PARIS
Rory seemed to heed my warning to her about her treatment of the woman who was more of a mother to me than my own mother. It's possible my increasingly forceful kicking of her leg under the table also helped reinforce my message. Lorelai and Rory headed back to the house to have a chat and I told them I would get myself reacquainted with the town, since the last time I had been to Stars Hollow, they'd still had the rooster. I wasn't actually interested in sight seeing what always felt like some strange real life caricature of a town. I was on a mission to get Rory back on the right path. After getting the news stand guy to point me into the right direction, I found the Stars Hollow Gazette building. Immediately upon entering, I noticed a guy sitting at a desk right next to the door.
"So you run this place?" I asked startling the man whose back was to me. I noticed him slip a bottle into the top drawer of his desk.
"I am Bernie Roundbottom, the editor, yes."
"All right. Now Bernie, I would assume based on the size of this town and my friend Rory Gilmore's prolific nature when it comes to journalism that you know her?"
"Ah yes, Ms. Gilmore. Lorelai's daughter. Chilton and Yale graduate. Ice Cream Queen. We've written many articles about her."
"Well, she's clearly aged out of that Ice Cream Queen position and she's looking for a job."
"I don't know that we have any positions available at the moment. I tend to write most of the articles."
"There's no positions available for a highly overqualified Yale graduate who has work history at the New York Times?"
"Perhaps I could find a spot for her, but I doubt she'd like what I would be able to pay her. It's more of a labor of love. Also, she would still need to interview."
"A Yale graduate who has work history at the New York Times would need to interview for a paper that," I started as I grabbed a copy of the local paper off the desk, "has a poem taking up the vast majority of the front page?"
"That poem young lady is a tradition. Tell Rory to come by later today for a chat. Now I have work to do, if that's all" Bernie said, beginning to open his top drawer.
On my way back to Lorelai's, I passed a building with a sign advertising that it was a history museum. Curiosity got the better of me and I went in. The staff told seemed overly enthusiastic about my arrival and noted maybe the town wouldn't have to sell the museum if admissions picked up. When I inquired how many tickets they sold daily, I was informed I was the only ticket this month. After strolling through the museum? I wasn't surprised. I was tempted to ask for a refund due to the questionable nature of the history. I made a mental note to ask Lorelai about it later.
As I was walking I realized I needed something that only one person could help me with. Despite not having spoken to her in three years, I found myself dialing her number.
"Paris?" Louise greeted me.
"That's how you answer your phone Louise?"
"It is when I see your name pop across it. Be grateful I picked up. I was about to go have a long lunch with someone if you know what I mean.."
"I'll send you a thank you card for the sacrifice."
"Spicy as always. I am sure Doyle loves that."
"I broke up with Doyle. Your mother is a DAR member, right?"
"Yes. My mother's actually been trying to get me to… but there's just somany old women wearing shoes with buckles as though they are contractually obligated to since their relatives were pilgrims."
"Now concentrate. Can you get Emily Gilmore's phone number from her for me?"
"Emily Gilmore… Rory's grandmother? Why don't you just ask Rory?"
"Louise. Just text me the number?"
"Why do I assume this is time sensitive?"
"It is."
"All right."
Within 30 minutes time, I was inside Kat's bedroom and dialing Emily's number.