Australian Summer
Chapter One
And So It Begins
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Mom and I stood nervously on the front porch of my grandparent's house on the last Friday Night of the school year. As the maid opened the door we shared a glance of panic. This was it.
Our nervousness was justified for once. Grandma mentioned they had something important to ask us. With Grandma, these things were never to be taken lightly. As we made our way into the living room Grandma smiled pleasantly with her scheming look on her face.
It scared the crap out of us.
Especially since we were late. Normally, we'd be met with a frown and a lecture. Something was definitely up. I glanced at my mother as my grandfather handed me a club soda.
"So, Rory, do you know where you placed in your grade?"Grandma asked.
"Right now Paris and I are tied. They don't feel like breaking down to the millionths yet. They said they'll wait to do it next year if need be. Paris was not happy."
"That girl takes school very seriously." Grandpa replied. "Are you excited for the summer?"
"Can't wait. I love school. But my brain needs a rest."
"What are your plans for the summer?" Grandma asked.
"Probably help Mom or Luke at the Inn or the Diner. Hang out with Lane."
"Sounds like fun." She replied in the way only Emily Gilmore can.
Other idle chit chat was held until we were eating dessert.
"Rory, we have something we'd like to ask you." Grandpa began. Mom and I looked at each other. This was not good if Grandpa was beginning. Normally, it was Emily. If Richard started, it meant I was being sweet talked or guilted into something.
"You don't seem to have any set plans for summer," Grandma continued. Oh no, they were doing the double team thing. Not fair. Not! Fair!
"We're going to an old friend of your Grandmother's out in Australia for three months. We'd like you to accompany us."
"Amelia's ?" Mom asked. Who was Amelia ? Mom had a smile of her own. "There are only two woman from society I actually like, Gram and Amelia !"
"Lorelai, please." Grandma said in her typical 'I'm talking to Lorelai' tone.
"Yes, Lorelai, we are going to stay with Amelia . Her granddaughter is going to be there as well from what I understand. You won't be alone with a bunch of adult's."
I looked at Mom. Australia for three months. The more I said it, the more fun it sounded.
"Whose daughter is it? Riley's or Aryn's?" Mom asked.
"Aryn's. Although, Jeremiah and Richard have daughters, too. You two were close when you were younger. Perhaps you should come out there for a few weeks as well, Lorelai. Aryn and Riley and all the grandchildren usually come the last three weeks of the summer." Grandpa offered. "I'd tell you to come as well, but we all know you'd get bored with us after a few days. That and I'm sure with Mia renovating the Inn you can't miss too much."
"Wow, Dad, that's really thought of you." Mom seemed genuinely touched by what Grandpa had offered. "Last three weeks of August?" Grandpa nodded. "So, Ror, you up to going to Australia?"
Mom was really letting me go. This was weird. Bizzar. Unusual. There was no way this was happening. "Really?" I asked grinning.
"Sure, babe. I'm sure you'll have fun. If Aryn's daughter is anything like her, you'll get along great!"
"I guess I'm going to Australia!" I said. Grandma smiled pleasantly. She seemed happy.
"Wonderful. We leave next Friday, I'll said a limo for you at 8. Lorelai, I'll call you during the week to make plans for you to come the second week of August." Grandpa finalized.
"Cool." Mom and I said together.
As we were leaving, realization hit.
"Did we really just agree to go to Australia?" I asked. "With your parents?"
"Yeah, but, babe, it'll be fun. I mean the two and half months apart, no. But you'll have fun! I loved going there every summer. When I got pregnant, Aryn was 20, I think. She already had one kid when she was 18. of course she was married, but. But when I got pregnant Aryn told me she was, too. It was really cool. When Amelia found out she took me shopping. She actually flew out here to take me and Aryn shopping. You'll have so much fun. I promise. I can't believe I get to see Aryn again! I'm so excited." I smiled at my mother.
She seemed genuinely happy to send me off to Amelia's . Normally, Mom would have been okay with whatever I choose, but would prefer I stayed home, out of Grandma's clutches.
