Chapter 206
July 23rd, 2022 (a.k.a the wedding day)
It had already been a long week. It had involved lots of packing - for all contingencies - hot, cold, rocky, sandy, mountain, valley; for three people and a dog; and four different situations - the week before the wedding for a family holiday in Nantucket, the rehearsal dinner, the wedding itself and the honeymoon, or in Em's case to spend the next two weeks with Jess, in part traveling to California. Basically this meant bringing what seemed like half of what they owned and the whole family to help out getting settled and help with the logistics.
There was no way they would've fit all of that into Rory's Mazda, and even less likely to Logan's sedan. So considering Logan had other plans for their grand exit to their honeymoon - the only tiny detail Rory had gotten out of him on the topic - and Lorelai would be in charge of Em's further logistics, they'd simply hired a car service for their trip there. Locally they had Emily's 4-wheel drive Lexus to use, which mostly just stood in that garage, waiting for someone to visit and a few other rentals to make sure everyone had some means to get around.
One would think if one came prepared - and that Rory certainly was, having a backup dress for her backup dress by now, backup shoes, extra hair and makeup alternatives, extra options for Em and so forth. She'd even looked up good take-out places to order if something happened with the catering. She'd brought her body pillow and anything she knew that might be necessary to make her growing belly as comfortable on her body as possible, while not forgetting to pack something a little sexier. She was willing to fight whatever came her way with her brain - willing to compromise as long as at the end of the day they'd said their 'I do's' to each-other. But despite all of this - there was an even longer, crazier, day ahead.
They were still at the Sandcastle, Rory using that as the place to get ready while the venue was located on the North shore of the island. Right now Rory was sitting at the vanity table in a room that was formerly her grandmother's, wearing a light linen robe loosely over her underwear. It was just too hot to really wrap it around her body too tightly. Sitting there was sort of meditative actually, almost feeling like she had grandma right there with her.
The beautician they'd hired for the day was just doing her hair before going to the guest room to do Gigi's and Honor's. The plan for Rory was simple - a classic bouffant low bun - timeless, and looking effortless enough it wouldn't matter if she had a loose strand somewhere - the wedding was going to be a little beachy in its thematic after all, even if not quite the kind where one stood with one's toes in the sand. Though right about now, considering Rory's feet were not liking the heat much, feeling a little swollen, she wouldn't have minded a scenario where she didn't need to put on shoes at all. But for that too she had a plan - a cool ice bath for her feet that she'd just done before the hairdresser had arrived, and aimed to keep them elevated when possible and possibly having someone massage them later, assuming Logan would be up for the task. It seemed she had thought of everything.
The day before had already provided some nervousness, since the forecast had predicted rain for the important day, but right now there were no clouds in sight and the forecast was looking a lot better, allowing Rory to breathe a little easier. Of course that little worry had just been one to hide the more genuine worry about how the rehearsal dinner would go. But it had been surprisingly peaceful even. Sure, it had included a lot of small-talk with people they didn't know that well. But overall it was nothing they couldn't handle. They'd figured the unexpected acceptance of their guest, besides just being a polite pretence in some cases, was something to do with the fact that they were no longer young - people seemed to treat them with some additional respect for that, many genuinely congratulating them for giving love another chance, which was a beautiful sentiment. Shira had been pretty quiet - her hand glued to her champagne glass most of the evening - but humble nonetheless, even if her smile hadn't been entirely genuine. But Rory and Logan hadn't really been bothered by it, having been in their own little bubble with their friends. The dinner had been nice, a couple of family members and friends had made toasts and they'd had a good laugh amongst each-other, kind of forming their own subparty even if they stayed in the same room and at the same table.
They hadn't spent the last night apart - it had just seemed silly all things considered. But they had parted their separate ways that morning, aiming to at least have the final hours before the wedding to focus. Rory had gone to get a prenatal massage - mostly shoulders, arms and legs in her condition, and truthfully she didn't know where Logan had gone. But she tried not to worry, trusting Colin a little more than Finn to get him where he needed to be on time.
Rory was woken out of going over her to-do's and going over the day's program in her mind by her mother's entrance.
