Wedding Day
Lorelai and Luke blew into the Dragonfly in the early afternoon, followed by helpers carrying the wedding regalia they had brought with them.
Michel greeted them as he would any important wedding party; he displayed the appropriate amount of politeness along with a marked show of disinterest. He looked as bored as the two dogs curled up in a yin-yang position in their dog bed back in a secluded corner of the front porch. Paw-Paw and Paul Anka were snoring away in the bed, which had been embroidered with the Dragonfly logo.
Lorelai was bombarded with hugs and kisses by the rest of the staff, while Sookie greeted Luke with a personal and somewhat over-emotional hug.
Michel, managing the inn, with Christy as the wedding planner, took Lorelai and Luke out to the back of the inn, where the wedding was being set up. After a brief round of introductions, Michel went back into the inn to run the front desk.
"Lorelai," said Christy, "you see, I hope, that this is the standard package number 4. As usual, the groom will come from the inn and stand over here, accompanied by the best man. Will there be a best man?"
"Yes, my nephew Jess could be here already, I haven't heard from him yet today, but he's on his way," said Luke.
"Great, we'll have someone get you when it's time to go to the front. That's really all you have to do during the wedding, Mr. Danes," Christy said. Smiling, she added, "Don't forget to kiss the bride, of course."
Christy turned to Lorelai and asked, "Have you decided on bridesmaids and if you'll be escorted down the aisle?"
"Yes, Sookie will be the matron of honor, my only attendant, and my father and I discussed the aisle walk, but he's not feeling steady enough health wise to do it, so I'm on my own," Lorelai said.
"Flowers are being set up as you see; deep pink and white, Sookie has a dress that coordinates. Your bouquet, matron of honor flowers and boutonnieres will be in your dressing rooms. Lorelai, we have you in Room 12, and Mr. Danes in Room 4, overlooking the back garden."
Luke was starting to look a little disoriented, given the myriad decisions that Lorelai and her team had made. Lorelai migrated to his side, taking his hand in hers.
"Christy, you should probably call him Luke, since he'll be taking an ownership stake in the Dragonfly. Sookie and I are having the agreements drawn up to convert his investment stake to a percentage ownership."
"OK, Luke and, Jess, I think you said? will be in Room 4. We've got you set up with some snacks and beverages, and there's a doubleheader playing on TV, Red Sox, I think." Christy, with Sookie's help, had considered everything a groom might need to pass the long hours before the wedding.
"The chuppah is over there, as you see. Mr. Da… um Luke, that is a lovely archway. We'll be very careful and return it to your home after the wedding," added Christy. Luke's chest puffed up a bit in pride and he stood a little taller. Gilbert the goat had been his only companion as he painstakingly carved the chuppah that summer, working out his despair and pain at the thought of Lorelai marrying Max. It was a testament to love and persistence that they had been able to survive so many trials and still be standing here today.
"When the wedding is over, there will be photos in the lower garden, down that hill over there," she pointed, then continued, "and the buffet will be set up here, with the wedding party's tables over there, not too far from the dance floor. The rest of the seating will be back there, without seating charts, we will just accommodate anyone who comes."
"The music is back behind the dance floor. Oh, it looks like Lane is there setting up. Who will handle the music choices?" asked Christy.
"I'll talk to Lane, if you don't mind, Lorelai," said Luke. "I'd like to check in with her about a couple of things. Do you have any special music you want?"
"No, we've talked already about the general music program, so I'm good. It's getting time for me to go to the dressing room. My hair alone is going to take a while. Mom and Aunt Hope are coming within the hour, and I want to connect with Rory if she's available. Christy, please make sure there is a reserved seat for my mother's sister next to my parents."
"OK, so we'll split here and meet at the altar?" Luke gulped as the enormity of the event hit him. Lorelai's smiling eyes and sweet hug and kiss reassured him a little.
"Don't worry, darling, it will be over soon. In the meantime, you can watch one doubleheader and ponder the second one coming later tonight."
He placed his hands on the back of her head and leaned in to whisper, "Dirty! I get it. Wait until I get my doubleheader. I love you, Lorelai, see you very soon. " He kissed her deeply, hanging onto her as if her scent could seep into his bloodstream, acting as a sedative to keep him calm over the next few hours.
Christy took the extra-long hug as a sign to step away from the couple until they were ready to talk to her again, and she went over to make some unneeded adjustments to a flower arrangement. Her favorite part of the job was the privilege of watching lovers like these fulfill their dreams. It never got boring.
"This is fun, but it's utterly unimportant, remember that, OK, Luke? This is a little party we put on for everyone else, to give them a memory. For me, I love you, always will, and nothing can change that." Lorelai pulled some of Luke's anxiety out of him with her kiss.
Luke ended up in Room 4 all by himself, which again fueled his anxiety. He paced to the balcony, then back into the room, wondering how the heck he was going to survive the next half-dozen hours. He laughed silently at the irony. The same man who waited for Lorelai Gilmore for eight years wasn't able to wait eight more hours.
A knock on the door brought a waiter bringing lunch for a small army, and gloriously, enough beer for that same army.
Luke took off his jacket, popped the cap off a beer, and flopped onto one of the beds. He took several deep breaths, then remembered the baseball game, so he turned on the TV. Commercials. He hated commercials. He turned the TV back off again and resumed pacing.
