THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
April's birthday party brings an unexpected twist that changes Luke's and Lorelai's lives forever. Late sixth season.
Disclaimer: If you think I wrote and produced this series, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.
Chapter Twenty-One: Cletus Makes a Friend
Lorelai stood staring at the phone in her hand for several minutes as she tried to get control of her anger. The buzzing in her ears was louder, seeming to merge with the thrumming of her heartbeat and her vision blurred for a second. She wanted to do nothing so much as to hurl the phone against the wall but satisfied herself by slamming it onto the base and letting out a loud and fervent, "Aaaarrgggh!" She slumped in her chair, mind racing.
A few minutes later there was a tentative knock at the door and Sookie peeked in. "Did I just hear some sort of primal scream in here?"
"You could say that," Lorelai groused. "My typical reaction to dealing with the charmer known as Emily Gilmore."
"Uh-oh." Sookie screwed up her face in anticipation. "What'd she do now?"
Lorelai relayed the conversation, leaving her friend shaking her head and clicking her tongue. "Without a doubt, the most selfish woman in the world. Unparalleled," Lorelai continued to rant.
"So what are you going to do?"
Lorelai stilled long enough to look at her. "Well, I can tell you what I'm not going to do—I'm not going to take that kid to dinner there anytime soon!"
"Good for you," Sookie applauded. "But could she cause some kind of trouble if you don't? That's what you usually worry about when you want to stand up to Emily."
Lorelai shook her head. "Luke and I have actually been talking about that and we just can't think of anything she's holding over our heads right now that she could use to torture us. Christopher is paying for Yale so she can't withhold that money. . .she doesn't have anything on me. . .I just can't think of anything she or Dad could do that we'd care about. Oh—except maybe the house."
"What house?"
"Oh—I guess I forgot to tell you. They want to buy us a house as a wedding present."
"They DO?" Sookie's eyes widened. "Wow. That sure beats a salad spinner."
"It's something about being an advance on my inheritance or something," Lorelai explained. "Oh, and I haven't told you the best part. Guess which house they want to buy?"
Sookie furrowed her brow in thought for a minute and then her eyes popped even wider. "Oh, no, don't tell me. . ."She stared at Lorelai, her mouth hanging open.
"Yep. The one and only, the incomparable—Twickham house!" Lorelai cried with a flourish of her hands. "The house that is haunting me instead of the other way around! The house that the fates are determined for me to live in!"
"Boy, it sure seems that way," her friend considered. "So, you think she might change her mind if you don't take April to dinner?"
"Yeah, she might," Lorelai said, lost in thought. Then she shrugged. "But maybe not. It's not like we have a contract or anything, like we did with Rory's schooling. She can't just snap her fingers at anything she wants and except us to jump. I mean, she can try. . .and she might. . ." She shrugged again and then grinned. "Luke's been just waiting for the other shoe to drop on this little house transaction." She frowned. "Speaking of Luke, I'm not looking forward to telling him about this lovely encounter. If he hears she's trying to get her mitts on April, there will be hell to pay."
"Maybe you should just turn him loose on her," Sookie said with a giggle.
"Sookie, bite your tongue. I don't want to have to arrange conjugal visits with him while he's in the Big House. I'll tell him, but I think I'll try to downplay that part of it." She slumped in her chair with a sigh. "Oh, I'm so riled up now, I don't know what to do."
"Get out of here for a little while," Sookie suggested. "Take a walk. It's a beautiful day—get outside and enjoy some of it."
"I think I will. Thanks, Sook," Lorelai said feeling slightly relieved.
She left her office and was headed to the front door but was surprised to see April there, struggling to open the door from her wheelchair. "Stop right there," she said with mock seriousness. "Are you trying to sneak off with the silver again?"
April looked up. "Oh—hi. I was just trying to go out on the porch for a little while."
"Good idea," Lorelai smiled. "It's a great day out there. I was just going to take a stroll myself. Why don't I show you the grounds?"
"Oh, you don't have to—" April began.
"Nonsense. I'm the hostess here. My job and my pleasure."
