LORELAI

Luke was there when we got home. Kat began watching Gossip Girl reruns while I went into the kitchen. Luke followed.

"So. You weren't lying. I mean, I didn't think you were... but Kat actually... I mean obviously since Taylor lost his mind, but-"

"And you say I speak in riddles."
"Lorelai. I mean Kat. She's not huge by any means, but she actually- I'm going to be a grandpa!"

"You were going to be a grandfather before. She's showing more right now than she was when she showed up at the Inn this afternoon. It'll be less noticeable in the morning."

"But obviously you could still tell at the Inn. I mean you called me after she left"

"She's definitely showing, but the dress emphasizes it. I saw her in her underwear in a robe when I came home after work, so I know the dress is playing a role, but she definitely had a little bump"

"That's good though!"
"Yeah. It is. Even if Taylor thinks otherwise" I responded while putting the tacos on a plate. I went to put them into the microwave and Luke stopped me.

"Don't use the microwave. Heat up the oven, toss them in a cast iron skillet, and bake them for a little bit."

"Yes, Sookie."

"If telling you a great re-heating method makes me sound like Sookie? Then I sound like Sookie. I like Kat's idea by the way. It will also take away some of Taylor's business. Win-Win"

"I cannot believe he did that."

"Oh I can."

All of a sudden something hit me.

"Hey Luke. Can you do taco duty? I have to go."

"Where are you going?"

"My mother's."

"What? Why?"

"Tomorrow night."

"Oh. Right. Jess is coming by the way. He called right before you got home with Kat. You could call Emily"

"I'm going to go."

"You want me to drive you?"
"No. I'm fine. Don't give me that look Luke. Besides, this way? You can reheat the tacos your way."

I kissed him goodbye, said goodbye to Kat, grabbed my coat and purse from the entryway, and headed out.

My mother answered the door upon my arrival, probably because it was late.

"Lorelai. What on earth are you doing here?" my mother said, answering the door with a cup in hand that was wafting the scent of coffee.

"We need to talk," I said walking in, "Do you have coffee?"

"I thought Luke was trying to keep you from drinking coffee."

"Well you aren't wearing a backwards baseball cap or a flannel button down, so I think it will be okay."

"Alright then. I have some in the kitchen."

I followed her into the kitchen and watched as she poured me a cup.

"I am only giving this to you as your father once recorded how many cups of coffee I drank during the day... when he was trying retirement out. He felt I was drinking too much. I didn't appreciate having my coffee consumption monitored. I am assuming you will not be telling Luke about this?"
"The secret is safe."

"Good. Now what do we need to talk about?"
"Tomorrow."

"I was guessing as much. Let's go back to the living room so we can sit down." My mother's eyes went to my stomach as she said that. She was clearly trying to be considerate of my back.

We went back into the living room. She sat in a chair while I sat on the sofa.

"Did you come to tell me you're not coming tomorrow night?"

"What? No."

"Good. So what brings you here? Coffee? There must be coffee shops where Luke does not know the purveyor closer to Stars Hollow."

"Stars Hollow found out tonight about the pregnancy. Well, Kat's pregnancy. They obviously have known about mine."

My hand went to my bump

"I love my town, but their reaction made me worried about the reaction of your friends." I continued

"What?"

"Taylor, the town selectman, was awful to Kat. I don't want to talk about that though. I want to know about your friends. They must know. I mean Kat left Chilton due to it... so I would assume they'd be okay, but after tonight I needed to hear it from you in person."
"They don't know why Katalina left Chilton."

"How is that possible?"

"They think she left due to her eating disorder. Lorelai, I don't know why that's shocking. People were shocked it hadn't happened sooner."

"Wait. You're talking as though you knew Kat before she came to stay with me."

"You knew I had met Katalina."

"You made it sound like you only knew of her... as though in passing, but you knew her."

"Lorelai."

"Mom?"

My mother put her cup down.

"It's complicated Lorelai. I didn't know her. You have to understand, I was just acquainted with her name from hearing it on a few occasions over the years."
"What had you heard?"
"It doesn't matter," my mother persisted
"It does."

