Chapter 36 Aftermath
Dec 9, 2011 Later that evening.
As Colin drove back toward the townhouse, the wind was blowing, and the snowflakes were heavy, causing the visibility to be limited. Finn was relieved that he convinced Rory to drive the Escalade into work this morning.
Finn and Colin arrived at the townhouse five minutes before the girls. He walked through the garage and grabbed a few logs; he immediately went to the fireplace to build a fire. After the fire started, Finn removed his coat and put it on the hook that was by the door. Colin carried more logs into the house and put them in the box beside the fireplace. Finn walked over to the kitchen and pulled out two glasses and the bottle of McCallan that he kept there and poured them each a drink. When he heard the door open in the garage Finn walked over to Rory and wrapped her in his arms, holding her tightly to his chest. Rory placed her head on his chest, not saying a word. Steph walked in behind her and saw Colin standing by the fireplace with a drink in his hand. Finn had taken Rory's coat and hung it on the hook by the door. He was leading her to the couch, whispering, "Babe, are you okay?"
"Steph what happened?" Colin asked with concern in his eyes.
Steph watched Finn and Rory go over to the couch and bit her lip. She turned to Colin and took the drink from his hand. Before she spoke, she took a sip of his scotch.
"Finn, Colin, you won't believe it. I have known Mitchum Huntzberger all my life, and I have never seen him act the way he did. We were walking down the hall not far from Lucy's room talking about the wedding when we ran into Mitchum. He was standing in front of the nurse's station between us and the main door. He looked at us and then walked up to Rory and grabbed her by the arm. If Jess and Logan hadn't come down the hall when they did, I don't know what I would have done."
"Honey, did he hurt you?" Finn asked Rory very concerned.
"My arm is a little sore, but I'm okay. I was so angry when he grabbed me and started yelling at me that I told him off." Rory shook her head, remembering the encounter.
"Finn, Colin, what is wrong with that family? Why does Mitchum think I am the cause of Logan's problems? I don't understand it. I never did anything to Logan except fall in love with him when we were younger. Why am I the bad guy when Logan was the one who was unfaithful and cheated on me? I always ended up taking him back, then in the end; he was the one that broke up with me!"
Rory was not just angry; she was hurt and confused at the way Mitchum was treating her. She rested her head on Finn's shoulder as he rubbed her back. Rory sat up and looked over at Steph.
"Thanks, for helping me today Steph," she told her friend.
Steph came over and sat beside Rory and hugged her. "Anytime 'Girlfriend'. For many years I wanted to tell Mitchum what I thought of him, and today I finally was able to do that. It was also great listening to Logan shout at his father. Maybe he's finally growing a pair," Steph giggled.
"Ror, are you going to be okay, or do you want me to stay?" Steph was worried about her. Rory looked tired and this was not only upsetting to Rory but also to her.
"Thanks, Steph I'm fine now that I'm home with Finn," Rory told her giving her another hug. Rory and Finn stood up and walked Steph and Colin towards the door. Colin buttoned his coat and turned to Finn, "I am going to drop Steph off at her home, and then I plan to return to the rehab center with Robert. I am sure that we will find out what caused this outburst from Mitchum. I am also worried about him since in the past when Logan argues or fights with his father, he begins to drink heavily."
Looking at Rory, Finn said, "The good thing, mate, is that Logan for once is in a place where he can't drink. Drive carefully, and please call me when you get home. You are both welcome to stay here or at the hotel if you don't want to stay at Steph's parents' home. Tell Robert and Olivia that they are invited to stay here too. I don't think either of you should drive back to Manhattan in this weather."
Finn and Rory hugged both Steph and Colin. "Thanks for helping out tonight," Finn said to Colin
"That's what mates do," Colin said to Finn and patted his back. "I will call you when we leave the rehab center."
Colin placed his hand on the small of Steph's back as he guided her out the door to his car. As Steph was buckling her seatbelt, Colin said, "Steph, I will drop you off at your parents' home, and I will return to the rehab to meet Robert. Would you prefer to stay at your parents tonight or take up Finn's offer to stay at the hotel? "
"Why don't we decide that when you return," Steph told him.
"Okay, I will let Robert and Olivia know our plans, and maybe the four of us can go to the hotel and get rooms there." Colin started the car and headed toward Steph's parent's home that was only fourteen minutes away.
Rory walked into the kitchen and turned on the electric kettle after Colin and Steph left. She needed a cup of tea and something to eat. Finn walked into the kitchen and gently said, "Love let me look at your arm."
