Disclaimer- Gilmore Girls and the characters associated with the show are not mine.
Chapter Ten: Arrangements
Emily came bustling in first, looking around expectantly before tossing her purse onto a side table and entering the dining room.
"Rory, I apologize for our tardiness. Your grandfather managed to stop at every single light between here and Hartford. I could have sworn we gave you a coat tree for your wedding. Who set this table?" she said, stopping to look around.
"Garret set the table, Emily. He did a great job. It looks good and we can find what we need," Luke said in a no-nonsense voice. He'd be dammed if she put the boy down in any way. Giving Luke a glare, Emily turned to Garret.
"Have you ever set a table before Garret?" she asked.
"No ma'am. Is it all wrong? I tried to make it symmetrical," he said, not wanting to admit he tried to make it pretty. He was thrown by the new woman. The room swelled with tension and it made him nervous. He bit his lower lip as he tilted his head to look at her.
"On the contrary. Although unorthodox, it looks wonderful. Rory and Lorelai, despite my best attempts, never mastered the art of a beautiful table setting, They have a tendency to toss the silverware along the sides. It's refreshing to see some care involved in the process. Jess tells me you're an artist?"
"I hope to be one, someday," he said, looking down at his plate. Scared for his future.
"Then you will. Richard, come in please. Stop loitering in the hall looking for the coat tree, it isn't there. I can only assume it has been relocated to the basement," Emily said.
"Mom, you hated the coat tree, you gave it to me more than once. If Rory has hidden it in the basement, then I personally think it's in the best spot. I can't believe you're still re-gifting the hideous stuff grandma gave you. The dogs are upstairs by the way, in the guest room," Lorelai said, smirking at Jess. She knew he despised the dog statues, especially since they were now dressed dog statues. He'd picked out a nice spot in the backyard for them, guarding the trash cans in the alley. Richard skillfully headed off the fight.
"Emily, I saw the coat tree by the back door the last time I was here. Now, I believe introductions are in order. Benjamin, this is my daughter Lorelai, her husband Luke, her daughter Rory and her husband Jess. The young man is Garret. Benjamin is a top Connecticut family lawyer, who volunteers his time at the Hartford Women's Shelter helping them navigate the custody issues they encounter. Do sit down. Luke is an excellent chef," Richard said.
"It's nice to meet you. May I speak freely, or would you like to wait?" Benjamin asked, helping himself to the bacon being passed around. He didn't normally conduct business this early on a Saturday morning. However, Richard helped fund him when he hung out his own shingle, and after explaining the case to him, Benjamin couldn't say no.
"Garret should be a part of any discussion concerning his future," Luke said. "He may be eleven, but he's mature."
"Very good. Well Garret, it's my understanding you are a ward of the state of Connecticut. Is this correct?" Benjamin asked. Garret had been listening, the newcomers spoke in a different pattern. Stiffer. Everyone was more subdued despite the wedding gift talk.
"Yeah, but I don't know what it means," he said.
"It means your mother no longer has any rights as your parent. Her problems were too large, and she didn't complete what she needed to do to keep you. You will never live with her again. It's harsh to hear, but she has been deemed unfit. The state of Connecticut is your legal guardian. With your grandmother gone, they will now look for another permanent solution. You can be placed with foster families who are likely to adopt, or put in one of two group homes and placed up for adoption. However, it is in your best interest to stay in a stable environment, same school etcetera. So a petition of emergency care and adoption here in Stars Hollow, will be considered. It makes their job easier, and it moves you less. Now, there seems to be some confusion about which couple is looking to adopt Garret," Benjamin said, glancing from couple to couple. Rory and Lorelai spoke at the same time.
"We want to," they said. Garret looked down, embarrassed.
"Rory, you know my reasons. You and Jess have time, Luke and I don't. I know you both care. So do we. We," Lorelai spoke, her hands clenched in her lap, pleading. Luke took her hands in his trying to soothe her. Richard interrupted.
"May I offer an opinion?" At everyone's nods, he continued. "Luke, I gave this considerable thought last night after your emergency call. Rory, Jess, you're not too young, but you're only now starting your lives together. You should have the time to travel and to enjoy each other before starting a family," he paused, gathering his thoughts. Rory began to speak, so he held up a hand to hold her off. The relationship he'd developed with his family over the last several years, was too important to him to speak carelessly. "I hate to say this, but you both have pasts which we would all prefer not being dredged up again. I would hate to see the petition denied, and Garret sent elsewhere, if you apply. I believe Luke and Lorelai are the safer option for Garret. They're older, and have owned their businesses longer. They have been established in this town for a very long time, whereas the two of you have only recently returned."