"Lorelai. Katalina is the type of girl the women in the DAR wish their granddaughters were like. She was a figure skater, she ran track, she did cross country, she modeled, she speaks French fluently, she has exquisite taste, boys want to date her, but there are no rumors of promiscuity. She is... or I suppose was... valedictorian. She got early acceptance into several Ivy League schools where their grandchildren were waitlisted. I had to hear about all of it. How this girl kept usurping their grandchildren. Only Katalina wasn't usurping them, anyone can see that... she is just remarkably gifted and was blessed facially. It drove them batty. Eventually they had to come to terms with the fact that some of their grandchildren weren't as academically, physically, or facially inclined."

"Do I need to be worried about tomorrow night?"
"Lorelai, all the residual disdain for that child dissipated two or so years ago."
"What happened two or so years ago?"
"The debutante ball."

"What? Since when does a debutant ball solve anything?"
"That one did. It quelched it all. Sort of some unspoken pact to try to help that girl without getting involved."

"What?"

"I loved Rory's debutante dress. That simple boned bodice white gown with embroidery. It was classic and stunning. Katalina's though? She designed it apparently. Breathtaking. Bias cut dress with this sheer mesh back. I normally would be appalled by something like that, but covering the mesh were rows of draped pearls. I am fairly positive they were real pearls too. It had a very vintage 1920s look. Impeccably tailored and it floated when she walked down the steps."

"I am sure your friends did not appreciate her stealing the spotlight. So I am still not following why this would suddenly make them quit talking about her"
"Oh they knew she was going to be the crown jewel before it even happened. Handsome escort too, though I can't remember his name."

"Mom."

"Anyway, Katalina had always been a thin girl. Over time she continually got thinner. We all assumed it was due to the running and figure skating. Someone once said they had heard Katalina had a dietitian working to ensure she was gaining lean muscle so the running wouldn't negatively impact figure skating. I don't know. That night though? She went to pose after walking down the steps. When she placed her hand on her hip it caused the pearls to be pushed back, revealing the mesh back. It was terrifying Lorelai. Bones. Just bones. Clearly visible through the mesh. You could hear people gasp. She was thinner than she was when she came to stay with you."

"Your friends love to gossip about things like that. You yourself once nearly accosted Shira Huntzberger and brought up her yo-yoing weight and philandering husband. Don't misunderstand, I was proud of you that night. You have some fight in you Emily Gilmore, but how did that get people to like her?"

"This was different Lorelai. Later that night, Katalina went to get an apple tart. The girl had not eaten a solitary thing the entire evening. We all were watching her. I was watching her after seeing her back. When she went to take one of the tarts her mother slapped her hand away. Katalina tried again to get one and her mother grabbed her wrist forcefully. Your father saw it and stepped in. I honestly don't think Katalina remembers or realizes it was Richard."

I smiled at the thought of my father stepping in.

"People saw it happen and knew. I rarely heard a word about Katalina after that. It had tapered by that point anyway, but even the golden girl comments weren't uttered as much. I think people didn't want to keep blaming her."

"I can't believe you knew her and didn't say anything."
"I didn't know her Lorelai."
"Mom. You just recounted this long story about her for the past five minutes"

"Fine, I knew more about her than I told you. Does that make you happy?"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Lorelai, what would I have told you? That some of my DAR friends were jealous of her for years before realizing her mother was essentially supporting an eating disorder that was clearly killing her? That some of my other DAR friends were never jealous and stood up for her, citing her clear intellect and natural athletic abilities"

"Fine. I see your point. However, I am not sure why you think this shows it will be fine. Teen pregnancy is different."
"I am well aware of that Lorelai." My mother said sharply.

"Gee thanks."

"Lorelai, I am sorry, I am just pointing out that I don't need to be reminded. ."
"She doesn't look as far along as she is. Even if people know she was raped..." My mother looked sharply down as I said that and quickly interjected.

"Well, I am sure Richard will have no qualms about asking people to leave"

"I just need it to be okay... and I need an apple tart now that you've mentioned one. Preventing her from eating an apple tart? I knew I couldn't stand her mother."
"I will be preventing you from eating an apple tart as well. The caterer won't be here until tomorrow night with the apple tarts, so you will have to wait."

I pouted.

"Lorelai. You're behaving like a child rather than someone who is going to have another child in almost 6 months. However, there might be some apple crisp left from tonight's dessert."

"Well. I am going to go check."