AN: And now to continue on with the book tour.
Chapter 25: "Um, how about the twenty-first?"
After the signing in Oklahoma Rory and Jess had a couple days before the next signings in Austin and Dallas. They used that time to visit another LOVE sculpture, this time in San Antonio at the McNay Art Museum. It was a beautiful museum with gorgeous gardens and a fountain in addition to the LOVE sculpture and other pieces inside.
"I find it funny that it took me months to get you take a picture with the sculpture mere miles from us and now you're willingly taking me across the country to see them," Rory said as they took their seats on the plane to New Orleans after Jess' signings in Austin and Dallas.
"Well, I'm not exactly taking you across the country just to see the sculptures," Jess reminded her, "I have to be in these places anyway."
"True, but we didn't have to go to San Antonio to see the sculpture. We could have gone ahead to Dallas or stayed in Oklahoma a little longer," Rory told him, "We also didn't have to drive to Scottsdale after your signing in Phoenix."
"I know we didn't, but I know how much it meant to you when we took that first picture so I wanted to do this for you," Jess said.
"Well, thank you. I love seeing all these pieces with you," she told him, laying her head on his shoulder to get a nap in before they landed.
"You know it's only like an hour flight, right?" Jess asked when he noticed her eyes were closed.
"Can't talk, sleeping. Tired," Rory said.
"Well that's your own fault," he told her, "I was all set to just go to sleep last night, but you were the one insisting we make use of the hot tub in our hotel room."
"Like you didn't want to," Rory said, still keeping her eyes closed as she snuggled closer to Jess when he placed an arm around her.
"No, you're right. I was a willing participant," he said, kissing the top of her head, "Go ahead and get some sleep. I'll wake you when we get there. I need you rested anyway for my plans when we get in."
"Jess, when you said you needed me rested I didn't think that meant walking a thousand miles," Rory said as they walked through the sculpture garden of the New Orleans Museum of Art, "Gilmore's are not cut out for exercise."
"It's not a thousand miles and this is hardly exercise. You walk around Stars Hollow all the time," Jess said, "And really, like you didn't already know we were coming here."
"Why would I already know we were coming here? You're the one planning this trip," she said.
"Oh, please, like you didn't immediately look up locations that had the LOVE sculpture after we went to a couple of them to see where else they were," Jess said.
"Maybe I did," Rory said.
"Maybe?"
"Okay, I did, but you know I like to be informed. I like my research."
"This is true. And I as much as I love that about you, it would be great if you'd let me surprise you every once and awhile."
"Hershey was a surprise. So was proposing to me actually."
"Did you really not expect it? I mean we talked about a bit."
"I did expect it to happen someday. I guess I didn't really have a time frame in mind of when someday would be, but I never expected it to be that day."
"Why not? It was the perfect day. It was the day we shared our first kiss."
"Well I know that. I just wasn't sure you did. Those little anniversaries, especially one from that long ago are not something guys usually remember."
"You never have to worry about me not remembering an anniversary of any kind. I could never forget anything important to you or to us," Jess said, kissing the back of her hand before pulling her to him for a deep kiss on the lips.
"You're such a sap," Rory said against his lips, "But I love it and you."
"Good because I love you, too," Jess said, kissing her again, "Now ready for another picture?"
"Always," she told him as they stood before their eighth rendition of the LOVE sculpture.
Jess was exhausted as they exited their plane at Indianapolis International Airport. They had been traveling the country for over three weeks. He had signed countless autographed, smiled for hundreds of pictures, and read passage after passage from his book; he was tired. He had been hoping to sleep for a bit on their flight from New Orleans, but Rory who normally fell asleep the moment the plane was in the air stayed awake the entire flight. Jess understood it though. Since he had called her out on looking up locations for the LOVE sculpture, she was openly showing her excitement for their trip to Indianapolis because the Indianapolis Museum of Art was home to the original sculpture. If there were any Rory had been hoping to see while on this book tour, it was this one.
"Come on, Jess, let's go," Rory said as she grabbed his hand, practically dragging him along with her as she hurried to collect their bags.
"What's your hurry?" Jess asked, knowing full well why, but wanting her to admit it.
"The sooner we get out of here, the sooner we checked into our hotel, and the sooner we can go to the museum to see the sculpture," she told him.
"Rory that sculpture has been at that museum for the past thirty-five years. It's not going anywhere," he said.
