Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls is the creation of Amy Sherman-Palladino.
Chapter 22: When You're On, You're On
Hartford, Connecticut, St. Joseph's Hospital, Saturday, May 20, 2017, 10:00 am EST
An hour after her first visit Ashley the social worker returned to complete Lucas's paperwork. Logan and Rory were able to assure the woman that the parents of the loftily-named Lucas Richard Gilmore-Huntzberger were not fighting and were in agreement on all matters associated with the paperwork. In addition, Ashley had not offended them in any way. In fact, they were delighted with her services.
Logan could tell dealing with the social worker had taken its toll on Rory. She sat perched on her bed, while he now sat across from her on the lone empty chair.
"How about I get us a small coffee to share?"
"Regular?"
"Yeah."
"Please. I wonder when mom and Luke are coming back? Look at all this stuff we have to load into the cars."
"You text Lorelai?"
"Yeah, but her phone's off. I figured they'd be back by now."
"I'm sure they didn't forget you're getting sprung, Ace. But, if they did, I'll have Frank come up and help me get this stuff into the car."
"Frank?" Rory's tone was one of surprise.
Logan quirked a questioning brow at Rory.
"Yes, Frank."
"Frank-your-driver-from-Yale-Frank?"
"Yeah. That Frank. I still have the account. Don't use it often but it's good to have in a pinch. Like when you find out your ex just made you a father and you suddenly need to ditch your wedding and fly commercial in the middle of the night."
"I guess that doesn't happen often enough for the company to use in their advertising."
"Probably not."
"So you flew commercial...Did you go for the Chex Mix or the Stroopwafel?"
"First class, Ace. Macallan neat." Logan smiled. "And Chex Mix."
"Ah," Rory replied absently. Logan thought she suddenly seemed a bit preoccupied. He watched as she waved Mr. Fox around.
"You okay, Ace?"
"Yeah, I'm okay." Her electric blue eyes pierced him. "So we talked about his last name but you never said a word about his first name. It was originally going to be Richard Lucas but I reversed the order after hearing my grandmother say 'Little Richard' one too many times."
Logan chuckled. "Understandable."
"Yeah, so." Rory tittered nervously. "Anyway, are you okay with it?"
"I'm fine with it. Luke's your step-father. When he wasn't threatening to beat the crap out of me, he was nice. More important, I know he's always been there for you and Lorelai. And your grandfather was an excellent man. I have no complaints, Ace."
Rory expelled a sigh of relief.
"Good. I know your family doesn't do juniors, but -"
"But you figured with my arrogant, swelled head I'd be the one to start?"
"No," she smiled."I just wanted to make sure you didn't mind."
"I don't mind, Ace," he smiled. "You're one to talk anyway. Lorelai the Third."
"Yeah, I know that's unusual. Ashley calling me a junior was weird. Thing is, if I'd had a girl, I'm pretty sure I would've named her Lorelai. Half the time Mom says it was feminism. The other times she credits Demerol. When I was thinking about it, I decided I'd do it out of tradition. To ensure there's always a 'Reigning Lorelai.'"
Reigning Lorelai?
A thought occurred to Logan. After a brief mental debate, the shoulder devil won.
"You know, Ace, I wouldn't want to stand in the way of a Gilmore tradition."
Rory sucked in a breath. "What?"
"I'm just making the offer. Lucas is pretty damn cute. If you want a girl, I'm on board. I'm already your baby daddy. You don't want to rack up a whole bunch of us. Father's Day could get expensive."
"Ha ha."
Logan smiled at her.
"I have a related question for you."
Rory's mouth dropped open.
"No, Ace. Related to the name thing. Not to the Baby Lorelai idea."
"Oh." She seemed to breathe again. "What?"
"I know you're not on the best terms with him, but I gotta say I'm surprised Christopher's not here."
Rory nodded in a deliberate way. As though she'd been expecting the question and had practiced how she'd respond.
"We texted. He cleared his schedule for next month -when Lucas was supposed to arrive. He's in Australia on business. It's been raining there and the airports are a mess. He finally said he could fly back on Thursday. But everything was going so much better then, I told him to wait until I got out. He'll probably pop up this weekend. Or Monday."
"Ah. He okay with the name?"
"I think so. GG -my half-sister - insists she'll name a kid after him. Of course, she's fifteen so we're all hoping it's a longterm goal but you never know."
It was after eleven when everything had finally been taken care of, and Rory's 'posse' was ready to make a move. Lorelai managed to commandeer a second wheelchair for Logan Jr. who supported, precariously balanced on his teddy bear lap, Charlie Bucket, the Fantastic Mr. Fox, Ducky Delight, and an assortment of flower arrangements. Balloon strings had also been tied around his wrists and arms. While Luke pushed Rory's chair, Logan pushed Logan Jr.'s., and Lorelai carried Rory's suitcase as well as several totes loaded with gifts.
"So what's the plan?" asked Luke.
