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Post by javakamp on Mar 28, 2003 16:55:30 GMT -5
Chapter 13: Morning Glory.
Lorelai looked at Rory’s plate and asked, “So are you going to eat your last piece of bacon?”
Rory looked sternly at her mother and said, “You keep your hands away from my bacon.”
“Well, it looked like you weren’t going to eat it.”
“I’m sorry,” Rory apologized, “but I really need to finish this proposal for the supplemental student council meeting this afternoon, or I’ll have to listen to Paris complain about how she is the only one who cares about getting anything done. And if I’m going to get through that meeting I’m going to need all the nutrition that I can get, and that includes my bacon.”
“Well, have heart Missy, because tonight you have going to dinner at the grandparents house to look forward to. And you remember what the best part about that is?”
Rory smiled at her mom and said, “That would be the leaving.”
Lorelai started to reply but stopped when suddenly Rory got a slightly panicked look on her face. “Rory, is something the matter?”
Rory didn’t answer but Lorelai realized that Rory was staring past her. Lorelai turned to see what had spooked Rory. She smiled at the man she saw walking towards her, “Colin, what are you doing here?”
Colin was pulling off his gloves as he said, “Well you always talk so much about this place, I decided to check it out.” He leaned down and gave Lorelai a quick kiss, then turned to the younger Gilmore and said, “Morning, Rory.”
Rory recovered enough to say, “Hi Mr. Fletcher.”
Colin turned back to Lorelai and asked, “Would the two of you mind if I joined you.”
“No, I’m glad you came by,” Lorelai smiled.
Without waiting for a response from Rory, he pulled out a chair and sat down. He grabbed the menu and asked, “So what’s good here?”
“Oh, just about everything.”
As Colin scanned the menu, Rory started to put away her books and papers. “I better get going. I don’t want to miss the bus.”
Lorelai glanced at her watch noting that is was at least ten minutes before Rory had to worry about the bus. Before she could say anything, Rory was putting on her jacket. “Mom, you can have my bacon if you like.”
Lorelai started to say something, but something in Rory’s look told her not to push the issue. Rory stepped around the table, kissed her mother on the cheek and said, “Bye, mom. See you tonight.”
“Bye sweetie.”
“Good bye, Mr. Fletcher.”
“Please call me Colin.”
“Right. Sorry I forgot.” Rory turned and was out the door.
While Lorelai was staring after her daughter, Colin asked, “I hope I didn’t interrupt anything, or make her feel uncomfortable.”
Lorelai turned and smiled at Colin, “No, she just had to leave for the bus.”
Before Colin could reply, Luke walked up holding a coffee pot in one hand, “What happened to Rory? She seemed to leave in a hurry.”
Lorelai turned to Luke and answered, “No we were just yacking and lost track of time.”
“Oh,” Luke replied, after a quick glance at Colin. “You want some more coffee?”
“Yes, Please.”
After Luke filled the cup, he turned to Colin and asked, “Can I get anything.”
Before Colin could reply, Lorelai jumped in, “oh, excuse me. Colin this is Luke Danes, the owner of this fine establishment, and the man who keeps me in coffee and burgers.” She pointed at Colin, “Luke this is Colin Fletcher. He’s… We’re…”
Colin stood up holding out his hand, “We’ve been dating.”
“Right,” Lorelai confirmed.
Luke looked at Colin, and then took a quick glance at Lorelai. He turned back to Colin, and took his hand. “Ah… That’s aaa… nice. Its' nice to meet you Mr. Fletcher.”
“Please call me Colin.”
“Sure… Colin,” Luke nodded. “Can I get you anything?”
“Well, Lorelai has told me so much about your coffee that I can’t wait to try some. But I need a couple of more minutes with the menu.”
“Sure. Take your time, and I’ll be right back with that coffee.”
********************************
End of chapter13
Gee was Luke acting a little uncomfortable around Colin?
Did it seem to you that Lorelai was a bit uncomfortable about telling Luke about Colin?
Humm. Me thinks I notice a pattern.
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Post by javakamp on Mar 28, 2003 17:00:02 GMT -5
Chapter 14: With the rest of the Garbage
Later that morning, Luke picked up a bag of garbage and opened the back door to the diner. He walked to the dumpster and tossed in the bag. When he turned back around he was startled to see a man standing there leaning against the building with his arms crossed over his chest, and a stern look on his face.
“Jez…” Luke said putting a hand to his chest. “I didn’t know you were there.” While he was getting his heart back under control, Luke recognized the man who had been with Lorelai earlier. “It’s, Colin, right?”
“Don’t give me that dumb act,” Colin said in a tone that was not quite threatening.
“I don’t know what you talking about.”
“I saw the way you were looking at her.”
“Her? Her who?”
“You know who,” Colin glared.
“What, Lorelai? We’re just friends. Really.”
“So you admit it.”
“Admit what?” Luke shrugged. “We’re friends, but that’s it.”
“I’m not blind,” Colin said pushing himself away from the building. ”I could tell from the way you were looking at her.”
“I still don’t get it. How was I looking at her?”
“Its’ so obvious. You want her,” Colin sneered. “Go ahead, tell me you don’t.”
Instead of answering, Luke just stared at his shoes in silence
“I knew it,” Colin taunted as he stepped closer. “You’ve probably wanted her for years, but I bet you’ve never done a thing about it, have you?” When Luke remained silent Colin continued, “And you know why you’ve never done anything? Because you know. You know that a woman like Lorelai is major league, while you’re strictly bush league.”
Colin was silent for a moment, while Luke continued to stare at the ground. “Well, she’s with me now, how does that make you feel, fry boy?”
Luke looked up, anger smoldering in his eyes.
“That’s what I thought.” Colin taunted. He stared at Luke for a long moment. Finally, he said, “Well I’m glad we had this little talk. Just so we understand each other.” He turned and started walking up the alley, calling over his shoulder, “Stay away from Lorelai.”
Luke stood silently for a long moment. Eventually he turned and headed back into the diner, slamming the back door behind him.
***************************
End of Chapter 14
Well, well. Colin reveals another side of hei personality. Convienetly it was whe Lorelai wasn't around. Hummm.
What will Luke do?
What should Luke do?
What will Lorelai eat for breakfast on Saturday?
To find out tune in tomorrow.
Oh and Please, Please, Please let me know what you think.
TTFN
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Post by javakamp on Mar 29, 2003 7:12:55 GMT -5
Chapter 15: Blueberries, for Waterbury
Late Saturday morning Lorelai walked into the diner. She spotted Luke at the counter, bent over an order form adding up a customers check. She sat down at a stool near Luke and said, “Hey.”
Luke looked up, smiled and responded, “Hey.” He looked around then asked, “Rory’s not with you?”
“Naw, she had to meet some kids at school, for a project.”
“Coffee?”
When Lorelai nodded, Luke reached under the counter and produced a mug, sitting it in front of her. He turned around, grabbed the coffee pot off the warmer and began to fill the mug.
As he poured the coffee, Lorelai noticed the bandage covering the hand that held the pot. “Luke what happened to your hand?” She asked concerned.
Luke shook his head and replied, “I was working in the back yesterday afternoon, when a can of peaches fell off the top shelf and hit my hand.”
“Ouch,” Lorelai said. “Is it bad?”
Luke returned the pot to the warmer. “No, just a couple of stitches.”
“Oh, Luke, I’m so sorry.”
Luke shrugged and said, “Thanks. I got the blueberry pancakes this morning. You want some?”
Lorelai frowned. “No sorry, I don’t have time. I have to drive to Waterbury. But I will have a blueberry muffin.”
Luke nodded as he retrieved a plate for the muffin, “You got it.”
After he sat the muffin in front of Lorelai, Luke made the rounds with the coffee pot and a pitcher of water. When he returned to the counter Lorelai, said, “So about yesterday…”
“What?”
