Hello Mr. President
Chapter Eleven
Disclaimer: Not mine
Before Tristin could rest his eyes for five seconds, he discovered that the event was over. The marathon was nearly done with, with the first place winner holding his hands high and everyone cheering loudly.
John had been one of the first handful of people to cross. Breathing hard, he took a deep breath and Dannie leapt onto his back, giving him a sneak kiss on the cheek. They both span around, laughing hard and in love. The public lapped it all up, snapping picture after picture. Both kids took it in stride, doing their best to ignore the press.
Dannie took John's hands, leading him over to where she had set up a lunch for the two of them, their security force joining together to create a barrier between them and the real world. Tristin smiled sadly. It felt like yesterday that the doctor had handed him the scissors to cut the cord and officially usher him into a world of fatherhood.
John had tufts of blond hair and big blue eyes. He was the perfect size, with pale skin and the tiniest little fingers that gripped his daddy's thumb just so. Now though, John was fairly tanned and his hair was a dirty shade of blond that shone just so in the late sunlight. He still had these same blue eyes, though.
Tristin's mother, before she had been a drunk and screwing around with anything that could "get it up", so to speak, had called him Baby Blue. She had dressed him up in hues of blue and Tristin had faint, but fond memories of her singing him songs she had made up about him. They often went something like, "Blue baby, Baby blue, won't you give Mommy some love? Pretty blue eyed baby like you needs Mommy's hugs and kisses, and Momma needs her baby with big, big, big, blue eyes,"
Then his father had intervened, telling his wife that her crackpot teaching methods weren't fit for a future investment in DuGrey Enterprises. Also that he was cheating on her with various women and she couldn't do squat about it.
So the years passed. Tatiana DuGrey went in and out of rehab, always in a stupor. She'd drink her body weight in vodka and then some and pass out. Meanwhile, his father covered it all up, paying for rehab with the work he did, while having a few affairs on the side. They had never divorced, his father convinced that it would ruin everything he had done for his company.
Tristin figured out later that what his childhood wasn't normal. Military school had taught him that. For holidays, he had gone to Tuc T. Austin's place. Tuc had a family up the coast that baked him sweet potato pie and passed around newspaper articles of all the good their boy had done. Tuc's cheeks were squeezed so much that he rubbed ice on them afterward and his grandmother had told Tristin that Tuc was her prime grandbaby and he'd do something good in this world.
They were right. Tuc had become a doctor for Doctors Without Borders. He and Tristin kept in close contact, despite that Tuc had been in Africa for the past two years, trying to put tuberculosis and other diseases to an end. Tristin often sent him relief money whenever he could spare it. Tuc, in return, was happy to e-mail Tristin and be an outlet for his good friend.
Tristin had been so thankful for Tuc, especially during the last stages of Nina's disease. Tuc and his family moved in for two months, caring for Tristin's now damaged family and trying to bring them together. If it hadn't been for Tuc and Akia, Tristin knew that his family would've been even more dysfunctional then they already were.
He had three boys, Lerato, Rafiki, and Makalo, and one little girl, Kitoko. It seemed often that he had the perfect family, the perfect wife, and he himself was the perfect father, always guiding his children, but never snapping out at them or worried that he was making a wrong move. Tristin had often asked what Tuc's secret was, and Tuc would always laugh and tell him in that fortune cookie manner of Tuc's, that there was no secret to be had concerning fatherhood.
Staring at John, Tristin wondered what Tuc would do. John's outburst earlier had rattled his father, and though John himself looked much better with Dannie to comfort him, Tristin was still rattled. Would Tuc approach John and discuss what had been said to Josh or would he talk to Josh about his strange way of grieving to Nina. Or would he talk to Joe and make sure that his youngest wasn't at all upset at the thought that he didn't remember his mother dying or her last words.
Tuc had helped so much with their grieving process. Tristin wished that his good friend was by his side to tell him what to do again. He felt so lost in his personal life. Not to mention Rory. Would Tuc start dating a girl again, four years after his wife's death, or would it be too soon? What if his boys were bottling up their thoughts of Rory?
