Chapter 36
Lane pulled up outside Rory's apartment in her trusty van, which had seen better days but still carried the spirit of a rock band on tour. Rory, on the other hand, had had a truly free morning for once, Lorelai having taken Nora for an outing while she allowed Rory to sleep in. The gesture had been truly appreciated, but then again - Rory wasn't entirely sure, and maybe it was better that way, that she wasn't aware of everything that had entailed.
"Come on, I've got a free afternoon, and you're wasting it!" Lane called, rolling down her window as Rory stepped out of her front door, Nora and a large diaper bag in tow.
"Free afternoon? I've never heard of such a thing," Rory complained, playfully, and continued to strap Nora into her car seat in the back. "What's the rush, anyway?"
"No rush," Lane said, with an exaggeratedly casual shrug, trying to play it cool. "I just thought we could hang out. Girl time. No kids—except the one you come with, and no men!"
Rory squinted at her suspiciously as she climbed into the passenger seat. "You're being weird. What's going on?"
"Nothing!" Lane said, innocently. But she was being deliberately a little too innocent, giving Rory a pretty serious hint this was going to be about her birthday. It was the 8th of October after all, and besides being allowed to sleep in and the special chocolate chip pancakes from Luke's, delivered to her doorstep, this morning nobody, and she really meant - nobody, had said a word. Rory knew what was up.
The short drive through Stars Hollow was filled with Lane's chatter about new music releases, Zack's latest "brainchild" - a heavy metal lullaby album - and the chaos of managing two energetic teenage boys. The van headed toward Lorelai's house instead of the original destination in Hartford.
"Lane, why are we going to my mom's?" Rory asked as they pulled up.
"Oh, uh, I forgot. I left a thing here. For Zack. Totally normal, boring, band stuff," Lane said, hopping out quickly and avoiding eye contact.
"Does this thing involve cake?" Rory asked, eyeing the faint outline of a balloon string in the window.
Lane turned, all wide-eyed innocence. "Why would it involve cake? That's crazy talk. Now, come on, help me carry this imaginary equipment inside," Lane added, smilingly.
Rory rolled her eyes but followed her best friend up the porch steps, Nora on her hip.
The second the door opened, the living room erupted in a chorus of "SURPRISE!"
Rory froze. "Oh, come on! You all didn't even try to hide it this time!" she chimed.
Stars Hollow regulars were packed into the room. Kirk, wearing a sequined party hat, held a tray of miniature sandwiches he claimed were his "original recipe." Babette and Miss Patty sat at the piano, ready to launch into a jazzy rendition of "Happy Birthday." Luke stood behind the buffet table, moving around the dishes and grumbling as Taylor critiqued the arrangement of food.
Lorelai bounded over, wearing a tiara that matched apparently Nora's. Rory hadn't even notices at what point the girl had gotten one. But she seemed to be enjoying all the excitement around her.
"Welcome to your very own, highly exclusive, Stars Hollow spectacular birthday bash!" Lorelai exclaimed.
Rory laughed, taking in the chaos, "Wow. You guys really went all out." Despite there being little originality in this, she'd been in this position time and time again, she was grateful. More so for Nora's sake though, assuming her birthdays to be celebrated as vividly. This was exactly why she liked the idea of bringing Nora up here, not in some big anonymous city. She found it curious how her priorities had shifted so drastically in less than a couple of years.
"Only the best for my favorite co-conspirator," Lorelai said. "Now, hand over Nora so I can show her off like the proud grandmother I am!" she requested without waiting for a response.
Nora was promptly whisked away to the corner where Babette cooed over her, leaving Rory to mingle.
Luke cornered Rory by the dessert table, offering her a plate of fries and two miniature cheeseburgers. "Eat something real before you get to the cake," he said gruffly.
Rory's stomach was thankful, and hugged Luke in gratitude as he included a 'happy birthday' for the second time that day.