"And don't worry about your Grandmother. When her and Amelia are together, they're like school girls again. You'll probably see Dad more often." Mom just kept rambling on and on about Austalia and Amelia and regaling me with stories of her and Aryn.
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Friday came quickly. Very quickly. Grandma took me and Mom shopping for an entire new wardrobe for while I was down there, and mom, too. However, we'd be taking Mom's stuff with us so she couldn't wear it before hand.
My grandparents were scaring me a bit. My mother was, too.
"Bye, babe. I'll miss you!" Mom hugged me tightly.
"I'll miss you, too, Mom!" We just kept hugging.
"Ms. Gilmore's, we have to go." The driver said politely.
"I love you, Mom!"
"I love you, too, Rory." We separated and I got in the car.
As he pulled off, I stuck my head out of the sun roof, "See you in two months!" I called back to her.
"Have fun!" She yelled back.
Many, many hours later, we pulled up to a huge private estate. The black and gold fence seemed to stretch for miles. It probably did. As we entered the beautiful house, I had to stop and marvel. Grandpa started talking about some of the architecture when someone else entered the room.
"Those stairs are the original ones built over a hundred years ago." Grandpa said pointing to the beautiful stair case to our right. It was the kind that was wide on the bottom, came in at the center and split back out at the top into two separate ones. It was white stone and marble. It was beautiful.
"Actually, the third, fourth, and fifth steps from the split were just replaced a few months ago." A clearly Australian voice said. We turned to see a young man standing there.
He was gorgeous. With his height alone, he looked like a god. But his short, curly dark hair, and his inviting green eyes, not to mention his smile. If it were possible for me to, I'd have swooned. But, alas, I've made it my personal mission to never swoon over a male. Coffee, yes. A guy, no. His polo hugged his toned torso nicely, outline his defined pecks, and gripping his biceps. His khaki shorts did little to hide his strong calves . It was obvious this boy worked out.
"No!" Grandpa exclaimed. The boy smirked slightly at me, knowing I had been checking him out. I turned away blushing. It was now I noticed Grandma had disappeared.
"Yes. My friends and I were, rough housing, I guess, and we managed to crack two steps and then stain the other with the blood now seeping out. Gran was not happy."
"Gran? Your Amelia's grandson?" The boy nodded, and took a few steps towards us.
Holding out his hand, he replied, "Finn Rothschild, sir." Grandpa shook his hand.
"Richard Gilmore. You must be Aryn's son, then, yes?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, Finn, this is my granddaughter, Rory."
"Hello." I said politely, offering my hand for him to shake.
"Hello, love." He took my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it gently. Grandpa just smiled at me.
"Richard!" A slightly accented voice called, followed by a woman of my grandmother's size, with reddish blond hair and green eyes.
"Amelia !" They quickly walked toward each other, hugging each other. Finn had moved to stand next to me and watch. Grandma walked through the same way Amelia just had, laughing with another man, similar to my grandfather, only more slender.
"Oh, Riley!" Grandma mused. She was smiling. Truly smiling.
"Richard, I'm stealing your charming wife, mate." Riley, I supposed, said to my grandfather. He had a stronger accent than Finn did.
"That's alright, Riley, I'm stealing Amelia . It all works out in the end!" Grandpa joked. This was bizzar.
"Oh, Emily. They're trading us again!" Amelia said dramatically.
"Oh, I've missed you!" Grandma and Amelia wrapped their arms around each other waists, while Grandpa and Riley gave each other a manly hug.
"Oh! You must be Rory!" Amelia came over to me and gave me a hug. I was shocked at first, but I hugged her back.
"Hello, Mrs. Morgan."
"Oh, poo! Please, call me Amelia . Or Gran. Whatever's your fancy! My Aryn, Ricky, Jeremiah, and Riley along with Lorelai used to call both Emily and I mum when they were here! I've known your mother since she was born! Darling girl, she was. How is she? I miss her so. But you grandmother tells me she'll be coming in August! Oh, where are my manners, have you met my grandson, Finn, yet, dear?"
