It had only been eight weeks. But that was all it took, eight Friday Night dinners, for Rory Gilmore to feel a pit in her stomach. All week long at Chilton she was surrounded by… them. The children of privilege. The children of wealth. They had fancy cars and lived in mansions. She lived in a small-town, miles away, in Stars Hollow. But her grandparents, whom she had only started to get to know… they had what she was drowning in.
It was hard for her, jumping feet first into her grandparents' world. She had barely known them. But now there she was every Friday, in her finest dress with a maid serving her a gourmet meal. Her grandfather expounding on his business as well as the Classics of education. Her grandmother talking about all the organizations she either ran directly or indirectly by her mastery of the rules of proper society. They treated her so well. Asking her about school. Encouraging her. Spoiling her, to her mom's chagrin, especially with a well-appointed bedroom in their house and a recent trip to a country club, which Rory enjoyed more than she let on.
This week had been particularly hard. The class work was piling up. Assignments in a struggling public school had been no problem for Rory. But at Chilton? She had to get caught up on a year's worth of Latin by the end of the semester. This was on top of having to sit by herself at lunch, looking at all of the cliques and their fiefdoms. To achieve her dreams, Rory knew she had to do more than just ace Latin. She had to find a way into the Chilton world and, not just that run it.
It was a Thursday afternoon and Rory went to her grandparents' house. They were expecting her as Rory called the night before in order to ask her grandfather for a book, Menken, followed by dinner.
Emily arrived to the front room as the maid opened the door. Gracious, smiling, beaming, still wearing the Chanel suit she bought for the day's D.A.R. meeting she chaired.
"Rory," Emily said. "It's no good to see you! Would you like a Diet Coke?"
Rory nodded and meekly said yes as Emily prepared the glass. With that, Richard stomped down the steps still clad in his bowtie from work.
"Rory, my dear," he said warmly, the book in his hand. "I found the original copy. It was just where I thought. I take it you'll be staying for dinner?"
Rory nodded. "Yes," she said. "But… But before that, there's something I'd like to say."
Emily and Richard both expressed concern.
"Are you okay" Emily asked.
"Oh, yes," Rory said as she took a seat on the sofa, with Richard and Emily across from her.
"Is it something at school?" Richard leaned forward.
"Oh, no," Rory said, taking a deep breath. "There's something I've been thinking about all week. Well, for a few weeks now. I… I just have to say it."
"What is it, dear," Emily asked.
Rory looked up at her grandparents.
"I want to live here. With you. Permanently."
Richard flinched, somewhat uncomfortably. He turned to Emily, who adjusted her posture upright, with a glint in her eye.
"And why is that, dear?" Emily said so gently. "And, Rory please sit up straight."
Rory nodded before mirroring her grandmother's rigid posture.
"Well, Grandma, Grandpa," Rory stammered a bit. "I… I didn't grow up with any of this. I didn't grow up with maids. I didn't grow up in a mansion."
"Oh, we certainly know that," Richard said.
"And… well… I don't understand why anyone would want to run away from this."
"And we certainly know that," Emily replied curtly.
"I mean the room you set up for me is bigger than the entire floor of our house," she said. "I know my mom hates this life. But… but I don't. I feel so comfortable here."
Emily placed her hands on the side of her chair, trying to hide the smirk from her face. Richard furrowed his brow curiously.
"And, well… I can also see it at school. The other students look down on me. They think I'm some country bumpkin. But they don't realize that I actually come from the same background as them. Heck… you have even more than more of my classmates' families."
Richard tried to swallow his chuckle.
"And I want to be the best. I have to be valedictorian to get into Harvard. I have to get involved in clubs. All of the applications look towards that," Rory said. "I can either schlep it back and forth to Mom's on a bus and have to deal with her making me watch bad movies and eat at Luke's… Or I can stay here and learn from you two. More than I have already."
Richard cast a side eye towards Emily. He wanted to thread this needle gingerly. But he knew his wife. She was not one to bite her tongue or jump at an opportunity.
"Well Rory," she said. "This is lovely to hear. Your mother always wanted to be independent and free. But if I'm hearing things correctly, Rory… It sounds like you want to be rich, successful and powerful."
The words flowed over Rory and sank in. A glow rushed upon her face and forced a smile upon her. It was something she never thought she wanted to aspire to. But now she realized the truth.
"Yes. I want to be rich, successful and powerful. Just like you and Grandpa."
Emily was now in a fully wide smile. Her daughter had so thoroughly rejected their world and their life, running off so young to live in a shed and act as a maid, taking their granddaughter away in the process. But now? Now their granddaughter was exposed to their world and was embracing it.
"What do you think, Richard?"
Richard took a deep breath. This conversation made him nervous. Rory was essentially a stranger to him just a few weeks ago. But since she was introduced to her life, he was smitten with his granddaughter. So smart and charming and brimming with unlimited potential. However, there were so many distractions in her life that, without a proper influence, could lead her astray. But at the same time, their daughter was back in their lives too.
"Well, Rory, this is a difficult position. I want more than anything to do what's best for you. But we have your mother to consider here. We know how awful it is to have your daughter gone from you."
Rory looked down and nodded.
"I know. This would devastate her."
"Yes, it would."
Emily pursed her lips and glared at her husband.
"Rory, dear. Would you mind going to your room? Your grandfather and I need to talk about this amongst ourselves before we find a solution."
Rory nodded and retreated. Both paused until she was out of earshot.
"Emily, if this girl moves in with us, we'll never see Lorelei again."
