Wow. That was the best response I have ever gotten to a new story. Thanks :). I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
"I know it's small," Lorelai began.
"It's perfect," Taylor said. "I have a bed and a dresser. I'll be okay."
Lorelai smiled at her young cousin, "So, when do you want to talk about it?"
Taylor sighed, "Can't avoid it forever, can I?"
"No, not if you want my help when we have Friday night dinner with Richard and Emily."
"Do you have any tea?"
"Let's go see," Lorelai said, taking Taylor's arm and leading her downstairs into the kitchen. Rory's room was empty as the other Gilmore girl was at her friend Lane's catching up.
Taylor took a seat at the table and Lorelai joined her once the tea was ready.
"His name is Ryan," Taylor began.
"Okay. Good name as far as names go."
"He's from Chino originally, which is about as different from Newport as you can get. He got into some trouble with his older brother, Trey, a few years back and his mother kicked him out. Sandy, Ryan's lawyer, took him in. I think you might have met him once when you and Rory were out in California visiting Christopher and my mother invited you all to some party. His name is Sandy Cohen."
"Bushy eyebrows and a really nice smile," Lorelai said after a moment.
"Right. Sandy and his family took Ryan in when he was fifteen."
"That's surprising and a little dangerous."
"Not really," Taylor shook her head. "See Ryan's a really good guy most of the time, he just had some bad influences, namely his brother and mother."
"Okay, what else?"
"Well, he has this overwhelming need to ride in on his white horse and save the girl. For the better part of three years he spent most of his time saving one girl in particular. Her name was Marissa Cooper and she was a big old magnet for trouble, especially when it came to guys, except for Ryan. He was the one good guy she ever picked."
"What happened?"
"One of Marissa's less than stellar choices didn't take to kindly to being dumped and on the night she was set to leave Newport he ran the car she and Ryan were in off the road. Marissa died in Ryan's arms. He's been in a really bad way since then."
"Wow," Lorelai breathed. "So, how did you and he-"
"End up in bed together," Taylor finished.
"Yeah," Lorelai nodded.
"Well, since he moved out of the Cohen house he's been living in back of a bar that he's also working at. About a week after graduation my mother tells me that she is selling the house as soon as I leave for college. This also happens to be the anniversary of the night my father walked out on us, not that she remembers. So, feeling a little depressed, I end up at the same bar Ryan's currently working at and he recognizes me and when he's off he sits down with me and we have a drink. Then we have a few more and a few more and the next thing I know, we're in bed."
Lorelai nodded, "What happened the next morning?"
"I woke up and he was still asleep, so I got my clothes and left. I ran into his brother on my way out. He's the only one who knows about this," Taylor motioned to her stomach.
"Ryan doesn't remember?"
"Ryan's what you call a black out drunk," Taylor told her.
"He probably woke up naked so he has to know something happened."
"He probably does, he just doesn't know it happened with me," Taylor said.
"Well, back to that," Lorelai motioned to Taylor's stomach. "I made you an appointment with a doctor to confirm things and to check your health otherwise."
"Thanks Lorelai."
"We are family."
"I hope it works out better for us than it did for Sister Sledge," Taylor smiled and Lorelai giggled.
SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH
"Seth? There's a postcard here for you," Kirsten said on Friday afternoon, poking her head into his room.
"Thanks Mom," he reached out for it from his bed.
"Pretty place," she said, handing it to him. "If you find out where it is, let me know. I think I'd like to stay there with your father one weekend."
"You got it," Seth nodded. He flipped it over once Kirsten had gone on her way and checked the postmark. Stars Hollow, Ct. It was from Taylor.
Dear Seth,
Well, in case you were wondering, yes I really am pregnant. I went to a doctor yesterday and found out for sure. Now that it's official, I think the panic is setting in; especially when you consider that on Friday I'm telling my aunt and uncle that I need help getting access to the trust fund my dad set up for me. It's to be released when I turn 21 or have children, whichever comes first and since I'm not 21 that only leaves one other option. I'm scared, I'm scared, and I'm scared. I'm also out of room so the next time I write, I'll use paper. Take care.
Taylor
PS-Write me, okay? If you send it to the inn, I'll get it.