"Actually, Gran, Mr. Gilmore introduced a few minutes ago." Finn spoke up.
"Same goes for you, Finn!" Grandma scolded lightly. "None of this Mr. and Mrs. business!"
"Well, then. Now that everyone has met everyone." Riley began. "What do you say to a game of golf, Rich?"
"Sounds marvelous, Ri." They walked off talking. I stood in a slight trance for a moment. Did he really just call my grandfather, Rich? This trip was bizzaar.
"Wait, Amelia , where's Aryn's daughter. I thought she was staying with you?"
"She was. But some things came up, so Finn will be staying with us instead."
"Oh, alright. Have fun you two." Grandma turned to Amelia .
"Finn, dear, why don't you give Rory a grand tour." Amelia said as they walked off.
"Well," He drawled. "Why don't I show you were your room is first, love?"
"Um, sure." I followed him up the stairs. I couldn't help but notice, he had a nice ass, too.
"Well, what we've been standing in was the foyer. This is the main staircase. There's a few others. There are only two floors, the main and the second, but, this place is still huge. The house has 30 bedrooms, 28 baths, a weight room, a media room, a game room, a library, an office, and a small kitchen. On this floor." He said heading to the left of the hallway.
"There is no way, all of that is on one floor." I stopped walking. Finn laughed at the look on my face.
"Actually, love, it's true. There is a series of 4 hallways. There is the main hallway, the one that the stairs lead to, then the hallway right there-" He pointed to the hallway directly in front of the stair way. "-and a hallway off each end of the main one." I was still staring at him. "Okay, well, the grandparents, the parents, and the aunt and uncle will be sleeping down in that wing, which is the North Wing. There are 6 bedrooms and the office. That wing is small, as it faces the back of the house." He pointed to the opposite way we were walking. I simply nodded. Yeah, that's small.
"All guest bedrooms are down in that hallway, which is the West Wing. There are 8 bedrooms. No one but the maids goes down there unless we have a big get together." He continued, pointing at the hallway he'd pointed to earlier. "This-" He stopped in front of a hallway that crossed the one they were on. "-is the other hallway on this end. We are now in the South Wing of the house. This is the larger wing. There are 18 rooms. That way-" he motioned to the left, "-is the weight room and the kitchen, as well as three bedroom. My cousins James, Jason, and Jensen's rooms are that way. They're all my Uncle Jeremiah's sons."Rory just nodded.
"Now, this way-" he pointed in the other direction. "Is the media room and the game room. My cousins Ricky and Rhett, as well as my room is down here. Ricky is my Uncle Rick's son, and Rhett my Uncle Riley's."
"Rhett, like Gone With the Wind?" I asked. Finn smiled.
"Just wait, love." He lead her to a dead end with another hallway branching off. "So, I lied a little, there is actually other hallways but they are little, and either off of one of the main ones, like this one, or they connect the main ones. See down there, that other hallway, that leads you back to the hallway that my room is in. However, this hallway, is where all the girls' rooms are. Josephine, Tara, and Scarlet's rooms are that way. "He pointed to the left side. "Josephine is Jeremiah's also. He was quiet mean to his children when naming them. Tara and Scarlet are Riley's. My Aunt Donna loves Gone With the Wind. A little too much. Now These two-" He pointed to the doors in front of him. "Are Arrabella and Isabella's rooms. They're twins. Rick's. Those three-" He pointed down the hall to the right. "Are Aryn's, the baby's, and yours. Aryn is my sister. Shall we?" He began walking away.
"Whose is the baby?" She asked. Finn stopped in front of her room.
"Its still in the womb. Let's leave it there for now." His tone went slightly cold. Rory shook it off and entered her room behind him. "Normally, my dear friend Stephanie stays here with Aryn. She, Logan, and Colin might be down soon as well. I'll let you get settled." His tone was clipped now. She didn't know what happened that he was suddenly, so, bleh.
