Thanks so much for the shower of reviews. I'm happy you like Emily/Rory. Work is great, but also a lot to do. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 26: Grandpa
"Emily, I'm home," Richard calls out and I feel Rory pressing into me. She looks a little scared.
"We're in here," I shout out to him. "Your grandfather is home, Sweetie. Come let's greet him," I say, putting the book aside and standing up. I take her hand and she's clinging towards my leg. Richard is coming in and I see some hurt flicker in his eyes once he notices that she's hiding her face in my skirt. But then, when was she ever around men? And Richard is tall I can imagine he seems intimidating to a little girl. I even have to admit that part of me likes that she's clinging towards me after such a short time, but looking at Richard I feel sorry for him. I know how I felt when she was hiding herself behind Lorelai because of me. "Hello Richard," I greet him, going some steps towards him – Rory following me like she's glued to my leg – and reaching up to kiss my husband hello. Maybe when she sees this, she won't be so scared anymore. And right, she is peeking at him now.
"Hello Emily," he says, kissing my cheek obviously realizing what I started.
"Rory," I say softly, caressing her hair, gently loosening her grip from my leg and kneeling beside her. "This is your grandpa." I motion for Richard to kneel down as well.
"Hello Rory," he says. She's still staring at him. I caress her back.
"Say hello to him, will you?" I finally say.
She's quickly looking at me, before quietly saying, "Hello, Grandpa." Richard shoots me a helpless look.
"Why don't you show your grandfather what I bought you today?" I ask her. She goes to the couch to get the book. Both of us are standing up again, following her.
"Sleeping Beauty," she says to him, holding up the book. "Oh and this," she points to her dress. "And a fancy dress, a skirt and a blouse," she finishes.
"Why, those are beautiful gifts." She nods. "Were you reading it when I was coming?" he asks her. She nods again. "So how far did you get?"
"Until the fairies want to make a cake and a dress for Aurora," she says, showing him the page. He sits down on the couch to get a better look at it.
"You know what? Why doesn't your grandfather continue reading this to you? I have some things to check in the kitchen. Maybe you can show him what you can read already as well. I'll be right back," I say, winking at a slightly scared Rory. She's still standing next to him.
"So you can read already?" Richard asks her impressed, while I'm leaving.
"Just a little," she replies.
"So what does this mean?" he asks her.
"And – that was an easy one," she replies.
"Well, it's a word nonetheless. And this one?"
"Au-ro-ra," she reads.
"Very good," he encourages her. I knew I'd never make it to the kitchen. "So what do you think, should we continue reading this together?" he asks her. Peeking around the corner I see that she's sitting down next to him now, the book on both their laps. Richard is changing his voice when he's reading the different people; talking high for the fairies deep for the prince - it's lovely to watch them.
"Why don't you read the parts when Aurora is speaking?" he asks her. "Your voice seems perfect to fit a princess," he adds. So charming.
"Okay," she answers, smiling shyly up at him.
I try to remember the last time Lorelai looked at him this way and I can't. I try to remember Richard reading to Lorelai and some faint memory appears. When she was little he sometimes had time for her, played with her before disappearing into his study. But I know those were rare times and when she grew up they vanished completely. He was just so busy and it seemed that he didn't know what to do with her once she could read for herself and well Lorelai always was so independent – or at least she claimed to be. Some giggling gets me out of my thoughts and it's better this way. I can't change the past anyway and I don't want to get sad now. I enjoy watching the two of them getting along. After some time I go back to them, sitting next to Rory and offering to speak the fairies. It really is fun. Rory is giggling more and more at our voices.
A look at the watch tells me that I should bring her home now. We didn't set a specific time, but I know Lorelai's waiting. After all I didn't tell her that I'd bring her after dinner. For a moment I consider asking Lorelai if she can stay for dinner, but I stop myself. I already bought her more than she'll approve of. I have to take this slowly. There are still some pages to read though.
"Rory," I start cautiously, "I think we have to stop now. I have to bring you back, it's getting late," I say. Both are looking at me disappointedly.
"Please, Grandma, let's finish the book," she pleads.
"But you know how it's ending, and your mother is waiting for you," I say.
"But I never had so much fun reading it, please," she pouts.
"Don't you think we can finish it?" Richard chimes in. I shoot him an accusing look.
"I don't want to aggravate Lorelai," I say.
"Well, I guess then – " he starts, but Rory interrupts him.
"Let me call mom, I tell her I'll be late," Rory says.
"Sweetie, I'm afraid this isn't how this works," I say.
"But you didn't say a certain time, did you? It's only some more pages, please Grandma," she begs again. She's a smart one, catching that we didn't set a certain time, but still.