She pulled her left arm out of the sweater that she was wearing. Finn walked over and gently took her arm and looked at it. He could see the faint outline of fingerprints where Mitchum had grabbed her. It was a dark red and a bruise was starting to form. He took out his camera and took a picture of it.
"What are you doing?" she asked him.
"Taking a picture so I can show my father what he did to you," Finn said.
Finn was angry and knew Mitchum would deny that he grabbed her. Finn now had proof plus there were witnesses so he couldn't lie his way out of this.
Rory looked down and saw the angry red marks on her upper arm.
"I didn't realize he grabbed me so hard. No wonder it's sore," Rory told him.
Finn went to the freezer to get something to put on it. Rory stood beside him and began to move things around in the freezer looking for the frozen hamburgers and tater tots that she thought she had in there.
"Babe? Here, I have a bag of peas. Let's put this on your arm. "
"In a moment Finn, I know I have some tater tots in here," she mumbled to herself.
"Babe, Can I help? What are you looking for?"
"Something to eat, I need sustenance. Then maybe my stomach will stop doing flip flops."
"Go sit down and put this on your arm, and I will make us something."
She took the bag of peas from him and looked at it. "Finn, how did this get in my freezer? I don't remember buying them. It's a green vegetable, you know I don't eat anything green."
Finn chuckled, "I bought it, now put it on your arm."
Rory pouted and put it on her arm as she watched Finn look through her freezer.
He found some frozen tilapia that he bought last week and quickly turned on the oven. He also pulled out a box of frozen stuffed baked potatoes. He opened the cupboard and found the parchment paper and the baking sheet that he purchased earlier in the week.
"Where did that come from?" she asked him confused.
Finn wiggled his eyebrows at her and then pulled out a sheet of parchment paper and placed it on the baking sheet. "Magic," he whispered.
Rory started to giggle as Finn arranged the filets in a circle on the parchment paper. He added a splash of wine along with salt and pepper. He folded and crimped the edges. He opened the box of frozen stuffed baked potatoes and placed those on a plate. When the oven reached 400 degrees, he put the fish in the oven and set the timer. He put the two stuffed baked potatoes in the microwave.
Finn poured the boiling water into a teacup and made her a cup of tea. He then returned to the refrigerator pulling out the makings for a salad and some grapes and cheese. Placing the grapes and cheese on a platter with his favorite bikkies, Finn set them on the counter in front of her.
"There you go my love, some sustenance for my lovely fiancée and my unborn child."
Finn picked up his drink and emptied the glass in one swallow, then turned back to the counter and started to chop up the vegetables for the salad. Rory took her cup of tea and began to nibble on the crackers and admired the handsome strong man who was cooking in her kitchen. Her mother told her to find a man who could cook, and she had. Rory got off her stool and walked over to the counter where he was busy mixing the salad. Rory put her arms around his waist and laid her head on his back. She held him tight. Finn stopped what he was doing and turned around in her arms.
She rested her head on his chest. "Thank you for being you," she told him and lifted her head and kissed him.
"Rory, has Mitchum ever threatened or hurt you before?"
"No, never. Our interactions have always been cordial, and I haven't seen him or Shira in over four years. Finn I can't believe that Mitchum has so much control over Logan."
Finn held her in his arms and rested his chin on top of her head.
"I guess it's Logan's own fault. He always did what daddy told him. When he rebelled, he would take off and ditch work. He was always calling one of us suggesting we go on trips with him. My job allowed me the most freedom and it offered exotic places to stay, so I was stupid enough to invite him on some of my trips. I always included Colin and Robert. when they could, they would join us. However, the last trip I took with Logan almost cost me my life."
"What do you mean?"
He left the salad on the counter and checked their dinner. They still had ten minutes before it would be finished, so he led her to the sofa in front of the fireplace and placed her on his lap. She laid her head on his shoulder.
"Are you talking about drinking? You boys were always drinking at Yale, and Logan always drank when he got angry with his father." Rory said to him.
"Mmm it wasn't just alcohol Rory; it was also the drugs that I took with the alcohol to keep me going. Colin and Robert stopped joining us on our trips, so it was just Logan and me. "
Rory looked up at him in surprise, they never used drugs when they were in college. He put his forehead on hers and gently caressed the back of her neck.
"Babe, the last trip I took with Logan was not good."
"What do you mean?" she asked him. She put her arms around his neck and gently pulled her fingers through his hair.
