True Love And Coffee (A Gilmore Continuation)

18

"Logan." He said, looking over my shoulder into the living area. "Can I speak to you in the hallway for a moment."

I looked over my shoulder, it had fallen silent. Finn, Collin, and Robert knew he didn't approve of them. He thought they were reckless, that they would never grow up.

"Sure." I said, and walked out closing the door behind me. "What's up?"

He looked a bit different, odd. He didn't really seem like the same Mitchum I had grown up learning to dislike. But, here in this moment, he seemed a bit...sad?

"I didn't know you would have people over." He started.

"Dad, why are you here?" I asked bluntly.

"Your mom is leaving." He responded.

"What do you mean she's leaving?" I asked.

"She's filing for a divorce. I just thought you should know." He said.

"Okay, and you just thought you should come by now and let me know?" I replied.

"Is that all you have to say?" He asked.

"What more did you expect, you've been cheating on her off and on for years. You thought she didn't notice? Mom might not be the sharpest tool in the shed but she's not an idiot." I came back at him. He didn't say anything for a couple minutes, so I started to continue, "If that's all, I have guests." And I started to turn to go back in.

"How Rory?" He asked, catching me off guard again.

"Not that you really care, but she's good. Almost there, four weeks left to go." I replied.

"Good." He said.

What was this about? Mitchum shows up at my door, tells me that him and mom are divorcing and then asks about Rory?

"And what about you? How are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm fine." I said more confused Then ever at this point. "What's this really about? Why are you asking about Rory? And asking how I'm doing?"

"I don't know how to do this?..." He said.

"Don't know how to do what?" I asked

"This! Be a decent father! Try to be a part of your life when it doesn't involve work!" He said yelling.

That's what he was trying to do?

"I'm a business man Logan." He said trying to calm himself. "I know I didn't take it well when you told me you got Rory pregnant, that you engagement to Odette was over, that the merger was broken."

"No you didn't." I interjected.

"But I always liked Rory. She's a good girl. Helped you figure out your path. She only ever wanted what was best for you, and I admired that in her." He finished.

I didn't really know what to say. It seemed like this was coming out of nowhere. He hasn't wanted to talk about any of this for months and now he's here.

"I have something for you." He said reaching into his coat pocket and handing me a folded check. "I know I haven't been there, but...I was wrong." He said.

"Wait, can I get that in writing?" I asked as I looked at the amount written.

"I just wanted to do something." He said, "And I figured Rory would never accept it. She's never wanted to accept anything from me, at least not right away." Mitcham said.

"Yeah, she works hard." I replied.

"Well that's why I came. Ill see you at work." He said and then turned and headed for the elevator. But as he walked away I heard him call over his shoulder, "You made the right choice."

It was the first time I had ever heard Mitchum Hutzberger admit he was wrong.

***

Rory:

"Hey Ace. How was the shower?" Logan asked as I walked back through the door.

"You know what, it wasn't that bad. It was actually great." I replied, sitting next to him on the couch. "How was your day?"

"Interesting." He said.

"How so?" I asked, slightly intrigued.

"Well the day started with poker and the guys, and then Mitchum showed up." He said.

"Mitchum showed up? Why?" I asked seriously confused now.

"Well apparently my parents are finally divorcing. But that wasn't the biggest shock." He started.

"Really? Then what was?" I asked.

"He attempted to be...fatherly. He was trying to be interested in my life, in our life. He wasn't very good at it. But the fact that he even attempted something like that..." He said. "Then he handed me this."

He handed me a folded up check and I opened it and looked at the amount written on it. Then closed it.

"Five grand. He just gave you five grand?" I asked shocked.

"Well gave us, but yes." He replied.

I was speechless. What did this mean? Was he expecting something?

"Rory its the first time I've even heard him admit he was wrong. He said I made the right choice." He said, looking like he was still in shock.

"I...I don't know what to say..." I said.

"You don't have to say anything. But, lets move on., I have something to show you. Come with me." He said and then grabbed my hand.

He pulled me up off the couch and then led me down the hall. When we were in front of the door that led into the nursery he said, "Close your eyes." I looked at him for a moment longer. "Ace, we aren't going any further until you close your eyes." He said with a small chuckle.

I did as he asked and then I could hear the door open, then he was leading me inside. I felt him let go of my hands and after a couple more moments he said, "Okay. You can open them now."

I opened my eyes and looked around at what was in front of me. The nursery was...complete. The furniture that mom and I had picked out a couple weeks ago was put together and in their places, the light gray glider and ottoman were in the corner by the window looking out over the park, on the floor sat a light, pastel pink rug and the window had thick curtains that matched. Three of the walls had been painted a light gray to match the glider, and the wall that the crib was on was painted with horizontal light pink and gray stripes, and painted in a darker shade of gray in a delicate script was the saying "In Omnia Paratus" above the crib. Each word was on a different strip, and each word began where the last on ended. The last thing I noticed were the floating bookshelves on either side of the crib. All the room needed now was all the items received at the baby shower and well...the baby.

I looked at Logan who stood in the middle of the room waiting for me to say something. "Well, what do you think?"

I walked over to him, "When did you have time to do all of this?" I asked.

"You'd be surprised what can get done in a day when you hire a team of professionals." He replied with a laugh.

"And the saying?" I asked

"Well I wanted her to know that she could do anything. After all it is Latin for "Ready of all things"." He said.

"It's perfect." I said and then wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.

"I'm glad you like it." He said and kissed me back. "Now how about dinner?"

"Sounds great." I said.

He took my hand and started to lead me out of the room but, before turning off the light I took it all in one more time.

"Four more weeks." I said, and then flipped off the lights.