Thanks again to Booky for pointing out that Rory cannot follow herself out of the diner.

Ch. 2: Twenty Questions

Although she had made only one return trip to the diner in the three weeks since her coffee attack, Luke had not been able to get the woman with the blue eyes out of his mind. She had been beguiling and her smell was intoxicating. He decided it was time to investigate. He had to learn all he could about Lorelai Gilmore, and he knew just which two people to start with. Fortunately, they were frequent visitors.

Like magic, the bell over the door rang and Babette and Miss Patty headed to their regular table for their usual Wednesday afternoon lunch of cheeseburgers, fries, cherry pie and gossip.

"Luke, doll, when you have a minute," Babette said, holding up and pointing at her coffee cup. "Make it two."

"Here you go, ladies," Luke said as he poured them each a cup of coffee. "What can I get you? The usual?"

"Yes, please, but can I have blueberry pie instead?" said Miss Patty.

"Okay," he said. "I'll be right back. I have a few questions for you ladies."

"Sure, doll, anything," Babette said. Although Luke never said a word about himself, Babette and Miss Patty loved telling him town gossip he not-so-subtly inquired about. They loved looking into his eyes. Babette thought you could easily get lost in them and never find your way out. The strange thing was they usually couldn't remember what they had told him. Babette was pretty sure she had one time told him all about the dirty things she and Morey had done around town.

Whenever Luke asked Miss Patty a question, she almost felt compelled to answer him. He was practically irresistible, and if she thought she had a chance, she would jump him right there. She one time considered an attempted seduction after a town meeting, but he vanished before she could offer an excuse to get him to stay.

Luke came back carrying the two plates with ease and did something he had never done before. He sat down with the ladies and put his hand on Babette's. She felt warm all over.

"Now, ladies, what can you tell me about Lorelai Gilmore?"

"Oh, what do you want to know, doll? I got the whole story. She's my next door neighbor."

"I know," Luke said, almost sorry he asked the question because he realized what he was in for. "When did she move in?"

"Oh, about a year ago. She had been living on the grounds of the Independence Inn. She's a manager there, you know. Mia just loves her. Hired her as a maid without any experience and gave her and Rory a place to live. Have you met Rory? She's a sweetheart."

"Yeah, she's been in the diner."

"Well, Lorelai had Rory when she was only 16, just a baby herself, but she takes such good care of that girl."

"She's just lovely," Miss Patty added, jealous of the attention Babette was receiving.

"Who's the girl's father?" Luke asked.

"Christopher. He was Lorelai's high school boyfriend. He's somewhere in California, but I've only seen pictures. What a looker. He's never been here. Lorelai always takes Rory to Hartford to see him."

"Christopher Gilmore?"

"Oh, no, it's something else. They never married. That's her name. Her parents are big shots in Hartford. According to Lorelai, her grandmother's family was Pilgrims."

"Really?"

"Oh, yeah, but Lorelai is nothing like that. She's not a snob. When she moved in, she threw this party, and Charlie had to come break it up. Twice. Morey just loves her."

"That's nice," Luke said, getting back up and removing his hand. "I've got to get back to work. Let's forget we ever talked about this."

Luke put a finger to his lips and "shushed" the ladies.

Both Miss Patty and Babette got a look on their face like they had lost their car keys. As Luke walked away, they began to discuss Taylor's latest plan to start a Stars Hollow Trade Days. Neither remembered their discussion with Luke.

Standing behind the counter, Lorelai wished she had worn a different pair of shoes. The crisscross pieces were rubbing the top of her foot raw and she was sure there would be a blister tonight.

Only one more hour, she thought to herself, as she checked the computer to see if any guests had yet to check in. There was only one: Mr. Peter Randolph.

As if by magic, Mr. Randolph, a regular, walked in the door followed by a porter with his luggage.

"Good evening, Mr. Randolph," she said in her "business" voice. "It's nice to see you again."

"Thank you," he said. "Is my room ready?"

"Yes. Room 12 is ready for you, and Kevin will take your bags up right now."

"Excellent," he said as he signed the necessary paperwork. "Does dinner service still begin at six?"

