Lorelai hadn't arrived when Tristan and Rory walked into Luke's, so they
slid into a booth and settled down to wait for her. Rory wished she hadn't
asked Tristan here. His nearness was causing her body to prickle
uncomfortably, and she was far too aware of his movements. She wanted him
to leave. Or at least move to the other side of the table.
"You have to get the coffee. It's the greatest in the world."
"Got it. And what's good to eat?"
"Burgers."
"What else?"
"Oh, um…. I wonder if they have a menu."
"It's fine."
"No, I'm sure they have more stuff. Hey, Jess!"
"Yeah?"
"What do you sell here?"
"For him?"
"Yeah. This is Tristan. My Grandma's making me come out this year, and Tristan is my escort." She wasn't sure why she felt compelled to explain Tristan's presence to Jess. There was nothing between them, never had been. There had been potential, but it had never been realized, in the aftermath of her messy break-up with Dean. "He'd like some choices. I can't persuade him to go for the burger."
"You could."
She glanced away. "Do you have a menu?"
"I'll get you one in a minute."
Jess drifted off and Rory turned back to Tristan. "That was Jess."
"I heard."
"He's the owner's nephew. Just as surly as Luke, but less abrasive. By the way, if Luke comes over, you might want to duck and cover."
"Been telling him bad things about me?"
"Mmm. He may have overheard a rant or three last year."
"Nothing irreparable, I hope."
"No. Well, let's just deal with Jess. I'd tell you to watch out for my mother too, but there's really no way to avoid that one." Maybe she could intercept Lorelai before she got to their table, and tell her to be nice to Tristan. No, that would just make it worse and lead to much teasing of Rory.
"Rory."
"Luke." She braced herself.
"Your mother's on the phone."
He walked away without acknowledging Tristan.
"Well, that went well I think."
"Yeah. I'll be back in a second."
Rory bolted to the counter, wondering what was wrong. Something had to be, for her mother to be calling her here.
"Mom?"
"Rory. I can't make it, but everything's fine. Well, except that you're there with Mike Myers, but fine is a relative term."
"What's wrong?"
"I'm in Hartford, at the hospital—"
"Mom!"
"No, really, that's why I said 'everything's fine' already. Jackson had a little accident. Sookie stayed late at the Inn, and Jackson came over, and now he's burned somewhere you don't want to know about. But he'll be back at work on Monday, so everything's really fine. I just can't be there."
Rory was relieved, and felt guilty that it was on two counts: Jackson was fine, and her mother wasn't coming. "Okay. Well, I'll see you at home."
"I won't be late. You know where the money is, right?"
"At home."
"Right. See you later."
Rory hung up, and blew out her breath in frustration. She had to be stuck with Tristan the one time she had no money to pay for her meal. She headed back to the table, smiling brightly. "I'll be back in a minute, Tristan, I just have to run home."
"Wait, what? Is something wrong?"
"My mom can't make it, but nothing's wrong."
"So why are you going home?"
"When I forgot my jacket I forgot that my wallet was in my jacket. My house is right by here, I won't be long."
"I'll get it."
"My jacket?"
"The cheque."
"Oh, no. I'll just go get the money."
"Want me to drive you?"
"I'll be fine. Crime is spiraling sky-high in Stars Hollow now that Jess is here, but I think I'm safe from him."
"At least take my jacket."
Not a good idea. "You know, I think Luke will let me pay later. I'll just go arrange that instead."
Luke was glaring over at Tristan, but he took a break to squint suspiciously at Rory. "Why did you bring him here?"
"Didn't Mom tell you? Grandma drafted him in to take me to some fancy dance- type-things."
"She told me that. Is that what's passing for a ball gown these days?"
"Well, we had to practice. Don't want to look stupid. Though I think I'm fighting a losing battle against that frou-frou dress Grandma wants me to wear. Anyway, I have to deal with him, so be nice. Or at least stay away from him."
Luke grunted in assent. If only her mother was as obliging. "But that's not what I came up here to ask you. Mom just stood me up, and I have no money, so is it all right if I pay you tomorrow?"
"Sure. I'll be seeing Lorelai before then."
"Ask her to bring me home some coffee. Did you get those disposable cups in yet?"
"Go away before I change my mind."
Rory smiled, and went back to Tristan.
"Ah, you got a menu. Ready to order?"
"Already did. Jess knew what you'd want."
"Good. Shouldn't be long then." Rory couldn't think of anything to say. She could talk about why her mother wasn't here, but if Tristan cared, he would have asked. He was gazing about the diner, studying the other patrons. He looked bored. She cleared her throat, and spoke. "So your mother roped you into this?"
"Yeah. She felt left out with all the other moms talking about what their kids were wearing, and who they were going with. She didn't think she was participating enough. What does yours think about it?"
"Oh, she thinks it's hilarious. Anything that's ripe for ridicule makes her happy. She was a bit worried at first because she knew I had no interest in it, but she's relaxed about it since then. It's my Grandma, you know?"
