Chapter 219
August 17th, 2022
"Um.. you know… it's been good to be home, " Rory began to explain to Gigi after her question about how it was like being back home. After all, Rory was now married, soon ready to have her second baby and not working full time, having just a few days ago sent the first real draft of her book to her editor and the shorter version of her story to the D.A.R newsletter. She had a lot on her plate. But right now she almost felt like she was in a limbo of sorts - waiting.
Gigi had asked that as they were both sitting on the new nursery couch, folding up baby clothes. Yes, a couch not an armchair, so one could actually sit there not just alone, feeding the baby, but also including Logan or Em on occasion. Besides, experience had proved, on occasion it was convenient to sleep close to the baby to save one's strength.
Rory had hesitated for quite some time whether this was something Gigi would want to do, but she didn't seem to mind, proving herself as resilient. Besides, this was likely the last time for a while since Gigi was about to head off to Yale in four days time.
The nursery was set up in the same neutral colors as they'd left it, the pink velvet couch being enough of a girly addition along with similar bedding and white nursery furniture, there really didn't seem to be need for much more.
"I felt guilty for being away from Em for so long and well… Loki seems to have his own issues. Seems being around my mom and Robin for quite a while was a big change for him and he's been acting out a little. Destroyed one of Em's stuffed teddy bears and one of my shoes… he used to be pretty well-behaved but we just hope Logan has now the time to train him properly again. He's pretty stubborn and acts a little offended since Logan was away for so long… I just hope he takes to the baby okay," Rory described.
"I'm sure he will," Gigi tried to assure.
"So Logan has been thinking now that he should start bringing the dog with him to most places he goes. Work included," Rory added. Logan starting work didn't just come with the changed logistics concerning Em but also Loki. Sure, a dog could easily spend a half a day at home alone, but in practice it was more or less like caring for a capable but secretly attention-needy teenager considering he was just as energetic and occasionally also as moody.
"Speaking of work - any news on the apartment front?" Gigi inquired. "God, I wish I could've gone looking for apartments in Manhattan instead of New Haven," Gigi complained, not too seriously, having decided against the dorms considering she was engaged and likely to have a frequent visitor on weekends.
Gigi's apartment hunt hadn't gone too well, it was just that time of the year where everyone was buying and renting good properties away from under her nose. But eventually Gigi had gotten what she wanted, settling for a two-bedroom which she aimed to rent out a room from to someone she met so she wouldn't miss out completely on the college experience.
Rory had already seen pictures of it - it was a pretty nice place. Lot of exposed brick on the inside. And the building certainly had some of that old character she would've liked, despite the rooms being a bit of an odd shape. The place was really just a block or two away from where Logan used to live.
"Actually, I was just looking at a few video tours earlier," Rory said, holding up a particularly adorable light pink silk-knit onesie, admiring it. She had had none of these luxury things with Em, not that she hadn't had everything she'd needed, but with this baby there was definitely that extra degree of luxury that just seemed to pour in through the windows, both Honor and Shira also showering her with gifts. While many of them were highly impractical, they were certainly cute.
"We agreed I wouldn't be making longer travels unless unavoidable so I am trusting Logan's real estate guy and him on this mostly. I mean - it's just an apartment. It needs to be ready to be used, have a couple of rooms - ideally three-four bedrooms to be on the safe side, elevator preferably and some decent park nearby for the kids. What else do I really need?" Rory discussed. She was still picturing this as a place where she would possibly land on occasion for overnight or for a day, so the baby would have a place dry and warm to play in if the weather was horrible, but not really live in.
"Anything good on the horizon yet?" Gigi asked.
"I don't know what it is with New York and me…it's like I'd do anything to avoid the cliches. Apartment on 5th or Park Avenue is just… it's such a thing that's expected now from me, you know…," Rory complained, needing to vent. And with Lorelai not really being around that much right now Gigi was getting most of her venting.
"Even if the apartment is modest and modern and close enough to the playground on the corner of E 72nd and 5th…," Rory began to explain. They were mostly looking at the Upper East Side considering proximity to Logan's offices and Paris, but definitely not forgetting the good playgrounds. "You see I agreed with Logan we'd take all the help we need - cleaning, cooking and a nanny. And I know he's right and I know I want to have things to do, even if primarily I will be home. But it's just such a fall into the predestined mold or something," Rory discussed.
"Lorelai must be over the moon?" Gigi noted, having begun to notice some of Lorelai's little quirks too as they'd all spent more time together before the wedding. Lorelai would never quite say anything bad but it was something one could just recognize in the way she said things or her tone. She was definitely watching her words which just didn't feel natural anymore, so Gigi really didn't blame Rory for wanting someone else to vent about these things.
"I can't talk to her about things like this. I can predict exactly what she's going to say and I just don't want to hear it. I know that what she will picture as me having help is nothing like what I aim for, but I know how it can be. The first months with a baby it's just about picking your battles, you know… so one day the maid will show up in a uniform and I will be too tired to say anything and then that just continues until it's too weird to tell her to come in normal clothes. Next time someone will catch a photograph of the baby and nanny in the park while I'm at a meeting with my editor and they'll review every item she wears and what kind of stroller she has and I'll be the bad mom that puts work ahead of my kid even if it's the only hour during that week I have used the nanny…," Rory blabbered, shedding light on her worries which not all of which Gigi understood..
