Jess made up for the not-so-romantic gesture by telling her his thought process behind his proposal and all the ways he'd thought about doing it. He did this while he actually drew that bath for the two of them, the medium sized bathtub just barely fitting them. But still, despite the small inconveniences, it was cosy - the smoothness of the foam, the warmth, bareness of their skin against each other and a few candles on the edge of the vanity for the mood.
Afterwards they just climbed into bed, not wanting to break their connection. Jess was a little sleepy, perhaps the drop in nervousness getting to him, Celeste felt too excited to fall asleep straight away, her mind reaching the need to think through the practicalities of this, that no doubt needed to be discussed.
"Jess, are you up?" she inquired, after a few minutes of quietness in the dark room.
"Yeah," he replied, his eyes already shut, but his arm wrapped firmly around her.
"So you'd actually want to do this rather quickly or...?" Celeste inquired, having been a little hesitant to ask, so he wouldn't get the wrong idea.
Jess forced his eyes to open, realizing she really needed to get the talk off her chest now.
"I see no reason to wait, do you?" Jess asked, propping himself up to his elbow to look at her, just the moonlight illuminating her face a little.
"I mean, sure I'd prefer to be less round for this and actually feel like going on a proper honeymoon with you, but it's not something I NEED," she replied. "And I would really like to have your name…. and get everything sorted before Evie comes," she added thoughtfully.
"I'd like that too," Jess replied, kissing the top of her shoulder.
They'd talked about the practicalities a while ago, when Jess had decided he was willing to have a baby with her - that they'd think about things rationally, sort out all 'what-if'-s if they ever did this. But now, much further into their relationship, Celeste really didn't want to bring those things up again. She knew that getting a prenup would've probably been the smart thing to do, but she really didn't want to think about these things anymore. She could hardly envision her life without him. There were no red flags, they even hardly ever fought.
"And don't worry, we'll have a lawyer make the agreement," Jess said, recalling also their previous discussions.
"I don't know if I want to," she replied hastily. "I just don't want to think of…," Celeste replied, not even being able to say it out loud.
"I'm not going to force you of course, but it'd probably be the wise thing to do, like we talked," Jess suggested. He was the minor party in this, most of his money put into the very house they lived in. He had no intention of tricking her out of her money no matter what, but he could imagine having the agreement making things easier for Evie if it ever came to it. But he did understood her, he hate thinking about 'that' too.
"Yeah, I know, but..." she pondered.
"Think about it - all of it - how you want to do this - make it big or just us two, or something in between," Jess suggested, hoping he could try to get some sleep now.
"You know what?" she added a few moments later, making him jolt out of his pre-sleep state again.
"What?" he replied, smirking friendlily. He wasn't annoyed, just slightly amused.
"I just want to do it, you know. For once do something that just feels right, not planned, calculated to very detail. I just want to go with my heart, my gut. And my gut says that I really do believe this is the end game - you and me. And if for some reason that isn't the case, god… I can't even think about it," Celeste began, looking up to not let her emotions get the better of her again. "I trust," she added - she believed that he would never do this for money, nor would she believe he was the kind of guy to fight him in court for something like that. Evie was what mattered, the rest was just decor.
He kissed her shoulder again. "Okay," he said.
"So I'll just go and get a dress next week or something, and then let's just go get the licence and do it. Just the two of us. Unless you want your family there, that is," she suggested.
"Have you seen my mom? She and T.J. did a bloody Renaissance wedding. There's no way she's going to let me keep this small and simple. Luke's never been much for weddings. And I am definitely not going to start begging for Jimmy to come. Sure, Doula would love it, but we're not just going to do a wedding for her, are we? Even Rory and Logan did it with just the two of them. So once you're sure and ready, just tell me when," Jess said.
"I am sure," Celeste assured, squeezing his hand, "but I'll tell you when," she added.
They agreed they weren't going to make a big announcement at Thanksgiving, mostly to not have to answer all wedding-realted questions and not to get Doula excited of a wedding that she wasn't going to get to see. But as Celeste wore the ring on the chain, under the clothes, it did feel special - it was a piece of information only the two of them knew. Their little secret. Just like it had been first with the pregnancy.
"Is there any hope you'd help me carry this turkey over to the kitchen? Please..." Celeste begged the delivery man, making her puppy dog eyes. While she could probably carry the turkey if weight was concerned, the size of the thing was highly inconvenient to be carried on her hip. The guy delivered regularly to them and she always tipped, hence he smiled friendly and with a swift movement carried the turkey into their fridge where she'd already made room for it.
"Thank you so much," she replied, tipping him generously through the app she was using.
"No problem," he replied as he stepped out.
