CHAPTER 7
"Rory, wake up!" Lorelai shook her daughter up.
Rory's eyelids fluttered slowly trying to remember why she felt parched.
Ice cream. Front porch. Jess. The boys.
Rory's memory was fuzzy when it came to the bodies lying on the floor and the couch. She remembered that at one point, Tristin was appointed her pillow and Jess her footrest. Logan and Graham fought over which spot they'd occupy on the carpet. They watched reruns of Veronica Mars, taking a shot every time the heroine's name was said in its entirety. By the time the third episode on the DVD came on, they were pretty toasted.
"Shhh!" Rory hushed her mother. She got up precariously and tiptoed away from the sleeping bunch. "What's up with the wake up call?"
"The town's already planned the wedding," Lorelai stated.
"What? We just announced our engagement," Rory asked, bewildered. She needed to get her head cleared. "Mom, did you just get home?"
"That's not the point," Lorelai rolled her eyes at her daughter.
Just as Rory was ready to grill her mother, the doorbell chimed throughout the house.
"Who could be calling this early in the morning?" Rory furrowed her eyebrows.
She marched up to the door and found a well-rested Jess carrying a box filled with food and coffee.
"Jess! What…" Rory was flabbergasted.
"Luke said you guys are in for a long day. I might as well start you all off with the proper provisions," Jess informed her. He extended his neck by the doorway and looked around. "Are you going to let me in?"
Rory stepped away and grabbed one of the warm lidded cups. "Thank you."
Jess walked directly to the kitchen and set the food on the table. "Breakfast? Thank you!" Lorelai kissed Jess on the cheek much to his antipathy.
"Uh, keep your kisses for Luke," Jess acted disgusted as he tried to wipe away the lipstick smudge. He looked at the sleeping bunch, "They still out?"
"Not since you guys have been talking so much," Logan muttered from under his makeshift pillow. "God, I have a headache… Ouch!"
Tristin kicked him on the arm. "Shut up!"
Lorelai came out of the kitchen and leaned up against the wall, "The screams are a little louder than usual?"
"You can say that again," Graham groaned. "What happened?"
"From the looks of it, a game of shots," Lorelai informed him. "Aspirin's in the medicine cabinet. Coffee and food in the kitchen."
The three mummies got up from their resting positions and marched off to different directions. Logan headed for the bathroom, Graham got out of the house to get his overnight bag from the Land Rover while Tristin slowly walked over to where Rory stood and gave her a hug and a kiss.
"Morning, babe," he muttered in her hair. His blood shot eyes landed on a smirking Jess. "How could you be so chipper this morning?"
"Hydration works miracles, buddy," he grinned.
"Hmm," Tristin squinted at Jess. "I don't think I'm going to trust him around you while I am in New York."
"Man of such little faith, drink your coffee and get rid of your paranoia," Lorelai ordered as she handed him a warm cup. "The moment Jess lays a hand on Rory, I will break each and every bone in his body starting with his fingers. Right Jess?"
Jess contorted a look of defiance against Lorelai.
"So, how did things go down at the Amityville?" Lorelai asked Tristin about the celebration at the DuGreys.
"About twenty couples, Graham's parents included were at the soiree, apparently discussing my nuptials to Rory like I wasn't even in the room. Dad was surprised that I showed up, mom was already on her second bottle of Macallan's. The sooner we left, the better," Tristin recited the events of the evening.
"Well you could've let me know that you guys were coming over. I could've put you guys up at the Inn," Lorelai scolded him.
"Mom, you were a little preoccupied," Rory tried to inform her mother of her absence during the night.
"Oh, how could I forget?" Lorelai guffawed as she picked up a pancake. "Why do we have all this food?"
"Hmm, hangover food," Graham muttered like Homer Simpson, elbowing everyone on his way to the table. He sat on the chair and made himself comfortable with the paper plate and plastic utensils.
"Hey, don't eat it all!" Logan called out following Graham's lead.
The other four watched the duo devour the food with gusto.
The fascinating show unfolding on the breakfast table was rudely interrupted by the constant ringing of the telephone. Rory rolled her eyes and announced, "I got it."
Rory looked at the clock before responding to the call. "Hello?"
"Rory, I am so glad I got you. Do you have a minute?" Emily's voice flooded the earpiece.
"Grandma, it's barely eight o'clock. Why are you calling so early?" Rory asked, sitting on the still-warm couch.
"I was at the DuGrey's last night and Janlan insisted that we would throw an engagement party," she informed her. "When is it most convenient for you and Tristin to have this party?"
Uh, grandma, Tristin and I aren't planning an engagement party," she eyed Tristin when he heard his name mentioned.
"That's nonsense. Do you not understand that there is some sense of duty for you and Tristin to have an engagement party?" she riled on.
"Grams, I am getting married the same time mom is. How is it that she's not getting one?" Rory posed the question.
"Your mother decided to take herself out of the Hartford pool the moment she stood next to that Diner man of hers rather than consider an engagement offer from your father," Emily stated with venom.
"That's so unfair of you say so!" Rory screamed at the phone. "Dad never offered to marry mom."