"I went to California on business and Logan met me there. I never checked in with my Da after the meeting, so no one knew where we went. We began partying the minute my meeting ended, and it lasted for more than a week. Dad called Colin, and he told my Da not to worry, that he would find me. Colin began calling and became worried when no one had seen us, so he called Angus, and they came out to California. They found us at the club that Logan likes to frequent. When Colin and my brother found me, I was unconscious, and Logan was high still bedded with two women when they walked in. Angus was furious, he grabbed Logan by the shoulders, and with one punch he knocked him out cold. He threw clothes at the women and kicked them out. Colin tried to revive me but couldn't, so they called 911. We were in one of those elite clubs, so we thought the security was tight. I woke up in a hospital with IVs and monitors. I stayed there a week before Angus flew me back to Australia. I stayed in Australia for seven months, getting cleaned up. Luckily the drugs I took weren't addicting, mostly marijuana, but Logan was on some pretty bad stuff. We had taken some Viagra that the women brought with them which was what almost killed me. "
Rory sat up and looked at Finn, "Why did you do that, you don't need it."
He chuckled embarrassedly. "Yeah, I know. I was…"
The oven beeped, and they both got up and went into the kitchen. Rory took out the plates and handed them to Finn. He then put the food on each plate. She carried them to the table, and Finn followed her carrying in the salad. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. With her head on his shoulder, he rested his cheek on her head.
"I was lonely back then. I didn't realize how much until I had time alone in Australia. Luckily, I got clean and came back here. I hadn't heard much from Logan except for the occasional text; now I know his father forbade him from seeing me. I'm so glad I found you."
She looked up at him and put her hands on his face and kissed him tenderly. He smiled at her.
"Come on, Love let's eat. My future wife and child, need their sustenance, then we can cuddle by the fireplace."
Smiling at him, she squeezed his hand then sitting down at the table they began to eat their dinner. When their meal was over, they cleaned up and went and sat on the on the couch in front of the fireplace.
"When are we going to pick out our rings?" she asked him as she held his hand and traced her thumb over the palm of his hand.
"I already have yours, love, but we can go and pick out mine tomorrow."
She looked up at him. "You do? Can I see it?"
"No, it's a surprise," he whispered.
Rory pretended to pout and cross her arms. "Why not? How do you know I will like it?"
He wiggled his eyebrows at her and then began to tickle her. Soon the tickling turned into kisses. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and she lay back on the couch and he laid on top of her. He began to kiss her neck and shoulder when she said, "Oh before I forget, we are going to be on our honeymoon when my next appointment is scheduled."
Finn looked up at her and leaning on his elbows he asked, "Can you call the doctor tomorrow and see if you can move your appointment. Maybe you can go before we get married or after."
"I didn't think of that. I will call tomorrow and see if I can make the appointment for when we get back. We have so much to do before the wedding, and I am feeling better. "She pushed him off of her and said, "I will add that to my to do list for tomorrow."
She got up and went to her laptop and brought it back to the couch. She pulled up the folder that was labeled Things to do Before the Wedding.
Finn was sitting beside her and watched as Rory's fingers flew across the keyboard as she added: Call Doctor change appointment, then highlighted rings and call Finn before hitting the strike through key to cross those words out.
He began to read the list that she had typed.
Music. call Lane
check to see if Hep Alien is available for reception.
Flowers
Miss Celine
RSVPs number for Amanda
Favors
Gifts for attendance
Sookie – cake
"Love, "Is there anything on this list I can help you with?" he asked as he read it over.
"I don't think so, tomorrow I will call the doctor, and after work, I plan on calling Lane to make sure the music I chose is set for the wedding. I'm hoping that Hep Alien will be able to play at both the reception and the ceremony."
"Wait, Mum has already booked a live orchestra."
"Oh, I thought that Hep Alien could play some of our favorite songs, could we use both?" She looked at him with her beautiful blue eyes, and he couldn't say no to her.
"I'm sure we can, it is our wedding," he whispered and kissed her cheek. He then looked at the next word on the list.
"Can I help you with the flowers or maybe my mum could? She is good with those details."
"Yes, I that would be great. Your mom already knows what my dress looks like and the color scheme for the wedding."
"Okay, I will text her." Finn quickly picked up his phone and sent his mother a text message. Finn looked back at the list that she was checking and asked, "Who is Miss Celine?"
"That's the bridal shop. I have an appointment next Friday after school for my final fitting. Your mum, Steph, and my mom will be going to that along with Gigi. So, no you can't help me with that." She kissed him on the lips. They began to kiss again, and he removed the laptop from her lap and pushed her back down on the couch.