"Yeah, my grandfather was telling me. She wants you to do it because your mother didn't."
"Yeah."
"She'll be expecting a lot of you then; more than you can give. Don't let it get to you."
Rory was pleasantly surprised, not only that he remembered what his grandfather had said, but that he seemed to understand it. It shouldn't have surprised her; she knew that all the kids at Chilton were under enormous pressure from their parents. "It's not a problem with Mom around. You should hear the arguments they have about it over the dinner table. Much worse than any I've heard before. I think it's because Grandma knows she has no leverage. If Mom and I both say no she has no way of changing our minds."
She was talking too much, about things that were far too personal, but she couldn't stop herself. Tristan's arm brushed hers as he reached for his water, and she cast about frantically for a safe topic of conversation. School, Spanish club, Spanish tests, pianos, tongues. She watched Tristan's throat work as he swallowed his water, and forced herself to remain composed, desperately trying to school her features to blankness.
Luke banged their plates onto the table, making Rory jump, and walked off without a word. Nice of him. Must have taken an effort. Glad of the silence, she relaxed while they ate. It didn't last long.
"Maybe I'll get to witness it on Friday."
"Friday?" She looked up at him, startled.
"You didn't know. We're – my parents and I, we're coming to dinner at your grandparent's next Friday. They thought we should all meet each other."
"They want to meet my mom, you mean. Make sure she's mended her wicked ways, and decide if I'm a suitable friend for you." Rory had always believed that it didn't matter what people thought of her mother; it couldn't affect her. She was uncertain of that for the first time, and hated the feeling.
"Not at all. Although my father probably will interrogate you, don't take it personally. My mother has actually met yours already, at some Chilton club. She just adores her, don't you know. Did she sponsor anything?"
"Not that I know of. You're sure you're not talking about Grandma? Mom hosted a fashion show a while back."
"That was it." He gazed into his coffee cup, trailing his fingers around the rim. "You know, nobody thinks about your mother that way. I'm not saying they're not prejudiced against her, but if they are, it's because she doesn't have as much money as they do, not because she's an unmarried mother. Morality means nothing. And bloodlines overcome all defects."
The conversation had taken a serious turn, and Rory didn't know what to do with it. She wasn't sure what they were discussing anymore. Tristan had started trying to reassure her, but had ended sounding curiously defeated.
"Not that I'm saying your mother is immoral. I don't think that at all. Sorry." He reached out to attract Jess' attention. "Can I get some more coffee? You were right about this stuff."
"It is addictive, isn't it?"
"You have to get the coffee. It's the greatest in the world."
"Got it. And what's good to eat?"
"Burgers."
"What else?"
"Oh, um…. I wonder if they have a menu."
"It's fine."
"No, I'm sure they have more stuff. Hey, Jess!"
"Yeah?"
"What do you sell here?"
"For him?"
"Yeah. This is Tristan. My Grandma's making me come out this year, and Tristan is my escort." She wasn't sure why she felt compelled to explain Tristan's presence to Jess. There was nothing between them, never had been. There had been potential, but it had never been realized, in the aftermath of her messy break-up with Dean. "He'd like some choices. I can't persuade him to go for the burger."
"You could."
She glanced away. "Do you have a menu?"
"I'll get you one in a minute."
Jess drifted off and Rory turned back to Tristan. "That was Jess."
"I heard."
"He's the owner's nephew. Just as surly as Luke, but less abrasive. By the way, if Luke comes over, you might want to duck and cover."
"Been telling him bad things about me?"
"Mmm. He may have overheard a rant or three last year."
"Nothing irreparable, I hope."
"No. Well, let's just deal with Jess. I'd tell you to watch out for my mother too, but there's really no way to avoid that one." Maybe she could intercept Lorelai before she got to their table, and tell her to be nice to Tristan. No, that would just make it worse and lead to much teasing of Rory.
"Rory."
"Luke." She braced herself.
"Your mother's on the phone."
He walked away without acknowledging Tristan.
"Well, that went well I think."
"Yeah. I'll be back in a second."
Rory bolted to the counter, wondering what was wrong. Something had to be, for her mother to be calling her here.
"Mom?"
"Rory. I can't make it, but everything's fine. Well, except that you're there with Mike Myers, but fine is a relative term."
"What's wrong?"
"I'm in Hartford, at the hospital—"
"Mom!"
"No, really, that's why I said 'everything's fine' already. Jackson had a little accident. Sookie stayed late at the Inn, and Jackson came over, and now he's burned somewhere you don't want to know about. But he'll be back at work on Monday, so everything's really fine. I just can't be there."
Rory was relieved, and felt guilty that it was on two counts: Jackson was fine, and her mother wasn't coming. "Okay. Well, I'll see you at home."
"I won't be late. You know where the money is, right?"
"At home."