“I just hope that Colin showing up didn’t make you uncomfortable.”
Luke shook his head. “No. Why should it?”
“I don’t know.”
“I mean I don’t care who you date.”
When Lorelai looked at him funny, Luke said, “I mean you should date who ever you want, as long as they make you happy.”
Lorelai eyes unfocused as she smiled dreamily, and said, “He does.”
There was a frown in Luke’s eyes as he said, “Well, good… That’s… Really… Aaa… Good.”
******************
End of Chapter 15
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Post by javakamp on Mar 29, 2003 7:13:23 GMT -5
Chapter 16: Mall Rants
Lorelai walked out of the restaurant, and into the Briar Forest Mall, holding hands with Colin. Colin sighed and said, “I can’t believe I ate so much. You know if I keep hanging around with you I’m gonna weigh 400 pounds.”
Lorelai stopped and pulled on Colin’s hand and pulling him into an embrace. “That’s not all bad.” She gave him a quick kiss on the lips, and then said, “Then there’d be so much more of you to love.”
Colin smiled at her and asked, “You’d still love me if I was 400 pounds of flab and blubber, with a gut out to here, thighs as big as your waist, and double chins down to here?”
Lorelai frowned and replied, “No way, that’s just way to gross. I could never love someone like that.”
“You wouldn’t?”
“Huh-uh. I might be able to like you, but that would be it.”
Colin kissed her and said, “Well let’s not let that happen.”
Lorelai started to reply, but a nearby shop caught her attention, causing her to cry, “Cookies!” Lorelai removed her arms from around Colin’s waist, grabbed his hand and started to pull him across the mall. “Cookies, Cookies.”
“Lorelai, you just ate a huge dinner.”
“That’s right.”
“And not only did you have a huge desert, you ate half of mine.”
“Uh-huh.”
“And in a few minutes we’ll be going to a movie, where you’ll want to get popcorn, goobers, and probably those little cookie doe candies, too.”
“Oh, don’t forget the red vines.”
“My point is, how could you possibly want cookies?”
“That’s just part of the mystery that is me.”
There was only one other person at the cookie counter, so in a moment, they were walking away from the counter, with a box of cookies. After walking a short distance, they stopped, and Lorelai said, “Here, open your mouth.”
“What for?”
“If I tell you it will spoil the surprise.”
Relenting Colin opened his mouth, and Lorelai promptly stuck a cookie in, “There, that’s for sharing your desert.
Lorelai didn’t hear Colin’s response, because she thought she heard her name being called out. She looked around, but saw no one. Shrugging she started to say to something to Colin.
“Lorelai!”
She heard it again, “She looked at Colin and said, “You know, that almost sounds like…”
“Lorelai!”
Lorelai’s expression fell as realization hit her. “My mother.”
Lorelai’s fears were confirmed when she turned and saw Emily Gilmore approaching them at a brisk walk. Quickly Lorelai considered making a break for it, but she resigned herself to her fate. “Mom, hi. How are you?”
“I’m fine, Lorelai. Thank you.”
“That’s great, mom.”
“What are you doing here?” Emily asked.
”We’re just out for dinner and a movie.”
“We?” Emily asked, casting a glance at Colin.
Lorelai followed her glance. Realizing there was no way she could avoid introducing Colin and her mother, she sighed and said, “Oh that’s right, you two haven’t met. Mom, this is Colin Fletcher. Colin, this is my mom, Emily Gilmore.”
Emily smiled, held out her hand, and said, “Nice to meet you Mr. Fletcher.”
Colin turned on his hundred-watt smile, took Emily’s hand, and said, “Mrs. Gilmore, its’ so nice to finally meet you. Lorelai has told me so much about you.”
Emily glanced suspiciously at Lorelai, and then said, “Yes, I’m sure she has.”
“Yes, and I can tell from the way that she speaks of you, that she’s very fond of you, and your husband.”
Surprised, Emily looked at Lorelai and said, “That’s very generous of you Lorelai. Well, it nice to finally meet you Mr. Fletcher. Lorelai has told us so much about you. I must say that you have been a major topic of discussion the last few weeks.”
Colin smiled, and said, “Well that’s nice to know, and please call me Colin.”
Dumbstruck, Lorelai watched for the next few moments as these two people lied to each other about how much she had spoken about them. She almost didn’t catch it when Colin said, “We’re on our way to see a movie, Mrs. Gilmore. Would you care to join us?”
Panic shoot through Lorelai, at Colin’s offer, but before she could think of something to say to prevent it, her mother saved her saying, “That’s very nice of you Colin, but I’m afraid, I can’t”
“Oh, well, maybe some other time.”
“That’d be nice. “ She glanced at her watch, and then said, “I need to get going, but if you have a moment, I’d like to speak to you Lorelai.”
“What? Sure.” She turned to Colin and said, “Excuse us just a moment.” She followed her mother a short ways out of earshot of Colin.
Once they were alone, Emily said, “Is this the man you’ve been seeing these last few weeks?”
Lorelai sighed and replied, “Yes it is. So go ahead, get it over with. Tell me how terrible he is. Then I can get back to my date.”
Emily glanced at Colin who was leaning on a rail looking down at the people on the lower level of the mall. She looked back at Lorelai and said, “”He seems like a very nice man.”
“Wow, from you that’s almost a raving recommendation.”
Emily shook her head. “I said he ‘seems’ nice.”
Lorelai narrowed her eyes in confusion at her mother. “I know, I heard you. Thank you.”
Emily glanced again at Colin, then leaned closer, and said, “He’s too nice. It is all some kind of act.”
When Lorelai stared back at her in disbelief, Emily continued, “I am an excellent judge of people, and I tell you that man is hiding something.”
Finding her voice, Lorelai asked, “Have you been talking to Rory?”
“Rory, what about Rory?”
“Never mind. I can’t believe that you spoke with the man for less that two minutes, and you already think that he has some big dark secret.”
Emily started to respond, but Lorelai cut her off, “You know, I really don’t want to do this now. I want to spend time with my date. So I’m just going to say good-bye, mom. I’ll see you Friday. Then you can spend all night telling me what horrible taste I have in men, Okay?”
Emily started to protest, but again Lorelai stopped her, “Mom, please?”
Not desiring to make a scene in a crowded shopping mall, Emily nodded and said, “Fine. I’ll see you on Friday.”
Once they had completed their goodbyes, Lorelai briskly walked over to where Colin stood, and grabbed his hand. “Come on, let’s go,” Lorelai said as she started to pull him through the mall.
Caught off guard, Colin stumbled slightly, but was quickly keeping pace with Lorelai’s long strides. He looked around and asked, “Where’s your mother?”
“She had to leave.”
“Oh, Okay.” Noting their direction, Colin said, “We’re going the wrong way. The theater’s the other way.”
Without breaking stride, Lorelai said, “I don’t want to go to the movies. I want to get a drink.”
*******************************
End of Chapter 16
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Post by javakamp on Mar 29, 2003 7:28:16 GMT -5
Chapter 17: Accusations, Recriminations, and Allegations.
The following morning Lorelai was sitting with Rory in Luke’s diner eating breakfast. Rory looked at Lorelai and asked, “Mom?”
“What sweetie?”
“Are you alright?”
“Sure why?”
“I don’t know. You just seem awfully quite this morning,” Rory shrugged.
Lorelai smiled sadly and said, “Sometimes I miss the days when you were a kid, and you didn’t notice things like that.”
Rory leaned forward and asked, “Okay, so what’s the matter?”
Lorelai shook her head and said, “It’s nothing, never mind.”
“Mom, don’t do that. You know you can tell me anything.”
Lorelai shrugged and said, “Okay, I think we should get matching tattoos.”
“Ewwww.”