"So, how're we doing here?" Lorelai asked. It had still somehow happened so that Lorelai was being sort of part Matron of Honor in this wedding, not just the mother of the bride because Em often preferred playing with Gigi, not making it very easy for Gigi to be constantly by Rory's side. But at this point, with hours to go, she didn't particularly mind because keeping Em happy was a big part of a successful wedding. They were both there, that was what mattered.
"Pretty good," Rory replied, quite liking how her hair had turned out as the hairdresser was already finishing. Her hair looked great - it looked simple, but cute. It wasn't the hair-do that she'd secretly dreamt of while she'd been in her early twenties - perhaps some hairdo with braids or shorter curly hair instead - but she felt this was the look for the present self.
"No escape plans then?" Lorelai teased.
"No, no escape plans," Rory said, rising from her seat, wanting to cool off. "God it's hot," she exhaled, fanning herself with one of the programms.
"I'll be back to do your make up a little later," the beautician said, excusing herself.
"So, I got you something," Lorelai said, having a smug grin on her face. The kind when she had when she'd done something naughty, but this was nothing of the sort.
"Well - are you going to tell me or let me die of heat exhaustion before you get to the point," Rory said.
"Alright, keep your knickers on," Lorelai teased, jokingly, trying to do a Brittish accent.
Lorelai opened up their grandmother's closet that still held a few of her most valued outfits, neatly packed away, where she had cleverly hid an item which she now pulled out. The garment bag was definitely familiar to Rory.
"I can't believe I completely forgot about that," Rory put a hand to her mouth. She hadn't even dared to hope - hence the backup dress for the backup dress.
"Don't get your hopes up… it's a bit different.. But so you'll have the third backup option at least," Lorelai said, cautiously, and opened up the garment bag's zipper.
The dress was indeed different. Its cut was the same, but instead of the promised silver or white embroidery that Lorelai had originally thought about, there was a much braver dark green vine starting from the place where the dress had ripped, sewing the lace together, and trailing along the few imperfections that they hadn't gotten completely off at the cleaners, covering roughly a quarter of the material. It almost looked like someone had gotten a little carried away, having a specific design in mind. It certainly didn't look random or like a fix of something damanged.
"What do you think?" Lorelai asked, impatiently. "I'd wear it, but it's your wedding…," she added, not wanting to be pushy. Rory appreciated that.
Rory recalled all the times when her mom had come to her rescue in wardrobe issues - many years worth of first schooldays, her first dance, her first real attempts at dating, her first real job interviews, often
"I think it's beautiful, mom" Rory exhaled. It wasn't as minimalistic as it had been for sure, but it added the dress something she'd grown up with - it was that special resourcefulness Lorelai Gilmore was known for and she loved that, even if it hadn't been her mother's own handiwork. "Thank you," she chimed, and hugged her fiercely, avoiding wrinkling the dress. She hadn't hugged her mom that intensely since Lorelai's birthday in April probably, the bump now feeling so different between them. This meant a lot to Lorelai as well, having feared that these things that they'd once bonded over were lost for good.
"Always hon, I love you!" Lorelai said.
"I love you too," Rory replied.
"But I'm bringing the backup to the venue just in case anyways…," Rory added, not wanting to risk it. The venue was just a short 15-minute drive away, and the event organizer from the Dragonfly had been making preparations all morning. Also there was a small chance Rory might want to change during the evening if she felt uncomfortable.
Lorelai was already picturing how Rory would probably want to be there like an hour early. But she found it a little odd Rory was this calm, despite all the plan B-s. Even she'd been a little anxious before getting married, though definitely the least the last and final time. Despite their issues she and Luke were still married, still fit together like two pieces of the same puzzle.
"Bring the whole house if you want, you're the bride - anything you say, goes," Lorelai encouraged, knowing her daughter just might.
Suddenly they heard a car pull up, the gravel crunching under its wheels.
The window was open, and they could hear the car door slam shut.
"Hey, Paris!" Rory and Lorelai heard Em greet her.
"Oh-oh," Lorelai said, "doesn't sound good," she added, hearing Paris stomp up the stairs in a haste. It was incredible how that woman kept her energy up.
"I bet Finn showed up or something," Rory commented.
Gigi said something, being a little out of earshot.
"Is Lorelai upstairs? I know it's all about not spoiling the bride's day but I'd really like to see Lorelai," Paris' loud voice replied. Rory knew that tone.
