by trying to ignore the harsh tones radiating in his voice.
"Maybe not to the sister I once had, to you now, absolutely." He looked at her as if she had a disease, he loved her still yes, but he was so frustrated and hurt that she took their side.
"Logan, I know you are mad at me still, I understand but I wanted to say I am here to make amends. I talked father into letting you take over the Boston paper because I want you to be there. Before you interrupt me," she held up a finger to hush him so she could continue. "She moved to Boston about two weeks after she left the hospital. This is your chance to repair what damages anyone has made. I am not placing blame on one individual simply because more than one were wrong, but I know you love her and I know she still loves you. So do the right thing." With that she got out of the limo and walked towards the car sitting behind them.
Logan just glared out the back window, how, how could she does this now? Six months later and he has to be near Rory again, parts of him excited parts of him nervous, parts of him extremely mad. Honor was always his best friend growing up, but until about six months ago when she said that Mitchum and Shira were right and he needed to leave Connecticut did he realize that her intentions were no longer like her name, she was no longer honorable. He didn't know what to do, and when he decided to step out of the limo it of course set motion to the airport. The car phone started to ring, not feeling the need to answer any phone calls he ignored it. Then when the person calling the car phone realized that he wasn't answering they called his cell phone. Looking at the ID on the phone he saw that it was Honor.
"What else could you possible add?" Logan felt no need for formalities.
"I just wanted to tell you that our Parents are expecting us for dinner tomorrow night." Honor seemed to have her own irritation in her voice. "Also, I am tired of your attitude little brother. I did agree because I thought you needed space, forgive for having your interest at heart. You need to realize that I would never intentionally hurt you, nor would I intentionally ban you from any vicinity of your friends. I love you and I wanted to see you too, it just seemed that space would be good for everyone. So back off, and loosen your ego, because Shock that not everyone bows down to you when you are hurt."
"I know you are right, I just feel like when one person turns against me everyone does. I told you what happened at the hospital and I just didn't think anyone was on my side, and when I needed someone you didn't seem to be there either." Logan admitted that her words stung but he needed to hear them, she was right. After all blood runs thicker than water, or something like that.
"Okay, well I will see you on the plane, bye!" She hung up, there was still an air of annoyance in her words.
Boston
Looking at her phone the caller ID flashed Honor Huntzberger. Rory thought to herself what on earth is she doing calling her now, not only after turning her brother down almost a years ago, but turning him away six months ago. She contemplated answering the phone but decided against it. She was in a hurry anyways, a new location with a nice office that Josh set up for her. It was a good job, she was lucky to have landed a career with this magazine. Seeing as the Magazine's home office was in Boston it all worked out really well. She got into her car and started to drive just a few miles north to the home office of ZEENScope Magazine. Looking at her car's clock which she new was exactly four minutes and twenty seconds fast she realized she was late for her meeting with Josh and the rest of the editors. While crossing the intersection of High and Fifth she heard her phone beep telling her she had a voicemail she needed to listen to but wasn't in a rush.
She dialed her work number to inform them of her late arrival, but for some reason the receptionist was not answering the phone. She pressed the end button then the send button again to redial the number, still no answer. She decided she was just about a minute away she would just have to walk in and tell them she attempted to call. She turned on her turn signal to pull into the parking garage, while driving to her parking spot she noticed a black SUV that normally was not in the garage. She parked her car grabbed her purse and made sure that she had her key swipe and stepped out. Adjusting her shirt and her skirt she walked to the elevator and pressed the only button on the silver panel that was to go up. Waiting on the elevator to come down the person in the black SUV stepped out. She ignored the individual walking up behind her and waited patiently for the elevator to open. When the doors opened she stepped in and pressed the number three button and then proceeded to back into the corner of the elevator, when she finally looked up to see who the individual was that joined her, her jaw must made a large metallic sound when it hit the floor.
"M-Mr. Huntzberger." She couldn't believe that Mitchum Huntzberger was here in the elevator with her at her magazine. She thought quickly that it was funny the last time they were in an elevator he made her feel little and he made her realize that some how they had a similar motive to helping Logan achieve in life, yet that feeling gave her chills. She also pondered why he was going to a magazine; he normally worked only with newspapers.
"Oh, Ms Gilmore I didn't know you worked with this magazine." He smiled politely and then spoke in a voice that reminded her of a king speaking to a peasant. "Feeling well I hope? No more attacks?" the way he said the word attacks almost seemed as if he was mocking her.
"I am fine and I don't intend to have any more attacks thanks for asking. If you don't mind for me to be so bold and ask why you are here?" She noticed that her tone came back and she was a little more frigid than she expected.