"Finn?"
Finn pulled her head close to his and mumbled, "Don't talk with your mouth full." He slipped his tongue into her mouth and caressed his tongue against hers. They kissed each other until they both broke away to catch their breath.
She kissed his neck and whispered, "I am so glad you bumped into me."
"I am so glad I did too. Come on; it's time for bed. You have a lot to do tomorrow, and I need to cuddle with you."
He held her hand and led her into the bedroom. They got ready for bed and laid down. He pulled her into his arms and put some music on. Laying there, he slowly stroked her hair. She lazily stroked his chest and sighed, "Finn, I have to tell you something. We made a promise to each other not to have any secrets."
"Yeah…" he replied wondering what brought this on.
"Do you remember that I told you that I went to see Logan when I was on the campaign trail in 2007?"
"Yes, I remember, and you said you saw him, but he didn't see you because he was with another woman."
"Yes, that's right. Well that day when I returned to my hotel room, I cried and threw the dress that I was wearing in the trash. I then ordered room service and locked myself in my room. I had no meetings, so I turned off my cell phone and wallowed, eating ice cream and burgers. I fell asleep. Sometime, in the middle of the night, I got up and had terrible pains. I went into the bathroom and doubled over. I was bleeding. At first, I thought it was my period, but it didn't stop, and I was soaking through the pads that I had. I passed out on the bathroom floor and my friend Jill, another reporter, found me when she came to ask me to go to breakfast the next morning. I didn't know it, but I was having a miscarriage."
As Rory was telling this to Finn she began to cry. He didn't say anything; he just held her and kissed the top of her head.
"Jill had gotten the key from the front desk and she found me lying in a pool of blood on the bathroom floor. She called for an ambulance and they got me there just in time. The doctors gave me a transfusion and a D&C. They told me that it was common with a young woman who had been on the birth control medicine that I was on for so long, to have a miscarriage if they became pregnant. Before I left the hospital, the doctor had me stop birth control medicine for three months before going on it again. I never told anyone about my miscarriage until your mum and I went for the walkabout the day I found out I was pregnant. Finn, I am so afraid I am going to lose our baby."
"Rory, love, no that is not going to happen. I am glad you shared this with my mom and me." He looked down at her and kissed her. "Your mom doesn't know?"
"No, and I don't want her or my grandmother to know. I don't want Logan to know either. I never knew that I was pregnant. I know it sounds strange but living on the bus and traveling for four weeks it never crossed my mind."
Finn looked down at her and lifted her lips to his. He kissed her gently and tenderly licked her lips. She opened her mouth and kissed him. Their tongues met and their kiss became passionate.
Rory felt safe in his arms and let his kisses heal her body. She gave herself to him without hesitation and let him take her pain away. When they broke apart, he gently caressed her arm and looked at the marks that Mitchum made.
"Kitten, I will not let anyone hurt you again."
After Jess left, Colin and Robert sat down in the chairs by Logan's bed.
"What's going on, Logan? Why did Mitchum refuse Finn and Rory from seeing you and why did he hurt Rory?" Robert asked.
"I don't know what triggered his behavior. When I returned from PT with Jess, we saw my father yelling at her and he grabbed Rory by the arm and told her that she was the reason I was in the hospital."
"You don't believe him, do you?" Colin asked.
"No…." Logan turned his head away from them and whispered, "…, Rory didn't directly cause it."
"Of course, Rory didn't cause it. Your stupid fiancée caused it," Robert told him. "I hope we never have to see her again."
"The engagement is off. I thought things between Rory, and I were going to be okay. She came in to see me the other day. We talked and she told me what her life was like on the campaign trail. She admitted to me that when she was in California on the campaign trail, she came to my office. Rory saw me with that blonde, Sherri, Charlene? I don't remember her name. She told me that she finished the commitment she had and returned to Stars Hollow. She went to New York City on New Year's Eve, of 2007, to the Omnia. She had no idea that it was Finn's club. It had just opened and had great reviews and her friend from high school told her about it. Remember, we were all there together, and I brought that other blonde. Rory told me she saw us and then she saw me. She realized that I had moved on and knew that she had to too." Logan looked away from Colin and Robert when he felt that tears were welling up in his eyes.