"Thanks." She said but he'd already left the room. Rory shook off the encounter and took in her new room. It was beautiful. It wasn't overly spacious like you'd expect. It was spacious, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't huge with a bunch of extra space. It was, well, perfect. The canopy bed was beautiful. It was mahogany wood, along with all of the furniture in the room. The walls were little green and the trim was white, with a plush green carpet. Just like his eyes, I found myself thinking.
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While I had been unpacking, Finn had gone off in search of his grandmother. He told me this story later on, but I'll tell you now. It fits better here. He found her in the tea room. Grandma had gone to call my mother.
"Gran, I was wondering-" He began before she cute him off.
"If you are going to ask me if the boys can come spend the summer, no. Your father is still furious with Logan. You know that."
"Gran, please. I'll tell them to bring Steph, too. That way Rory will have a girl to hang out with. Please! Or, you could alway bring Ari, then I'll just bring Colin." He was begging.
"Finn." She sighed. "I wish I could. But your father is being a stubborn jackass, like normal. He may not let her to come in August either."
"Please, Gran. Screw Dad, he's an ass. I don't really care. Either one. Steph or Ari, up to you. I'd prefer both, but I won't ask for it."
"I'll speak to your father." She sighed. She could never say no to her grandchildren. Any of them.
"Thank you!" He hugged her tightly. "I should go make sure she doesn't get lost. Maybe I should have left her breadcrumbs..." Gran simply laughed as he left.
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"Seriously, mate."I heard from the hallway. "She might let you guys come. Colin at least. She's going to talk to my father and see if either you two and Steph can come, or if Ari can come and Colin."
"Finn?" I called.
"Rory? Hold on, Logan. Rory is that you, love?"
"Yes." I replied meekly. I heard him laugh. He found me sitting on the floor in one of the hallways a few moments later.
"Kitten, did you get lost?" He smiled down at me.
"Yes." I mumbled getting up. He smirked at me.
"I knew I should have left you breadcrumbs." I glared. "Well, the good news is I would have found you eventually because you're next to my room." I looked up and realized I was next to a door. "Come on." He opened the door, ushering me in.
"Mate, I've got to go. I have to entertain a female." I couldn't hear what the other person had said. "Well, I don't know. Do I really want to sleep with her? She's going to be here for three months with her Grandparents who are like Gran and Gramp's best friends."The other person said something while I glared at his back. "Oh, no, she is definitely hot. Those shorts are a god send. I've never seen such a great pair of legs." Pause. "She's tiny. Petite." Pause. "Like Steph, only with long brown hair and no bangs. But she has blue eyes." Pause. "Okay, so maybe I should. And no, you're not if you come. You've done enough damage around my house with the females." Pause. "Bull. I don't believe you that you haven't had sex since you found out. Riiight." Pause. "I don't believe that." He turned around, and saw me glaring at him. "Look, we'll discuss that later, right now I have to entertain her. Bye."
"Something wrong, pet?"
"First of all, where do you get off thinking I'd sleep with you? Secondly, do you know how much of a pig you are? That is totally degrading to talk about a girl that way, especially with her in the room. This is great! Just great. I get to live with an Australian version of Tristan!" I let out a frustrated growl.
"Hey now, I'm exotic!" He replied.
"Ugh!" I turned to walk out of his room. His was a blue version of mine.
"Love, do you know how to get back to your room?" I sighed and stopped. Damn him.
"No." I mumbled.
"What was that?" He was baiting me.
"No." I said louder. He smirked and led me down the hallways to my room.
"I'll have a maid bring you a map so you don't get lost again." I glared and closed the door in his face.
I plopped back on my bed trying to figure out what was his deal. He seemed so different when he was showing me the house, but as soon as I asked about the baby he changed. Maybe it's his kid. Maybe that's what it was. I mused over my thoughts a little while longer before calling my mom.
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Reviews please and thank you. I won't beg though. But, it would be very appreciated! Thanks. xxBree