"I know, but now that we're here I just...I really want to see it Jess. I know I got to see a couple of them on the campaign trail and we've seen even more of them now, but we weren't in Indianapolis for that long so I never had a chance venture out," Rory said, "It's the first one. I'm just really excited to see it."
"I know you are," he said, kissing the top of her head as he held her in his arms, "Alright, let's go."
After picking up their rental car and checking into their hotel, Rory and Jess made their way to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Once Rory had taken a dozen photos of the sculpture itself, she and Jess took several photos of themselves with it. After walking around the grounds of the museum, they went downtown to have dinner and take a walk around Monument Circle. It was while walking downtown that Rory noticed a candy store.
"Oh Jess look, they have a Rocket Fizz," she said, having frequented the one in Philadelphia several times, mostly when Lorelai was in town.
"We ate dessert at the restaurant and now you want candy?" Jess asked with a laugh.
"Well, I'm a Gilmore. Who are we if not bottomless pits," Rory said.
"True. Alright, let's get some candy," he said as they walked across the street to the candy store.
The next day was a full day to themselves before Jess' book signing the day after so they decided to explore a few of the historical sites Indianapolis had to offer. They took a tour of the homes of the twenty-third president, Benjamin Harrison, and writer, James Whitcomb Riley. After Jess' signing in Indianapolis they flew down to Nashville and then spent a couple of days in Savannah, Georgia before making stops in the Carolina's. First they went to Charleston in South Carolina and then Wilmington, North Carolina. Their last stop before heading home for Jess to do signings in New York, Hartford, and Boston was Washington, D.C.
"You know the one here doesn't actually say 'LOVE' it says 'AMOR'," Rory told Jess as they walked through the National Gallery of Art.
"I didn't until I looked up locations for all of them," he said, "Have you seen this one before?"
"Yep, it was the first one I saw during the campaign, but I also saw it that summer I spent here in high school," Rory said.
"Oh right, that program you did with Paris when you were vice-president," Jess said.
"Yeah, during some of our free time we went to several of the museums and we ended up walking past here," she told him, "Paris of course thought it was sappy and pathetic that couples were taking pictures with it, but that's Paris."
"That doesn't surprise me. So are you excited to go home?" he asked.
"Absolutely. Hotels are nice for a day or two, but after awhile I just start to miss my own bed," she told him, "I can't wait to curl up under my own blanket in our nice soft bed."
"Yeah, I think after you, sleeping in my own bed is what I missed most during my book tour last year," Jess said, "Having you with me this time has made it so much better."
"For me, too. I hated those three weeks without you," Rory told him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"I know you did, but you never have to worry about us being apart ever again," he told her, taking her left hand in his, running his fingers across her engagement ring before kissing her, "We're going to be together forever."
"Hmm, forever. I like the sound of that," Rory said as she deepened their kiss.
"Once the book tour is over, do you want to start planning things? We already know where we want to get married, but do you want to figure out when, maybe take a trip up to Stars Hollow so you and Lorelai can figure out your dress?" Jess asked.
"About that. I kind of already started a bit," she told him, "I haven't made any plans that require your input or anything, but I bought a dress."
"Really? When?" Jess asked.
"When we were in L.A," Rory said, "There were all those dress shops by The Last Bookstore that I decided to look at some."
"I thought Lorelai was going to make your dress?" he asked.
"She said she would if I wanted her to and that was what I was planning, but I saw this dress online and when I went to see it in person and try it on, it was…"
"Perfect?"
"Yeah. It's amazing Jess."
"I'm sure it is. I can't wait until the day I get to see it on you."
"Well, I did actually have a thought on that."
"Oh, what's that?"
"Why not stick with a day in May? It's when Mom and Luke's anniversary is and the day we got engaged."
"Not a bad idea. When?"
"Um, how about the twenty-first?" Rory asked as she looked through the calendar on her phone.
"Two days after the one year anniversary of our engagement, I like it," Jess said, pulling her to him for a kiss.
"Great, I'll call Mom so she can let Taylor know and he can start on whatever paperwork he thinks is needed," Rory said.
It was October first when they flew home to Philadelphia after Jess' signing in D.C. Arriving home from the airport after Chris picked them up they quickly collapsed into their bed, ready for a good night's sleep in their own bed before continuing the book tour in their neighboring states.
