Chapter 209
"So what's on the docket for today?" Rory asked, taking a long gulp of coffee. As had become the custom, she was sitting at Luke's with her mom first thing in the morning, as they both got their bearings. Sometimes Jess would join them, or Sookie, or Luke, but regardless of where the day brought them, it seemed to always start out here. Rory was loving it, and pushing away any pestering thoughts about why that might be, and what she might miss.
"Actually, you get a free day to do all your work," Lorelai said, sighing, "I have to go to Grandma's for my dress fitting."
"Are you sure you don't need me for that?"
"Positive. It's just the final round of alterations. Plus, that way you can run over if needed if the candle delivery comes early."
"That's not scheduled till next week."
"True, but with Sookie out and Michel running in the Inn today, I don't want to chance it," Lorelai said, taking a bite of her bacon, before calling over to her fiance. "Luke! More coffee, please!"
"I'll be right over with your next fix," Luke retorted, rolling his eyes. Rory smirked.
"It's sweet how he takes care of your most serious needs."
"Isn't it?" Lorelai replied, glowing with happiness, "By the way, where's your gentleman caller?"
"My gentleman caller, ironically enough, is on a call."
"Already?"
"Author emergency. Talking him off the ledge."
"What's the ledge for an author?"
"Usually feeling like their book isn't actually that good and trying to pull it from publication."
"Uh-oh."
"Yup. So Jess is talking him down as we speak. I think they're on with Matt too."
"How is Matt, by the way? He's coming to the wedding, right?"
"Yep. With his girlfriend Jane. She was at Paris' shower."
"…I feel awful, but I don't really remember her."
"I'm not sure what to say to that," Rory grimaced. Lorelai arched an eyebrow.
"You don't like her."
"I don't dislike her," Rory sighed, "I just don't have quite as much in common with her as I did with Hannah. I keep hoping that'll change as I get to know her better. But let's just say your reaction didn't surprise me."
"Did she get along with Lane and Paris?"
"Well enough. Probably Lane better than Paris. Paris is enough personality for several continents, and tends to respond better to those who hold their own."
"Even now that she's mellowed?"
"Yeah, that part never went away. I think I'd be a little disappointed if it did."
"How is Paris, by the way?"
"She's great. I heard from her a couple days ago. She's still totally wrapped around Simone's finger. And she's so excited to have everyone meet her at the wedding."
"I'm glad she's coming! I wouldn't have blamed her if she weren't up for it, but I can't wait to see Simone. And Paris, as a mom. Wow. I never would have thought I'd one day be saying those words after she spent so many months torturing you at Chilton years ago."
"I mean, we tortured each other," Rory admitted, "She didn't want me in her way. That made me want to get in her way more. We got competitive, and made a habit of trying to best each other. And when I really think about it, I'm pretty sure it worked out for the best for both of us. We both went to Yale, we were successful during our time there, and have found fulfilling careers and built full lives. And I think our competitiveness when we were younger paved the way for achieving a lot of that."
"Well, in most spheres, anyway. Her romantic life could probably use some help. She talking about that yet?"
"Not really. She made clear she wasn't bringing Doyle. Simone's her plus one."
"How'd he take that?"
"No idea. She doesn't seem to want to discuss it, so I've tried to bring it up less. But it's crazy, Mom. They just had a child together. How can she basically pretend like he doesn't exist?"
"I don't know. It was pretty easy to do with your father, but then again, we didn't share a house," Lorelai joked, earning a dark laugh from Rory as Jess walked up behind them.
"Who didn't share a house?" Jess asked, sitting down at the table with them.
"…myself and Rory's dad when I was seventeen," Lorelai said. Jess noticed the slight flinch from Rory as Lorelai said the words "Rory's dad".
"Ah. And this topic came from…"
"Paris' marriage."
"So I really just missed the gossip portion of the morning," Jess smirked, taking a sip of the coffee he'd carried down with him.
"Yep. You missed nothing of importance, except that I'm gonna be working today since Mom doesn't need me for stuff. I think I'm actually gonna go work at the Inn, if you don't mind."
"Knock yourself out," Lorelai nodded.
