Chapter 7

The following Friday Rory stood next to Logan at his father's wake. All week she had been helping at the inn and had the day off to attend the funeral. Her grandparents had just arrived, as they thought it their duty to attend. They hadn't been at the funeral, which was just a small affair.

"Hello Rory," greeted Richard, bending down to hug her.

"Hi Grandpa, Grandma," she replied, hugging each in turn. She hadn't spoken to them since last weeks Friday night dinner. "You remember Logan," she said, as Logan held his hand out to Richard, who shook it after a look from Rory.

"We were so sorry to hear about your father," said Emily.

"Thank you. I just want you to know that, I care a lot about your granddaughter and I know you may not trust me but I want to prove to you that I have changed and want to be with Rory."

"Well, we must go give our condolenses to your mother," said Emily abrubtly.

"They're never going to like me are they?" asked Logan as they walked away.

A couple of hours later everyone had left apart from Shria, Honour and her husband, Logan and Rory.

"The lawyer said he'd be hear soon," said Shira, who was trying to fix her makeup. It had been a long day and she'd cried all through the funeral.

"I'd better go, leave you to it," said Rory.

"You don't have to dear," said Shira. "I know in the past we've had our differences, especially Mitchum, but I want you to know that all of that is in the past now. I can see how good you are for Logan. I want you to feel welcome in the family."

"Thank you, so much," replied Rory. "But I have to go to dinner at my grandparents house. Logan, I will call you later," said Rory as he got up to walk her out.

"Why don't you come round for Sunday lunch?" asked Shira. "I'd like to get to know you better. Please come."

"Umm, okay, sure," replied Rory. "See you on Sunday then."

Logan walked her to the front door.

"Call me if you need to talk," she told him. She had been surprised at how strong he was being but was sure it was all an act. He hadn't really cried since the night his father died and Rory was sure sooner or later it would all catch up to him.

"Thank you for being here today, Ace," Logan said as he kissed her. As Rory walked out to her car she saw the lawyer arrive.

"So, how was today?" asked Lorelai as she and Luke met Rory in the driveway.

"It was ... what are you meant to say about a funeral? It went well?" said Rory. "I've been invited to the Huntzberger house for Sunday dinner."

"That was nice of them. Sure it isn't a chance for them to have a go at you again and tell you how unsuitable you are for Logan," said Lorelai. "Only joking, sweetie," she added quickly at the look on Rory's face.

"I'm sick and tired of people joking about it or telling me it isn't going to work. Shira Huntzberger said she wanted to apologise about it, it was Mitchum not her that thought those things."

"Can someone just ring the bell so we can get this night over with," said Luke, who was stood behind them and couldn't reach the bell.

"So, mom, have you and dad been up to anything fun recently?" asked Lorelai over dinner when no one had spoken in nearly 10 minutes.

"We went to a wake today Lorelai, what's fun about that?" asked Emily.

"Oh that's right," said Lorelai. "Well, some wake's are fun. You know when you hate the person who died and then it's a celebration..." she trailed off.

"We talked to Shira Huntzberger, Rory," said Richard.

"She seems nice," replied Rory. "Nothing like Mitchum."

"She told us that she's happy you're back in a relationship with Logan," Richard continued.

"Oh course she's happy," cut in Emily. "Rory's a great girl."

"Anyway, she said the same as you, that Logan has changed and is a better person now," said Richard.

"I wish you guys would all just accept that people change," said Rory, looking down at her meal.

As the group all moved back through into the lounge, Rory's cell phone rang from her bag next to the sofa.

"Sorry," she apologised, as Emily had a rule that all cell phones be switched off for dinner. "It's Logan, I have to take this," she walke out of the room, not seeing Emily's disapproving look.

"Mom, just let them be. They're old enough to know what they want and they want to be together," said Lorelai.

"So you're happy with this relationship?" asked Emily.

"Yes. Logan makes Rory happy and that's all I want."

"What about you Luke?" Emily questioned.

"Well, it's not really any of my business but Rory's a smart girl. Logan has probably changed like she said and so I don't see the problem."