"Ms Gilmore I am taken back by you bluntness, but I am here because I have bought the magazine, don't worry your job will stay intact and you won't have to worry about anything severe changing here, I am just expanding it a little and adding more funds to make is larger, and pick it up off the ground. This new age internet magazines just seem to be what the market is eating up. I won't be here long; I will be sending a… representative to watch over it." He was very picky with his words and the fact he was so open with his intentions concerned her. She knew he meant she would have a job and she would still be a reported however things were not going to be ducky, and the way he chose to use the word representative seemed to make her hair stand on end.
The rest of the ride to the third floor was quiet, and when the doors opened Rory made haste to leave the elevator and make her way to the meeting. As she entered it there was a celebration in progress, and probably why there was no receptionist to answer the phones. She looked around the conference room for Josh and he was no where to be found. She left the room and walked over to his personal office, the blinds drawn and the door shut, she lightly tapped and turned the knob to enter the office.
"Josh, what is going on?" she looked around the dimly lit room and saw a man sulking at his desk.
"Rory shut the door please." He didn't look up when he spoke just looked down at his hands. "Huntzberger fired me, and he brought in a new editor. Before you ask everyone is celebrating because of the new funding, no one knows about my termination yet. I am planning on leaving and coming back this evening to get the rest of my things. Please don't say anything, I know you know the Huntzberger family and I don't want you to jeopardize your position here. I already got to promote you to political editor before he arrived so congrats on your promotion, he is not taking that away from you. As far as the new editor his name is Brad, he will be arriving tomorrow."
Rory stood there speechless and in awe. It amazed her how quickly that man could suck any joy from her without being around her for more than five minutes. She felt sorry for Josh but he was right she did know the Huntzberger family and she wasn't the least bit calm about the situation. She sunk into a chair opposite of him and rubbed her temple the oncoming migraine seemed inevitable and wouldn't go away anytime soon.
"Okay, so what now?" She knew he wouldn't answer it was more of an open ended question and one that she didn't want to answer at that moment anyways. Looking at her former editor he shook his head, and let his eyes wonder up to meet hers. The relationship between them was now changing. They were friends and friends consoled each other, but Rory never really mastered the part of consoling your boss and friend all in one.
"I suppose I will move back to New Jersey and start over there." He looked back down at his hands letting his forehead set on the tips of his thumbs. Life from this point forward was going to get a little more complicated and a little more disastrous.
Rory wondered to herself if Logan was going to arrive in Boston to make the changes his father so desperately wanted completed, but since they shunned him from Connecticut because of her, she doubted they would bring him around. She still had a feeling something was going to put her through a whirl wind of emotions, and stress before this business venture would be completed. Surprising herself she felt a little joy creeping up inside, she was promoted to political editor, she had to admit that a joy of success never seemed to diminish when Mitchum came around. Looking at her former editor again she stood up to leave. She couldn't mutter a single apology because she knew it would matter anyways and that regardless Josh wasn't going to be joining the celebration outside.
Instead of following the rest of her co-workers she walked over to her new office desk and looked around, it was bare, but she knew exactly who to call to liven up the room. Looking at her phone she remembered there was a voicemail from Honor and decided that there was no better time to hear whatever else a Huntzberger wanted to throw at her.
Rory, Hi it's Honor, I just wanted to tell you that I would be in the Boston
area on Saturday and wanted to see if you wanted to have lunch.
call me and we can make plans. Okay talk to you later.
Shutting the phone she just starred at it, thinking that was the last thing she expected she decided to ignore it for now and called her mother. The phone rang a few times then went to voicemail.
"It's Lorelai and because I am pregnant this baby probably took up kick boxing and I had to use the powder room, leave a message I might call you back. If this is Rory, I need to talk to you so keep calling."
Laughing she did as she was told and dialed the number, this time it went straight to voicemail. Hanging up she waited for her mother to ring through on her end. Finally her phone started to ring and her mother's name flashed on the phone.
"Hi mom, love the new voicemail message, kickboxing huh?"
"Yeah well the kid likes to use my bladder as a trampoline and I find myself thinking that Luke needs to paint the bathroom a pretty light blue color. Anyways, I wanted to tell you that after this baby comes out in two months Luke and I decided to finally get married and I want you to come home to help me plan it this weekend. I can't believe I didn't realize I was pregnant until three months in. What was I thinking, oh well at least I know that things will work out and Luke and I love each other. So I think this kid is going to be too sentimental. So you called?"
After calming her laughter she spoke into the phone. "I need you to help me too, I just got promoted to Political Editor, and Mitchum Huntzberger bought the magazine, and Honor wants to have lunch on Saturday."
"Okay so you win kid. I will be there in about two hours." Lorelai hung up and Rory knew that things would pick up as soon as she got to see her mother.
