{Chapter Three}
~The next morning~
Rory opened her eyes from deep sleep blinking at the light hitting her eyes. She groaned before looking at the happy little girl that had woke her up by jumping up and down on her bed. She smiled at the beautiful little girl as she grabbed her and started tickling her causing her to laugh loudly filling her with job and happiness that warmed her heart.
"Stop Mommy" Gracie squealed squirming to get loose giggling loudly "Mommy no tickle please"
Rory chuckle at the cute voice and kissed her forehead before standing up stretching. She quickly scooped Grace into her arms as she smiled brightly and laid her head on Rory's shoulder, it was moments like this that she truly never got enough of. She loved her daughter deeply.
"Grandpa's diner for breakfast Gracie?" She questioned with a smile knowing she loved when she was treated in the mornings
"YAY" Gracie said happily clapping her hand together "Grandpa's breakfast"
Rory chuckled in amusement while walking into Gracie's room "Let's get you dressed first Okay?" Rory stated as she set Gracie down on the floor of her room
"Me Pick?" Gracie asked clapping her hands "Please Mommy!"
Rory smiled and nodded messing with her hair "Yep and while you get ready so will I" Rory said causing Gracie to squeal and run off to her closet
"Mommy" Gracie squealed in delight as she stated going through all the clothes "I love you"
"Love you too Baby" Rory said with a bright smile walking towards her room leaving her daughter to pick her outfit while she got ready
"MOMMY I prettttyyyyy" Gracie said loudly and giggling as she ran into Rory's room to show off the outfit she had chosen for the day
Rory chuckled as she finished putting on her shoes kneeling before her opening her arms "You are very pretty Gracie" Rory said with a smile looking at the perfect mix of her parents that created her little angel
"Mommy pretty too" Gracie said with a smile taking her mom's hand pulling her towards the door "Breakfast! Grandpa!"
Rory chuckled at her daughter's antics as she picked her up securing her in her arms for the walk to Luke's Diner. She listened as her daughter chatted quickly about everything and anything quickly, she was a Gilmore at heart. Less than five minutes later she walked through the front door and Gracie's face lit up seeing Luke.
"BREAKFAST! GRANDPA!" Gracie screamed as Rory set her down on the ground quickly before dropping her in her rush to get to her grandparents
Lorelai chuckled at her granddaughter opening her arms wide for the incoming child "That's my girl! Show him whose boss" Lorelai said amused picking up her grandbaby
"Sorry" Rory said softly giving her mother a quick hug before sitting down across from her mother looking at her daughter
"No problem" Luke mumbled before ruffling Gracie's hair "Kid what can I get you for breakfast?" Luke questioned with eyes filled with love, it never ceased to amaze Rory how much he cared for her daughter
Lorelai smiled whispering in Gracie's ear causing a bright smile to appear "CHOC CHIP" Gracie shouted chapping her hands together while Luke nodded and went to place the order happy to please his little one
Rory shook her head at her mother in amusement "Shameless" She muttered knowing that Luke has never told Gracie no, it was one of things she loved about her situation
"It's what I do best" Lorelai said proudly settling Gracie in a chair between them "Any plans today?"
"The park and to feed the ducks" Rory said quietly not wanting Gracie to be shouting about it and causing a scene
"You want mommy to come?" She teased her daughter in a kid voice causing Rory to laugh shaking her head as Luke brought food to the table
Rory looked at her food realizing she didn't order "Thanks Dad" Rory says with a smile knowing that he always knew what she wanted
Luke smiled and nodded heading back towards the kitchen "Need anything just let me know" He shouted from the Kitchen filled with pride at Rory calling him dad, as she had started doing after her speech at the wedding.
Rory smiled shaking her head slightly watching her daughter to ensure she eats "Do you have any plans today mom?" Rory questioned pleased that no mention of the book was made, she was grateful
"I guess I have work?" Lorelai said with a smirk as she kissed her daughter and granddaughter on the cheek before walking over to kiss Luke before looking at her again
"Stop by sometime later if you have time" Lorelai said to her before heading off to the Inn. Rory nodded as she continued eating drinking her coffee while she watched Gracie eat her juice and pancakes happily talking about how her grandfather was the best. She had a good life.
~Earlier that day~
Lorelai, Luke, and Lane watched somewhat relieved as a car parked in front of the diner. Luke smiled as the door opened revealing his nephew as the others took a breath to prepare for what was about to occur. It would take time, but they would do anything for Rory. It was the least that any of them could do for her and they could give him a chance, everyone deserves a chance and they judged him too quickly the last time.
