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Chapter 54
Charlotte woke up and felt an empty space next to her. She sat up and saw Jess already dressed and in his leather jacket, putting a couple more things into his bag and zipping it up. "Jess?" She said.
"Hey.." He said softly. "Don't get up."
"What do you mean?" Charlotte said.
"I'm all ready and set to go. You don't need to come down with me." He said.
"What? Don't be silly, just let me get my shoes and coat..." Charlotte said getting out of the bed.
"No." Jess said.
"What do you mean no? I want to see you off." She said.
"No." He repeated.
"What?"
"Charlotte, if you come downstairs with me, I won't get into my car. Please." He said gruffly.
Charlotte felt tears well up in her eyes. "Jess, I..." She sniffed.
"I love you." Jess said leaning in to kiss her.
"I love you too." She said tremulously.
"I'll call when I get there ok?" He said.
"Drive safe." She said her voice cracking.
Jess leaned in and kissed her again. "I will." He said gruffly.
"Go be great." Charlotte sniffed.
Jess chuckled slightly. "I'll try." He said, heaving his bag over his shoulder. He gave her one last smile before turning round and walking out of the apartment.
Charlotte stood there for a few moments before suddenly grabbing her coat and putting her shoes on and racing downstairs. She saw Jess putting the bag in his car and then watched him say goodbye to Lane and give her a friendly hug before pulling Luke into a manly hug. She watched him go and get in the car so she rushed out. "Jess!" She said, causing him to turn around.
They looked at each other for a moment before Charlotte launched herself at him, hugging him tightly. Jess held her close caressing her hair as he did. "I thought I told you to stay upstairs." He joked lightly.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't." Charlotte sniffed. "I'm going to miss you so much." She said.
"Back at you." Jess said gruffly. He took a deep breath and pulled away slowly. "I really should get going."
Charlotte nodded. "Ok." She said quietly. "Call me when you get there."
"First thing." He promised.
Charlotte pulled him in for a final kiss and then let him go. She watched as he got in his car. She waved at him as he drove off and watched his car until it disappeared from sight. She felt tears in her eyes again just as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned round to see Luke stood there.
"He'll be back before you know it." He said softly.
"I know." Charlotte sniffed. "God, I feel so stupid! He's only gone to his new job and I'm acting like he's moved to the other end of the world!" She said laughing slightly.
"It's understandable. It's a big deal." Luke assured her.
Charlotte sighed. "I'm happy for him, I really am." She said softly.
"I know you are." He smiled at her.
"I just..." She said sighing. "I'm going to miss him. It will be weird me coming home and him not being here."
"Yeah I know." Luke sighed. "Come on, I'll make you some pancakes." He said softly.
"I knew mom was marrying you for a reason." She teased.
Luke chuckled. "Come on." He said putting his arm round her and they headed inside.
Lorelai was showing her father around the inn about the insurance after getting a phone call from him the evening before. He had tried to talk to her about Rory and Charlotte's outburst at the dinner but she had politely told him that it was their thing, not hers. She then went on to ask him about insurance at the inn and he offered to come round to have a look.
"Hey Dad, how's it looking?" She asked when he came into the kitchen.
"Why don't you go and check that landing again, Phil?" He told the man he was with. "I'll be up in a moment." He said before turning to Lorelai.
"Well, is it bad, is it good, am I screwed? What do you think?" Lorelai asked.
"Philip and I have thoroughly toured the property and with the exception of one too many garden gnomes, we have found it in top shape." He said.
"Really?" She said pleased.
"Yes. I've also reviewed your policy and while I tip my hat to the criminal genius who convinced you to sign it, I find it appalling." He said.
"I knew the name Sheisty McSheisterson should have tipped me off." She joked.
"You can do better. And I can help." Richard said.
"Don't you tease me, Gilmore." Lorelai joked.
"Oh no, I wouldn't dare." He chuckled.
"So what do we do?" She asked.
"Well, Philip will go over the property again, he'll take some pictures and tomorrow I will put a new policy together for you." He smiled.
"Oh my god, you're my lifesaver." Lorelai smiled relieved.
"Hey, can I make you guys some lunch?" Sookie smiled coming to them.
"No thank you, Sookie." Richard said.
"Come on, Dad. Not even a sandwich?" Lorelai said.
"I'll tell you what. I'll have some coffee if you're offering." Richard smiled.
"We're offering." Lorelai smiled.
"I'll heat up some scones to go with it." Sookie said.
"Oh, no, I don't...uh...I don't want the..." He tried, calling after Sookie.
"Forget it, Dad. You're getting scones." Lorelai smirked.
"My god, this is a bossy place." Richard joked as they headed into the dining room. "You know, I have to say, Lorelai, you've done a wonderful job here." He smiled.