Rory moved through the party, overwhelmed but touched by the effort everyone had put into the celebration. The event ended up being music filled - Babette and Morey performed a slow duet on the keyboard, their version of "Fly Me to the Moon" delighting the crowd, and Lane promised to finish the evening off with something a bit more modern she'd been working on. Rory was excited to hear, knowing how challenging being a creative mother could be first hand.
As the party winded down, Rory slipped onto the porch for a moment of quiet. Jess joined her, holding two sodas.
"Happy birthday," he said, handing her one.
"Thanks. Did Luke rope you into this, or did you come voluntarily?" Rory teased.
"A little of both," Jess said, smirking.
"Well… it's good to have you back," Rory replied, having not seen him in weeks since he'd been in L.A.
"I'm not back," Jess replied, using the very words and intonation Rory had been known to throw around all of last summer.
"Ha-ha," Rory shot back.
"So, what's next for the 'thirty-four-year-old' Rory? Big plans, world domination?" Jess asked, only mouthing the age part.
Rory chuckled, the age part hitting her harder than she'd though. The past year had just slipped by. "More like trying to keep Nora from eating wrapping paper and finishing the book - one way or another. Which reminds me — I owe you some chapters," Rory added.
"You do," Jess said, tilting his head. "What's the holdup?"
Rory sighed, staring into her coffee. "They're a little… personal. Complicated. Messy."
Jess raised an eyebrow. "Messy's good. That's where the best stuff lives."
"I know," Rory said softly. "I just can't decide if I should keep the messy parts or sanitize them. It's like every time I sit down to write, it turns into a therapy session instead of an actual book."
Jess smirked. "Sounds like you're finally writing something worth reading."
Rory shot him a mock glare. "Careful, or I'll start charging you to critique it."
"Fair," Jess said, holding up his hands. "But seriously, the messy stuff is what makes it real. Don't pull back now. Readers can tell when you're faking it. Besides, there's always chance to edit something out later - but for now, just leave it," he suggested.
Rory nodded, her smile fading into thoughtfulness. "Thanks. I'll think about it."
Jess leaned back against the railing, studying her. "What's stopping you? Is it me? Not to be self-centered here, but if it's about getting someone more neutral to read it, I can ask…," he began.
Rory blinked. "What?"
"Is that why you're holding back? Afraid that I'll see too much?" Jess asked lightly, but his eyes were sharp.
"No," Rory said quickly. Then she hesitated. "Maybe a little. Some of it isn't exactly showing me in the best light or… flattering to... certain people in my life."
Jess gave her a knowing look, held up his hands, but didn't push further, "Whenever you're ready."
Rory smiled faintly, grateful for his understanding. "How was L.A., by the way? Did you and Doula hit the beach?"
Jess chuckled. "Hardly. Doula's idea of fun was critiquing my wardrobe. Apparently, my leather jacket is 'ancient' and should not be worn in public, especially not in L.A. She's what, eleven, and already more fashion-forward than I'll ever be."
"That checks out," Rory said with a laugh.
Jess nodded. "Pretty much. But the next minute she was bonding with Lily over balloon animals at some street fair. She's still a little chaotic, maybe a little lost - but I think she's finding glimpses of happiness. It was good to see them, though," Jess shared.
For a moment, they sat in companionable silence, watching as the porch light illuminated the swirling autumn leaves.
"Now," Jess said, breaking the quiet. "About those chapters. I expect them on my desk in a week."
Rory groaned, leaning back against the porch railing - "You're impossible."
"And you're predictable," Jess shot back, grinning.
The easy banter brought a small sense of comfort, grounding Rory in the moment. As the sounds of laughter and music drifted from inside, she couldn't help but feel a little lighter, like maybe things would be okay—even the messy parts.
When it was time for Nora's bedtime, Rory excused herself to be driven home. Right now Nora was rather a convenient excuse to slip out early, the overwhelmingness of the party having been a little tiring on Rory. Later, as Nora was tucked into her own bed, Rory finally sank onto the couch. There was a mental tiredness of the day, but having slept in this morning unlike she had in weeks - she actually felt wide awake still.