With April still protesting, she whirled the wheelchair around and headed for one of the dining room doors which had a ramp outside of it. Once outdoors, Lorelai pushed April along the paths on the grounds, showing her the outbuildings and other sights, such as the vegetable garden. April stopped protesting but fell silent.
Lorelai spotted one building in particular and got an inspiration. "Hey, I just realized, you haven't met two of our most important staff members yet," she told the girl, grinning and heading towards the building in question.
"I don't want to meet anybody," April protested but Lorelai ignored her. She pushed the chair to the stable door and pulled it opened. A soft whinny greeted them as she moved the chair into the fragrant dimness.
"Horses?" April said with a combination of fear and excitement. "You have horses here?"
"We sure do," Lorelai replied. "Two of the most important members of the Dragonfly family. Meet Cletus and Desdemona. Clete and Dessy, this is April."
April drew back a little. "They're so big."
"Don't worry, they're gentle as kittens." She walked to a basket near the door and pulled out a couple of apples. "Clete, c'mere, sweetheart."
One of the large figures shambled towards Lorelai at the sound of her voice. He reached out his head, sniffing the apple and then nibbled delicately at it before taking it into his mouth and crunching it. Lorelai patted him on the neck approvingly while April watched, mesmerized. The horse then turned his gentle eyes on the girl in the wheelchair. He observed her for a moment, still chewing the apple, and then slowly began to extend his head downwards towards her. She shrank back a little.
"It's okay," Lorelai said softly.
Gathering her courage, April tentatively reached out and touched the horse's nose. He stood completely still, watching her carefully. He seemed to understand that she was frightened and waited for her to make the first overture. After a long hesitation, April began to stroke his nose gently and he closed his eyes as if enjoying it.
The mare, not to be ignored, came over to them, pushing her way to the edge of the fence. "Okay, Dessy, I haven't forgotten you. Here's your apple, you pushy old thing," Lorelai chuckled, holding the fruit out for the horse who grabbed it and chomped it down quickly.
April continued to stare first at one, then the other. "I didn't know you had horses," she finally said in a breathless voice.
"Yep. From the first time Sookie and I talked about having our own inn, we agreed that horses were a must," Lorelai explained softly. She chuckled. "They arrived before we were quite ready to open. The catch on Cletus' stall was loose and he kept getting out. We kept finding him in the middle of the lobby, watching all the action."
"Really?" For a second Lorelai thought April was on the verge of laughing, but she tightened her mouth and held it in at the last moment.
"Honest. The funny part was, everybody just kept walking past him and doing nothing, as if he belonged there. I wanted to try to teach him to answer the phone and take reservations, but he didn't seem to be interested."
April choked on another laugh as she continued to pet the horses. "And the guests get to ride them?"
"Yep. They're a very popular feature." She paused, watching the girl. "Have you ever ridden, April?"
The teen shook her head. "I've wanted to, but Mom—" she stopped short and Lorelai saw a fearful look come into her eyes.
Lorelai waited and finally responded gently. "Your Mom didn't want you to?"
April shook her head silently.
"A lot of people are a little scared of horses, especially if they haven't been around them. Well, if you want to give riding a try once your leg is healed, we can work that out."
The "shut" expression had come over April's face again but she replied carefully, "I think I might like that."
"I bet you would. Hey, do any of your friends ride? Maybe one of them could come over and ride with you."
"Umm—I don't think any of them do, but maybe someone would like to," April said. She pulled herself back from the horses with an air that indicated the conversation was at an end. "Thank you for showing them to me," she said politely as she turned to wheel herself out.
"You're very welcome. They enjoy adding members to their fan club," Lorelai smiled.
They returned outdoors, squinting in the bright sunlight. Lorelai looked at her watch. "Hey, it's lunchtime. Would you like to go to the diner for lunch? I haven't had one of your dad's cheeseburgers in about a week and I'm absolutely going through withdrawal."
"Ummm—I guess that would be all right," April tentatively agreed. "I just don't want to talk to too many people."
"You don't have to. We'll see if we can set up a perimeter around you to keep you safe. Just let me run in and get my purse while you stay out and soak up a little more sun."
When she returned, the two horses were being led out of the stable by the groom who had saddled them in preparation for them to be ridden. April watched with fascination and a little envy when the two lucky guests walked confidently up to the horses, climbed on and started towards the riding trail on the grounds.
