LINDSAY AND MAY
When Lindsay awoke she knew that seeing Dean's mother, May, was something she needed to do before they went to Boston. Lindsay regretted severing her ties with May. The only good thing to come out of her marriage to Dean, besides Elizabeth was her ex mother in law. A girl could have not asked for a better mother in law. She knew how furious May was at her son over the the affair with Rory. Lindsay was also curious about the state of May's relationship with Dean and Rory.
Lindsay slipped out from under the covers and walked to the bath to shower and get ready for the day. She was one of the fortunate woman who did not need a lot of make up. Upon finishing her shower and dressing Lindsay turned to her husband who still sleeping soundly. She shook her head and marveled how George could sleep so soundly. The tall blonde leaned down and kissed her husband and shook him. "George, George, come on wake up. Time to get up."
Lindsay then spied the in room coffee pot the hotel provided and started some coffee brewing. She then found her husbands laptop and plugged it in to the cable jack. George sat up when the aroma of coffee filled the room. He watched Lindsay on his laptop. "What are you looking for dear?"
"I am checking for the address and phone number of May Forester. I want to talk to her today. I really need to see her before Dean speaks to her, that is if he tells her anything at all."
"Are you just going to drop in or call first?"
"I think it is best to call first. I don't want to interrupt anything she may be doing."
"When do you plan on trying to see her?"
"As soon as I get off the phone with her if she wants."
"I guess I'll stay here till you return."
"No George I want you to come with me."
"Linds don't you think it may be awkward if I go?"
"No, I am going there to tell May about Elizabeth and you are Elizabeth's father and you need to be there. I also am going to have to apologize for cutting May out of Elizabeth's life. I hope I can make her understand why."
Lindsay turned her attention back to the laptop as George rose from the bed and headed for the shower.
The thought that May be unlisted crossed Lindsay's mind. She hoped not. Showing up unannounced was rude in Lindsay's opinion. Lindsay scanned down the list of names and finally found it. She recognized the address and the phone number. Lindsay picked up her cellphone. Well here goes nothing she thought.
On the fourth ring Lindsay heard "Hello"
A brief moment of panic swept through her. She took a deep breath.
"Hello, hello."
"Mrs Forester this is Lindsay Lister."
The phone was silent for a moment. "Lindsay? Where are you?
"I am in Norwich, Mrs Forester."
"How have you been dear? You disappeared so suddenly."
"I know. That is what I would like to talk to you about. If you don't mind may I come over?"
"Of course dear. We are still at the same address."
Lindsay remembered quaint two story house on the tree shaded street. She loved that house. It seemed so homey and comfortable. "Mrs Forester, do you mind if I bring my husband?"
The phone line was quiet for a moment. "Of course not, please bring him along."
"By the way Mrs Forester my name is Sanchez not Lister. I just used my maiden name so you would remember me."
"Oh Lindsay I would never forget you. I would have realized it was you by your voice. Please come over as soon as possible I really would like to see you."
"George walked out of the shower drying himself off. A thought other than going to Stars Hollow went through Lindsay's mind. She quickly pushed it aside. "George, May wants to see us as soon as possible, so lets go."
"Are we going to eat first?"
"No George my stomach is in knots, I can't eat right now."
Sixty minutes later Lindsay guided the rental car to a stop in front of the once familiar house. "Okay George you ready for this?"
"I just wished we could have eaten before this dear, but I am ready."
The couple walked down the pathway to the door and up the stairs of the porch. Lindsay turned to George. Took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
Almost instantly the door flew open and May was standing there. She hesitated for a minute, then embraced Lindsay in a tight hug. "I missed you Lindsay, I really did."
May broke the embrace and held Lindsay by the arms while sizing her up. She decided that the years were very kind to Lindsay and she was obviously very well looked after. May then turned her attention to Lindsay's husband. She was mildly shocked. Her husband was about three inches shorter than her with jet black hair. She also noticed he had a very muscular physique.
George offered his hand "Mrs Forester, George Sanchez."
"Could the two of you please call me May. Lets go to the kitchen I have some coffee on."
