Mothers' Day
April 2017
Stars Hollow, CT, and New York, NY
Once Logan was done talking with Rory he immediately headed to the Dragonfly where he made his way towards the dining room and found Lorelai and Emily having tea. They looked surprised as he walked to their table. " Good afternoon Lorelai, Emily I'm sorry to interrupt."
"That's alright Logan. We're just a bit surprised to see you here." Emily replied.
"Well, I heard about the incident with my parents and I wanted to personally tell you that I have dealt with them and they will not be bothering you again."
Emily and Lorelai looked at each other and then back at Logan, "Well, thank you, Logan." Emily responded, " I hope you were not too hard on them. You do understand what they did was out of concern."
"Yes, I do, but that is no excuse for trying to involve you in any of their fiendish plans."
"Well, parents will what they need to do. You will be experiencing that very soon" Emily responded looking at him and then to Lorelai. "Well, if you will excuse me, I think I'll rest up a bit before dinner. See you at six Lorelai?"
"Yes, mother," Lorelai responded.
Logan helped Emily out of her chair and they said their "good-byes", leaving Logan alone with Lorelai.
"Care you join me for some tea?" Lorelai asked Logan.
Logan knew this was more of an order than a request. He and Lorelai had not talked since he asked for her blessing to ask Rory to marry him ten years ago. The tension between them was evident, and it was time to clear the air.
"Sure Lorelai"
As he sat down, a waitress came around with a new teacup, a fresh pot of tea, and a plate of sandwiches.
"Try the sandwiches. They may look frilly and unappetizing, but they are really good." Logan ate a sandwich. Lorelai was right, they were good.
"So" Lorelai started.
"Soooo," Logan responded.
"It's been a while. How's life been treating you?"
"Oh, you know, work, broken engagements, unplanned pregnancies, you know life."
Lorelai gave Logan a sarcastic smile.
"I can't imagine you are too happy with me at the moment," Logan said, not wanting to prolong the torture.
"Yes, well of all the situations I pictured my daughter to be in, this is probably at the bottom of my wish list."
"And how much of this situation are you contributing to my influence?"
"50/50. I know my daughter is no saint. To be honest with you, I too feel guilt in this situation. I had no idea that she was in such a precarious state. Hell, I didn't even know about you until last summer. She was not as forthcoming about her life as she once was."
"Well, she was dealing with a lot of self-doubt with the job and everything else."
"Yes, she was. As she has said time and time again, she was not living her life deliberately. Now," Lorelai paused and then continued with some emphasis, "she is and I see her getting her life back on track."
Logan, sensing her tone, replied, "and you are afraid that I will derail her progress."
"Well, if we are being honest here, you were part of her initial derailment. I am not blaming you per se Logan, it's not like you deliberately set out to sabotage her, but you cannot deny that your relationship was not her best decision."
"How do you know that? How do you know that this was actually one of the best things that ever happened to her? I mean on paper your situation was not ideal at all, but can you say that having Rory was a mistake?"
"No, my situation was not ideal, and in no way having Rory was a mistake. I know that people put themselves in precarious positions. It's not about what happens to you, but what you make of it. What you learn from it and move on in a more positive way. I learned many things about life and about myself by becoming a mother at 16. Rory is going to learn a lot about life and herself in becoming a mother at 33. What I don't want is for her to be stuck in that destructive circle of which you were a key player. I don't want Rory to be dragged down by dead weight."
"So you think I am dead weight?"
"Are you? Your relationship was not the healthiest in the world. It's obvious that you want her back, that you want to be a family, but what does that look like Logan? Do you go on the way you have the past years because the way I see it if you continue on in the manner that you have, your relationship is doomed."
"Look, I know that the way we carried on was not the best reflection of us. If I could go back and change things I would, but I can't so now I have to move forward and try to be better."
"And what does that entail?"
"Supporting her during the pregnancy, being a good father, letting her do what she needs to do personally, being honest with her about how I feel and communicating that to her."
"So you weren't honest with her before."
"I am assuming you know how we reconnected and subsequently got back together."
"I know the highlights, but not the gory details."
"Then you know about the whole "Vegas" agreement."
"Yes, which you willingly entered into."
"Willingly yes, albeit reluctantly."
"Really."
"After we...got together, I was ready to break it off with Odette. I knew that day that Rory was the one for me. But then she brought up "Vegas". It broke my heart Lorelai. I thought she did not love me the way I loved her. Yes, I should have walked away, but I couldn't. Yes, the affair was partly because of my guilt over obligations to Odette and my family, but most of it was my hope, my hope that Rory would tell me that she loved me and wanted to give our relationship a try. Had she done that at any point in the past two years, Odette would have been gone."
"I see."