"He's correct," Benjamin said. "I did a quick internet search on you last night after Richard called me. Your wedding pictures contained a high profile criminal. And although it was dropped from your actual record, once you filter out the newspaper links, there are a couple of pictures and a blog about Huntzberger and his girlfriend, Rory Gilmore, stealing a yacht together. It could be considered youthful indiscretion, but Lorelai and Luke are the safer alternative. With the two of you, the petition could be won, but there is a risk." Rory took Jess's hand, squeezing it tight. Looking into each other's eyes, Jess nodded and brought her hand to his lips, placing a small kiss on her knuckles. He wanted what was best for Garret, and wasn't surprised his past was fucking things up again. He only hoped Rory didn't hate him for it later.
"We want to do what's best for Garret, and if mom and Luke have a better shot at making it happen, then they're the ones. I would rather not take the chance of losing him. Besides, this way Garret, you'll be our little brother, and I've always wanted a little brother," Rory said. There was time later to process Benjamin's words, and worry about her past being thrown in Jess's face again.
"Garret and I spoke last night about my past, and I stand by what I said about Luke and Lorelai. But Garret, is this going to be okay with you?" Jess asked.
Garret was quiet, fiddling with his fork. He was more comfortable with Jess and Rory. Although, he never thought she'd turn out to be a thief. There had to be more to the story. He knew about Jess though, everyone in town did. It didn't matter. It didn't change how he thought about Jess. He wished it could be them. He'd been watching them for so long, it felt like he knew them better. And Jess was, well, Jess understood. But Jess said it himself last night, because of his past, it might not work. So if he wanted to stay here, he'd have to take a chance, and from what he'd seen, Lorelai and Luke were good people. They'd give him a place to stay and he'd be in Jess and Rory's lives too. Mostly, he knew he didn't want to go back into foster care. Or a group home. He didn't want to leave Stars Hollow. He thought about how he felt watching Luke in the kitchen before breakfast.
"Would you teach me to cook?" he asked Luke, who swallowed hard.
"Yeah. I fish too. Do you like fishing and camping?" he asked. Garret tilted his head, trying to picture it.
"I've never done it. I like being outside, drawing people. I don't know. I'd have to try it. It always sounded fun when other kids talked about doing it. I know I want to learn to cook."
"What? You mean you don't want to learn the fine art of inn keeping? How to create a beautiful wedding reception using the most hideous colors known to man? What about movies? Do you like movies?" Lorelai asked, grinning while leaning forward on her hands, her eyes sparkling.
"Yeah, I like movies- and horses," Garret replied, giving her his shy smile.
"When we're finished eating let's adjourn to the library Richard has told me so much about, and take care of some particulars," Benjamin said.
After gathering information, and filling in the blanks on his laptop, Benjamin decided it was time to make the phone call. Glancing around the room, he thought about the children he'd seen over the years. Children who were shuffled from one family member to another. Relatives who were, most of the time, no more equipped to raise a child than the last. Sometimes the system did work. He fought hard for mothers and fathers who had straightened themselves out, were still straight. Living better lives with their families. In other cases, it didn't work. How many times had Garret been taken out of his home while his mother was in jail? How many times was he shuffled from place to place before being given to his grandmother? Before his mother lost all rights? And now his life was going to change again. He wondered if Garret knew he'd won the lottery. As he watched Garret study the art Jess and Rory had hung on their walls, he thought maybe Garret did know. Although he was in awe of his surroundings, he handled himself with a seriousness which hid his true age. Benjamin was glad Richard had called him. It was good to see a well deserved happy ending. For all parties.
Calling his contact at the Department of Social Services, who happened to be the person in charge at the Hartford regional office, he filled her in on what had happened to Garret's grandmother, and why he was involved. The relationship he'd built, over the years, with her and her office smoothed the process. She knew and trusted him to be on the child's side. After looking over the e-mailed paperwork, she agreed to the emergency placement, at least for the next three weeks until school was out for the summer. After an evaluation, the placement could be extended. She thought, provided the background check didn't turn up any surprises, the adoption could go through in a timely manner.