Seth sighed and got off of his bed. He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a manila envelope. He slipped the post card in and put the envelope back in the drawer before closing it. He thought for a moment and then opened up another drawer. He lifted up a pad of paper and grabbed a postcard with a picture of South Beach on it. He'd picked it up a couple of years ago when he, Ryan, and Sandy had gone to visit The Nana. Taking a pen he sat at the desk and did a search for the Dragonfly Inn. He wrote down the address before he copied it onto the postcard, adding Taylor's name and 'In Care Of' before the address for the Dragonfly.
Dear Taylor,
One good postcard deserves another, right? Just take a deep breath okay? I'm sorry you're there and I'm here. I think I'm getting pretty good at calming you down and you sound like you need it right now. It's Friday afternoon here and depending on the time you're going to your aunt and uncle's you're probably approaching meltdown at the moment, so I'm sending a prayer or two your way and just remember you can always come back here. Sandy and The Kirsten would so take you in, especially considering your current condition and what they know about your mother. Well, I'm running out of room, so I'll say goodbye. Take care.
Seth
SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH
"I'm scared," Taylor said.
"Ah, those immortal words uttered by another," Lorelai smiled.
"Mom," Rory frowned. "You're not helping."
"I'm just saying that it's not uncommon for a person to stand before this door and be terrified of what's on the other side."
"Didn't you used to have a story or something that got Rory to go in there?"
"Yes, but we are not telling the story of the evil woman who did horrible spells on the maids she hired," Rory said.
"Maids go in, but they never come out," Lorelai said.
"Stop it," Rory ordered. "Taylor, I'm gonna ring the bell now, okay? It'll be fine."
"Right. I know," Taylor nodded. "Okay, ring it."
Rory pressed the doorbell and they waited. A maid opened it up a few moments later.
"Hi, we're here to have dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore. They're expecting us," Rory said before Lorelai could give the maid one of her smart remarks.
"Please come in," the maid invited them in.
Lorelai led the way into the living room while Taylor and Rory followed her.
"Hi Mom," Lorelai greeted Emily, who was standing at the drink cart with her back to them.
"Hi Grandma."
Emily turned to greet them and her mouth dropped open, "Oh my God. Taylor?"
"Hi Aunt Emily."
"Dear God, you look so much like Hopie," she said, coming forward and hugging her.
Taylor hugged her aunt, relishing the calm before the storm that was about to break.
"Sit down, sit down," Emily said as she led Taylor to a couch. "This certainly is a surprise. When Lorelai called and said to set another place I thought they'd be bringing Logan."
"Sorry to disappoint," Taylor murmured.
"Nonsense! You are a much better surprise than Logan. Sorry Rory," Emily said to her granddaughter.
Rory smiled and shook her head, "I think she's a better surprise than Logan, too."
Taylor smiled at them both before asking, "Where's Uncle Richard?"
"On the phone in the study with one of his clients," Emily rolled her eyes. "You'd think one Friday night he could possibly get done with work and be here to greet our guests."
"It's okay. I know he's a busy man."
"He shouldn't be too busy for family," Emily said. "So, tell me, what are you doing here? I thought you'd be in Paris now. Hopie called and said you'd been accepted to the Sorbonne. She was so proud of you."
Taylor smiled faintly, "Well, I've had a slight change in plans."
"Is everything alright?"
Richard saved Taylor from answering, "Emily?"
"We're in here," she called. "And come see the marvelous surprise the girls brought us."
Richard entered the room and stopped.
"Dear God, this has to be Taylor. Otherwise, Hopie has had a marvelous facelift."
"Richard," Emily scolded as Taylor rose to greet him.
"How are you Uncle Richard," she asked, giving him a hug.
"I'm fine. How are you, my dear?"
"I'm okay," Taylor nodded.
"You look lovely," he said. "Now, come sit down and tell me what you're doing here."
"We were just getting to that," Emily said.
Lorelai and Rory moved to opposite ends of the couch and let Taylor sit between them. Richard made himself a drink and sat down next to Emily.
"Uncle Richard, I need a lawyer."
"Taylor?"
"I need a lawyer to help me contact the lawyer my father used to set up my trust fund because I need access to it."
"Taylor, you can't have access to that until you're twenty-one," Richard said.