"Right. See you later."
Rory hung up, and blew out her breath in frustration. She had to be stuck with Tristan the one time she had no money to pay for her meal. She headed back to the table, smiling brightly. "I'll be back in a minute, Tristan, I just have to run home."
"Wait, what? Is something wrong?"
"My mom can't make it, but nothing's wrong."
"So why are you going home?"
"When I forgot my jacket I forgot that my wallet was in my jacket. My house is right by here, I won't be long."
"I'll get it."
"My jacket?"
"The cheque."
"Oh, no. I'll just go get the money."
"Want me to drive you?"
"I'll be fine. Crime is spiraling sky-high in Stars Hollow now that Jess is here, but I think I'm safe from him."
"At least take my jacket."
Not a good idea. "You know, I think Luke will let me pay later. I'll just go arrange that instead."
Luke was glaring over at Tristan, but he took a break to squint suspiciously at Rory. "Why did you bring him here?"
"Didn't Mom tell you? Grandma drafted him in to take me to some fancy dance- type-things."
"She told me that. Is that what's passing for a ball gown these days?"
"Well, we had to practice. Don't want to look stupid. Though I think I'm fighting a losing battle against that frou-frou dress Grandma wants me to wear. Anyway, I have to deal with him, so be nice. Or at least stay away from him."
Luke grunted in assent. If only her mother was as obliging. "But that's not what I came up here to ask you. Mom just stood me up, and I have no money, so is it all right if I pay you tomorrow?"
"Sure. I'll be seeing Lorelai before then."
"Ask her to bring me home some coffee. Did you get those disposable cups in yet?"
"Go away before I change my mind."
Rory smiled, and went back to Tristan.
"Ah, you got a menu. Ready to order?"
"Already did. Jess knew what you'd want."
"Good. Shouldn't be long then." Rory couldn't think of anything to say. She could talk about why her mother wasn't here, but if Tristan cared, he would have asked. He was gazing about the diner, studying the other patrons. He looked bored. She cleared her throat, and spoke. "So your mother roped you into this?"
"Yeah. She felt left out with all the other moms talking about what their kids were wearing, and who they were going with. She didn't think she was participating enough. What does yours think about it?"
"Oh, she thinks it's hilarious. Anything that's ripe for ridicule makes her happy. She was a bit worried at first because she knew I had no interest in it, but she's relaxed about it since then. It's my Grandma, you know?"
"Yeah, my grandfather was telling me. She wants you to do it because your mother didn't."
"Yeah."
"She'll be expecting a lot of you then; more than you can give. Don't let it get to you."
Rory was pleasantly surprised, not only that he remembered what his grandfather had said, but that he seemed to understand it. It shouldn't have surprised her; she knew that all the kids at Chilton were under enormous pressure from their parents. "It's not a problem with Mom around. You should hear the arguments they have about it over the dinner table. Much worse than any I've heard before. I think it's because Grandma knows she has no leverage. If Mom and I both say no she has no way of changing our minds."
She was talking too much, about things that were far too personal, but she couldn't stop herself. Tristan's arm brushed hers as he reached for his water, and she cast about frantically for a safe topic of conversation. School, Spanish club, Spanish tests, pianos, tongues. She watched Tristan's throat work as he swallowed his water, and forced herself to remain composed, desperately trying to school her features to blankness.
Luke banged their plates onto the table, making Rory jump, and walked off without a word. Nice of him. Must have taken an effort. Glad of the silence, she relaxed while they ate. It didn't last long.
"Maybe I'll get to witness it on Friday."
"Friday?" She looked up at him, startled.
"You didn't know. We're – my parents and I, we're coming to dinner at your grandparent's next Friday. They thought we should all meet each other."
"They want to meet my mom, you mean. Make sure she's mended her wicked ways, and decide if I'm a suitable friend for you." Rory had always believed that it didn't matter what people thought of her mother; it couldn't affect her. She was uncertain of that for the first time, and hated the feeling.
"Not at all. Although my father probably will interrogate you, don't take it personally. My mother has actually met yours already, at some Chilton club. She just adores her, don't you know. Did she sponsor anything?"
"Not that I know of. You're sure you're not talking about Grandma? Mom hosted a fashion show a while back."
"That was it." He gazed into his coffee cup, trailing his fingers around the rim. "You know, nobody thinks about your mother that way. I'm not saying they're not prejudiced against her, but if they are, it's because she doesn't have as much money as they do, not because she's an unmarried mother. Morality means nothing. And bloodlines overcome all defects."
The conversation had taken a serious turn, and Rory didn't know what to do with it. She wasn't sure what they were discussing anymore. Tristan had started trying to reassure her, but had ended sounding curiously defeated.
"Not that I'm saying your mother is immoral. I don't think that at all. Sorry." He reached out to attract Jess' attention. "Can I get some more coffee? You were right about this stuff."
"It is addictive, isn't it?"