Chapter 13
When: Sunday, March 14, 2027
Where: The Logan Huntzburger Townhouse in Manhattan
It was Sunday morning. Rory was still in bed. She knew what today was. She had been dredging it all week. Today, 13 years ago, her grandpa died. His death had not been a shock. He had been going downhill since Thanksgiving 2013. Or better yet, that is when she noticed it.
Thanksgiving 2013
"Logan, can you get Katie? She probably just needs a diaper change." Rory called out to Logan. "I'm in the boys' room, trying to get them dressed," Rory told him. It wasn't long before Logan appeared at the door with Katie. She was a little over a month old.
"How about we trade jobs? I've changed Katie poo," Logan said, tickling Katie's stomach, "She's ready to meet everyone and show off her new house. I think I can get the boys dressed if you want to go finish getting ready." Logan said, handing Katie to Rory. She left the room with Katie to get dressed.
Logan and Rory were having Thanksgiving at their new house. They moved into the townhouse the last of September, Katie was born in October. This would be the first time her grandparents have visited the house. Mitchum and Shira visited before they finished with the remodel. She was excited. After her 3rd child, she learned to just accept Logan's big gestures. This townhouse was his celebration gift for having a 3rd child.
At first, Rory wanted to tell him, no, but with 3 children and 2 nannies, not to mention April living with them part-time while she went to MIT, she wasn't hard to convince. 8 East 62nd Street, New York, New York.
When she and Lane were running around in Star Hollow doing all the daydreaming teenagers do, this place was the furthest from her mind. She never dreamed of living in a 6 bedroom, 8 full baths. Even with 14825 sq ft, she would put money on it being not enough space when the whole family gets together.
When Richard and Emily arrived, she wanted a tour immediately. Rory noticed her grandpa looked winded. There were a lot of steps out front. Rory tried to get her to wait but to no avail. After a tour of the first floor, they moved to the 2nd floor which held the bar, the den, and the library amongst other things. Rory was excited for her grandpa to see the library. She found out later that the next day, Richard called his lawyer and had his will changed, instead of a list of books he was giving Rory in his will, he changed it to all his books.
Rory noticed several times during the day that he was having trouble breathing. She asked him about it and he told her it was nothing. Lorelai and Luke were there that day. She tried to talk to her mom about her grandpa, but her mom was being her usual self. She was trying, Rory could tell. She stayed out of everyone's way, she spoke mostly to Luke.
While sitting in the den, with the football game on in the background, Luke, Lorelai and April came down from her room, she had been showing it to them.
"Lorelai" Emily spoke as they came into the den. "What do you think of April's room?" Emily had already visited the room. She thought it was a grand gesture to offer April a room while she went to school.
After a few seconds, Luke realized Lorelai wasn't going to answer. Luke smiled at Emily and then looked at the excitement in April's face. "It is a bit fancy for my taste, but if April and Rory are happy with the arrangement, it is okay with me." Luke told her. Still eyeing Lorelia to see if she was going to speak.
Emily smiled at him and then looked at Lorelai. "Mom," Lorelai said.
"We are waiting," Emily said.
"I think that I didn't raise my daughter to live in a house like this." She turned to Rory, "You have 3 small children. You will lose them in this house, and what happens when they get older and Richie misses the ball Hayden throws to him and breaks a $500,000 picture frame." Before Lorelai could say anything else. Rory gave Katie to Shira and stood up.
"Well first, I don't have a $500,000 picture frame, but if by chance I get one, they will be punished according to their age. But the thing that you don't get Mom, is the punishment would be the same if it was a $5 frame. I'm going to check on the meal." Rory said. Rory looked at her grandpa on the way out. He looked so lost.
There were several more events that day. But what stuck in Rory's mind, What she always remembers this time of year, is that her grandpa had been sick and wouldn't let Emily tell anyone. That's why it had been such a shock.
Rory stayed upstairs most of the day. Logan and the kids just left her alone. This is what she preferred. She was sitting in the reading chair in their room. She had already called Emily, they both had a good cry. That always made her feel better.
Logan came into the room with Chinese takeout and a cup of coffee. "Would you like some company while you eat?" He asked.
She smiled at him, nodding. "Sure."
He sat the food down on the reading table and grabbed a bed tray out of the closet. "You know, Richie's class is planning their graduation trip. Don't get sad." He said as he was walking out of the bathroom. "But I thought, maybe before he left with his friends, we could go as a family somewhere," Logan said. Rory nodded her head. "What do you think about Fez?" Logan asked. Rory smiled. "Fez. Yes, that sounds good. She had always wanted to go to Fez.