"We get settled into the apartment. Have lunch. Lane and Zach might stop by. Then Logan and I are coming back here to spend the rest of the day with Lucas."
"Oh. Okay. Maybe Luke and I will head back to Stars Hollow after lunch?"
Logan could detect a hint of worry in Lorelai's inflection.
"Mom..."
"Rory'll be fine, Lorelai." Logan would make sure of it.
"I know. I'm still her mom. She's just out of the hospital. I can worry. It's in the rule book. You'll figure that out soon enough."
"Of that I have no doubt."
Finally the elevator opened onto the ground level. The group made their way to the main doors.
"Since the Jeep's loaded with Rory's stuff from the house, I'll bring the truck around and we can load this stuff onto the back."
"Luke, I don't think Lucas's stuffed animals should ride in the back.," Lorelai's face echoed her disapproval. "They'll get all dirty and germy and gross and ick."
"Fine. Then I guess the six-foot bear's riding shotgun." Lifting Logan Jr., Luke tucked him under one arm, he shoved the other animals onto the chair before starting to make his way to his truck, trailed by a parade of colorful 'New Mommy' balloons.
"My man's a real man!" shouted Lorelai after him.
Luke scowled over his shoulder.
"I'll get the rest of Noah's Ark in a minute."
"I can fit Rory's stuff on my backseat. We can stack it." Lorelai glanced over at Logan. "I'll go get the Jeep. You'll stay here?" Logan nodded, a slightly puzzled look on his face. Lorelai spun on her heels and trailed after her husband.
"Was your mom really concerned I was going to take off and leave you?" Standing behind her wheelchair, Logan spoke into the air above Rory's head.
"Man, just because I'm in a wheelchair, why is everyone talking over me?"
Logan bent over, bringing his face right up to Rory's.
"Because you're sitting in a wheelchair, Ace. Everyone's taller than you and that's why we're talking over you."
"Well, I wanna stand." Rory started to rise before quickly settling back down in the chair.
"What's wrong?"
"Got up too fast and felt dizzy."
"G forces, Ace. You're gonna be a terrible patient. Way worse than me." Logan pulled out his cell."Hey Frank. I'm ready. Right out in front. See you in a few." Logan replaced his phone to his pocket. "Hey, you might as well just sit and wait. Your mom's coming around with her car."
"Oh... I'm not sure I can ride with my mother."
"What? Why not?"
"Her Jeep's a little high. Maybe it'll be okay but I'm not looking forward to the climb."
"Ah."
Emily's words from the day before reverberated in Logan's mind.
"Tomorrow, make sure you wait for Luke and Lorelai to leave before you leave the hospital."
Smart woman.
"I thought I mentioned it. Maybe I told Grandma?"
Logan owed Emily another round of 'thanks' apparently. But then her other words echoed in his head.
"Logan, take care of my granddaughter and my great-grandson. That's the only thanks I'll ever need."
"Well, it's not quite the decked out stretch I had at Yale but you're welcome to ride in my car, Ace."
"You sure? I don't want to put you out."
"Ace! Come on! Mi limo es su limo."
"No. I just was thinking in case you needed to stop somewhere."
"No. No stops. Just home."
"Okay, then. I'll ride in your car. Thanks."
After a few minutes, Lorelai brought her Jeep around to the curb near the front of the hospital entrance. Luke pulled his truck up behind the Jeep. He jumped out and grabbed the remaining stuffed animals to stow in his truck. Lorelai leaped down, quickly making her way over to where Rory sat with Logan leaning on a concrete bollard.
"Hey, you ready?" Lorelai grabbed the suitcase and set in down in her Jeep, followed by the gift bags.
"Mom, I'm gonna ride with Logan."
"Oh? You sure?" Logan thought he did a fair job of reading Lorelai. She tended to have a pretty animated face. It wasn't like trying to decipher tea leaves. Logan thought he detected surprise and disappointment.
"I'm just not feeling the stretch."
"Oh!" Lorelai frowned at her Jeep. "I wish I had thought of that. I could've driven your car."
"Mom, it's not a big deal. Logan's got the limo. And Frank. You remember Frank? You met Frank."
"Frank? Who's Frank?"
As if on cue, Frank pulled the limo alongside the curb, in front of Lorelai's Jeep. Stepping out of the vehicle, Frank made his way around to the passenger side of the vehicle.
"Frank, it's so good to see you! How's your wife? And your son?"
Logan steadied Rory as she stood -much slower this time.
"Slow, Ace. Remember. G forces."
"I'm good, Logan."
"Hello Miss Rory. Everyone's good. We had a little girl in '09."
"Congratulations on your 8 year old!"
"Thank you. Congratulations to you too."
"Thank you. He's five days old today."
"I heard. It's a good time."
"Yeah, I'm starting to get that."
Frank made his way to the passenger side rear door and held it open for Rory. In the sudden conversation lull, Lorelai's voice sounded out like an alarm.
"Rory!"