“Sure. Mine could say, Rory, and yours could say, Mommy.”
“Actually, could mine say grandpa?” Rory asked with a teasing look in her eyes.
Lorelai sat back, her eyes getting big. “Oookayyy, new subject now.”
“Good, can it be about what’s bothering you?”
Lorelai sighed and said, “You are very stubborn, you know that.”
Rory just stared at her mother. “I wonder where I get that from.”
Finally, Lorelai gave in, and said, “Okay. But remember you made me.”
At that moment Luke appeared at the table asking, “More Coffee?”
“Oh, my hero,” Lorelai cooed, holding out her cup. “Yes please.”
As Luke refilled the cup, Rory said, “I have to leave for the bus in five minutes, but if I could get some to go, I’ll… alphabetize all your books.”
“But he only has two books, “Lorelai teased, that won’t take very long.”
Luke glared at Lorelai as he answered, “Sure Rory. You want that now or when you leave.”
“When I leave.”
As Luke put the ticket on the table, he said, “Sure, just say when.”
“Thanks, Luke.” Rory turned to her mother and said, “And in the mean time, you will tell me what’s bothering you.”
Lorelai sighed as she said, “Okay but you have to promise not to get mad.”
“Why did you break something, throw something important out, or get something gross pierced.”
“No.”
“Then we should be good.”
“We’ll see,” Lorelai said leaning forward. “I need to ask you something. “ When Rory nodded, Lorelai continued, “Okay, I want you to know that I hate myself for thinking this, but I can’t help it. And remember that I don’t think that you did it, but you might have done it, and if you did do it, I think I would understand why you did it, even though I don’t think you did, but you might have.”
Rory looked defensive as she said, “Mom I swear that I didn’t realize that we were out of toiler paper.”
“No, it’s not about that.”
Rory looked a little fearful as she asked, “Then what?”
“Rory, did you talk to your grandmother, about the way you feel about Colin?”
“What!? No, I would never do something like that,” Rory replied in a shocked voice. “God, how could you think I would do something like that?”
“I didn’t think you did. Okay, I thought that there was a very, very, very teeny tiny chance that you might have said something to grandma. I mean mini, mini me small. But I didn’t want to think that.”
Rory shook her head. “What happened to even make you think I might have done something like that?”
Lorelai recounted the encounter with her mom at the Briar Forest mall the previous evening, and then concluded, “So I thought that since you thought that Colin was a little creepy, that you might have said something to grandma. But I am glad you didn’t.”
“I swear, mom, that I would never do something like that to you.” Rory said, “If grandma, didn’t like Colin, it wasn’t because of me.”
“I believe you hon. I’m sorry that I even thought that you might have. Please don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad, Rory said unconvincingly. “I just…Oh no I’m going to be late for the bus.” Rory jumped up and put on her coat. “I got to go.”
“Okay, we’ll talk more tonight, Okay?” Lorelai asked.
Rory put her backpack over one shoulder and said, “Sure, mom. Bye.” Then Rory was out the door and trotting towards the bus stop.
Lorelai sat quietly berating herself on what an awful parent she was, until Luke appeared next to her holding a to go cup, asking, “Where did Rory go?”
“She had to run to get the bus,” Lorelai said. She caught sight of the cup and continued, “Oh, she forgot her coffee.” She reached down and picked up her purse. As she started to get out money to pay for breakfast, she said, “I guess I’ll have to take it. The sacrifices we make for our children.”
Luke rolled his eyes and sat the cup down, then returned to the counter. A couple of minutes later, Lorelai walked up and handed Luke some money. Luke rang up the bill. As he handed back her change he asked, “Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Lorelai said, with a dismissive wave.
“Cause if something was wrong, and I could be any help, all you have to do is ask.”
“I know that,” Lorelai nodded.
“Cause ya know I would. Help I mean.”
“That’s good to know.”
They stood silently staring at each other for a few moments. Finally Lorelai broke her gaze, looking down at the change in her hand. She put the change on the counter, and said, “Thanks. See you later.”
“See ya later.”
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End of Chapter 17
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Post by javakamp on Mar 30, 2003 6:45:39 GMT -5
Chapter 18: That was no Woman.
Sunday afternoon Emily was sitting at a table in a restaurant in New Haven, with some women from the Audubon society discussing plans for their upcoming fundraiser. The waiter had just finished refilling her glass of iced tea when she noticed a man across the restaurant. He was tall, in his mid to late thirties, and good looking. The man was seated with an attractive blond woman about the same age and two boys, under twelve.
Emily tried to put the man out of her mind and concentrate on the fundraiser plans. However, try as she might, her gaze kept returning to the family across the way.
Suddenly she realized where she had seen the man before. It was the man who had been with Lorelai the other night. What was his name, Emily wondered. Collins, something Collins. Phillip? No that wasn’t right. His first name was Colin. That’s right Colin Fletcher.
What was he doing in New Haven? One of the few facts she had managed to drag out of Lorelai was that he returned home to Albany most weekends. However, even stranger this man looked like he was with his family. Emily and her daughter disagreed about many things, but surely Lorelai would not be seeing a married man, would she?
During the next twenty minutes, Emily fought an internal battle about what she should do. First off, she wasn’t positive that the man across the restaurant with his family really was the man Lorelai had been dating. Or even if it was the same man, there might be a perfectly logical reason that it was Lorelai’s friend, and he was with these people. However, if it was the same man and he was with this woman, what should she do? Did she have any right to interfere with Lorelai’s private life? At the same time if some man was taking advantage of Lorelai, how could she not become involved?
As Emily debated with herself, she watched the man stand up as if to leave. He kissed the woman, and said good-bye to the boys. After he put on his coat, he waived good by and left the restaurant.
Plans and options spun through Emily’s head as she struggled to decide what to do. While she deliberated, she watched the waiter walk up to the woman and hand her the bill for their meal. The woman reached into her purse, pulled out a credit card, and handed it to the waiter.
Emily finally decided to run a risk and do a little checking. If she found out that this wasn’t the man she had met last week, then there was no harm done, And Lorelai would never have to find out what she had been checking up on her.
She excused herself form the ladies at her table, saying that she saw someone she needed to say hello to. Not believing what she was doing, Emily picked up her purse, stood up, and walked across the restaurant towards the woman and two boys.
As she neared the woman, Emily realized that she had no idea what she was going to say. She was about to turn away when the woman looked up at her and smiled. Deciding that she was committed, but still not knowing what she would say Emily stepped up to the woman and just started speaking, “Excuse me, but my name is Margaret Townsend. I noticed the man who was here with you, and I thought I recognized him as a business associate of my husband. Well Thomas would never forgive me if I ran into one of his associates and didn’t say hello. Well, I only met him a couple of times, so I couldn’t be positive he was the man I thought it was. So as not to embarrass myself, by not being sure it was really my husbands associate, I thought I would wait until you were alone and ask you. That way if I was wrong, maybe you could keep it between you and me.”
“I understand all about men and their business relationships,” The woman answered in a voice that said she had breeding.
Before Emily could respond, the waiter showed up with the receipt for the woman to sign. He sat the tray with the slip and card on the table, before he turned and walked away. The woman signed the slip and tore off her copy, putting the white copy back in the tray. The woman glanced up at Emily and as she started to return her credit card to her wallet asked, “Who was it you were looking for, Mrs. What was your name again?”
“Oh excuse me,” Emily gushed, as she sat her purse on the table and held out her hand, “My name is Margaret. Margaret Townsend.”
The blond woman took Emily’s hand and answered, “Rebecca Fletcher, and that was my husband Colin. But I’m sorry he’s left already, He had to leave town on business. If you wanted to say hello, you missed him.”
