Chapter 186

"So I don't really see a way out of Friday night dinner this week," Rory said apologetically to Jess, once she'd hung up the phone, "Grandpa was pretty insistent."

"Not just your grandmother?"

"Nope. Grandpa himself. And I do feel bad, it's been too long."

"Fair enough. And I guess better this weekend than next. Things are going to get crazy this month with the wedding."

"Don't remind me, I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to manage the entire Features section of a local paper from hundreds of miles away."

"Yeah…good luck with that," Jess smirked. Rory laughed.

"Like it'll be any easier for you with Truncheon."

"Hey, at least I have Matt and Chris. Crap. That reminds me."

"What?"

"I need to text Paris and let her know she can come."

"Come here?"

"Yeah, she wants to come next week. Get started before the baby, if she can. At least so it's easier to get back to. It kind of makes sense."

"…yeah, it does. Were the guys cool about it?"

"Surprisingly, yes. They both seem to like her, and honestly, they think it could be good exposure for Truncheon."

"And you?"

"I…think Paris knows exactly what she's doing. And I appreciate it. We'll see how it works out, it certainly can't hurt."

"…that's the spirit."

"But…fine. We'll go to dinner tomorrow. What's the worst that could happen?"

The next evening, Jess was eating his words.

"It's been weeks, Rory! We shouldn't only get to see you when your mother is having some sort of marital crisis."

"Marital crisis?" Luke asked, turning to Lorelai, brows furrowed. Lorelai sighed deeply.

"Mom, it was not a marital crisis."

"You were in such an intense disagreement with your fiancee that you absconded to your daughter's…home…for days on end. I don't know what else you'd call that."

"Grandma, our home is perfectly fine. There's no need to…"

"…I'm pretty sure she was insulting me. Mostly," Lorelai rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, but before that, she was accusing Jess and I…"

"Accusing? Who was accusing? And I said nothing about Jess. He's your significant other. You, however, are family. He doesn't owe us anything. You have obligations."

"Obligations?" Rory said disbelievingly, "Grandma, I come to these because I want to."

"Now to be fair, that just makes zero sense," Lorelai jumped in. Four sets of eyes turned to glare at her. "Okay…sorry."

"Grandma, just because this wasn't the life you envisioned…"

"Not this again! What exactly was so wrong with the life I'd envisioned? You seemed to like it fine when it suited your purposes. Living in my guest house, a boost in your standing at the DAR…which you have totally abandoned…"

"I shouldn't have done any of that!" Rory exclaimed, exasperated. Lorelai looked at Jess.

"Um…should we…"

"Jess, I have a first edition that's new to my collection that I'd like you to see. Lorelai, you should join us," Richard cut in. Jess nodded. He looked at Rory, who rolled her eyes at her grandmother, before nodding and urging Jess to go. Lorelai followed Jess and Richard into the drawing room as Emily's voice began to carry, furious at the disrespect of the eye roll.

"Well, as long as they're occupied, I'll have Violet bring us some drinks, if anyone would like. Jess, coffee for the drive home?"

"That would be great," Jess said politely. They were staying at the diner and driving back the next day but, still, it had been a long evening.

"I'll take one too."

"Driving?"

"Wait, nevermind. Luke's been on soda. I'll take another martini."

"And I'll have a B&B," Richard said to the maid who had appeared in the doorway. She nodded, scurrying off. Lorelai looked at Richard.

"How long have you had this one?"

"I haven't the slightest idea. But I quite like her so far. I came home today and my shoes were shined."

"…wow, alert the presses. Don't tell Mom, or she'll find something wrong before the week's end."

"If she doesn't already," Richard agreed. "Jess…I pulled you aside for another reason."

"…oh?" Jess said.

"Jess, a moment ago my wife noted that you're Rory's significant other, and therefore, you are not obligated to this family in the ways that she is. That's true." Richard paused briefly, nodding at Jess before continuing, "But…with everything happening this month, and with all of the changes that have happened recently…I do want you to know that at least, as far as I'm concerned, I'd like to know what you think the future holds for you and Rory."

