RAIFSG-Chapter 18

Monday afternoon, Logan came through the door, "Ace, Ace, where are you?" he could hear someone in the kitchen, but that could be Gloria or the contractors.

"Logan," Rory said, coming from upstairs. "What in the world? You come in here yelling like the house is on fire. Is everyone okay? Kids okay?"

"Yeah, kids are fine, I guess, I don't know any difference," He told her. He kissed her on the cheek before leading her to the family room. "Where's Gloria?" he asked.

"She is running errors. She took my car." She said,

"Oh, okay, I need to talk to you about that later, right now…I need to tell you how much I love you. How glad you are in our life again. Thankful for you giving me a second chance." He had a hold of her hands. She could tell they are sweaty.

"Logan, what is it? You don't come home in the middle of the day for no reason, your hands are sweaty," this causes him to let go of her hands. "I know you are going to propose because you would never do this so…..simple. So, tell me. What's the bad news.?" She said as she sat back on the sofa.

"Well, you know, we are supposed to go to mom and dad's to exchange Christmas gifts as a family?" He watched as she nodded. "Well, I found out today we are expected at the Huntzburger society party." she watched him. "With the kids." He stood up. It was a reflex. He started pacing.

"The kids are invited to the company party?" she asked. "I thought you got us out of the company party. It is in New York, at the Plaza. I have been helping Honor find just the right dress."

"Yes, I got us out of the company party. Honor is going. She and Josh are representing the CEO and President." He said. He could see the confusion on her face turn to understanding.

"This is a Huntzburger society party. Like my grandparents used to have." She said,

"Yeah," Logan told her as he sat down beside her. "Our presence and our children's presence is expected."

Rory sat there for a few minutes. To Logan it felt like forever. He was waiting for her to speak. She nodded her head, like she just came up with a solution to a problem. "Okay, when is it? I will try to fit in a shopping trip with the girls. I want to make sure our presence will look fondly on the Huntzburger name."

She waited for him to answer. He pulled his wallet out of his pocket and removed a credit card. "You can put that back." She said, "I don't need your money." She was offended.

"I know Ace, but the boys need new suits, probably new dress shoes also." He looked at her shyly.

"I guess by the look on your face you want me to do the shopping? Although it would be funny if they showed up in a suit with track shoes." She said with a laugh.

"Well you girls have so much fun shopping, why would you want me along?" He said. "Besides, I don't think I will have time…It's this Friday." He said.

"You mean next Friday. That doesn't give me too much time. I am sure the girls' dresses will have to be altered. The boys' pants will surely need to be hemmed. At this age their bodies are still trying to catch up.. Let me see," She stood up to grab her phone. She was looking at the calendar. "We can probably go Friday after school. I will take that Credit Card now. It will cost to get the alterations done so quietly."

She was still looking at her calendar. Logan was silent. His silence had her worried. She looked up. He was turning pale. "Logan?" She said,

"No, I was correct the first time. It is this Friday as in the end of this week." He said. This time he jumped up. He was glad because she swatted at him, calling him an ugly word and screeching at him.

Gloria had just come into the house with the dry cleaning and a few shopping items. "What in the world is going on?" she asked.

Logan was standing by the patio doors and Rory was by the fireplace. "Gloria, do you know what this…this.. I don't even know what to call him. He just informed me that we, that is us and the children, are expected at the Huntzburger for a society party this Friday."

"Mr. Logan." She said, "You know better than that. You lived with Honor enough to remember it takes weeks sometimes to get a dress and have it fitted. We have to get three dresses, and if you think Honor was picky, these nine year olds are going to be worse. They are still in the kiddie clothes phase, a party dress? They will be really picky. Ms. Rory, I will help. Just let me know."

She turned to leave the room. "Just for that, I am only making enough dinner tonight for Ms. Rory and the kids. You sir will have to eat a bowl of cereal. Ms. Rory's dinner will be ready at 6 at the apartment." Gloria turned and walked out of the room.

Logan just stood there. The thing about Gloria, she used to work for the Huntzburgers when Logan was small. When he moved back, she agreed to come work for him. Her husband passed aways several years ago and her children live on the west coast.

"Is that all you wanted, sir?" Rory asked. Logan turned to look at her. "Well, I guess anything else is out of the question at the moment."

Rory nodded her head and laughed as she walked back to her office to start making phone calls. She would have to do a little begging and a lot of pleading, but she is sure it can be done. Logan would owe her mom new Jimmy Choe's and a purse. Yes, her taste is expensive.