"You're right, it's none of your business," said Emily. Luke looked shocked as he had been asked the question and simply answered it truthfully.

Meanwhile in the study, Rory answered her phone.

"Logan," she said. "What's up?"

"It's mine," he said simply, he sounded in shock.

"What are you talking about?" asked Rory.

"My father's businesses, all the companies, they are all mine. He left them all to me," explained Logan.

"Seriously?" she asked, checking it wasn't a wind up.

"Yep. The lawyer just left. Mom got the house, Honour got the beach house and the condo in the Carribbean. We all share the money and I get the businesses."

"Where are you?"

"On the way home. You still at your grandparents house?" he asked.

"Yeah, we've just finished dinner. I should be another half hour or so."

"Stop by mine on the way home," Logan said. "I need someone to reassure me this isn't a dream."

"Okay, I have to go because Grandma has a rule about cell phones at dinner. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"So, what was the emergency that caused Logan to call during our dinner?" asked Emily when Rory returned to the main living room.

"Technically mom, we had finished dinner," pointed out Lorelai.

"You know what I meant Lorelai. This is the only time we get to see you and it shouldn't be interrupted."

"Well you still had me and Luke. Are we not good enough for you?" she said, pretending to be upset.

"Oh grow up Lorelai. Rory, was something wrong?"

"No, umm, Logan called to tell me about the reading of the Will," explained Rory.

"His father's Will," clarified Richard.

"No, the horse's Will," joked Lorelai.

"There's no need for that Lorelai," Richard said.

"Well, it seems that Mitchum left all the businesses to him," said Rory.

"All of it?" gasped Richard.

"Yes. Shira got the house and a third of the money, Honour got a beach house as well as a condo and a third of the money, leaving Logan with the many businesses and a third of the money," explained Rory.

"Well, that was unexpected," said Emily. "I always thought Mitchum doubted Logan's talents."

"Everyone thought that. Logan sounded so shocked," said Rory.

Once Rory had left the house and said goodbye to everyone, she drove in the direction of Logan's apartment. She was let in by the doorman and took the lift up to the apartment. She rang the bell and waited.

"Hi Ace," said Logan when he opened the door. His eyes were red, obviously from crying.

"Come here," she said, once the door had closed, and she pulled him into a hug.

"I'm sorry," he said after a while.

"Don't apologise, you have every right to be upset," replied Rory. "Has something happened, other than inheriting the family business?"

"There was a note," said Logan. "The lawyer gave it to me, from my dad. No one else got one, just me. I didn't want to open it there so I came straight back here."

"What did it say?" asked Rory. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," she added.

"You can read it," offered Logan, walking over to the sofa, sitting down and handing her a letter that was on the table.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Just read it."

So she sat down and started reading.

Dear Logan

I thought if I wrote you this letter then I will be able to tell you all the things I couldn't tell you when I was alive. Reading this means I'm gone and I expect you will secretly be happy. I know I haven't been the best dad in the world, I admit that. In all honesty I don't think I was meant to have children, I've never been the caring sensitive type. But I hope I got some things right, I sent you to the best schools and paid for Yale to give you the best possible start in life. Your mother kept telling me I should spend more time with you but I didn't know what to do. I never had the parenting gene, it just didn't come naturally as it did with her. Honour was alright, she had her mom to look up to as a female role model but you had me. I only ever wanted what's best for you.

The worst thing I probably did was say Rory Gilmore was not good enough for you. If she made you happy that should have been good enough for me. I shouldn't have gotten involved. She was a good writer, could be great, I'm just sorry I dismissed her talents as I did and I know you won't ever forgive me for that.

I know you are probably wondering why I chose you to handle all the family businesses. I gave them to you because I trust you. I know I didn't say it nearly enough but I am proud of you and I have confidence that you will take the challenge and be very successful. I hope that you have enough pride to ask for help when you need it, something I didn't do nearly enough.

I hope this clears up a few things in your mind. I'm just sorry I couldn't find a way of telling you this to your face. Be happy Logan, live your life to the fullest and look after the family.

Regards,

Love,

Your father.