Chapter 171

"How many more trips do you think it'll take?" Rory asked Lorelai, as they headed back to the car to make what felt like the thirtieth trip between Mrs. Kim's house and Lane and Zack's former place. Lorelai looked over at her daughter.

"Honestly, kid, I think we should really just rent a U-Haul."

"Is there even somewhere to do that near Stars Hollow?"

"Hartford," Lorelai replied glumly. Just then Rory's phone rang.

"Hello?"

"We're at the diner."

"Be there in 5. Zack?"

"We dropped him off at Mrs. Kim's with Lane. Lane's mom is sleeping. I'd give them some time."

"…okay. We'll see you at Luke's."

"…they're here?"

"Yup."

"And Zack?"

"Delivered to Lane's. Mrs. Kim is sleeping."

"Oh, geez."

"Well, they're gonna have to see each other at some point, might as well be now."

At this, Lorelai nodded, inhaling deeply. "Why don't you text her- let her know we're going to the diner and will be back as soon as she wants us?"

"Good idea," Rory nodded, pulling out her phone and sending off the text.

"Maybe we can let the boys go get the U-Haul while we stay and help Lane…they may need a break after the Zack of it all."

"I can only imagine," Rory nods, "Are you gonna be okay seeing him?"

"I can keep it together. You?"

"…I can. I'll make it work. But I think Jess and I are both ready for a relaxing, disconnected week back home after all this."

"Can't say I blame ya," Lorelai nodded. "It's been…a lot. And you guys have kind of had stuff nonstop for a while. Doesn't look to be letting up soon either."

"Yep. We've got probably this week, and then all the wedding leadup starts, then the wedding, then Paris's baby is due…"

"How is Paris?"

"Paris is Paris," Rory sighed, "I wish I had a better answer. But she only shares so much, and I think right now she's trying to stay in a calm, happy place for the sake of the baby and getting through the birth and stuff."

"That's…surprisingly levelheaded."

"She's a very logical person. And I think she's getting calmer," Rory admitted, "It's just…"

"Yeah?"

"She's got a certain level of willingness to make choices that other people wouldn't. Question things that most people have a hard time questioning."

"…do you mean her marriage?"

"Her marriage, her job…it's…impressive, honestly. I had an entire crisis just about career dissatisfaction. She can upend her life so breezily."

"I mean, maybe it looks that way from the outside. I'm sure it's still hard for her."

"I'm sure it is," Rory nodded, "But I don't think it occurs to her to avoid it because it's hard. She just…sees what needs to be done. And does it. Maybe that's why she admires you so much."

"…she's a good kid. And there's good to living that way. There's also good in being more delibrative, taking time to make those choices…being more thoughtful and patient."

"…I think I could learn a thing or two from her."

"Well, you've already upended your job. So what are you getting at?"

Rory sighed. "I…I'm sorry. This isn't the time."

"It's okay. What's going on?"

"…let's talk about it later, okay? It's not you, or work or Jess. It's stuff that really isn't day to day."

"But that the stuff with Lane…"

"I'm sorry. I thought I was ready to talk about it, but I'm not yet. Okay?"

Lorelai sighed. "Okay," she nodded, "But I'll be here when you are. Okay?"

"Okay," Rory nodded, biting her lip. She didn't know why it was so hard. But she did know that she probably owed Jess a talk about it too.

"Hey," Lorelai said softly, smiling as she walked up to the counter. Luke was already up there, filling coffee cups and with a pen behind his ear. He looked up at her and gave her a small smile, though she could see the exhaustion in his eyes.

"Hey yourself," he nodded, "Table open over there. I'll be over in a couple minutes. Poison for you guys?"

"Make it double, we've moved about fourteen loads of crap between houses today."

"How is there that much?"

"…twins."

"Enough said. Coming up."

Lorelai walked over to the table, gesturing to Rory.

"Any idea where Jess is?" she asked her mom. Lorelai shook her head.

"He's upstairs," Luke called. Rory spun around.

"Thanks, Luke," she nodded.