"I should never have let her go, we could have gotten engaged and not marry right away. She could have had a career, but no I had to listen to my father who told me that it would be a mistake to ask her to marry me. He told me that a woman like Rory would want a career first and marriage later. My dad reminded me that I was going to oversee HPG one day and I needed a wife who had connections to stand beside me at all the right events and be on all the right committee. I lost my chance, with the only woman that loved me and not my money. Rory told me that for the last four years, she read about my life in magazines and realized that she didn't belong in my world of red-carpet events, galas and flying around the world. I could have had her and been happy, and now she is marrying Finn. Doesn't she realize that even with him, she will still attend red carpet events, parties, I mean he is the most eligible bachelor."
"Not anymore, Logan. You are." Robert said.
"Yeah, right, a broken bachelor, who is going to want that?"
"Is this a pity party, Logan? We all know how that will end up and this time we aren't going to support it," Colin said giving him a dirty look.
"Logan, tell me why you can't be happy for Finn and Rory?" Robert asked him.
"Right…, you want me to be so F…'in happy for them. Tell me Colin, Robert what happened to the code?"
Colin looked at him and shook his head. "Logan our code was never broken. You were the one who broke up with Rory. You left her all alone at her graduation. You gave her that ultimatum then took off to Vegas and then California. What choice did she have? Was she supposed to sit home and cry waiting for you to call her up? She had to move on… I guess it took her four and half years, but she did and fell in love with someone. "
"Logan, Finn and Rory weren't seeking each other out, it happened naturally. Neither of them knew that they were in the same town. Rory had been working here for over a year and Finn just arrived back. Robert, Steph, Olivia, Lucy, and I had not heard from her in four years. We had no idea where she went. "
"Colin's right Logan. We are happy for the two of them and you should help us celebrate their happiness. They both deserve it. Finn is finally happy and soon you will be too," Robert told him and stood up and squeezed his shoulder.
"Robert, it's okay for you to say this. You both have found someone, but me? Who is going to want me when I can't even feel "it" anymore?"
"Logan, Seth told you it was temporary and that there was no nerve damage there. You were so lucky. This is going to take time," Robert told him.
Logan turned his head and pushed at the dish that was on his tray. Food service had dropped it off while he was in the hallway yelling at his father.
The nurse knocked and entered the room with a shot that Jess had ordered.
"Good evening. Mr. Huntzberger, Mr. Mariano told me he worked you pretty hard tonight so this will take the edge off any discomfort you have."
She looked at the tray and said, "I see that food service left you a tray. I suggest that you eat something and then you will sleep better tonight."
"Gentlemen will you excuse us for a moment." Colin and Robert got up out of the chair and walked to the other part of the room as the nurse pulled the curtain over. She helped Logan turn over on his side as she pulled his pants down and quickly gave him a shot in his hip. Pulling the curtain back she said, "Ring if you need to get up to use your bathroom. Don't try to do it alone tonight because this medication is strong." When the nurse left Robert stood up.
"I have to go and find Olivia; I had left her with Lucy. Why don't you eat something? I promise I will come back later in the week to see you. "
Robert walked over and put his hand on Logan's shoulder and squeezed it before he left the room.
"Aren't you leaving too?" Logan asked Colin. Colin sat back and folded his arms across his chest. He didn't budge from his chair.
"Nope, I am staying tonight with Steph here in Hartford, probably at the hotel. The weather isn't that great to drive back to the city so I can do work from here. Do you need any help?"
"No," he said as he lifted the cover off his food. It smelled good and was pleased to see the delicious looking piece of salmon, broccoli, green beans and quinoa on his plate. He also had applesauce and hot coffee. He raised his bed and began to eat his meal.
"Sorry to eat in front of you, but suddenly I am starving," he said as he began to eat his meal.
"No problem. Logan can I ask you something?"
Colin noticed the wedding invitation that was sitting on his bed tray. Logan looked up at him and frowned.
"Will you be going to the wedding? I know we always said that no matter where we were, we would all be there for each other's wedding. I know you can't walk but I can make arrangements for a car to pick you up and bring you."
"Colin, I don't know. I am still upset over the whole thing."
"Logan, it's Finn. You two have been best friends forever. You need to let this resentment go."
"What does Logan have to let go?" Honor asked as she and Josh walked into his room.
"Finn and Rory… I asked if he was going to go to the wedding," Colin responded.
"Are you thinking about going?" Honor asked him.
"I don't know. Why should I go? What am I going to do, sit there and be reminded that it should have been my wedding to her?" he responded feeling anger again.
"You should go to celebrate their happiness because they are your friends, your best friends," Colin responded.