"Well, Richard, how long do you expect this to last with Lorelei to start with? She contacted us for us to pay for Rory's school. If she's able to afford it on her own somehow, she will rip this girl away from us," Emily snapped. "Heck, I might just breath too loudly and Lorelei might take her away. Away from Chilton. Away from us. Away from what she so clearly said she wants."
"I know, Emily," Richard said. "But still. You should know how much this will hurt Lorelei more than anymore."
Emily stared at the portrait of her, Richard and Lorelei.
"I do." She paused. "But, Richard, the reason why I insisted that Lorelei and Rory have dinner with us every Friday wasn't just to have Lorelei back in our lives. We know how hard-headed she is. But it was to have Rory. She needs to have proper influences in her life. She has our last name. I… We… wanted to show her the world that was at her fingertips. She wants it. And we can give it to her."
"But what about Lorelei? What about our daughter?"
Emily paused.
"Well, Richard," she said. "Lorelei ran away. Rory is running too us."
Richard side and shook his head. He was still apprehensive.
Rory did move to her room, but left the door open. She could not hear all of the words said, but she read the room. She turned her head and saw her grandfather's dark-oak toned study. Home to his books and work and the source of all he had accomplished. And she saw something truly important to him, above and bigger than the framed portrait of him with a younger Lorelei.
His diploma.
Rory felt another tinge and turned to the stairs.
"Grandma, Grandpa," Rory said. "I'm sorry to interrupt. But… there's something else I need to say."
"What's that, dear?"
"Well, Grandpa. I know you're apprehensive about this."
"Yes, Rory. I am."
"Well, as I said. I want to have what you and Grandma both have," Rory said. "And I know you two can shape me. But I know there's another place that can help me achieve all I'm capable of."
Rory paused and smiled.
"Yale."
Richard leaned back and slowly pulled off his glasses.
"Grandpa, if you let me live here… then I won't go to Harvard. I'll go to Yale instead. I'll be able to carry on the family name and tradition at the finest university in the world."
Emily, recognizing Rory understanding how to pull strings, beamed.
"Well, Richard."
A slow smile crept across Richard's face.
"You drive a hard bargain, Rory," he said. "Yes. If you want to go to Yale, I agree. Your grandmother and me will clearly give you the best opportunity to reach this goal."
He smiled and looked at Emily and then back at his granddaughter.
"Yes, Rory. You can live here."
Rory smiled so excitedly -
"BUT under certain conditions," he said. Rory sat back down, nodding.
"School has never been a problem with you. Nor shall it be. We expect nothing but top marks from you at all time, young lady."
"Of course, Grandpa."
"Yes. School will be your priority. And I know how much you enjoy reading. When you are done with your schoolwork, I will assign you some of my favorite texts. You will find a world of grand literature and words awaiting you," he boomed. "Heck, I believe by the time you enroll at Yale you'd be qualified to teach a course once you get through the reading list I'll craft for you."
"Of course, Grandpa. I'm already eyeing up all the books in your study. Like Menken."
"And, Rory," Emily said. "If you want to understand how to get your way and how to be in charge of others, well, dear, I'll arrange your schedule for you when you are finished with your schoolwork. There are so many galas and balls and events. I sure could use an assistant to help me make sure these events are perfect."
"Thank you, Grandma. I'm sure I'll learn from the best."
"Of course, we'll also make sure you shine at your own debutante ball."
Rory nodded. The picture of Lorelei in her dress always loomed over this room.
"But one more condition, Rory."
"Yes, Grandma."
"Your mother was quite difficult, as you know. I know teenage girls can be quite difficult. However, I will not have a repeat of her behavior," Emily said. "I will not tolerate any backtalk. If you grow frustrated with us at any time, just remember this was your idea. Everything you've ever wanted in the world is now your. But it can also be taken from you very, very quickly."
Rory paused. And took a deep breath.
"I understand," she said. "Don't worry, Grandma. I'll make your proud."
"I know you will, Rory," she said. "Richard, do you think some champagne is in order? After all, we should be celebrating Rory's… our… new life."
"Yes, I do," said Richard. "But, Rory, only one or two sips."
Emily yelled for Rosa, this week's maid. But before she could speak, Rory interjected.
"Rosa, we will need three glass of champagne," she barked. "And, also, make sure you are wearing white gloves when you serve our drinks. We don't want any of your fingerprints on our glassware."
Rosa quickly nodded before scurrying off. Richard looked at Rory askew while Emily smiled approvingly.
"I've wanted to be able to talk to a maid like that since my first dinner here," Rory said.
"You did a good job informing her of the details in life," Emily said.
Rosa came back in, wearing the gloves, as each grabbed a glass.
"To Rory," Richard said. "Our beloved granddaughter and a young woman the world awaits to conquer."
They sipped their champagne. Rory set her glass down.
"Grandma and Grandpa, may I be excused? I have some homework to do before dinner. And I guess I should call my mom."
There was a big pause.
"Yes, that," Richard said. "Let's take it slow. I don't believe your mother will be upset if you ask to spend the night here tonight, would she?"
"She does know you're staying for dinner, right?"
"Yes, she does," Rory said. "Yes. I think she'll believe that."
"Very good, Rory," Richard said, nodding, as his granddaughter ran off to her new bedroom.
They watched her disappear. Richard turned to his wife.
"I know you're worried about this, Richard," Emily said. "But it took me all of two months to sink my claws into Rory. Don't think I am ever, ever letting go. She belongs here, with us."
Richard's angst on the situation disappeared off his face as he sat back, kingly.
"She does," Richard said. "And we'll ensure that she's the better for it."