Chapter 2

Sand in My Shoes

As Luke steered Lorelai's jeep onto the long private road that, according to the directions, lead to the Gilmore's beach house he muttered under his breath, "How did we get into this again?"

Lorelai stole a quick glance into the back seat. April's nose was buried in the same book she'd been reading for the entire drive, the earphones for her iPod still in place. "I believe it involved a 'Please, Dad,' and some mighty impressive puppy dog eyes."

Luke's reply was a grunt.

"I for one was very proud. Didn't know she had it in her," she quipped as she looked out the window a the large houses set on big pieces of the expensive Cape Cod landscape.

"Well, you were no help," he grumbled.

"What did you want me to do? I was choking," she answered in a low defensive tone. "Maybe it won't be that bad," she offered with a forced smile. "That's it on the left," she said pointing out the marked driveway.

"Richard, they're here" Emily called out as she opened the front door. She paused on the front porch as her husband joined her. The Jeep was just coming to a stop in the semicircular driveway.

Lorelai emerged from the passenger seat and flipped it forward for April. Then she turned and greeted her parents with a grin. "Hey. You two certainly look beachy."

Emily glanced at Richard's navy polo shirt and tan trousers then down at her own white linen slacks and a navy blue and white stripped shirt. There was an undeniably nautical feel to the outfit made even more evident by the navy anchor print scarf at her neck. "Well, this is the beach," she replied with a shrug. "I hope the drive was okay."

"It was fine," Lorelai replied taking hold of April's backpack so she could climb out of the car.

Richard walked to the back of the Jeep to help Luke with the bags. "Welcome to the Cape."

"Thank you, Mr… uh… Richard," Luke stammered then quickly focused on the bags in the back of the car.

"Whoa, fabulous house," April gushed as she clamored out of the car and reclaimed her backpack.

"Why thank you. We like it," Emily replied warmly. "Come along, girls. I'll show you to your rooms while the men get the bags." She ushered Lorelai and April into the lush beach house leading them through the entryway and to a small hallway with a bathroom at the end and a bedroom on either side. She gestured to the room facing the front of the house. "April, I thought you'd like this room."

April's eyes were as big as saucers as she entered the room. The walls were a pale buttery yellow, the trim and furniture white and there were sky blue accents everywhere. Prints of several themes, stripes, checks and florals all picked up the tricolor theme. She sat down on the bed and looked back to Emily and Lorelai who had remained in the doorway. "Wow… just… wow…this is the most beautiful room I've ever been in."

Emily smiled at the compliment. "I'm glad you like it. Lorelai, you're over here," Emily turned and opened the door on the opposite side of the hall and entered, Lorelai behind her. This room was awash in greens. Pale sage on the walls, more white trim, and accents in hunter splashed here and there. Emily stopped close to Lorelai, and said in a quiet voice, "I wasn't sure if you and Luke would be sharing a room with April here. There is an upstairs media room that has a pull out couch. It was expensive enough, but I can't promise how comfortable it is."

"Thanks, Mom. I think this is fine, but I'll talk to Luke and see what he wants to do," she answered taking in the room. As Lorelai looked around she was drawn to the French doors leading out to the patio and the view of the ocean beyond. "This really is gorgeous," she commented as she opened the doors, took a deep breath of the salt air and smiled serenely.

Emily crossed the room and stood next to her daughter. "You always did love the beach. It's too bad you and Rory were never able to come out during the summer."

Lorelai sighed. "Yeah, it is," she turned to look at Emily. "You never know, maybe she'll get some time off next summer and we can all come back."

"That would be nice," Emily agreed then quickly refocused her attention on those who were here and not the one who wasn't. "I made dinner reservations for us at seven o'clock. Does that sound okay to you?"

"Sounds great," Lorelai replied. "So we've got a couple of hours. I thought maybe Luke and April might want to head down to the water for a little while, and then we can all change for dinner."

"Why am I not surprised that is the first thing you want to do?" Emily teased.