Lindsay and George followed May to the kitchen. Lindsay could not help but notice that age was catching up to May. Always a tall woman she was slightly bent and her hair was now almost all gray.
They sat at the kitchen table and May poured them all coffee and placed the pot on the table. "So Lindsay, George what brings you here? I thought you were gone forever when you suddenly disappeared after your break up with Dean."
"We went to Seattle, May, My parents have passed away, but I still live there."
"I am sorry to hear that Lindsay. You know Dean remarried."
"Yes I do May.:
May reached for the coffee pot and topped off every ones cup. Yes he remarried. He finally married that Rory Gilmore."
Lindsay detected anger in May's voice. Before she could answer May continued. I shouldn't say this, but I never liked her, nor do I care for her mother all that much either. The scowl left May's face. But they did give me two beautiful grand daughters. May walked into the living room and returned with a picture of Dean and Rory's two daughters. Lindsay immediately noticed the eyes the same ones her daughter had.
"They are lovely May. How about Clara where is she now?" Lindsay knew that Clara really never liked her very much and preferred Rory as a girlfriend to her brother.
Lindsay noticed a bit of sadness crossed May's face. She married a Canadian and lives in Vancouver. They have a son, but I don't get to see him very often. Ironically he is a hockey player like Dean's adopted son Mark. So the few times they do visit he is always over there.
Lindsay put her hand over May's hand "I am sorry, Do you ever go visit them."
I did a couple of times, but it is so expensive. They live with his parents for some reason. So when I do go I usually stay in a hotel, which is expensive."
"May I need to tell you something, and I hope you understand what I did and why I did it, and please don't hate me."
"May looked at her puzzled, Lindsay what could you do to make me hate you?"
"Lindsay reached into her purse and took a photo out of her wallet and placed it in front of May. May picked the photo up and looked at it intently. "Lindsay this is you when you were younger. May looked at it again and then looked at Lindsay. I would swear it was you, but there is a difference. May put the photo down. "Is this your daughter? May then looked at George and tried to figure out how the very blonde girl in the picture was related to George.
"May, yes that is my daughter. Your son Dean is her biological father."
May sat up as if she was shot. Her hand went to her mouth. She stood up and walked to the kitchen counter and turned. "Why Lindsay, Why did you keep her a secret. Why did you keep her from me. I always considered you part of my family. Does Dean know?"
George was silently taking in the drama unfolding before him. He realized what Lindsay said next would be very crucial.
"May when I discovered that Dean and Rory were fooling around behind my back; I was devastated. I loved him so much. I don't know how I survived. My father was offered a very good job in Seattle. I suspected I was pregnant and I went with him. I was only nineteen what else could I have done. I made up my mind to hate Dean, that was the only way I could survive. I vowed that he would never know about his daughter. What I did not think about was you. I am so sorry for what I did to you. I can only hope you forgive me. That is why I am here now, and yes Dean does know."
"When did you see Dean?"
"The reason her father and I are here is because Dean does know."
"I don't understand. You mean you came here to finally tell Dean he had a daughter."
"No and if I had my way he would never have known. I am sorry May, but if any good is going to come out of this it will be me telling you about her and hoping the two of you will meet."
"If you did not tell him how did he find out and how long has he known?"
"Elizabeth is going to college in Boston. This is her first year. She flew to the east coast. Stopped in New York City to see some relatives. She rented a car to drive to Boston and remembered I was from here and decided to stop and see where her mother grew up.. She took a room at the Dragon Fly and went to Luke's diner for a meal and that is when Dean spotted her. He recognized her, but to his credit he kept his mouth shut. Elizabeth called me that night and told me that she had met someone I went to school with. Then she told me the name was Dean. I almost fainted."
"So Lindsay how long has Dean known?"
George spoke up "About five days May."
"Five days she muttered to herself. Five days her son knew he had a daughter and did not bother to tell her about it. Any anger she had toward Lindsay was now directed at her son. She understood what Lindsay did and actually did not blame her. "Excuse me" May walked over to the kitchen phone, opened a book and looked for a number and dialed it.
