JESS
When I got up onto the balcony and looked in, I saw Kat sitting on the ground, her back to the bed, her legs pulled up to her chest, hugging her knees. Her face was tear stained.
KATALINA
Jess wound up driving me to the hospital. I left a note for Emily and Richard.
LORELAI
Luke and I were having dinner and he got a call from Jess.
"I don't need to take that. It's Jess."
"Are you sure?"
"You're giving me a son. I want to talk to you."
"Alright then. I take it you're happy about this discovery?"
"Like me tearing up during the sonogram wasn't a giveaway"
"You old softie. And now it's my phone ringing... Oh."
"What?"
"It's Kat's doctor. I feel bad after what you just said, but..."
"Answer it Lorelai."
I pushed to answer the call.
"Lorelai speaking."
"Hi, Lorelai. It's Dr. Ayden. Katalina's doctor. I was hoping I would get you. I tried to call Katalina back, but was unable. I wanted to let her know I was going to meet her at the hospital"
"Wait. What?"
"Oh it's just so I can talk to the doctors in person. Have they put her in a room yet? I'm guessing they will be if they haven't already"
"I actually don't know. What's going on?"
"Oh. I had assumed you knew so I called you since I have a release for you."
"What's going on?"
"She's at Hartford Hospital right now, or should be by now. She told me that a friend named Jess is taking her. I can explain more to you if you'd like once I find out more myself. I'll see you there I am guessing. Hartford Hospital."
And with that she hung up.
"We've got to go."
"Lorelai."
"Luke. We have to go. Kat's in the hospital with Jess."
"Why didn't you open with that? I'll go get the car while we're waiting for the bill and brownie."
"Thank you."
We got to the hospital knowing nothing more than we previously had as Jess's voicemail on Luke's phone merely stated he was taking Kat to the hospital.
"Hi, I'm looking for Katalina Banks. She was brought in here maybe an hour ago? I'm her step-mom and I can't get a hold of her."
"and I'm her father."
"One second. Let me see. It looks like she was already taken to a treatment room. I can have someone walk you back."
Jess was outside the door .
"There you guys are. I've been trying to reach you. Kat told me not to call you guys, but I've still been trying. I just can't here. Got yelled at by a doctor for using my phone in the ER. How'd you know?"
"Thank you for trying. Kat's doctor wound up calling me"
I walked into the room while Luke and Jess talked in the hallway. Kat already had an IV hooked up and a fetal monitor. Her stomach looked a little bloated, but her ribs could still be seen by her sides. She looked tired. A nurse left the room right before I entered.
"Hey kid... what happened?"
"Lorelai! I told Jess not to call you."
"Your doctor called me. Again I ask. What happened?" I sat down in the chair.
"I don't know. It was this pain."
"What kind of pain?"
"I don't know... just this pain... not a jabbing pain or anything like that, but this achey kind of pain. Right around my abdomen."
"Was it from eating. I know Dr. Ayden said pain was to be expected since your body is trying to adjust."
"I thought it was that too... especially since everything is being increased... but it just kept getting worse. I was eating with your parents and they said that you told them I had to eat everything... Salad. Soup. Rolls. Rabbit. Vegetables. Dessert. It was so bad by the end of it... I noticed when it was finally over that I was dizzy when I stood up... I went to go lay down and it continued. I called Jess. I thought talking to someone would get my mind off the discomfort. He told me I needed to call my doctor... and here we are."
"Why didn't you tell my parents it was hurting so badly?"
"I did. They thought I wasn't trying hard and was trying to get out of eating. She told me I was being dramatic when I was rubbing my stomach hoping that it would help with the pain."
"Kat... I'm so sorry sweetie. Has the doctor said anything?"
"They called Dr. Ayden. All I know is that they think they're going to admit me."
"Well, I'm going to go find the doctor. I'll send Luke in, okay?"
"Okay."
I rubbed her hand on my way out and went into the hallway. I passed look, asked him to go be with his daughter, and headed to a stairway to call my mother.
"Lorelai. Are you calling me to talk to me about the scene your step-daughter threw tonight? Or how she left and didn't bother telling me. There I am waiting for her as she said she wanted to lay down for a little bit. Finally go upstairs to see what's keeping her. To see if she's alright and she's not there. Lucky me I guess that she was considerate enough to leave a note, 'Dear Emily and Richard, Thank you for dinner, but I needed to go take care of something. Hope the rest of your evening is pleasant, Katalina.' I would think she was your actual daughter the way she behaved and how inconsiderate she was"
"Mom. You need to stop now. How dare you."