Startled, both Logan and Rory swiveled their heads around to meet her mother's gaze.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to yell. Just I'd been trying to get your attention. Then it was quiet all of a sudden."
"Oh. Sorry. Guess I'm distracted."
"No problem. Luke and I are gonna get going. And we don't have to worry about ordering food. Sookie's coming and she's bringing lunch."
"That's great," smiled Rory.
"Yeah," agreed Logan.
"So we'll meet you there. We just need to know where 'there' is."
"The address is 42 North Main, Lorelai. Units 23 and 24. Both rooftop. There should be someone from the management company there. In case you get there ahead of us, just give them your name. They'll give you the keys."
"Got it. Thanks, Logan."
With that Lorelai smiled thinly at each of them before tracking back to her Jeep.
Logan helped Rory settle into the limo.
"You good, Ace?"
"Yep."
Logan walked around to the rear driver side where Frank stood holding the door open. About to take his place beside Rory, something fast-moving caught his eye and then came to a halt in front of him. It was Lorelai.
"Hey, you mind if I talk to my daughter for a few minutes?" Before Logan had a chance to answer, Lorelai scooted inside the limo, pulling the door shut behind her.
"Not at all." Logan answered into the air before turning to Frank. "Frank, why don't you get in the car? I'm sure this won't take long."
"Yes, sir." Frank settled into the driver's seat.
Logan stepped back onto the curb. Within seconds the limo pulled away, with a thoughtful Logan gazing after it. He had to force himself not to text Rory to ask what was going on with Lorelai. He figured they'd be back soon. This belief was soon confirmed by the sound of Luke's frustrated voice carrying in the otherwise still of the parking lot.
"I don't believe this! What the hell is she up to now?!"
Logan was right in his assumption that the Lorelais' road trip would be a brief one. The limo turned out of the parking lot and then, Logan deduced, made a lap around the hospital complex before returning to its spot ahead of the parked Jeep. Lorelai shot out of the limo, ran to her Jeep, and hopped in without saying a word. Logan observed this all, in silence, from his place leaning against the bollard. Straightening, he made his way back to the limo and stepping into the back of the car. After confirming with Frank they were ready to go, he settled onto the bench seat, angled so he was facing Rory.
"Everything all right?"
"Yeah. Fine." She gave him a nervous smile.
"Something up with Lorelai?"
"Nope. All's good."
"Ace..."
"She just had something she wanted to tell me."
"Something she didn't want me to hear."
"It was private. Yeah. But please don't worry about it. It's nothing. New topic."
"Okay."
"What're you thinking?"
"I'm thinking I must've done something right in a past life."
"You did something naughty in New Hampshire is what you did."
"Touche. You?"
"I'm thinking how nice it is to see Frank again. It was sweet of you to bring him back."
"Sweet?" Perplexed, Logan chuckled. "I like the man too. But please don't tell me you've been pining for Frank all these years?"
"No," she laughed. "But I did get to know him a bit over the years. I wondered about him."
"And now you don't have to wonder anymore?"
"Yeah."
"Well, you may not like this then but I don't think I'm gonna keep him indefinitely."
"What? Why? You buying a car?"
"I think that probably makes the most sense."
"Miss your Porsche?"
"Please. You know I hardly drive in London."
"Yeah I know. I have to admit I would've thought you'd have cultivated an Autobahn habit by now."
"I think I grew out of my fast cars phase."
"God I hope so." Her words were said softly but the underlying implication made him smile. "So what're you thinking of buying?"
"Family car. SUV. Maybe a Land Rover. Or a Mercedes."
"Oh?" She sounded surprised.
"Yeah. Something with room for car seats. Strollers. Baby bags. Snacks. Toys. Other baby paraphernalia. A mini-fridge to store your..." He stopped.
"My...?" Rory obviously knew what he was trying to say and found his verbal stumble amusing.
"Your milk."
"Technically, it's his milk."
"Right. His milk." Logan nodded. "Surprised?"
"No. You've always been good like that. When you're on, you're on."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Speaking of which, I didn't give it much thought until now but I'm really looking forward to being somewhere other than the hospital. Or a hotel. And you have no idea how relieved I am that we're gonna be minutes away, not all the way down in Stars Hollow."
"Good. I'm glad, Ace."
"Yeah. Me too."
AN: Thanks for reading! FYI - I'm aiming for a total ~40 chapters but reader suggestions have inspired extra chapters in the past so if you have ideas, please let me know. Who is my non-canon portrayal? Jess! I liked him on the OS but find ASP's repeated reliance on him as the "Voice of Reason" very off-putting. Since I view Saint Jess's post S3/4 appearances as the GG equivalent of Seinfeld's Elijah the Prophet, I can't take him seriously. (Obviously. Have you read Ch.19?) I don't think ASP stuck with canon either when it came to him: That boy would've moved on. Did you see his guns?
Coming up: 42 N. Main. Friends from the Hollow. The LDB. Still on the fence re: Robert. There's another who might crash the party. Thoughts? Suggestions?
07/08/2017