Emily didn’t know if she should be happy, or upset, with the confirmation of her suspicions. Trying to hide any reaction, she said, “Oh dear, this is frightfully embarrassing. That’s not who I thought it was at all. I’m sorry to have bothered you.”
Rebecca shook her head, “No problem.” She put on her coat and continued, “It was nice to talk to you. Let’s go boys.”
“Nice to talk to you,” Emily replied to their retreating backs, as she watched them leave. Once they had left the restaurant, she turned and pick up her purse, which was still covering the yellow copy of the Fletchers credit card receipt. Emily glanced around, then casually picked up the receipt, and slipped it into her purse.
She turned and headed back to her table to rejoin her fellow fundraisers. However, she was still not able to concentrate on the planning, because she could not stop thinking about, what, if anything, she should do next. No matter what she did, she was sure that Lorelai would be furious with her.
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End of chapter 18
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Post by javakamp on Mar 30, 2003 6:52:55 GMT -5
Chapter 19: Riding in Cars
As Luke walked along the street, he stared at the paper in his hand, trying to keep his temper under control. He was caught off guard when a voice said, “Sure, just walk on by without saying hi.”
He looked up and saw Lorelai standing in front of him, with a smile that he would swear could light up all of Hartford. “Oh, hi, Lorelai. I’m sorry. I was…”
He paused, but she picked up, “Distracted by Taylor’s latest scheme?”
“Yeah, how did you know?” Luke smiled.
“He cornered me about it earlier. I recognized the flyer.”
While she spoke, Luke took a moment to take in all of Lorelai. She was wearing a knee length coat, but in the warmth of the late afternoon, it was hanging open. Beneath the coat, he could see that she was wearing a light blue sweater. He felt that if the light were better the sweater would perfectly compliment her baby blue eyes.
He couldn’t see it but knew that she was wearing a skirt, because below the coat he could see her legs encased only in nylon. On her feet she wore a pair of stylish heals that consisted of a thin black strap across here toes. There were a pair of straps that came up the side of her ankles that were connected another strap that circled her ankle, in the most interesting way.
Luke jerked himself out of his contemplations about Lorelai’s ankles. He berated himself for his apparent ogling, but fortunately, Lorelai must not have noticed, because she had continued to talk about Taylor Doose’s latest town function.
When she paused, Luke filled in, “Yeah, I was just on my way to tell Taylor what a moronic idea he had come up with this time.”
Lorelai gave him a knowing smile and said, “I’m sorry I’m, going to miss it.”
“I’ll try to tape it for you,” Luke smiled. After a moments pause Luke asked, “So you’re going out tonight? With Colin?”
“Uh-huh.”
“That’s real nice,” Luke offered. “I guess you must really like him.”
Lorelai nodded and replied, “Oh, yeah. He…” Lorelai paused, unsure what to say, before continuing, “He has a real nice car.”
He’s an overbearing bully who doesn’t deserve to be on the same planet as someone like you, Luke wanted to say, but instead, what came out was, “Well, that’s good,” Luke, answered. “A good car is important.”
“So how’s the hand?” Lorelai asked.
Luke glanced at this hand and said, “It’s fine. I got the stitches out day before yesterday.”
“That’s good.”
They stood quietly for a moment until a nearby car honked its' horn, causing both of them to jump. Luke turned to see Colin Fletcher stepping from a car parked at the curb.
“Oh, hi there,” Lorelai said happily.
“Hi yourself.” Colin walked around the car towards Lorelai.
Luke glanced at the car, thinking that it was fair at best.
When Colin reached Lorelai, she reached out with both of her hands, which he took in his own, before kissing her on the cheek. “What are you guys up to?” Colin said in a pleasant voice, but the look he gave Luke contained the slightest hint of a threat.
Lorelai glanced at Luke then back a Colin, and then said, “Oh we just ran into each other and were talking while I waited for you.” She glanced at Luke and said, “You’ve met Luke before, right?”
“Sure we’ve talked before.”
Luke wanted to grab Colin by the collar and toss him into his car, telling him to never come near Lorelai again. Instead, he told himself for the thousandth time, that he had no right interfere in her life, and said, “Yeah we just saw each other and were talking… The way friends do.”
After a moment of silence, Colin said, “Well we better get going, if we want to make our reservation.” He took Lorelai by the elbow and steered her towards the car. “Nice talking to you Luke.”
“Bye, Luke. See you later.”
“Bye,” Luke said. He watched Colin open the passenger door for her, and then shut it once she was seated. He walked around to the other side of the car. Before he got in, he gave Luke a triumphant smirk.
Luke stared after the car as it drove away, then for a moment after it left sight. Eventually he turned his attention to the flyer in his hand. After a moment, he crumbled the flyer into a ball and tossed it on the ground, thinking that the litter would show Taylor what he thought of his latest festival, and stalked back to the diner.
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End of chapter 19
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Post by javakamp on Mar 31, 2003 17:06:34 GMT -5
Chapter 20: The Gilmore Report.
Late Saturday morning, a bored Lorelai was sitting on the couch surfing the channels on TV when someone began knocking on the front door. Lorelai turned off the TV and stood up. As she neared the door, the caller knocked again.
“Coming,” called Lorelai. A few seconds later when she opened the door, she was surprised to see her mother standing there with a somber expression. After a second, she found her voice and said, “Mom. Hi.”
“Lorelai,” Emily nodded.
“What are you doing here?”
“I have something I needed to talk with you about.” When Lorelai only replied with silence, Emily asked, “Could I come in?”
Emily’s request shook Lorelai out of her daze. “I’m sorry mom. Of course come on in.”
Lorelai stepped out of the way, allowing her mother to enter the house. Emily removed her coat, which Lorelai took and hung on the coat rack “I was just about to fix some coffee. Would you like some?”
“That’d be nice.” Emily followed Lorelai into the kitchen, asking, “Where’s Rory?”
“She’s with, Lane.” Lorelai picked up the coffee pot, stepped across the kitchen and began to fill it with water. “So what brings you out here?”
“So I can’t just drop in on my daughter for no reason?” Emily said without much conviction.
Lorelai shut off the water, and stared at her mother. “Well, mom, its’ not that you can’t, but you never have in the past.”
Emily shrugged off Lorelai’s question with one of her own, “How long will, Rory be gone?”
Lorelai filled the coffeemaker with the water, and then started to put in the coffee, as she answered, “Probably at least a couple more hours. Sorry you missed her.”
Emily shook her head and said, “No, that’s fine.” She sat at the kitchen table, as she said under her breath, “it probably makes this easier.”
After the coffee had started to brew, Lorelai moved to the kitchen table, sat down across from Emily, and asked, “So what’s up mom?”
Emily started to speak, but before the words came out she nervously stood and began to pace across the kitchen, “Lorelai I have something to tell you. Something that you will not enjoy hearing, and will most likely make you hate me for it.”
Lorelai stared at the mother for a moment, before she sat up and said, “Oh, my god. Has something happened to dad?”
“What? No, he’s fine.”
“Gran?”
“No, Lorelai, its’ nothing like that.”
Looking slightly relieved Lorelai sat back and asked, “Then what mom?”
“Before I tell you what I came to talk about with you I’d like to say something, and I’d like you to promise not to interrupt. “
Feeling as if she was being setup, Lorelai reluctantly said, “Okay.”
Emily plunged ahead, “I know that you feel me overbearing, controlling, and manipulating, but its’ only because I feel that people should behave a certain way, that’s the way I was brought up, and the way that I believed that my children should be brought up.”
Lorelai started to speak, but Emily interrupted, “I know that you don’t agree and feel that I am a monster, and that nine times out of ten, my views, or opinions are just wrong.” Emily glanced at Lorelai who nodded in response. “We’ve had those arguments many times in the past, and I’m sure that we will again in the future. But what I ask now is that we agree to disagree, and that you try to keep an open mind about what I need to talk to you about.”