"Colin is right Logan; Josh and I are attending. You can go with us?"
Logan pushed the food away and crossed his arms looking angry and glaring at Colin.
"Think about it, Logan." Colin said to him. "I better go before the roads get worse."
Colin walked over and put his hand on Logan's shoulder. "I'll stop by tomorrow evening. Goodbye Honor, Josh."
Honor hugged Colin goodbye and Josh clapped him on the back. Josh and Honor watched as Colin left. Honor and Josh walked over to the two chairs that the boys had vacated just moments ago and sat down beside Logan's bed. Logan picked at his meal and looked at them. Suddenly he found it hard to keep his eyes open. Honor looked at him and noticed that Logan's eyes seem to be heavy.
"Logan we aren't going to stay long, but Rory called me this afternoon. She was very upset. Apparently, she thinks that you and I believe she caused your accident. Why would she think that?"
"Dad."
"Dad? Did he say something to her?"
"Yes, he came by to see me this afternoon. What a nice "F…'n" surprise. Rory was here with Steph visiting with her friend Lucy Baldwin when dad saw her leaving. He stopped her in the hall and told her to stay away from me and it was her fault that I was in the hospital."
"Logan, did you tell her that wasn't true?" Honor asked him.
"No, I didn't get a chance to talk to her instead I started yelling at Dad."
"Logan, then it is important that you attend their wedding so that they both know that you don't blame them."
"I will think about it. "Logan closed his eyes then opened them again, "Honor can you come back tomorrow. I am very tired now." Logan closed his eyes; the pain medicine was beginning to work.
Honor got up and kissed her brother and she and Josh left. When they walked out of the Rehab facility the snow was coming down harder.
Logan fell asleep and saw Rory's sad angry blue eyes. His dream brought him back to a time when those eyes would twinkle and sparkle for him. He saw himself at Yale kneeling in front of everyone and asking her to marry him. He saw those beautiful blue eyes… they went from happy, to surprise to frighten all at the same time. What was she afraid of? Suddenly a fog was around him and he was standing on a cliff near the home he had bought for them in Palo Alto. He was walking toward the avocado tree. Rory was sitting under the tree reading a book to someone. Suddenly he heard his father's voice.
"Logan, I need you in London. You need to leave California but don't bring her. She's not good enough for the Huntzberger family. She should stay out here with all the other free spirits."
Logan was tossing and turning in his sleep and began to talk out loud.
"No, I love her I can't leave her. Someone else will take her if I leave her."
Down the hall, Lucy couldn't sleep. Not long after Robert and Olivia had left, she asked the evening nurse to help her sit in the wheelchair. It was around ten when she became bored and went wheeling herself down the hall. She heard someone cry out. Lucy pushed the door open to Logan's room and wheeled herself over to his bed.
"Logan, Logan. It's just a dream. You will be ok." Lucy reached over to his bed and gently touched him.
Logan woke up when he felt a hand touch his shoulder. "Rory?"
Slowly in the dim light his eyes adjusted, and he saw a face. It wasn't Rory's face, but it was one that he recognized.
"Oh, sorry Lucy," he mumbled. He put his hands on his face and wiped it.
"Don't be, the pain medication can give you some pretty vivid dreams. I try not to take them. Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, no I."
"It's ok, I hope you weren't falling… that's my dream. I am falling off the mountain just tumbling down, and my legs are sticking out of a large snowball. I am moving fast, and I look like one of those cartoon characters that you see on television
He smiled and they both chuckled.
Lucy put her hand on his and said, "If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. I am not going anywhere," she said and looked down at her leg that was propped up in the wheelchair.
"Thanks, I wouldn't mind some company for a while."
"Ok, I can stay"
Lucy and Logan talked for about an hour. They talked about what they had been doing since they graduated from Yale. Lucy avoided the topic of Rory and Finn and so did Logan. Around midnight the night nurse came in.
She smiled at them and said, "Dr. Seth warned me about you, Mr. Huntzberger. He told me that the two of you attended Yale and are party animals."
Lucy and Logan both began to laugh. "Lucy, I think it's time to go back to your own room and get some sleep. You start therapy tomorrow and I can guarantee you will need all your rest and strength," the nurse told her.
Lucy squeezed Logan's hand. "Goodnight Logan. Maybe we can do this again." The nurse began to back Lucy out of the room.
Logan smiled and said, "Yes, let's." As they were leaving Logan yelled out, "Hey, Lucy, don't dream about snowballs…. dream about flowers instead."