The next morning after sharing a long, but very welcomed shower together, Rory and Jess went to New York for his next book signing. While there they saw the two New York sculptures, one on Sixth Avenue and the other in Brooklyn. After New York they went to Stars Hollow where they would be spending the next few days while Jess did a signing in Hartford on the fourth and one in Boston on the sixth.
"Jess why did you have me pack so much stuff when your last signing is in Boston on the sixth. I have enough clothes to last me until the end of the week," Rory said.
"Good, you'll need them," he told her.
"What are you planning Dodger?" she asked.
"Nothing, just a little surprise for the end of our trip," Jess said, "Nothing for you to worry about."
"I hate surprises."
"Tough."
"Jess!"
"Nope. You're just going to have to wait and be surprised. And don't even think about asking Lorelai. She doesn't know a thing."
"You're mean."
"Not mean, just secretive. I'd like to do something nice for you and leave it a surprise, is that so bad?"
"No, I guess not, but I still don't like it."
"Well all that matters is you like it when you see it and trust me, you will."
While in Stars Hollow, Rory and Jess met with Taylor to finalize the date and location for their wedding. They also talked to Sookie about catering and doing their cake. While Jess was doing his signing in Hartford, Rory went to visit her grandparents to fill them in on the plans so far and to let Emily have a bit of input, Rory asked for recommendations of places for 'save the date' cards and wedding invitations. She also showed Emily the pictures of her in the dress she bought and though she was a little disappointed not be there to see her granddaughter try on dresses, she had to admit Rory looked lovely in it and couldn't wait to see it in person.
"It's not supposed to be at Mom's for another couple of weeks, but when it does come I'll let you know so you can see it," Rory told her, "I'll come down the weekend it arrives so you can all see me in it."
"I can't wait. It really is a lovely dress, Rory," Emily said.
"Thanks Grandma and thank you for your help with the 'save the date' cards," Rory said.
"It's not a problem. I'm happy to help. I'll make a few calls and get some samples for you to look at and if you like anything we'll get it ordered and start looking at invitations as well," she said.
"That's great Grandma. Thanks so much," Rory said before glancing at her watch, "But, I better get going. I've got to get back to the bookstore to get Jess."
"Will the two of you be able to come by for dinner before you go back home?" Emily asked.
"I'm not really sure. His last signing is in Boston on the sixth, but he has some secret plans for the rest of the week. We're going back to work on Monday so we'll have to be back by Sunday, but I'm not sure what we're doing or for how long," Rory said.
"Whisking you away somewhere for your birthday, is he?" Emily asked.
"No clue, but probably. I keep telling him I don't like surprises, but he refuses to tell me what he's planning," Rory said.
"I think it's a guy thing. You're grandfather used to do that all the time at the beginning of our marriage," Emily said, "He'd take a weekend off and tell me just to pack a bag and we'd either drive somewhere close or fly across the country for two days. He loved surprising me and still does on occasion with little gifts and such."
"I guess I have to get used to it then," Rory said.
"I believe so," Emily said, "You've got yourself a good man. Enjoy it."
"I know. Thank you," Rory said, giving her grandmother and hug and kiss on the cheek, "I'll talk to you soon."
"Bye, Rory," Emily said as she closed the door behind her after Rory left.
Rory had already talked to Lorelai about being her matron of honor, but she asked Lane to be a bridesmaid while Jess asked Luke be his best man and Zach to be a groomsman. Rory still needed to call April to ask her to be part of the wedding, but she planned to ask Paris in person when they went to Boston for Jess' signing. She was also going to ask Gigi to be the flower girl and her Dad to walk her down the aisle.
Are you going to tell me what we're doing now?" Rory asked as they got in the car to leave the bookstore. They stayed at Christopher's house the night before and talked to him and Paris about the wedding when they got to Boston, "We brought everything with us so we're clearly not going back to Stars Hollow today."
"That is correct," he told her, "We're driving up the coast to Maine."
"Maine, really? Why?" Rory asked.
"Just a little vacation. No signings, no work of any kind. Just us," Jess told her, "What do you think?"
"I love it," she said, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek, "Thank you. Where in Maine?"
"Like you don't already know?"
"Rockland! Really!? Another sculpture. That's almost all of them Jess."
"I know. We missed one in Utah because we weren't' really close to and there are few more in Pennsylvania, but those are pretty doable anytime."
"At least almost all the one's in this country. There are some in other countries."
"We'll have to consider those places for our honeymoon then."
