The next night came way to fast for Lorelai. She was hoping the day would drag on, but everything ran smoothly at the inn, so there was nothing to get her and Rory out of the party tonight. But she also knew that Rory seemed to look forward to getting to see her grandparents even though she couldn't understand why.
"Here we go," Lorelai said as she rang the doorbell to her parent's house. A maid she didn't know answered the door and let them in. The rooms were filled with Hartford businessmen and socialite ladies. The house was filled with the world that Lorelai ran away from twelve years ago.
Lorelai and Rory stayed close to each other as they weaved through the crowd looking for the food table. If nothing else, these holiday parties always had great food.
"Rory!" Emily Gilmore said when she caught sight of her daughter and granddaughter. "How are you? How's school?"
"Hi, Grandma. I'm fine. Everything's fine," she said giving her grandmother an awkward hug.
"I'm fine too, Mom. Thanks for asking," Lorelai said.
"Lorelai," Emily said.
"And how are things with you, Mom?" Lorelai asked.
Emily smiled and pushed her disagreements with Lorelai aside for the moment. "Everything's been just fine. In fact, I have some exciting news."
"Uh-oh," Lorelai said. Every time her mother got excited about something, it always involved something she didn't want to do.
"This is news for Rory, Lorelai," Emily said, giving her daughter a disapproving look.
"Me, Grandma?" Rory asked, confused.
"Yes. Your grandfather and I were down at the club earlier this week and I noticed that they were going to be giving horseback riding lessons. I thought that maybe you would like to take some lessons."
Rory was surprised and the way she looked at her mother showed the surprise. Lorelai just shook her head.
"I don't know, Grandma…"
"You might like it," Emily told her. "Even your mother took horseback riding lessons when she was your age and she loved it."
Rory smiled and looked at her mother, her eyebrows raised in amusement. "Really?"
"Yes," Lorelai consented. "I took the lessons and I loved it."
"Really?" Rory asked again with a laugh.
"Yes. Geez, what's so funny about that?" Lorelai asked, pretending to be offended.
"I just can't quite picture you on a horse."
"She was really good," Emily interjected, a hint of pride in her voice.
Lorelai could tell that Rory was curious about all this. She had always rejected most offers from her parents for things for Rory. She was determined to raise her daughter on her own, and she thought she was doing a good job. But, it was true, she had loved the horses. And maybe Rory would like it to? Lorelai didn't want to deny her that chance.
Rory was lost in thoughts of her own. She had never been one of those girls who had wanted a horse. She had never thought much about it. She really had no desire to ride. Horses always seemed so big to her and she was skeptical. But her mother had loved it and her grandmother seemed so eager for her to try it.
Lorelai noticed the pensive features on her daughter's face. She quickly added, "You don't have to if you don't want to, Babe." Lorelai didn't want Rory to feel pressured into doing something she didn't want to do.
Rory knew that she didn't have to, but she was a person who wanted to please everyone. If she agreed to the lessons her grandmother would be happy and she would get to share in something her mother loved from her childhood.
"Okay, sure. I guess I can try," Rory agreed.
"Wonderful!" Emily said.
"Are you sure?" Lorelai asked.
"Yep," Rory answered. "It sounds like fun," she said, almost telling the truth.
"Great! The lessons start after the New Year. I'll set it up."
"Thanks, Mom," Lorelai said, her voice sincere.
"You're welcome," Emily replied uncertainly, but then smiled when she realized no witty remark from Lorelai was coming.