"They'll start their investigation. Interview your friends and relatives. Do a home study; look at your living conditions and financial status. There is a class you'll need to take, and I would get a room organized for Garret as soon as possible. They won't wait long to visit," Benjamin said as he gathered the paperwork. "I'll file these on Monday morning. You can pick Garret's stuff up from his grandma's today. I'll make myself available if you need help with her estate. See if you can find anything about a will." After thanking Benjamin, and seeing him and the Gilmores out the door, the rest gathered in the library.
"We have a lot to do, in a short amount of time," Lorelai said.
"We need to gather Garret's stuff, clean out the Rory/April room and turn it into the Garret room," Rory added.
"It needs to be painted too," Lorelai said.
"Jess, Luke, you should clean out the room while the three of us pick paint," Rory said.
"Then while they paint, we can take Garret to the house to pack his stuff," Lorelai added.
"Luke and Jess can haul the boxes while we take Garret shopping to get bedding and necessities!" Rory replied. Luke and Jess shook their heads, while Garret looked on in amazement. His neck was beginning to hurt from trying to focus on the rapid back and forth planning.
"Don't think we haven't noticed the division of labor. Luke and I get to clean out the room, paint it, haul stuff and I'm assuming put the big stuff back into the room. While the three of you shop?" Jess smirked.
"Of course. If you're nice, we might let you unpack Garret's stuff too while we watch movies tonight. Should we get a move on it, before we need to break for lunch?" Rory asked with a smile.
"I can help paint," Garret said, his voice unsure. He could tell they were giving each other a hard time, but didn't want to be a slacker.
"Nah, one- it's a small room, I'm not sure if the two of us will be able to paint at the same time and two- you need to gather whatever you want from your grandmother's, and be with them to pick out your own bedding," Jess said.
"Otherwise, it will end up looking like the guest room upstairs," Luke added with a smirk.
"I would never decorate Garret's room like that! I like Garret," Lorelai said, laughing at Jess's expression. Garret smiled as the accusations and banter flew around him.
"So you admit it then? Your fiendish plan to drive me insane in my own home? I thought we were past this, I thought you accepted me as your son-in-law?" Jess said, mock scowl included.
"Well, you know I was holding out for Rory to marry Prince William," Lorelai replied.
"Mom, he's already married! Remember our 'wallow like a royal' movie night? You have to accept Jess into the family. We made a pact," Rory replied.
"Pact? What pact?" Jess asked, worried now. Luke nudged Garret.
"Watch this. It's going to be good," he said. Jess's mock scowl turned to narrowed eyes as the Gilmore girls fidgeted under his scrutiny.
"Well, you see…" Lorelai started.
"It isn't a huge deal," Rory continued.
"Yes, yes it is," Luke jumped in with a snicker.
"One of you had better begin talking now," Jess said, crossing his arms in front of him, imitating Luke's battle stance. Rory's eyes grew huge, and she began to pout. Jess shook his head no. "Not going to work. Talk." Rory looked at her feet.
"Besides giving her primary decorating rights to the guest room and the children's rooms. I gave my mom all naming rights for any children we have," she whispered. Jess's eyes flew to Lorelai's evil grin, and then to Luke's nodding head, before finding Rory again. He waited till she had the guts to look up at him.
"No. She is not going to be decorating the children's rooms," he replied taking everyone by surprise. One battle at a time, he thought. One battle at a time. "I won't have my children's rooms decorated by an insane person. They'd have nightmares."
"The dogs are kinda creepy," Garret said, enjoying everyone's looks of shock. Jess ruffled Garret's hair.
"Let's go," Jess said, and Garret and Luke followed with Luke snickering. Rory and Lorelai exchanged looks.
"He took it better than I thought he would," Rory said.
"He's up to something," Lorelai replied, as Jess glanced over his shoulder at them and smirked.
A/N- A reviewer commented I was making them and their reactions too perfect. You're right I was (am), plus this story is mostly fluff with little conflict which bothers me. I admit it, and the reviewer is spot on. I've been having a hard time disassociating myself from the life I'd like the real boy to be living, and the fictional characters. It's been difficult to cause him any pain. I want his life to be all fluffy white clouds and rainbows instead of stormclouds and hail. I'm looking ahead to see if I can "rough" them up a bit... can't promise it though. Can't promise it at all.