Back on the balcony, he looked at the preparations. "God, even if it's just Package Number 4, this is crazy. All those flowers! Why the heck did they put pillowcases over the chairs?" Luke's musings were interrupted by a quiet knock on the door, followed by Jess entering the room. Luke strode over to him saying, "Pillowcases! They've put pillowcases over the chairs! Why would any sane person do that?"
"Man, calm down! You look like crap!" Jess said. "You call this the happiest day of your life?"
"Nice to see you too, and you're not helping. What the hell are we going to do until 7:25 when we change our clothes, walk downstairs and stand in one place waiting for whatever is going to happen next?"
"Luke, I'm hungry and I'm tired, can you keep the ranting to a minimum for a while? How about if we eat some of these sandwiches here and have a beer, then we'll figure out the rest of the afternoon?" Having just left the stress of Liz' house, Jess thought a beer would be perfect.
Fifteen minutes later, they were in exactly the same state, except their hunger was gone.
"What now?" asked Jess.
"I don't know," said Luke. "I do know I can't stand it here anymore. I need to do something. Oh crap, I forgot to talk to Lane. C'mon, let's do that, then take a walk. I've got to keep moving, or I'll make myself crazy."
"Can't make something crazy that already is, Luke," observed Jess.
Lane had finished setting up and was creating the setlist when Luke and his nephew arrived at the DJ station.
"Hey Luke, congratulations! Are you here to look at the music?" Lane took off her headphones and pulled out the setlist.
"Lane, Lorelai chose you because she knows you can find great music for us, so mostly I don't care about most of the choices. There are a few things, though, that we do want. The Pachelbel for the processional, and she wants Ella Fitzgerald's "From This Moment On" for the recessional. We agreed that there's only one first dance song for us as well."
"I know, I know, Reflecting Light. Sam Philips version, got it," said Lane.
"And the second dance, when I have to dance with Lorelai's mother, let's do the Ella song again, OK?" asked Luke.
"Got it," said Lane. "Anything else?"
"No, that's it. We'll see you later tonight, and thanks. You've done a great job to pull this together so fast," answered Luke.
They walked in silence until they came into town. As they walked past the Twickham House, Luke stopped. He hadn't been near the house in months. Someone had leased the house, intending to run some sort of service business, he couldn't remember what had been discussed in the diner, but the business had failed before it started, so it didn't matter anyway.
The house itself was worse for the wear. The modifications had been started, but not finished, and the house looked decrepit. Windows were cracked, the paint was peeling. Regardless of all the problems he and Lorelai had faced over the past couple of years, they had at least dodged this bullet – they didn't drown in debt over a Twickham House remodel. The building had remained the property of the town, and Stars Hollow would have to figure out the next step.
"This is a wreck of a place," said Jess. "Like millions of other overbuilt, useless structures. What's this one to you, Luke?"
"Nothing. You've gotta let go of the past to build the future, that's all. How's your future looking?" asked Luke.
Jess replied, "Been doing a hell of a lot of letting go, but I'm letting the future take care of itself."
"Sounds about right at your age," his uncle replied.
Luke was greeted with handshakes and congratulations as he entered the diner with Jess. He hung up his suitcoat, then he and Jess began busing tables, which were a bit of a mess due to the lunch rush and both Luke and Lane being away from the diner.
Caesar took the chance to get Luke caught up on the wedding preparations. "Luke, I've got appetizers ready, plus potatoes gratin for the dinner, and lots of pies for those who don't want wedding cake." Luke patted him on the shoulder and thanked him for the effort.
It felt good to Luke to jump right into his routine. The past week had been insane, it was simply unbelievable how much his life had changed in those few days. He wasn't used to getting everything he wanted, but that's what had happened. Luke Danes had finally acted fast enough.
He looked around and saw Taylor Doose finishing his lunch. No point in waiting now, either.
"Taylor, what's up with the Twickham house?" Luke asked, bending over to speak to Taylor quietly. He placed the palms of his hands on the table. Taylor had been eating, but was facing the window into the Ice Cream Shoppe so he could keep an eye on the employees. Luke's back was to the rest of the diner and, bending over with his coat off, one of his best assets was easily observed by anyone with an interest in the male form, no flannel to hide anything today.
Some women who were sitting on the opposite side of the diner, noticed the handsome diner owner when he came through the door. This new view of Luke set off a bit of soft chatter among them.
"Oh Luke! Well, don't you look nice? How exciting to be just a few hours away from your wedding. It certainly is a big day for Stars Hollow, our two finest entrepreneurs merging their enterprises. Next thing you know, there will be a conglomerate, and you'll franchise Dragonfly Inns and Luke's Diners worldwide. International Headquarters – Stars Hollow. Big, this could be big." Taylor dreamed for the whole town.
"Sure, Taylor, yeah, but don't you think we ought to get Stars Hollow ready for the giant conglomerate? I mean, take a look at the Twickham House – the town owns it, but it's falling apart. How are we going to attract the right kind of businesses if that eyesore is falling down right in the middle of town?"
"You have a very good point, Lucas, a very good point. Maybe we should completely remodel the house and see if we can sell it to an executive," Taylor said.
