She Ain't My Blood, But She's My Girl
Chapter VIII
Rory and Logan were able to pick Mia up from school. On the way home, they explained that her real daddy and her other grandmother will come to visit us Saturday. Rory explained that he would call her tonight to get to know her. Rory pulled up a picture of Tristan holding Mia when she was a tiny baby. She showed it to Mia. "That's my real dad?" Mia asked. Rory nodded. "But I have a dad that lives with me." She patted Logan on the shoulder. "This is my real dad." She proclaimed. "Your friend Sandy lives with her mom and her step-dad. She goes to visit her dad and her step-mom. It is kinda like that." Rory said. Mia's eyes got wide. "Sandy goes to her dad's house, but her dad is at work and she don't like her step-mom. Am I going to visit my dad and step-mom? I don't want to. I like it here with Dad and Mom. I good here." She said and picked up her coloring book and started coloring. This conversation was over as far as Mia was concerned. Rory and Logan just looked at each other.
True to his work, Tristan called and talked with Mia for a few minutes Wednesday. Nancy also talked with her. They didn't talk long because Mia is five years old and her attention span is short. Several times during their conversation, Mia referred to staying at her house with Momma and Daddy Logan.
Thursday they called Rory's phone to facetime. She was still at work, but Logan was home with Mia. Rory gave them Logan's Ipad number to facetime Mia. She then called Logan to let him know not to leave the room. Mia told Tristan, "momma showed me a picture of you holding me when I was a baby. I not remember it, but Daddy Logan said I was too little to remember." Tristan told her that he is coming to visit her Saturday. He asked if it was okay with her. "Me and Momma live with Daddy Logan now. We used to live in a 'partment, now Grampa and Aunti Gigi stay there sometimes. We married Daddy Logan. Did you know that?" He gave me a ring, but momma said I had to put it up till I was big." "Wow, I bet that was exciting," Tristan said. "Unhua, I stayed with Nana and Grandpop whiles Momma and Daddy Logan went on a airoplane. I brokeded my arm, then momma and Daddy Logan comed home. I stay with Grampa and Auntie Gigi, then I comed home." She looked off toward Logan who was sitting in the chair in their room. "I gotta go pee. Bye." and she hit the red button. Logan laughed as she jumped up and went to the en suite in the master bathroom. When came out of the bathroom, Logan reminded her to wash her hands. She had to go to her bathroom to do that.
They had another facetime session Friday, Rory was home for this one. Saturday morning, Rory and Logan were on the patio, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper, when Mia and Kimmy came downstairs. They had already informed Kimmy of the party tonight. Even though the party is for Mia to get to know Tristan and her grandparents, Rory wants Kimmy to attend to help keep an eye on Mia and to remove her from the party if things got heated.
Rory talked with Lorelai and Chris. They were coming along with Luke and Gigi. Logan called Mitchum. He and Shira are coming. Honor said Josh was out of town, but she and Trac would be there.
Rory heard Kimmy and Mia come downstairs a few minutes ago, but she had not seen them. She found them in the kitchen at the breakfast nook, eating breakfast. "Hey, sweet pea. You didn't want to eat on the patio with me and Daddy Logan?" Mis smiled at her mom. "I did," Mia said. "Okay, when didn't you?" Rory asked. "Kimmy put my plate here," Mia said. It was just that simple. Rory looked at Kimmy. "Ms. Rory, I am used to feeding the children away from the adults," Kimmy said. Rory smiled. "We will inform you ahead of time if Mia is to eat separately from us. You can always check with Claire." Rory said and sat down with Mia and Kimmy. "I am sorry, I did not know," Kimmy said. "Not a problem. You will find that we do things a little differently." Rory told her.
Logan came into the kitchen with Rory's phone. "Ace, your phone was ringing. I answered it. It is Harper." Logan said, handing her the phone. "Harper...Are you sure?...U will be there in less than an hour." She ended the call and turned to Logan. "I'm sorry, so much for a quiet Saturday morning. I need to change and head to work." Rory said. She was biting her lip. "Not a problem. You will be back for the party?" Logan asked. She nodded. "Can you call Frank? I can get a head start on this in the car." Logan nodded and grabbed his phone. "Mia, mommy is going to work for a little while. You have fun with Kimmy. Take a nap after lunch so that you will be in a good mood tonight for the party." She kissed Mia and went to change clothes.
When Rory returned home, she was running late. She was just getting out of the shower when she heard Gigi talking to Mia. She stuck her head out of the bedroom and called for Gigi. Gigi and Mia entered the bedroom while Rory was in the bathroom, putting on make-up. "Hey, I'm running late. Just wanted to see what Kimmy dressed you in." Rory said to Mia. Mia stepped into Rory's line of sight to turn around and walk up and down the room like she was on a runway. Rory looked at Gigi. "Gotta stop letting her watch Project Runway." Gigi laughed.