Emily looked at Lorelai who continued to sit there listening. When Emily continued to stare at her, Lorelai asked, “Oh, am I suppose to answer now?" Emily nodded. “Sure mom, for the sake of discussion, I will concede that you are all things you said you are, and will try to hear you out with an open mind.”
Emily shook her head at Lorelai’s sarcasm, but continued, “Well good, because I want you to understand that I only did what I did because I felt I had to try to protect you.” Lorelai started to respond, but Emily again cut her off, “I know that you don’t need protecting, but you’re my daughter, and it comes natural.”
Lorelai nodded, and said, “Okay, I also concede that you only do those things that drive me crazy, because its’ your own bizarre way of showing that you love me.”
“And, I’m sure that the same can be said for you,” Emily teased.
Lorelai nodded and said, ”Got it. So tell me what’s this terrible thing you’ve done, now?”
Emily sighed and said, “Alright, just remember that you promised to keep an open mind.” When Lorelai nodded in reply, Emily continued, “Okay, something happened a couple of weekends ago when I was meeting some friends in New Haven do discuss plans for an upcoming fundraiser. Well I wasn’t sure how to proceed so I contacted our attorney who put me in contact with some people who could help me.”
“I’m lost mom. What people? Did you need a new will?” Lorelai asked.
Emily sighed as she reached down and pulled a large brown envelope, about 1/4th of an inch thick, out of her purse. She sat the envelope between them and said, “I hired a private detective to check out your friend, Colin.”
Lorelai shot out of her chair, her voice immediately rising in pitch. “You what!? Mom, how could you. I don’t care how good a judge of people you think you are, that gives you no right to go prying into my private life, or to have my friends spied on.” Emily sat quietly as if she expected this reaction from Lorelai. “God, mom, I cannot believe you stooped this low, this is an all time low, even for you.” Lorelai began to pace as she put her hands to her temples and said, “I don’t care how much you think you have a maternal responsibility to try and protect me, you had no right to do that. I can’t imagine how you could begin to justify having Colin spied on. I can’t imagine what possible reason your twisted brain could you have come up with that allowed you to justify something like that.”
Emily looked at Lorelai calmly, and as she pushed the envelope towards her daughter said, “I think once you read this report, you’ll understand.”
Lorelai looked at the envelope as if it would bite her if she got to close. She pointed at it and declared, “I will not look at that. I don’t have to, because I’m sure all it says is that Colin once got a parking ticket, and one time he was late with the car payment.”
“I assure you Lorelai, what I found out is much more serious than a couple of parking tickets.”
“Well, then tell me what this deep dark secret is. I can’t wait to hear what you found.”
Emily looked at her daughter saddened by the pain she had already inflicted on her today, but knowing it was only going to get worse. Emily took a deep breath, then in an even voice replied, “I found out he is married.”
The angry expression held on Lorelai’s face for a moment, before it shifted to incomprehension. “You…” Her expression shifted to denial, “No…”
Understanding started to settle onto Lorelai’s face. She blinked back tears as one hand moved to cover her mouth. The other hand reached out to grab the chair, to help her stay on her legs that had suddenly become unsteady. Lorelai lowered herself into the chair across from where her mother still sat. Still trying to hold onto a hope that she had misunderstood, she looked at her mother, and said as if she was pleading for it not to be true, “What?”
Emily looked at her daughter sympathetically and replied, “I said, that Colin Fletcher has been married for thirteen years and has two children.”
Lorelai felt the tears start to run down her cheeks, she shook her head, and said, “No. There must be some mistake. You’ve got the wrong man.”
“Believe me, Lorelai, I had hopped the same thing,“ Emily apologized, “but, I think if you just look at this report, you’ll see that its’ true.”
Lorelai stared at the envelope for a long moment. Eventually with an unsteady hand, she slowly reached out and took the envelope. With the fervor of someone climbing the gallows steps, she opened it and pulled out a stack of reports, and photographs.
As Lorelai began to examine the papers, Emily looked around for something to do. Eventually her eyes lit on the coffee pot. She stood up and poured them both a cup of coffee.
*********************************
End of chapter 20
So tell me kind readers, What do you think about what Emily did by hiring an investigator? Right or Wrong?
Given thier history, could Emily have handeled breaking the news to Lorelai any differently?
This is one of my favorite chapters. I think because it has a lot of drama and emotion. Plus I really like the Emily / Lorelai interaction here. Anyone agree or disagree?
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Post by javakamp on Mar 31, 2003 17:19:14 GMT -5
Chapter 21: There’s always room for ice cream
As Rory neared her house, she was surprised to see her grandmother’s car parked out front. She smiled as she jogged to the house and entered through the door into the kitchen.
As soon as the door opened, she knew something was wrong. The first thing that caught her attention was the smell of burning coffee. She quickly ran to the coffeemaker and turned it off. She picked up the pot, which held a black mass at the bottom. She carried the pot to the sink, where she filled it with water, to soak. When she turned from the sink, she noticed papers scattered across the kitchen table, along with two partially finished cups of coffee.
With a foreboding feeling in her stomach, she approached the table. The first thing to catch her attention was the photographs. Uncertainly she picked up a stack of photos, and began to flip through them. She quickly recognized her mother and Colin together, in various locations around town, and other places. There were also photos of Colin with a blond woman, and sometimes two boys who appeared to be between eight and twelve.
Panic started to grip Rory. She tossed aside the photos and grabbed some of the typewritten pages on the table. She quickly flipped through the pages, scanning their contents. As she read she felt anger rise, and her lower lip began to tremble. After the third page, she stopped reading. Still holding the pages, she began to run towards the living room.
“M…” she started to shout for her mother, but pulled up short as she saw her grandmother at the far end of the couch looking back at her. Emily had a tissue in her hand that she used to wipe a tear from her face. Rory cast her eyes down to the couch where Lorelai lay on her side, with her head resting on Emily’s leg. Her mother was quietly sobbing, while Emily would occasionally stroke her hair.
Rory forced back tears as she and Emily exchanged glances. No words were spoken, but volumes were shared. Rory glanced around the room and spotted the phone. She picked up the phone and quickly dialed a number. When someone answered on the other end, Rory spoke, “Joe, its Rory. Can we get a large supreme delivered? Twenty-five minutes, is fine. Thanks.”
Rory thumbed off the phone. As she sat it down the gears continued to spin in her head. She wanted to go to her mother, but her grandmother had that under control for now. Finally, Rory looked up and said, “We need ice cream.”
When Emily nodded, Rory said, “I’ll be right back.” Rory started for the door, but stopped and said, “I don’t have any money.”
Emily waved towards the kitchen, “My wallet is in my purse, take what ever you need.” Rory turned for the kitchen, but Emily stopped her, “Oh, Rory.” When Rory turned back around, Emily continued, “My keys are there too. Go ahead and take my car.” Rory started to say something, but Emily stopped her protest, saying, “Don’t argue, it will be faster.”
Rory nodded, and then turned for the kitchen.
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End of Chapter 21
Rory deals with this situtation in typical GIlmore fashion, with food. I like that.
So anyone want to guess how Lorelai will handel things now?
Does anyone think taat Rory will saY I told you so?
Is anyone reading this? I see the count going up but no one says much. As a fandic writer I get paid nothing, and you don't pay anything to read it. So what's two minutes to post a reply, to let me know what you think. Cheaper entertainment can not be found anywhere.
See you tomorrow.
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Post by javakamp on Apr 1, 2003 17:22:17 GMT -5
Chapter 22: Fast Food Coffee Sucks
The following Monday morning, Lorelai sat in her jeep drinking a horrible cup of coffee that she had picked up in a fast food drive through. She was parked on an upper middle class residential street, in a suburb of New Haven. As she sat there trying to steel herself for what she had come to do, her cell phone began to ring. She reached over to the passenger seat, and picked up the phone. She glanced at the display noting that the time was 8:53, and the call was from the Inn.
