When Fate Steps In

Chapter 28-Sandlot Publishing Christmas Party

Chapter 28-Sandlot Publishing Christmas Party

Logan told Rory in the car on the way to the party that he would explain tomorrow, but the highlights are that Mitchum had an affair about 13 years ago and he is just finding out that he has a 12-year-old daughter. Rory just shakes her head. "Logan, is there someone going to knock on our door years from now saying you have a child?" "Wow, Ace, I hope not, but don't jinx me. I'm sure I would have heard by now." Rory just looked at him. She knew he wasn't' celibate the twelve years they were apart.

Frank pulled into the back of the line of Limos and town cars. Rory put her gloves on and grabbed her clutch waiting for it to be their time to exit. The door of the limo was opened, and Logan stepped out, He held out his hand for Rory to exit. When she exited there were camera flashes going off. This surprised her. Usually, she is not newsworthy, but with Logan on her arm, she guessed they were news.

They entered the beautifully decorated ballroom of the Martin Executive Suites. They step aside to let their eyes adjust, both looking around. It wasn't long before Rory said her editor headed her way. She stepped forward as her editor hugged her neck and air-kissed her. "Sally, I'm sure you know Logan, but let me introduce him as my fiancé. Logan Huntzburger, my fiancé, this is Sally Guterworld, my editor." "Oh, Ace, Sally, and I go way back. She used to work for HPG as an intern." Sally laughed, "Yes, Logan was still a teenager working summers in the New York office." Logan laughed, "Worked, I was given a choice of offices to work. I chose New York. I had fun. Came to work about noon, left after lunch, Partied all night. Yes, something we will not be telling the twins about." Rory and Sally giggled. "Rory comes with me, there is someone I want you to meet." Rory looked at Logan and he nodded. "I'll just be at the bar; can I get you a drink?" "Yes please," Rory said as Sally pulled her away.

Logan started toward the bar, being stopped several times talking with people he knew in the industry when he spotted his mother. Logan turned and went the other way. He needed a minute to pull himself together. What is his mother doing here? Too late. She spotted him and hurried over. "Logan dear, how are you? '' kissing his cheek. "I'm a fine mother and how are you?" "Oh, you know, just peachy." "Mother, what are you doing here?" "Well if you must know, I am here with a date. Am I to assume you are here with the lovely Ms. Gilmore or is it Mrs. Greene?" "Mother, oh how I was hoping you would leave the claws at home." Before Shira could answer him, her date walked up. "Stephen, you know my son Logan. Logan this is my date, Stephen Graham, he is in negotiations with Jeff at Amazon. They are selling the Washington Post" "Now Shira, let's not talk about business. Logan, how are you? I heard through the grapevine that you are looking into purchasing Random publishing." "Stephen, I thought we were not going to talk business." Rory and Sally walked up at this time, not realizing that Logan was talking with Shira. "Stephen, it's good to see you. Let me introduce you to Rory Gilmore." Sally said as she hugged Stephen's neck and kissed him on the cheek. "Hello Rory, I understand you have a new mystery coming out the first of the year." "Yes, Stephen, it is being edited as we speak. I am looking forward to seeing what the critic thinks. I am veering from my usual writings to try my hand at a mystery." Rory said with a smile as she looped her arm into Logan's. "Shira, what a pleasure. Did not expect to see you tonight." Rory said, "Yes, Mother is here with Stephen." Rory smiles and nods her head. "Logan, I guess you did not make it to the bar. Would you like to join me, I am quite thirsty?" They said their goodbye and headed to the bar.

Logan whispered to Rory on the way to the bar. "Guess today is the day for surprises. Do you have a surprise for me, Ace? Rory laughed, "no will just be glad when this is over, and we can go home."

Rory and Logan danced several times. They socialize with all the right people. Sally leads Rory away several times to meet people. Logan was in his element. He might not have owned Sandlot Publishing, but he knew just about everyone here. He even heard whispers that he was here to buy them out. Logan was smiling and looking around as several men had him cornered talking golf when saw his mother headed toward Rory. He excused himself and headed that way also. Rory and J K Rowling were talking about their families, laughing at the stories about the twins. J K Rowling was telling her about her 18-year-old son David. They were laughing about what Rory had to look forward to when Shira approached. "Rory, we haven't had a chance to talk tonight." Shira said as she looked at J K Rowling, "Would you mind if I borrowed her for a while. I would love to catch up with her. I have not talked with Rory since Thanksgiving." J K Rowling just smiled, nodded, and walked away. Rory just stared at Shira. "Shira, I'm sure whatever you have to say to me could have waited. I was enjoying my conversation with J K. '' ''Whatever, I see you have a ring on your finger in public. I guess this is not going away." Shira says with a sigh. "Is there anything I can do to help with the wedding?" Rory was in shock, was this Shira. What is she planning, surely, she is planning something to spoil the wedding? Before Rory could say anything, Logan walked up and took Rory by the hand. He was not sure if he was doing it to comfort her and let her know that he was there for her or if he was holding her hand to keep her from slapping Shira. "Mother, I'm sure whatever you and Rory are discussing now can wait. I would like to dance with my beautiful Fiancé."

Logan took Rory onto the dance floor again and held her tight. She laid her head on his shoulders. "Ace, I'm sorry, I didn't think you would have to put up with her tonight and Saturday." Rory pulled her head back so she could look Logan in the eye. "What do you mean tonight and Saturday? Why would I have to put up with her Saturday? She and your father are divorced. Why would she be at the company Christmas party?" Logan just held her tight. "She will be there. She will show up with a date. Probably Stephen. Dad will also have a date. Me and Honor will spend most of the night trying to keep them apart. It is so stupid. But that is just the way my mother is."

Rory had been looking forward to Saturday night. Stephanie, Collin, Finn, Juliet, and her husband, Honor, and Josh, are all going to be at the HPG party. Rory knew they would have a good time with the gang. Now she was dreading it. She did not know if she could handle Shira twice in one week.

As they were saying their goodbyes to Sally, Shira joined them. "Rory is it possible for us to get together tomorrow. I really would like to help with the wedding?" Before Rory could answer, Logan said, "Mother, Ace has everything under control. We appreciate the offer, but between Lorelai, Honor, and Stephanie, we got this." "Now Logan, this is ladies' work. Rory, would you like to meet me at the coffee shop, or would you like for me to come to Logan's apartment? Rory said, "come to the apartment around noon, we will eat lunch and talk." Logan kissed his mother on the cheek and told her goodbye and they walked away to get Rory's wrap and clutch. Frank was waiting on them when they left the building.