It won't be like this for long: Chapter 20

Chapter 20

When they arrived at Mitchum's, Josh and Honor were already there. Mia was not happy and she didn't mind showing it. Hayden, Josh, and Mitchum talked about golf while McKenzie and Honor talked about anything and everything. Honor enjoyed spending time with her nieces. Rory and Logan were sitting on the patio, just enjoying the fresh air. Logan was keeping an eye on the grill.

Rory heard Honor call for Mia to join them. Mia just shook her head and turned back to the book she was reading. After a few minutes, McKenzie hollowed over to her parents to ask if she could go with Aunt Honor to New York next weekend shopping.

"We will see," Rory told her.

"You and Mia can come with us. We will have a girl's day. Shop, spa, lunch. It will be fun." Honor said.

"I will have to look at my schedule to see if I can go, but Mia won't be able to go," Rory said. Mia sat up and cut her eye toward her mom. Honor observed the two girls, then looked at Logan. He had a look on his face that Honor could only describe as hurt. Honor knew not to get involved in a fight between parents and teenagers. She would ask Logan later what that was about.

"Maybe we should wait until Mia will be able to go with us." She told MaKenzie. Honor looked at Mia. Mia had turned back to reading her book. She made a note to talk with her about it too. Then she would have both stories.

"No, I want to go this weekend," McKenzie said. Before anyone could say anything Hayden and Trac came bursting onto the patio almost knocking over some of the planets and the drink cart.

"Hey, slow down guys. What's your hurry?" Logan asked. Josh came out behind them carrying a basketball.

"Come on dad. Play ball with us." Hayden said. "Uncle Josh, throw it to me," Hayden yelled as he stepped off the patio, running toward the basketball court in the backyard. Trac's long legs won out. He ran past Hayden yelling for his dad to pass it to him.

"Come on Uncle Logan. Me and my dad against you and Hayden." Trac yelled. Logan gets up and follows them to the basketball court.

"I thought Trac couldn't come," McKenzie asked.

"He wasn't supposed to. He has a big test on Wednesday. He is taking his LSEC practice tomorrow. He needs to be studying." Honor said. "Dad? Do you know anything about this?" she asked.

Mitchum shrugged his shoulders.

Despite the fact it was 50 degrees outside, the boys came into the dining room all sweaty. Rory and Honor made them go take a shower and change before dinner. When they returned, Rory and Honor were just plating the food to put on the table.

There was chaos at the table. It was funny how this happens. When Shira was alive no one dared to act up at the table. But things are a little more relaxed now. Mia still wasn't saying much. She was eating her steak while McKenzie was having soup.

"Grandpops, can we go to Great Neck while the girls are in New York. There is a golf course I want to try. Trac you can come with us. The five of us can plan." Hayden said. 'Grandpops, you can not be talking business. I need you to help with my swing. I am joining the golf team at school next year." Hayden told the group.

"That's new to me Hayden. I can help you with your golf swing." Logan told him.

"No, I would rather Grandpops teach me. He doesn't yell." Hayden said. He was looking from Logan to Mitchum, waiting for one of them to say yes or shoot his idea down.

"Hay, let's see. Maybe we can all go to New York. The girls can shop and we can golf. Let me see what everyone's schedule looks like." Logan said. Hayden was smiling as he ate his supper.

When dessert was served, Trac left to go back to New Haven and the twins and Mia went to watch TV while the adults talked for a while. Mia was reminded that she could watch whatever the twins picked out. Not to argue with them.

"What did she do?" Honor asked. Logan let out a big sigh.

"She had been pushing the edge of the envelope lately. I talked with her this week about it and she told me she understood." Logan said.

"Pushing the envelope?" Honor asked. "Baby brother you lived on the edge of the envelope hanging on by one finger."

"This is not about me. We came home several times last week to Ryan being at our house without permission. She called Dad to come to stay with the twins while she and Ryan went to the mall. She worked at HPG last week as her punishment." Logan said. Mitchum busted out laughing. A deep hardy laugh. Logan just looked at him.

Today we come home from Stars Hollow and find Mia gone. She was not confined to the house, but she was supposed to call before she went out. She didn't" Logan said.

"So you grounded her?" Honor asked.

"Well, it started out as one week without a cell phone and iPad, but she smarted off and one week became two. Still not satisfied, so he took her car keys" Rory said. Honor just sat there with her mouth open. Mitchum was laughing so hard it was echoing through the house. Josh was trying not to laugh.

"I am glad you find my troubles so funny. It was heartbreaking to have to take that from her." Logan said.

"Yeah, because now he had to take and pick them up from school," Rory said, she was giggling then.

"So your punishing her is causing you to punish yourself?" Josh asked. Logan turned his head to look at his brother-in-law. The man that he admired and respected for putting up with his sister.

"I used to like you, Josh," Logan said and turned his head back.

After all the laughing died down, Logan and Rory were about to say their goodbyes when Mitchum stopped them. He stood up and walked toward the family room. He stood and watched the kids, then returned to the dining room. This time sitting so he could see the entrance.

"I was in Washington DC this first of this week. I ran into Tristin." Mitchum stopped there watching his son and daughter-in-law. Rory opened her mouth to say something but Mitchum continued.

"He asked about Mia. I told him she was fine. He wanted to know if I had a picture of her. I told him I did, but I was not comfortable showing it to him. He just nodded. He asked if she was happy. I told him I thought she was. He just nodded his head and entered the building that I had just exited."

No one said anything for a few minutes. Then Josh spoke up.

"I don't think it means anything. Do you all? Josh asked. No one said anything for a few minutes. Everyone was processing the information.

"Let me know if you have any more encounters please…..Ace, You ready to go?" She nodded.

"I have to be in New York at 9:00 in the morning," Rory said.

They rounded up the kids and after a round of goodbyes, they loaded up the car and headed home.