EMILY

We went into the kitchen and I went to get a glass bottle out of the fridge.
"Oh. It appears she only bought apple juice and not apple cider. At least I suppose she remembered to get the ones in the glass bottles. Is apple juice alright?"
"Apple juice is fine."

I gave her a glass bottle and went to get her a glass to put it in, but she'd already opened it up and had begun drinking. I noticed her hand went to her abdomen as she was drinking. It appeared she was starting to show ever so slightly. I began to wonder if that's why she wanted to go shopping and why she was wearing something I had seen her in not too long ago. I'd never seen Katalina in the same garment twice. She caught me looking at her abdomen, appeared instantly embarrassed, and dropped her hand.

"I'm sorry."
"You're sorry for what?"

"For this," she stated putting her hand on her abdomen once more. "I should have warned you. I imagine it could be embarrassing for you to go out with me"

"Oh for heavens sake Katalina. I am not embarrassed."

"I'll understand if you don't want to go to shopping with me."

"Katalina, listen to what I am telling you. It actually makes me smile. Not the best of circumstances for certain, but that is still my great grandchild in there."

She was quiet as she finished the rest of her apple juice. Her hand remained off of her abdomen.

"Would you like anything else before we go?"

"I'm fine. Thanks for thinking of me and having the juice picked up."

"I will make sure that I also have some cider picked up too for the future."

"It was truly fine."

"Well, I guess we're good to go then. I have decided that we'll just take my car."

And so we left on the way there we talked.

"Would you mind if I stayed for dinner at your house tonight? I think it might be nice to give Lorelai and Luke some personal time."

"That sounds lovely."

"Okay. I'll send Lorelai a text to let her know."

"How do you like staying with Lorelai and your father?"

"They've been incredibly kind to me. I mean... they let me stay there before we had even found that out. I know it's not easy for them... I mean with everything that is going on."

"You're a very lovely girl Katalina, so I am glad things have been alright over there and you know you are also always welcome at our home as well."

KATALINA

I wound up actually messaging Luke about my new dinner plans so he could surprise Lorelai with a dinner out. He told me he'd be checking in to make sure I ate what I was supposed to at Emily's.

Shopping with Emily went as I had anticipated it going. It was long, hard, but nice to have someone else there. I also wound up getting something surprising that I convinced Emily was suitable for the Christmas party. I think she thought it was for me, but it's actually a surprise for Lorelai. Everything was fine until it was dinner. All together there was a salad course. A soup course. Rolls. Rabbit. Vegetables on the side. And a dessert of chocolate mousse. My stomach began to hurt after the soup course.

"Katalina, make sure you get a roll. Your father and Lorelai made it very clear to me that you are to eat everything." Emily stated

"I'm just a bit full."

"I understand that, but you'll need to try," Richard replied

So I ate the roll with a few bites of rabbit to try to break it up. I began to rub my side where the pain was starting.

"You don't need to be dramatic Katalina. I understand it's likely uncomfortable, but it's the only way. It's only temporary."

I kept trying to get through it. Eating very slowly due to the increasing discomfort. Emily kept chiming in that I needed to just power through it and it could not be that bad. Reminding me that I had asked to be invited to dinner. She then stated that if I didn't prolong eating it, I wouldn't feel as bad. I kept thinking about how I promised to do this and how she was right... that I was a guest at her house. This worked until they told me I'd had enough of the rabbit course. Then of course the mousse came out. By the end of that, the pain was becoming to the point where I couldn't ignore it.

I asked to go lay down and Emily was not terribly amused, but obliged. Telling me she was surprised by my behavior.

JESS

I'm at a coffee shop in Hartford when my phone rings. It's Kat.

"Hey – " I'm greeted by what wounds like crying, "Hey. Kat. Are you okay?"

I pick up my coffee cup and walk out the door.

"Kat. What's wrong."

"Can you just talk to me?'

"What?"

"Please. Just talk to me. I need to get my mind off of this."

"Off of what? What's going on."

"I was having dinner and my stomach began to hurt. The more I ate the worse it got. It's so bad Jess."

"Where are you?"

"Lorelai's parents."

"Are Luke and Lorelai there with you? You need to go tell them that you're in pain."

"They're not here. Emily thinks I'm just trying to use it as an excuse to not eat."

"Well, you need to call your doctor. I've known you for long enough to know you have a crazy tolerance for pain. This isn't normal."

"It could be though Jess. My body isn't used to this."

"You've had a Gilmore dinner before."

"But I've never had the full thing and I had a large lunch with Lorelai... This is the most food I've eaten in years."

"I'm letting you go so you will call your doctor. Promise me you'll call your doctor."

"Jess. I don't need to call my doctor."

"Call your doctor or I will call Luke."

"Jess. Fuck."

"At least there wasn't a 'you' at the end of that Now I'm letting you go. Call your doctor."

I hung up and got in my car. I began to head to the Gilmore home. When I got there I called Kat back.

"I'm in the driveway."

"What?"

"I'm in the driveway. Did you call your doctor?"

"She said it could potentially be refeeding pains."

"And?"

"That it's better to be safe since I'm so high risk."

"Then come down"

"But it could be nothing. Emily already thinks I'm blowing this out of proportion. She wasn't amused when I told her I was going to go lay down."

"You're in a bedroom then."

"Lorelai's old bedroom. Why?"

" Okay the one with the balcony. I'm coming up."

I hung up without waiting for a response.