Thank you all for the wonderful words of encouragement. Now, find a nice quiet place, grab a glass of lemonade, and enjoy the latest instalment.
Many thanks to Filo, the greatest beta in all the land.
April 8, 2004…
Thursday brought with it a temperature well above the norm for the time of year. Lorelai was wearing an outfit appropriate for a mid-summer's day when she left her home that morning: a paisley skirt with a light coloured tank, and a short tailored jacket on top. She felt confident, in her attire, and in her general life. She was a businesswoman well on her way towards becoming a successful entrepreneur. She somehow felt such a sense of calm during this most pivotal time. And there was really only one person to thank for that. Luke.
She thought about him often, on a daily basis. Whenever she ordered something new for the inn, from stationary to toiletries, she thought about him. Whenever she added another item to Tom's list of construction projects, she thought about him. Whenever she walked through the halls and admired the transformation of the building she had purchased with such high hopes and vivid dreams, she thought about him. It wouldn't be possible without him.
There were days that she would be so tied up at the inn, that she'd miss her chance to drop by the diner. But she still thought about him. There were days that she'd swing by Luke's at least twice. She thought about him a dozen more times. She just couldn't get him out of her mind…and she didn't want to. Her mind was set on Luke.
It helped Lorelai immensely to be able to confide in Sookie, sharing her thoughts and feelings as naturally as breathing. She realized that as long as she'd known, and been friends with Sookie, she'd never opened up this much to her before. It was very therapeutic for both parties, and they grew closer as a result.
As the workday ended, Lorelai and Sookie took a nice stroll around the property, enjoying the weather and the scenery.
"I can't believe how much this place has changed," Lorelai remarked, smiling at her friend as they walked along the fresh grass.
Sookie beamed. "I know."
They continued walking, just taking it all in, allowing the peace to wash over them.
"It's really happening," Lorelai barely whispered, her eyes filling with tears of joy, of relief.
"It's really happening," Sookie echoed. She clutched her friend by the arm and squeezed tight. This was their dream. This was their reality.
They leisurely made their way to the parking lot, stopping beside Sookie's van.
"Hey, you wanna grab a bite at Luke's?" Lorelai asked.
Sookie frowned. "I can't. Davey's got a check-up with Dr. Finley, and Jackson is going to a seminar about green houses…so I'm on deck."
Lorelai nodded in understanding. "How's the little guy doing?"
"Oh, he's good, he's doing well." Sookie paused thoughtfully. "Got a great pair of lungs, that kid."
Lorelai chuckled.
Sookie sighed. "See you tomorrow," she said, sliding into the driver's seat. "Behave yourself," she warned playfully.
"Always," Lorelai said, winking. She waved to Sookie and watched as she pulled out of the driveway.
--
Lorelai entered the diner with her usual flourish, sharing her thoughts with Luke and anyone within a five-mile radius, as she crossed the threshold. "I swear to God, if Kirk doesn't stop asking for my opinion on Legolas vs. Aragorn, I'm going to shove his 'journalistic' pen up his…Nicole!" Lorelai froze, her face turning a lovely shade of crimson upon seeing the lawyer swivel in her stool next to the counter.
"Lorelai, so nice to see you," Nicole said with forced cheer.
Luke struggled to keep a straight face.
"Yeah, you too," Lorelai returned nervously, sitting a stool away from Nicole. "Sorry for my, uh, entrance. See, Kirk…he writes for the Stars Hollow Gazette," Lorelai tried to explain. "He harasses people in the town to get stories for his column, and, well…I'm sure you don't care about this--"
Nicole interrupted with, "He asked me to weigh in on Rich Fields being named the new announcer on The Price Is Right."
Lorelai chuckled. "Really? What did you say?" she couldn't help but ask.
"I don't watch that show," Nicole said, on the verge of sounding condescending.
"No, of course not," Lorelai replied in the same breath. Suddenly her hands were the most interesting things in the world, so she studied them intently.
Luke graciously broke into the conversation, "Kirk asked me how I felt about the Republic of Ireland banning smoking in all enclosed work places, including restaurants, pubs and bars."
Lorelai laughed at his robotic tone. "Verbatim?" she asked, grinning.
Luke nodded. "I told him to shut the hell up before I banned him from the diner. Again."
This time, both women laughed. Luke smiled, pleased to have restored harmony, however temporary.
Nicole turned to Lorelai. "So, Luke tells me that things at the inn are progressing well?"
Lorelai nodded. "Yeah, yes, lots and lots of progress." She smiled. "Thank--thanks…thank you for that," she rambled. Luke groaned.
"Oh, don't thank me, it's all him," Nicole said, nudging Luke semi-affectionately.
