Chapter 148
"So…"
"So, she's here for a minute," Rory sighed, pouring Jess a cup of coffee as he walked into the apartment. Jess nodded.
"Where is she now?"
"She decided to go get Chinese food as a thanks for letting her stay."
"That was thoughtful."
"It was. She really can be."
"So…what's going on with her? Do we know, or is this another pry-it-out-of-her over several days situation?"
"…we know. She's fighting with her husband."
"Yeah, she seemed to kind of allude to that at a point earlier. Do we know what about?"
"He lost his job."
"…and she just ran here?"
"It's more complicated than that."
"…I'm listening."
"…I don't like him."
Jess smirked. "Well, I'm not sure how we jumped there, but sure, let's go from that point."
"She just…could do better, you know? She always could have. He was such a…ugh, I don't even want to…"
"Rory?"
"A loser! And Paris shouldn't be with a loser. It just doesn't make sense!" Rory said, rubbing her temples in exasperation. "I mean, I was happy for her getting engaged, and married, and pregnant…because she seemed happy, and to want those things."
"Do you think she doesn't?"
"No…not really. Definitely not like it was or is with Lane. And she's so excited to be pregnant, and I know she loves Doyle, even if…god knows why. She's really excited about the baby. But it sounds like a lot of this is kind of making clear to her how different they are, and how he isn't living up to the way she'd approach a lot of this, and how that bothers her."
"I mean, far be it from me to defend that putz…"
"Putz?"
"Moving along. Far be it from me, but to be fair, everybody approaches that stuff differently. You can't plan on knowing that."
"To an extent, sure. But he's never been ambitious…"
"Is anyone, compared to her? Other than maybe you?"
"…true. But he really just doesn't care."
"He works at the Wall Street Journal."
"And slacks, and gives it like 30%, and wants all the glory with none of the work. He was always like that."
"…remind me how you met him?"
"He was the editor of the Yale Daily News when we started as freshman."
"Seriously? Paris and authority figures?"
"You have no idea. And definitely don't want to."
"…alrighty then. So he's lazy."
"Yes."
"Employed at the Wall Street Journal, and lazy."
"You of all people know the name and reputation doesn't really prove anything."
"…fair. And he lost his job?"
"He was downsized. So it wasn't like he was fired for cause. But he came home and told her, so casual and unbothered about it, and she panicked. Because, you know, she's pregnant…and…well, I think there might be more to it that she wasn't telling me. But she did mention that she thought they'd need more space than the closet they'd planned on for the baby, and it seemed like they were on different pages."
"Yeah, the baby in a closet thing kind of doesn't seem like it's going to work. Particularly with them both being as loud as they are."
"Jess!"
"Alright, alright," Jess smirked, rolling his eyes, "…you said you think there's more to it?"
"Yeah, but I don't know what," Rory answered, puzzled, as she took another sip of coffee, "It's not like her to not tell me something. But her reaction to the news was pretty nuts, for it happening to someone she loves, you know?"
"I mean, it's Paris."
"Yeah, but she's capable of empathy."
"You sure?"
"Jess!" Rory smiled at his joke, chastising lightly, "Of course I am. She tries to be empathetic with me anytime something happens that might make me feel bad, even if she thinks it's illogical. So I don't get her reaction to this with Doyle. I mean, I do logically. Emotionally it just makes no sense."
"So what happens now?" Jess asked, grabbing some plates to put on the table. Rory sighed.
"I don't know. I'm going to try to figure it out. I told her she could stay. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all, as long as she doesn't intend to give birth to and raise her child here."
"Pretty sure that's not in the plans."
"And what's going on with her work situation?"
"She took the week off, apparently," Rory shrugged, "She's in a position to do that, which is nice."
"I'm sure," Jess nodded, "Do you think he's gonna show up here? Because if they start yelling up here Truncheon may never have another customer. Or at least any with eardrums."
"I doubt it. Not really his style. But I'll reroute them if that seems likely to happen," Rory nodded, "Thanks for being okay with this."
"I'm always going to be," Jess promised, "Though…"
"Yeah?"
"…we should really figure out a better space situation if we're going to have people this often."
"Yeah, I've been thinking about that too," Rory sighed, nodding, "Let's talk about it once Paris leaves, okay?"
"Okay. Also, she said something about a craft corner…"
"I'll take care of it," Rory said immediately, her eyes narrowing.
"Take care of what?" Paris asked, walking in the door, "I have Chinese!"