She pressed the talk button, put the phone to her ear, and said, “Hello.”
“Hi sweetie,” Lorelai heard Sookie’s voice answer. “You wanted me to call?”
“Hi Sookie. Yeah I wanted to let you know that I wasn’t going to be in today.”
“Is everything okay, Lorelai?”
Lorelai paused before she answered, trying to keep her voice under control. She did a passable job when she answered, “Not so much.”
“What’s the matter hon?”
In her mirror, Lorelai noticed a school bus turn onto the street behind her heading in her direction. She steadied her voice and said, “I’ll be fine, I’ll explain everything to you later”
Lorelai missed Sookie’s response, when her attention was drawn to the front door opening on the house she was watching, and two boys and a blond woman stepped out. “Listen Sookie, I’ve got to go, but I wanted let you know that I wouldn’t be there today, and to tell you if you need extra help for the Rotary luncheon today, just let Michel know. He has the number of the temp agency.”
The bus pulled to a stop at the house that the two boys had come out of, as Sookie answered, “Okay, I’ll do that.” Lorelai watched the boys wave to the woman then run for the bus, as Sookie asked, “Are you sure you’re alright?”
“I’ll be fine Sookie. I’ll explain everything later, but I gotta go now. Bye.”
As the boys got on the bus, and it drove off, Lorelai heard a reluctant, “Bye,” from Sookie. As she watched the woman reach into her purse and take out some keys, she turned off the phone. She took a deep breath, grabbed her purse and got out of the jeep.
Lorelai trotted towards the woman, she called “Excuse me, Mrs. Fletcher. Could I speak with you a moment?”
“Sure,” the woman replied, as she stood next to her car and waited for Lorelai to approach.
Once Lorelai was near enough to speak in normal tones, she said, “Thanks, Mrs. Fletcher.” As Lorelai paused for breath, she noted that Rebecca Fletcher was an attractive blond that stood about an inch shorter that her. Lorelai smiled and plunged ahead, “My name is, Lorelai Gilmore. I realize that you don’t know me, but I felt we needed to talk.
Lorelai paused for a beat, then said, “You see… What I mean… I…”
A flash of recognition crossed Rebecca’s face and she said matter of factually, “You’re the woman who’s been sleeping with my husband.”
Stunned, Lorelai looked at the woman, unsure what to say. Finally, she managed a nod.
Rebecca smiled sadly, then reached into her purse and pulled out a cell phone. “Just let me cancel my appointment, and we can go inside and talk.”
Lorelai sat across the kitchen table from Rebecca Fletcher, as the blond woman said, “Colin and I met during my sophomore year in College. He was a year ahead of me. We got married the summer after I graduated.” Rebecca looked Lorelai straight in the eyes and said, “I caught him in bed with another woman three months before that.”
“No,” Lorelai replied, not sure what else to say.
Rebecca nodded, “I told him I was going to Cancun with friends for spring break. Instead, I showed up at his place to surprise him. Surprise. That was the first time I caught him fooling around on me.”
Lorelai swallowed and ask weakly, “The first time?”
Rebecca nodded and said, “I should have turned around and never seen him again. But I was young, and stupid, and he said he loved me and it would never happen again. And I wanted to believe him.” Rebecca sighed.
Lorelai looked at the cup of coffee in front of her and said, “We’ve all been guilty of that.”
“You know what they say, fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.”
”Twice?”
Rebecca shook her head, “Four times that I know of.”
“Oh, god. That must've hurt so bad?”
“And you make five.”
Lorelai leaned over her coffee cup, looked Rebecca in the eye, and said, “I just want you to know that I am so very, very sorry. If I would have known he was married, I would have never gone out with Colin.” Lorelai sat up. “I feel like such a fool. I just find is so hard to believe that he would lie to me like that.”
Rebecca shook her head. “I don’t. I mean he’s lied to me for fifteen years, and I’m his wife, and the mother of his children. It’s not so hard to imagine that he would lie to his mistress.”
Lorelai flinched at Rebecca’s reference. Rebecca noticed her reaction and said, “I’m sorry, that was unkind of me.”
Lorelai shook her head and replied, “NO, no. I deserve that, and probably worse. I’m the other woman. The Husband stealer. The spouse thief person.”
Rebecca smiled at Lorelai’s self-abasing humor, and asked, “How did you find out?”
Lorelai closed her eyes and shook her head, “My mother spotted you in Colin in a restaurant a couple of weeks ago, and…”
Rebecca nodded and said, “Red hair, in her fifties, a little pushy.”
“That would be my mom. Emily the Hun.”
Rebecca smiled, and said, “I’m amazed that you are handling this so well.”
Lorelai shook her head and said, “That’s only on the outside. On the inside I’m about a half step from total wreck.”
Rebecca nodded and said, “Multiply that by fifteen years and you might know how I feel. I should have done something long ago.”
“I can see why you might have been reluctant,” Lorelai said. “I mean there are the kids,” Lorelai pointed at the expensive house they were in, “And he seems to be a good provider.”
Rebecca smiled sadly and said, “The first seven years we were married he couldn’t hold down a job. He kept bouncing from job to job, till my father got him a job at one of his companies, where he is more or less adequate.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“I’ve got an appointment tomorrow with my attorney, to start divorce proceedings. What about you, are you going to continue to see him.”
Lorelai shook her emphatically and said, “I have no desire to be in the same state with him.”
They sat in silence for a moment. Eventually Lorelai reached down and picked up her purse. She removed a large brown envelope and placed it on the table. “If you’re going to see your attorney, you might find this useful.”
Rebecca opened the envelope and flipped through the pages and photographs, of the report that Emily had provided. As the other woman paged through the report, Lorelai said, “And if you need me to testify, I will. It’s the least I could do.”
“That’s a very brave offer,” Rebecca said as she stood and walked out of the room. She returned s moment later carrying a briefcase. She opened the case and removed a brown accordion folder about four inches thick, with an elastic band holding it closed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you took back your offer after I show you this.”
A cold chill swept up Lorelai’s spine as Rebecca continued, “As you can see my detectives have been working longer than yours.” Rebecca pushed the folder towards Lorelai, and sadly said, “And I’m sorry to tell you that they were quite a bit more through.”
Lorelai paled as she looked at Rebecca, and asked, “You mean?”
Rebecca nodded, “Yours is the PG-13 version. Mine is more, NC-17.”
That morning as she drove to New Haven, Lorelai had imagined that the pain and embarrassment that she had felt could get no worse. As she reached for the folder, she realized that those emotions had just been doubled, and that king sized portions of shame and humiliation had been piled on top. As she opened the file, she felt the first tears run down her cheeks.
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End of chapter 22
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Post by javakamp on Apr 1, 2003 17:24:29 GMT -5
Chapter 23: All the news that’s fit to gossip.
That afternoon as Lorelai neared Star’s Hollow, she picked up her cell and hit the speed dial for the Inn. A couple of minutes later after her call had been answered and redirected, she heard Sookie in concerned voice ask, “Lorelai?”
“Yeah it’s me.”
Sweetie, I’ve been worried. You sounded like something was really bothering you this morning.”
“Well let me tell you it has gotten worse.”
“Lorelai what happened?”
“Come over to my house right after work and I’ll tell you. But do me a favor, come straight there and don’t talk to anyone else. Okay?”
“Sure, I promise,” Sookie answered sounding confused.
“Okay, well I’ll see you then. Bye.”
“Bye.”
Lorelai parked near Luke's and went inside. She was glad that Luke wasn’t visible, because he might start asking questions, she didn’t want to deal with now. She bought two cups of coffee to go, from Cesar and waked back outside.
