Disclaimer: I do of course not own the Gilmore Girls or anything that has to do with them.
Thanks to Inca (VoyICJ) for proofreading :)
THE PRODIGAL GRANDDAUGHTER LEAVES
I'm walking around in the house all by myself. For some reason, this house seems bigger and emptier today than it has in a long time. Richard is not here, he's away on business and won't be back until later this evening. There is no maid here either, I fired Sumatra yesterday, and I haven't been able to find a new one yet. Above all, Rory isn't here...Rory has left, and she's not coming back.
When I had come back from running some errands earlier today, I discoverd that Rory, most of her clothes and some of her books were gone. There are still a lot of her things left in her room, but I guess she'll come back for them later. I tried calling her on her cell phone, but she didn't answer. We had a fight over breakfast, before she went to do her community service yesterday. I had assumed she came back late at night and went straight up to her room, but now I'm not so sure anymore. I have neither seen nor heard from her since yesterday morning.
I go to the bedroom, where I kick off my shoes and lie down on the bed. I really need to think this through. So...she went. I should have seen it coming. We've been spluttering at each other for a while now. Still, I never would have imagened that Rory would just take of without letting me know. She didn't say goodbye, she didn't even leave a note. I wonder where she has gone. To Logan's maybe. Or to Paris'. Perhaps she has gone back to Stars Hollow to make up things with Lorelai? Funny about those two, they always manage to get back on track with each other. Me, on the other hand... I guess I should be happy if my daugther and grand-daughter become friends again, and I know in time I will be... But right now, I'm not able to think like that. I can only think of myself right now.
When Rory came and begged us to let her stay here for a while, I took it as the ultimate sign that we've worked our way into her life as her grand-parents, despite all those years when she barely spent any time with us. Ever since she and Lorelai came back into our lives I've enjoyed every second I've gotten to spend around that girl. I know Richard has felt the same way. Poor Richard, he'll be completely heartbroken when he finds out she has left.
Almost every single time I've disagreeed with Rory, it has been because she has taken her mother's side in a conflict between me and Lorelai. I don't necessarily blame her for that, she hears Lorelai's side of the story, and, of course, has no reason to doubt it. This time, however, things are different. It's not about me and Lorelai, it's all about Rory. That girl is growing to be more and more like her mother. And according to her, I'm becoming more and more like her mother's mother. I didn't really grasp the meaning of that statement when I heard her say it, but now I realize how right she was. Lorelai left this house once, without saying goodbye as well. Now Rory has done the same thing. And once again, here I am, lying in my bed, having all these strange thoughts. I can feel my eyes starting to burn, and a few tears have already made their way down my cheeks. I simply want to pull the blanket over my head and never come out again.
As I close my eyes, my thoutghts go back to the awful day, a little more than 20 years ago, when I pulled the blanket over my head and decided to hibernate for the first time. In my mind, I can hear Lorelai's voice reading her good-bye note, over and over again, which is really strange, after all, she never read it out loud. It's like taken out of a soap opera, I know, but still, it's there, her voice seems so real, it's like she's reading directly into my ear.
This time, there was no note...
I've been lying like this for about an hour when it strikes me; I am not going to let this break me down completely! When Lorelai ran away from home, I stayed in bed for a month. I allowed myself to just lie there and wallow in my pity. It didn't make the situation I was in change at all, neither for the better nor for worse. To be honest, it was a month of wasted time. I don't feel like going through that again.
I shove the blanket away and sit up. I put my shoes back on and stand up straight. There, now I'm up. Now what? I turn around and take a quick glance at the nightstand. The only thing on it, is a pamphlet, which I brought home with me from a beauty salon. I pick it up and skim through it. Aha! Here's something that ought to keep my mind of ...things, for a while.
The drive out to the airport isn't very long. While in the car, Richard tries to get in contact with me through my cell phone five times. He must have gotten home right after I had left. I don't answer it, I can't manage to explain the situation to him right now. I know he'll be upset when he finds out she's gone...and who knows what he'll think of me? He might give me all the blame... Only the thought of this makes tears run from my eyes again. I wipe them away with my hand before I take a deep breath and decide not to cry anymore now. What good will it do?
As I stop the car, my cell phone rings again. I take another look at the display, it's not Richard this time, it's Lorelai. It doesn't matter, I don't feel like talking to her either. I press the red button before I step out of the car.
After having been given the right keys I head towards hangar number seven. What a great idea this was, why haven't I thought of this before? A plane is just what Richard and I need. Well, a part of a plane, at least... Before I manage to find the right building, I get a SMS on my cell phone. Apperantly, I "have recieved a new message on my answering machine at 05.02 PM" That was about fifteen minutes ago. Isn't it a bit late to tell me? It could be something important, it usually is when people bother to leave messages. "Press green button to listen". All right then, I don't usually take orders from machines but what the heck. Green button it is.
Hi, Mom, it's Lorelai, you have got to call me when you get this message, okay? Dad is frantic and we don't know where you are, so just call my cell phone as soon as possible. We just want to know that everything's all right. Okay. Bye.
Frantic? Because I've been out of the house for an hour at the very most? That doesn't make sense. He must have found out that Rory has moved out. I'd better call Lorelai.
"Hello?" She seems upset.
"Hi Lorelai, it's me."
"Mom! Thank God!" Now she's both upset and relieved. "Have you called Dad? Where are you?"
"No, I haven't called your father, I intend to do so later. I'm at the airport, looking at a plane. Hangar number seven," I tell her in a casual voice. As if looking at aircrafts is something I do every day. Lorelai's voice, however, is certainly not casual.
"What? What are you - okay. Just stay there, Mom. Now, what was the hangar number again?" " Seven!" I repeat. I only hope I can find it before she does. Why does she want to come anyway? And why hasn't she mentioned Rory yet? "Like I said, stay there, Mom, I'll be there as soon as I can!" I can hear her starting her car right before she hangs up.
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