Lying to Lorelai

She went straight to her mom's after the plane landed. Since she had everything figured out about the baby and had accepted that she didn't want to interfere with Jess' life, she was more comfortable with the prospect of being around Luke. She knew anyway that he wouldn't mention his nephew in front of her, there had always been a sort of tacit agreement between them since Jess left, all those years ago. But when she arrived home, her mom was alone. Lorelai hugged her at the door and stood looking at her closely. Rory thought that she was probably worried that she had changed her mind about Logan in the end.

"It's done. He has the contract. You can breath now, mom."

She did, audibly. "Don't get me wrong, kiddo, I know you have a strong will, but I know better than anyone that what you did was tough. So, how was he?"

"He was good. Mad, at first, at my coldness."

"It must have been really hard for him. I might not approve of his lifestyle, but he sure cares for you."

"I know. Still, we were supposed to meet again this morning – was it this morning? I don't know in which day I'm living anymore. Anyway, we were supposed to meet again so he could have time to go over the contract and think about everything but we didn't, in the end. He said he needed more time to consider. But he reassured me that he wouldn't stand in the way of doing this the way I wanted, and I believe him. I guess he's just… shocked." Rory thought that she saw the shadow of a doubt over her mom's face, but she didn't dwell on it. There was no overturning things anymore. "So, where's Luke?"

"Oh, he went to Liz's for dinner."

"But Luke hates TJ."

"Nah, he doesn't hate him so much. Just his Crocs."

"Yeah, right, and he likes grandma, too. Listen, you don't need to hide it, mom. I know he knows. I'm not mad."

Lorelai looked ashamed. "I'm so sorry, kiddo. I thought I would be better to you if I had a wonderwall of my own."

"You know what? I'm really glad you did, you've been great so far. If he's been helpful to you, I'm grateful." Her mom exhaled, relieved. "Mom? All these years… I feel like you've kept your opinion on things from me because you didn't want us to drift apart as we did when… you know. And I just wanted to tell you that… it's not going to happen. You don't need to be afraid of speaking your mind anymore. I actually want you too. I feel bad that you've felt that you had to because you feared the way I would take things. I know I've done things you don't approve of, and I wanted you to know that I don't approve of them either. But that's over now. I want you to be the true baby's grandma, not just a relative, after all."

Her mom started crying and hugged her.

"OK, kiddo. That's a done deal. I'm so proud of you."

"You know what? You hadn't told me that in a long while."

"Well, let's break the habit, shall we?"

They smiled at each other and cried together.

"I'll talk to Luke tomorrow, mom. I don't want him to be uncomfortable in his own house."

"He'll really appreciate you telling him. He cares for you."

"I know. And I for him."

"So! We haven't even made it to the living room. Come in, my precious baby baker."

Rory took her coat off and stepped in. Her mom had ordered a feast worthy of a movie night. She looked at her as if she had a devious design in mind. "I guess that you've chosen the film already."

"I sure have. Sit."

She collapsed on the couch. She could use a bit of entertainment. She was sick of thinking. "So, what is it?"

Her mother gave her a big grin. She knew that grin. She feared that grin. "A Room with a View. Someone mentioned it in passing the other day and I felt like watching it again. Plus I love the costume design. And there's naked British guys in it. There's very few instances of naked guys but not girls in films."

Fuck. Perhaps the thinking was not over, then. She didn't think she couldn't take that particular film at the moment. Her mom was staring at her.

"Not happy about my choice, loinfruit?" Yeah, she was really staring at her. Where was her mom getting at with that film choice?

"Huh, no it's fine. I loved the book."

"Good, good. Let's do it, then."

She pressed play and sit back. Over the film, at particular moments, she could feel her mom staring at her. So that's where she wanted to get at. Her mom thought she was like Miss Honeychurch, lying to everyone about her feelings. Did she also think she was as self-absorbed and posh as her? She couldn't help crying at the end of the film, though. It really did mirror her life, only it ended happily.

"Did you enjoy it, hun?"

"Well, aside from the fact that it made me feel totally shitty for not getting a happy ending, sure, it was lovely."

"Oh, but Logan really wasn't your it, was he?"

"No, of course. But still, look at me." She pointed at her belly. "I don't believe guys will be queuing up to love me now."

"Guys, or a guy?"

"Which guy?"

"I don't know… do you know?"

"I thought we had established that the other day. Are you OK, mom?"

"Sure, hun. I was just thinking of poor Miss Honeychurch, with her true feelings all bottled up." She said it in her terrible mock British accent.

Her mom stood up and carried the leftovers to the kitchen. Rory helped her and then got her bag and took it to her room. Lorelai leaned on the door frame.

"I was just thinking the other day that, after considering how everyone turned out over the years, Logan is definitely my least favorite of your ex-boyfriends. The rest grew out fine, I guess. Except Dean. Yeah, he was a cheater, after all. Good night, hun."

Lorelai turned and left. Rory stood in her room, stunned.