"Sure, that's one of the many options we have." Luke drew Taylor in.
"Options? What options?"
"Well, it could be a nice gym, to promote fitness and health, or maybe some doctors' offices?" suggested Luke.
"Yes, I'm starting to see. We do have options. Tell me more."
Luke's creativity was starting to wane. "Perhaps a neighborhood park? It would be cheap to build, and parks draw new families to an area. Great for kids."
"Thinking ahead, Luke, to your future progeny? Hmmm. Doose Memorial Park. Sounds great. Let's go forward with that idea, Luke." Taylor paused, considering Luke's changed behavior. "Luke, this is a new side of you, this thinking about the best for the town. I like it."
"Glad to hear it, Taylor, Doose Memorial Park's a great idea. That'll be a much better legacy than the Twickham House falling down around your ears," finished Luke.
Taylor, imagining his ruined reputation, made a mental note to get started on the demolition of the Twickham House as soon as possible.
In the meantime Jess had been lassoed by the women on the other side of the room, asking who Luke was. When they learned he was Luke of Luke's Diner, they were quite pleased.
"Jess! We ought to get back, are you ready? Caesar, we'll see you later, OK?" called Luke.
One of the women made it over to the coat rack where Luke was just putting on his suitcoat again. She edged inappropriately close to him and asked, "Excuse me, are you THE Luke?"
"What? THE Luke? Don't know what you mean. I'm Luke Danes, and this is my diner, if that's what you wanted to know."
She smiled a little too big and said, "I just wanted to compliment you on the lunch, my friends and I really enjoyed it." She touched him on the arm.
"Great, thanks, come again, will you?" He tried to open the door, but couldn't because she was coincidentally in the way.
She clutched at a straw: "I was also wondering where you got that lovely shirt? Such a nice color and that texture is something really special." She reached out and fingered the fabric.
By this time, Jess was smiling his knowing smile, watching to see what happened next.
"What? Oh, I don't know, something my fiancée picked up somewhere. Next time you come in, you'll have to ask." Luke got a clue what was happening. "Except by that time, she'll be my wife. Just ask for Mrs. Danes. I'm sure she'll be happy to tell you where to go. To buy the shirt, of course."
Luke wasted no time in pulling Jess in-between himself and the woman as they got the heck out of the diner.
Lorelai's perfume hung lightly in the air in Room 12. She'd finished her shower; her hair was ready to be styled. Lorelai was in her element. The wedding preparations were essentially done; she had nothing to do except get ready.
"Blip dee beep!" The computer on the desk signaled an incoming call.
"Rory! So glad you've got time to talk. I'm bored. Entertain me," Lorelai said. "I'm nearly ready, and so calm you won't believe it."
"Hi Mom, yes, I've got lots of time at the moment. We can be called away at any point, but until then, it's wedding all the way. You do have everything ready for the webcast, right? And it's being recorded?" Between this new job and Logan's travels, Rory had become technically savvy in the past year.
"OK, let me take you on a tour of the room. The dress is hanging here, and here's Sookie's dress, gorgeous, isn't it? Shoes, jewelry, tiara, it all meets your approval? Now come look at the flowers. Christy and Michel did a great job picking these out, there are boutonnieres for all the major actors. Sookie's bouquet has colors to match her dress and here's my bouquet."
She showed a long cascade of dark pink and white flowers, many similar to the flowers Luke had given her on the day of the Dragonfly's test run. "There are tiny white and pink flowers to go in my hair if I want. No baby's breath, you know what Emily will say. Did I tell you Hope is coming today? Mom has gone to meet her at the airport and then they're coming straight here. I don't remember ever seeing her in real life, although I'm sure I did."
"Love the bouquets, I'm not so sure about flowers in your hair, though, when there's a tiara as well," said Rory.
"The flowers in the hair are important, because I want to remind Luke of the waltz, but I don't want to duplicate the wreath I wore that evening to Liz' Renaissance wedding."
"Tricky, maybe Grandma will have some advice. I know she picked right for you when she suggested the tiara."
"We'll see. Part of me is still half-waiting for some old Emily to pop up and say something awful. It's like I'm one of those moles in the whack-a-mole game at the arcade. Sooner or later she's gonna hit, and it will hurt."
"Mom, I don't think so. You totally aced the wedding when you called her right after you called me. When Grandma and I have talked this week, she just kept talking about how she's looking forward to tonight. She's also very proud of how much you let her help and has worked really hard to not push her own wishes on you."
"That's an Emily I can certainly get along with. Oh, that reminds me, Luke and I are going to be planning the addition to the house, a gift from Mom and Dad. How do you want your room to be?"
"The most important thing for me is to have my own bathroom, is that possible? After all those years at Yale, I still have to share bathrooms sometimes, especially when we get put up in someone's home for a night." Rory sighed. Road travel couldn't compare with the nice apartment she'd shared with Logan, or even her little room in the Crapshack. Still, there were some exciting moments on the campaign trail that helped make up for the boredom.
"A private little corner just for you. Grandma will move heaven and earth to make that happen. I just hope the back yard is big enough. We might have to put the entrance to the addition through your old room, hope you can survive that."
"I've survived two nights on the bus already. Since you're promising me something bigger and better, I'm good with your decisions. What about April, and maybe someday other siblings?" Rory prodded. She was hoping to find out if they still planned more children. She couldn't imagine any better parents.
