Anna had Sasuke in her lap. She was making a list with books surrounding her. Jaci was sitting across from her with Naruto by her side. "You guys are making this more complicated than it needs to be." Jess leaned against the balcony door frame.

"It's your grand opening. It has to be perfect." When Jess asked her to make some dishes for the opening, she started making a list. "Why aren't you more excited?"

"It's the grand opening to a bookstore, not the publishing house, so think of it as a soft opening." He plans on saving his nerves for the second reveal.

"You need this to go well so you can get your publishing house." She reminds him.

"Let's see your list. Lane's Cake is highlighted." His eyes went to the color.

"The bourbon-loaded Lane cake from To Kill a Mockingbird." Jaci held up the book that had a Post-it on the page it was on.

"We're gonna put the passage in front of the dish." She informed him.

Jess saw a lot of old dishes from fantasy books and was relieved to find something familiar. "Fried Chicken is always a safe bet."

"The Great Gatsby." Anna put the book on top of the Mockingbird.

"We can do green beans, turnips, macaroni and cheese, caramel cake from The Secret Life of Bees." Jaci finished up the menu.

"We can do Butterbeer from Harry Potter." She adds.

"Now we need to decide which recipes to use. There are so many options." Jaci put the novels on the side to put the cookbooks in front of them.

"Oh god." Jess took A Moveable Feast to the porch to read.


"Hey, Mom." She answered the phone while she was walking Naruto and Sasuke.

"Hey baby, what are you doing?" She hears the noise.

"I'm walking the furry babies." She told her.

"I got bad news. You might want to sit down." She advises.

"Okay, what is it?" She stops for Naruto to look up at her in wonder.

"Your Grandma Trix has passed away. She had a heart attack." She informs.

"Oh…." She started walking again. "How is Grandpa?"

"As you can imagine he's a mess. He's asking for some soup that she made him when he was a child. He's upset because he didn't think her obituary was enough." She hadn't seen her father in that state before.

"So, is he going to rewrite it?" She opens the door to the apartment building. She led the animals into the elevator.

"Oh no, he is leaving everything to my mom." She was surprised that her mom was taking this as well as she was.

"Ew, having to plan the funeral of the person that hated her." She felt bad for Emily.

"She's seeing it as an act of love for her husband." She didn't know if she would be able to do it.

"Well, how are you doing?" She asked her mother.

"I'm doing fine. I liked her because she would scold my strict mom but I wasn't that close with her. How about you?" She wasn't sure how she would take it.

"I saw her less than a handful of times." She left the elevator and unlocked the apartment door. "Did you tell Rory?"

"Yes, she feels guilty for not crying." She had just ended that call.

"Why? She doesn't have enough emotional capital with her to cry about her death." She took off their leashes and they ran to their water bowls.

"Are you taking some introductory classes in psychology?" She noticed there have been different terms lately.

"Kinds of. The guys looked up the syllabus of the colleges around us. They are going to sell the books at a much more reasonable price. How much they are price gouging at the college, they should be ashamed. Anyways, there is a class called The Psychology of Eating. Some books are about what food does to certain parts of our brains. Others are about our attachment and memories we put on food." She was enjoying the reading she had been doing.

"So, you are doing extra work?" She tilts her head.

"Yeah, but I've been having a lot of fun." She hums.

"And I thought you were my normal daughter." She teased.

"If you meet my mother, you would know that being normal was never in the cards for me." She shot back.


"Even though it's just for the weekend, I'm happy to have you back." Anna was helping Lane carry her luggage into the apartment. Hep Alien was playing at the grand opening. The guys were staying above the bookstore with Matt and Chris. Lane was staying with Anna and Jess.

"I'm happy to be staying here. I love the guys but I need a break from them." She bent down to pet the animals. "Hi, Sasuke and Naruto. Did you miss me?" She had to lean back when Naruto tried to lick her face.

"Naruto, be a gentleman." Anna scolds.

"So how are you doing…. You know with your great grandma dying." Lane asked after they settled on the couch. "It must be weird because you have so many good things going on right now."

"I'm fine. I didn't like her." She shrugged.

"Anna, don't say that." Lane scolds her.

"What? She was horrible to my grandma. She might have a few good stories but that doesn't mean she wasn't an awful woman who wanted to always be number one in her son's life." She didn't like who her grandpa became when she was around.

"Still, you shouldn't speak ill of the dead," Lane mutters.

"I never understood that. Why when someone dies do they become precious no matter how horrible they were while they were alive." She crosses her legs.

"Because you could be haunted." She wiggles her fingers.

"Sure, I'll watch out for that." She snickers, standing up. "Do you want something to drink?"

"I'll have a coke." She grabbed the two bottles and sat down with her friend.

"So, how has living in the new apartment been?" She asks.

"I didn't realize how much goes into a new place. We didn't have anything, no plates or towels. It's been a budgeting nightmare with getting all that and everyday expenses. Do we worry about ourselves or do we take turns cooking? That caveman expected me to do all the cooking and cleaning. I told him unless he's going to pay my part of the rent then I'm not going to do that. In the end, I made a chore chart. It's been a huge learning curve for all of us." She is happy that she saved this rant in person because she needs facial expressions.