Damn. He hated it when his mind wondered for far too long. Then he felt out of control. Shaking his head, Tristin took a deep breath. The boys were fine, except perhaps Josh. But Josh had always had a stone wall around him that had been hard to chip away. He had liked Rory though, and he was doing well in school. Better then he had ever done before and Tristin didn't want to discourage that by changing Josh's routine.
He wanted to get out there. Tristin knew in the bottom of his heart that he had to get out there again. He had to hold his heart on his sleeve and pray like hell that this girl wouldn't step all over it again by kissing Bag Boy. That scenario, though, he knew wasn't going to happen, due to their divorce.
Rory also seemed genuinely interested in him. She had danced with him and they practically molded together like two jigsaw pieces, despite Rory's confession that her dancing skills were slim to none.
Tristin took another deep breath. Yes, he was going to dinner with Rory Gilmore and nothing was going to stop him.
A hand tapped on his shoulder lightly and Tristin turned around. He smiled broadly, seeing the very girl he had made up his mind to see. She smiled, her face turning a pretty shade of crimson. Her left hand was being held by a tinier hand that belonged to who he presumed was her daughter.
"Hi Tristin," Rory said softly, smiling, "Finn and Riley are grabbing lunch. Jamey and I are waiting for them and I saw you,"
"Hi," He said back to her, smiling, "I'm just waiting for my two other sons. John's having an impromptu picnic date with Dannie,"
"Romantic," Rory said wistfully, and Jamey tugged on her mommy's hand
"Oh, I'm sorry," Rory laughed nervously, "Tristin, this is my daughter. Jamey, this is Tristin,"
"Hello young lady," Tristin smiled and held out his hand, inwardly cringing. He addressed teenaged prodigies that were going to save the world by something or other in that voice. Rory even raised an eyebrow and choked as a cover for trying not to laugh.
Jamey took his proffered hand, "You can call me Emily Penelope," She shook his hand solemnly, her sticky fingers leaving a sugary trail behind, "Want a gummy worm?" She held out one for him, and ate another one for herself.
"I love gummy worms," Tristin said, taking it from her, and eating it. He didn't care that it had been in her pocket where germs resided. Nina would've cared. She probably would've made Jamey take off her shorts and have him dry cleaned at once and hand her a bag of carrots, explaining that she didn't need all the yucky chemicals to be found in gummy worms.
"Don't eat too much, hon," Rory warned her, "Riley's bringing you a big cheeseburger and you should leave some space in your tummy for that unless you want me and Finn to eat it all,"
"No!" Jamey said alarmed, "I love big cheeseburgers!"
Rory laughed, "So don't eat too many gummy worms, hun,"
"How many gummy worms can you eat, Mister Tristin?" Jamey asked, "I can eat fifteen and half of a cheeseburger!"
Tristin laughed, and squatted down to her level, "I'll have you know that I am a gummy worm champion. One day, I ate seven hundred and fifty three gummy worms,"
"No way," Jamey said, but there was awe in her voice, "Did you have space for a cheeseburger?"
"With double cheese," Tristin smiled
"I like you, Mister Tristin, so you can call me Jamey," She said, "And if you don't, I'll never, ever talk to you again!"
Rory sighed. That was the Finn in her, whenever she got emotional and dramatic. It was cute though.
"I'll remember that, Jamey," Tristin said, standing back up, "Can I join you two ladies for lunch?"
"I'll share my cheeseburger with him," Jamey said to Rory, as if that was incentive. Rory chuckled
"I suppose I have no choice," She laughed, "But our table is on press grounds, Mr. President," She told him, grinning, "I don't think lunch will be the pleasant affair I imagined with all these reporters yelling questions and Jamey asking me what the three syllable words mean, not to mention Riley giving her the incorrect definitions and Finn egging on the reporters with tales of you wetting your bed in military school,"
"Wow, that sounds like my dream lunch," Tristin laughed, "I have a reserved table for me and the boys, actually. You're welcome to join us, and the reporters will be roughly thirty yards away, if not more,"
"There's one of them," Rory said, "Judging by the secret service man, anyway,"
Tristin turned around and saw Josh and Joe running together, comfortable and talking to each other cheerfully. Tristin wondered what they were talking about, but knew he'd never find out so he didn't bother trying that hard on the subject.