"She expects you home for dinner. We're already a little late. Rory believe me I'd love to read more to you, but we have to delay it. We will finish it though, I promise."
"When?" she asks.
"Well, next time you're coming. After the tea," I say.
"Is Grandpa here then?" We share a look. Probably not. "See, we have to finish it now," she says, and starts to read the next sentence, even though it's not her part.
"Rory," I say firmly, taking the book and closing it. Now she's shooting me an accusing look and for the first time I see Lorelai in her. She looks exactly like Lorelai when I took her old ragged teddy from her, declaring she couldn't possibly bring this one as her favourite toy to kindergarten, but should take the new doll instead. Lorelai got one of her famous tantrums and only my threatening to take away the teddy completely got her to stop immediately. The same accusing look – though not as strong – is staring at me from the eyes of my granddaughter now, eyes so similar to Lorelai's. For a moment I'm scared that everything will go wrong again. But no, it won't. I can't always give in. That wouldn't be fair to Lorelai either. "I promised we'd finish it and we will – at Thanksgiving. And yes of course your grandfather will be present then," I add, before she can protest again.
"But you said we would read it," she mumbles.
"Which we did, I never said we'd read it all though. And well we spent a long time watching the fairies too, you didn't want to leave them either," I remind her. She's still pouting. In a way I feel mean. She enjoys our time together and so do I, but we have to start slowly. And she has to know that when I say something I won't change my opinion because of begging. "Rory, you have to know that I don't approve of begging. Now be a good girl and get your coat. As I said we're already late and I don't want your mother to be mad." I can see her open her mouth again. "Rory, now," I say with the strictest voice I can manage, looking sternly at her.
She slowly gets off the couch. I look at Richard and I guess he looks as troubled as I feel. I'm not really mad that he didn't support me. He just got to know her. He puts one arm around my shoulder and kisses my temple before going after Rory. A moment later I pick up the book, following them. Richard is helping her into her coat.
"You know, you have to understand your grandmother, Rory. We want to have you here as often as possible, but therefore we have to bring you home on time, do you understand?" She looks up at him, with sad eyes, nodding slowly.
"Is she mad at me now?" she whispers, and it breaks my heart.
"No, she isn't," he replies. "She loves you very much."
"Your grandfather is right, Rory," I say, approaching them. "I'm not mad at you, but we really have to hurry." She's smiling a little at me. Then she turns to Richard.
"Goodbye, Grandpa," she says.
"Goodbye, my little princess," he replies, winking at her. She giggles a little. I'm relieved.
"Here," I hold out the book to her.
"I don't want to take it with me," she says. I'm taken aback.
"But why not?" Is she still mad? Is she worried about Lorelai's reaction?
"It's true that I never had so much fun reading it, I don't want anyone else to read it to me. I'll wait for Thanksgiving," she finishes.
"All right," I say, handing Richard the book. "I'll be back soon," I say to him, before going outside.
When I make sure that her seatbelt is closed correctly I lean over her. "Are you mad at me, Sweetie?" I just have to know. She looks at me.
"No," she says slowly. "I'm just a little sad." Nothing more.
"Because you have to go?" She nods. "Me too. But that's the way it is. And I'm sure you're looking forward to tell your mother all about today. The mall, the fairies, your grandpa. See how much we experienced today. And we can look forward to Thanksgiving and the tea of course. Isn't that something?" I ask her, trying to cheer us up.
"Yes, it is," she replies, looking a little brighter. "I'll tell mom it's my fault I'm late."
"That's okay, you don't have to," I dismiss her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. I'm about to close the door, when she's looking at me again.
"I'm sorry, Grandma," she says quietly. "Mom told me to obey you."
"It's all right, Rory. Don't worry about it. As I said I'm not mad at you. And you did obey in the end. I'd love to have you here longer, but it's not possible today."
On the ride back I think it's interesting that my daughter, little miss I-do-what-I-want-you-don't-have-to-tell-me-anything, told her daughter to obey me. I try to get into a talk with Rory pointing towards several things we pass, but she doesn't say much. I mostly get one word answers and I don't reprimand her, telling her that's no way to reply to a question. With time I give up and it's a silent drive back. I sometimes look into the rear-mirror only to catch a rather pensive look. Somehow I have to think of children of divorced parents who're stuck between two worlds. In a way it's the same here. We have to pay attention not to burden her with our disagreements. Though I didn't think that was the case today. It's simply that we had a nice time and she has to leave. At least we know we'll see each other again, but maybe she's thinking ahead? Maybe she's thinking about what'll happen after Thanksgiving? Is that too forward to think for a four-year-old? I don't know. I don't know what Lorelai said about us in her presence either.