Three words, four syllables. Floating out into the early morning hours and altering all that was before and now forever would be. Her mother had never been out of words, but the silence lingered- echoing those words, thickening the air between them.
"Is…is it Pete's?"
"PAUL, and no, of course not!" A year ago, remembering to remind herself to finally leave Paul had been one of the least complex of her recent life's dilemmas. Now that list grew longer with each passing second.
"Oh Rory…not Lo-.." Rory solemnly bowed her head in agreement. "Does he know?"
"No." Another decision that would alter both fate and reality. But she had thought this through. She had written the lists, thrice over. She'd done all the necessary research and weighed her options, she'd even interviewed Christopher for his opinion on the matter. In her mind the choice was clear. She had screwed Logans life and future up enough in the last decade to shame her into nonexistence. She had chosen wrong for him and for herself so many times that this was a choice that couldn't be risked being given. She'd made the mistake- so she would bear all responsibility. After all - Logan had tried, over and over to convince her to stay — and each time she had been selfish in her decision. In her mind leaving him out of the equation entirely was her way of falling upon her sword.
"Well you really know how to give a wedding present. Didn't realize a baby was on the registry- maybe that was Luke's doing.." The silence has given into the familiar Gilmore auto defense ; "The Speed Ramble", Rory took a deep gulp of the autumn air, it tasted like dry leaves and clean hay.
"Mom, listen I've thought a lot about this already and I have a plan, well a semi-plan with many moving variables, but I can do this. You taught me if I can do anything I know that I can do this. Lorelai furrowed her brow, her lips tightened. Could one wedding in her life go off without some type of General Hospital- esque drama?
"Well Rory I am so glad that you've thought this through and now suddenly have a plan because as of three weeks ago your plan still seemed pretty underdeveloped."There was anger in her voice, meant to come across as disappointment and to mask her personal hurt. Certainly, Rory was a grown woman. Well beyond Lorelai's sixteen years at conception. But history was not supposed to repeat itself. Of all the mistakes she'd made as a mother she couldn't believe her own daughter hadn't been more careful, responsible, thorough. But then again, as she'd grown Rory had developed into a person who at times Lorelai could no longer recognize.