Joe saw him and waved, grinning. Josh looked up and gave a smaller, more cursory wave. He laughed when he saw Rory with him, talking.
--
Turning to Joe, Josh grinned, "See, Jo-Jo? I told you Dad had a thing for Rory. They're not just school chums,"
"That's good," Joe said, thoughtfully, "That dinner when Rory was invited, did you notice that Dad didn't stop smiling? Not once, and it felt-" He sighed, "It felt like something new and different, but normal and really nice at the same time,"
"It felt the way a family dinner's supposed to feel," Josh said softly, so softly that Joe barely heard them. They only had mere feet to go on now, "Lotta love, you know?" He smiled, "I liked that dinner,"
"Me too," Joe nodded, "Especially that cake,"
Josh laughed, "I'm glad that Dad has a new lady in his life, Joe. He's been so depressing since Mom died,"
"Dad tries," Joe said, echoing what Josh often told John when their oldest brother was upset at Tristin for something.
Josh looked at Joe and nodded, "Yeah, but he doesn't have to try anymore with Rory around. He knows how to do it, and he does it without realizing it, Joe." They crossed the line, flashes went off and a loud cheer engulfed the finish line. Josh and Joe smiled, waving around, and Josh leaned back in to Joe, "This is a good thing, Joey, for Dad. It's good,"
"Don't call me, Joey," Joe said, hitting his brother lightly and they ended up in a mock fight which resulted in a brotherly hug of peace. They walked over to Tristin, shoulder in shoulder, sweat everywhere, and grinning like they had just faced death and survived to explain that it was no big deal.
Tristin sighed at the both of them, "Boys, you know Rory. This is her daughter. Jamey, these are two of my kids, Josh and Joe,"
"Hi," She told the both of them, shaking their hands, "Wanna gummy worm?"
"Excellent," Josh said, holding out his hand and Joe did likewise. Jamey happily gave them each a worm and Josh grinned,
"Awesome, I got green and yellow. My favorite flavor of worm,"
"That's mine too!" Jamey said, eyes wide,
"You know, I once spent an entire day eating gummy worms with Dad and my brothers," Josh told her, beaming, "We managed to eat thousands of worms,"
"And ice cream, and Ho-hos, and Twizzlers. Lots and lots of Twizzlers," Joe smiled at the memory, "Remember when Dad invented these sandwiches with Oreos and whipped cream and M&Ms and gummy worms?"
"Excellent sandwiches," Josh said, "Then Mom came home the next day and took away our sugary happiness and we were all forced to eat a diet of carrots, celery, and Brussel spouts for the next year or so,"
"Yucky spouts," Jamey made a face and Rory sighed,
"Well, in the Gilmore-Morgan house, we don't eat anything primarily green or orange unless it is a type of M&M." Rory explained, "The only exception to the rule is anything cooked by Sookie or Luke,"
"Pop-Pop makes the best carrots," Jamey said excitedly, "He makes them french fries and I can dip them in a yummy cinnamon sauce that tastes better then fries n' ketchup!"
Rory smiled, "Yeah, that's Luke. He's the only one that's ever made veggies taste good to Jamey,"
"My nana can make yummy hot cocoa," Jamey added, "She puts whipped cream, and hot fudge, and chocolate sprinkles on them and I get to decide how much I want!"
Rory laughed, "I might've forgotten to tell you guys that Jamey likes to talk,"
"That's alright," Tristin said, chuckling
"Are we having lunch with them?" Josh asked
"Yes," Jamey said, nodding, "And I'll share my cheeseburger with you and Mr. Tristin,"
"Oh honey," A new voice, this one belonging to Finn, who carried lots of bags, along with Riley, and was smiling, "Jamey-baby, I bought food for your new friends, don't you worry,"
Rory looked at him in surprise, and Tristin helped Finn unload some of the bags.
"Oh don't look so surprised, Ror," Finn said, chuckling, "I just had a feeling that Tristin and his boys would find their way into lunch with us," He looked at them, confused, "Where's the oldest?"