"Dad! That's their business," Lorelai chided, looking furtively to the doorway. Rory and Emily's voices were still carrying, matching each other in intensity now, so Lorelai felt certain they weren't being overheard. Then Violet came in with the drinks.

"Your drinks, Mr. Gilmore. Ma'am. Sir." Violet passed the drinks to each party.

"Thank you…Violet, was it?"

"Violette," she corrected gently. Lorelai smiled.

"Violette. How long have you been with my parents, if I may ask?"

"…today's my first day."

Lorelai suppressed a grimace. "Well, it's lovely to meet you. Thank you again."

"That will be all, Violet," Richard dismissed her. Violette nodded, heading out of the room, shutting the doors behind her. "I quite like her."

"Well, see if she makes it through the week before you get attached," Lorelai pointed out. Jess suppressed a smirk.

"Regardless, Lorelai, I think it's a fair question. He and Rory are clearly quite entangled, and you know perfectly well my question doesn't come from a place of malice, as I've personally shared with you my approval of Jess. But it's absolutely fair for me to question his intentions and plans, particularly with how quickly their relationship is progressing."

"No, it's not. It's not your place," Lorelai argued. Jess looked at her.

"…it's okay, Lorelai. I don't mind answering."

"You shouldn't have to…"

"…I don't mind. But, Mr. Gilmore, why did you want Lorelai here? If I can ask."

"…well, young man, as much as I know my daughter to be difficult, and stubborn," Richard started. At this, Lorelai rolled her eyes obviously and shook her head to herself. Richard looked at her sharply, she stopped, and he continued, "I also know that she is more concerned for Rory's well-being than anyone, and more invested in Rory's future than anyone, and if I were going to ask such a question, I felt she should absolutely be included in hearing the answer."

Lorelai looked at him. "Really?"

"Yes, really," Richard sighed, "Now can we please hear what the young man has to say?"

"Jess, still, you don't…"

"Lorelai, it's fine. I get it," Jess said. Lorelai nodded. Jess took a deep breath and continued, "I've actually been meaning to speak with you both."

At that, Richard and Lorelai shared a quick, confused, somewhat aligned glance. Jess quickly corrected their assumptions.

"No! It's not that! Yet…anyway," Jess explained, "But…maybe. Someday. And not…too far in the future."

"I hope by then you'll have a better grasp on how you want to say things," Richard teased. Lorelai glared at him, and Jess laughed, in spite of himself.

"I guess what I'm saying is…things are good. We're really happy. And I'm not…planning anything right now, but in the future, I imagine myself with Rory for as long as she'll have me. When it's time, I'll talk to you both. But…I wanted you to know I'm not going anywhere."

Richard nodded, smiling at Jess. "Well, that's all well and good. But be faster than your uncle, why don't you? I never imagined I'd be giving my daughter away at the ripe old age of…"

"I'm 33, not a year beyond that, or I'll pour my martini into the new first edition."

"Lorelai!"

"Dad!" she replied, teasing. Then she turned to Jess. "Well, from my perspective, I kind of figured. But I'm glad to know it, and whenever it's time for you to get your words together, I don't think you have much to worry about. You make Rory happy. That's what matters to us."

"And you can support her, and keep her safe, and that matters to me," Richard said pointedly. Lorelai sighed.

"And on that note, let's go rejoin the party and ensure that my mother doesn't kill Rory before there's a chance of any of this actually happening."

"…we might be too late, it got quiet a minute ago."

"Violet!" they all heard Emily shriek. Shortly after, they heard a door slam.

"…I'll go check on Mom, you check on Rory. Where's Luke?" Lorelai asked Jess. Richard looked at her with faint amusement.

"He's been in the restroom for…34 minutes," Richard said, checking his watch. He gave Lorelai an entertained smile. "You may want to check on him too."

Fifteen minutes later, Jess and Rory were back in Jess' car, heading to the diner. Lorelai and Luke had been right behind them, after Lorelai had convinced Luke out of hiding. And somehow, Emily and Rory had put their argument behind them, finding common ground on the topic of Richard's new job at Yale. All in all, it had resolved well. That said, both Jess and Rory were ready to get back to the diner and enjoy the night to themselves.