"Sounds like a good idea to me. I'll make a list."
A few hours later they were checking into their room at Berry Manor Inn. They were going to relax and enjoy just being together their first night and go explore the city and visit the Farnsworth Art Museum where the LOVE Sculpture was located the next day. Jess didn't have too many plans for their stay in Maine. He had reservations for Rory's birthday at an Italian place he saw online and knew they were going to see the sculpture, but otherwise he was really looking forward to just spending some quiet alone time with his fiancee.
Their first night after dinner they enjoyed the chocolate covered strawberries and champagne that awaited them as part of the romantic getaway package Jess booked for them before making use of both the whirlpool tub and two-person body jet shower. The next morning after breakfast they went to the museum to see the sculpture followed by lunch at a local place nearby called Cafe Miranda.
"I think I'm going to go with a basic burger and fries," Rory said as she looked at the menu, "But change it up a bit and get the lamb burger and the sweet potato fries."
"Sweet potato fries? Wow, Rory Gilmore voluntarily eating something good for her. And you know they put vegetables on that lamb burger, right?" Jess asked.
"Yes, but it looks pretty good and I can always take the green stuff off if I don't like it. And sweet potato fries are good. It's like french fries that are good for you so you can eat more of them," she said, "What are you getting?"
"I'm thinking pulled pork tacos. It looks good," he told her.
"It does. So what else do you have planned for this weekend? More strawberries and rose petals in our room? Mom seriously needs to offer that at the Dragonfly. I can't believe you found two places for us to stay that do that. I love it."
"I figured we could just explore the city a bit today. Maybe check out a bookstore or something before dinner."
"And tomorrow?"
"I really didn't have anything special planned. Why, you got something important?"
"Very funny. You know tomorrow is my birthday."
"Fine, I may have something planned."
"And?"
"And...I'm not telling you what it is."
"No fair."
After going back to sleep for a few more hours after Lorelai's four AM wake up call to Rory for her birthday, Jess got up to go downstairs to bring back breakfast for him and Rory. They ate in the dining room the day before, but since it was her birthday he wanted to treat her to breakfast in bed.
"So what are we doing after breakfast?" Rory asked as they sat in bed eating the food Jess brought up for them.
"Personally I was hoping for a shower. That jet shower is amazing and we've had a lot of fun in it," Jess told, "Then after we have a full day ahead of us of birthday fun."
"Full day, huh. Do I get any hints now that the day is here?" Rory asked.
"It involves lobster," he told her.
"That's not much of a hint. We're in Maine. I figured we'd have lobster eventually," Rory said.
"It's all the hint you're getting. Now, let's go enjoy that shower," he said getting off the bed and picking her up in his arms before carrying her into the bathroom.
"Jess! I can walk you know."
"I know, but I need the practice."
"What practice?"
"Carrying you over the threshold."
"Sap."
After their extra long shower they barely had enough time to make it to Captain Jack's Lobster Boat Adventure where Jess had booked a day for them on the bay full of sailing and a picnic lunch of lobster rolls. Then that evening Jess took Rory to Rustica Cucina Italiana, a local Italian restaurant he read up on and made a reservation for her birthday dinner.
"It smells amazing in here," Rory said as they took their seats.
"Yeah and everything looks good, too. It has great online reviews and the inn recommends it on their website," Jess said.
"I don't think that one lobster roll was enough lobster for me," Rory said after the waiter finished pouring their wine, "I want to try the lobster bruschetta."
"That sounds good," Jess said.
"And I think I'm going to embrace this whole being on the coast thing and get the linguine with clams," she said.
"I was thinking the same thing, but the shrimp piccata," he said.
"Sounds yummy. We'll definitely have to share," Rory said.
"So I got you a little something," Jess said as they waited for their tiramisu to arrive, "I started thinking about us taking a little trip at the end of the tour months ago and with all the little bookstores we were at I got inspired to find this and after a lot of searching, well…"
"Okay, it's obviously a book," Rory said, taking the rectangular shaped packaged from Jess, "The Fountainhead. Jess you already read this."
"This one is a little different," he told her, "Open it."
"Oh my!" Rory exclaimed when she opened the book and saw the publication date, "It's a first edition."
"That's not all. Turn the next page," he said, "Rory? Rory, babe, I need you to breathe."
"It's signed. How?"
"I told you a lot of digging, but in the end I had to get help from Richard. He helped me track it down. You like it."
