Vindication

June 2017

New York, Stars Hollow, and New Haven

It was the last day of work for Rory at MN Designs. As she sat in her office amongst the boxes and stacks of files looking out at the hustle and bustle of Fifth Avenue, she felt a bit melancholy. She was satisfied with the work that she did over the past six months, happy to have had the opportunity to immerse herself in something interesting and real. She was grateful for the opportunity to work with such creative, interesting and passionate people. She was also sad because she was going to miss the people, this job, everything that had to do with this life.

"As you know, this is Rory's last day." Moses announced at the end of their last status meeting earlier this morning, " I just wanted to say on behalf of everyone here how grateful we are for all the quality work you did this past 6 months. Your ability to just pick up and run with the project was instrumental in helping us get it to this point and on time and a smidgen over budget. We will miss you, Rory."

Rory felt herself start to tear up as everyone toasted her with their coffee cups, "I'm going to miss you too! This was the most fun I have had in a long time."

While she knew she would miss her job, she had other things to look forward to, namely the birth of her baby. With the due date five weeks away, there was a long list of things, both baby related and not baby related, to accomplish. Going through her calendar, Rory crossed off an appointment earlier this week where she and Logan finalize custody and support arrangements with their lawyers. It was a fairly easy negotiation, as they both had pretty much the same attitude toward parenthood. Logan, having been raised in a more formal environment, planned to be a more hands-on parent, while Rory wanted to ensure some regularity and structure. They both agreed that they would employ a live-out nanny, who would travel with the child wherever s/he was staying. They also agreed to split their time with the baby; two nights with Rory, two with Logan, with alternating weekends Friday-Sunday. They agreed on child support, splitting the expenses in proportion to their income. They also decided on little issues such as vacations (one dedicated 10 day period for each parent every year), holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, and Easter would be switched off every year ) and birthdays (always celebrated together.) Other issues like medical directives, guardianship (Honor primary/Lane secondary), and schooling (no boarding school during elementary years, afterward it's up for discussion with child input) were also addressed and resolved.

Rory was also in the process of transitioning responsibility of the Stars Hollow Gazette to the new editor. It wasn't hard, as Rory was pretty much hands off for the past six months. Under the guidance of the daily editor, the Gazette grew into a regional literary publication. The popularity became so much that Taylor moved to sponsor the first ever Star Hallow Literary Festival later that summer.

Then there was her book, a project she was very eager to finish. Reading her current version with fresh eyes made her realize that Doyle was right, she was missing from the pages. With new insight, thanks to the conversation with her father, she had more than a few ideas on how to raise the volume of her voice in the book.

Rounding off her task list was getting ready for the baby. There was so much to be done, and so little time it seemed. The shower thrown by Shira Huntzberger was pleasant enough. Rory got to meet some of Logan's relatives and was able finally to establish a civil relationship with Shira. The Huntzberger contingent was not surprisingly rather generous, providing Rory and Logan with many of the high-end items for which they registered, as well as other gifts that while beautiful, some were not very practical.

Still, she there was so much to do. She had her apartment to rearrange, clothes to wash and get ready, her bag to pack, baby gear to assemble. "Don't worry, you will be ready, I will help you," Lorelai assured Rory last week during lunch. Yet, despite this assurance, Rory was nervous, as time seemed to be running out quickly.

As she gathered her items in a box, a phone call came in from a London exchange that she recognized but couldn't identify for certain. After a quick debate with herself about whether or not to answer the phone, she picked up on the 8th ring, "Hello, this is Rory Gilmore" she greeted.

"Rory, darling..." Rory recognized the voice right away and immediately wished she let it go to voicemail, "...it's me!"

Faking confusion Rory asked, "I'm sorry the connection is bad, with whom am I speaking?"

"It's Naomi...Naomi Shropshire!"

"Oh...Naomi...I'm sorry, but I am bit surprised to hear from you."

"Darling I will be in the States. I am arriving tomorrow and will be staying for 10 days Is there any way we can meet?"

"Regarding what? During our last contact, you seemed to want nothing to do with me."

"Yes, well horrible the way things ended with us...some matters have come to light...I just want to clear the air."

"Well, my schedule is very limited..."

"I will be arriving in New York tomorrow. Can we meet on Monday?"

"I'm sorry I have appointments that day."

"How about in the evening?"

"Evenings do not work for me as I am about 1 1/2 to 2 hours away from the city."

"Well, can we meet half way? Or I can come to you. Whatever works."

Naomi wants to come to me?! Rory was suspicious. However, having nothing to lose, Rory played her advantage. "I may have time later in the week. I will need to call you back with my schedule."

The following Sunday morning found Rory sitting at the counter at Luke's, staring at her phone. "Morning kid," Lorelai greeted as she sat down next to Rory.

"I just called her" Rory informed her mother.

"Who? Naomi?"

"Yep."

"What did she want?"

"She didn't say. It's on a 'need to know' basis. All I know is that we are meeting in the New Haven on Tuesday."

"Ah, your old stomping ground. Get her on your turf, good thinking!"

"Well, not so much. She will be there any way for a meeting with some of the faculty at Yale. It's good, it will be nice to go back. The last time I was there was for the Yale-Harvard game and didn't have enough time to wander campus."

"Where are you meeting?"

"Rich Man's Shoe. It's a pub so she should feel at home."

"Just remember to have your exit strategy ready."

