Reflecting their own light: Rory and Logan

Chapter 31

Three weeks of bed rest so far, and I'm already going crazy.  People waiting on me all day and being stuck at home is starting to feel like some sort of punishment for getting pregnant out of wedlock.  Mom and Finn have been wonderful, and even Shira has been here a few times.  She'd been surprisingly pleasant and helpful.  Sometimes, it felt like she wanted to say something, but couldn't get it out.  Logan also hired a maid to help out until the baby comes, and Louis is here full time as well.  I shall want for nothing, according to Logan.

Today was one of the days neither Mom nor Finn could be here.  I was stuck with Shira.  She made sure I had everything I needed.  Most days she was quiet.  If I didn't physically see her, I'd think I was alone.  Most conversations were held to a minimum and stayed fairly superficial, except for today.

"Rory, I have a confession," she blurted out, as if she'd finally found the courage to admit to her crimes.

"Oh?"

"I've got some things I've been wanting to talk about for a long time.  So, please, bear with me," she warned.

"Ok.  It's not as if I'm going anywhere," I replied with a soft laugh to try to ease the tension.

"I know you remember that terrible dinner we put you through.  It's been seared into my memory and I've felt guilty about it for years.  I want to apologize, sincerely, for it.  I mean it.  You didn't deserve to be treated that way.  I think we may have overreacted because Logan had never introduced anyone as his girlfriend."

"Shira, that means a lot to me.  Let's put it in the past.  It's ancient history now," I offered.

"I was a very different person back then.  I was so caught up in that 'lifestyle' that I forgot about who I was and where I came from.  The snobbery, the better than everyone else because I'm rich attitude.....I haven't always been that way.  I'm sure you know that I did not come from money," she continued.

"Honestly, I don't know that much about you.  I've never really paid much attention to what people say about other people.  I prefer to find out myself, form my own opinions.  That's exactly what I did with Naomi Shropshire," I said with a small smile.

"I met Mitchum at a bar in New York City.  I had only been there for a few weeks.  My parents had essentially disowned me because I didn't want to stay in my dead-end hometown in Ohio.  I wanted to make it on my own, make it big on Broadway.  I figured the best way was to move to the city to pursue my goal.  The night we met was magical.  It was after my first performance as a chorus member in an off-Broadway production of Grease.  I thought I was on my way to the top.  So, a bunch of us went out after the show.  I saw an amazingly handsome blonde-haired man across the room.  He was looking my direction, but I was certain he was eying up one of my new-found friends.  After about an hour, he approached me.  Not only was he good-looking, he was intelligent and sweet.  I had no idea who the Huntzbergers were, not to mention the ramifications of our budding relationship.  It was a whirlwind, and I was caught up in it.  Mitchum wanted to give me the world, and I was willing to accept it.  At first, Elias was not pleased about me being a no-name 'showgirl' from Ohio, but I was willing to give up everything to be with Mitchum," she recounted.

"I had no idea, Shira."

"Our early relationship reminded me of you and Logan, young and in love.  After we got married, everything changed.  Mitchum was hardly around.  He became a workaholic.  I fulfilled my wifely duties and gave birth to two beautiful children.  All the while, I became accustomed to having endless money and social engagements to fill my time.  I forgot my duty to my children, and let the nannies do the work.  It was my job to be seen as the doting wife of Mitchum Huntzberger, despite the fact the doting was no longer reciprocated.  I was desperate for his attention, but resigned myself to the fact that I didn't hold him like I once did.  Younger, more beautiful women flocked to him, and he obliged them.  I needed to stay a part of this family because I didn't want to face my Broadway failure or my parents' disapproval.  I hid behind my façade and pushed forward.  My children were strangers to me, and my husband became even more of a mystery.  To maintain my position, I had to stay in the good graces of Elias, and he was not a pleasant person.  I let him control my opinions because if you were with him, you were mostly safe from his wrath.  Cross him, and you could be out in the cold without a penny," Shira continued, pouring her heart out to me.

"Why are you telling all of this now?" I asked.

"Because I have realized that I have no one.  My 'friends' aren't really my friends.  They are ladies in my social circle, but you can't talk to them about anything because they spread gossip like wildfire.  I feel like I don't even know my own husband.  We've been living separate lives for so many years, it's like he's a stranger to me."

"But, why me?"

"Rory, you are the one person who, despite everything, has continued to be kind to me.  You weren't raised in this world, and I'm not saying that as a bad thing.  You don't feel the need to adhere to the pretenses set forth in this social circle.  You are a real person, and treat people with kindness.  I....I want a second chance....to prove that I'm a good person.....to my family!"

"Shira, wow.....I had no idea.  Of course, I'll give you a second chance and I'd be more than happy to help you in whatever way I can!" I replied, extending my arms to her.  She responded in kind.  I had never seen her quite so raw.

"Really, Rory?  You'd help....me?" she asked, nearly in tears.

"Definitely!  Let me talk to Logan later today.  I'm sure we can help with Honor and figure out a way to approach Mitchum.  He seems to have softened since his heart attack."

"Elias was very wrong about you.  You are exactly what this family needs!  You are a breath of clean, fresh air," Shira replied.

"That means so much to me, you have no idea!" I said.

It seemed that Shira had found an unexpected ally in me.  The rest of the afternoon was relaxing.  I asked her to pick her favorite movie for us to watch.  She chose Breakfast at Tiffany's.  I wanted this gesture to reiterate that I was here for her, even if no one else would be.  After Logan came home, I told him about my day with his mom.

"Are you sure that was my mom and not her evil twin?"

"It seemed like she was sincere," I replied.

"Truthfully, I don't know all that much about my mom.  She was honest telling you about not being involved much in my life growing up.  I saw more of the nanny than either of my parents.  Now, she wants a second chance?"

"That's what she said.  She wants to be a better mother, and I assume grandmother.  She also mentioned a reconciliation of sorts with your dad," I added.

"I've seen the change with her.  She's been nice to you, and what she did for Odette definitely wasn't typical Shira.  Maybe she's seen the light," Logan said.

"It could be the baby speaking for me, but I think we should try," I said.

"I think we should, too," he replied.