After closing the door behind him, Celeste continued to carry the groceries little by little to the kitchen, keeping everything she carried well under 25 pounds. Once finished, she panted a little, and kicked her feet up onto the leather couch and sighed. This was proving to be physically a lot more challenging that she'd expected, and she still had the downstairs bedroom to decorate before tomorrow. She didn't want to call Jess for help, as if admitting that she was exhausted was somehow a show of her weakness or admitting that Jess had been right. He had been ofcourse.
"It's official - I feel like I need a clone of myself to get everything done in the next 3 weeks or so," Celeste sighed as she heard Rory pick up her phone. She had the dress shopping to do, handle another event at Trunchedon, go to her prenatal classes and yoga, hopefully get to swimming and a doctor's appointment early december just for starters. Plenty to keep herself occupied.
"Oh you just wait, you'll breathe easier but you might lose your ability to think straight from the lack of sleep," Rory noted with a touch or irony, hearing her breathing heavily.
"Good to know I have so much to look forward to," she continued the sarcasm. They used each other to vent every couple of days - a guilt free zone of complaning of sorts.
"What do you need done for tomorrow?" Rory asked, wondering if she could help somehow.
"Fix up Lorelai's and Luke's room downstairs, furniture is there but everything else is still packed. Prep for the cooking, clean a little," she listed a few things. She wasn't going to mention she also planned on unpacking a great deal of the nursery as well so Rory would have the comfort of using those items to care for Finny when she came over.
"Well if you don't feel up to doing the downstairs I could just have them come here for the night, or you could just wing it - my mom really isn't that high maintenance," Rory suggested.
"Thanks for the offer, I'll keep that as the last resort. But your mom runs an inn, I'm sure she has at least some expectations when it comes, it was me inviting her over not her asking to crash. I'm not going to have her hang curtains or make her own bed," she argued.
"Desperate times, Este, desperate times," Rory reminded her.
"Are you doing alright there? How's school and Finny?" Celeste asked.
"Classes are fine, I have a few weeks before finals. And Finny is heavy and hungry, hence getting heavier with every passing day. But at least he's been sleeping a little better," Rory described.
"That's good," Celeste sighed.
"So what time do you think we should be there tomorrow?" Rory asked.
"Jess is taking Doula to see the parade in the morning, so the turkey should be ready around 4 PM I think, so not too early. But feel free to come when it is convenient. I won't let you starve," Celeste explained.
"That should be fine," Rory replied. "Anything you'll need us to bring?" she asked.
"Just yourselves," Celeste added. "Listen, I actually wanted to ask you another thing. You think you could maybe find a way to come dress shopping with me? I have a wardrobe full of stuff but nothing that fits. I got an appointment for next Thursday at 1 PM, do you think you could make it?" Celeste asked. She'd made an appointment at a large bridal shop, needing now to get in fact not just the dress for the gala but also a wedding dress. And while she'd thought about keeping it all to herself, she just couldn't, feeling too excited. She figured she would tell Rory when they looked at the dresses. Jess had told her how he'd asked Logan for her ring size, hence she considered it only fair if Rory knew too.
"I think I can, but just for a couple of hours, Logan has a meeting that afternoon. I might need a dress too actually," Rory replied, realizing that her old dresses might not fit anymore, some of that babyweight still showing, and she hardly had anything HPG-gala worthy just hanging around.
"Okay, it's a date, and I'll see you tomorrow. I'll just go try to tackle some of those sheets downstairs now," Celeste said.
"Just remember - losing a battle to bed sheets is not half bad if there's a bed around," Rory laughed, trying to lift her mood.
Thankfully Jess had anticipated her exhaustedness, coming home a little earlier that day, bringing home some work for the weekend instead. He helped her prep all the food that could be prepped - dicing everything that could handle the wait, making dressings and stuffing in advance and even making the pumpkin pie ahead. Jess also helped her with the curtains downstairs and dismantled and disposed of all the packaging left from the bouncer, changing table and the activity blanket and everything from downstairs. The room looked pretty good as a result - Celeste having quite an eye for interiors. There was a king size continental bed, decorated in white and dark grey, numerous different textured throw pillows on top, naturally, simple one-drawer bedside tables placed on either sides, each supporting a bamboo weaved lamp. In the corner stood a modern rotang armchair with a woolen throw blanket and a large vase with pampa grass to liven up the place a little. The main purpose of that downstairs apartment for now was to house their guests and store their stroller in the foyer, it being far more convenient to just roll a few steps down than carry it up the stairs to the main floor. But with not really wanting a stranger living there, they really hadn't come up with a better solution.
"Hey honey, let me look at you," Liz greeted as she appeared on their doorstep a little earlier than Celeste had anticipated.