Lorelai swallowed hard. "Well, I've thanked him enough. I'm spreading the love now…you know, you gotta spread that love." Lorelai chuckled nervously. "I thanked Babette this morning, then, um, Bootsy this afternoon…and now it's your turn. It's just too bad that your name doesn't start with a 'b', 'cause I've got a 'b' theme happening here…"
Nicole just stared at her in silence.
"Coffee?" Luke asked, breaking the silence.
"Please," Lorelai said, grabbing at the mug before Luke had finished filling it. She chugged down half of the contents in one gulp.
Nicole stood up from her stool, eyeing Lorelai curiously. She gave Luke a quick peck on his cheek. "I need to run back to the office for a bit. I'll see you tonight," she told him.
Luke nodded.
"Take care, Lorelai," Nicole said to the woman with the mug pressed to her face.
Lorelai spoke into the ceramic, her response coming out as a muffled, "Yoom, toom."
Nicole gave Luke a glance, and then turned to leave, her heels clicking across the floor. The bells signalled her exit.
"You can come out now," Luke informed Lorelai.
She finally pried the mug from her face and set it down on the counter, grinning guiltily. "Mmm, that's some good coffee," she said, smacking her lips.
Luke shook his head. "I'm going upstairs for a bit," he said.
"Oh, okay."
"Cesar!" Luke shouted. "Goin' upstairs!"
"Okay, Boss!" came the reply from the kitchen.
Luke wiped his hands on the front of his pants and disappeared behind the curtain. Lorelai was left to stare at the empty mug in front of her. She had a sinking feeling that she'd done something to upset Luke. Taking a fast look around the diner, she ducked quietly behind the curtain, but not before asking Cesar to add a burger and fries to his list of orders.
Once outside Luke's apartment, she paused briefly, her nerves getting the better of her. After a deep breath, she rapped softly on the door.
"Who is it?" Luke's voice impatiently called out.
"It's, uh, Lorelai," she answered.
His footsteps thudded in her direction. He pulled the door open and gave her an annoyed look. "What do ya need?" he asked, stomping back into his apartment.
Lorelai followed him. "I don't need anything," she said. "Are…are you mad at me?" she asked him.
He turned to face her. "Why would I be mad at you?"
"Well, you came up here in such a hurry…I thought you were…I thought I might have done something…"
Luke moved closer to her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Lorelai, I'm not mad at you," he assured her. "I came up here looking for a receipt…and I still can't find the damn thing," he grunted, frustrated.
Lorelai was too preoccupied by the hand resting on her shoulder to respond. Luke didn't seem to notice.
"How can inanimate objects just get up and walk away?" he huffed, releasing his hold on Lorelai and resuming his search.
Finally Lorelai composed herself. "Sorry I was so spazzy earlier," she said. "She makes me so nervous."
Luke returned his attention to Lorelai. "Who? Nicole?" He smiled. "Her bark is worse than her bite."
Lorelai shrugged. "Well, she barks like a Bull Terrier."
Luke chuckled.
"Does Nicole know about the money, Luke?" Lorelai asked abruptly.
"She knows a little," he admitted.
"Okay." Lorelai nodded. "But it's not joint money?"
Luke rolled his eyes. "We've been here before."
"Well, I just wanted to be sure," she reasoned. "I thanked her, you know."
"Yeah, I was there," Luke said, fighting back a smile.
"God, that was so awkward. She must think I'm a total lunatic." Lorelai sighed, leaning against the kitchen table.
"Well, she wouldn't be far off," Luke poked.
"Oh, hardy-har-har." Lorelai slumped into a chair and dropped her head into her hands.
Luke sat across from her; suddenly the vanishing receipt was the furthest thing from his mind. "How's the money holding up, anyway?" he asked Lorelai after a minute.
Her head shot up immediately. "It's perfect, Luke. The money is…perfect. Thank you." She smiled.
"I told you to stop thanking me," he said.
"Kinda hard to do that when you keep bringing it up," she shot back, a huge grin on her face.
Luke chuckled.
"I should probably go, I asked Cesar to make me a burger," Lorelai remembered. "So…we're okay?"
"We're okay," Luke said in confirmation. He rose from the table and helped Lorelai do the same, walking her to the door.
"It's too bad you're going to Nicol…I mean, to your new place tonight," Lorelai began. "I was going to see if you were up for a hot date with Samson."
"Stove's out again?" Luke asked knowingly.
"Yeah."
"Socks?"
"Yep."
"I'll see if I can take a look at it tomorrow," Luke offered.
Lorelai grinned. "I'll tell Samson to leave a light on for you."
Luke leaned against the doorframe. "Bye, crazy lady."
"Bye, money bags," she returned, smirking at him as she walked out the door.
Luke closed the door behind her, a smile plastered to his face.
Lorelai was still smiling as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Her smile tripled in size upon seeing a delicious burger and a pile of fries at her still vacant stool. She hopped up and took a mammoth bite of her burger. And even though Cesar had prepared it, she thought of Luke.
TBC…