Chapter 105
June 4th, 2006
"So what's the apartment like?" Rory asked, having for the first time been able to catch Logan at a time when it wasn't nighttime at either side of the ocean, neither of them was in a hurry or in the middle of something. Just the two of them, on a weekend, taking full advantage of the international phone package Logan had gotten for her, despite her humble objections.
"Hold on, I'm just sending over some photos," Logan replied. Uploading the photos from the memory card and attaching them had taken a while, but this was still the fastest internet around in 2006, and cell phone picture quality wasn't good enough to capture this place in less than perfect lighting.
"Just describe it. Paint a picture with your words," Rory suggested, encouraging him to elaborate. The truth was that her stomach was just so full of Briyani and Cheese Naan, that she didn't feel like getting up and getting her laptop from the desk. She would, but not unless she could help it. Right now she just wanted to hear his voice.
"Ah…," Logan exhaled. "I'm not sure I'm quite the George Elliot," he added, humbly.
"Try me," Rory challenged him.
"You're probably expecting something equivalent to The Taft…," Logan began, modestly.
"Clearly," Rory shrugged, playfully.
"Well it's a lot smaller, London is pretty pricey and since I didn't want to live with my dad, there wasn't a whole lot I had to choose from short notice," Logan explained. He had a lot of privliged in London, but picking out his apartment hadn't been one of them, essentially just giving the local assistant a few things to go on and accepting what was given. He didn't want to start his work here out with complaining about something that didn't really matter all that much, it was not like he spent a lot of time at home. "It's pretty classic from the outside, red brick, blue front door, a elaborate golden lion knocker," he listed, really not putting a lot of effort into making this description award-worthy.
"What floor is it on?" Rory inquired, trying to picture it.
"Third, and it's a walk-up," Logan said, almost sounding proud.
"Don't tell me you had to haul up your own luggage," Rory teased him.
"I almost wish I could," Logan chuckled in a low tone. Rory had taught him to laugh at his privlige.
"What else? How many rooms?" she continued.
"One bedroom, joint living room and dining area, the kitchen is the size of the galley on the Serendipity though," Logan added, referring to the boat that he'd once sank. Rory had only seen pictures of the boat but no boat had a huge kitchen.'
Logan went on for a while, describing the modern interior of his otherwise classical apartment in Knightsbridge, it's decor - the details of which Rory didn't really care much about, but more importantly it's surroundings down to the nearest sights and take-away places. Rory was already dreaming about taking a trip to London but Christmas seemed impossibly far.
"It sounds nice," Rory exhaled, dreamily.
"What?" Logan asked, unsure how to read her via phone. They had a lot of learning and adjusting to do.
"I just feel so stuck here. There you are getting your whole life set up, you're doing grown up things," Rory sighed.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better - the place isn't all that it's cracked up to be," Logan fibbed, there being a number of things he loved about London. But it was the apartment he didn't particularly have to lie about. It was cramped, he felt like it was even a little suffocating, especially in the heat of the summer. The mattress wasn't quite what he enjoyed, the taps in the sink all weird - what was one supposed to do with two separate taps he'd never really understood. But now he was here and he'd have to live with these little quirks. But maybe it was good it was a place that he didn't love - as his goal was to return to Rory as soon as he could.
"It does," Rory mused, her smile radiating into her tone.
"And most importantly it's missing you," Logan said, making Rory's smile even wider.
"If you could live anywhere in the world, what kind of place would you live in?" Rory asked, being not ready for the phone call to end, thankfully still being pretty oblivious to the costs of this phone call.
"Ah…," Logan said, taking a deep breath. This was definitely going to be a lengthy call, but there was nothing he'd rather do.
January 2nd, 2022
"So you're sure you don't need me to come?" Rory asked, having already been determined to go help clean out her mother's kitchen, but Jess had already gotten there first.
"I'm sure. Luke asked me to and that's what I am doing," Jess confirmed, having just been to the hospital this morning to see him. While they didn't have an underlying cause yet, they seemed to have been able to calm Luke down and treated his symptoms at least, and Luke was actually calm and able to have a normal conversation with. He felt horrible about what had happened, having no memory of it himself and worrying about his behavior. But thankfully under the circumstances and no matter how much he hated hospitals, Luke had volunteered to stay, Lorelai being pretty shaken up still being a good enough reason for him.
"Well, okay…," Rory said. "Thank you," Rory added, having not expected her day to clear up like this.
After they said a quick 'goodbye', Rory tucked her phone back into her coat pocket.
"Well, it looks like I'm off the hook," Rory exhaled to Logan, who was already back at her place, after having spent the night at his own apartment, ready to pick up Em. He'd had a busy morning - both setting up his own place for Loki, most importantly by establishing a safe nook for him so he wouldn't go chewing on furniture too much. But on top of that he'd also already driven to BuybuyBaby and bought Em a carseat for his car, since he was supposed to bring Em along to pick up Loki, and drop off Rory on their way to Stars Hollow. But since the latter was no longer necessary, now they seemed to have a bit of time in their hands.