"How dare I what"
"You don't get to talk right now. I get to talk. Katalina is at the hospital mom. Jess brought her here. First I think something must have happened with Jess. But I was wrong. I should have known. I should have known something happened when she was with you. She told you that she was in pain, mom. She told me she told you multiple times during dinner. That you accused her of being dramatic, which I'm sure you'll now accuse me of being. But she's in the hospital mom and they're probably going to be admitting her. So don't pick up the phone when I call and tell me how my step-daughter was rude to you. How her behavior negatively impacted you. Your behavior quite possibly helped land her in the hospital. Remember that if there ever is a next time that I let her eat at your house by herself."
I hung up.
EMILY
I tried to call Lorelai back, but didn't get an answer. I even tried to call Luke.
"Richard." I yelled.
"What is it Emily?"
"We need to get ready to go."
"Where on earth are we going Emily?"
"Katalina's in the hospital."
"What? I thought she was in Lorelai's old room laying down."
"She's at the hospital. Come on. Let's go."
LUKE
I was in Kat's room with her when Dr. Ayden showed up. Apparently Kat's exhibiting the symptoms of refeeding. They think her electrolytes are off and the pain is due to that, general refeeding pain, and growth pains from the baby. Dr. Ayden stated she imaged the combination of those things was probably creating "unimaginagable" discomfort. So they're going to keep her at the hospital for a while. The pregnancy is just adding to the risk of normal eating disorder recovery. It was caught in time though. That's what matters. They're giving her these special sock like things that look like panty hose for her legs to wear at the hospital. In case her legs start to retain fluid. Compression hose. Emily and Richard showed up. Lorelai asked them to leave. Better her than me. I wouldn't have been as friendly. They stayed though.. They just sat in the waiting area while we stayed with Kat. They moved her to a different room at which point Jess left. I had a feeling the private room Kat was moved into had to do with the Gilmores in the waiting area.
"You guys really don't need to stay."
"I'm your dad. I'm staying."
"Seriously. This is why I asked Jess not to call you. What will make me feel the best is if you guys go home and celebrate. Celebrate that you're having a... come on. I just gave you guys an opening to tell me if you're having a boy or a girl. A fact that I've been wanting to know and you guys know. How about, you call Sookie and Rory and put them on speaker... and let me know at the same time? Then go home and celebrate... ?"
"Are you sure?"
"I am positive. Truly it will make me feel infinitely better to know you guys are getting time to celebrate this. And while I do love you guys... I also think you shouldn't come and visit me while I'm here. Take the time to yourselves. I promise you. I will be fine. Jess said he'd bring me some books. My laptop. I can watch all those jukebox movies. Which is even better, because then when I do come home... Lorelai and I can sing all the songs together and quote all the movies. I need to up my game."
"You do need to up your movie quoting game."
"See it's a win all around. So call Sookie and Rory... because I wont lie I'm tired and I'd like you out of my room... especially before you decide you think this room looks super luxurious and want to move on in here too. It's a private room. No roommates, sorry. Against hospital policy."
"Haha. Very funny."
So we called Rory and Sookie and gave them the news that we were adding a little boy to the family. We left. Emily and Richard were still in the waiting room. They got up to follow us out.
RICHARD
When Luke and Lorelai passed us, Emily got up and motioned for me to do the same.
"Lorelai. Please stop. I'm you mother for goodness sake. Please stop."
"I will stop when you stop. I don't even know why you are both here."
"My granddaughter is in the hospital, Lorelai," I stated, "and I owe her an apology."
"From what she told me, you're not the person who owes the apology."
"Lorelai. I didn't know."
"You didn't listen to her mom. She's eaten at your house several times. When has she ever complained out loud about pain before? Even when she just doesn't want to eat. She doesn't . She always just says it's hard or just sits there."
"You're right. "
"What?"
"You're right. I ignored her and now she's in the hospital."
"She's not in the hospital entirely because you ignored her. But could things have went a lot differently tonight and could we possibly not be standing here? Yes. If she'd listened to the pain and been able to stop eating. Then yes, things could possibly have been different."
"You don't need to keep pointing that out to me."
I love my dear wife, but I don't think she realized that she was not going to be getting anywhere tonight.
"We've got to go mom. I'm tired. It's been a long day."
"You'll call me?"
"Bye mom."
Since Lorelai had stated I was not the one to owe an apology to Katalina, I thought I might be able to reason with her
"Lorelai, if it is alright with Katalina, will you call me with any news or a time that I can come visit the girl?"
"Alright dad. Good night."
