They were a little early, Rory, seeing that Logan was unable to sit still any longer at the house, had suggested they just start driving, claiming she was a little unsure if she remembered Catherine's address right. Logan had asked her to come along, and of course she had no objection to supporting him through whatever he wanted to do. But as her last interaction with Catherine had been in a form of a letter where she had pretty much told her not to wait for Logan, more specifically to consider if he was worth the wait, she was a little hesitant - as she really had done quite the opposite: got on a plane a few days later and pretty much told him not to marry Odette.
The white antique cape looked sharper in daylight than it had the last time Rory visited, Logan noting that it held a new roof and rain gutters, the details having been finished quite recently.
"Do you think she'll mind if we're early?" Logan, still sitting behind the wheel, asked, glancing over Rory. It was strange seeing Logan so worried.
She shrugged, adding, "probably not."
"Here goes," he sighed, and after one more deep breath he stepped out of the car, Rory following his lead.
Logan rang the doorbell and the two waited, and within seconds Catherine opened the door for them.
"Hi," Catherine said.
She looked still as slim as before, but somehow her form was more hunched, tired, clearly the years taking a toll on her as well. Her grey hair was now pulled into a long braid in the back, but her choice of colors was still similar - tones or rust and dark green composing her outfit.
"Hi," the two replied almost in unison. Rory tried to look at the situation from a bystanders perspective, and she could understand why Catherine might feel a little threatened by their wish to meet with her, even Logan's clearly wealthy appearance and body language, which he himself even didn't notice creating a bit of an intimidating stance.
"Come on in," Catherine gestured inwards, continuing to suggest they take their coats off at least. She didn't seem particularly enthusiastic but then again not reluctant either, and in a way it did feel like visiting a distant relative, which she basically was.
"I believe congratulations are in order," Catherine said, noting Rory's bump.
"Thanks," she replied, adding friendlily, "these are our second and third actually," running her hand over her bump smilingly, feeling proud. In a way she also wanted to show her how wrong she'd been about Logan, but she knew better than to rub that in - realizing Logan was just about to show her that himself.
"Triple congratulations then," she added, leading them towards the kitchen, offering them a seat at the dinner table, a plate of cinnamon buns waiting, smelling delicious, on the table, making Rory's mouth water.
"Thank you," Logan replied, feeling a bit tongue tied.
"Coffee? Tea?" Catherine offered.
"We're fine," Rory replied, knowing that Logan really didn't want to delay this any longer.
"Okay, help yourself to the buns if you want," she added. Rory, while observing the situation carefully, couldn't refuse that, feeling a constant state of hunger these days.
"So, what brings you to town?" Catherine asked, curiously, clearly feeling a little intrigued why they wanted to speak to her.
"A few things actually. Logan?" Rory began, swallowing a bite, trying to nudge him a little.
"I would like to break this communication barrier that we have between our families. I don't know all the details, but I know you were involved with my father, and I know that Owen is his. And I know about the NDA - and it can remain in place for your benefit, but I don't really see the need for secrecy anymore," Logan explained.
"Oh," she reacted, unsure what to say. Sure she had figured the letter and whatever Rory had pieced together probably had clarified things for him too, but there hadn't been too many times in the last three decades that anyone had really said these things aloud.
"I would like to talk to Owen, get to know him - if he wants to, of course, and we figured we'd ask for your permission first," Logan added, glancing at Rory and then back at her again.
"So you're okay with all of this?" Catherine asked, leaning against the kitchen counter.
"Hey, I've been under no pretense for a long time that my dad was perfect in any way, but neither was my mother or am I, and as there are quite a few similarities in your stories, as much as I've understood, I do understand and I'm not judging. The pictures Rory found at the house showed me a different side of Mitchum, and that didn't seem like such a horrible thing. I'm sorry for what happened - I don't have all the details but I can assume the time wasn't pleasant for you. Finding out about this made me think how things could've been different," he added. The pictures Rory had found, had shown a very different side of Mitchum, spending time with all of his three kids at the Maine house, actually looking happy. Logan had played that scenario out in his head thinking what would've happened if his father had chosen to leave his mother back then. And that prospect wasn't too appealing and he could understand why Mitchum had relented to Elias' and Shira' demands.
"I hope you realize I didn't do this for the money," Catherine felt the need to explain.
"I believe you," Logan assured. She had changed her life around to raise Owen, and for a while she'd waited for Mitchum, which hadn't happened. She'd, inevitably, given up her career at Yale as a biochemist and accepted the Huntzberger's payoff and the small 'job' taking care of the house. Logan had already considered getting someone else to do that, but somehow the topic seemed difficult to approach and he made a mental note to return to it once things were more clear.
"But what is it to you - why now?" she asked.