"Luke, this is May Forester, please put Dean on...I could care less how busy you are. Get off your ass and get him on this phone...you do not want me coming down there...trust me."
"Mother what is the problem, why are you calling down here?"
May in a tightly controlled voice spoke "You have a daughter you did not bother telling me about."
"Mom I can explain, but not now."
"You have known for five days. When were you planning on telling me? On my death bed." May paused collecting her thoughts. Do you have any idea how I feel about you right now? Do you even remember that you have a mother. Does Lorelai know?
"Yes, but mom."
"No but mom me." May slammed the receiver back into its cradle. May turned to Lindsay and George. "I am sorry I lost my temper. My son disappoints me so many times."
May sat back down. So you said you flew to Connecticut because Dean knew about Elizabeth?
"There is more May and this is where it gets complicated."
"How so Lindsay?"
"Somehow Elizabeth got involved with their son Mark. That is the main reason we flew out."
May sat back in her chair. She is involved with Mark? How...
George interrupted. "May what kind of boy is Mark?"
"George...she paused to collect her thoughts..You know Mark is the adopted son of Dean. He is from Rory's first marriage. She did not marry a local guy, but some one she met in college. I don't know all the details. I do know that Lorelai was not to happy about what ever she did. I'd have to say Mark is a good kid. He used to come over when he was younger with his sisters. I do have to admit that Rory and Dean did a pretty good job with their kids. Actually Mark is somewhat more restrained then his two sisters. The two girls stay at Lorelai's house during the summer and she spoils them rotten. They visit me and I have my hands full, but they are good girls all three children are good. I treat Mark as my grandson. He drops by every now and then to say hello. If it wasn't for me he would not have played hockey. His mother and grandmother were all against it. I finally told them that he was a boy and let him be a boy, don't try and raise him as a girl. Yes he is good. I would not worry about him being a boyfriend to your daughter, but isn't this a bit complicated?"
"Yes it is May. George and I had a meeting with Rory and Dean yesterday. It did not go well. My daughter now hates me."
"No she doesn't Lindsay. George turned to May. Elizabeth does not know the reason for the breakup of my wife's marriage to Dean. She chose not to say anything in front of Mark. So Elizabeth only knows part of the story. She feels like she was unjustly kept from her father."
May looked at George. "I can tell. You love your daughter very much."
"Yes I raised her as my own and we are close. She has my name. Sanchez.
"Lindsay, will I get to meet my grand daughter?"
"Yes May I will make sure you do."
"Lindsay I have to tell you I have a lot of mixed feelings right now. I am elated that I have a grand daughter. I am very angry with you for not telling me, but with that said I understand why you did it, and I am not so sure if I was in the same situation I would not do the same thing."
Lindsay turned to George, Honey please get your laptop from the car and let's show May the pictures we have of her grand daughter.
May watched George leave the house and turned to Lindsay. "Do you have any other children?"
"Yes. George and I have a son Danny. He is staying with his aunt while we are in Connecticut. You know May Vancouver is not far from Seattle. About 120 miles I think. You know if you would like to fly out, you could stay with me and I could drive up with you.
May pondered Lindsay offer, but don't you have to work?
"No I am what I like to say is a domestic engineer. I do help my husband at his office quite a bit."
"What does he do Lindsay?"
"He's a lawyer and a very good one."
May noticed Lindsay wedding ring and her bracelet. "I can see that he is."
George returned with the laptop and sat it in front of May. He opened up a file. There are hundreds of pictures of Elizabeth May. How about I leave this with you while Lindsay and I grab something to eat and we will pick it up on our way out of town.
May gratefully smiled at George. "Thank you." Then she turned to the pictures of the grand daughter she never knew she had.
"We'll be back in about an hour May."
May never looked up and just waved. "I'll be here."
LINDSAY AND DEAN
The Sanchez's got into their rental car, fastened their seat belts. "Well Lindsay where are we having breakfast?"
"I think Luke's, We need to see how Dean took the news of his mother finding out."
