Disclaimer: This is an original story based upon the characters of Gilmore Girls. No profit will be made from this story and no copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Note: Thanks for all the feedback. One of these days, my life will slow down so I can individually respond to them again. I really do appreciate all of them. I hope you enjoy the next installment.
"Richard…you have to stop looking at me as if I about to explode," Laura said, looking over the rims of her glasses at Richard who was trying to look interested in his book.
"What was that Dear?" he asked, non-chalantly turning the page.
"Richard," she said more determinedly as she put down her book and placed a hand on his arm.
He looked up at her and Laura could see the hope in his eyes.
"Richard," she said, "It's been two weeks…It lasted for a few seconds and then it left."
He placed a hand over hers, "Tell me again, exactly what happened."
She tried to act normal about it, tried to make it out like it wasn't a big deal because she hated to raise any false hope. "I was talking with Lorelai and then all of a sudden I remembered being really cold and terrified, I was calling Lorelai's name. The next thing I knew, Lorelai was helping me up."
Richard's eyebrows knit together with concentration and excitement.
"Richard," Laura said again, "It's been two weeks."
"But you remembered something Darling, maybe it will just take time," he said and it tugged at her heart to see the excitement in his eyes. She had been excited too, but as the weeks had gone on and she had tried to remember something else—anything else, she was left with the same black fog that seemed to have settled on her brain. It had been disappointing, but she had felt she had made her peace with the possibility that she may never remember, so she had been able to get passed it and not get her hopes up. Richard on the other hand was a different story. He had tried to not show how excited he was, but she knew him better than that. She could see the excitement in his eyes when he looked at her, the look of anticipation when he walked in the door after work and wondered if it had all come back to her. She looked up at him now and smiling, placed a hand on his cheek. "Maybe it will just take some time," she reaffirmed and prayed that it would be so. She hated to disappoint him.
They both went back to their books and a few minutes later, Laura turned the page while simultaneously looking up at Richard. He was looking up at her with a goofy smile.
She chuckled and shook her head, "There's something wrong with you…you know that don't you?"
He stood up and then knelt down beside her, gently taking her glasses off and kissed her. She relaxed into the kiss and smiled as they broke it.
"What put you in such a good mood?" she asked grinning.
He took her book in his hands and rested his nose on it, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "A surprise," he said.
She regarded him curiously, "What surprise?" she asked.
"A surprise for you, which you will find out about tomorrow at precisely four o'clock."
"Tomorrow? At four?" she asked, trying to swallow the excitement in her voice.
Richard nodded like puppy dog, "Yes," he grinned.
She picked up her book and tried hard not to smile as she turned the page. "Alright," she said, "If I'm home at that time."
Less than twenty-four hours later, at precisely 3:57 in the afternoon, Laura sat stationed at the living room window her fingers parting the white lace curtains ever so slightly so she could see Richard coming up the doorway. She had been trying to keep busy all day, but the promise of the four o'clock surprise made her feel like a child who couldn't sleep at 2:00 in the morning on Christmas eve, watching every minute go slowly by. Finally, she saw his sleek dark blue car drive into the driveway and she dropped her post and hurried over to the couch where she picked up a book and waited for Richard to come in.
"Laura, I'm home," Richard called excitedly as he came through the door and put down his suitcase.
"In here Dear," Laura called from the living room.
Richard hurried down the hall and into the living room, Laura smiled at the sound of the excitement in his steps. She looked up and smiled, "My goodness, is it four o'clock already?" she asked.
Richard leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "Are you ready for your surprise?" he asked.
Wanting to tease him more, she turned the page, "Let me just finish this chapter Dear," she said without looking up.
Richard grinned, two could play at this game.
"Alright," he said walking over to the drink cart and making himself a scotch. "I'll just sit here and have a drink and read my paper," he said, sitting down on the couch opposite her and opening the paper. This lasted for about forty five seconds when a couch pillow suddenly hit the paper. He put down the paper folded and looked at his wife, "Yes dear?" he asked.
"Richard Gilmore, you said 4:00 and it's now 4:02!" Laura cried.
Richard chuckled, "You are worse than Lorelai,"
"Richard!" she cried again.
"Alright," he said, drawing out a scroll of paper tied up with a lavender ribbon and handed it to her.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Open it," Richard said.
She opened it up and written in Richard's handwriting, the note said, "Your lovely face lays here when you sleep."