Tuesday morning found Rory roaming the Yale campus. Exams ended the three weeks prior, and except for those who decided to stay for summer session, the school was a virtual ghost town. Rory liked it this way, being able to walk quietly among the buildings. She walked by her study tree, the trash can that replaced the bench where her Grandpa proposed to her Grandma, past the Daily News building, and the political science building, the Planetarium, which housed Gilmore Hall (she luckily talked her grandparents out of naming it specifically after Rory.) She walked past the courtyard where her favorite coffee cart was always parked, and Branford where she lived sophomore year. This is where I met Logan for the first time, she thought, and this is where we had our first confrontation, this is the dining hall where we sneaked in after our first official date. Upon passing the Taft building, her old apartment building, she realized that most of her memories were tied to Logan.

She arrived at Rich Man's Shoe, another Logan hangout, a bit early for her appointment so she could mentally prepare. Rory thought about the last time she saw Naomi. She was drunk and barely coherent. She talked about writing a children's book about Rabbits and Whales (or was it an elephant?) and wanted to kiss Rory's "sweet apple cheeks". People had warned her about Naomi, how brilliant yet difficult she could be. Rory saw a glimpse of this when she did her interviews and subsequent research for her article in The New Yorker but was willing to withstand her eccentricities for the sake of the opportunity to work on her biography. In the end, it wasn't worth it, Rory now knew that for sure. All that happened a little over a year ago, a lifetime ago. What a difference a year made.

"Rorrrry dahling" Rory, heard from behind. She turned to see Naomi, dressed in a yellow printed 50 style dress and perfectly coiffed hair. Rory thought it made her look like Lucy Ricardo. Rory stood up to greet Naomi, making her stop in her tracks. "Oh my God!" Naomi exclaimed, looking and pointing at Rory's bursting belly, "You're with child!"

"Yes, I am. Hi Naomi, it's good to see you." They both sat down.

"I'm just shocked, completely shocked."

"Well, that makes two of us."

"So are you married now?"

"No, the father and I are co-parenting." "

Are you devastated that he is not marrying you because you shouldn't be.'

Trying to contain her annoyance, Rory changed the subject, "Naomi, why are we here?"

"Oh yes. Well, first of all, I would like to apologize for my horrible behavior last year. I was not in a good place, not at all."

"Oh, well thank you. I am sorry that you were not in a good place."

"Well, it had been happening for a while. I really hit rock bottom last year. Then I joined the Grace Belgravia Wellness club and started meditation. I tell you it has changed my life! I and am slowly working my way back."

"Ok."

"There is a book coming out about me."

"Oh, really?"

"An unauthorized biography. The writer is someone I met with once or twice. It didn't work, but she decided to do the book anyway. I am afraid it will not tell the whole story. Anyway, my sources tell me she is already getting offers so it is sure to be published. I would like to put out my own book to counterpoint it."

"Ok, so why don't you."

"Because I want you to write it,"

"Me?! Um, I seem to remember you FIRED me. And really you did not fire me, but your lawyer did."

"Yes, I know, and I am so sorry for that. Part of my healing process is to face my wrongs, and I wronged you, Rory, I so wronged you."

"Ooo-kay..."

"Anyway, after you, I tried other writers, but no one could capture the essence of me, better than you can. And, I must confess, with new biography coming out I would like it on the shelves straight away."

"How quickly do you want it?"

"A reasonable timeline would be a draft by the end of the year, hopefully published by spring of next year."

"Wow, that timeline is fast."

"Yes, it is."

"I don't know Naomi. I am in no shape to work on this right now. I am due in over three weeks, and I don't think I can start working on this until the end of August."

"You have a lot of research already done, so it won't be as hard as you think."

"Does this mean traveling to London?"

"On occasion... and other places on the Continent...depends on my schedule." "

But the baby..."

"Oh, bring her/him with. I mean it's London, we have the best nannies."

"I don't know..."

"Did I tell you that The New Yorker is still interested in printing excerpts of the book?"

"No, you didn't."

"Well, they are. This could be a golden opportunity for you, Rory."

"Yes, it could. I'll think about it."

Lorelai was absolutely floored when Rory told her the news. As they sat on the wicker couch on Luke and Lorelei's front porch, Lorelai excitedly inquired, "So are you going to take it?"

"I don't know, probably not."

"Why not?"

"Because of all the traveling and the logistics. How are Logan and I suppose to successfully do joint custody if I am out of the country?"

"Could he move back to London temporarily?" "

I don't know, but I can't ask him to do that."

"You can leave the baby here."

"That is not an option either."

"I don't know Rory. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This could open so many doors for you. Get that journalism career back on track."

"That's the problem, it could. There are many things I can do that could lead to something. I cannot afford to live on the hopes of something that could; I need to focus on what is."

"And a biography on Naomi Shropshire is not an is?"

"No, it's an is, but a potential is. A potentially big is, but nevertheless not a guaranteed is. Plus, the woman is so unpredictable. How do I know she won't change her mind at the last minute? I need a definite, permanent is... but… writing that book would be so cool."

"The coolest!"

"Argh, being an adult sucks!"

"Yes, but you can drink legally...well not for you, but soon!"

"Tell me what to do mom." Rory pleaded as she laid her head on Lorelai's shoulder.

"Honey, I can't do that. I will be happy to listen, but you have to ultimately make the decision. When does she want to know?"

"She said she would give me until August to commit. She is still interviewing other people, but I am her first choice."

"So, this is a "the job is your unless I find someone else" kinda deal? Weird."

"I know." Rory text alert went off, "Oh, it's Logan. He's at the apartment, I have to go. Don't tell him about this please?"

"I won't"

Rory leaned over and kissed her mother goodbye, "Lunch tomorrow?" Rory asked.

"Lunch tomorrow," Lorelai answered.