Curveball

November 7, 2016

Stars Hollow

It was Tuesday morning after the wedding. Rory was headed to Kim's Antiques. With Mr. and Mrs. Kim out for the week at an antiques collectors' conference, Lane felt it would be a good time to inventory and update their online catalog. Rory was more than happy to help her good friend with this task. As Rory walked from her childhood home to the Kim's house, she thought about the hundreds upon thousands of time she transversed this route. She was grateful that it was permanently ingrained in her muscle memory because today if Rory were to rely on her mental memory, she probably would have gotten lost.

It has been a little over a week since she found out she was pregnant, and about 36 hours since she told her mother. While Rory was not 100% sure as to how Lorelai was going to react to her news, what she got was totally unexpected.

Other than, "Wonderful...that's wonderful" Lorelai has not said a word.

"It was a shock." Rory told herself, "and telling her wedding day was completely unfair. She needs time to process all the changes, after all becoming a wife and learning her daughter was pregnant in one day is a lot to process." So Rory gave her mother space. However now, 36 hours later, that space was quickly feeling like a wall.

Rory arrived at the store and walked in. "Lane?" she cried, "Lane I'm here!"

"In the kitchen!' Lane replied, "Can you please make sure the "Closed" sign is intact?" Rory examined the sign on the door:

Closed from 11/09 - 11/15/2016.

This was planned a year ago and has nothing to do with the election.

Please check our website.

Have a Blessed Day.

Rory made her way to the kitchen where she found Lane on her laptop pouring over images and excel spreadsheets. "Good morning friend!" Lane cheerily greeted.

"Good morning friend!" Rory greeted in return then whispered, "Are you parents really gone?"

"Yes, they called and confirmed their safe arrival in Asheville last night."

"Oh good," Rory said, as she took a box of donuts out of her bag, "Chocolate covered custard with sprinkles, four of them in fact."

"Awww, you complete me."

The two friends sat down and dove into their donuts.

"So, are Luke and Lorelai suffering from post-wedding let-down?"

"No, while they had fun, I think they're also glad it's over. Although, now they have to contend with the "it's about time" comments."

"Yes, some of those stories at the reception got a bit uncomfortable."

Rory laughed but then became distracted again, something that Lane saw right away.

"Are you ok? You have that 'something is bothering me' look about you." Lane inquired.

"I have some news," Rory said.

"What?"

"I'm pregnant."

Lane was stunned, "What?! Oh my God, are you sure?"

"Let's see, I bought a 20 pack set of pregnancy tests at the dollar store, they are just as good as the expensive ones or so I read, btw. Used them all up within a week. So 20 positive pregnancy test over a seven-day period = yes, I am pregnant."

"Ohhhhh" Lane exclaimed getting up to hug Rory,

"Well tell me, how are feeling about this?"

"Mainly lost, confused, scared, stupid..."

"Stupid?"

"Yes, stupid! Lane! I am 33-years-old and Yale-educated, I've known where babies come from since I was 11 when my mom showed me a pirated version of My Mom is Having Baby. I know where to get birth control. I should not have let this happen."

"No one's perfect, and well passion can make one sloppy. So, and I can't believe I am having this totally Maury moment, but who's the daddy?"

"Logan"

"Oh, Rory..."

"I know."

"Wait, I thought you guys ended it during the summer?"

"Well you know Logan, he can't just leave well enough alone. He came here in mid-October, just after my birthday, and made one last grand gesture. An evening a carousing and fun that ended up with a night in a New Hampshire bed and breakfast."

"Is that where the money strewn around Doose's came from?"

"...and the golf balls scattered across town."

"Impressive."

"I thought that was it. We had said our official goodbye. And now this."

Rory got out of her chair and paced the kitchen. "I can't believe this is happening! What was I thinking getting involved with him?! He is engaged to be married! You even warned me about him."

"Yea, that relationship was not one of your finest moments." "

And I didn't listen. What the hell is wrong with me?"

"Rory, you would not have listened to anyone. You were clearly on a path and no one was going to tell you otherwise."

"I'm so stupid."

"You're human!"

"I'm an idiot."

"Hey! That is my best friend you are talking about, and I refuse to let you disparage her like that. So stop now."

"Yes, mam."

"Sit down and talk to me. You last saw Logan in mid-October so that puts you at how many weeks?"

