Talking to Luke
Rory waited until Luke had closed down the diner to go downstairs. She helped him with the tables while he cleaned up the kitchen, and when she finished she poured a decaf for herself and sat on the stool in front of the kitchen entrance. When Luke went out he jumped, scared.
"Hi."
"Jeez, you really scared me there. I had forgotten you were here."
"Do you… want to sit down, Luke? I need to talk to you."
Luke nodded and lifted a finger as if asking her to wait. He went to the fridge, grabbed a beer and sat on the stool beside Rory's. "I'm ready now."
"I know you know that I'm pregnant, but I just wanted to tell you myself. I also wanted to tell you myself that I'm keeping it, that I'm going to do this alone – as in Logan-free – and that, well, I think I'm sorting everything out now. In case you were wondering."
"That's great to hear, Rory. Thanks for telling me." He awkwardly got up and hugged her briefly before sitting back. "OK. So is there anything else you need to tell me?"
"I was just wondering if you would like to be on the scaring-Taylor team once the news have been broken. I have a lot of ideas around Rosemary's Baby."
Luke laughed.
"Sure, kiddo. I'd love that. So, are you telling everyone over Christmas?"
"I… I don't want to tell my grandmother yet, not until I've settled papers with Logan. I fear she would throw a tantrum at Mitchum or something. I guess that, once that is settled, not even she would risk their family suing me for breaching a legal agreement. So I won't be joining you over the holidays in Nantucket. I guess mom will fill you in whatever excuse she thinks best for my not going."
"I think that's very sensible. You still don't show it, so I guess you still have a bit of time. What about the town people?"
"Yeah, I'll do that soon, but… I want to tell someone else first."
"Who?"
"Jess."
Luke nodded, understanding, and didn't seem surprised. "He'll really appreciate it. He's been worried for you."
"Luke?" She toyed with her cup's handle. "Do you think… he'll hate me?"
"I… don't really know. But… I don't think he has it in him. The ability to hate you, I mean."
She started crying. "I really hope so. It would kill me if he did."
She didn't see Luke standing up, her eyes were all blurry. He hugged her, less awkwardly this time. "Why don't you tell him that, kiddo? He has a right to know." He broke the hug and looked at her.
"But… I don't think it would be fair to him, since he's now happy and all, and I'm… you know."
"I don't think you have the power to decide what's fair for him, and neither do I. I think he will be the only judge of that. But I still think he would like to know, regardless. He's coming over tomorrow, for Christmas dinner. Did you know?"