"This is cute! Looks like a little elf hat," Gigi commented as she got to a cute little baby bonnet.
"That's actually Em's," Rory commented, smilingly. She was glad to at least have some things that her children could share.
"But yeah - I have this one place lined up for Logan to see, but I think he's just going to say it's small and too simple," Rory added. "It's on E 75th, but one of the rooms is like a small maid's quarter or something, so I am not sure that really works as the third bedroom. I might just have to get the girls to share ro have the baby sleep in our room for now… but that one at least is something I'd feel happy with that I wouldn't be getting anything more than we need, you know," Rory continued.
"You worry too much, you know," Gigi replied, sounding like it was obvious. "If I was you i'd just try to ignore what others thought. How many of them are you really going to let into your house anyways. So who cares about impressions, as long as you know them not to be true," Gigi said, speaking like a wise person beyond her age. "I'd totally just got for a townhouse in the UE," she replied. "I'd just think of all the things that would otherwise take yourself or Logan out of the house - like would he need to go to the gym, because if he had that space at home then he'd be home more, right? Would the kids have a playroom? A terrace or something? A place for your little sister to come and stay over?" Gigi listed, hinting at her own request.
"I don't know," Rory whined. "And townhouses have a lot of stairs… but under the age of 3 stairs are a hazard," Rory argued, for a moment entertaining the idea of a townhouse. But Gigi did give her something to think about - maybe her sister, without the worries about other people's opinions, was right?
"Have you thought of a name yet?" Gigi asked.
Rory just shook her head, the name seeming to prove as one of the biggest challenges.
"How's Eric?" Rory asked.
"The same…," Gigi chimed.
"That doesn't sound as excited as I would've hoped…?" Rory inquired.
"I mean we're still good. But every now and again… I just feel like he's a little possessive, you know? And I mean in some ways that's cute and all, it makes me feel wanted and loved but I am a little worried how it's going to be now that I actually go off to Yale. Is he going to be calling me every minute of every day, checking up on me? Because of course I'd meet people, I might have friends that are guys. Just the way he got when I joked around with Colin during the wedding… he was all pouty afterwards," Gigi explained.
"Well, for one I am glad you recognize that as something to be cautious about. Just promise me you'll always tell me or dad if it gets any worse than that, okay?" Rory said with concern.
"Oh definitely. I won't have that," Gigi said, showing some real backbone - at least in theory.
Rory showed Gigi out, her sister having some other things to still get done before moving and was already on her way to go get some furniture for her new place in New Haven, hugging her goodbye, secretly already giggling about the fact that she'd set a plan in motion for her to be whisked away by the Life and Death Brigade in a couple of months for their first shindig. After that, Rory made her way towards the kitchen, curious to what Logan had gotten so caught up in she hadn't seen him for hours.
Logan was in his study and by the sound of it on the phone. Rory got herself a glass of water, and she honestly hadn't planned on overhearing any of it - but she just couldn't help it.
"I know you just renovated, but as far as I hear it wasn't really equipped with the latest technology," Logan said. "Yes I have my sources..," he added. "I'm talking about wireless fetal monitors, portable 3D ultrasound systems, respiratory function monitors that attach to those special glasses, electrical…, what was it…, impedance tomography, videolaryngoscopy, height adjustable and portable bathtubs… honestly what I am just asking you is if you can comply me a wishlist and I'd be willing to see what could be done about said list. I want you as well equipped as the best hospital in the country," Rory heard Logan say.
At that note Rory couldn' really no longer stay away, getting an idea what this sounded like. This was Logan's way of getting control.
"And yes, I am speaking ASAP," Logan said. "I honestly don't care if it sounds like I'm equipping the hospital for the birth of my child…," he argued, already feeling this conversation was ridiculous.
"Do you want the equipment or not, because I'm sure Hartford Hospital would, but I'd thought I'd be nice and offer you dibs," he added, adding a dash of charm, only then noting Rory leaning on the doorway, smiling at him.
"Alright, that's what I wanted to hear. You've got my address, right?" he added, looking over Rory now. "Good," he agreed, and ended the call with a casual "Talk to you soon".
"Logan..," Rory said, getting a little emotional.
"It hasn't happened yet, and I really wanted it to be a surprise…, and with their bureaucracy I don't even know yet if it will be…," Logan said, standing up and walking over.
"But still… You're taking control," Rory said, knowing exactly what this was. It was exactly what her grandfather had done - donating a lot of money to the maternity ward just a little before her mother had been born and now Logan was doing the same.
"I talked to Paris about this and she knew exactly what to suggest they get. Now I just hope they're not stupid enough to turn the offer down because of the Bettertons wanted their name on the building," Logan complained.
"You talked to Paris? Voluntarily?" Rory teased.
"Of course I did," Logan said, kissing his wife, as his hands caressed her bump.
AN: Any request for historic scenes? I know I already got some, but inspiration hasn't struck me with those yet.. maybe something else in your minds?