Jess had taken Doula to Manhattan to see the parade, her never having seen it before but Celeste had expected Liz and TJ to join them. But here she was - alone.
"Hey, I wasn't expecting you this soon, come on in," Celeste said, a little apologetically, her hair still a mess, briefly checking over her chest whether her engagement ring was not in plain sight. It wouldn't have not been a huge loss if it wasn't, but today she just didn't feel like all that commotion and questions. She was nervous about everything going smoothly as it was.
"I dropped T.J at the sports bar just a few blocks from here, so he'd get the TV watching out of his system," Liz explained.
"Oh, of course," she replied.
"My god, you look radiant you know," Liz exclaimed, hugging Celeste closely. "And you've got a cure new haircut too," she added.
"Thank you," she said, humbly. She'd gotten a little more used to the hair by now, no longer hating it as much. But still, she was fairly certain she wasn't going to dye it again.
"Can I?" Liz asked, gesturing towards her belly.
"Oh, sure," Celeste replied. "She's been kicking a lot today," she added.
"Oh, I think that was her. Hi sweety, it's grandma," Liz spoke to her bump. While normally she would've considered it a little too personal, or even overbearing, right now it actually felt good that Evie had someone that cared like that - a grandma, a real family.
"Anyways, I'm here to help out. You tell me what to do and I'll do it," Liz suggested. Jess had suggested she'd come and help out, but she really didn't mind either way.
"Oh, thank you. Well I guess we could start by getting the turkey ready for the oven," she suggested, making some room on the kitchen counter where she'd just been making the salads, which could wait a little.
"So are you guys getting really excited about the baby?" Liz inquired some time later as they were stuffing the turkey.
"We really are," she replied, smilingly.
"It's such an exciting time, god, I wish the time when I was expecting Jess was half as nice as this or like when I had Doula. It makes all the difference, having a good man by your side and knowing where you stand," Liz recalled.
Celeste smiled friendlily. It wasn't like she had a lot of comparison, but she certainly could agree that Jess was being amazing in all of this.
"You know, if you ever need my help, I'm just a phone call away, right? I could come babysit for you guys, help you clean or whatever," she suggested in a light tone.
"That's very kind, I'll be sure to keep that in mind," Celeste replied, wondering whether Luke had talked to her.
"You must miss your own mom too, I bet," Liz noted after a while, "I know you don't like to talk about it, and I won't pry, but I sure missed my mom when I was pregnant, there's just something special about that time, you know, being able to share this with your mom," Liz continued to talk, getting a little too close to her comfort. Celeste didn't like to talk about it, nor to really think about it, hence she replied with the only thing she knew. "But that's why it's good that I have you," Celeste said.
"Aw, you're so sweet," she hugged her again, keeping her food covered fingers clear of her.
It wasn't much later than Jess and Doula arrived, Doula carrying a bouquet of balloons.
"Hey!" Jess greeted loudly from the foyer.
"In the kitchen," Liz called, Celeste having gone up to change out of her cooking clothes, now wearing a dark red wrap dress.
"Hey," Celeste greeted Jess with kisses as she reached downstairs. "And hey you, is it just me or have you gotten even taller?" Celeste asked Doula.
"Wow, your belly is so big," Doula noted, unapologetically.
Celeste chuckled, knowing that she really didn't mean anything bad by it.
"And getting bigger," she noted happily. This was indeed beginning to feel like a family gathering. "How did you like the parade?" she asked her.
"It was really cool, so many people! And I loved the Olaf balloon," she noted.
"That's great," Celeste sighed, rubbing Jess' arm in passing. He really was great with her.
"Come on, Doula, you want to help me prepare the cheese plate?" Celeste said as she led her to the kitchen.
"Yeah," Doula replied.
Celeste told Doula about all the different cheeses she'd bought, the French in her coming out again - cheese being never just cheese, a lot of it coming as news to Liz as well.
It was perhaps an hour later when Luke and Lorelai arrived, April deciding to got to her mom's this year.
"Wow, everything smells so good," Lorelai exclaimed, as she stepped into the food-filled kitchen. "Yeah, I'm sorry, the place is a mess. We'll clear everything up once we set the table," Celeste added apologetically, wiping her hands onto a towel. "Jess, could you?" she suggested.
Jess compiled without objections, placing all the cold dishes onto the dinner table, that they had extended for this purpose. Jess had never even really known that they had a dinner table that could be made almost twice as long having left most of the shopping for Celeste to do. And she'd really done it - the living room and dining room were set for entertaining, a mixture of formal and informal, just at the right balance that was comfortable for them both.
They'd made lentil salad with kale, red onions and walnuts and another slaw-type salad with dressing on the side, those now placed prominently on the table.