"I'd give him a minute." At that, Rory looked a little surprised, but gave another small nod. Luke walked over, with two cups in hand.

"It was hard on him. Not my place to say anything more," Luke said gruffly to Rory. She exhaled deeply.

"Yeah, I expected that."

"Expected what?" she heard a voice ask. She turned and smiled to see Jess standing there, holding two cups of coffee, "I'd planned to caffeinate. you, but apparently Luke beat me to it."

"Can never have too much of the stuff."

"That's going on your grave," Jess said pointedly. Rory laughed lightly, as Jess sat down next to her.

"I told Cesar to take over for a bit," Jess said to Luke, who nodded.

"Thanks."

"Uh-huh."

"So…"

"So, he's back. Not happy about it. Luke dropped him with Lane. I'm sure she'll tell you guys when she wants anybody back there," Jess said, matter-of-factly.

"Kids are still with Sookie," Lorelai replied, "She's got them as long as she needs to."

"I got a text from Lane a couple minutes ago," Rory said softly. They turned to her. "She said that we should come back after 3, and that she's having Sookie bring the kids back to see Zack."

At this, the others nodded. Luke and Jess exchanged a look. Jess sighed.

"So…what next?"

"Well, we think it's gonna make more sense to get a U-Haul to move the rest of the stuff. Particularly if Zack's is coming. Which I guess we don't know."

"…Lane said she'd call before we come over, so I'm hoping we'll have more info by then."

"Nearest place to get a U-Haul is in Hartford. After that, I think we just move stuff and then get pizza or something there."

Jess nodded, and Luke looked at him.

"Jess, why don't you hold down the fort here? Lorelai, I'm sure you need to check in at the Inn. Rory and I can go get the U-Haul, if that works for you, Rory?"

Rory smiled, grateful to Luke. "Yeah, that works great for me." She could tell that this was Luke making an effort to take care of Jess, to give him some time to decompress, in a way that he'd accept, after seeing that this was hard for him.

"You sure?" Jess asked, turning to Luke, "You've been at this longer than me. Doesn't seem fair for me to get off the crazy train first."

"…the diner's my normal crazy train. I'll take any break I can get," Luke said, not meeting his nephew's eyes. Jess sighed, but nodded.

"Thanks, Luke."

"Don't mention it. Rory, let's head out now, then hopefully we can be back to load up and be back at Mrs. Kim's…well, Lane's…by the time they're ready for us. Want a coffee for the road?"

"Has the answer ever been no?" Rory smiled, earning a grin from Lorelai.

"That's my daughter."

"Sure is," Luke said, jokingly exasperated, as he went to grab them a couple cups. When they got up, Lorelai looked at Jess.

"…you good?"

"…good enough. Don't want to talk about it."

Lorelai nodded. "Been a lot of that going around today." At that, Jess furrowed his brow. "Rory?"

"Yeah. Nothing about you, me, career, whatever…but that's all I got out of her. I got the sense she wants to talk to you first. But didn't seem like she's ready quite yet."

Jess nodded. "Thanks for the heads up."

"Of course."

"Need any help around here?"

"I think I'll manage. The Inn must miss you. And Sookie."

"It'll survive," she shrugged, "It's survived worse. I'm lucky to have people I can depend on."

"You were smart, and put people in charge you could trust. That's a skill, not luck," Jess corrected. Lorelai blushed.

"Thanks, Jess," she said softly, "But yeah. I'd like to go check in."

"Makes all the sense in the world. Let me grab you a coffee for the drive over."

"The whole five minutes?"

"You complaining?"

"Never. Just trying to figure out how to get this trait programmed into my grandkids in advance." At this, Jess rolled his eyes, but with a small laugh.

"So many presumptions there."

"I like my odds."

"…so do I," Jess admitted, "But I'll deny it if you say a word."

"…word about what? I'm a very quiet woman, once I have my coffee."

"I'll believe that when I see it," he smirked, handing her a to-go cup and waving goodbye as Lorelai exited the diner, heading back to check on her Inn.