"Hmm.. I have an idea! We have a little time," Logan replied, glancing at his phone. The time frame in which he was supposed to be at the dog farm was rather an estimate than a fixed appointment anyways, but not having to drive to Stars Hollow which would've been at least 45 min detour they could now indeed do something else with the time.
But it was the smirk on Logan's face that was a little mischievous that caught Rory's interest. Damn, had she missed that smirk.
They packed themselves into Logan's car, not quite what they were usually used to taking as the three of them. But it was alright, though Rory was still a little curious how Logan had fit the dog cage onto the back seat next to Em. The car was certainly less than perfect for transporting a dog cage, but for now Logan was determined to make it work.
"So what's this plan of yours exactly, may I ask?" Rory inquired as Logan turned on the engine.
"It might be nothing, but I just wanted to drive by some place," he suggested, cryptically.
The drive wasn't really very long, taking them by Em's pediatrician's office, their favorite pizza place and University Law Library. It was a residential neighborhood where houses had big yards, more than double the size compared to Rory's. Naturally that came with a lot of manicured lawns, but what caught Rory's attention was the historical aspect of these buildings, many dating back to 1920s and 30s. They weren't just old but they were majestic. While her grandparent's place had been trying to mimic these styles, this was the real thing and a bit less dramatic and heavy compared to the Gilmore mansion.
"This is it," Logan pointed out as he suddenly pulled to the side of the road.
"What is it that I am looking at exactly?" Rory inquired, not quite following with this little introduction.
"It just came on sale yesterday," Logan explained, having noticed the ad alert his phone as he'd walked home last night, pleasantly buzzed from a little late night delight on the couch.
The place was a red brick building but with a bit of a white-stained look to it, leaving them looking a little more romantic than the other houses across the street. The place had white window frames and blue shutters, the vegetation was certainly a little more to Emily Gilmore's style, but it wasn't something either objected.
"Six bedrooms, four and a half baths, gracious foyer, staircase open to all the main rooms. Front to back living room with fireplace. Private patio and a sunroom… and a library. Upstairs has another space they refer to as a possible office. 1,14 acre lot. Vacant as of January 3rd. All renovated in neutral colors, though the kitchen cabinet doors should probably be replaced," Logan read out the listing, and added some of his own assessment on the kitchen from the pictures.
"How much?" Rory asked. The place really did look lovely.
Em wasn't really paying much attention, having her headphones on.
"Just under 700," Logan replied. This was well within what they'd been looking at, nothing too over the top, nothing too small that they would outgrow in a blink of an eye, thinking optimistically. "It does lack the yard, so that'd need to be put in. I just hope they don't have regulations objecting to it. Or if there are, probably it'd be okay putting it in the back, I'm sure. With this much acreage…," Logan began to think about the puppy's well being. He could just picture them there already.
"Well, then I guess we should just make an appointment to see it then. I hope they're okay with evenings," Rory suggested, feeling like this couldn't really be helped now.
"Hold on," Logan said, and put his phone to his ear to call someone. He had that smirk on his lips again.
"What are you doing? It's Sunday!" Rory objected, not quite believing him.
"Hello, my name is Logan Huntzberger and I'm calling about the house on Girard Avenue. I understand that it's for sale," Logan spoke, swallowing his pride by having to introduce him by his full name when he wasn't entirely comfortable with the possible repercussions. There was always a chance that the last name was either hated or loved a little too much.
The man on the other end of the phone replied, Rory only hearing some mumbling and Logan simply 'hmm-ed' along.
"Well if it isn't too much trouble, we're actually just out front. We were driving by and it looks like exactly what we're looking for," Logan suggested, a little cockily. It became clear to Rory that Logan wasn't calling the realtor but the owner directly. It was rare for someone to put their own number on an ad like that.
"Logan!" Rory scolded him. She felt like they were imposing on whoever was living there.
But Logan ignored her for now.
"Absolutely - we understand, it's no problem. Hey - you're the one doing me a favor here," he added, and agreed to be at the doorstep in a minute.
"They're probably busy enjoying their Sunday, Logan," Rory said, feeling it wasn't right to go barging in with this short notice.
"They're just in the process of moving out. The moving truck just left ten minutes ago. There are a few more boxes and rolls of dust laying around, but other than that the place is empty. I said we're fine with the unpolished look. Now, you want to see it or not? Because he seemed eager to show it to us," Logan replied, already seeing the man glancing towards them from the doorway.
Now it almost felt rude to refuse, but Rory really didn't want to either. Maybe it was a good beginning to a New Year after all.
AN: I may be a little off with the date for the first conversation. Anyways I meant this to be just a few days after the whole rocket gift thing.
And THE place: 236 Girard Ave, Hartford. I think realtor dot com is the only place that still has pictures up as it just sold irl.