Lorelai had lived in Stars Hallow a long time and know how juicy news spread, so she knew how to get it spread the fastest and how to try to control it the best. She walked across the town square and right to Miss Patty’s.
Miss Patty saw Lorelai walking towards her and said, “Lorelai sweetie, what’s new with you?”
Lorelai handed Patty one of the coffee cups and said, “Well Patty, I’ll tell you.”
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End of chapter 23
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Post by javakamp on Apr 1, 2003 17:31:40 GMT -5
Chapter 24: Sunday’s on the phone to Monday.
Tuesday dragged by for Lorelai. And of course, that fact that everyone was aware of what a fool she had been made of didn’t help matters. Everywhere she went, it seemed that people would stop talking, or that they were whispering probably about her, or even worse people would be too nice. At least Michel was his normal surly self. It was good that some things could be counted on.
Late that afternoon Lorelai was working in her office on the computer, when the phone rang, on an inter-house call. Lorelai picked it up, “Lorelai.”
“Lorelai, this is Kristi, at the desk. I’m real sorry to bother you.”
“That’s alright Kristi, what can I do for you?
“Aaa… There’s a man here, who… Who is insisting on talking to you.”
A cold shiver ran up her spine, as Lorelai asked “A man?”
“Yes ma’am. Michel is not here and, well he’s really insisting on taking to aaa, you. I’m real sorry, Lorelai.”
“That’s alright, Kristi, I’ll be right out.
Knowing who she would find, Lorelai stood and headed for the desk. She had just turned the corner near the desk when she saw Colin standing across the desk from Kristi. Even though she had expected him, it caused her to pause. Before she could start moving, she saw Michel approaching from the other direction at nearly a run.
“Kristi,” Michel said in his smoothest voice, “I thought I told you to contact me when Mr. Fletcher came up, and to not bother Miss Gilmore.”
“I’m sorry, Michel, but I couldn’t find you,” Kristi apologized.
Michel nodded, then turned to Colin and said, “How can I help you, Mr. Fletcher?”
Colin looked at Lorelai with a questioning look on his face, Lorelai only stared back, until Michel said, “Mr. Fletcher, how may I help you?”
Lorelai looked on, as Colin turned back to Michel and said, “My key card wasn’t working on my door, and when I tried to get it corrected this girl told me there was a problem with my credit card. I tried to explain that there must be some mistake, but she didn’t seem to want to fix it.”
Michel nodded and said, “I zee. Let me take care of this for you. May I see the key card pleeze?”
Colin handed Michel the card, and Michel went to work on the computer. While Michel worked, Colin glanced at Lorelai, but was confused when she didn’t meet his gaze.
After a moment, Michel said, “Ah I believe I zee the problem. May I zee the credit card sir?”
Looking relieved Colin took out his wallet, removed a credit card and handed it to Michel, while he glared at Kristi. Michel slid the card through the reader, and then proceeded to work the keys on the keyboard. After another moment, Michel handed the card back to Colin and said, “I see what the problem was. I’m afraid that your credit card has been canceled zir”
The smile faded from Colin’s face, as Michel’s words sank in. “There must be some mistake.”
“I am sorry zir, but I did run it twice,” Michel said, as he grabbed a piece of paper. He scribbled a number on the paper, handed it to Colin and said, “Here is the number of the credit card company, if you would care to call them. You can use the phone over there if you wish.”
With barely suppressed rage, Colin snatched the paper from Michel, and stalked over to the sofas in the middle of the lobby to use the phone.
With perhaps the first smile to grace her face in days, Lorelai walked up to Michel who had his back to Colin, and a very smug look on his face. Lorelai leaned close and said, “Very nicely done, Michel.”
“Yez, I must agree with you,” Michel smiled back.
Lorelai turned to Kristi and asked, “Kristi, could you page Gregory to come up here.”
A few minutes later a fuming Colin stalked back top the counter. “I don’t believe this. They said my card had been canceled. I don’t understand, it was a company card.”
Lorelai looked between Michel and Colin and asked, “Is there a problem?”
Colin turned on her and said, “There sure as hell is.”
Lorelai turned on Colin, starting icy daggers at him. Surprised by the look, Colin took half a step back. Lorelai turned to Michel who said, “According to the credit card company, Mr. Fletcher’s credit card has been canceled.” “I see.” She turned to Colin and said, “I’m sorry to hear that Mr. Fletcher.”
“There must be some kind of mistake. Can’t you do something?” Colin pleaded.
“Sure,” Lorelai said holding out some hope to Colin. Then just as quickly she jerked it back, “Would you like to use another card.” Colin stared at her in amazement, so she continued, “Or perhaps you would like to pay with cash.”
When Colin only looked at his feet, Lorelai said, “I see. In that case, we’ll have to ask you to leave.
Colin’s eyes flashed up to her and he said in a voice that was a little to severe, “Lorelai?”
Lorelai stared back at him, “That’s, Miss Gilmore.” While Colin stared at her with his mouth hanging open, Lorelai waved to a large man of about 6’3” and weighing at least 240, which was all muscle, standing near by. As the man approached she said, “Now, Mr. Fletcher we’re going to have to ask you to vacate the room. Have you met, Gregory? He’s a recent addition to our maintenance staff. Last year he played outside linebacker for Connecticut State. He even got drafted by the NFL, but he hurt his knee.” She handed a key card to Gregory and said, “Gregory, Mr. Fletcher will be leaving us. I need you to take him to his room so he can get his things.”
“Yes, Miss Gilmore.”
Lorelai smiled at the young man, and said, “Gregory, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Lorelai.”
Colin stared at her for a long moment, with a betrayed look on his face. Finally, with his shoulders slumping he turned and headed towards his room.
She knew that she should leave things at that, but Lorelai couldn’t resist saying, “Oh, Mr. Fletcher.”
Colin turned around with a look on his face that said he was ready for someone to shout April Fools.
Lorelai reached onto the counter and picked up a blank piece of paper. She folded it, handed it to Colin and said, “You have a message.” As Colin started to step towards her, she smiled slightly evilly and said, “It says you should call, Rebecca. You know. Your wife.”
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End of Chapter 24
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Post by javakamp on Apr 2, 2003 16:54:37 GMT -5
Chapter 25: Puppy Dog Tales.
Saturday morning when Lorelai walked into the kitchen wearing her comfortable blue robe over a pair of sweat pants and tee shirt, she found Rory dressed in jeans and a sweater, reading a book with a cup of coffee and a half eaten pop-tart sitting next to her. “Good morning mom,” Rory said, glancing up from her book.
“I doubt it,” Lorelai said sounding a little cranky. The elder Gilmore opened the cabinet over the coffee maker and removed a cup, which she filled from the coffee pot. After a small sip, she walked across the kitchen where the pop-tart box sat next to the toaster. She took a quick peek in the box, before her mouth fell open and she said, “You didn’t?”
Rory looked up and innocently asked, “Didn’t what?”
Lorelai picked up the box, and then tipped it upside down. When nothing fell out she said, “You ate the last pop-tart.”
“So?”
“So we have no other food in the house.”
“So?”
“So I need something to eat.”
“So?”
“I said we have nothing else in the house to eat.”
Rory picked up the pop tart, took a bite, and then said, “Hmmm. I guess you’ll have to go out won’t you.”
“No, please don’t make me do that,” Lorelai pleaded.
“Mom.”
“Look, I can give you some money, and you can go and get us some breakfast.” Lorelai said as she sat down in a chair next to Rory. “Nope.”
“Rory. Please?” Lorelai said with her pouty face.
“Nope, not gonna happen.”
“Rory?!
“Mom!!”
Lorelai sat back in her chair so she could bring her knees up to her chest, sitting her feet on the chair. She wrapped her arms around her legs, rested her chin on her knees, and said, “I can’t go out there.”
