Lorelai Leigh Gilmore-Hayden Chapter 9
Francine arrived at the Cafe before Rory. She took a booth in the back. She ordered two coffees, one for her and the other for Rory. She had a feeling she should have brought a flask. Rory saw her Gran-Mère before Francine saw her. She stopped and watched her through the window. She looked tired. This worried Rory. Gran-Mère always had her back. She could be tough sometimes, but Gran-Mère stood up for Rory when no one else would.
The bell over the door rang and Francine looked up. She smiled at her granddaughter. She had helped raise her. She helped make her the young lady she is today and she could not be prouder. When she delivered Christopher she had complications. They were told that he would be their only child. When she was younger, she longed for a daughter to dress up and have tea parties with.
When Lorelai got pregnant, after all the anger, disappointment, and a few name-callings were done, she realized that she would get to have a granddaughter to dress up, and have tea parties with. She just didn't realize at the time she would be helping to raise this child. She wouldn't trade that experience for anything in this world. Straub, Richard, and Emily were furious at Christopher and Lorelai when they showed little responsibility for Rory. When it was decided that Rory would stay in Hartford, Francine knew that Rory living with her and Staub was the best thing. She didn't have to convince Staub and of course, he convinced Emily and Richard.
Francine was brought out of her head when Rory leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Rory then took a seat across from her.
"Gran-Mère, is everything okay?" Rory asked. "You look frail. This is not something I am used to seeing. Please tell me you are okay."
"I am fine Dear. No need for you to worry about me." Francine told her. "I ordered you a coffee. Is that okay?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Rory told her and picked up the coffee to take a sip. Just like she likes it. Her Gran-Mère knows her so well.
"Shall we order?" Francine asked. Rory nodded and motioned for the waitress to bring menus.
While they waited for their lunch, Francine told her that she had talked with all involved and they have rescheduled Friday night dinner until next Friday. Rory thanked her and told her about the article she was writing.
The food was served and they started to eat. Rory noticed that Gran-Mère was picking at her food.
"Gran-Mère, are you going to tell me what is wrong?" Rory asked. The bell rang above the door and Francine looked toward it and smiled. This caused Rory to turn around and see Logan walking in the door. She smiled at him, then turned back to Gran-Mère.
"What is going on?" She asked. Logan kissed Francine on the cheek and sat down beside Rory. Rory looked at Francine, then at Logan. Logan shrugged his shoulders. He was asked to meet them, but not to say anything to Rory.
"Rory, dear, I asked Logan to join us. I have to talk to you about something and I don't want you to be alone." She told her.
The color in Rory's face drained. She grabbed Logan's hand without even thinking. She sat up straight. She was preparing herself for the worst. What would be the worst? She did not even want to think about it.
"Your Papa and I had our yearly physical last month. They found a mass in your Papa's lung. They did a biopsy and it was malignant." Francine told the young couple. Rory had tears running down her face and Logan had held her hand. She was squeezing it. Staub Hayden was a major influence in his life. He could not remember a time that he was not in his life.
"We have not told anyone else," Francine told them. "Christopher will be in town Friday. We will tell him then. I would like for you to keep this to yourself for now."
Logan nodded. He put his arm around Rory and she leaned into him. He could tell that Francine was upset also, but she seemed to be trying to hold it together for Rory.
"Is there anything we can do? Do you need us to help you with anything?" Logan asked. He didn't know what to say or do, so he just held Rory. Francine looked at him and smiled.
"You are doing it." She said,
Logan drove Rory back to campus. He left his car in the parking lot. He would get Colin to take him back later to get it. Neither one of them spoke on the way back to school. Logan felt so helpless. He wanted to help Rory and Francine, he just didn't know how to help.
When they pulled into the parking lot, Logan asked Rory what classes she had this afternoon. She told him she had Economics. That was her last class for the day.
"Who is your professor? Clark?" He asked. She nodded. "I will get you the notes. I don't think you need to go to class the rest of the day."
Rory did not disagree with him. When they got to her dorm, Paris was there. She started in on Logan the minute he walked in the door. He kept walking toward Rory's room. He had his hand on the small of her back pushing her toward the door. When they got in, he shut the door and turned to Rory. She was just standing in the middle of her room.
"Hey, grab a bag and put some clothes and toiletries in it. You are staying at my dorm tonight." Logan said. Rory went to the closet and pulled a bag out of the back. She opened it and began to put clothes in it.
They met Steph coming into the dorm and they were leaving. Paris had already left.
"She is staying with me tonight," Logan told her. Steph turned toward them and she could see that Rory had been crying. She opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, but Logan stopped her with a shack of his head.
When they got back to his dorm, Finn and Colin were sitting on the couch playing a video game. He led Rory to his room and got her situated in his bed. It wasn't long before her eyes were closing. He left the room only to find Finn and Colin standing at his closed door.
They both had a concerned look on their faces. Logan motioned for them to follow him. When they were away from Logan's bedroom door, Logan explained that Rory was not feeling well and she was staying with him so he could keep an eye on her.
"Steph called. She said something was wrong." Colin told him. Logan nodded.
"Guys, I'm sorry. This is not my news to tell. Rory is okay physically. She just received some bad news and she needs to have time to process it. We were asked not to tell anyone yet. Can you please respect our wishes?" Logan asked.
Both Finn and Colin nodded.