"Wow, this actually looks like the kind of food that isn't out there to end in a heart attack," Luke noted playfully, observing Lorelai.
"I'm sure that's just the matter of quantities," Lorelai chuckled.
"Don't worry, there's plenty, and we have cheese and pie for later," Celeste explained as she placed bacon spinach dip with roasted bruschetta onto the table.
"Looks delicious," Lorelai noted genuinely, a lot of this reminding her of Sookies cooking actually. This was not her usual go-to Thanksgiving meal, but she did appreciate the gesture. But more than anything she just wanted Rory to get there.
She didn't have to wait long, when Liz answered the door to letting Rory and Logan in, Finny sleeping peacefully in his carseat.
They positioned the carseat in the living room, Rory unwrapping his car seat blanket and unzipping his wool onesie. Lorelai was already glued to the floor, sitting next to him, gently swinging the carseat.
"He looks adorable, Rory," Lorelai awed. She'd only seen him a couple of times since birth, missing both Rory and Finny dearly.
"He's gotten so heavy so fast," Rory mentioned to Lorelai, seeing her need to engage.
"So did you, you know. How's your back holding up?" Lorelai asked.
"Barely," Rory replied.
"You know, you should maybe try Kinesio taping," Celeste suggested. "Some women in my yoga class have had their bellies taped up like large smiley faces, I might have to do that soon too. But they said it can also help with back issues, even after giving birth," she added, as she landed onto the couch next to them, being kicked out of the kitchen by Jess as she'd clearly already looked a little tired.
"Oh and Lorelai, I made up the room downstairs for you guys, you can take your bags down if you want, or later… no rush," Celeste added.
"Thanks, maybe later," Lorelai replied, continuing to adore little Finny. She seemed a little less on the edge when she was near Rory and her grandson, Celeste glancing at Rory to see how she was doing.
"Doula!" Celeste called towards the kitchen, "Here, come feel the baby, she's kicking again," she invited her, having heard her speaking before how she'd never felt a baby before. Doula bounced towards her, taking a seat next to her on the couch. "Oh, now she stopped," Celeste said apologetically, adding, "let's just wait a little, maybe she'll start again."
"You feel that?" Celeste asked her, a minute later, holding her hand in place.
"Yeah, wow, she feels strong. Does it hurt?" Doula asked curiously.
"Not on this side, but sometimes when she has her back to the front she might kick me towards the inside or upwards, then it can hurt a little," Celeste explained.
The girls continued to talk babies in the living room, while Luke and Jess finished cooking in the kitchen, Logan getting everyone drinks. T.J joined them soon enough as well, settling at the kitchen counter hopign to talk about the game. Unfortunately neither Luke, Jess or Logan had much to comment on the matter, none of them having seen it.
"Jess, I meant to ask you something actually," Luke began, as Logan joined the women and T.J went to get settled in in the guest room.
"Ask away," Jess suggested.
"April actually wanted me to aske you if maybe there would be a way she might be able to stay with you guys for a while. She's taking up an internship in Manhattan from January. And I know, she should've called herself, but you know what she is like - she didn't dare to impose. She'd be willing to pay rent," Luke explained.
"I don't have a problem with it, but I've got to talk to Este," Jess said, not wanting to promise anything without talking to her first. But to him it kind of seemed perfect actually - they could use part of it as storage and still have someone living there whom they trusted.
"Sure, talk it over," Luke agreed.
"Alright, dinner is ready," Jess said as he lifted the sweet potatoes out of the oven, placing a spoonful of cilantro pesto on each piece. The turkey was already out, resting.
As people gathered at the table with their glasses, Jess chimed his glass with his fork, wanting to say a few words.
"I just wanted to say thank you for everybody who would join us today, and of course to my lovely Celeste for thinking of this, she'd been truly amazing," he began, getting very close to announcing a lot more, but held his tongue as they'd agreed. "I am so grateful to have you guys here, to have you and Evie," Jess finished his toast.
"You've got a name?" Liz asked, surprisedly.
"Oh right, sorry. Yeah, Evie it is," Jess said apologetically, having forgotten for a second that people didn't know the name yet.
"It's a lovely name, Jess," Lorelai noted.
"It really is," Liz noted, excitedly.
"And I am thankful for this meal that we are about to have…," TJ added, his stomach already grumbling causing a burst of laughter on his expence.
The evening went almost as planned. Everyone enjoyed their meal and continued to talk, Celeste excusing herself to head off to bed, once Rory and Logan left and her own yawning got too disturbing. But nobody minded - the food had been great and somehow this home as the meeting place between the families was indeed the perfect place to merge. Not too posh, not too much Stars Hollow.
