Chapter Four
Rory drove back to the apartment. She didn't want to, but Logan said he would call when he got to London. But she didn't know if he meant when they landed, or after he was settled into his 'flat.'
No hotels for the Huntzburgers. A year in London meant renting the entire top floor of the fanciest, most expensive apartment they could find.
She absently straightened up some, made the bed, put away clean clothes she had washed a few days ago. And looked at the clock every five minutes. He should be settled in some time in the early afternoon, Connecticut time.
It was almost two when she finally got his call.
He barely said hello when she was begging him to make arrangements for her to fly out as soon as possible.
"Hold on, Ace, I haven't been gone that long. I'm glad you miss me, but it's only been a few hours."
"I can't stay here. Please, Logan, I just can't."
"But I thought you said that after being away from your mom last summer you wanted to spend this summer with her."
"I changed my mind. I want to come to London."
"Okay, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just want to be with you. Don't you want to be with me?"
"Of course I do, but I know you, Ace, I know your voice, and something's happened that you're not telling me."
"It's nothing. It's just – stuff about Mom and Luke. They had a fight or something and I don't want to get caught in the middle of it, that's all."
"So you have to run all the way to England just to get away from an argument your mom and Luke had?"
"Well, yeah."
"Rory, what is it? I know there's more to it than that."
Rory took a deep breath as she decided to tell Logan the truth. Maybe he would agree with her that she had to get away.
"This morning I decided to go to see my dad to see if he would give me the money to fly over there. And when I got there, Mom's car was parked out front. I thought maybe something was wrong with Gigi, she's my half sister, but after I went inside, I saw Mom coming out of Dad's bedroom."
"Oh. So – she and your dad . . . ."
"Yeah. They did it. God, Logan, how could she do that to Luke? They're suppose to get married! And she cheated on him!"
"Are you sure? Maybe she was just in there for some other reason."
"No, no other reason. She admitted whatshe did."
"Did she say why?"
"I didn't give her the chance. I had to get out of there. I couldn't stand to look at her, at either of them."
"Then maybe you should talk to her, let her explain."
"Explain what?"
"I don't know. Maybe she and Luke broke up."
"She was still wearing her engagement ring! That doesn't sound broken up to me."
"Rory, you have to talk to her. You know there are always two sides to everything. Sometimes three sides. You really should give her a chance to tell youher side of it."
"I don't know what she could say."
"All the more reason to let her explain. I'll tell you what – you go see her, let her tell you her side of it, and if you still can't accept it, then I'll have you on a plane before midnight. Okay?"
"Logan . . . ."
"That's the deal. She talks, you listen, and then you decide whether you stay or go."
"All right. She said she'd be home all day, so I guess I'll go. But I'm holding you to your word."
"Hey, my word is good. But you have to promise thatyou will go, and not just say you did."
"I promise. I'll go see her. And I'll listen to what she has to say. But if I call you, I expect to be in London by tomorrow morning."
"And here you shall be. Now go."
After she hung up, Rory took a shower, at a late lunch, then left for Stars Hollow.
It was almost four when she pulled up in the driveway.
She opened the front door and said, "Mom?"
When there was no answer, she walked into the empty living room. She could faintly smell coffee, and peppermint. Going into the kitchen she saw the yellow coffee cup, and her mom's engagement ring sitting next to another cup.
"Oh, Mom," she said quietly, feeling bad about what it meant.
"Anyone here?" she said a little louder.
She climbed the stairs but Lorelai wasn't in her bedroom.
Rory went back downstairs and walked to her bedroom, and found her mother,asleep, andcurled up with Rory's pillow.
Watching her sleep, Rory's anger began to fade. She looked almost like a child, with tear stains on her cheeks.
Rory sat on the edge of the bed and gently shook her shoulder.
"Mom. Wake up. I'm home."
Lorelai groggily opened her eyes and lifted her head some.
"Rory? You came!"
"Yeah. You said you wanted to talk, so I came."
Lorelai struggled to sit up.
They looked at each other, waiting for the other to start.
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