Lorelai Leigh Gilmore-Hayden Chapter 12
Rory enjoyed the rest of the evening. While everyone was having dessert, Rory went to find Ceecee. She wanted to see her little sister. She wondered if her dad had matured enough to take care of her or would she also be left to her grandparents. Rory didn't think her grandparents were young enough to take care of a baby.
After the Gilmore grandparents left with Lorelai following, Rory and Logan retired to the pool house. They both kissed Francine on the cheek, then Logan shook Staub's hand and Rory kissed him on the cheek.
"I love you, Papa," Rory said. That was something she used to tell him every night before she went to bed. Staub smiled at her.
"I love you too, my sweet girl," Staub said. As Logan and Rory were walking toward the patio door, she heard Sherry say something. She continued to leave the room. When Logan stopped, Rory grabbed his hand and he followed. She could hear her Papa tell Sherry to sit down, it was none of her business. Rory smiled.
The next morning, Rory entered the main house in time for breakfast. She had a seat at the table. Her Papa was reading the paper and her Gran-Mère was sipping coffee while looking through some wallpaper patterns.
"Rory, I hope you slept well." Her Gran-Mère asked. Before she could answer, her Papa put the paper down.
"I know you have a life at school, but I do love to see you at this table in the mornings," Staub said. He handed her the lifestyle section of the paper. "Will Logan be joining us?" He asked. Before she could answer, Logan walked in.
"Good morning all." He said. He sat down as Evelyn was pouring Rory a cup of coffee.
"Rory had the lifestyle section. She likes to read it first. I am just finishing up with the business section if you would like it." Staub said.
"If you have the sports section, I would like to see the scores of last night's game," Logan stated. Staub handed him the sports section.
"Gran-Mère, what are you planning to redecorate now?" Rory asked with a laugh. This also got a laugh out of her Papa. her Gran-Mère gave him a look.
"I was thinking, If you have time, maybe we could pick out some new wallpaper for the pool house. I know it was just decorated, but you were in high school then. It is time to change it up a bit. I thought maybe we could put some browns or maybe a gray or two into the wallpaper, maybe make it less feminine." Francine said.
"Are you kicking me out of the pool house?" Rory asked. This shocked her. She always thought it would be hers to move back in. "You know I will be home during school breaks." Logan had stopped eating his eggs and took Rory's hand.
"Rory Hayden." Her Papa said very sternly. "That pool house and this main house will always be your home. No one will ever be able to tell you any different."
"I just thought we could make it…." Francine said, then paused and looked at Staub. He nodded his head. "We want to make it welcoming for Logan as well." Rory and Logan both stopped what they were doing. Before anyone else could say anything, Christopher and Sherry entered the dining room.
"Good morning," Christopher said and he kissed his mother on the cheek, then Rory. He pulled out a chair for Sherry to sit in. Francine put her wallpaper swatches away. The last thing she wanted was to get into an argument with Christopher. I was not good for Staub.
"Good morning," Rory said. "Where is Gigi?" she asked. She knew where Gigi was. She was out of sight, out of mind.
"She is with Ceecee. She is feeding her." Sherry said. Rory just signed. She hopes someone steps in and helps them raise her sister. Gigi was born the summer between Rory's Junior and Senior years of high school. Gigi is just over a year old.
Rory was almost finished with her breakfast. She asked to be excused. When her Papa nodded, she told him that she would be ready to leave for Luke's Diner around 11:00. He nodded.
Rory and Logan were in the pool house packing up some of the things she needed for school.
"Did she really say she was fixing up the pool house to make me more comfortable?" Logan asked. Rory started laughing.
"I know. I didn't know what to say. We have not made it official. Have you said anything to your dad?" Rory asked.
"No," Logan told her. "Maybe they can just see the love I have for you." Rory busted out laughing even harder. This caused Logan to laugh too.
When it was time to go to the Diner, Rory and Logan went back to the main house. When they entered through the patio door, they could hear talking coming from the dining room. Rory headed that way, then turned back toward her Papa's study. She could hear him getting loud. She is going to put a stop to whoever upset her Papa.
Before she got to the door, she could hear her dad. She knew she would put a stop to it now. She would not let her dad upset her Papa. She started to open the door, but Logan stopped her. He nodded toward the door and told her to listen.
"Dad, I know, but this job is important to her. I've got to let her take it." She heard Christopher say behind the closed door.
"You are not going to abandon another child. You were a child yourself when you and Lorelai left Rory to be raised by us, but you are a grown man now. Just because a child becomes an inconvenience doesn't mean you abandon them. You need to man up." Staub told him.
Rory opened the study door. She just stood there staring at Christopher. Logan was standing back. She knew he was there for her if she needed him.
"I can't believe you." She said, She was talking barely above a whisper. She was furious, but she didn't want to upset her Papa.
"Rory, this is none of your business," Christopher said. Rory scoffed.
"None of my business?" She repeated. "You are talking about abandoning my sister. What part of that is none of my business. Someone should have fixed you after I was born." She turned on her heels and left the room.
Logan followed her. As they were leaving through the patio door, Logan caught a glimpse of Francine watering the flowers. Rory continued into the pool house. Logan walked over to Francine.
"Hey, Logan," She said. "I thought y'all would be on your way by now."
"This is really none of my business, other that it affects Rory and Rory is my business, but Staub and Chris are in the study yelling at each other. Rory went in to see what was going on, only to hear Chris talking about abandoning Gigi." Logan said. Francine just hung her head.
"Logan, don't let Rory leave until we can talk to her. Please." Francine said.
Logan found Rory in the pool house. She was sitting on the sofa with a book in her hand. He was not sure if she was reading it or just using it for a prop.
"Hey Ace, Francine is going in to see if she can put a halt to all the yelling," Logan told her. She just nodded. He sat down beside her, putting his arm around her. At first, she tried to pull away, but it didn't take her long to relax into him. He held her while she cried.
Logan was not sure why she was crying. It could be because her dad was an ass, or it could be because her dad upset her Papa. Maybe it was because her baby sister was going to be treated just like she was. If he had to guess, it was because her Papa had cancer and her parents were both asses.
Logan didn't look at the time when he sat down, so he was not sure how long they stayed like that. She has quietened down now. She was just sniffing a little when there was a knock on the glass door. Logan turned to see Francine and Staub at the door.
Rory moved so Logan could get up and let them in. They both took in the site they had seen looking through the door. They took a seat in the Queen Anne chairs that Rory had recovered in pink and white material. She smiled, yes they probably did need to change some things.
"Rory, Logan, can we talk for a few minutes?" Staub asked. They both nodded. "I wanted to talk to you about this today.
"What is there to talk about?" Rory asked. "Sherry is abandoning Gigi just like my parents abandoned me. Looking back, I was better this way. I am beginning to believe Gigi will be better off not having either one of them as parents." She sighed. "The only problem I see is the two of you are too old to start over and raise a baby."
Staub nodded his head. "We are not going to raise another child. I am too old to do that again." Francine said. "Rory I love you, I have loved you even before you were born. After the shock wore off when we were told about you, I knew that we would be the ones raising you." Francine shook her head.
"I love Gigi. I can not stand the thought of this child, our grandchild being neglected. When Sherri leaves, I have to believe my son will not have a choice but to man up. We will be here for moral support."
"Gran-Mère, You will have your hands full. Papa is going to need you….." Rory said. She looked at Logan. "If I need to step up and help with Gigi, I will." Francine and Staub smiled at her. They didn't want Rory to be burdened with a baby.
"No, we will figure something out," Staub told them.