Logan shrugged, adding, "I just feel like I need to right some wrongs. I guess in a way I consider myself in charge of the family reputation now and I don't like it's history with secrets like this. I've been changing the way the company operates and I want those values to carry to all of our relationships. If anything, I just want Owen to know that he has a claim to what being a member of this family entails, if he wants it," surprising even Rory. "It doesn't need to be anything public, but I think he deserves to know that there is a family out there that's not indifferent to his existence. It's just me and Rory and Mitchum who know that we're here today, but I'm sure Honor would be pleased to learn the background of this too," Logan added.
"I never expected this to come from you," she sighed, having pretty much considered the topic dropped.
"I'm not my father. And I know my father can be a little difficult. But he wasn't opposed to me coming here," Logan added. He didn't quite know what his father thought of this - and he knew better than to assume that he would just tell him what he thought.
"Well..," Catherine began. "I don't have anything opposed to you talking to Owen, but I'm not sure how he'll respond," she added. Mitchum was another topic altogether which she didn't particularly care to revisit all these years later. There hadn't been any contact in decades, and when she had finally moved on, she'd felt bitter towards him, but had continued to care for the house as the deal entailed and in away she too had enjoyed to watch Honor, who owned the house now, grow and hear an occasional detail about Logan, the kids she too had spent time with when Mitchum had visited for some summer holidays, almost leaving the impression that that could've become reality. Logan and Honor had been too small to remember much, and they'd been discreet enough not to raise questions by them, for them it had been an unique time to spend time with their father, which after cutting ties with Catherine hadn't quite been the same. What none of the people in the room knew was that deep inside Mitchum had also from that moment began to resent his kids to some extent, resulting in the image Logan had grown up with of his father, as their best interest had been one of the reasons he'd given up on his love. Sure, getting to be in charge of the HPG had been a major contributor as well, Elias having threatening to cut him off if he left Shira, and he'd made the expected decision, letting Catherine down.
"He once told me he didn't want to know about his father," Rory added, surprising Catherine that they'd spoken about things like that.
"As said, that is up to him. Maybe if it's coming from you instead of Mitchum, he'll respond differently, because you are not to blame for his actions," Catherine replied.
"Would you be willing to ask him yourself, if he'd be willing to talk to me?" Logan asked with pleading eyes.
Catherine took a moment, glancing out the kitchen window, clearly contemplating what that request meant. It meant digging up the past, one that she really hadn't discussed with his son since he'd last asked - and that had been around the time he'd just become an adult.
"How long are you in town for?" she asked, after a few seconds.
"Ideally - until tomorrow afternoon. We should get back to our son tomorrow," Logan explained.
"What's his name?" Catherine asked.
"Finn Richard, we call him Finny. He's almost 19 months," Rory replied.
"I bet he's adorable," she replied politely.
Rory didn't quite feel this was the time to bring out baby pictures, which she would've gladly done, missing him already.
"I'll call when he gets off work today, okay?" she offered with a deep sigh.
"Thank you," Logan replied. "And if he needs more time than this - the offer doesn't expire," he added. He felt a little rash, having just come here without much preparation and expecting to get to talk to him, but he knew of course that things might take longer than that for Owen to process. But if needed he could take flight out here some other weekend.
"And Logan?" Catherine began, adding, "I do appreciate what you are trying to do, I'm just not sure what my position in this is anymore."
"It's the least I can do. And I don't know how you left things - but if there's anything from my family's side that hurt you, please accept my apology on our behalf," he exhaled. "Your part in this is what you decide - I would prefer if you weren't just someone who takes care of the house, we could get someone else to do that, but rather be as a friend of the family - but that depends on you if you want that," Logan added. This was definitely a new side of Logan, borderline his business-self and something else - almost patriarchal, but if it was the kind of head of the family that took care of everyone, really taking everyone's best interest into account and allowed them to live their lives as they pleased - was that really so terrible?
Rory got to Portland High School just before the 5th period was about to end, the bell soon releasing the school's 700 students to it's halls. Enough time had passed that other than the clearly identifiable social groups that formed seconds after the students stepped into the halls, it really didn't remind her of her own schooldays - besides, Chilton had been anything but normal to begin with.
She passed the Chemistry classroom, but didn't catch a sight of Owen, for which she was grateful, not really knowing what to say if she did see him, considering their earlier conversation with Catherine. It would've been weird to pretend in front of him that nothing was up and then have his mother talk to him about Logan searching contact - surely he would put two and two together.
"Hey, Rory!" Mike called from across the hall, as Rory was just about to start checking the website which classroom Mike was in, having forgotten to check at the front desk where she'd gotten her access permit.
"Hey!" she greeted.
"I'm over here now," he added, having changed classrooms with a colleague. "So how have you been?" Mike asked, extending a warm hug as if meeting a close friend after a long time, surprising her with the gesture. He was still rocking the whiskers, his beard having gotten significantly longer and thicker by now but he had gained a few pounds, but nevertheless looked cheerful as ever.