"John's on a semi-private date," Tristin explained, jerking his head to John's direction, "I'll show you good people where we'll be eating.
----
The phone began to ring over and over in Logan's office. His personal line, his seven office lines, and his assistant's lines, not to mention his cell phone, fax, and pager, were all going crazy. Logan didn't know what to do first. Thankfully, Amy decided for him.
She walked into his office, freaked out of her mind, which was unusual. Amy prided herself on her clear mind and it was one of the many reasons Logan had managed to retain her as his main assistant. He knew he had others, but they were oft replaced and only good for a lay or two, as bad as that sounded, so their names were not remembered.
Amy took a deep breath and shut off everything, even Logan's computer, which had e-mail after instant message, after news story alerts popping up. Logan just sat in his chair, a little dazed. Finally, after fifteen minutes, it was quiet and Logan was grateful.
"Oh, thank you Ames," He smiled gratefully, "I had no idea what to do." Looking around at all his shut off appliances, Logan realized that there was no way anyone could get into contact of him, short of actually walking into his office. Amy had barred the door though, and shut the curtains. Sighing, she took a deep breath,
"Is the world coming to an end, Amy?" He asked, mystified, "The last time everything went crazy like this, President Morgan had his heart attack," Logan looked at her and frowned, "Is the President-"
"He's dating a woman," Amy sighed, sinking down into a chair, "It was discovered during the breast cancer luncheon when they were all eating together, both their families. Someone confirmed they were dating, but not by the President's people."
"Rory's had a thing for him," Logan said sadly,
"How'd you know it was Gilmore?" Amy asked, "I was working up the courage to tell you," She smiled embarrassedly, "Didn't want some wanker of a reporter blurting it out,"
Logan sighed, and looked at her, "Do you think it's pathetic that I still love her?" He asked, "She doesn't love me in a husband or boyfriend type way, you know?"
"No," Amy shook her head, "I think it's kinda romantic that you still have hope. But..." She hesitated,
"But?" Tristin looked at Amy, waiting, "You know you're my life coach, Amy," He smiled warmly, "My pretty Ugly Betty, the girl who keeps me on the right track, y'know?"
Amy smiled, "But, don't you think that if Rory really likes this guy, you should move on? Not to mention that this guy must really like her. He turned down dates with celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Kate Moss,"
"Yeah," Logan said softly, his fingers rubbing the window to make a slight squeaky sound.
Amy stood up, "And there are plenty of girls, Logan, that would love to date you and marry you, and have babies with you, and grow old with you," She sighed wistfully at the thought of ever having such a man. She stood next to Logan, both of them staring at their reflections.
"Know any of these girls personally?" Logan asked looking at her, his brown eyes piercing into her hazel ones. Amy jerked. Suddenly this conversation, which had started out as a comforting Logan thing, was very quickly turning into a screwing Logan sort of thing, and Amy did not want to do that. At least she thought she didn't.
"No," Amy said, her voice level, "But I don't get along with girls. All my friends are men. I do have a gay friend that's interested in you though,"
"I'll pass," Logan smiled at her, "Besides I don't really want to be set up. I've always been a firm believer in good old fashioned love,"
"Ah," Amy nodded
Logan turned around to his desk, "Courting a girl, giving her flowers, chocolate, and jewelry while reciting Shakespearian poetry, all that crap," He grabbed a pen, filling out one of the papers that needed work, but Amy wasn't dismissed yet.
"Have you ever been in love?" She asked, "Sorry, that's a stupid question,"
"It's the best feeling in the world, isn't it?" Logan smiled, "Your heart racing and spinning and flipflopping everywhere," He chuckled thoughtfully
"Has a girl every reciprocated the feeling?" Amy pressed onward
"Probably," Logan sighed, "But not the only girl I was ever in love with." Rubbing his head, he sighed, "I'm still trying to crawl out of the hole, and the stupid thing is I still think I have a chance, despite all this, you know?"
Amy sighed, "Logan, you deserve to be with a girl that loves you and vice versa,"
"I do," Logan nodded, "I don't deserve a great girl like you, Amy," He smiled dashingly.