"Thanks Logan, I will." Lucy smiled at him as the nurse wheeled her out of the room and he smiled back. This time when Logan closed his eyes, he didn't see eyes of blue, but soft brown eyes instead.
40. Jess and Ashlyn First date
Jess got into his car and drove his Jeep Cherokee to his apartment in on Trumbull St. He pulled into his parking spot and took the elevator to his apartment on the second floor. It had been an interesting day, an interesting week. Rory was getting married, to a Morgan. Logan her ex was his patient and another friend of hers Lucy Baldwin was also his patient. How their life kept becoming intertwined.
Rory was the girl that got away. He never thought he was good enough for her, and yet she inspired him to make something of himself. He hung his coat up and threw his keys on the table in the kitchenette. He dug his phone out of his pocket and plugged it in to charge. He never bothered with a landline when he moved here. He figured his cell phone would be enough and one less bills he needed to worry about. A package had arrived, his manuscript for his latest book. This story was about a young boy who became a doctor and was working in the city of New York, he didn't come from money and worked hard graduating from Irvine school of Medicine in California. His specialty was in Trauma. He opened the packet and saw the note. The publishing group HPG was interested in it and would like a meeting in January or February to talk to him. Unfortunately, they could not meet with him sooner because the head of this department was away and would not be back until then. Jess started to laugh. So, Logan was away, and he knew where he was. He had already published the book with the publishing company he was part owner of but decided with his partners encouragement to branch out. He decided to try HPG in England first, see if they would be interested in a book. This was before he had Logan as a patient. He completely forgot that HPG was owned by the Huntzberger family until Mitchum came in today. Why he had a bee in his bonnet about Rory he didn't understand.
Jess looked at the phone and opened to A where he typed in Ashlyn's number. He was attracted to her. In fact, she was the first girl in a long time since Rebecca that he was attracted to. Maybe he would give her a call.
The phone rang once and Ashlyn answered it, she was pulling out some cookies from the kitchen at the Morgan Manor restaurant. She enjoyed making the cookies and scones for the smaller cafe/ restaurant.
"G'day" she answered her cell without looking at the Id.
"Well G'day to you. This is Jess, the Physical Therapist friend of Rory's"
Smiling she said, "Hi, there Jess the Physical Therapist friend of Rory's. It's nice to hear from you."
Suddenly Jess felt shy, she had a sweet voice and hearing her voice he could imagine her smiling.
"So, what can I help you with on this snowy night?" she asked him when he didn't say anything right away.
"I just wondered if maybe you wanted to go out sometime, have dinner, catch a movie?"
Leaning against the counter she smiled, "I would like that. Do you like hot chocolate chip cookies?"
"Yes, I do, why do you have some?"
"Indeed, I do, I just took some out of the oven. Would you like to come over for some?"
"Umm well, Umm sure. Where do you live?"
Ashlyn laughed. ", I live on campus at the Culinary school, but I happen to be home staying with my parents until after the wedding. Why don't you come over to the Manor House Hotel?"
"Great, I don't live far from there. I am on Trumbill, I can be there in about thirty minutes."
He whistled as he went into the shower and changed. He put on his burgundy Henley sweater, jeans and boots. He pulled out his navy wool pea coat, dried his hair and pulled on a hat adding a scarf and gloves. When he got to his car, he had to warm it up and brush off the half inch of snow that had already accumulated.
Pulling out into the traffic he drove to the hotel.
He found a parking spot out front and walked in. He was just about to head to the lobby to ask for her when he saw her walking towards him from the restaurant/bar area. Smiling she came up to him and gave him a hug.
"I hope you don't think I am being too forward, but since Rory is going to be my sister and you are a friend of hers, I felt that I could give you a hug."
Smiling he said, "No that's fine. I might need another one before I leave."
Smiling at him she said, "Take off your coat. It's a terrible night tonight. What would you like to drink? We have the typical Irish Coffee, a Tom and Jerry, a hot Buttered Rum, a Heated Affair, "and when she said that she wiggled her eyebrows at him.
"How about a regular coffee for now, but I might be interested in a Heated Affair later," he said raising his eyebrows at her. As he said that she started laughing and went to get him a cup of coffee.
She brought out two cups of coffee and a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies.
He took a cookie and bit into it. Warm ooey gooey chocolate came dripping out. He licked his lip and smiled. "Did you make these?'
"Yes, do you like them?"
"Yes, they are great, you would give Sookie at the Dragonfly competition."