"Are you crazy? I love it. This is incredible, Jess. Thank you."
"So, last night," Jess said as they got into the car to head back to Stars Hollow after checking out of the inn, "That was, wow. Who knew you could be so aggressive."
"Was it okay?" Rory asked.
"Of course it was okay," he told her, taking her hand in his, kissing her palm and the band of her engagement ring, "It was more than okay. It was incredible. Please be that aggressive again."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, I loved it."
"Good. So did I."
When they arrived back in Connecticut, Lorelai was waiting anxiously to hear all about their trip. While Rory shared the details that wouldn't horrify her mother to hear, Jess took over watching Hunter. He loved holding him in his arms and seeing all the features of Luke and Lorelai in him. The idea of someday holding a baby whose face held reminders of him and Rory excited him. He couldn't wait to marry her and have children with her.
That night they had dinner with the Gilmore's where Emily had gathered a few 'save the date' ideas for Rory and Jess to look at and even an invitation idea she was sure they would love.
"The invitation is perfect Grandma. Where did you find it?" Rory asked as she handed the invitation designed to look like a book to Jess to look at.
"Oh, just this little shop in town. I didn't care much for most of the samples they had, but the owner said she could make almost anything I wanted. She asked me a bit about you and what I thought you may like," Emily said, "When I told her Jess was an author and you had a book collection that rivaled the Library of Congress she suggested this."
"It's great, Emily. I love it," Jess told her.
"Thank you. Now the cover I think should have both of your names in a simple text or she said she could match the text of a favorite book or something if you wanted," Emily said.
"I like that idea. Just our names on the front, sort of like Franny and Zooey," Jess said.
"And maybe we could use the text from the cover of your books," Rory suggested.
"Excellent and the inside can be written sort of like a table of contents detailing the where and when," Emily said, taking notes as they discussed what they wanted, "Now, what if you picked a quote for the inside cover to go next to the the details of the ceremony?"
"I like it, but what do we choose?" Rory wondered.
"Yeah, there are so many options. We'll think about that one and get back to you, Emily," Jess said.
"Alright, now the 'save the date' cards. There were a few I liked and they can be made in any color once you decide what those are," Emily said, laying a few samples out in front of them.
"Ice blue and navy," Rory said.
"Really?" Jess asked.
"Yeah. Are you okay with that? I saw an ice blue bridesmaid dress when I was trying on wedding dresses and I really liked the color and thought navy would go nicely with it," Rory said.
"Sure, it's fine. We both like blue and I can't picture what in the world ice blue looks like, but I know navy would look good," Jess said.
"Great, I was thinking ice blue for the main color. For the bridesmaid dresses and such since it will be late spring and accent with the navy. I really liked the dresses I saw that had a sash tied around the middle," Rory said.
"So, an ice blue dress with a navy sash around the middle," Lorelai said, "I like it."
"Awesome, I like this one Jess, what do you think?" Rory asked pointing one out to him, "With one of our LOVE sculpture pictures."
"I like it, but I wonder if it could be combined with something like this or just add the tree in somehow," Jess said, picking up a card that had large tree across the edge.
"Ooh, I like that idea. You proposed under a tree, it's perfect," Rory said.
"Alright, I'll send my notes to the shop and we'll get these ordered and when you pick out a quote we'll get the invitations printed as well. How many do you think you'll need?" Emily asked.
"About a hundred should do it," Jess said.
"We're not inviting too many people. Just people from the town, our parents, our friends in Philly, and a few other family members on my side," Rory said.
"Okay, I'm sure I have most of these from Lorelai and Luke's wedding, but if you would get me the address for your friends in Philadelphia and Jess, for your dad, I'll send it along and they'll address them and send them out for us," Emily said.
"Perfect," Rory said.
Sunday morning after breakfast at Luke's, Rory and Jess went back to Philly. When they came home a week ago they only stayed one night. Now, they wouldn't be going anywhere for more than just a weekend trip to Stars Hollow until they were married and went on their honeymoon. It was good to be home, though having been away from their normal day to day work life they weren't looking forward to getting back to that routine Monday morning.
AN: Okay, longest chapter yet. Wow! There is also a little mini deleted scene for this chapter. To read that check out Deleted Scenes From That Part Always Worked. Reviews are lovely and if you have quote ideas for the wedding invitation, I welcome suggestions.