"LA?" Rory questioned sitting down.
"For a few days. But I can't go."
"Why not?"
"I told Luke I'd take care of the diner until you go back to school. Then there is Libby, it's not like Lorelai can watch her, she has her hands full with the twins." Jess explained.
"We could figure something out." Rory told him.
"Helping write the script wasn't part of the contract. If they need help it's the 21st century, we can video conference."
"Jess, are you sure you don't want to go?" Rory asked.
"Yes."
"Daddy." Libby wriggled in his lap.
"What would you like for lunch kid?"
"Burger." Libby stated.
"You had a burger yesterday." Jess pointed out. He whispered something in Libby's ear.
"Okay." Libby nodded frantically.
"And for you?" He asked Rory.
"I'll have what she's having and some coffee. We'll sit over there." Rory reached out to take Libby, but she hugged Jess.
"Hey Lib go with Mommy, Daddy has to get your lunch and talk to the man when he gets back."
Libby reluctantly went with her mother to another table. Jess went and put in their lunch order with Cesar before Mel returned.
"You have a nice family." Mel commented.
"I like them." Jess replied.
"I can't talk you into going to LA."
"Not right now. If you can walk until fall recess in November then fine, but until then I have to stay here. Video conferencing could work, e-mail, instant message. But right now, I have family obligations here."
"I need to make a few calls." Mel stated.
"You can't use a cell phone in here, it's one of the few rules Luke is adamant about. Try the gazebo in the square it's usually pretty quiet."
"Thanks." Mel responded before stepping out.
It was another few minutes before Cesar announced that Rory and Libby's lunch was ready.
"What's this?" Rory asked looking at the plate before her.
"What does it look like?"
"A pile of mashed potatoes with a well in the middle filled with soup and what looks like cut up sausages."
"Tell Mommy what it is Lib." Jess suggested.
"Soup Mount…" Libby replied.
"How often does she eat this?"
"Once every few weeks."
"It's got lots of vegetables in the soup so what am I worried about?" Jess shrugged.
"Where did Mel go?"
"Gazebo to make some calls." Jess replied.
"Are you sure you don't want to go to LA?"
"I'm fine right here." Jess assured her again. "Enjoy your lunch, it's on the house."
"How often isn't it?" Rory smiled before taking a bite of her lunch. "This isn't bad."
"I know."
GG
"Hey." Rory whispered as she walked into the living room of her mother's house.
"Hey." Lorelai replied.
"Are they asleep?"
"For now."
"Mel showed up at diner in his Bentley earlier."
"Mel?" Lorelai asked.
"The movie guy." Rory explained sitting down.
"What did he want?"
"Jess to go to LA to talk to the writers." Rory replied.
"When?"
"Jess told him he couldn't go, he had family obligations here."
"Jess did?" Lorelai questioned.
"They are trying to work out some video conferencing thing."
TBC