Lorelai held back, not wanting to interrupt while the girl was so interested in something. When the horses had disappeared around one of the buildings, she walked up to the April and brightly asked, "Ready?"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
They drove into town, April silent again. Arriving at the diner, Lorelai looked inside until she spotted Luke. When he raised his head and saw them, she gestured for him to come out and help with April while she went around to the back of the car and started to take out the wheelchair.
Luke hurried out. "Hey, sweetie. Are you having a good day?"
"Oh, hi, Dad. Yes, it's been okay."
Luke decided it would be easier to carry April inside while Lorelai followed, bumping the wheelchair up the steps. "You need a ramp," she grumbled.
"No room for one. They'd cover the steps," Luke replied, setting his daughter down in the chair.
She wriggled until she got comfortable and thanked him. "I feel bad that you have to keep lifting me," she said worriedly, almost sounding like herself.
"Oh, it's no trouble. Just work hard at getting onto those crutches," her father smiled.
He wheeled her to the table of her choice where she decided to sit with her back to the room, presumably to try not to be noticed. When Luke, standing behind her, realized this he made a puzzled face at Lorelai who gave a tiny shrug.
But Patty and Babette were there and immediately came over to greet her and ask about her progress. She seemed to brace herself while talking to them, but after a few minutes relaxed a little, although she still wasn't very responsive to their affectionate questions.
Luke had gone to put in their orders, and when he saw April occupied, he caught Lorelai's eye and jerked his head towards the curtain. When she complied, he led her to the storeroom.
"Ooo, what's up, Burger Boy? You invite me in for a little somethin' somethin'?" Lorelai teased, putting her arms around his neck.
He grinned and gave her a quick kiss. "Not if you want your lunch served anytime soon. No, I wanted to talk to you about something much less pleasant."
"Oh. What?"
"I had a rather annoying phone call this morning. Guess from who?"
"I don't have to guess. Does her name begin with Emily and end with Bossy Busy-body?"
"The very one."
"About Friday night dinner, right?"
"Yes." Luke looked a little surprised. "How did you—oh, I get it, she called you, too."
"Yup. I got my marching orders about who is to grace the table at the Gilmore residence this week, complete with a loud 'and that's final.' Just before the phone banged down in my ear."
He looked horrified for a second. "You said no, didn't you?"
"Of course I said no!" Lorelai cried, a little incensed. "I'm not exposing that poor kid to the machinations of that madwoman!"
Luke frowned. "Why is she so fired up about meeting April anyway? She told me something about wanting to because since April's going to be in her family, she has the right to meet her."
"Ah, I got a little more out of her. When I was telling them about April coming to live with us last Friday night, I made some crack about the Nardinis not being in the DAR so Mom probably wouldn't know them. Well, she went and looked up Nardini in the DAR roles and apparently found some. So now she wants to grill April about who her family is."
Luke stared at her, incredulous. "You have got to be kidding."
"I wish I was. Apparently she thinks that if April has DAR potential, she's a kindred spirit and Mom can begin to groom her to take her rightful place in society or something."
His eyes narrowed. "Over my dead body."
"And I'll be right there creating an obstacle course with your corpse. Don't worry, honey," Lorelai reassured him. "We'll keep her away. She doesn't have the same kind of claim that she had on Rory so it won't be hard."
"Damn right," Luke muttered. Lorelai hugged him and he chuckled. "I love you, Lorelai, but sometimes I can't help but wish you had been born into a different family altogether."
She sighed. "You couldn't possibly wish it as much as I do."
He kissed her and they smiled. "How was April this morning?"
"Well—not really different except for one notable exception."
Luke looked interested. "What?"
"I took her out to meet the horses and she was mesmerized. She almost forgot to be sullen for a minute and almost laughed when I told her my Cletus-as-desk-clerk story."
She pondered for a moment. "Animals seem to be a key for her. She's relating well to them while she wants nothing to do with us humans."
Luke looked startled. "Speaking of which, she's out there with people right now. I wonder how's she's doing."