Rory shook her head and replied, “Mom, for the last week you hardly left the house except to go straight to work and back.”
“If I go out there everyone will start talking about me.”
“They’re already talking about you,” Rory countered.
Lorelai looked at Rory and said, “Well that’s real comforting.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes, but if I go out there, I have to see them looking at me, and talking about me, and pointing at me.” Lorelai look up at Rory then continued, “Or even worse I have to watch people see me them not talk about me.”
“Not talk about you?”
“Yeah. They see me coming so they don’t talk about me or point at me, even though they want to point and talk about me, and I know that they want to point and talk about me, but they don’t.” Lorelai put her chin back on her knees, and then said, “And I hate it when people do that.”
Rory stood up and replied, "You hate it when people don’t point at you, and they don’t laugh at you?”
“Well, yeah.”
“That’s it,” Rory said grabbing her mothers arm and beginning to pull, “You’re going out for breakfast this morning.”
Lorelai held onto her legs tightly and said, “No I don’t want to.”
“You have to go out there sometime.”
“Yeah, but not today.”
“Then when?”
“I don’t know. I thought maybe in one or two years.”
Rory pulled on her mom’s arm nearly causing Lorelai to topple from her chair. Lorelai was forced to release her legs to use them in order to avoid a hasty trip onto the floor. Rory continued to pull until her mother was up from the chair, and standing. Rory looked at Lorelai who had a huge pout on her face. Unfazed Rory gave her mom a gentle push towards the stairs, and said, “Now I want you to go upstairs, brush your hair, put on some clothes, and maybe a little gloss.
“But…”
Giving Lorelai another push resulting in a couple of hesitant steps in the desired direction, Rory said, “It’ll be fun. I promise.“
“You promise?” Lorelai asked as she started to shuffle towards the stairs.
“Yes I promise.”
“Are you lying?”
“Of course.”
“But…”
As they reached the bottom of the steps, Rory said, “Look if you’ll be real good, we can talk about getting a pet.”
“We can?” Lorelai said brightening, as she began to ascend the steps.
“Yes we can.”
“We can really get a pet? Maybe a puppy?”
As Rory continued to push her mother up the steps, she said, “I didn’t say we would get a pet. I said we would talk about it.”
“But…”
No more buts. Let’s go.”
“But…”
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End of chapter 25
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Post by javakamp on Apr 2, 2003 16:56:24 GMT -5
Chapter 26: Ain’t no cure for the summertime blueberries.
Twenty minutes later Rory pushed Lorelai into Luke’s. Lorelai paused while she looked around the diner and felt like all the eyes were on her. She remained frozen until she felt Rory push her from behind and said, “There’s a table over there.”
Lorelai spotted the table by the window that Rory had indicated, and then led the way towards it.
On the way to their table, they passed Taylor Doose who was seated at the counter. Taylor smiled at them, and said, “Morning, Lorelai, Rory.”
Lorelai smiled and nodded, while Rory answered, “Morning Taylor.”
Once they reached their table, Lorelai took the seat with her back to the door, began to remove her coat, and whispered, “See everyone is talking, and pointing.”
Shaking her head, Rory replied, “No one is talking or pointing.”
“Taylor was talking.”
“He said hello.”
Lorelai nodded and said, “He said hello on the outside, but on the inside it really meant, ha, there’s that woman who can’t tell a married man when she sees one.”
Rory rolled her eyes and said, “You do know you’re crazy, don’t you?”
“So, what’s your point?”
“That you are crazy. I mean that you probably should have Prozac stamped on your butt.”
“Oh, I could get a tattoo.”
Before Rory could respond Luke walked up holding a coffee pot and two cups. He paused, nervously before he said, “Aaa, Hi.”
“Hi Luke,”
“Aaa, coffee?”
“Of course.”
Luke sat down the cups, and as he filled them, he continued to stammer, “Its aaa… I mean you… I feel…”
“Luke,” Lorelai said as she smiled at him. “Its’ okay. It’s just me.”
“Really? Cause, I… I mean I wanted…”
Lorelai gave Luke a sweet / sad smile and said, “Luke, you know what you can do to be a huge help to me?”
“What’s that?”
“Two things actually,” Lorelai replied. “First is to get things back to normal as quick as possible.”
“And the second?”
“Well, the second is to get me some breakfast,” Lorelai teased. “You do still serve food here don’t you?”
Luke smiled and said, “As a matter of fact we do. I have blueberry pancakes today. Interested?”
Lorelai slapped her palm on the table and said, “Hey, I was born interested.”
Luke nodded, and pointed at Rory, who nodded and said, “Me too.”
After Luke turned and walked away, both Gilmore women watch him leave. Rory turned to her mother and said, “You know, I probably shouldn’t say anything but he’s been real worried about you.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Every time I saw him this last week he would ask about you,” Rory answered.
Lorelai looked confused and embarrassed as she rationalized, “Well, you know. That’s Luke. He may seem all rough, and tough on the outside, but he looks after his… friends.”
“His friends, huh”?
“Sure, why else would he?”
Rory shook her head as she sarcastically replied, “I can’t imagine.”
“What, are you talking about?”
“Nothing,” Rory said in a tone that indicated that she meant something.
“What?” Lorelai asked. “You still don’t have that wild idea that Luke would want to…” Lorelai paused while she search for a word, “Date me? What possible psychological delusion could you be basing that on?”
Rory held up her hands. “Hey I didn’t say that. You came up with that all by yourself.”
“Besides even if for some strange reason that was true, the last thing I want to do right now is get involved in another relationship.”
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End of Chapter 26
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Post by javakamp on Apr 3, 2003 16:37:51 GMT -5
Chapter 27: Mood swings.
“Thanks. Have a nice day,“ Luke said as he handed a customer their change. That was when he realized that he was in a good mood. But not only was he in a good mood, he was in a good mood for the first time in days.
He wondered what had triggered the mood. He didn’t remember being in a good mood when he opened up this morning. As he thought about it, he had been feeling a bit down for several days.
As he picked up the coffee pot, and started a circuit of the diner to refill cups, he wondered when his depression had started. As far as he could tell, it had started some time Monday. What had happened on Monday that had triggered his depression?
He arrived at the Gilmore table and refilled their cups. Lorelai looked up at him, gave him one of her patented two hundred-watt smiles, and thanked him. As he walked away from them, it hit him. Suddenly he had an image of Andrew telling him about the story that was spreading around town about Lorelai finding out that she had been dating a married man. At first, he had refused to believe it, but Andrew swore that he got the story from Miss Patty, who had heard all the details from Lorelai herself.
Then as he thought about it, it started making sense. He had had a bad feeling about that Colin character from the first moment he laid eyes on him. Especially after that encounter, they had in the alley by the dumpster. The man’s accusations had made him furious. So furious that he had punched the wall in the storeroom in anger, requiring him to get his hand x-rayed and five stitches. Then he told everyone that a can of peaches had fallen from the shelf. He was still amazed that anyone had believed that.
Luke had wanted to tell Lorelai then about what had happened with Colin, but he kept telling himself that it was none of his business, and she would only resent his interfering. So, he had remained quiet. Then he found that that Fletcher had been two timing Lorelai.
Was that when he had become depressed? And if so was it because the man had cheated on Lorelai, or because he might have been able to stop things before she got hurt.
Luke put the coffee pot on the warmer, then turned back to look at the Gilmore table. He saw Lorelai and Rory, sitting there enjoying a breakfast for the first time in days. The sight made him feel happy.
Then he realized what a fool he must have sounded like, when they had arrived. Making some lame noises and stammering sounds as he tried to talk. Now he realized that he had to apologize to Lorelai for sounding like a fool, but even more importantly not telling her about Colin.
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End of chapter 27
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