She was just about to open up her laptop to get a few hours of writing done when a faint tap-tap-tap broke through the quiet.
She froze, ears straining. Another tap-tap. It was coming from the window.
Setting the laptop aside, Rory tiptoed across the room and peeked through the curtains. Standing below, with the most absurdly dramatic flourish imaginable, was Finn.
He grinned up at her and waved, holding a small handful of pebbles in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. "Rory! Darling!" he whisper-shouted, though his idea of whispering was about as subtle as Kirk's Halloween decorations.
"What are you doing?" Rory hissed, throwing the window open just enough to stick her head out.
"Why, making an entrance, of course!" Finn declared, tossing another pebble lightly at the window frame. "I thought it best to announce my arrival in a way befitting a woman of your literary stature."
"By potentially shattering my window?" Rory shot back, glancing nervously toward the baby monitor.
"Not shattering, dear girl. Courting. Romancing," he exclaimed, obviously joking. He paused, frowning. "Though, I see I've arrived too late for the evening serenade. Colin refuses to carry a tune these days. Sad, really."
Rory couldn't help but laugh. "It's late, Finn! You couldn't just text or knock on the door like a normal person?"
Finn clutched his chest as if wounded. "Normal? How dare you suggest such a thing. Colin said the same, and look where he is now—carrying my luggage!"
A voice from below grumbled, "I am not carrying your luggage."
Rory leaned further out the window to spot Colin leaning against a lamppost, looking unamused.
"What's going on?" Rory asked, giving Finn her best exasperated glare, which he ignored entirely.
"We were in New York," Finn said, as if that explained everything. "And I thought to myself, 'Self, do you know what's better than overpriced cocktails with hedge fund managers? A spontaneous trip to New England to see our dear Rory Gilmore! '"
Colin piped up dryly, "That's the abridged version. The full version involved several martinis and a questionable monologue about autumn foliage."
Finn threw an arm around an unimpressed Colin. "A monologue of artistry! Anyway, darling Rory, let us in! We've brought gifts, and Colin has promised to carry the wine upstairs."
"I did not promise that," Colin retorted.
Rory sighed, laughing despite herself. "Fine. Come up. But quietly. Nora's asleep, and if you wake her, you're on diaper duty."
Finn saluted her with a dramatic bow. "As you command."
A minute later, they were inside, Finn immediately sprawling onto her couch with all the grace of a Shakespearean actor mid-tragedy. Colin, more reserved, set the wine bottle on her coffee table.
"Love what you've done with the place," Colin commented, having never been there before, seeing a pile of unfolded laundry, an assortment of toys and several dirty burp cloths laying around.
"Not that I'm flattered that you are, but… why are you two here?" Rory asked, collapsing into an armchair.
"To celebrate you, obviously," Finn said, grinning. "Your birthday may be almost over, but the celebration continues! And what better way than with wine and the finest company in all of New England?"
Colin sighed. "He means us. Somehow."
Rory couldn't help but laugh as Finn popped the cork on the wine with unnecessary flair, launching it across the room and earning an immediate glare from her. She shook her head, knowing she wouldn't be getting much writing done tonight. But as Finn poured her a glass, offering an impromptu toast to "the most charming mother in all the land," she couldn't bring herself to mind.
The wine bottle stood on the coffee table like a centerpiece, its deep ruby label catching the glow of the single lamp Rory had left on in the corner. Finn poured the wine generously, his movements theatrical, while Colin inspected the glassware Rory had handed him with an arched eyebrow.
"This one has a scratch," Colin noted, holding the glass up to the light.
"Stars Hollow doesn't specialize in crystal stemware, Colin," Rory said, rolling her eyes as she took her seat on the couch, wrapping a throw blanket around her shoulders. The fact that she had stemware to begin with was new.