Lindsay turned off the tree shaded street onto the main street of the town and tried to keep the car down to the ridiculous speed limit imposed by the town fifteen miles per hour. "George that went better than I thought it would. I hurt her. I feel bad. May and I were close when I was married to Dean.
"Lindsay do you think Rory and Dean know how many people they hurt with their affair and the continued ramifications."
"I hope so George. They seem like decent people now, but I don't think I will ever be able to like them. They were so selfish. I do appreciate the way they are handling the situation. I am glad they came to us first before going to Elizabeth."
"Dear, yes I also appreciate that they did not take it upon themselves to talk to Elizabeth, but after Elizabeth and Mark started what ever they are doing. The Foresters really had no choice."
They parked down the street from the diner. When they reached the diner they noticed it was not very busy. The couple went to the same table they had occupied the day before."
Dean came out of the kitchen and looked around and spotted George and Lindsay at their table. Dean was not happy The last thing he needed was his mother on his back. He had every intention of telling her once the situation was resolved and he knew what was going to happen. His mother never let him forget about his affair. He and his wife put up with the little digs and innuendo's from May. May was great with their daughters and even took to Mark and treated him as her own grandson, but she never missed a chance to stick it to him and Rory. Dean realized his mother did not like Rory and never did.
Dean walked to the table. "Lindsay you just couldn't leave well enough alone could you. You just had to tell my mother."
"Well Dean I would rather she hear it from me. At least that way she will get the truth."
"What do you mean by that Lindsay?"
"Yeah Dean I can just hear your version. My ex wife ran off and hid my daughter from me."
"Lindsay that is just what you did. This is so typical of the crap you used to pull."
George spoke up. "Do not ever raise your voice to my wife again"
"Well control her then George."
"George stood up. "What exactly do you mean by that."
"Look George I gave you the courtesy of talking to you first before I interfered with your family. Shouldn't I expect the same. She is my mother my family not Lindsay's.
"Come on Dean" Lindsay said. You know as well as I do you would have ran me into the ground. Your mother needed to know why I did what I did. You would never tell her. In fact I think your to stupid to figure it out."
"Put a leash on her George."
"Screw you Forester" Just then Luke arrived on the scene. He was startled by the loud voices coming from the back of his diner. He got between the two arguing men. He pointed to George "Sit down." and then pointed to Dean. "You calm down." Then he turned to both men. "I would think all of you need to find a way to get along. This isn't about your two ego's there are some innocent kids involved now and this will never happen in here again. Dean go watch the counter and I will take this table."
George started to apologize. "I am sorry, but he..."
'Makes no difference to me who said what to who. It will not happen in here again. Look breakfast is on me, I'll take your order and we will put this behind us."
Lindsay quickly said "Two coffees and two bagels with cream cheese."
"Fine" Luke said and walked away.
"Lindsay why don't we just go? I am hungry and that is not going to do it for me."
"George he was being nice and the polite thing to do was accept something and get out of here."
When Luke arrived back at the counter Dean turned to him. "Luke that was none of your business"
"It is my business when the two of you were getting ready to wreck my diner."
"There was going to be no fight Luke."
"Look Dean, just do as I say okay"
"I have had it Luke. I am tired of listening to your crap all the time." Dean took off his apron and threw it on the counter. "I quit" and walked out of the diner.
MARK
Unbeknown to Luke, Dean and the Sanchez's Mark had come down from upstairs where he spent the night and observed the whole encounter. He quietly returned upstairs. He was upset with his father and mother. His grandfather Luke really did not say much to him last night. They just came over and hung out. Luke gave him a beer with the warning this stays between you and I. I don't need your mother and grandmother raising hell with me.
Mark realized that his grandmother May was also Elizabeth's grandmother. He needed to go see her. The fact that he was able to play hockey was May's defense of him, and finally convincing his mother That she needed to raise him as a boy. It was a ferocious argument. He remembered it well. His father and his mother against his mother and her mother. Mark well remembered what May said to Rory. Get past all your little girlie crap He is a boy. He gets dirty. He gets bruised and he gets into fights. Deal with it. Two days later he was told he could play. They never knew that he had overheard the whole conversation.