"You call yourself a reporter, but you're not going to win the Pulitzer for subtlety, kid of mine. We've already talked about a lot of things, and kids are very high on the list." Lorelai had a smile in her voice that Rory could hear over the distance.
"High like eye level? High like stretching on your tippy toes? High like a fireman's ladder truck?" Rory chuckled, anticipating Lorelai's answer.
"High like Kilimanjaro. High like a moon landing. High like we already threw away the birth control." Rory clapped her hands with delight. Lorelai turned to her dressing table and fiddled with her makeup. She was glad Rory was looking forward to a sibling, but didn't want her to feel as if she was being pushed out. At the same time, Lorelai had a twinge in her heart knowing Rory would only occasionally use her new bedroom.
"Mom, turn and look at me."
"Yes, daughter o' mine, what do you want?"
"I want to see your face as you tell me what it's like to be back with Luke. Tell me what's in your heart."
"For the first hours it was as if we were being chased by demons determined to not let us find our way home. These demons felt real, Rory, and I was so scared, and so sad. Those demons were the pain I caused you all: Luke, Chris, you. Some part of me felt you would never forgive me."
"After Luke left that day he wanted to elope, my brain was numb. My heart ached with pain and regret, but my brain just couldn't handle it. I wandered through the next months, doing what everyone wanted me to do, constantly living in a fog. I went through the motions of being Christopher's wife, the good daughter, the trusted colleague, but I was never there for anyone, especially me. That was Pod Lorelai."
"The day I told Christopher it was over, I became myself again. A barely-functioning Lorelai, but no longer just the ghost of what someone else wanted me to be. That's when I started climbing out of the darkness. Pod Lorelai went away."
"Lane's shower was the first event I can remember attending, everything before that evening just faded to darkness. I talked to Luke for a few seconds that day, the first time that it felt like we could talk. After that, one moment followed another until the karaoke evening."
"Oh, Mom," Rory said, breaking her silence.
"I wasn't sad, I was hopeful, at least until I stupidly answered Babette's questions the next day in the diner. Then I fell backwards, but Luke and I, we recovered. Slowly. That carried me until your surprise party."
"Mom, my question was about after I left for Iowa. What happened then?"
"Sorry, that's what happens when you chase your demons. They take over and chase you around in circles." Lorelai sighed. "Luke was there, with the right answers: we'd punished ourselves enough, he hadn't forgotten any of the good things, and he forgave me. I forgave him and he forgave me all over again." Lorelai's face darkened as she told these things to Rory, feeling the depths of their sadness, but she also felt the joy of knowing Luke again, of hearing him say, "I just like to see you happy."
"That's when I discovered how much Luke had changed. When previously I'd waiting for him to catch up, I suddenly found myself chasing him, every moment, every decision. He told me what he wanted, and let me make my own choices."
"You asked about my heart? My heart was connected to my brain like the cable box to the TV. My heart overflowed as I remembered everything from the tiniest look he gave you through every moment we'd spent together. It was like watching my life pass before me, except it wasn't my life, it was my love. You, me, Luke, so many years, so happy, and it was there for me again. There was no need to question anything, I just knew. I would fight anyone, anything to keep this, and Luke was there through the whole thing."
"Since that evening, everything has been clear, decisions were so easy to make. Now we're here, I'm perfectly happy, finally marrying Luke."
"Finally having your middle."
"Finally having our middle."
"Aw Mom, I'm so happy for you, but I've got to go. I'll probably be back again soon, so far our schedule is pretty quiet this evening."
"OK, sugar, I'll keep the computer on. Love you!" Lorelai smiled a bittersweet smile. Not having Rory here created a big hole in Lorelai's enjoyment of the wedding, but she knew that she, Rory and Luke had made the decision together, and remembered Rory's words. "I let you down horribly."
"Let me give you a wedding gift. It will never make up for the hurt, or the time you lost, but it can give you the time you need right now. Elope, have a wedding, do what you need to do for your happiness right now. Don't wait for me, don't plan on me, but do keep me informed of every detail. If there's any possibility to be there, I will be there. I love you both too much to let you sacrifice any more for me."
Lorelai dabbed her eyes and went back to getting ready.
With a knock on the door, Richard entered Lorelai's dressing room. She had just finished writing a note on a piece of Dragonfly stationery and was sealing it in an envelope. There were three other sealed envelopes lying on the table.
"Hi Dad, has Hope arrived already?" she asked.
"Yes, she and Emily were waylaid by Michel, something about the dinner, I believe. They're discussing it in French, quite amusing. I just came by to say hello and let you know the ladies will be along shortly."
"What are you going to do now?"
"We've taken a couple of rooms for the night, so Emily can have a glass of wine and champagne. I'll be able to get some rest this afternoon, doctor's orders." Richard looked a little tired already.
"Dad, can you do me a favor? Luke was starting to feel a little anxious. Can you stop by and see how he's doing?"
"Certainly, it will be my pleasure. I brought him a gift of whiskey, so it will be a good time to give it to him. I'm not drinking, so I thought I'd start giving away some of my bottles to people who can appreciate them."
