IX
Stars Hollow being the close-knit community that it was, everyone pitched in to fold up their chairs and layer them back onto the trailer that had brought them to the town center. Between the direction of Sookie and Emily, things were quickly reconfigured for mingling and immediate dancing. This was the way Lorelei had wanted it. Rory took a deep breath as she watched it all happen. Sophie continued on the piano and Rory felt the melody of "So Far Away" float around her.
Since they were edging further into fall all the time, the sky was already beginning to head towards twilight and the twinkle lights strung about the square blinked on. "It looks like I remember it." Rory spun around. Jess had come up behind her and was standing close.
"Well we do pride ourselves on our traditions." She felt his arm brush against her and laid her head back on his shoulder, looking up at the lights.
"No kidding. I wouldn't put it past these people to turn today into an annual holiday."
Rory laughed. "Or at least a three-act musical."
"Or a dramatic re-enactment."
"A one-man show! With Kirk playing all of the characters!"
"Now that I can picture."
Rory laughed and sighed deeply. "I'm glad you're here, Jess."
"Well, I wasn't going to come, but I figured you'd need someone to talk to when the couple of the century started getting handsy." He grinned at her.
"That's very selfless of you." Jess bowed his head. "I don't buy it for a second." He put on an expression of shock. "Come on, I saw those tears."
"Perhaps you couldn't read my lips. I did say they were the result of allergies." He saw her look of incredulity wasn't shifting and sighed. "Ok, fine. The romantic inside me has not yet been crushed by literary fame and fortune. Satisfied?"
"Very," she smiled up at him.
He glanced down at her and took a deep breath. "Plus, I couldn't really avoid an event taking place within view of my window. I heard Taylor was going around banging on everybody's door to make sure your mom got the turnout she deserved."
Rory straightened up and turned to face him, shocked.
"What? Can't handle a new neighbour? I thought you Stars Hollow folks prided yourselves on being welcoming!"
"I—are you messing with me?" She narrowed her eyes at him.
He looked genuinely hurt. "No, Rory. I'm back."
Before she could react further, Luke and Lorelei walked back into the heart of the crowd, beaming and holding hands. As if alerted by a sixth sense, Lorelei swung her head around to locate Rory, who had a stunned expression on her face.
Jess gripped Rory's hand. "I'll give you guys a few minutes, ok? Luke probably needs me to pinch him or somethin'." She offered him a weak smile. "We'll talk though, I promise." She nodded and he headed into the crowd.
From the other end of it, Lorelei emerged, a royal blue shawl now draped over her bare shoulders as the sun began to go down. She pulled Rory into a hug. "So that was the fastest afternoon of my life. Thank god for your grandmother's new photography obsession. Maybe seeing the images will bring me back to myself. Like Total Recall." She held Rory at arm's length by her shoulders. "So tell me what's up. This look does not exactly scream pure joy." She moved her hand in a circular motion, indicating Rory's blanched face.
"Jess is back. He moved back. He lives here. Near here. I don't know where exactly, but he said that he could see the gazebo from his window and that Taylor was knocking on doors and—"
"Ok, slooooow down. Deep breath, kid. Let's walk." Lorelei started them on a leisurely stroll around the square's perimeter, her arm locked through Rory's.
"It was really perfect, mom. You guys looked great. I don't think Emily stayed in her seat. I caught the flash in the corner of my eye more than once. She was playing paparazzi."
"Well, at my next wedding I'll have tighter security and any such disruption will get her kicked out!"
"No warning!"
"No 'three strikes'!" Rory laughed. "Speaking of the next wedding though, let's get back to what you were saying. About Jess."
Rory squirmed, but her mother kept a tight hold on her arm. "It just took me by surprise."
"Well I'd say that's pretty natural."
"And, I mean, it's good of him to give me the head's up. Would've been way more surprising just bumping into him at Doose's or something."
"Yeah, way more." Lorelei eyed her daughter. "Did he say why he's back?"
"Um, no, but I didn't really get a chance to ask. Probably just looking for a quiet place to work on his next book." Rory shrugged.
"That could be a reason. Definitely not the biggest or most obvious one, but yeah, a reason." Lorelei nodded her head in consideration.
"Mom, come on. I know what you're getting at, but I really think you're wrong."
"Why?"
"It's been so long and we've both done so much. Before yesterday, he probably hadn't even thought about me. He's being polite. We're practically related now."
"Ew." Lorelei gave her a look of pure disgust. "Please say something else to get that last thought out of my head."
Rory stopped walking and stared at her mother.
Looking into her daughter's uncertain eyes, Lorelei grasped both her hands. "I know, hun. Things have been up and down for you lately. Logan. The Gazette. There are a lot of things hurting you and I hate that." Lorelei shook her hands. "I really hate it, Rory. I mean, you slept with a Wookie, for crying out loud!"
This elicited a moan from Rory who half smiled and hung her head in shame.
"I mean, you have no idea the burden you've placed on me. I can't even imagine the number of times in the future I'm going to ask you about the size of his lightsabre or if the force was strong in him or—" Lorelei began giggling uncontrollably—"if he made that Chewie groany-yell when he—"
"Ok, that is MORE than enough for now!" But Rory was finally smiling.
"Just… don't be afraid, Rory. You have time and if you want to try this, I'm on your side. Plus, I'm definitely a fan of the suit." Both Gilmores looked across at where Luke and Jess where standing, watching Jess attempt to dodge while Luke adjusted his tie. "And I like the fact that he's moved back. If that gives you a little more incentive to stick around, it's got my vote."
Luke looked across the square and found Lorelei. "Looks like it's waltzin' time." She grinned. "Come on, hun." Lorelei linked their arms again and led her back towards the music.
Culture references in this chapter:
So Far Away by Carole King
Total Recall directed by Paul Verhoeven
Star Wars series directed by George Lucas