"I heard about Sookie. I can't wait to meet her. In fact, I will be doing my culinary internship with her after the first of the year."
"Well then I guess I now have a better reason to go to Stars Hollow."
Giving her his crooked grin, he said, "To sample more of your cookies."
Just as he said this, Liam Morgan Sr. walked to their table. "Who wants to sample my daughters' cookies?" he asked.
Standing up Jess extended his hand and said, "Oh, excuse me sir, I am Jess Mariano. A friend of Rory's"
"Any friend of my future daughter in law is a friend of ours. However, you do need my approval to sample my daughter's cookies," he added and wiggled his eyebrows.
Jess started laughing and sat back down and told him, "By the way, these are the best chocolate chip cookies I have had since I left Stars Hollow."
"How did you meet my daughter?" Liam asked joining them at the table.
Ashlyn started to laugh. It was a good thing it was her father and not Finn or Angus who heard this conversation. Angus would have gone ballistic and Finn would be laughing his head off, having a grand old-time teasing Jess.
"Da, Rory introduced us earlier this week. Jess is a Physical Therapist at the Rehab where Logan is staying. We met when I stopped by with Rory."
"Physical Therapist, that is a great job. Have you been doing it long?"
"I have been working with Seth now for a few years and I am working on my doctor's degree to be a doctor in Acupuncture also."
"Dad he is also an author, he wrote the series that you like to read the Subsect."
"So, you're that, Jess Mariano. I thought your name sounded familiar. "It's nice to meet you Jess, I hope I see you at the wedding."
Turning to his daughter he smiled and said, "I am going up to the apartment now. If Finn and Rory come back tell them to call me. Goodnight Kitten."
He then leaned down and kissed his daughter's forehead and with that Liam walked away. Jess looked at her father. He was tall and muscular like Finn with the same reddish-brown hair, though his had a hint of gray. For a man his age he was in good shape.
"Well, nothing like impressing a girl's father by telling her he wants to sample her cookies," he said a little embarrassed.
"Ha, ha, he has heard worse from my brothers, you do know Finn."
"Actually, no I don't, just that he and Rory are going to get married."
"Oh, I figured that you did. He has known Rory a long time. They met when she went to Yale."
"Well the only friend at Yale I met before was Logan,"
"Oh, so you know Logan."
"No, actually I am getting to Logan better now. We never hit it off when we first met."
"Because of Rory?"
"You could say that."
"Did you two date?"
"Kind of, some when we were in high school, but she went to Chilton, I started school in New York City. I moved to Stars Hollow when I was sophomore. Then I sort of quit school…"
"You quit school you are a successful author and now you are a physical therapist. That's a success story."
"Yes, it is, but enough about me, tell me about you."
Ashlyn and Jess sat there and talked until midnight. He decided he had to leave before he would have to abandon his vehicle there in the parking lot. She got her coat and walked outside to the parking lot where he had his car. He started the car with the electric start. She took his hand in hers and said, "I don't think I can ever get used to the winters here."
Holding her hand, he looked at her as the snowflakes fell on her cheeks. "I was told once that snow is magical." He gently brushed the snowflake off her cheek and then with his thumb he gently traced her lips.
"How is it magical?" she asked him to long to kiss his lips and feel his moustache.
He put his arms around her and pulled her gently against him. She put her arms around his neck and smiled up into his face.
"Because when it snows it is cold outside and we need heat to keep us warm." Gazing into each other's eyes they brought their lips to each other and kissed.
They no longer felt the cold or the snow, she felt the warmth of his lips. He tasted like, coffee and chocolate, reminding him of a girl of his childhood. The kiss continued and she gently opened her lips to let his tongue slip in. When the kiss ended, they looked at each other.
"Now I understand the magic in snow," he said to her.
"Me too," she said. He kissed her again, then looked at his car. "I think I better go home before we both turn into snow people." They both laughed.
"Can I call you tomorrow?" Jess asked her gazing into her eyes.
"Yes, I would like that." She replied smiling at him.
He gave her another long kiss and then got into his car. She waved goodbye as he left the parking lot. She slowly walked into the lobby and went upstairs to the apartment of her parents. Her mother and father were both sitting on the couch watching an old movie.
"Did you have a nice evening?" her mother asked her. Liam and told Amanda about their daughter. Her concern was whether he was a nice man "Yes, Good night." Ashlyn went into her room and turned on the shower. She wanted to warm up a little and think about that kiss from Jess. She had never felt like this before, she felt warm and tingly inside.