"Yes," she said as she handed him his key. "Chef Andre is preparing veal tonight."

"Fine," he said. "Please reserve me a table for 7:15."

"It's already been done, sir."

Mr. Randolph walked away, and Lorelai breathed a sigh of relief. She would be home soon, and it was payday. That meant she and Rory were finally going to try out Luke's Diner. She had been in one other time for a cup of coffee, and she noticed Luke looking at her. That wasn't that unusual, she thought. Men had always liked her, but something about his gaze made her uneasy, like he was staring into her---maybe further than she wanted him to.

Her reverie was interrupted by the phone ringing.

"Independence Inn, Lorelai speaking. How may I help you?"

"Hey, Gorgeous," a voice said. "What are you doing Friday night?"

"I don't know," she said with a smile. "It depends. What did you have in mind?"

"How about seeing Rent? I was able to score two tickets and a room at the Waldorf."

"Really? That sounds amazing. I just need to see if Sookie can watch Rory, and you need to promise that 'Seasons of Love' song won't get stuck in my head for the next three weeks."

"Deal. I'll pick you up at four; wear something hot and preferably low-cut."

"We'll see. Your choice of restaurant will determine my choice of dress."

"Don't worry. It will be something Italian and something good. I'll see you Friday. Bye."

"Bye," she said.

Lorelai had been seeing Jack Collins for a few months. He wasn't "Rory's dad" material, but he was a nice-looking man with a good job who enjoyed good food and a good time. He was alright in bed, but Lorelai had recently found herself putting on award-winning performances when they were together. But who was she to turn down tickets to Rent and a night at the Waldorf?

When Katie appeared and took over the front desk, Lorelai clocked out and went to the kitchen where Sookie was prepping veal cutlets for dinner. She had her hair pulled back with a bandana and three brightly colored bandages on her fingers. The burn mark above her left eye was new.

"Sookie, what happened? How did you get that?"

"Curling iron," she said, mixing some spices into a sauce. "I have the best news! Andre is going to let me pick next week's menu. He says if I'm going to take over for him when he retires, I better start learning the 'head chef' ropes, which means I'm one step closer to my own white hat. Should I start working on my French accent?"

"That's great, but let's let Andre keep his accent," Lorelai said. She knew Sookie was a fabulous chef and she couldn't wait for others to see how fabulous she really was. "Since you're in a good mood, can I ask for a favor?"

"Of course," Sookie said. "What is it?"

"Can you stay with Rory on Friday night? Jack got us tickets to Rent, and a room at the Waldorf."

"No problem," she said. "I promised her I'd show her how to make my special chocolate macadamia nut pralines. She's such an angel. So, you and Jack…is it getting serious?"

"I don't know," Lorelai said. "He's nice enough…"

"But?"

"But what?"

"Nothing. What time should I be at your house?"

"4:30, and I'm going to find out what you meant with that 'but'."

The conversation ended when Rory walked into the kitchen.

"Hi, Mom. Hey Sookie! What's on the menu tonight?"

"Nothing you'd eat unless you've started to like artichokes?"

"Nope."

"Well, how about a peanut butter, banana and peach jam sandwich?"

"Okay."

"No," Lorelai said to Rory. "I thought you and I would go out to eat tonight. How would you feel about a trip to Luke's Diner?"

"Really? We can go? I still remember the cheeseburger he made for me. It was so good. So are his fries and his onion rings and…"

"Okay, hold on there, Missy. When did you become a Luke's walking advertisement?"

"Well, last week, I was in the gazebo with Lane, and Mr. Danes came out of the diner and brought us onion rings and told us to keep them a secret."

"Why didn't you tell me this? Am I not the person who you automatically tell every secret to, especially when food is involved?"

"I guess I forgot, but I do remember that they were really good, and Mrs. Kim smelled something on Lane, but I said that I had been eating onion rings and wiped my greasy hands on her, which was actually true."

"Well, next time, tell me when you get free food so I can get some, too."

"Okay," she said with a smile.

Lorelai and Rory drove home from the inn, but decided to walk to town since the night was warm and breezy.