"Definitely about Finn," Rory sighed. Frankly in this minute, since she was essentially just killing time anyways until it was her turn for makeup the thought of being there for her friend in the time of need really didn't sound so impossible. Paris had been there for her time and time again as well.
"I can go deal with her," Lorelai suggested, taking her motherly duty quite seriously. After all, she and Paris had a relationship too.
"No, it's fine. I know Finn… I'm not doing anything right now anyways," Rory shrugged, and tied her robe loosely closed in front of her.
"You look like a pretty present wrapped up in a bow like that," Lorelai smiled. She was truly happy that Rory was getting her special day, and for a second grandchild as well. She couldn't wait to throw her a proper babyshower together with Em, now that the girl was a little bit more on board with the prospect.
Rory smiled, feeling giddy from excitement. A small dose of Paris was not going to ruin it.
"Lorelai, can we talk? I don't want to bother Rory today..," Paris said, breathing heavily, reaching the second floor.
"Paris, you can come in!" Rory called out, having already taken a seat on her grandmother's fern-patterned wingback armchair and put her legs up.
"I meant it, it's your day… I just didn't know where else to come…," Paris explained, sounding clearly upset.
"And I am all ears, Paris," Rory offered. She almost felt like Birdie like this, seeing a patient.
Rory noticed Paris winch for a moment. Paris then rubbed her belly, which was considerably bigger than hers, as if soothing the baby just like she often did. It was like their own secret club in a way - pregnant women and their aches.
"Kicks?" Rory asked.
"Just some mild Braxton-Hicks, I've had them for weeks," Paris replied, brushing it off.
"I don't miss those. Mine felt like it meant business. I must've woken Jess at least four times in the middle of the night and have him drive me over to the hospital with Em," Rory chuckled, having not yet had them with this baby.
"Ah, it's fine," she replied
"So - Finn? Did he arrive?" Rory asked.
"Oh yeah," Paris snorted.
Rory raised her eyebrows curiously, waiting to hear it.
"Oh he arrived alright. He sailed here on a freaking... Stormvogel," Paris huffed, referring to an Australian horror movie she'd seen with Rory once. "He sailed all the way from Australia, saying he needed her, the boat close by. Then he told me this elaborate story about unfavorable winds and Polynesian native tribes and how he dropped his phone into the Pacific. God… I wasted an hour listening to his little, or should I say - very long - fairytale," Paris continued, agitatedly.
"You know…," Rory began, wanting to add that Finn generally wasn't a liar and he did have the most uncanny ability to get into all types of adventures. He was like a magnet and it was just as phenomenal as the Gilmore metabolism.
"And then one simple 'sorry' and he drops onto one knee with his grandmother's wedding ring! The guy's mental! Who does he think he is?" Paris continued.
"He, what?!" Rory exclaimed, pulling legs down from the legrest, repositioning herself.
"Oh you heard me!" Paris nodded, unable to sit and walked back and forth the room.
"What did you say?!" Rory asked, still in awe that that had actually happened.
"You can't be serious, Rory!" Paris rolled her eyes.
"What?" Rory asked, realizing soon enough this was Paris and in her world it was a stupid question to ask.
"I drove right over here, I didn't say anything. But who does he think he is? Does he really think that's what I need? Him to sail in like Captain Jack fucking Sparrow, serenade me and reenact the bloody proposal scene from... Love Actually!?" Paris said, struggling a little with the perfect reference. "Because it's like we speak different languages! He's from another planet!" she rambled. "What I need is a guy who picks up his damn phone and doesn't disappear off the face of the earth!" she continued to huff.
"Oh, wow," Rory reacted, on the inside thinking at the same time 'Poor Finn' because she knew that Finn was so new at this and for him to even attempt to propose - that was something. Sure it might not have been the right call at the moment, ut she knew Finn's heart was in the right place, trying to make up for his absence. She didn't have the faintest idea why it had taken Finn this long, however, considering he'd been back already weeks ago with Logan in Canada.
"I just… I don't know how I'm going to handle him tonight. I'll try my best but if I end up slapping him in the middle of the reception, then I apologize in advance," Paris continued.
"Rory?" Gigi peeked in from the doorway, hesitantly. With her was the beautician.
"Yeah?" Rory asked.
"We should do your make up and get your dress on. Mom's helping Em get dressed," Gigi added.