"Thank you, Dad." She said surprised by the praise.
"Well, the restoration. The rooms. The homey feel. And the stables, very smart." He said.
"Yes." She nodded.
"People love horses."
"They turned out to be quite a draw."
Just then a waiter brought in the coffee and scones.
"Oh, my, what is that heavenly smell?" Richard said.
"Scones." Lorelai smiled.
"I have never smelled anything as heavenly as this."
"Wait til you taste them." She smirked.
Emily stood outside the diner for a moment. She was annoyed that Lorelai was talking to her father but not her. Emily was surprised and a bit jealous when he had told her he was going to the inn this morning. Well she was going to put things right because if Lorelai knew she was the reason Luke got back with her, she would be running back to her to thank her. She took a deep breath before opening the door and walking in. She spotted Luke immediately behind the counter and walked up to it, not noticing Charlotte sat there.
"Hello, Luke." She said sitting down. "When you get a moment, I'd like to have a word with you."
"I'm busy right now." Luke said gruffly. He grabbed a plate of food and placed it infront of Charlotte.
"Grandma, what are you doing here?" Charlotte frowned.
"Charlotte!" She said surprised, not expecting to see her granddaughter there. "I'm here to talk to Luke."
"Why?" She frowned.
"I would just like a word, that's all." Emily said.
"No, Grandma please. Just go back home." Charlotte said feeling a pit of dread in her stomach.
"I came to speak to Luke and I'm not going until I speak to him." She said stiffly.
"Haven't you done enough already?" Charlotte exclaimed.
"Charlotte, it's ok." Luke assured her. He turned to Emily. "One minute." He said.
"My daughter and I aren't speaking." She said stiffly. "She won't take my calls, she won't come to dinner. She apparently wants nothing to do with me. I'm sure you know that Lorelai and I have had many battles. Most of them have been because I feel that I know what's best for her. But Lorelai has her own ideas about what she thinks will make her happy. She wants you, Luke. She's made her choice, god help her, but there it is. It doesn't matter if I agree with it, I can't fight it. You've won. Go back to her. I promise I will stay out of it." She said.
"I can't believe you." Charlotte said shaking her head.
"What?" Emily said surprised.
"You think the only reason Mom and Luke would get back together is because you told Luke to go back to her? Don't you think they've got their own minds?" Charlotte exclaimed. "Well guess what, Grandma! They're already back together and it has nothing to do with you!"
"Wait, what?" Emily said shocked, turning back to Luke. "You and Lorelai are back together?"
"We are." He nodded, crossing his arms across his chest.
"Then I don't see what your mother's problem is!" Emily exclaimed.
"Mom's problem?" Charlotte said feeling her blood boiling.
Luke could see this escalating and subtly pulled out his cell and dialled one for Lorelai, knowing she had assigned speed dial to it the evening before.
"If they're back together, why won't your mother come to dinner?" Emily demanded.
Charlotte laughed. "You think because they're back together, everything's ok? You broke them up, Grandma! You deliberately invited dad to your vow renewal because you wanted him to make trouble! And it worked! Mom and Luke broke up and mom was devastated! She thought she had lost the best thing that had ever happened to her! And just because they talked and worked things through, you think we should all be ok with you? Tell you that's alright, it's forgotten. Well it's not like that!"
"I'd like to remind you that I'm still your grandmother and I won't have you speak to me in this disrespectful way." Emily said stiffly.
"Well you earn respect, Grandma." Charlotte snapped angrily.
"Charlotte!" Emily exclaimed.
"No! You expect us to all be ok with this. I can't believe you're actually wondering why this has anything to do with me and Rory! We love Luke, Grandma. And he was humiliated and hurt and that was all down to you and dad. Rory may not want to break her contract but I don't care anymore. You know yesterday when I was having that delightful dinner with you?" She said sarcastically. "I could have been spending the evening with boyfriend who's left this morning to go to Philadelphia for I don't even know how long, but I could have been spending the time with him!" She said feeling tears in her eyes. "Now I'm going to say what I said to dad. You don't respect Luke or Jess and you make that very clear. The meat market Yale alumni party ringing any bells? Well I'm sick of it! Luke is going to be part of this family and Jess and I are not breaking up and for as long as you don't accept that, me and you are done." Charlotte said, trembling. "No more dinners, no nothing! Not until you apologise. And really apologise. Me and you are done!" She said letting out a shaky breath.
"Charlotte..." Lorelai's voice said softly.
Charlotte turned to see her mom stood there, stunned. "I don't care anymore, mom. I've let her get away with too much." She said.
"It's ok." Lorelai said softly coming up and putting a reassuring hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Mom, what are you doing here?" She said trying to stay calm.
"I wanted to talk to Luke." Emily said quietly, still shocked by Charlotte's outburst.