He missed Elizabeth. Mark had called her several times, but she was not answering. Mark had gotten her text message, but no response since. Mark then decided that he was going to go back to school early. He had no desire to talk to either one of his parents. He did grant his mother one point. Unlike Elizabeth; Mark did know the name of his biological father and that he lived in California. Till now he never had any desire to contact the man. Dean was his father, but his faith in both of his parents was shaken by the knowledge of their illict affair. Mark now wondered if something like that also happened and caused the divorce between his mother and her first husband. His sisters were going home today. He decided to stay at Lorelia and Lukes house tonight. He knew Luke would never tell him anything, but Lorelai just might.
DEAN AND RORY
Dean stormed out of the diner He walked down the street to his pickup truck ignoring greetings from several different people. He drove to his house and parked next to Rory's Jeep Cherokee. An older car she just loved and Dean had the ability to keep it running in top shape. Dean walked into the kitchen and went straight for the fridge for a beer. Rory thinking Mark had come home walked into the kitchen and was very surprised to see her husband sitting here drinking a beer. She removed her glasses and sat them on the table. "What are you doing here?" She knew that something was very wrong.
"I quit. I can't put up with his crap any longer Rory." The man just does not know any boundaries I got into it with Lindsay and George...You know what they did? They went to see my mother and told her all about Elizabeth. Then my mother calls down to the diner and raises hell with me."
Rory knew that Dean quitting was not a good thing. Luke was older he needed Dean's help. Her husband was honest and hard working and when he took a job on he did it to the best of his ability She was going to have to figure out away to get him back there."So what did Luke do that got you mad?"
He got involved and started talking to me like I was some teenager. I think he thought George and I were going to get into a fight. It was almost as if he took their side."
She knew that Dean wanted to go back into contracting. Maybe it was time for Luke to sell the place and take it easy. Was it really fair of her to keep her husband away from what he really wanted to do. "Honey Luke needs you."
"No Rory not this time. I have had it. I tried. I can not do it any more. Now I have to deal with my mother."
"I agree with you dear. I don't think Lindsay should have went over there. What was her reason?"
"According to her. She wanted May to know the truth." What is the truth she left pregnant and did not tell me. It is that simple, but now it is going to be twisted into it is my fault."
Rory had no illusions as to where she stood with May, but for the sake of family harmony she bit her tongue and took May's little insults. She knew that Lindsay was a favorite of May and in May's mind Lindsay had been elevated to almost a mythical figure because of her disappearance. "When were you going to tell your mother?"
"As soon as everything was settled. You know. We even don't know what is going to happen. What was I going to tell my mother? Yes mom, you have a granddaughter oh mom no you don't. A grand daughter you may never get to see."
"I do agree with you dear. I think it would have been better to wait till things were settled. By the way where is your dad?
"He went to Waterford with some friends to do some striped bass fishing."
Rory pulled her chair next to Dean's she kissed his cheek. "Honey your going to have to learn to get along with them. I am sure they are going to tell Elizabeth about the affair and I don't think it would take much for them to convince her to cut you out of her life."
"Rory I made a mistake you made a mistake, everyone knows we made a mistake. We both regret what we did, but you know we are human and humans make mistakes, but this one" Dean said passionately "Just doesn't go away. Over twenty years later it comes back and again is wrecking families. Mark even thinks we had an affair and that is what broke you and your first husband up. You know what gets me? The truth is almost worse."
Rory realized that this was not the time to try and talk Dean into anything. It would be best if she sat with him and let him vent his frustrations. She also realized that it was time to talk to her mother about selling the diner. It was not fair to her husband to stay there and work at something he did not want to do. She also needed to talk to her mother about this whole situation. It was times like this that she missed her mother. They could always talk about anything. Rory had her own mind. She did not always agree with her mother, but she appreciated her point of view as whacky as it was sometimes, but if you thought about it even her whacky answers made a lot of sense.