"About four weeks."

"I assume Lorelai knows?"

"Yes. "

"How'd she take it?"

" She said, 'That's wonderful!'

"Oh good!"

"No Lane, that's all she's said. Not a peep out of her since. I have rendered Lorelai Gilmore speechless!"

"She's processing. A lot of activity the last week."

"I know."

"I assume that Logan doesn't know yet?"

"No, I haven't told him yet, although I going to have to soon because the wedding is set for the first weekend in December."

"Winter Wedding, really?"

"Christmas decorations."

"Got it, they are pretty. So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. That's one of the reasons why I haven't told Logan because I do have options. One is running out quick, so I have to make a decision soon."

"Yes, you do have options."

"This changes everything. My life is a mess! Not only with my relationships but my career! I have no career. Groveling for assignments is not how I pictured my life at this point."

"Whose life turned out the way they thought it would anyway? Name one person."

"Gail McHenry. Remember she had a "plan"? She got married to that guy she met in college? They have kids and they are now living in Stamford."

"You didn't hear? Turns out that her husband has another family in New Jersey."

"Oh"

"Paris! She set off to go to medical school, then she went to Law school, and now she has her own empire..."

"And she has two kids who, according to you, prefer their nanny and is going through a divorce."

"My grandparents. They had a great life together."

"Yes, except for that minor incident where their only daughter gets pregnant at 16. And your grandmother widowed at a still fairly young age, yes, that's no problem at all."

"So you are saying..."

" ...that life pitches everyone curveballs! But that's not a bad thing. Just means you have challenges. Keeps life interesting."

Rory put her head down in frustration.

"Oh Lane, help me figure out what I should do. Should I go through with the pregnancy or not? Should I keep it if I do? Can I even do that if Logan is in the picture? What would you do?"

"Rory, you know I love you but I don't think I am the best person to guide you through options."

"Why?"

"Because I was raised Seventh Day Adventist? Remember I was the one who viscerally declared that I could not have sex before marriage? You think that idea was drilled into me, how do you think it would apply to unplanned pregnancies?"

"Oh...well..."

"No, no, let me clarify. I just know that, because I am me, I don't feel like I can advise you in the way you need to be. However, while I am biased, but I will support you in any decision you would make and absolutely not judge you."

"Thanks, Lane."

"This is definitely Lorelai territory."

"If only she'll speak to me! Ok, so tell me? How is it for you really? Being a mom? I remember you were not so keen on it at the beginning, but you seemed fine with it once the boys were born."

"To be honest, my emotions about family life are rather complex," Lane replied.

"How so?"

"I mean, you know. You know my life, my history. I was this repressed kid, living a double life. When Zach and I got married it was the first time I felt totally free, I was so looking forward to discovering what free and unencumbered Lane was. But then I found out I was pregnant and threw a wrench into that situation."

"So are you saying that you regret your life?"

"No, not at all."

Lane went silent gathering her thoughts.

"I am finding that life is weird. There are days that I get soo frustrated with the direction my life has taken. I mean, I see you jetting off, seeing the world, doing all these interesting things, pursuing your dream, while I am still here in Stars Hollow, married to a man who has to wear a tie to work and just started Lipitor, raising two boys who are developing a liking for Christian Rock. This is not the rock "n" roll life I dreamed of. I have those days where I seriously question the choices I made. Why didn't I just leave home and wait tables in New York? Why didn't I follow Dave Rygalski to California? Why did I marry Zach in the first place? I mean I was so young! But then I sit back and think and ask would I trade what I have now for a different life? My answer is unequivocally no, every single time. You know those time travel stories, where the main character is dissatisfied so they go back in time to make a different decision, and then come back to find that life is not only different but messed up as hell? That's the scenario that always brings me back to reality. I wouldn't trade Zach and the boys for anything. Those choices are what got me here. You, my dear Rory, were set on a path that has simply made an unexpected turn. You can't go back so you must do better moving forward. Easier said than done, I know."

"Ok," Rory said, fighting back the tears, "Thanks, Lane."

Lane pulled a chair next to Rory and hugged her tightly, "Anytime, always."

Rory wiped her face and took a deep breath, "I have to think about something else. Let's do that inventory?"

"Sure, would you like something to drink?"

"Just water, I can get it."

Rory got up for water, while Lane watched her with concern.