"Well, barely having a moment to breathe but enjoying every minute?" Rory replied, leaving the statement hanging in the air.
"I can see that," he replied, noting her bump in passing.
"Well…," she shrugged simply.
"So you did go to NYU! Any plans after your graduate?" Mike asked, recalling that she was here to do a part of her thesis. "We could always use some good teachers here," Mike added before she had a chance to reply, not hiding the lack of teacher they'd been experiencing for a few years now.
"Sorry, but I've been thinking of sticking around NYU for a bit actually, if I can," she said.
"I figured something like that," Mike shrugged. "So what is this thing you're planning on conducting here today?" he asked, getting to her agenda.
"Basically I just need all of your 11th graders to take this quick test. It would be ideal if they can use computers while they do this but cellphones are fine if they all have internet access," Rory explained.
"Boy, some of these questions are quite tricky," Mike commented as he glanced over the test quickly.
"Don't worry, once you've done the test I can give you a programme that focuses on just this that you can conduct if you want. And all the results are anonymous of course, they won't be traced back to the school," Rory explained.
"Hm-hm," he continued to read, nodding approvingly. "The only problem is that I won't be seeing one class until tomorrow morning," Mike explained.
"Oh, that should be okay - I won't be leaving until tomorrow afternoon," Rory replied.
"Okay, so I'll just gather them up and leave them at the front desk," he added.
"That would be perfect," Rory said. "Thank you," she added.
"Do keep us in mind if you're up there making fancy decisions someday," Mike added, sounding all knowingly.
Rory raised her eyebrows at him, but sensing that he was just making casual commentary.
"Alright. Do you need me to stick around and explain these things to the classes?" Rory asked, wondering how they were going to do this.
"I think I should be fine. No reason for you to sit through all the classes," Mike replied.
"Oh, okay," she replied, gathering up her things to leave. She'd almost expected she'd have to stay like in most schools that she'd visited with this project, but she certainly wasn't going to argue with him. "But it was nice seeing you!" Rory added, waving him off friendlily as she slipped through the door, the constant flood of students into the room as the bell had just rang making that a little difficult.
"See you!" Mike called after her.
Rory walked down the empty hall back towards the entrance, texting Logan that she was off already. Logan had just gone to explore the town for a bit but she was fairly certain he hadn't gotten very far yet.
She put her tote onto the couch by the entrance, beginning to pull on her winter coat as she received a text back from Logan that he'd be there in 10. Surely there was a positive side to this - that she actually had some time to just enjoy his company. It wasn't exactly common that the two of them just could hang out like this - just the two of them, having the afternoon to kill essentially.
It felt like Murphy's law or something - just as Rory was beginning to focus on the contents of her inbox while she waited on the couch, a familiar voice approached.
"Rory, is that you?" Owen asked. His appearance really hadn't changed much, perhaps something about the beard, but Rory hadn't really paid that much attention.
"It's me," she replied smilingly, trying to stay as neutral as possible. She didn't feel like going through the whole pregnancy announcement again, hence she stayed seated, knowing it hardly showed like that, especially with her winter coat on.
"Mike told me you'd be stopping by," Owen noted. "So I assume you're doing well?" he asked.
"Pretty good, trying to graduate. I'm at NYU," she explained.
"Did you ever finish that book of yours?" Owen asked.
"It's embarrassing to say but actually no," Rory admitted. She hated the idea of starting something and just leaving it like that. But things had been so over her head back then she really hadn't felt like she had much choice in the matter.
"That's too bad," he replied.
Rory shrugged.
"So you're in town for a bit or hurrying back?" Owen asked.
"Going back tomorrow," Rory clarified.
"Hey, did I note on Facebook that you were engaged? Congratulations, if that is the case," Rory tried to divert the attention away from her.
"I am," he replied. "Stalk much?" he chuckled friendlily.
"Oh, I just wondered if you were still working here," Rory replied.
"You want to go have dinner tonight or something? Charlotte would love to join, I'm sure," Owen suggested, reffering to his fiance.
"Hmm… we were actually thinking about cooking something back at the house, wouldn't want to waste food, would we?" Rory commented, glimpsing momentarily back to a fight she'd had with Owen when she'd forgotten to clean out the fridge before going away for Christmas two years ago.
"Sure, makes sense," he commented.
"But you'd be both welcome, if you want - we have plenty of food," Rory suggested, almost having forgotten the complicated aspects of this relationship, having fallen easily back to their friendly banter. "But I do think you should speak to your mother first," she added, trying to correct her enthusiasm.
"My mother? Why?" he inquired, looking confused.
"Just talk to her, okay?" Rory assured, adding, "text me if you're coming tonight, we're pretty flexible about the time," she added, as she waved him off, the text from Logan having altered her that he was waiting out front. She wanted to get out of there as quickly as she could, but she could tell she'd left Owen quite puzzled. Now there was just left to wait.