Lorelai continued. "Are you up for a little intrigue? I have an idea…"
The noise of the baseball game crackled in the background as Jess and Luke stood on the balcony drinking beer and watching the wedding preparations. Bits of music came over the loudspeakers, Kirk walked around designing his video shots, Christy scooted from point to point, making sure everything was just as it should be.
"How's the publishing company?" asked Luke.
"Folded. Couldn't make enough sales to keep it going."
"What's next?"
"Keeping my options open. I'm writing, working odd jobs to pay the bills, and looking for the next opportunity. I'm doing some script editing on the side, you know, making sure the story flows and everything works together."
"Seeing anybody?"
"Not really, just the odd date here and there. Luke, tell me something – just last February we talked, and you were flat out depressed. Now you're getting married, and to Lorelai? Why are you putting yourself through this again?"
Luke looked down, searching for the words to explain. He shrugged. "It was a busy couple of months."
"Cut the crap, Luke. All Liz talked about was wormholes and shit like that. Are you crazy? What makes you think this is going to work out?"
Luke's voice became louder as he struggled to contain his emotions. "Because I changed! I looked at my life and it sucked so bad I couldn't stand myself anymore! There was so much baggage hanging around I couldn't carry it anymore. That damn boat was still there, mocking me for the life I hadn't lived, for the chances I gave up, and I was done with it. Sold the boat, bought a new one, and talked to Lorelai again. Every day I had to remind myself to let the past go; to see what was in front of me that day. It's like the Twickham house. Once it was a dream house, now it's a wreck. Let it go."
"I did that every damn day for a couple of months, until I could see myself, my life as I wanted it to be. That's how I've been living ever since."
"One day, Lorelai stood before me. When I looked I could see that she had changed as well, and I promised myself I wouldn't let a second chance pass me by. We got that chance, and here we are today."
A quiet knock on the door took them away from their discussion. Richard Gilmore stood there holding a bottle of whiskey. "That probably wasn't the baseball game I heard through the door. Perhaps a whiskey will help calm things down?"
"Boilermakers?" asked Jess. "That's my kind of drink."
"Good to hear it. You must be Jess? I'm Richard, Lorelai's father. Here's the bottle, set them up. Luke, who's winning the game?"
"No idea, Richard. The game they're playing in the back garden here is more interesting." Luke stood on the balcony again, still burning from the heated discussion with Jess. Telling Jess about those months apart from Lorelai hit him deep in his gut. Jess never cut Lorelai any slack, and Luke hadn't told him details about the breakup. All Jess ever seemed to see was that Lorelai treated Luke badly, and Luke kept going back for more. Maybe it was all Jess ever wanted to see.
While Luke's back was turned, Richard slipped an envelope into Luke's suit pocket. He also pulled Jess aside, gave him another envelope and quietly gave him instructions. Jess nodded as he gave Luke a sidelong glance.
The men continued talking as the staff finished the wedding setup. Jackson joined them after a while, and all four eventually settled back to watch the last of the doubleheader.
Emily, Hope and Michel went from the kitchen to the back garden and surveyed the decorations.
"Everything is ready, you can see where the bride will start over there, and the groom will be standing on the opposite side." Michel indicated the flow of the wedding and the reception.
"What about the lights? When will they go on?" inquired Emily in an insistent manner.
"Emily, dear, let's allow the team to do their job. We've got better things to do. I can't wait to see Lorelai," coaxed Hope.
Emily turned to her sister and positively glowed as she smiled. "Yes, yes, a great idea. Michel, is there champagne in Lorelai's room yet?"
"Not yet, we didn't dare leave her alone with a whole bottle. Now that you've arrived, I'll have it sent right over. Hope, thank you for sending a few bottles by air. They arrived two days ago and have been resting ever since. Not the best treatment for good champagne, but Lorelai is hardly likely to know the difference." Michel sniffed at the idea of wasting good champagne on Lorelai.
"Michel, you promised me you would use your savoir faire today, otherwise I won't go out with you next week," Hope chided him gently.
Michel replied with savoir faire, "For you, Hope, anything. We are going to have such a good time. I'll show you all the best places to dance." Half an hour with her and he was already infatuated.
Lorelai and Rory were chatting again when Emily and Hope walked in.
"Rory!" exclaimed Emily. "Look at you – it's almost like you're in the room. We miss you so much."
Hope turned to Lorelai and held out her hands. "Lorelai! You sweet thing! I haven't seen you since you were seven. So beautiful! I am so happy for you, and so happy to be here on your wedding day."
Lorelai was stunned to look at Hope's face. She looked quite similar to Rory, except for the eyes. Hope had exactly the same eyes as Rory, giant plates of blue.
"Rory, let me introduce you to my sister Hope," said Emily, beaming with pride. "She found time to come to Lorelai's wedding, and will be staying with us for a while."
"Grandma, I already met Hope, didn't I tell you?" Rory replied, a slightly puzzled look on her face. "We'd been emailing for a while, and she happened to be in London over Christmas when I visited Logan."
"Emily, don't you remember? You told me about Rory's work on the Yale newspaper and I was browsing their website when I saw that she was the editor, so I contacted her then." Hope replied with a casual air.
"No, I'm surprised neither of you told me about it. Lorelai, did you know what was going on?" Emily was a little irritated.