"I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry." Lorelai told Luke.
"It's ok." He said.
"Mom, just go home. You have no right to barge in here and cause a scene."
"I don't get why you won't come to dinner." Emily demanded, recovering slightly.
"I think Charlotte did a good job of explaining why." She said. "Luke and I are back together because we wanted to get back together. I just want you to butt out of our lives."
"But..." Emily said.
"Mom! Please hear me. If I want your input in my life in any way, shape or form, I will ask for it. Until then, do us all a favour and shut up!" Lorelai exclaimed angrily.
Emily looked at her daughter stunned and then glanced at her granddaughter who was avoiding her gaze. She got up silently after a moment and turned and walked out the door.
"Well, I gotta say, suddenly a big fan of speed-dial." Luke said, trying to lighten the mood, before disappearing into the kitchen to give them a moment.
"Are you ok?" Lorelai asked softly.
"No." Charlotte sniffed. "I can't believe I said that. I guess...I guess Jess leaving has affected me more than I've let on..."
"Come here." Lorelai said softly pulling her daughter into a hug.
Meanwhile, Rory and Tristan were walking through Yale's courtyard, hand in hand.
"So do you have to head home?" Tristan asked.
"I promised mom." Rory said. "Plus I think Charlotte might need some sisterly time. Jess left this morning."
"I get it." Tristan said. "Hey, a friend of mine has invited me to this party next week. Would you like to be my plus one?" He smirked.
Rory smiled. "Yeah sure, why not." She said.
"Great! I'll give you the details when you're back. I think it's a fancy dress party." Tristan said.
"My favourite kind." Rory grinned. "So...I'll call you tonight?" She smiled.
"I look forward to it." He smiled. He leant in and gave her a kiss. "Drive safe, Mary."
"I will." She said. "Bye." She smiled giving him another kiss and then walking away with a giddy smile on her face.
"You really said that to Grandma?" Rory was sat on her bed at home that afternoon while Charlotte was sat on hers.
"Yeah." Charlotte said. "I know what you said about the contract and not breaking promises but I just couldn't take it anymore. I think with Jess leaving, everything that I bottled up about her not liking Jess just bubbled to the surface."
"I get it." Rory said quietly. She sighed. "You know I still have to go to the dinner right?" She said hesitantly. "It's not because I wanted to or that I'm trying to be the peace maker but..."
"You can't break promises, yeah I know." Charlotte said. "I understand. You've always been the more moral one out of the two of us. I get it."
"I don't want you to hate me for it." Rory said.
"I could never hate you." Charlotte smiled softly at her sister. "No one could hate you."
Rory smiled slightly. "I don't care about anyone else. I just don't want you hating me."
"I don't." She smiled.
"God here I am being the pity party and you're the one who's had one hell of a day." Rory said.
Charlotte sighed. "Yeah, wouldn't want to repeat it." She said lying down on her bed.
"Can I tell you something?" Rory said hesitantly.
"So long as it's happy. I don't think I can do with anything else depressing today." Charlotte joked.
"Well it's to do with Tristan..." Rory admitted.
"Ok..." Charlotte said sitting up, smirking slightly, thinking she might know where this was heading.
"Well you know how we've been bumping into each other a lot recently and how we've been talking and not like awkward talking but bantering like we used to do." Rory said.
"Yeah.."
"We might have decided to give us another." She admitted.
"Really?" Charlotte smiled.
"Yeah." Rory said nervous about her sister's reaction.
"Good. I'm happy for you." She smiled at her.
"Really?" Rory asked relieved. "You don't think it's too fast?"
Charlotte shook her head. "You were always meant to be with Tristan, it was obvious. Logan made you act like someone else. Tristan...well he just let you be you and loved you for it." She shrugged.
Rory smiled slightly. "Yeah..I guess you're right." She said softly.
Charlotte smiled at her. "I'm really happy for you. Tristan's a good guy. You deserve happiness." She said softly.
"Thanks Charlie." Rory smiled softly.
"And hey, at least it will make double dates with me and Jess a bit easier!" She joked.
Rory laughed. "Yeah I've heard him and Jess are like best friends now."
"Who'd have thought it, huh?" Charlotte grinned. She then smiled at her sister. "Thanks." She said softly. "That has cheered me up."
Rory smiled just as Charlotte's cell rang. She smirked when she saw her sister literally jump on it. "I'm guessing that's Jess. I'll leave you to it." She said, leaving their room.
Charlotte watched her sister leave and then answered the phone. "Hey big shot. Sold any books yet?" She joked.
"Now that would be a miracle." Jess chuckled.
Hope you liked it! Thanks again for all your support! It really does mean so much to me so please keep your reviews coming. I love reading what you think so thank you! :)