"Clearly," Colin said, but he handed the glass to Finn without further complaint.
Finn, unbothered, clinked his glass against Rory's as if they were toasting at a lavish gala. "To Rory Gilmore! Surviving motherhood, eccentric small-town life, and—most importantly—us showing up uninvited in the dead of night!"
Rory laughed and shook her head. "You're ridiculous, but I'll drink to that."
They sipped the wine, its smooth, velvety texture filling the room with the kind of warmth only expensive vintages could provide. Rory raised an eyebrow as she set her glass down.
"This is seriously good wine," she admitted.
Colin smirked. "Of course it is. Finn insists on hauling half of Napa with him wherever he goes. I'm surprised the bottle didn't have its own seat on the flight."
"Oh, it did," Finn said nonchalantly.
Rory nearly choked on her wine. "It what?"
"It's a very special vintage," Finn said with mock indignation, as if Rory had insulted its honor. "A 1990 Margaux, my dear. It needed proper care. Unlike Colin."
Colin sighed, clearly used to Finn's antics. "Yes, Finn. I'm terribly fragile."
Rory laughed, shaking her head. "You two haven't changed a bit. But why are you really here? I can't believe you traveled all this way just to bring me a ridiculously expensive bottle of wine and disrupt my boring night."
Finn leaned back dramatically, draping an arm over the couch. "Well, the wine was for the charm. The disruption is just my nature."
Colin cleared his throat. "We thought you might want some company. And… maybe an update."
Rory's smile faltered slightly. She set her glass down carefully, her voice softening. "About Logan?"
Colin nodded. "Things are complicated in London. Logan hasn't exactly been forthcoming, but we've pieced enough together to know he's not doing great."
Rory's brows furrowed as she shifted in her seat. "What do you mean? What's going on?"
Finn sighed, his playful demeanor momentarily subdued. "He had a paternity test done. Independent of anything else. He wanted to confirm…"
"Because of the blood type," Rory said quietly, finishing his thought.
Both men looked at her, startled.
"You knew?" Colin asked, his voice more curious than accusatory.
Rory nodded, her hands tightening around the edge of the blanket. "I figured it out and asked Honor to ask around," she confessed.
Colin's eyes narrowed slightly, connecting the dots.
Finn whistled softly, shaking his head. "Honor? I mean, she's the most trustworthy of us, but... wow."
Rory let out a breath, trying to keep her voice steady. "How did Logan take it?"
Colin hesitated before answering, choosing his words carefully. "He's... surviving. You know how he is. He won't admit how much it's affecting him, but it's there. You can see it."
Finn chimed in, his voice unusually serious. "He's still going through the motions with Odette, but honestly, I'll be shocked if that marriage lasts much longer. This whole thing has driven a wedge between them."
Rory frowned, the weight of the conversation pressing down on her. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I just thought he should not be deceived…."
Colin leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You didn't make this worse, Rory. This situation was already cracked. Logan's been living in a world of compromises for years. You just... forced him to see it for what it is."
Rory looked away, her thoughts racing. "I just hope he doesn't hate me if he finds out it was me who pieced it together," she added.
Finn reached over, resting a hand lightly on her arm. "Hate you? Darling, Logan could never hate you. If anything, you're probably the one person he doesn't resent in all of this."
Rory smiled faintly, though the tightness in her chest didn't ease. "I just want him to be okay. Even if we're... not part of each other's lives anymore, I don't want him to suffer because of me."
Colin nodded. "He'll be okay eventually. But he's got to figure out what he wants, not just what's expected of him. And actually make some steps to break free. That's the hard part."
Finn brightened suddenly, his voice returning to its usual theatrics. "Speaking of hard parts, where's the corkscrew? I believe this bottle requires a sequel!"
Rory laughed despite herself, the momentary tension lifting. "You two are impossible."
"That's why you love us," Finn said with a wink, already searching her kitchen for a second corkscrew.