The consequences of Mitchum seeing the ring weren't major to begin with to Rory's surprise. It was about a week later, when Logan received an angry call from Shira pretty much summed up by her assumption that she was last to know. Little did she know they were just about to tell everybody else only that night.
"Thank you everybody for coming, time has flown by with school, work and Leah," Rory began, searching first Logan, then Lorelai for some courage, before landing her look on Finn. "There's actually another reason, not a reason per se, but an announcement that we wanted to make today," she said the final words somehow detained in her throat, while taking Logan's hand, .
"...we're engaged," Logan finished her sentence, seeing the fear for Finn's reaction on her face.
"Congratulations!" was cheered with a few accompanied whistles from Paris and Lane, as the crowd began to bustle and line up for champaign the caterers were just pouring out.
After hugs from Lorelai and Luke, Rory's eyes finally met Finns, who had beamed a weak smile.
"Congrats, you guys," he said, clinking his glass to theirs, adding "I'm happy for you two," sincerely. While he wasn't happy for how things had turned out, it was still one of his best friends and the mother of his child. He loved them enough to wish them well, after all it was going to be her daughter's second family, which he wanted to be stable and happy.
After several other 'Congratulations' her sharp voice broke through with something different.
"Oh, please tell me the wedding is going to be on the same date as Doyle's," Paris inquired anxiously. "I desperately need an excuse to avoid it," she added.
"Paris, I'm sorry, but I think it'll have to wait until summer. There is no way I'm going to get off school and work before then, to fully enjoy it," Rory explained.
"Have you forgotten who your boss is? I am sure something can be arranged," she replied, glaring at Logan.
"I don't think she is really listening to me with those things. What Rory decides, she will get," Logan said.
"Congratulations nevertheless," she said, sounding a tad disappointed, before hugging them both.
"Best wishes," Gwen said, clinking her glass to theirs.
"Oh, Logan, you guys haven met yet. Logan, this is Gwen Griffith , Gwen this is…," she began.
"Logan Huntzberger," he finished, shaking her hand.
It was clear from Gwen's face that the name sounded familiar to her, and left her slightly stunned.
"That certainly is a very beautiful ring," she added, trying to hide her reaction as politely as possible.
"Thank you," Rory said, with a smile.
As Logan and Rory were left alone briefly, finally able to take a sip of the wonderful Bollinger they'd served, he asked, "You trust her?"
Rory was disturbed by that question. This was not usually the first thing she'd thought about when speaking to her new friend. "I haven't known her long," she replied plainly, simply not knowing what else to add.
Logan didn't reply, hoping that her gut feeling had been right. He'd seen it many times that once people learned his last name, their attitude and agenda often changed. He sincerely hoped this was not the case.
"Come on, Ace, let's go eat something," he finally said. It had been just a glimpse of thought, and he had no intention of letting that ruin their night, he almost regretted saying anything.
"This must be a little weird for you," Paris commented, holding out her glass to Finn who was pouring himself a scotch in Rory's kitchen.
"Not much weirder than usual," Finn said, jokingly, pouring her a drink.
"Doyle, my ex-husband, is getting married in December. And frankly I couldn't care less to whom if it wasn't for the fact my kids spend most of their summer over there," she explained.
"I guess, I have to take it as my advantage that I know Logan probably almost as well as I know Rory," he replied, taking a sip. "Do you guys live close by?" he asked.
"That's just the thing, he's in L.A., I won't meet his fiance before I'm taking my kids over for the wedding," she commented, taking a large gulp.
"That's rough," Finn stated.
"Anyone significant in your dating scene?" she began and adjusting her wording, added, "It is none of my business really, just trying to be social here. I'm not spying for Rory if that's what you're thinking," Paris added, feeling self conscious.
"Significant, no," he replied, adding, "It every time I mention my dear one-year-old, my date's eyes glaze over."
"Can imagine," she noted.
"So what is the appropriate age to mention to my date? I'd imagine a 13-year-old would be worse," he wondered, grabbing a salmon puff from the caterer's tray.
"It would," she replied, taking a sip."You need to date women who already have children," she said, adding "because they, well I suppose 'we', are the ones experiencing the same issue with most childless men."
"That's a good point," he replied. His usual pickup places included bars, coffee-shops and places he visited while working like other offices or conferences, recently rather the latter than the former, which meant the women who usually caught his eye were unintentionally all in their twenties and falling into the typical standard of beauty who worked at some lower management positions. They often had no higher aspirations than to get married and start a family of their own, and he didn't quite fall into their plan once he spoke about the most important woman in his life.
"I hope you didn't mind me saying the wedding is going to be in the summer," Rory asked. They hadn't really discussed it and she'd just picked a time from the top of her head as the only time she knew she'd have some time off.
"Rats, I had hoped it'd be this weekend," he said jokingly, feeling a little drunk.
"Logan..," Rory said, glancing a sideways look towards him.
"Don't worry about it. Our family's weddings are always planned for the better part of the year in advance," he said, still half-joking. He'd never imagine their wedding to be a big spectacle like it had with Odette, but he knew that her mother who already was upset at him for not telling her the minute he popped the question would at the very least expect a three figure guest list.
"I guess there really is no chance we'd be able to keep it small," she began, adding "...or elope?"
"Not unless you want Shira as your mortal enemy," he said.
"What a tempting thought," Rory laughed. While she did not care much of her, she knew too that she'd at least have to try to get along with her.
"How about we go to bed now, future Mrs. Huntzberger," he suggested, pulling her close suggestively.
"We still need to talk about 'that'," she noted, still unsure if she could truly live with a name that heavy, "but fine," she added before kissing him.