"Glad you came Jess" Luke stated with a smile hugging his nephew quickly pulling back quickly
"Why did Lorelai call me?" Jess says calmly trying to understand why he came back here and wanting to get away as soon as possible, too many memories resurfacing quickly
"Why dear boy? I must give you this book and if you say you got it from me I will deny it" Lorelai explained as gently as she could while Luke reached and gave him a bagged copy of Rory's book carefully wrapped to hide it from his eyes
"This is about a book?" Jess asked in disbelief taking the bag from his uncle staring at Lorelai in confusion "Are you kidding me?"
Luke shook his head sternly and looked at his nephew seriously "This isn't just any book trust me" Luke explained gripping his shoulder "You need to read it"
"Go to the Inn, you can read it there" Lorelai commanded softly motioning in the direction "Promise me something though?"
Jess sighed deeply knowing better than to argue with a Gilmore and nodded at her, what was so important about this that someone that hated him would bring him all the way here.
"Fine, what?" Jess said impatiently feeling like this was going to be something that would make him mad
"You will read it all the way through" Lorelai said looking him dead in the eyes and he was taken back by how serious she was being, this was not like the coffee addict he knew throughout the years
"Okay?" He questioned in confusion and Luke frowned seriously looking at him
"You will understand when you see the book, but you must read it all the way through as Lorelai said" Luke said quickly trying to convey that it was important for him do so.
"Fine" Jess said shaking his head in disbelief at this whole thing "Okay, I will read it"
"You people are crazy" He muttered turning to exit the dinner
Jess walked towards the inn as quick as humanly possible. He didn't want to waste time and risk running into her. He was already struggling with the never-ending emotions that were filling his mind as he passed by everything. He could remember every single detail as if he was living it again. Jess walked into the Inn with the bag in hand and went to the front desk where Miguel was waiting for him.
"Lorelai sent me here?" He muttered trying not to glare at him
"Fine follow me" Miguel said walking him to the library quickly and handed him a key "You may stay here to read or go to your room" He explained quickly before leaving to return to the front desk
"Okay" Jess said still clearly confused over this whole situation
He ran his hand through his hair and sat on the couch attempting to relax looking at the bag as if it was a boom. What could be so important about this book. He frowns as he carefully unwrapped the package. He took in the title and author in disbelief before anger hit him suddenly.
"You got to be kidding me" He shouted to himself tossing the book as if it burnt his hand and getting up to leave when Sookie stood in his way blocking his exit quickly
"She did not want you to have it" Sookie said seriously causing him to pause to listen "She wrote it for herself really just to get it all out, but you are going to sit there and read it"
"Why like I don't already know how she feels about me?" Jess asked in defense thoughts filled with memories of everything he went through, he had tried so hard to put this behind him
"You don't" Sookie said seriously shaking her head trying to keep the tears away taking him by surprise "She will kill us for doing this, she never wanted you to read this book"
"Then why do I have to?" Jess muttered looking at the book with distrust and wonder, what was so important about this book?
"Just sit down and read it" Miguel yelled from the front desk shocking him slightly, did everyone get involved in this? Why was this so important?
"After if it doesn't change anything then you could leave" Sookie explained quickly knowing he needed to read it here
"Fine" Jess said caving in and sitting down on the couch in anger
"Good, do you need anything?" Sookie asked turning around to go back to her kitchen
"Coffee please" Jess shouted back as he took a breath picking up the book again
He carefully read the title again seeing in print "My Dodger" and whispered the title out loud bombarded by the memory of the first time she called him that. Jess couldn't help by look at it in disbelief, what did she write? He hadn't even seen her in six years, since his uncle married her mom. He was careful to avoid it, it hurt too much to see her and known she was out of reach.
Sookie came in the room seeing him seeing there staring at the book. She set the coffee in front of him and looked at him. She sighed seeing as he had not even opened the book yet, it was going to be a long day. She knew that it would take time, but she knew that from his reaction that he still cared for Rory.
"She gave it to us to edit. Here is your coffee. If you need anything feel free to ask away" She said quickly causing Jess to stare at her in confusion "I think in a way she just wanted those close to her to finally know the truth, she hides it carefully for so long"
Jess stared at her before taking a sip of the coffee taking in her words. What was the truth that had everyone bringing him here behind her back? They had closed that door so long ago. What did she hide for so long that had even her mother calling him in the dead of night to get him here? What had he not noticed about the girl that he had known since he was a teenager.
"Thanks, Sookie" Jess said softly as Sookie nodded and walked back to the kitchen hoping he would give it a chance
Jess took a deep breath to steady himself. He had no idea what was in this book that held the nickname she gave him so long ago. He stared for a moment longer and carefully opened the book to the first page looking at the dedication in surprise.
'For the man I always see, for the things I never said but always meant to say- Rory'
Jess took another shaky breath taking a moment to let the words sink in. He ran his hand through his ran and let out a breath. He needed to take his time seeing this, he had a feeling it would take a lot of time for him to read it carefully and absorb it all. He took a breath and carefully turned the page to continue reading.
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