"No, Mom, I don't remember anything. Maybe I knew, maybe I didn't. What does it matter?" shrugged Lorelai, focused on her makeup.
"Well it matters to me if my granddaughter and my sister are talking to each other!" she harrumphed. "I can't imagine why you didn't tell me."
"Nobody was hiding anything, Em," consoled Hope. "We just chatted about different things, went to a show, did some shopping. Rory, do you remember that little café we found around the corner from Harrod's? With the waiter who tried to speak French? He was so funny!"
"Yes, and when he tried to say your name with a French accent 'Ope! 'Ope! That was so funny!" Rory and Hope began laughing and giggling. Emily's face turned rock-hard and she turned to Lorelai.
"Let me help you with your hair, Lorelai," she muttered.
"Thanks, Mom, Hope's already started. Can you see about the champagne instead? I think we could all use a drink. I for one need some nose-tickling bubbles."
"You're going to need some help with the tiara," Emily answered.
"We talked about nesting the tiara deep in Lorelai's beautiful curls, didn't we, Lorelai? Rory, what do you think? If we just pull these curls up and lay them over the back of the tiara, then tuck this over here, and voilà! The diamonds look like they've been nestled in among the curls, one by one."
"Beautiful, Hope! That looks so much better than the time I wore that tiara. Mom, do you remember the Yale meat market? I wore the same tiara perched high on my head. I looked like a goofy Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's."
"Audrey's style has been worshipped the world over," pouted Emily. "Her beauty is timeless. Nothing goofy about that."
"Mom? The bride's getting thirsty here, do you really want a Bridezilla on your hands?"
"I'm going, I'm going," huffed Emily as she closed the door with a loud click.
Richard looked at his watch. Quarter to six. He looked first at Luke, who was looking pensively out the window, then over at Jackson and Jess. He nodded at Jess as if to ask, "You know your part?" then announced, "Luke, I'm going to my room for a short rest and to get dressed. Emily and I will see you downstairs a little after 7?
Luke turned, remembered the men in the room and replied, "Of course, Richard, thanks again for the whiskey, it's delicious. If you need anything, just let me know."
"I do have one more little thing for you, Luke. Here's a little something to read while you get ready." Richard handed Luke one of the envelopes prepared by Lorelai. He recognized her handwritten "Luke" on the front.
"From Lorelai? What's this about?" he asked.
"No idea," said the older man. "You'll have to read it. Now, I'll take my leave of you all."
Luke looked at Jess and Jackson, who both had blank looks on their faces. Jackson's came naturally, but Jess hid his knowledge.
Luke took a deep breath. His heart was trying to fly away, it was beating so hard and fast. This could be anything. What a bad time for a surprise like this. He turned the envelope over in his hands a couple of times, then dove in. He pulled the single piece of paper out of the envelope, and faced the balcony before he started reading. If it were bad news, he didn't want the other men to see it in his expression.
The first time through all Luke did was look for the words 'no,' 'can't,' 'stop,' or anything that might destroy his life as he stood in this wallpapered cage. The second time through, he exhaled. The third time through, he actually read Lorelai's words. His 'Lorelai' smile spread across his face and his whole body relaxed.
"Think I'll have another whiskey," he said, taking a seat for his fourth read-through. His smile reached his eyes and the other two men looked relieved.
"You gonna tell us what she said?" asked Jackson.
"Nope," he replied, holding the bottle out to pour for the others. "but this is a good moment for a fifty year old whiskey."
Michel was at the reception desk when Emily came looking for the champagne.
"Why hasn't the champagne been delivered yet?" she said irritably.
"Because good champagne takes its time. It must be chilled properly and handled carefully, otherwise you might as well be drinking apple cider." Michel found the computerized booking system suddenly fascinating.
"What do you think I am, a nincompoop? Of course I know how a good wine should be treated, especially champagne! My girls are back in the room waiting for you to do your job! Honestly, Hope sent the champagne, must she serve it as well?" Emily was in a snit.
"Hope? Ah, such a delightful person. I'll see what I can do. The champagne should be at her room shortly." Michel looked down his nose at Emily. "Would you please apologize to Hope for the inconvenience?"
Emily's eyes threw daggers at Michel as she stormed back to Lorelai's room. Within five minutes Michel and a server escorted the champagne into the suite.
"Hope, Lorelai, please forgive us, but here is your champagne, along with a few tiny bites from Sookie's kitchen. She says she'll be here shortly to dress. The server brought in a large tray of delicate puffs and crudité along with the wine. Sookie followed close behind.
"Michel, so glad you could come! Please join us in a glass. What do you think of Lorelai's hair?" Hope flashed her Rory-blue eyes at him, winning him over immediately.
"You must have arranged this style, am I correct, Hope?" he gushed. "Lorelai's hair has never looked better." Lorelai beamed at him, but he ignored her to pour Hope's champagne.
Christy appeared just as the ladies were making their second and third toasts, telling Lorelai, "We need to get you dressed for the daylight photos. I want you in the garden and back out again before the guests start arriving. It's just after 6 now, it should take about half an hour."
She turned to the rest of the ladies and said, "We need the mother of the bride and the matron of honor as well. Can you two meet us on the back porch in about 10 minutes?"