"I told myself that being with her was a way to get her out of my system once and for all. But, to be honest, I was scared Lorelai, scared of losing her. I could not give her up. So I took what I could get and I played along. Come on Lorelai, have you ever been so scared of losing something or someone that you played along hoping that things would change?"
Lorelai considered Logan's word. She thought about the months she spent biting her tongue and agonizing over Luke when he first found out about April all those years ago. Her not being honest about her feelings led to her and Luke breaking up and her eventual failed marriage to Christopher. Seeing Logan's situation in this light, Lorelai felt sympathy for him.
"Looking back it was stupid, but in a way, it's also what has gotten me to life as it is today, and to be truthful, I can't say that I am totally unhappy about it." Logan continued, "Rory and I have a chance to be together, and this time I am doing everything I can to make it work.
"Ok then," Lorelai replied, "I now understand. To be honest, I can't say that I can harbor any hatred towards you. You have been rock solid through this whole situation; there are men would have bolted. I am just wondering Logan what happens if things don't work out, what happens that is after all of this, Rory decides that she doesn't want to be with you? Will you be able to handle that?"
"I think at this point that is not the question. Rory and I are inextricably linked no matter what. If our relationship plays out that way, then I guess I will have to deal, because there is no way I will let anything come between me and my child. However, until that happens, I am going to do everything in my power to make us a family. I don't care if I have to wait a year or a hundred year. Until Rory tell me definitively "no" then I'm going to keep fighting."
"Well, alright then," Lorelai said with a slight smile.
"Alright then." Logan grinned back. Lorelai took a sip of her tea,
"Why do I feel the need to order pie with vanilla ice cream?'
The following Tuesday evening Logan found himself in his office waiting for his mother. The day after their confrontation at the basketball game, Shira called a meeting to "clear the air". At first, Logan balked at the idea, but he decided that a conversation was needed just to set the boundaries for him and Rory once and for all.
Shira arrived at his office at 5 pm sharp. Logan invited her in, greeting her with a kiss on the cheek and offering her a drink. She sat on the sofa, while he took a seat in the chair opposite her. "So were you able to smooth things over with the Gilmores?" Shira opened.
"Yes, all is good. I don't' think they will be inviting you to dinner anytime soon, but it's all good." "It was not my intention to insult them. I just wanted us to be on the same page. I did it..." "...You did it for me. Yes, you said that mom." "You don't' believe me do you."
"I think that you have your own idea of what is good and not good for me. Really mom, if you were so concerned, why didn't you just ask me?"
"Logan, be honest, would you have told me anything of substance? I have tried to talk to you but you always put me off, so secretive. I ask your sister and she is the same way, 'don't' worry about it mom, it's handled' what the hell does that mean?"
"Ok, fine. Let's get it out in the open. Ask me anything." "Why did you and Odette break up?" "I told you it just wasn't right." "And this is how both of you felt, or you just trying to save Odette from embarrassment?" "What are you talking about? Odette was seeing someone else and set to leave me."
"But you were seeing Rory. Do you think that had anything to do with Odette straying?" "What do you mean?"
"Perhaps she sensed that you were not 100% committed which opened her up so seeking someone else? Alienation of affection is not so far-fetched."
Logan took a moment to contemplate this thought.
"No mom, in the end, it just wasn't right. If it were, Rory would not have even been a thought."
"Then why? Why did you have an affair with Rory?"
"It's complicated."
"Well then uncomplicated it for me."
"Why? Why is it so important for you to know the details?"
"Because I need to understand how you ended up in this situation in the first place."
"Again, why do you need to know?"
"Because I'm your mother Logan! Because your life was going well and now it seems it's careening towards a cliff, and I am worried sick."
"Mom, the reason why Odette and I did not work is for the reason we stated, it just wasn't right. To be truthful, while Odette and I got along great and yes, I did love her, there was always something missing in our relationship, but I always found ways to explain away that feeling. It wasn't until Rory and I reconnected that I realized what it was; I just wasn't over her. Seeing Rory while I was engaged to Odette? Yes, put that on the top of the list of all the less than stellar decisions I have made in life. However, Odette is now with who and where she truly belongs and I am happy for her. I am not sorry for where I am in life. There were a myriad of reasons why I did what I did and yes, in hindsight, they were all flimsy reasons, but as I have said time and time again, in the end, everything worked out for the best. So accept it and move on."
"The fact remains, Logan, you are still want to be with Rory. It's wonderful that you want to be a father, but I am not confident that being with her is the best decision for you."
"Why the hell not? Is it because she doesn't have enough money? Is it because of he parents? This is 2017 mom, there have been far worse scandals that Rory."
"She's a lovely girl Logan, but she was not raised in our world. You are on the track to be the Chair of Huntzberger Media. Do you know what that entails? That's a lot of time at work, your personal life and family will need to take a back seat to that responsibility. Odette grew up in that world she understood it. Rory did not. Rory did not grow up with a father, so I suspect that this time around she would want someone who is around. For all you know, your two could get married and then divorce in ten years because you are not around enough. I want you in a stable relationship with someone who will understand you and the life you are living. I don't see Rory being that person."