Anna went from nodding her head to being angry. "Good for you. Zack is such an asshole." She shook her head. "Have they been giving you any trouble?"

"Other than the normal boy things, no. You know what it's like to live with a boy." She looks at the Metallica shirt that was thrown on the back of the couch.

"They leave their dirty clothes everywhere but the hamper." She hoped that Naurto would pee on it when it was on the floor but the dog never did.

"Yes!" Lane eagerly nods. "Leaving the toilet seat up. I fell in."

"Me too. I was ready to kill Jess. He's like I've been living with a guy for the past few years." She made a deep grumpy voice for him. "Or, when they leave the dishes in the sink. Like, who did you expect to wash this? Luke doesn't live here."

"Zack and Brain's mom spoils them too. They've been trying." She had to give them that.

"Even Zack?" She knew how stubborn he could be.

"Yes, he has been grumpy about it but he has been. If he wants somewhere to take girls then he better shape up. Brian and I will find another roommate." She nods.

"They are in the living room. How does he bring girls home?" She tilts her head.

"I stay in my room." She wasn't going to get blinded.

"What about Brian?" She thought of the guy who sleeps in the same space.

"The girls that Zack brings home don't care." She didn't want to judge them but their morals weren't high.

"So, he watches?" She was grossed out.

"He put in earplugs and a sleep mask." She explains.

"I was worried about the sweet innocent Brian." She put a hand over her heart in relief.


"We're going alive, people." Matt was getting ready to open the door.

"I can't believe we got a line." Chris stares at the crowd of people.

"We are offering free live music and food." Jess reminds them why they are there.

"That will get them through the door. They'll look around and buy a book." Anna smooths out her floral jumper skirt. She was wearing a white shirt under it. She had some hair in a braid tucked into a low-side ponytail. She had on black chunky heels. She looks into the compact mirror to check on her gold eyeshadow. "I'm ready for the opening of the doors."

"Yes, we were waiting for your make-up check." Jess rolled his eyes.

"I can't wait." Lane spins her drumsticks.

"You're going to rock these bookworms." Zack cheers as the doors open.

"Welcome." They got to work. Anna, Jaci, and Danni were serving the food. The music began to follow. The guys were working with the crowd to tell them of the deals that they had. The events that they were planning.

"Here's your butterbeer, young wizard." She hands the drinks to the kid who was holding a Harry Potter book under his arm.

"Thank you." He took it and sipped it. "Beer is sweeter than I thought." He looks up at his mother.

"It's like root beer, honey." She giggles.

He nods in disappointment before moving on. "Can I have a piece of cake?"

"Sure, it's from To Kill A Mockingbird, you'll probably have to read it in high school." She hands him a plate.

"I love what you did here. The quotes to go along with the food is such a great way to tie it in with the books and a way to promote them." She was glad that her son wanted to come here.

"Thank you. I thought it was clever too." She nods.

"From what I understand the paintings are on sale too." She had one in mind.

"Yeah, and all the artists are local." She informs her.

"I am interested in buying one." She pointed at an abstract piece.

"Jess." She waves for her boyfriend to come over.

"Do you need anything?" He asks.

"Yes, this young lady is looking to buy that painting." She smiles.

"Great, that artist is here." He took her over to the man who was behind the art.

"Did she say she wants to buy a painting?" Chris came over to double-check that he heard correctly.

"Yeah." She nods.

"This is great. We're halfway there to doing what we've been dreaming about." He was glad to help at least one local artist today.

"Damn right, you are." She slaps his back making him whine in pain. She apologized while moving her hand.

"Ah… sorry, it's not you. I bruised it when I fell down the staircase carrying a box of books. Matt wouldn't let me hear the end of it because he told me to tie my shoes." Her jaw dropped as he walked away.


The store was closed and the group was cleaning up for the day. Matt was counting the money in the register. "So…" Jess asked when he finished.

"We made a thousand-dollar profit." The guys celebrate.

"We didn't get paid yet." Lane reminds them.

"We still need to reimburse Anna's money for the food," Jess adds.

"I know, I counted for that." He passed out the money. "I got to hand it to you, all the books for the food you made were sold out. Those college students are planning to come here next semester. Today was a huge success."

"The best part is that we sold a painting." Chris thought that was the highlight of the day.

"I know and it was his first time selling anything." Jess was glad that they were a part of his big moment. "He got to keep 90 percent of his profit."

"To be able to do that for them, we need to be able to sell the other stuff." Matt reminds him that it was only possible if they were making a profit. He was the numbers guy.

"Dude just let us have this win." Chris pulled him into a headlock.

"Alright, alright." He pushed him off. "Let's celebrate with a few beers. Come on, I know a pub." He led the cheering group out.


"I have a headache." Jess was hungover on the doorstep of Gilmore Manor. He was with the Gilmore Girls. They were informing the out-of-towners of what was going on.