She chuckled, "Richard, you are crazy," and then went upstairs to check underneath her pillow where she found another note wrapped in lavender ribbon. For twenty minutes she went through the house finding note after note in the kitchen cabinets, the refrigerator, the bathroom medicine cabinet, her dresser drawer. Sometimes she found a chocolate with the note, a small bottle of lotion, a package of bath salts, and some elegant slipper socks with ribbon rosebuds on the heels. When had he done all of this? Finally, she was told to look in Great-Grandmother Kentley's large antique sewing box in the sitting room. She opened it up and pulled out a large lavender silk scarf and another note that read, "Put this over your eyes and wait for further instructions."
She laughed and put it over her eyes, shaking her head at this crazy but wonderful man she was married to. "Okay," she called out, "I'm waiting for further instructions!"
A moment later a strong warm hand slipped into hers and Richard whispered, "Come with me."
"Richard, where are we going?" she asked.
He didn't answer, just put a hand on her back and led her to the car, where he opened up the door for her and helped her in and then got in on his side and drove away.
He didn't say a word on the drive, except the occasional admonition to not peek. She was very confused, they had been driving for awhile and she assumed they were on their way to Stars Hollow but for what? Was Lorelai having some sort of get together? She was getting so excited wondering what it could be that the time passed by quickly and before she knew it, the car stopped and Richard got out of the car. She heard the car door open and felt Richard's gentle, strong hands supporting her as he helped her out of the car.
"Richard, can I take this silly thing off now?" she asked.
"Almost," he said leading her by the hand.
"Okay now," he said and she undid her blindfold, squinting as the bright light from the sun shone down feeling like pins and needles. She was looking towards Richard who was smiling broadly at her, with his two hands behind his back.
"Which hand?" he asked playfully.
She smiled and pointed at his left hand. He brought out a small gold box from behind his back, tied with a lavender ribbon.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Open it and find out," he said.
She opened it up and inside was a house key. She looked up at Richard in confusion and he smiled and placing his hands on her shoulders he turned her around towards a small one floor house sitting in the middle of a fair sized green lawn. It was a white house, with yellow trim, a nice big front porch and a white picket fence surrounding it. There were pink and white geraniums surrounding the front and although it was dormant, Laura could see a large lilac bush in the backyard. There was a quaking aspen tree in the front, as well as more geraniums lining the yard beside the picket fence—but the thing that Laura was focused on was the name that was brightly displayed in gold letters on the front door—Gilmore.
"Richard," she breathed. "What is this?"
He came up to her, put his arms around her from the behind and nestling his face in her hair, "Welcome to our weekend home," he said.
"Our what?" she asked incredulously.
Suddenly he reached down and picked her up in his arms. They both laughed delightedly as he carried her to the door, unlocked it and then walked inside. There was a charming little living room, with dark green carpet and the same colored wallpaper with a rosebud border. There were two large comfortable couches that matched the color scheme. There was also a large fireplace with a mantle and pretty end table where a nice porcelain lamp with a frilly dark pink lampshade stood.
She was so taken with the room that she hardly noticed when Richard tugged on her arm, too excited to stand still and led her down a hallway. There were two rooms, one with a large brass bed and another fireplace in it, and the other one—a smaller one with a burgundy colored wallpaper and antique lace curtains hanging in it. There was a smaller bed in the center, with a matching dresser and night stand. Laura's eyes began to glow with excitement as Richard took her back down the hall and led her into the kitchen.
She took in a sharp breath as she walked into the kitchen/dining room area where a white table and chairs stood on a light blue linoleum floor, with a crisp white table cloth on top and a vase of flowers. The dining room was separated by a bar area from the kitchen which was wallpapered in a light blue and white pinstriped. The cupboards were white too, and were glass and inside were neatly a pile on creamy colored plates with matching bowls and mugs and tall sparkling glasses. There was a large refrigerator, and a large pantry door just before going out the back door and hanging by the entrance to the door was a blue and white striped apron.
"Richard," she breathed. He smiled, the delight on his wife's face making him giddy.
"One last thing to see," he said and taking her hand, led her down another hall off the kitchen. He went past a room where Laura saw bookshelves all over the wall and a handsome oak desk.
"The den," he said smiling and then led her to the last room at the end of the hall. He opened the door with a flourish and this time the surprised woman couldn't help crying out because there, sitting against a back wall was her piano.
"Richard," she cried, tears springing to her eyes as she turned back around and hugged the delighted man to her, " Oh Richard!" she cried again and walked towards it. It seemed as shining and new as the day the men had brought it to the house in Bentley. She opened it up and smoothed her hands over the keys, giving a little laugh where Jordan Bateman had carved his initials on the side of the piano when she had been out of the room on a phone call, where Allison Hanley had spilled grape juice on it at the Christmas party she had held for her students.
She hardly noticed Richard coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her.
"How did you ever…?" she asked.