"Oh, but you do, Logan!" Amy's inner mind screamed.
"That's for sure," She said instead, laughing lightly, "I'll turn everything on in thirty minutes when everything's cooled down, sir,"
She walked away, and Logan found himself looking at her legs, then her rear, and then her beautiful ginger colored tresses that were curled into large locks and he found himself wanting to just run his hands through her hair and see if it was as silky as it looked.
Logan shook his head. Weird feeling. Well, checking out her legs and rear was normal (he was a single bachelor boy, not perfect), but he didn't really pay that much attention to her hair before. Logan didn't know it yet, but the forces of Fate were at work to mend his love life.
Looking at a picture of all of them at Jamey's birth, Logan was grateful for his friends. Steph was roundly preggers with her last son, who'd come along in the coming weeks. Colin was holding his boys, nearly buckling under the pressure, and what made it harder was that they were both pulling on his ears. Finn was sitting down by the bedside, holding tiny Jamey and he had a look of absolute awe on his face. Rory was sweaty and red in her bed, but she was kissing and tickling little Riley all over, both of them happy that the ordeal of being pregnant was over.
Logan had asked Finn once what it felt like to hold a child that would come to know you as Daddy. Finn had just smiled secretly and patted him on the back.
"Special feeling, Loggins. No wonder Colin fainted all three times when they came out," Finn shook his head, "The responsibility thing is hard, but this tiny little person is holding your fingers and staring up at you, completely open, and nonjudgmental, and loving," Finn laughed, "I sound drunk, don't I?"
Logan laughed along and congratulated his friend. Secretly though, he had been upset still. Finn wasn't supposed to have comforted Rory that night. They weren't supposed to get smashed as hell and sleep together. Finn wasn't supposed to have a daughter with the girl Logan loved.
But that had all happened, and after not talking to either Finn or Rory, and three months of steam taken out on the treadmill, followed by a tongue-lashing from heavily hormonal pregnant Steph, Logan guiltily rejoined his friends.
He managed to heal himself and when Jamey was born, Logan was sort of glad she didn't have his genes. Instead, Jamey had a loving mommy and daddy that could live apart and have separate work lives, but join together to be a real family without sexual tension.
The arrangement worked in a surreal, bizarre way, and Logan knew that if he had been 'daddy' to Jamey, there was always the lingering possibility of him and Rory breaking up. After all, Rory didn't fall for him. She made that explicitly clear.
Logan took a deep breath. Tonight was definitely a one-night-stand night. He'd hit the bars, flirt a little and take some hot number to his place where they'd 'do the dirty' and she'd leave the next day with the understanding that Logan Huntzberger wasn't going to call her or remember her name after their liaison.
It seemed like his only reason for even showing up to work tomorrow, would be to talk to Amy about his life choices as he often did every did. Logan wondered briefly what he'd think of his job if Amy wasn't around to keep his head screwed on these past five years.
---
"Okay, Finn," Rory turned to look at him, "I'll be meeting Tristin at Sonnets. The number of the restaurant is on the refrigerator, as is Tristin's personal cell phone and mine. If you need me, don't hesitate at all,"
"Rory, it'll be fine," Finn said, coaxing her, "Jamey's sleeping over at Lizzie's house, so it's just me and Ry-man here,"
"Yeah," Riley said grinning, "We're going to go to the Rangers game. Uncle Logan's meeting us there at center ice!" Riley made swishing noises, pretending to be a hockey player
"Okay, okay," Rory sighed, "Do I look classy enough for a place like Sonnets?" She turned around, showing off her little blue dress. It was a silky number that Rory had worn once or twice on dates with Dean.
