Chapter Fifteen
After the walk with Tristan (Rory's answer)…
"Will you marry me?"
Rory looks at him with indignation. "Are you on crack?"
"Rory, I love you. And I know that you love me too."
Tristan gets down on one knee. "Please?" he begs.
"You are being very presumptuous now, aren't you?" Rory asks. "How do you know I love you?"
"Don't you?" he asks, his voice full of hope.
Rory shakes her head. "I do but I can't marry you."
Later that same day…
"So, I hear congratulations are in order?" asks Logan anxiously.
"Where did you hear that?"
"From Tristan. Where else?"
"And you're okay with this?"
"No. But I know he'll treat you well. And, I guess, that's all I can ask for."
"Anyways, we're not getting married, so you can dispel any of these theories you're thinking of."
"Phew…" laughs Logan. "Some of them involved murder."
Rory and Logan laugh together on the phone.
"I'm glad we're beginning to be friends," says Rory.
"Me too."
Later, in the evening…
"How dare you tell Logan that I agreed to marry you!" Rory screams at Tristan. "Let me give this to you straight; I didn't!"
"Calm down. I never told Logan we were getting married," Tristan assures her.
He grabs her by the shoulders. "But if there's any chance of…"
"You're incorrigible," Rory laughs through her tears.
Tristan leans in to kiss her. He could hear her heart beating and could swear that it skipped a beat at the prospect of what he is about to do.
He can feel her mouth open against his and he slips his tongue into her mouth. It is warm, soft, and sweet. He thinks she must have had candy before they met. He picks her up by the waist and lifts her onto his desk. He moans that he is glad his children aren't home. Rory moans in appreciation too.
Still kissing, Rory is undoing Tristan's button down shirt one button at a time.
"You're taking too long," he groans.
He is about to rip off his shirt when the door opens and Aurora is standing in the doorway, shocked.
"Daddy?"
A month before the wedding
"Avery? Are you going to open the letter?" asks Adam.
"I'm afraid."
"Do you want me to open it?"
Shaking, she hands it over to him.
Dear Avery,
"Don't continue," Avery begs of Adam. "I can't hear it. Not now."
"Do you have a date to your mom's wedding?"
"No. Are you asking?"
Adam blushes. "If you don't have anyone to go with, I'll go with you."
"I'm lucky to have such a great friend like you, Adam. I really am."
A year before the wedding
"Guess what?" Rory exclaims excitedly.
"What?" Avery looks up from chopping up tiny bits of meat for Madison.
"I'm getting married!"
"No way!" Avery shouts happily.
"I'm really happy for you mom," Avery says as she gives her a big hug. "Congratulations."
Madison looks up in confusion. "Your Grammy is getting married," Rory tells her as she kisses the top of her forehead.
Four years earlier…
"I'm sorry I was such a bitch on our walk," Avery apologizes to Tristan. "I know my mother really loves you."
"I really love her too."
"But do you mind waiting a couple years to get married? I would really appreciate it. I want to get on my feet with the baby before anything drastic changes in our lives."
"So, you've decided to keep the baby?"
"I think so. I know it will be hard, but my grandmother went through this even younger than myself, so I know I will be okay."
"I love you," Tristan says genuinely. "I will do anything for you. Just name it."