He turned her around and kissed her on her nose. "You can do a lot of things," he said and kissed her on her cheek, "…when you have a lot of money," he kissed her on the other cheek, "…and you're in love."
She buried her head in his chest and he hugged her tightly to him. "This is our house," he whispered. "Every Friday afternoon we will come here. There are no maids, no cooks, you can cook Friday night dinner for the family and clean to your hearts content. Saturday will be yours. I'm sure the people of Stars Hollow need a good piano teacher and you are the best. I'll help you make out the posters with the little number tags that people can pull off tomorrow."
She laughed at that through her tears as she looked over at her piano.
"Sunday will be our day. No meetings, business or DAR, we can go on picnics as a family or dance together in our bare feet."
He brought his hands up and cupped her face in them. "Are you happy my love?" he asked.
She answered him by hugging him tightly again and whispering, "I love you Richard,"
Delighted, he hugged her to him tightly and then breaking the hug, said "Well, you better get going Mrs. Gilmore. Your family is going to be here at seven and they are going to be expecting dinner."
She smiled excitedly and hurried back down the hall to the kitchen. Richard retreated to his office to organize some things and Laura after getting acquainted with her new surroundings took down the apron from the hook and tied it on. The pockets were heavy with something and laughing delightedly, she reached in and took an M&M out and popped it in her mouth.
Luke and Lorelai were the first to arrive at the house at six forty five and Richard invited them in and poured them a drink. Lorelai had known about the surprise all along and had helped her Dad pick out furniture and things. She had been excited, when once the thought of her parents moving to Stars Hollow would have terrified her, she loved the idea of a weekend home, especially if it would make her mother happy to get out of the big unfamiliar house. It was so strange to her still to have her mother so different. She had never wanted the rich pompous lifestyle her parents had led, her mother's life was something she didn't understand and vice versa. Her mother had never understood her desires for simplicity, for working hard for something and just being the everyday person with a mortage, a car payment, and a couch you had to pay off after six months. It was so strange to her to see that her mother, with her memory gone was very much like herself.
Rory and Logan arrived next and both were ushered in with a drink. They all sat in the living room, tempting smells coming in from the kitchen.
"I'm almost done," Laura called.
"We're starving Mom!" Lorelai called, "It smells so good!"
"Just a minute," Laura called again and then removing the apron and smoothing out her hair in the hall she walked towards the living room. She was excited and nervous at the same time. She had had so much fun over the last few hours. The refrigerator and pantry were already stocked, and as much as she would have enjoyed going shopping for her own food, she was glad she didn't have to take the time to do it and could spend more time on the dinner. Rachel must have known about the secret and had helped Richard shop. She loved him, but the man would be clueless around a grocery store.
"Hello! Hello! Hello!" she called as she came into the living room.
"Hey Grandma,"
"Hey Mom,"
"Dinner is served," she said, and led them around to dining area.
The four hungry people might as well been led by the Fruit Loops Toucan as they followed their noses into the dining area where the table was elegantly set for six. By each plate was a bowl of Caesar salad and on top of the plate was a large pot pie. The glasses were all filled with sparkling red wine; there was a plate of steaming hot rolls, as well as a small container with red raspberry jam. There was a plate of baked potatoes and in the center was a large two layer chocolate cake with chocolate ganache.
All five stared at the meal laid out before them in astonishment but their hunger over took them and they all sat down, eating the butter crusted pot pies with creamy filling and tender vegetables and turkey bits, the rolls were light and fluffy, the Caesar salad dressing tangy and fresh. Laura watched happily as her family enjoyed her dinner. Richard saw the look in her eyes and was delighted his girl was happy, and watched her as she laughed, wondering if more memories really would return. Lorelai saw the happiness in her mother's eyes swallowed a drink of wine, happy that her mother was happy but was concerned. She had been worried about her mother ever since that night two weeks ago. If the memories did return, how would she handle them? Rory saw the look in her mother's eyes and sent her a little wink telling her that she understood her concern and shared it, then took a drink as she watched her grandmother. Her mom had told her of the struggle she had felt about whether or not she really wanted Grandma to get her memory back and she felt the same thing. Of course she wanted Grandma to be happy, but if the memories came back would this woman go away? Luke saw Lorelai's concerned look as well and squeezed her hand under the table. He liked this new Emily too, and wondered what would happen if Emily got her memories back. Would things go back to what they were between them? Logan was oblivious to the concerns of the room, as he was deep into his second piece of chocolate cake. He cared about Emily and wanted everybody to be happy, but as long as Emily could make chocolate cake that tasted like this—he would be just fine whether or not she got her memory back.