Achieving Goals-Chapter 36

After her meeting with Mr. Coswell, Rory started thinking a lot about Amy and what happened in New York. She thought about what her Grammy Fran told her about standing up for herself. She wants to be the strong woman her Grammy Fran sees.

Rory spent the week after they returned from Thanksgiving at Logan's office. She and Mr. Coswell met several times. She would report to the Sun after the 1st of the year. She and Logan decided she would take over a spare office on the executive floor until she reported to the Sun. Logan wanted her input. He wants to rely on her to help run HPG European offices. Rory and Logan also discussed her taking some business classes along with the post-graduate studies in journalism.

It is the second week of December. Rory and Logan were moving into the Huntzburger Estate until the 1st of the year.. The HPG London Christmas Gala was in a week. The commute to the office was longer, but everything was set up for Logan and even Rory to work from there.

Rory does not officially start at the Sun until the first of the year. She doesn't start at Oxford until the middle of January. You would think this would give Rory plenty of leisure time. Not quite. She is helping Mrs. Chadwick with the Christmas Gala. It would be held in the main ballroom of the Estate. Everything was going smoothly until yesterday. Mrs. Chadwick took a fall coming down the center staircase at the Estate. She wasn't hurt badly, just sprained her wrist. This put Rory in a difficult position. Mrs. Chadwick will continue to supervise, but Rory would have to do most of the work.

The Huntzburger Estate has belonged to the Huntzburger family since the beginning of the 19th century. It was originally a castle. It had been remodeled and updated several times throughout the years. The Estate has all the latest luxury with a touch of the earlier days of Camelot. Logan told Rory that the dungeon still existed. She didn't believe him.

Honor was scheduled to arrive tomorrow. She will take over for Mrs. Chadwick. Rory was looking forward to Honor and Josh being on the same side of the pond as her and Logan. She meets people every day. She has been in and out of Logan's office since Thanksgiving. She was friendly with several of the ladies, but just friendly. Not friends. Not yet anyway. She was looking forward to having someone to talk to.

Logan was tied up in his everyday job. He had not noticed Rory's lack of friends. She, of course, was not going to complain. She felt it was her fault they had to hide away in London. That is what her Grandma told her she was doing. Hiding in London.

She talked with both grandmother and her mother at least three times a week. Of course, the conversations were different. Grammy Fran wanted to know everything she was doing. She encouraged Rory to step out and to stand up. Grandma Emily wanted to know when she could announce the engagement. She told Rory they needed to send out save the date cards. Rory told Logan Emily must have forgotten the part about not getting married until she finished school.

Now, Lorelai's conversation always comprises her complaining that Rory was not near. She complained about her mother's constant calling, wanting her to encourage Rory to set a date.

Logan and Rory were settling into their suite at the Estate. They claimed one of the bigger suites. Their suite has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a sitting room, an office, and a small kitchenette. Rory told Logan it reminded her of the pool house at her grandparents' house. What Rory liked about the suite most of all is the balcony. It overlooked the Estate. Christopher and Lorelai will stay with them when they come for Christmas. Emily and Richard would stay at the Gilmore Estate. It was right outside of London.

She was standing at the bottom of the main staircase, directing Timmy, one of Estate employees, on how far apart to hang the bells on the garland running down the staircase. She felt the door open. She turned to see Honor and Josh. Rory ran to Honor and hugged her neck.

"Boy, am I glad to see you." Rory said. She let go of Honor and shook Josh's hand.

"Wow, this place looks gorgeous. You and Mrs. Chadwick outdone yourselves." Honor told her as the butler approached them.

"Ms. Honor, would you like me to take your bags to your room?" He asked. Rory had learned his name was Jeeves. She couldn't believe it. It was so fictional to have a butler by the name of Jeeves. Rory had asked him earlier if he had his name changed after he became a butler. He smiled at her, but did not answer.

"Yes, Jeeves." Honor said. "I am sure my brother took the bigger of the two suites?" He nodded his head. Honor rolled her eyes.

"Honor, my parents are coming. They will stay in the suite with us. You and Josh are welcome to our suite as long as…." Honor stopped her.

"As long as your parents could stay, too." Honor said. "I'll take it." She said, laughing.

"You didn't let me finish," Rory says. "As long as you allow your parents to stay in the suite with you."

"No," Josh said, "I would rather sleep in the dungeon." Rory and Honor were both laughing. If you looked real hard, you could see Jeeves cracking a smile as well.

Logan made it back to the Estate before supper. He was glad to see Honor and Josh. He told them he would work from the Estate until the first of the year. He hoped his trips to the office would be held off to only a few.

"Here's crossing your fingers," he told them. They continued to carry on a decent conversation during dinner.

"Did Dad tell you when we could expect him?" Honor asked Logan.

"Not sure," he told her. "He told me he would be here before the Gala. But Mom will be here the week of Christmas."

"I guess that means she will attend the New York HPG Gala instead of this one." Honor stated. She felt bad that she would not be there for her dad. She knew that with Shira there, he would need backup. The last thing she wants is to see her parents' faces spread across the gossip magazines. Unfortunately, Mitchum had little control of those type magazines.

It wasn't long after dessert that the couples retired to their suites. Josh and Honor were battling jet lag. Logan and Rory just wanted to spend some time with themselves. Tomorrow would officially start off the Christmas season at the Huntzburger Estate. Although Rory and Logan both did most of their shopping online. Rory wanted to finish up before it got too late. She and Honor are planning a shopping trip before the Gala. Rory was going to put her black card to good use. She needed a gown for the Gala.