"And I wonder if my burger is done!" Lorelai said. "Go check, Burger Boy. Got to keep your priorities straight."
"Okay, Hungry Crazy Lady," he smiled, kissing her again.
"I told April I'd be a buffer for her. I'd better get out there."
She ran back into the lunchroom and skidded to a stop at the table where Gypsy was standing talking with April. "Anyway, kid, you hang in there and get better," she said as she walked away.
Lorelai sat down. "Sorry. Your dad wanted to talk to me about something. Did you get hit on too hard?"
"Not bad," said April, looking down at the table.
Lorelai looked around. "Well, I don't see any of the other regulars here right now, so maybe you won't get bothered much more."
Their lunches arrived and they ate largely in silence. Lorelai occasionally tried to start a conversation but April answered briefly or not at all. Once or twice she noticed the girl glancing up at her though the lashes on her lowered eyes. Luke sat down for a few minutes when the crowd thinned.
"I heard from the physical therapist and the nurse this morning," he informed them. "They're both coming tomorrow between nine and eleven and neither one thinks they'll be very long." He looked at Lorelai. "Can you be home during that time? I'm still backed up here because Lane is away."
"Sure, no problem," Lorelai assured him. "I'll bring home some paperwork to do while we're there."
"Great. Oh, and the tutor's coming Friday for an hour and a half between nine and eleven also."
Lorelai nudged April. "Hear that? School's back in session the day after tomorrow."
"Oh, goody," April muttered, picking at her food.
Her guardians shared a concerned and puzzled look. "I thought you liked school," Luke said carefully.
"I do—when I can go with my friends. I don't know how much fun it will be being taught all by myself."
"But you love learning stuff. I should think it would be good being able to go at your own pace with a tutor, instead of waiting for other kids in the class to catch up," Luke cajoled.
"I don't know. I guess we'll see."
Lorelai watched her a moment. "April, would you like some of your friends to come over this Saturday? We can arrange it if you want."
April glanced up at her. "Yeah. Maybe. I'll think about it," she dismissed.
"You have your cell phone. Maybe you should call one of them this afternoon."
"Maybe," she said again.
Lorelai looked perplexed and Luke shrugged at her.
A little later, April had to use the rest room. Luke wheeled her back to it and stayed in case she needed help getting in or out of the tiny room. While they were gone, Miss Patty, who was still ensconced at a table in the corner, gestured to Lorelai to come over.
"What's the matter with her?" she asked bluntly, looking up at Lorelai with concern in her brown eyes.
"Damned if we know, Patty," sighed Lorelai. "We're hoping it's just the shock from the accident and all the changes."
"I hope it's that simple," worried the older woman. "What are you doing to try to help?"
"Right now, mostly just giving her some time and space to see if she snaps out of it. If she doesn't. . .well, I'm not sure what we'll do then."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Lorelai thought for a moment. "She keeps saying she doesn't want to talk to people, but I think that when she does, she comes out of her shell a little. I understand that she's not naturally a reserved kid."
"Heavens, no. She used to sit in here and talk your ear off."
"Well, I'd appreciate it if, when you see her, you just try to get her involved in a conversation. Nothing heavy, just something light and maybe funny. She's almost cracked a few times when we've inadvertently done that."
"All right, darling," Patty murmured. "Glad to help. Good luck to the two of you."
Lorelai smiled. "Thanks, Patty." She heard Luke approaching and hurried back to her table as he and April returned to the room.
The two went back to the inn shortly afterwards. Luke had told them that he wouldn't be able to get out of the diner until closing, so he'd see them at home. Once at the inn, April returned to the library for a while but again slipped out to the porch to read outside, now working on a novel instead of her schoolbooks, while Lorelai stuck to her office and cleaned up a lot of back paperwork.
Once, when she came out to the lobby and surreptitiously checked on April through the window, she saw that the girl was again leaning forward eagerly in her chair to watch the horses being unsaddled after a ride. The groom, who had seen her in the stable that morning, brought Cletus over to the porch for a visit and again she reached forward to pet him, this time with a little more confidence. Her face was noticeably lighter and more relaxed than it had been the past few days.
Lorelai rejoiced inwardly. Way to go, Clete, she thought.