Chapter 3: Gossip at Luke's
It started as a normal day at Luke's diner. The grumpy diner owner was up at the crack of dawn unloading a shipment. People always wondered why he got up so early. Truth was he only got about an hourof sleep a night. It had been that way for 17 years. He couldn't get his mind to let go. Every second his eyes were closed, he replayed that moment. Her proposal. His no when his mind screamed yes. Her hurt face. He had hurt her and it hurt to know that. He had seen her face to face once. Rory's wedding. It was less than a month after she left.
He remembered it so well. She looked as beautiful as ever. A little rounder in the front, but beautiful none the less. He tried so hard to talk to her, but she avoided him like the plague. He had just wanted to explain that he hadn't meant he never wanted to marry her. He was planning to propose himself. He just wanted more time.
All was normal till 6 am. Rory's husband came in and grabbed coffee for him and Rory. That wasn't unusual. The unusual part was to see Rory and the three kids waiting in the car.
"Hey Luke. Two coffee's and a danish to go." Luke nodded and began to fill the cups.
"Where are you going so early?" Eric grabbed some money out of his wallet.
"Got family coming in for a month or 3, knowing them." Luke nodded.
"Your sisters?" Eric looked slightly paniced, but nodded.
"Yeah, Maggie and Marley." Luke nodded.
"Have fun." Eric nodded and left.
What Luke didn't know was that Marley and Maggie were Eric's sisters-in-law. Nor that he, Luke Danes, was there father. Sure, he had met them, but they had been introduced as Eric's sisters. Plus, they hadn't been in been in for 9 months and even then he hadn't talked to them. He knew for a fact that Lorelai had been in then too, but briefly. He had seen her in town. She was with the twins. He always wondered why.
That had been hours ago. It was 12 o'clock now. Luke was in the middle of serving coffee when Babette ran in and streamlined right to Patty. He shrugged it off, as it wasn't much different then most days. Babette and Patty huddled together, talking in loud whispers till Patty gasped loudly.
"She didn't tell him?" Luke assumed it was the latest town gossip and kept going with his routes. He finished up and walked into the kitchen, sending Caeser out to take orders.
Babette shhed Patty and kept going with her story.
"I was in my house, minding my own business, when the car pulled up. These gorgeous twins got out and I got curious. So I go out to ask who they are. I mean, of course they are Eric's sister's right?" Patty nodded.
"Wrong! I asked Rory and she goes 'meet Maggie and Marley, my sisters!" Patty gasped.
"Course I was shocked. So I asked how old they are and one says 17 in December. So I assumed they were Luke's and asked if he knew, being vague trying to find out who." Patty gasped.
"They're Christopher's aren't they? Oh I knew he was no good! Maybe this is why they broke up! An affair! Oh that Lorelai Gilmore." Babette shook her head.
"Can I finish my story Patty?" Without waiting for an answer she continued on.
"So Eric comes out and calls the girls in. So they leave and Rory throws a fit. She got mad at me saying I didn't know they were his and she said I didn't know that they weren't the reason they broke up. So I went in and met them. And god, one looks just like him. The one, Maggie, is a mini clone of him but her personality is all Lorelai. Marley is exactly Lorelai in looks but all Luke in personality. I can't believe she didn't tell him." Patty nodded in agreement.
"So, Lorelai left without telling him? She was still in town town when she got pregnant. 9 months before December is March. She left in May."
Babette nodded and they both looked towards the kitchen as Luke came out. He looked at them funny and walked to the counter, listening in to their gossip. He had heard Rory's name once and had gotten curious. Babette noted this and moved the subject.
"So did you hear about East Side Tilly?" At Patty's confused face, Babette subtily nodded towards Luke's listening form. Patty nodded and the next piece of gossip was discussed, much to Luke's disappointment.
-Rory's Home / The Crap Shack-
Rory hung up with her mom and paced the kitchen. Eric came out of Lily's nursery and stopped to watch his wife pace around the room.
"Ror, hun. What are you doing?" Rory stopped.
"I'm Cain." Eric looked confused.
"You're Cain? You mean the bible guy who killed his brother when he got jealous? Who'd you kill?" He looked amused.
"No, I made a dumb decision and upset mom." Eric nodded and pulled her onto his lap as she passed. She put her head into the crease of his neck and sighed. Eric hugged her. After several minutes she pulled back.
"I told Babette they were my sisters. Then she asked them about their dad and I told her not to. And they got so mad at mom. I let slip something about knowing him and Mom always says she doesn't know who it is. Then mom calls and I told her Babette knew. She was so upset and the twins refused to talk to her at all and its all my fault." Rory dissolved into tears as Eric tried to comfort her.
-Hotel in Paris, France-
Lorelai hung up with her daughter and fell back onto the bed, replaying the words. Babette knew. Which meant Patty knew. So the town knew. And in the slight chance they didn't, they would fairly soon. She thought back 17 years. Her eyes snapped open and she grabbed the phone, dialing a number she still knew 17 years later, hoping it still worked.
(Flashes between the diner and hotel)
"Hello?" Babette answered her ringing cell phone, not even bothering to notice an angry Luke pointing to the No Cell Phone sign. Lorelai sighed in relief.
"Thank god. Babette, I need a favor." Babette looked at Patty.
"Who is this?" Lorelai took a deep breath, going over her next move in her head.
"It's Lorelai, Babette. I need a favor." Babette's eyes widened.
"Lore--what do you need sugar?"
"You can't tell Luke. I knew you pride your job of spreading gossip, but please. I'm coming in on the first flight I can. Don't tell anyone till I tell him." Babette agreed and hung up the phine, deep in thought.
"She's coming back." With that she stood up and ran home, leaving a very confused Patty behind.
Lorelai hung up and called the airport.
"I need the next flight into Hartford."
DUN DUN DUN!!! She's coming back! HAHA! The next chapter is one of my favorites...It's called The Long Need Talks. Bet you can't guess who the talks are between! And if you can...STOP READING MY DIARY! Just kidding! I don't have a diary...or do I?!?! DUN DUN DUN! Only a true stalker would know! I will have the new chapter up soon!
-Manni Renee-