"Sounds good," Jess said, "That was my big meeting, and I think Luke needed some help today since Cesar has some thing for his sister, so I'll probably be splitting my time between helping him out and trying to continue to manage the Truncheon chaos."
"How'd your call go, by the way?" Rory asked.
"It went well," Jess said, obviously relieved, "Matt and I were able to talk him down. Matt from the business angle and me from the artistic, value of the story angle. I might make him come help with my call with Eliza later."
"Another author?"
"Another neurotic author, specifically," Jess said, rolling his eyes, "I've got a lot of those on deck right now. It's usually a first-timer thing, so it should dissipate as they acclimate to the process. The first time always requires a little more hand-holding."
"I don't know, it's been a while since my first time," Lorelai joked, soliciting an eye roll from Rory and a groan from Jess.
"Terrible. Incorrigible."
"Hilarious, charming, delightful."
"And on that delusional note, I'm gonna go see if Luke needs any help. You guys need…"
"Coffee!"
"Alright, alright," Jess laughed, "I'll get your refills before I bother helping any of the many other paying customers here."
"Damn right!" "Thanks, Jess!"
Lorelai turned to her daughter, grinning.
"You chose well."
"You only say that because he's able to procure coffee when Luke's being too slow."
"No. He can also procure bacon when Luke is being too stingy," Lorelai pointed out cheekily. Rory laughed.
"Paris has that same skill with Sookie."
"That's a pregnancy thing. If I ever do all that again, I fully plan to take advantage of it."
"But would it even be fun to do again without midterms, and Bon Jovi, and Grandma nearly having a conniption every time your bump grew?"
"You're right. Those were the most charming aspects, besides the Demmarol."
"You speak of the Demmarol very fondly."
"I've never loved anything more. It was my labor support person. It was more helpful in getting you out of me than anybody else was," Lorelai joked, making Rory giggle.
"You know, you could wait to scare me out of having kids until I decide whether or not I want them."
"What's this about kids?" Luke asked, reappearing at their table with the coffee pot, "Jess sent me over, said you were both desperate for caffeine."
"Extremely," Rory smiled, "Thanks, Luke."
"No problem. So….?"
"Just telling Rory about my fond memories of Demmarol."
"Oh, your fondly-remembered labor companion," Luke said, rolling his eyes as Rory snickered, "You know, I think that may be the only thing you've ever loved more than caffeine."
"Not true! Everyone keeps forgetting bacon!" Lorelai said forcefully, as she and Rory broke into uncontrollable giggles. Lorelai sighed, wiping tears out of her eyes.
"Alright, I think we're set. We'll get out of your hair after this cup."
"And to think I thought I was done with the loud Gilmore mornings after you graduated," Luke said good-naturedly, smiling at Rory. After a beat, he looked at her. "It's good to have you here, kid."
"Good to be here," Rory smiled. Jess looked over, having been watching that interaction.
It was pretty rare that Jess thought back to his earliest days in Stars Hollow, in particular, those before he and Rory were dating. If he did, he was almost always thinking of the moments they'd shared prior to getting together, things like the basket auction, shared looks at the Bracebridge Dinner, or even just conversations they had about books at night on the phone, him knowing she was still inaccessible to him, but her finding a way to show him she wanted to be. His days back then were filled with a lot of skipping class, stupid fights, and gnome stealing. But he'd forgotten how he used to experience mornings at the diner, until just this moment. It came flooding back to him, how he would work with Luke in the mornings, surly and jaded, but that some tiny part of him would watch the door as the morning rush filtered in and out, waiting for Rory and Lorelai to arrive. He was completely enamored with Rory, of course, so a lot of it was that- for him, her entry into the diner, the moment each morning when he knew he'd get to see her, was like the sunrise. But he'd also found himself watching her and Lorelai, listening to snippets of their banter, and ending up totally engrossed in this bizarre and incredible closeness Rory had with her mother. Luke never said anything about it to him either, but Jess noticed how his attitude always perked up right around when Lorelai and Rory came into the diner, how they were never rushed through, no matter how busy things were. Thinking about it now, Jess knew that Luke had looked forward to those morning visits in much the same way he had. Jess pushed the thought out of his mind for now, filing it away for consideration when they weren't in this little Fellini-town that could drive you crazy with nostalgia and comfort.