Mia had on a black pair of Easisim Toddler Bell Bottom Jeans Baby Girl Ruffle Ripped Jeans with Flare Bottom. The top is a Burgundy Baby Girl Outfits Ruffle Sleeve Linen Shirt. Her shoes are Keds Baby Girl's Kickstart with Burgundy Unicorn ankle socks. "I like the outfit," Rory said. "Gigi helped Kimmy pick it out," Mia said. Rory smiled at Gigi, "Thanks," Rory said. Gigi rolled her eyes as only a 15-year-old could do, "We will talk later." She told Rory.
Rory walked into the closet to get dressed. She is wearing a black pair of Light Wash Destroyed Detail Boyfriend Jeans with a pair of purple J. Crew leggings underneath. Neatly tucked in is an Off White Cobble Hill Turtleneck. She topped that off with a pair of White No Tie Keds. "Well," Rory stepped out of the closet, "What do you think?" Rory asked. "Momma I like it. We match." Mia said. "Yes, we do," Rory said. "I guess now is as good a time as any to tell you that Grandmother is here," Gigi said. Rory's smile left her face. "She showed up at the house this morning to spend a couple of days with us. She does that from time to time. I was going to ask if I could spend the night here, so she will have somewhere to sleep at your old apartment." Gigi asked. "Yes, that is no problem. Do you think I need to change?" Rory asked. Gigi said, "No, this is your house."
The three of them went downstairs and were met by Logan on his way up to check on her. "Oh, wow, look at my girls," Logan said. "Daddy Logan, we matched." "I see." When Mia got to the last step, she jumped into Logan's arms. He kissed her on the forehead and told her. "Grampa is in the den with Great-Grandmother," Logan told her when he put her down. He took Rory's hand and she stepped off the stairs. "Gigi, you look good too."
They were walking to the den to get a drink and visit with Chris and Francine When they heard the doorbell. Logan and Rory turned to see who it was, as the maid opened the door. It was Luke, April, and Lorelai. The maid took their coats. Luke spoke up when he saw Rory and Logan. "I hope you don't mind, but we were visiting April and she wanted to come. I didn't think it would be a problem." Luke said. "Not at all," Logan said and Rory nodded. Lorelai nudged April on the shoulder. "I told you so." They laughed.
"April, Rory tells me that you are interning with Johns Hopkins this summer," Logan said. "Yeah, Paris helped me get an internship," April said. "That's great," Logan said. "But I promise you that Paris would not have recommended you if she didn't believe in you," Logan said.
They were in the den when the doorbell rang again. Rory and Logan got up to meet their guest. The maid was just opening the door when Rory and Logan turned the corner. "Mom, Dad, Glad you could come." Logan Shook Mitchum's hand and kissed his mom on the cheek. "Everyone is in the den if you want to go on back. Help yourself to a drink. Dad, you know where the bar is." Logan said. He was looking past his guest to the driveway. He saw Tristan getting out of the car. "Trac, man, look at you. You have gotten taller since the last time I saw you. What three weeks ago." Logan said. Ruffling his head. "Go set us up a game of 8 ball. I will be there shortly to show you who's boss." Logan told Trac. "Dad, will you send Mia down please," Logan asked.
Rory and Logan were greeting the Dugrays when Mia came down the stairs. "Pops said you was looking to me," Mia said walking up to Logan. He picked her up. "Mia," Logan said as Rory walked up beside him. "This is Tristan, your dad. Do you remember talking to him on the phone?" Logan asked. Mia buried her head in Logan's shoulder, nodding it. "Don't you want to say Hi?" Rory asked. "Hi, Mia, you are so pretty. You look just like your moma" Tristan said. "Thank you," Mia said. She was watching him from behind her hands.
"Mia," Nancy said, stepping beside Tristan. My name is Nancy Dugray, but you can call me Nana." she said. "You have my name," Mia said. "I got a nana and a Grandpop. I got a Pops and Meme too. And a Grampa. Why we have the same name? We not married." Mia said. Tristan laughed. "Do you know that I have the same name as you?" Tristan asked her. She shook her head. "This is my mom, just like Rory is your mom. This makes her your grandmother." Tristan said. Mia was watching them, taking it all in. Logan went to put her down, but she wouldn't let him.
"Follow us to the den," Logan said. We will get you a drink." Rory pulled Tristan back. "Give her time. She will warm up to you. Where is Anita?" Rory asked. Tristan rolled his eyes. "I didn't think it was a good idea to bring her. She is in Hartford with her mother." Tristan said. Rory smiled as they followed the echoing footsteps of Logan and Nancy.