"Rory, get a hold of yourself. Besides, your father never did operate on a full set of batteries. He should've offered your mother a proposal the moment that awful Sherry passed away. But that's beside the point," she babbled. "The idea that your grandfather and I throw and engagement party for your mother and Luke is preposterous. However, the situation between you and Tristin is different."
"Grandma…" Rory said through gritted teeth while counting to ten to regain her composure. "Why don't you email me dates on when it's convenient for you to throw the party."
"Email? How impersonal! Why don't you give me Tristin's address?" Emily asked forcefully. "Or are you going to tell me that Tristin has also rebelled and is acting like a hobo as his father stated?"
"Grandma!" Rory tried to chide Emily.
"Fine, fine. I'll mail you the dates. Give me a call the moment you two can set a date," Emily gave in unwillingly.
"Thank you. I'll talk to you later," Rory replied begrudgingly before hanging up.
Rory groaned loudly as she tossed the receiver next to her.
"So, what did the wicked witch from the west have to say?" Lorelai asked.
"She wants to throw an engagement party for me and Tristin. She's mailing me dates for Tristin and I to consider," she sighed.
"Is it necessary for us to have an engagement party?" Tristin asked, downing his coffee. He caught Lorelai's glare. "Sorry I asked. How stupid of me."
"Mom, what are we supposed to do?" Rory complained.
"Comply," Lorelai stated.
"Comply? Did Luke whack your noggin on the headboard harder than usual?" Rory sarcastically inquired. "That was the last thing I'd hear from you."
"Watch your mouth, young lady," Lorelai warned her daughter. "You were the product of such action only with a different man on top of course."
"Ew, mom. Things I wouldn't want permanently etched into my brain!" Rory shuddered.
"Well then, just comply with grandma. It'll be easier on all of us in the long run," she said seriously.
"She doesn't want to throw you and engagement party," she parted the additional information.
"Fair enough," Lorelai sighed. "I wasn't expecting any less."
"But Lorelai, you're getting married, too," Tristin pointed out. "I won't allow anyone to have a party without you and Luke involved."
Lorelai tugged lovingly on Tristin's sleeve. "Oh, honey, that is such a sweet thought but you know what we're dealing with here. No matter how good your intentions are you will not win."
Tristin frowned and took a seat next to Rory. "If we invited you and Luke, would you come?"
"Let's cross that bridge when we get there, shall we?" Lorelai answered politely. "Anyway, what are your plans?" she asked in an attempt to change subject matters.
"Graham and I have to get to New York. We'll be there for about two weeks. Then we're going to head on down to DC. You think you can live without me for three weeks?" he asked Rory before kissing her lips.
"I will be missing you," she responded, nuzzling his chest.
"I'm out of here," Jess called out after witnessing all the public display of affection that he can take.
"Oh, Jess, it can't be that bad," Lorelai egged him on. "Not so long in the distant past were you similar."
"Hence the word past," he acridly replied before walking out and slamming the door behind him.
"Let me go talk to him for a minute," Tristin excused himself from Rory's grasp. He took of in a light jog to catch up to Jess.
"Hey, wait up!" Tristin called out to Jess.
Jess paused and waited for Tristin to catch up. "What's up, hoss?"
"I need a favor," Tristin asked.
"Look, I don't know what you thought happened last night but we didn't become buddies overnight," Jess said without apology.
"I wasn't asking us to build a fort and exchange spit handshakes," Tristin replied in a tone that matched Jess'. "I just wanted to know if you're going to be around for a couple of days."
"What's it to you?' Jess asked. He was due for a vacation but he definitely wasn't planning on spending it at Stars Hollow.
"I really would be more comfortable if you kept an eye on Rory. We're fortunate that she hasn't ran into Dean since… God, forever? But she hasn't been back for an extended period of time and I have this strange feeling that he's going to harass Rory the moment he could spare some time, if you get my drift," he explained.
Jess silently contemplated Tristin's dilemma. As much as he didn't trust Tristin, he trusted Dean less. "What's my babysitting fee?"
"You name it, you got it," Tristin offered.
"Fine. But be prepared. It might get expensive," Jess threatened.
"Then make yourself worth it," Tristin suggested. "Thanks, Jess."
"I won't say that if I were you," Jess' parting words sounded more like a warning.
Off the two strutted away from each other. Both were unaware that Rory and Lorelai studied them from behind the curtains.
"Do you think they both spoke in grunts?" Lorelai asked absentmindedly.
"If they did, I would pay Tristin as an interpreter. It may prove useful in all things Danes related," Rory pondered.
"Hmm, if Jess brought us food, do you think Luke might think we might not get breakfast this morning?" Lorelai looked at Rory as she pulled the drapes back in place.
"Heaven forbid. That's torture!" Rory exclaimed.
Both stared at each other for a split second.
"I'll put on some running shoes," Rory hurriedly explained.
"I'll be warming up the Jeep," Lorelai added.
The doorbell went off.
With a groan, Lorelai answered the door.
"Good morning, Lorelai. My name is Kirk and I was wondering if you have booked a florist," Kirk greeted her without any facial expression.
"Rory!" Lorelai wailed. "I think we're too late!"
That they were for breakfast.