When the Gilmores walked into the diner, Luke knew instantly even though he was manning the grill in the kitchen.

"Be cool, Danes," he said to himself. "If you act weird, you're going to scare her off."

Luke counted to 100, then came out of the kitchen and told Frank to take over the grill.

Lorelai and her daughter were sitting at a table. Lorelai looked so young; he would have thought she was the girl's sister. They had the same shaped face, the same blue eyes, and as he listened in, they had the same verbal patterns. As a matter of fact, he thought they might be talking in code.

"What can I get you?" Luke said to the girls who were looking over the menu.

"I don't know," Lorelai said. "What's good?"

"Everything's good here."

"What do you like?" Rory said, mesmerized by the burly lumberjack.

"I don't eat this stuff. It'll kill you."

"But you serve it to others?" Lorelai said. "Isn't that hypocritical?"

"Not if I tell you that it will kill you before I serve it. You were warned, now what can I get you?"

"I'll have the cheeseburger, cheese only, fries, onion rings, milk and a slice of apple pie, please," Rory said.

"All that?" Luke said.

"Sure. I might even want seconds."

"Is she serious?" Luke asked Lorelai.

"Rory never jokes about food. I'll have a French dip, extra au jus, fries, cherry pie and a cup of coffee, and can I have that coffee now?"

"What is it with you and coffee?"

"It's my mother's milk," she said. "If you offered me a million dollars to give up coffee for a week, I wouldn't make it. I really love coffee."

"That is rather perverse."

"Isn't it?" she said with a smile.

"I'll be right back," Luke said and walked away from the table and went straight to the kitchen. His heart was beating faster, he was breathing faster. Luke had been with many women, and his relationship with Rachel was still unclear, but no one had ever stirred these feelings in him. He wanted to do things to her he had only heard the others talk about, but then he thought of his parents and what they would have thought of him thinking like that.

He took a few deep breaths and started to cook their food. He had a decision to make. He had a rule: he did get not involved with the women of Stars Hollow. They were too close. He met women in New York and occasionally in Hartford, but never in Stars Hollow. It was a rule his father set for him and he had always followed it from the day he turned 16. He was not going to risk his home for a woman.

Frank had already brought the girls their coffee and milk, and Lorelai had already signaled for a second cup when Luke brought then out their food. Lorelai quickly dipped her sandwich in au jus, took a bite and a look of pure bliss crossed her face. Rory was wolfing down her cheeseburger like she hadn't eaten in a week.

"Rory, let me have a bite," Lorelai said.

"No," she said, pulling her plate closer to herself. "Get your own."

"I can't believe my own flesh and blood would treat her mother that way," Lorelai said with a pout. "At least give me an onion ring."

Rory tossed an onion ring onto Lorelai's plate, and Lorelai took a bite of it and her eyes rolled back in her head. It was pure grease delight.

"Mom, can we come here everyday?"

"I don't know," she said. "Hey, Luke!"

"Yeah?" Luke said, bringing them their check.

"Is your breakfast as good as your dinner?"

"It might be better."

"Then save us a table because we'll be here first thing in the morning."

"You'll be here at 6:30?"

"Okay, maybe we'll be here around 9."

"Do you make French toast?" Rory said.

"Yes, I do."

"Good. I like it without syrup."

"Will do," he said. "I'll have a table waiting."

Lorelai handed Luke $10, and said, "Keep the change."

"Thanks for the quarter," he said, as he headed behind the counter and put the bill in the cash register. "I can buy that new spatula I've been dreaming of."

"I'd start with a new hat if I were you," Lorelai said as she followed Rory out the door.

"I'm going upstairs," Luke said as he quickly vanished behind the curtain.

As soon as he entered his apartment, he picked up his phone and dialed.

"Hello," a voice answered.

"Hey."

"Luke, is that you?"

"Yeah, I need to see you, Rachel. I have a problem."

"I can meet you on Friday, but bring a date. I can't be alone with you."

"Friday night, 11 o'clock. Isabella's," he said. "You have nothing to worry about from me, Rachel."

"We'll see about that, Luke, because that's what you said last time and I'm still trying to recover."

To be continued...