ELIZABETH
Elizabeth woke. It took her a few moments to adjust to her new surroundings. She felt much better physically except for the ache of loneliness in her heart. She missed her parents even though she was furious with her mother. Above all she missed Mark.
Elizabeth picked up her cell phone and noticed Mark had called several times. She could not talk to him until she had things figured out. She put her phone down. Before she called him. Right that moment Elizabeth wanted nothing more than to talk to him.
Elizabeth showered donned sweat pants and a tee shirt and walked out into the common room where she found her room mate reading the Boston Globe Sunday edition. Margaret glanced up at Elizabeth. "Feeling any better?"
"Yes I am"
"Good night sleep works wonders. Boy trouble?"
Elizabeth sighed. "Margaret I really don't know."
"Come on Elizabeth you and I may be room mates for a couple of years. There isn't going to be to much privacy between us."
"I guess your right. Plus your going to bug me till I tell you."
"Something like that."
"Elizabeth sized up her room mate. Her father told her in most cases your first impression was right. Not always, but a lot of the time. Her first impression of Margaret was that she was a curious compassionate person. Elizabeth also sensed that she came from a large family where thoughts were exchanged freely. Margaret what do you have? Three sisters and how many brothers?
Margaret laughed. "How did you come up with that. Actually your close I am in the middle of two sisters and two brothers."
"I don't know just a hunch I had. Look it is a long story. But if you are going to say boy trouble your not far off but it is a bit more complicated than that.?"
"Do you have a picture of him?"
"Yes" and Elizabeth brought up a picture of Mark she had taken with her cell phone and showed it to her.
It was a picture taken at the beach and Mark had no shirt on. "Whoa he is cute, where did you find him are there any more?"
"I found him in Connecticut."
"Yeah okay, but aren't you from Washington state?"
"Yes"
"Oh Okay so he is from Connecticut and moved out to Washington."
"No he lives in Connecticut"
"Margaret frowned. This is not adding up. Wait a minute. So your from Washington and you have been living in Connecticut, No that's not right. Your packages have a Seattle return address on them."
"Margaret I met him five days ago when I was driving through Connecticut."
"Is he the reason you showed up late?'
Elizabeth blushed "Yes"
"So what is the problem?"
"Margaret it is so complicated, but he is not the problem. I need to figure out some things before I talk with him again. I miss him."
"I see now. You have a boyfriend back in Seattle and you have to figure out which one you want?"
"No, no, no Margaret. No boyfriend in Seattle."
Elizabeth's cell phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and saw it was her father. "Hi daddy"
"Hi stretch, a nickname only he could call her, Look, your mother and I are driving to Boston. We need to see you."
"No daddy. I don't want to see mom. I am to mad at her."
"Elizabeth listen to me. Your going to see your mother and I. It is important, please do not judge your mother before you have all the facts."
"Daddy I don't want to see her."
George raised his voice to his daughter for the first time in years. Elizabeth you are going to see her and you are going to listen. Do you understand?"
"Yes daddy. I will."
"Thank you Elizabeth it means a lot to me. We will call when we arrive at your campus.'
"Yes daddy love you."
Margaret looked at Elizabeth in amazement. "How old are you?"
"Almost twenty one why?"
"You still call your father daddy? You always do that?"
"No some times I call him papaito"
"What does that mean?"
"Daddy in Spanish"
"I overheard some of your conversation. Do you want me to get lost when they arrive? I don't believe you still call you father daddy."
Elizabeth looked at Margaret gratefully. "Yes please I would appreciate it if I could talk to them alone. And what else would I call him?
Margaret shook her head. 'I have no idea." If I was to take a wild guess would your boyfriend be a subject of this conversation?
"Not entirely, but yes he will be spoken about. How about sharing that paper with me?"
Two hours later Elizabeth's cell phone rang. She saw it was her father. "Where are you"
"In front of what I think is your dormitory."
"I"ll come down and get you and we can talk in my room." When she hung up Elizabeth glanced at Margaret.
Margaret gave Elizabeth a slip of paper. That is my cell number call when the coast is clear."
TO BE CONTINUED...