"Here," Finn said, handing her a pair of silver earrings, "I think that you'll blow away our President, Ms. Gilmore,"
"Really?" Rory giggled
"You like him a lot, huh, Mom?" Riley asked, smiling
"Yeah," Rory smiled, "He's sweet and funny and kind and charming and-"
"We get the picture," Finn said, "Uh, here is your purse and if you come home before morning, I will be ashamed of you,"
"Finn, it's the first date!" Rory said, "I'm not going to put out on the first date!" She looked at Riley, "Honey, purge all thoughts of that conversation from your mind,"
"Purged," Riley said, grinning, "At least kiss him, Mom. If you like him, you should kiss him,"
"Boy's got a point,"
"Whatever exchange Tristin and I have at the end of our date is going to happen by itself," Rory said, her rational side taking over, "Now I'm going to hail down a taxi and I will be back home by midnight,"
"Two AM would be better," Finn said, grinning half-heartedly
"Quiet you," Rory said, poking him on the nose, and she kissed Riley on the forehead, "You two behave and send Logan some love from me, won't you?" She smiled and walked away.
Riley looked at Finn, "What are the chances that Mom's in love with President DuGrey?"
"Not as high as the chances that President DuGrey loves your mum," Finn told him, "Now we've got some angry Canadians with no teeth to attend to, don't we?"
"Yeah!" Riley jumped down from his stool, "Let's go!"
Finn laughed and grabbed his coat.
----
Tristin was pacing back and forth in his bedroom. Joe sat on his bed, Josh in the next room murmuring Latin to Aurelia and John was going to hang out with Dannie until ten or so.
Tristin checked his watch again, "Only twenty more minutes til I have to go," He looked at Joe, "You have my number and the restaurant's number and Rory's number, right?"
Joe nodded, "Yep. You know, Finn and Riley invited Josh and me to come with them to a Rangers game,"
"You don't watch hockey," Tristin said, "And I'd feel safer if you were secure in the hotel,"
Josh nodded, "Are you nervous, Dad?"
"Yeah," Tristin laughed, "God, I haven't been on a date for nearly two decades."
"I've never been on a date, so you have an advantage over me," Joe pointed out
"Yeah, but you're young," Tristin said, "I'm just an old guy with adorable eyes and an undeniable aura of power. Rory hated me when I was John's age. What's changing now?"
"You aren't stupid anymore," Joe said thoughtfully, "And Rory really does like you. She couldn't stop looking at you during lunch, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you two were playing footsie,"
Tristin blushed umber, "We were, but it was a harmless thing...I think," Tristin groaned, "Oh, I'm so nervous. Do I look presentable?"
He put his arms to the side, turning around to show off his dark blue suit with black shirt and navy tie. There were no wrinkles in his pants and his blond hair was mussed up, yet neat.
"Very presidential," Joe said and Tristin groaned, walking to his suitcase,
"I'm changing,"
"Dad, it looks nice," Joe tried to convince him, but the damage was already done.
Tristin changed into a navy polo shirt, a pair of dark jeans and a black sports blazer. He looked at himself in the mirror, and despite his much more casual look, he liked it much better. It felt more like himself, in a sense.
"Wow," Joe said thoughtfully, "I've never seen you look like that. Usually you look all presidential or senatorial or whatever-ial with Mom. You look different,"
"Good different?" Tristin asked
Josh walked in, phone glued to his ear, "Pops," He smiled, despite himself, "You are going to a fancy upscale restaurant, not a barbeque or the movies,"
Tristin sighed, "I don't really like that other outfit,"
"Well, Dad, just get rid of the jacket," Josh said, his phone glued to his ear, and walked into the closet, "Aurelia, quid discis?"
He mumbled some more stuff in Latin and came out to throw a cable knit sweater at his father before walking away. Tristin put it on, and looked much more datable. The perfect amount, he reckoned.
"Rory likes you, no matter what you wear, Dad," Joe said, patting him on the back, "And you should go. You've got like two minutes left,"
"What?!?" Tristin looked at his watch and nearly ran to the elevator.
Joe laughed, "Now I sorta feel bad for changing Dad's watch when he wasn't looking," He shook his head and flipped on the television to watch some MTV.
-----
Tomorrow, I go back, back, back to school again. Oh, cue the sad lights already. Today is my last day of summer va-cay and how I will hate those of you who have one whole week left to spend with friends, stay up late watching bad movies and eating popcorn, and go to the mall for the bazillionith time to find the latest pair of ultra cute swimwear to show off at the pool or beach.
Summer, I hardly knew yee.
Please review and regale sad old-(metaphorically speaking) me with tales of how much you adore this story of mine.