I'm so, so, so sorry for not updating all summer. Time sort of just flew by and before I knew it, it had been months! I hope you'll all forgive me and there are lots of chapters that have been written all ready for me to upload this week!
"Are you okay?" asked Logan. They had just past the sign saying they were in Stars Hollow and Rory had suddenly gone silent.
"Yeah I'm fine. I just always feel a bit ...weird when I first get here."
"Understandable."
"And I'm still thinking about how big your house is."
"It's not a home though ... it's not cosy like your pool house."
"You're comparing your whole wing of the house to my pool house?"
"Yes. You've made it a home."
"Well thank you."
"So, where's best to park?"
"Taylor, how many times do we have to go through this? I'm not putting Halloween decorations outside my Diner. Every year you tell me the same thing and every year I say the same thing! Decorate the square as much as you want but I'm not decorating the Diner."
"Luke, the rest of the town is participating, why won't you?"
"Because it's my Diner!"
"This is ... different," said Logan as he and Rory walked into Luke's Diner.
"Just a couple of banners in the window?" pleaded the man who appeared to be Taylor.
"Get out!" shouted the man behind the counter, Luke.
"This is crazy," commented Logan.
"It's brilliant," smiled Rory.
"This isn't the end of the matter Luke," said Taylor as he left the diner.
"What do you want?" asked Luke, standing next to the table but staring out at the square where Taylor was now supervising the placement of giant pumpkins.
"Coffee please ... and a donut," said Rory.
"And you?" Luke asked Logan, who was looking at the menu.
"Just a coffee please," he said after a couple of minutes.
"That you're car out there?" asked Luke, looking towards Logan's Mercedes.
"Yes," replied Logan.
"Huh," replied Luke as he turned and walked towards the kitchen. Rory distinctly thought she heard him mumble something about 'rich kids'.
"So, this is the famous Stars Hollow," said Logan, turning in his seat to look out onto the square.
"Yeah ... it's pretty isn't it?"
"Certainly different from Hartford."
"Luke, can I get a coffee," shouted a woman as she came through the door. She appeared to be a chef and had flour on her forehead.
"Sookie? What are you doing here?" asked Luke.
"I'm on my lunch."
"You never usually come here though."
"Yes well Michel has insisted on eating in the kitchen now and it's driving me crazy. He counts out everything he eats and he makes these annoying noises. I was going to go home but Jackson isn't there, there's a farmers market thing in Woodbridge and I didn't want to be alone so I came here," the woman replied quickly.
"One coffee coming up."
"Thanks Luke."
"What are you staring at?" Logan asked Rory, who had zoned out for the past couple of minutes, watching the conversation.
"Huh?" she asked, not hearing the question.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"That woman ..." replied Rory, looking over at Sookie.
"What about her?"
"I think she was my mom's best friend," said Rory slowly.
"From the diaries?" checked Logan.
"Yes. Mom always talked about a woman named Sookie and it's not like it's a really common name."
"I suppose not," shrugged Logan.
"And she was a chef at the Independence Inn where my mom worked."
"And this is a very small town so it's probably the same person," agreed Logan.
"Should I go introduce myself?" asked Rory.
"You haven't seen her here before?" asked Logan.
"No. I know my mom used to come here and so I usually get a coffee but I've never seen her here before."
"There's a chance she might not remember," said Logan, wanting to prepare Rory.
"I know," she frowned. "But ..."
"But you want to try," nodded Logan.
"Do you think it's a bad idea?" Rory asked.
"It's not my decision."
"But I value your opinion," she said, holding his hand over the table.
"If it's what you want then go over ... but I think you should just be prepared for the fact that it was 20 years ago," explained Logan.
"My mom was special, people will remember her," said Rory confidently.
"I'm sure they will," smiled Logan.
"I've wanted to ask before ... when I've seen people who look like they've lived here a long time ... like that Taylor or Luke," explained Rory.
"What's stopped you?"
"I'm scared. This is like ... the last link to my mom and it's special to me. But ... what if there's no trace of her here? What if she's forgotten?"
"If she was anything like you, then no one will have forgotten," smiled Logan.
"Thanks," Rory blushed, before leaning over and kissing him softly on the lips. "I'm going to do it."
Rory stood up and walked towards Sookie's table. She hesitated slightly and turned back to Logan. He smiled reassuringly and Rory took a deep breath before speaking.
"Excuse me, but are you Sookie St James?"