when we come to it

Chapter 15: 2009 (10 of 10)

Thursday, December 24, 2009

"Home sweet home," Luke muttered, turning off the road and into the snowy drive way.

The moment the engine switched off, the cabin lights flickered on and blinded Rory for half a second. She glanced at her phone screen, unsurprised to find it to be just as dead as the last time she checked it. 

In the front seat, Luke unbuckled himself and leaned across the isle to brush back a few strands of loose hair from his wife's face. "Lor, we're home," he whispered. "Lorelai?" 

Rory stashed her phone in her purse. "Is she out?" 

"Like a light." Luke turned to the backseat. "How's Will?"

"Also unplugged," Rory nodded, reaching over to tuck her brother's hand down under the knit lilac blanket. "I'll take him if you take her?"

"Sounds like a deal," Luke nodded, cracking his door and sliding out into the wintery night. Rory followed suit, shouldering her bag before sliding open the van door. Her block heels might be sturdier than most of her fancy shoes, but in a foot of snow they weren't exactly the optimal winter footwear. After a careful trek around the car, Rory managed to wrestle Will's car seat out of the car and started her journey towards the warmth of the house. 

She was the first inside, though Luke followed with a cradled and sleeping Lorelai not long after. 

"Do you think you can handle him?" Luke asked, bumping the front door shut with his hip. 

"Definitely," Rory nodded, setting Will's seat down so that she could shed her jacket. "You go take care of her, I'll get him to bed."

"Thanks, Rory."

"Merry Christmas, Luke," Rory smiled, crouching down in front of Will's seat. 

"Merry Christmas, Rory." He turned and, very carefully so as not to hit Lorelai's head on anything, carried her toward the stairs. 

Rory folded Will's car blanket and set it aside before unbuckling his many clasps and straps. When the one-year-old was finally freed from his safety prison, Rory picked him up and hugged him to her shoulder. 

"Geez, kid," she mumbled, adjusting a little once she realized that she should have taken off her shoes first. "When did you get so heavy?" 

Anticipating that her somewhat intoxicated mother might wake and make some noise, Rory didn't immediately take Will upstairs. Instead, she carried her brother into the living room and laid him down on the couch. After locating one of the handful of diaper bags scattered around the first floor, Rory returned to her brother's side. Within a matter of minutes, his diaper was changed and his fancy Christmas outfit was replaced with a onesie and a matching pair of elephant sweatpants. 

She was pretty good at the big sister stuff, surprisingly enough. She hadn't gotten this opportunity with GG and, with the way things were with her dad, she didn't know if she'd get the chance. 

While she was wiping away the remnants of his green mush dinner, Rory heard the front door swing open. She'd have thought that it was the wind, but the heavy footsteps that followed told a different story. She didn't even have time to wonder who was walking into the house after ten at night because before she could stand and walk to the front room, Jess poked his head out into the hall. 

"Is everyone else asleep?" He asked, walking into the hallway and glancing up the stairwell. When he peeled off his winter hat, his loose curls bounced back into place. 

He wasn't supposed to be in town for two more days. What changed?

"Just about," Rory nodded, setting down the wipes and gathering up her baby brother. "I've got to go put him down for bed, but Mom's already wiped and Luke is probably about to collapse."