"Wait, this past Saturday it was all about us needing to get married, now you say she is not a good match? If you feel that way then why that ridiculous meeting with the Gilmores?"
"I was giving Rory one last chance. I was hoping that including Francine in the discussion could persuade Emily to get Rory to...adjust her expectations. I was hoping that between the three of us we could groom Rory into the role. Obviously, I was wrong."
Logan looked at Shira in utter disbelief.
"Mom, what the hell? Who do you think you are? Who do you think we are? How do you know that Rory would not be able to adjust to me, my job, this life? You NEVER took the time to get to know her. Say that Rory and I did not end up together, the fact that she and I are parenting together still puts her in the same position as far as raising our child so your arguments against her are pretty thin."
Shira sat sipping her drink looking uncomfortable while Logan got up to continue his rant. "And what makes you think that Odette would have put up with that as well? "
"Well Logan, she grew up in that world. Her father took the same approach when it came to growing his business..."
"...and she hated it! Need I remind you that Odette's parents had one of the nastiest divorces in history? You think Odette wanted any part of that life? You're wrong."
"How can you say that? She was planning a big elaborate wedding, with so many important people on the guest list..."
"...No mom, YOU and Jeanne-Marie were planning a big elaborate wedding. We just went along with it..."
Logan stopped mid-sentence, realizing what he'd said. "I'm sorry, what did you mean by that?" Shira asked bringing Logan back to the present.
"Odette and I were never into that wedding. That was all you and Jeanne-Marie. We just went along with it because...it was easier than having to deal with your nagging. In the end, we let your expectations run the show."
Logan became quiet. Over the past few years, ever since his decision to come back to the family business, he had prided himself on how independent he had become. Only now did he realize how much his family still influenced him and how old patterns when it came to dealing with his family were still being followed. He felt like Michael Corleone being sucked back in.
"Well, that's not happening anymore. Odette and I are done." He finished.
"Fine Logan, you and Odette are not going to reconcile. I will accept that. I still don't think that you are Rory are the best match."
"That's funny mom because you weren't exactly born and raised in the world of country club set."
"Yes, but I understood what was it takes to be in this family. I learned, I adapted, and look at us now?"
Logan took a moment to digest what his mother said. Yes, individually his parents were at the top of their game but, in his opinion, the rest of their lives were a mess. While they were fine with it, Logan knew it wasn't the life he wanted to lead.
"You really believe that Rory will get in the way of my success?"
"Yes, you need a woman who will help you..."
"What if your idea of success is not mine?"
"What do you mean?"
"What if we don't agree on what "successful" means?"
"I don't understand! You seem all for it before. You've been working so hard all these years."
"Well, circumstances have changed. Rory and the baby changed things."
"How? By lowering your standards?"
"No, if not anything they have raised the stakes. Mom, I decided what is important to me and at this point being number one? Being Master and Commander of it all at the expense of my family? You and dad may have found that acceptable, but I don't."
"You sound as though your father and I did this for selfish reasons. We worked hard to give your sister and you the best life possible. You can do and be anything you want thanks to us."
"Well, then what I want is just to be...ordinary. I want to be the guy who goes to work, does his job well, and then comes home to my family. Whether or not that involves Rory is still up in the air, but I will for damn sure be there for my kid."
"What about your job? You are being groomed to be the chair."
"How did you and dad get it in your head that I have to be the chair of Huntzberger Media?"
"It's what your Grandpa Eli wanted."
"No, Grandpa always wanted the company to be headed by a Huntzberger. Dad, the ass that he is, makes an excellent Chair; he knows this business, he enjoys it. I, on the other hand, do not feel the same."
"Well if not you, then who?"
"Darby seems to be more of the heir apparent that I am."
"Logan," Shira responded somewhat sarcastically, "Really?"
"Yes, really. Why not? She single-handedly saved the licensing deal with Univision last year. She can recite domestic and international media policy in her sleep. She is the mother of all dragons when it comes to negotiation. More importantly, she loves the business."
"She is also your cousin."
"Mom, we are not the Royal Family, we are a media company. There is no bloodline heir apparent. In fact, operating that way is business suicide. What ever hang-ups you and dad have over letting another Huntzberger take over the is your issue."
"So really? You are willing to just stay where you are professionally and not move ahead?"
"What I am saying mom is that my focus now is on my family. They come first. If in the future the dynamics of my family allows me to be board chair, then it will happen. If not, then I can live with that. But being the ruler of it all at any cost? Not all that important."
"Ok Logan, I am hoping that you won't live to regret this."
"Mother, I would rather regret not being board chair then regret not knowing my family."
