TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Rory on the campaign trail or perhaps not, something I think could have happened had ASP ended the tale herself with Rory pregnant at 22.
Disclaimer: Nope not mine, just borrowing them to make my tales fun.
A/N: Woah! 80 reviews and you all seem to really like this story, I can't say thank you enough! I started a new job a few weeks back so can't update as fast as I used to, but I promise to not abandon a story. I am happy you all enjoyed the name arch and seem to be really enjoying the story over all! you are all the absolute best!
Chapter the Tenth - Party Time!
Lorelai arrived at the club and was escorted to the room where she found a salon had been installed, there were ten massage stations, ten Mani-pedi spas, little hors doeuvres that were absolutely Rory, fried mac-n-cheese balls, pigs in a blanket, sausage stuffed mushrooms and bacon wrapped shrimp, there were also some cucumber slices topped with cream cheese and smoked salmon. She was enjoying the food and infused water when Steph came up.
"Yeah, you are here, you can step into the dressing booth, change into a robe, enjoy a massage, then come have your nails done." She ushered her to the dressing room and handed her a robe. She quickly slipped into the robe, it felt delightful and she couldn't remember her last massage. She stepped over to a table, lied down and her robe was removed after the sheet covered her. She was in heaven as strong masculine hands removed the tension she had been carrying since the surprise wedding, while he rubbed and gently pulled her mind drifted over these past few months, she had not been very accepting of Rory's decisions, and worse she had let it show, pushing her daughter away when she needed her most. He seemed to sense her troubled mind and worked her neck and scalp then down her shoulders, it was heavenly and she was sad when he told her to rest, helped her slip into her robe and walked away. When she rose from the table she was surprised to see the massage had been a full 45 minutes, she felt very relaxed and determined to apologize to Rory then Logan.
She went to the dressing room, and came out sans shoes and stockings, her feet clad in cute flip flops adorned with Black umbrellas, she thought it must be part of the theme but she didn't recall umbrellas in Alice in Wonderland. She sat by Paris.
"Hello Lorelai, are the masseurs marvelous? Did you know you get to keep the robe, it is just so soft."
Lorelai smiled, "Then it won't matter I already stuffed into my purse, tell me we get to keep the sandals too, they are so cute. Do you know what the umbrella's are about?"
"Heck if I know, but Rory had them custom made, they are a hoot though." Some of the lovely treats came over and Lorelai set a few on the offered plate. Then a tray of infused waters came by and she chose strawberry, while Paris took peach. They sipped nibbled and chatted while they were painted a fetching shade of blue. "So we will all have blue nails because it's a boy?", then she noticed the technician paint a little umbrella on Paris' thumb, soon she was receiving the same embellishment. "I thought it was a Mad Hatter theme, these umbrellas have to have some significance."
"She's your daughter, I figured you would know." Paris shrugged and then placed her hand under the drying fan, she and Lorelai were the last to be done.
The group of ladies now properly relaxed and painted were loaded into waiting town cars, Lorelai was placed in one with her mom, Shira and of course Rory.
"Mom, you came! Did you enjoy the first part of the party, I know we didn't spend much time together but the next part will be more to your liking, did you bring a hat?"
"Oh, shoot it's in the car!" Lorelai went to exit the car.
"Just give me your valet ticket mom." Rory put out her hand, then rolled down the window, "James" She waved to the Valet, "be a dear and retrieve my mothers hat from her car. Mom is it in the seat or back?"
Lorelai confirmed it was on the seat and the young man dashed away. "I could have got it myself Rory."
"Don't be silly, you have just been properly relaxed, I won't have you ruin it by running around when James is working his way through school and needs the tips."
Lorelai considered this, "You come here often, you know the Valet is in school?"
"Well mom, grandma and I lunch here often as do Shira and I, it is only natural I would know the staff, you always said get to know the staff, they are people too." Rory stated as if it was obvious.
"Lorelai, you should have been at the fundraiser she arranged for Planned Parenthood, it was a hoot we had all baby themed foods and the guests had to carry eggs that were to be treated as infants, you had to pay penalties for improper treatment, "she laughed a the memory," and raised twice the goal! You should be proud!" Emily crowed and Shira beamed.
Lorelai was surprised, Planned Parenthood, that is an odd one to get the DAR to support.
"She has also promised to plan the fourth of July picnic in support of our troops, it will feature a marathon dance." Shira was excited a the prospect, she an Mitchum had already began to train.
"Wow, look at you all miss party planner." Lorelai teased.
"Well, I won't be working for the first year, it is tricky to breastfeed and file reports, so grandma offered me a spot in the DAR to keep busy." Rory sounded defeated.
"No honey, I didn't mean that in a bad way, I am just surprised that's all, and I am proud you are helping others." She tried to sound sincere.
A tap at the window interrupted them, "Your hat ma'am" James handed over the pink sequined top hat embellished with a clock and white rabbit ears, Rory had to laugh. She thanked James and slipped him a 50, he smiled thanks then the ladies were off to the Tea Party.
They arrived and all the girls donned their hats, Rory's was like Mary Poppins, Steph a silver glittery derby, Paris wore an Eifel Tower, Lane's hat looked like the Capitol Records building, they just kept getting more outrageous, in all there were over 100 women all in different hats, Lorelai realized only a select few had been at the 'spa' and she could identify them by the blue polish and umbrella on their thumbs. They had arranged seating and took their places, towers of petite sandwiches were placed on each table and there was a carving station for heartier choices a few of the brave ventured to try out, Lorelai and Rory among them.
" I know this isn't a usual tea option but it is a bit 'mad' to have a station over the cutesy precut cubes, and I love a good roast turkey and cranberry sandwich." Rory had the carver slice the dark thigh meat for her then created her sandwich and had the roast beef guy slice some well cooked pieces then added a horseradish and cabbage topping.
Lorelai noted the fruit and greens, "So baby making you eat healthy or have you abandoned my food stylings completely?"
"Actually, I started trying more veggies in college, call it my rebellion, I actually like them." Rory grinned, " Try the cranberry relish, it's raw and adds a nice crunch to the sandwich. You always said I needed to try new things, well veggies and fruits were pretty new to me." she giggled and Lorelai had to smirk at the irony.
The tea was enjoyed and the women were ready for games, they had to cut ribbon to guess how large her pregnant belly was, a relay carry of cotton balls to upside down black umbrellas, diaper change race, onesie tiedye and finally the gifts and cake.
Rory opened gifts, ohhing and awing as Lane took notes about who gave what, Paris dutifully disposed of the wrapping as soon as she cut a square and added it to the pile, noting the giver on the underside. The gifts ranged from the predictable onesies and pajamas, to the clever, baby Beethoven (Thank you Lane), video monitor (grandma how thoughtful), nanny cam (Shira, this is sweet), two years at a prestigious preschool (thank you Paris) and finally it came to Lorelai's gift, it was oddly an envelope and Rory pulled out a photo and promptly cried, it was a photo of her old room, a queen sized bed replaced the twin, a crib sat where her desk had and it had been painted a comforting pastel blue with a yellow daisy border. The door had also been photographed bringing new tears, it was labeled, 'Welcome Huntzbergers'; of all the gifts, this would be Rory and Logan's favorite, it meant Lorelai accepted them as a family and that was the best gift ever.