Life Choices, Challenges and Changes

Life Choices, Challenges, and Changes Part 2

Chapter 41 Wedding Stress

Two weeks and four days left before the wedding, and Rory decided to simplify her lesson plans. She set up group work for the students to do, giving her fewer papers to correct since she needed to finish grading their exams. Rory loved giving her students the freedom to make their own book choices and defend their thoughts about the books. She walked around the room, sitting down in the groups and listening as her students talked about their favorite books. As she monitored their work, she would ask them a question to redirect the conversation or join them in their discussions.

When the bell rang, indicating that the last morning class was over, she returned to her desk. Sitting down, she checked her to-do list. On it, she wrote call Lane to discuss the music for the wedding.

Finn and Rory initially hired Hep Alien to play both at the wedding ceremony and the reception. Liam convinced them to let him get the band for the reception so her friends will be able to enjoy the wedding too. Agreeing with him, Finn and Rory made a list of their favorite songs so that the band that Liam retained would play them during their reception. As they listened and talked about the songs they liked, Finn told her that "From This Moment" was his favorite song,

Rory loved that song too and decided that she wanted to do something special for Finn. Finn didn't know that Rory had inherited her grandfather's talent for singing.

Rory had a beautiful, tuneful singing voice, and while she was a student at Stars Hollow High, she participated in the chorus and enjoyed singing. But when she transferred to Chilton, she did not join the choir. The choral group was extremely competitive, her shyness and her studies kept her from auditioning for the Chilton Choir. Whenever she went home on weekends, Lorelai, Rory, and Lane would pull out the Gilmore Karaoke machine and sing together. Lane tried to convince her to join her band Hep Alien.

"Rory, you should join the band. Your voice would blend perfectly with Zach and David's."

"Are you crazy Lane? First, you don't need me standing up on stage with Brian, David, and Zack. I can't play any instruments."

"You don't have to. You could use a tambourine or hold the mike like you do when we sing on the Karaoke Machine."

"No, even drunk, I don't want to make a fool of myself. Lane, I have so much schoolwork at Chilton. I have to do community service and join clubs that will get me into Harvard." She hugged Lane and said, "Plus this is your thing."

Smiling, Rory pictured herself singing this song as she walked down the aisle to Finn, she could imagine him standing there with tears in his eyes. He was such a romantic, and this time she would surprise him. Remembering that conversation they had when they were in high school, Rory dialed Lane's phone number.

"Hi Lane," Rory said when Lane answered the phone.

"Rory, what's going on? Are you getting excited about the wedding?"

"Yes, and that's why I called. I need your help with something."

"What's up?"

"Finn's favorite song is "From This Moment," and I was thinking of singing this song to him as I walk down the aisle. I could use your help pulling this off... Tell me that it isn't a silly idea."

"Rory that is not silly! That would be so romantic. I don't know why I didn't think of it before when we talked about the music. Of course, you can do it. We could get you a headset, and you could wear it under your veil. You are wearing a veil, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am wearing a veil," Rory replied.

"Great, I can talk to Miss Patty and Sophie, and see if they could help with the arrangement of the music," Lane rambled. "I can picture it, Brian playing the music on the piano with Zac and Gil accompanying him on the guitar and from the back of the church your voice starts coming out.... Everyone would turn in their seats. Oh, I'm going to cry... it will be so beautiful, and no one would be suspecting that it is you singing. We can choose other music that Zach can play as everyone else walks down the aisle ... "