Richard's voice called out. "This way Luke," just before they appeared in the hallway. "So what do you think of your accommodations?" he asked as he entered the bedroom carrying a medium sized suitcase and a large tote.

"It's great, Dad," Lorelai answered as her father put her tote bag on the bed and placed her suitcase next to it on the upholstered bench.

"I see you travel as light as your mother does," Richard commented with a smirk. When his remark earned him a stern look from his wife he draped his arm around her and pulled her against his side in a one armed hug.

After dropping off April's laptop case and bag in her room, Luke entered his own suitcase in his hand. "This really is a lovely house," he directed the compliment to Emily. "Thank you again for having us."

"It's our pleasure," Emily assured him.

"We'll leave you to freshen up," Richard said. "Meet us on the patio and we can all go down to the beach for a bit before dinner."

Lorelai and Emily exchanged a knowing look, and then Lorelai answered, "That's a great idea, Dad."

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Fifteen minutes later the group descended the stairs behind the house to the beach. Lorelai kicked off her flip-flops as soon as she hit the sand calling over her shoulder, "Last one to the water's a rotten egg." She sprinted to the waves April right behind her. Luke followed at a more sedate pace. Richard toed off his deck shoes and offered Emily a steadying arm while she removed her espadrilles losing the added 2 ½ inches in height they provided. Lorelai and April reached the water and waded in. Luke came to a stop several feet from the lapping waves. Emily and Richard walked up hand in hand and stood next to him.

"Come on in, the water's fine," Lorelai said smiling back at him, then her expression abruptly turned to disbelief. "I cannot believe you're still wearing your shoes. They're going to get full of sand."

April chimed in, "Yeah, Dad. You should take off your shoes."

Luke stuffed his hands awkwardly into his pockets, rocked back on his heels. "Nah, I'm fine."

Lorelai glanced to her mother and father for confirmation then back at Luke gesturing to them. "Even my parents took their shoes off."

"You're really going to make this big a deal over this?" Luke questioned.

"Clearly," came her quick reply. "Now, take 'em off mister and come here."

"Oh… my… God," Luke muttered as he hastily pulled off his tennis shoes, followed by his socks. He shoved his socks into one shoe and dropped them onto the sand. "Happy?"

Emily and Richard were trying not to laugh in deference to Luke. April had no such compunctions.

"Almost," Lorelai answered. "Now come here. It's only six inches of water. It won't hurt you."

"I'll get my pants wet," he argued.

"So roll 'em up," she countered. Lorelai was starting to get the slightest bit annoyed.

Luke obediently rolled his jeans half way up his calves. The tide was coming in and where Lorelai and April now stood the water was half way to their knees. Luke stopped when the water just barley covered his feet. Lorelai shot him an imploring look but he reasoned, "I am not getting these pants wet. Unlike you I didn't bring six changes of clothes for each day."

She glanced at April conspiratorially and raised her leg back in preparation to kick at the surface of the water. "S'okay. We can get you just as well there."

"Lorelai," Emily's voice rang out in a motherly warning.

She put her foot back into the water slowly. "I wasn't really going to do it."

April shrugged, "I was."

A large wave came in and surprised Lorelai since her back was turned, the splash wetting the hem of her denim skirt.

Richard glanced at his watch. "I hate to cut this short, but if we head back to the house now, everyone should be able to change and we'll still have time for a cocktail before dinner."

Lorelai gave her father her best mock pout. "Aw, Dad."

"You can come back tomorrow or even tonight if you really want to," Emily assured her.

"Okay," she agreed with feigned reluctance. "I call first dibs on the bathroom," she declared then ran for the house.

Emily glanced to April with a smile. "Don't worry, there's another bathroom upstairs in the loft."

"Thanks," she replied with a nod and walked up the slope to the stairs.

Emily and Richard followed, leaving Luke shaking the sand out of his sneakers.

Notes: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter: Mary, Emily-RichardFan, amelia, pjt-gg, lilienprinzessin, Valerie, Miss GoodManners, RiskaSG, morzsa, michaela, animachristi, gilmorefanforever, and GilmoreGirlsnOCRock.