Emily left to get dressed, having said hardly a word. Sookie went into the bathroom to change, while Hope stayed behind to help the bride dress.
"OK, step in carefully, we'll get to the shoes later. My goodness, you are so tall, you must have gotten that from Richard. Now this zipper, slowly, carefully, stand up straight, you don't want me to catch that beautiful fabric in the zipper."
"Let me just step on this chair to add a few more flowers to your hair. Perfect. Lorelai, you are enchanting! It is such a privilege to be here for your wedding. I never thought I'd get the chance."
"Hope," Lorelai said, "Why is it we haven't seen more of you? I would have loved for you to know Rory as she grew up."
"So would I, Lorelai, but it just wasn't possible. Please trust me when I say that there was no way I could have reached out before the last few years. Emily wouldn't have allowed it."
"Allowed it? It was none of her business who we get to know. We didn't even have your address when Rory and I went on our European trip, or we would have contacted you. I would have loved to see you and Rory together, you look so much alike. No wonder Mom loves Rory so much."
"Your mother doesn't love Rory because of her similarity to me, probably in spite of me. It doesn't matter anymore anyway. We're here together and I'm not letting either of you out of my life again. God, I loved you as a little girl. You were so independent, so strong, I envied you in so many ways. Water under the bridge. Would you do me a favor?"
"Certainly if I can. What is it?" Lorelai was intrigued by Hope's tiptoeing around whatever issue there was between her and her sister.
"I wonder if you would wear this today, as a little gift from me. It would make me very happy to see you in it." She held up a gossamer bracelet, so delicate and light, looking like something made by fairies.
"Oh! So beautiful! Won't it break? It looks too delicate to wear." Lorelai was immediately in love with the bracelet, which fit perfectly on her wrist and went perfectly with her dress, echoing the patterns in the lace adorning her back.
"No, it's quite sturdy; it's made out of platinum and has survived several generations of brides."
Sookie exited the bathroom, fully dressed and the conversation changed to how wonderful everyone looked. Lorelai hugged Hope quick and hard, whispering, "Thank you!" as she fingered the bracelet again.
There was just time for another round of champagne before Christy came to claim the ladies for the photo session. Hope wandered off to her room, stopping to chat with Michel on the way.
A server knocked on the groom's door exactly at 6.15. When Luke answered, he was presented with another letter, this time on a silver tray.
No waiting, no angst this time, he tore the envelope open and read it hungrily. Lorelai's words were keeping him sane these last two hours. The first letter of each note had been drawn large and was decorated with the silly frills only Lorelai could think of. He ran his finger along the decoration, as if he could somehow connect with her that way.
Jess, who was the only other person left in the room, commented, "You do have it bad." Luke couldn't detect any sarcasm or animosity toward Lorelai in Jess' voice.
"Just wait," Luke said, "you'll see one day. No, actually I hope you never are so stupid that you let your love walk away from you. No wonderful moments now can ever replace the time lost." Luke put the letter back in the envelope and put both letters on the table.
"Let's drink a beer to lessons learned, then." Jess lifted his beer in salute. He hoped Luke would understand this form of apology.
The server, who had been standing quietly near the balcony, spoke up as Luke came near.
"Sorry, sir, you aren't allowed on the balcony at this time. The ladies are being photographed as we speak. They'll finish in a few minutes and you can go out again."
Luke looked out the window even though he knew he shouldn't, and knew he didn't really want to. As a man familiar with self-discipline, he knew that Lorelai would look even more amazing than usual, and that it would be worth the wait. Still he couldn't resist at least trying to take a peek.
Jess pulled him away, saying, "I'll let you know when the coast is clear." He walked out to the balcony and began describing what he saw. Intent on friendly torture, he waxed poetic, not sparing any words that might tweak Luke's curiosity.
Frustrated and grinning at the same time, Luke Frisbee-tossed a pillow hard at Jess with his usual perfect aim. Jess ducked, however, and the pillow flew over the balcony railing and landed on the grass, right at Lorelai's feet. She looked up and saw Jess laughing at her.
"Jess! You almost ruined my hair!"
"Wasn't me, Auntie Lorelai!" he said, "It was Luke!"
"Luke! Stop that! If my hair gets ruined, we have to start getting ready all over again!"
Luke quickly grabbed some of the Dragonfly hotel stationery that he swore no one ever used and furiously scribbled a note to Lorelai. He balled it up and tossed it to Jess, who immediately dropped it at Lorelai's feet. Christy picked it up and handed it to the bride, saving her the danger of bending over so far on those high heels.
Smoothing the paper out, Lorelai peered at the hastily scribbled words. She faced the balcony, and in a most unladylike manner, shouted "Yes!" then said nothing more. Christy smiled as she dragged Lorelai off to the next location. Jess waved goodbye to his future aunt.
Emily, Hope and Sookie were finishing the porch photos while Lorelai moved to the chuppah. Emily was in a snit again. She didn't object when Lorelai added Hope to the photo session, but this wedding, like Rory's coming out party, was not the way it was supposed to be. Nothing was as it was supposed to be.
Lorelai, laughing at the lame jokes from the photographer, ran over and grabbed Emily's hand.
"Mother and daughter photos, now, Mom. Can we perform as well as we did at the Booster Club fashion show?"