"She also gets it if she has children," Emily said. "Nicholas and Hopie set each of them up the same way."
"Well, that's ridiculous," Richard said. "Why would they set them up like that?"
"Richard you're missing the point," Emily said. "Taylor?"
"I'm pregnant," Taylor said, her eyes directed to the floor, suddenly wishing it would open up and swallow her whole.
"You're what?"
"Does your mother know?"
"I'm pregnant," she repeated softly. "And no, Mother does not know and I would really appreciate if you didn't tell her because she would literally kill me."
"Veronica may not be Mother of the Year but I doubt she'd kill you," Emily said.
"Mom, she'd kill her. Besides we don't know where she is."
"What are you talking about?"
"My mother is currently selling the house now that I no longer need a roof over my head provided by her. She left the day before I did, destination unknown, and I'm perfectly happy keeping it that way."
"And you're sure about the baby?"
"Lorelai took me to a doctor," Taylor said. "I can't have an abortion and adoption requires notifying the father and since he doesn't remember that we slept together, I think I'd have a hard time telling him that I'm pregnant."
"He doesn't remember that you slept together?"
"They-"
"No, Lorelai, this is on me," Taylor said. She took a deep breath and looked at her aunt and uncle. "We were drunk and he's a blackout drunk, so while he may realize he slept with someone that night he doesn't know it was me."
"And you want to keep it that way?"
"Ryan's not in a good place right now," Taylor said. "He wouldn't really be in a position to be supportive of this," she motioned to her stomach.
"I see," Richard said slowly. "So you need our help?"
"Yes and in return for your help, I am willing to come for dinner every Friday or if want to keep your dinners with Lorelai and Rory private, you can choose another night."
"Taylor, that's not necessary," Emily said.
"Yeah, they're not giving you money, they're just helping you get access to money you already have."
"Still, I feel like I should do something for you in exchange for not telling my mother, helping me with the trust fund, and not telling Grandma."
"You're not telling Hopie?"
"I don't want to kill her. You know her heart's not that strong."
Emily nodded, "She did inherit Mother's health problems."
"Exactly," Taylor said.
"Emily, I agree with Taylor," Richard said. "There's no reason to upset Hope at this point in her life. I think we're capable of handling this."
"Really," Taylor looked hopeful.
"Richard's right. We'll help you handle this," Emily said.
"Oh thank you," Taylor got up from the couch and hugged Emily and Richard at the same time. "You have no idea what this means to me."
Richard patted her back, "I'll need the paperwork on your trust."
Taylor nodded and Lorelai handed her the envelope Taylor had put into her purse before they'd left the house. Taylor handed it to Richard, "This is everything I could find in my mother's study concerning my father. The papers for the trust Grandma set up for me are still in a box at Lorelai's."
"I'll look over these this weekend and we can meet on Monday afternoon," Richard said.
Taylor nodded.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Gilmore? Dinner's ready," the maid announced.
"Perfect timing," Emily said getting up and taking Taylor's arm. "I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
"Me too," Taylor nodded.
Richard, Lorelai, and Rory got up to follow. Lorelai put her hand on Richard's arm, "Dad, thank you. You could have made it so much harder for her."
"I like to think your mother and I have learned from our mistakes," Richard said quietly.
"You did more than that," Lorelai smiled. "You kicked their ass."
Richard smiled as he followed his daughter and granddaughter into the dining room.
SHSHSHSHSHSH
"You're going to look at that now," Emily asked after turning off the lights in the dining room.
"Just want to see who Nicholas used to help set this up. It will help me in my internet search tomorrow," Richard said, flipping through the pages. "Well, whoever he used was very thorough. This is well written and very specific."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
Richard smiled, "Yes. Ah, here we are. Nicholas used a Sanford Cohen."
"That name sounds familiar."
"Does it," Richard looked up.
"Yes. Oh that's right. Veronica mentioned him once a few years ago. Apparently he and his wife had taken some boy in. She thought it was a ridiculous idea that would cause nothing but trouble."
"Well, whether or not that's true, he's obviously a fantastic lawyer. I'll have to have someone at the office find his number for me so I can call him on Monday. Are you ready for bed," he put the papers on his desk and shut the lamp off.
"Very much so," Emily said.