"So Grandma found a letter begging Grandpa to leave her at the altar and said she preferred Pennilyn Lott." She was shocked. "She should have spit in Grandma's face. It would have been less insulting."

"Yes, my mom is being just as loopy as my father. She is smoking and drinking in a robe. She gave the maids paid days off. Letting flowers and mail pile up everywhere." She never saw the house a mess before.

"And our great-grandparents were second cousins," Rory informed.

"That's disgusting." Jess grimaced.

"You think that why you two look so identical is because you don't have enough different DNA." She pointed between her mom and sister.

"You share the same DNA as us!" Lorelai shouted.

"No, I have completely different genetics than you. I took after grandma." She gestured to her body.

"Enough. We have to get in there. We came early because I have no idea how much still needs to be done." She rang the doorbell.

"Grandpa?" She had never seen him answer the door before.

"Dad, why are you answering the door?" They step in.

"I heard it ring, so…" Richard closed it behind them.

"The maids taking the day off again?" She asks.

He was struggling to do his tie. "Yeah, I suppose so… Anna, Rory, it's nice to see you." He hugs them. They whisper their apologies to him. "Jess, surprise and happy you came." He shook his hand.

"I'm sorry for your loss." He came of his own accord this time. He wanted to show his support to the family he hopes to be joining soon.

"Thank you, Jess." He nods.

"How are you doing, Grandpa?" Anna asks.

"I'm having a devil of a time with this tie." He chuckles.

"You're not wearing any shoes." Rory looks down at his bare feet.

"Oh, I do need shoes." He looks down.

"Dad, can Mom help you with the tie?" She thought of the woman who never failed to tie it.

"Yes, yes she can. I don't know where she got it either. There are a lot of plans to make." He walks to the stairs before turning to them. "Oh… someone sent us four hams. Can you imagine, four hams?"

"Going to need to fix up some green eggs." Anna smiled.

"Mom," Lorelai was shocked to see her mom coming down in the same robe she saw her in days before.

"Rory, Abby, you look very nice." She smiled at her grandchildren.

"We brought dresses to change into." She wouldn't go to the funeral in sweats.

"Oh, what you're wearing is fine. Lorelai here, I just finished reading it and I think you'll like it?" She hands her a book titled, The Crimson Petal and the White. "It's about this prostitute named Sugar in Victorian England. She started rising through the ranks of society and she met these vivid characters." Her voice got more excited as she spoke.

"Okay, you don't have to tell me the whole story now." She cut her off.

"I'm not giving anything away. That's all on the back cover." She cheers.

Lorelai noticed her dad wandering off. "Dad!" She called him. "Rory, follow him. Point out doors and windows."

"I'll come. I can help him with the tie. For some reason, my dad insisted on teaching me." Jess followed Rory.

"Grandma, won't it be fun to get ready together?" She pulled her grandmother towards the stairs.

"Let's get some wine to make it a party." She tried to grab a wine bottle from the bartending cart.

"No, we can get drunk at the wake." She guides her to the master bedroom. She pushed her into the adjoining bathroom. "Go shower. That should sober you up."

When she was done, Anna patted the chair in front of the vanity desk. "Grandma, people will be coming here. You can't let them see you like this." She went through her closet to pull out a black dress. She grabbed her brush to gently take out the knots from being neglected the last few days. "You're letting her win. She loved to see you fall apart and make an ass of yourself in front of her family and friends."

"You're right." She realized she was letting Trix beat her from the grave.

"This will be the last time you have to deal with her." She reminds her of the bright side.

"I have to see her urn every day." She grits her teeth.

"Well, then make it match your decor. She'd hate that." She shared a smile with her grandmother.


Anna and Jess were having a martini at the wake. "It was a nice service." He ate a stuffed mushroom. "I miss Sookie's cooking."

"I'm going to tell her." She teased.

"Stop it." He snorts.

"Hello," An older woman who looked like Gran came up to them. "My name is Marilyn. I was Trix's niece. Who were you to her?"

"I'm Anna. I was her great-granddaughter. This is my boyfriend, Jess." She introduced them.

"You're Lorelai's daughter?" She points at her.

"That I am." She nods.

"It's nice to meet family." She hugged her. "How long have you two been together?"

"We've been going out for a year and a half." She tried to calculate breaking up and getting back together.

"That's a lot for being so young." She smiled. "Did you get to know your great grandma?"

"Sadly no, I only met her a handful of times." She put on a small smile.

"Let me tell you some stories. I got many. Aunt Lorelai is already in her 70s, and the blizzard has her trapped in that old house for a week with no heat, and no running water. The local police finally came and dug her out and handed her some hot tea. And you know what she does? First of all, she complains that the tea is too hot, and then she sends them a bill for carpet cleaning because they track in the snow." She laughed. "That woman was hard and stern but nothing could keep her down."

"Yeah, I know someone like that." She looked at her grandmother who was sitting with her mother. As the stories kept coming she thought maybe they didn't get along because they were too much alike.