Emily perked up, happy to leave Hope back up on the porch. Just mother and daughter. She gave the camera her best moves, suppressing the earlier hurt feelings.
As the mother and daughter were photographed walking up and down the aisle, Mia came onto the porch. She and Howard had driven up to Connecticut just for the wedding. She was both surprised and pleased to see Lorelai having fun with her mother. Sookie came over and gave Mia a hug.
"Mia, so glad you're here. Lorelai will be delighted to see you. Me, too." Sookie followed Mia's eyes to Lorelai and her mother. "They've come a long way, those two," Sookie added.
"Lorelai and Luke came a long way as well, so I've heard." Mia's informants had kept her up to date.
"Mia, you wouldn't have believed how painful it was for everyone. Not just them, but everyone who loved them and wanted to help."
"Neither of them listened to the advice, did they?" Mia asked.
"You got that right, Mia. It was like watching my babies learn to walk. They kept falling down, over and over, until one day they figured it out. I think Luke and Lorelai finally figured it out, too." Tears trickled down Sookie's cheeks.
Mia hugged her. "There's nothing we could have done. Everyone grows at their own pace. At least we're here now to witness their success, Sookie, don't take it so hard."
Lorelai, Christy and Emily came up to the porch. It was time to make the last adjustments to makeup and outfits, just half an hour to the wedding.
Lorelai greeted Mia with a hug and a kiss, her happiness overflowing onto everyone. Emily's happiness from the photo shoot evaporated as she saw the love Lorelai still had for Mia. Hope, seeing Emily's mood change, took her arm, saying, "Let's go get Richard ready, so we're nice and early for the ceremony."
Jess almost missed his moment as he watched the women playing on the grass. When he realized it was 6.45, he went back into the room, pulled the third envelope out and silently handed it to Luke.
Luke looked at him quizzically, asking, "How long have you had this?"
"Just long enough, Luke. Enjoy it."
Reading the letter, a wave of desire attacked him. He ached as much as she did, and all because of a few words written on paper. The waiting was killing him. He thought of last night, touching her, running his hand up her thigh. Bad idea to think about that now. Instead, he pulled his letters out of his pocket and looked at them. Running a quick calculation, he thought, they're coming every half hour. There ought to be another one right about 7.15. Who would have the letter this time, he wondered.
Abruptly he stood up and grabbed the remote. "Please say there's baseball on somewhere. God. This is agonizing. How long until you give me the next letter?"
"I don't have any more letters, sorry," Jess laughed.
Luke gave him a dirty look. "Go change your damn clothes. I want to get out of this room as soon as my jailers will let me." Luke grumbled.
Back in Room 12, everyone was finally ready. They posed for one last group picture, Lorelai standing tall in the center, flanked by her friends and relatives, drinking champagne. First one person, then another left, until it was just Sookie, Lorelai and Emily.
Emily left first, to join Richard in their place of honor on the bride's side. Before she left, though, Lorelai stopped her.
"Mom, I know this isn't the wedding you wanted for me, but can you trust that it is the wedding I wanted for myself?"
"Yes," said Emily, choking back a tear. "Thank you for sharing it with me."
"Not just sharing, Mom. You made a lot of it possible. Thank you for that."
"Lorelai, I'm sorry for the things I did earlier, w… with Christopher and treating Luke badly."
"Mom, one thing I've learned is to let go of the past, and that's all gone, do you hear me? We are here and we're doing this now, and I need your support, especially since Rory isn't here."
Emily hugged her daughter a long time, then composed herself, like a Gilmore does. "I'll see you walking down the aisle."
Lorelai went back to the mirror and checked everything out completely one last time. "Does everything look OK from the back, Sookie?"
"Just a little bit here to straighten out, and tug that shoulder seam a bit. Yep, looks perfect."
"Bouquets?" "Check."
"Christy?" "No! We have to wait for Christy! She's got to tell us when it's OK to start."
"Do you mean to say, I'm early for my own wedding? I am really good."
"What now?" "We wait for Christy."
At ten past seven, Michel and Christy came to Luke's room to tell him to go out to the chuppah. Luke thankfully escaped the room, swearing never to go back to that particular room. Christy patted him on the shoulder, reminding him that he and Lorelai would be spending their first night in Room 12, the private suite away from the inn's main building.
"That I can handle," Luke said, "at least I'll have Lorelai with me."
Reverend Skinner and Rabbi Barans were waiting for Luke and Jess. They shook hands and Michel showed them where to stand.
At precisely 7.15 Archie leaned over to Luke and said, "Luke, look in your left jacket pocket."
Surprised that he'd forgotten to expect another letter, Luke put his hand in his pocket and pulled out another envelope from Lorelai. He'd had the letter with him all the time; it was just like Lorelai to surprise him like that. Luke looked at all three men and asked, "Were you all in on this?" They smiled mischievously, and said nothing.
This last note gave him goose bumps. Exciting, tingly, happy goose bumps. The other envelopes he had put into his jacket's inside pocket. He pulled them out and followed her instructions, even though he knew the answer already, but he enjoyed doing it all the same.
Jess had to break him out of his reverie by nudging Luke with his elbow. "Look, there's Sookie."
Luke hurriedly put the letters back in his pocket and waited for the music to begin.