The Maine Event

Chapter 8

Logan returned from the gym, having attempted the entire time not to dwell over what Rory and Odette were speaking about. These were literally the women who held the quality of his life in their hands.He, however, felt like he had no control over any of it. 

In the process of failing miserably at that task of trying to not wonder how the anticipated conversation was progressing, he'd overextended himself on the treadmill, hurting his left thigh, leaving him limping just a little. The physical therapist at the site, the benefit of country club gyms, had cleared him to go home and advised that rest and ice would likely suffice. After arriving back to the house and closing the front door behind him, he left his gym bag in the hallway and limped following the familiar voices towards the kitchen to see what the situation was. 

"...and then he asked my mother to write me a letter," Rory said laughingly, holding up a cup of coffee, not quite finishing the story she had been telling, once she noticed Logan.

"Am I ever going to find out what the said letter said?" he inquired, leaning against the doorway.

"Got to keep some mystery alive, Logan," Rory smirked.

"I assume your talk went well?" he asked, feeling relieved at the lack of tension in the room.

"Well I think we have most things covered though I think the timeline is something we still need to discuss, but we figured it'd be a little weird to do that without the groom present," Odette noted. The discussion had taken a casual tone, as if discussing the next holiday destination.

"Alright, we can do that, but first, I need to get some ice," he added, as he continued to hobble towards the freezer.

The two were up on their feet, trying to assist, in seconds. "What happened?" Rory asked in a worried tone.

"Just a slight strain, it should be alright if I just give it some rest," he replied.

"You just go sit, I'll get it," Odette offered.

"I always knew exercising was pure evil," Rory mumbled, while she pulled another chair near so Logan could elevate his leg.

"Now I could get used to this treatment," Logan chuckled before Odette threw a cold gel pack at him. Rory gave him a playfully scolding look for that comment.

"Thanks," he replied. "So, timeline," he began, as if stepping into problem solving mode.

Rory and Odette looked at each other and then to Logan. It was Odette who spoke first.

"I haven't told you this Logan, but I actually want to come live in the US, I know waiting for actual citizenship is a longer process, I don't aim to drag it that long. But I can imagine hiding for a while behind your name or getting divorced quietly would probably help if I wanted to disappear," Odette said.

"What am I missing here?" he inquired, not quite understanding why she'd want to leave everything behind. Sure, he knew she wanted to escape her parent's control, but that didn't quite seem it.

"I want to have a baby, Logan," Odette said, correcting as she identified Logan's sceptical frown. "No, not with you, obviously," she said, adding, "but I don't want to raise him or her anywhere near them." Her conversation with Rory had already led them to the topic of possible assistance Paris could offer her.

"Not what I expected to hear, I have to say, but I guess - good for you," he noted with a shrug. "So you'll want to take my name for now?" Logan inquired.

Odette nodded.

"Alright, I am pretty sure that's what the families are expecting anyways," he added.

"How long would we have to stay in London for? I can assume you'd prefer to be on this side of the Atlantic as well," Odette continued, thinking of Rory.