"Thanks, Paris," Rory smiled, taking the food, her smile then shifting, "But no craft corner!"
"You told her?"
"I didn't even know what it was!" Jess replied defensively.
"Rory, you really can't…"
"Jess, did you give her anything?"
"…a nail gun."
"Jess!"
"What?! She's a grown woman."
"Paris. Go get the nail gun and give it to me."
Paris sighed, going over to the other side of the apartment and getting the nail gun. She returned it to Rory, glowering.
"It's like you don't trust me."
"It's like I've lived with you before. Tomorrow we'll get you an etch a sketch or something."
"I'm not a child! And I already brought my travel Buddha Board!"
"…do I want to…"
"No," Rory answered, rolling her eyes and exhaling as Paris grinned.
An hour later, they were all sitting on the couch, eating leftover fortune cookies and catching up.
"How are you liking the Inquirer?" Paris asked. Rory smiled.
"It's been great, really."
"I read your fish story," Paris said.
"And?"
"It reminded me of your first story at Chilton," Paris admitted, "Me giving you that stupid parking lot topic, and you turning it into…"
"A heartwrenching tale of how everything in life is temporary?"
"Yep," Paris smiled fondly, meeting Rory's eyes, "I really hated you."
"I really hated you too," Rory replied, grinning. Jess smiled.
"You guys are weird," he said, standing up, "I'm getting more soda. Paris? Rory?"
"Yes, please," they answered simultaenously. He nodded, heading to the kitchen.
"So, I'm sorry to say I've got work all week. But you're welcome to come by tomorrow if you want to see the newsroom," Rory offered. Paris smiled.
"That sounds great," Paris agreed, "I miss it sometimes."
"Really? Journalism?"
"Not being an editor, ever. Just…the creativity of writing. The investigation. There was a lot to love. It'll be fun to step back into it for a sec."
Rory smiled. "Looking forward to it. But if I see you building a fort…"
"…it was the only option!"
"You were insane!"
"I was the only sane person there."
"Is what every person who acted totally nuts ever has said to justify their insanity," Rory said flatly, "Unrelatedly…"
"Oh, I bet this is gonna be a great subject change."
"How's the pregnancy going?"
"And you delivered."
"No pun intended."
"…it's amazing, really. This stupid wrench aside. Did I tell you we found out the gender?"
"…and?"
"It's a girl."
"Oh, Paris!" Rory exclaimed, "That's amazing! Congratulations."
"Yeah, congratulations," Jess said, sitting back down. Paris smiled blissfully.
"Thanks. Yeah, I couldn't have lied about my preference if I tried. I'm really pleased. We want a maximum of two, but I really, really wanted a girl…so I'm happy."
"Any names?"
"Yep. Marie Joan."
"Curie?"
"Of Arc?"
"Yes and yes," Paris smiled. "There's one other I really liked…for the first name…but Marie Joan is what we agreed upon. Though it'll be Geller. I told Doyle if it bothered him he was more than welcome to change his name."
"Before all this, I take it?"
"Yeah, weeks ago," Paris nodded. "He understood. I mean, it's not like him to push." Rory shook her head in agreement.
"I'm sorry that you're dealing with this, Paris," Jess said softly. Paris turned to him. "Rory told me a little. Not much."
"Oh please, Rory told you everything. I don't mind," Paris said dismissively, "But…thanks, Jess. I really appreciate that."
Rory smiled to herself. "I'm gonna go get ready for bed. Paris, do you need to borrow anything?"
"Nope, I'm pretty sure I have everything, unless…"
"Yeah?"
"…nevermind."
"What?"
"…could I read Jess's book? If you guys have a copy?" Paris asked tenatively. Jess looked at her, surprised.
"…you want to read The Subsect?" Jess asked. Paris nodded, looking at Rory cautiously, who was grinning. "Why?"
"…Rory has good taste. And you're…interesting." Jess smirked.
"Interesting how, exactly?" he teased.
"Oh, shut it, Kerouac," Paris rolled her eyes. "I just mean you have an interesting way of thinking and expressing yourself. I'm curious how it comes across in writing. And if Rory reveres you the way she does, even her enamoredness doesn't fully account for it."
"I'll grab one for you from downstairs," Rory offered, still smiling, "We have a couple copies."
"I'll pay you when you open."
"You will not pay us," Jess rolled his eyes.
"I insist."
"I'm the author. I insist more."
"Well…thanks, Jess."
"You're welcome, Paris."
