CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Luke dragged himself into the diner the next morning, feeling like he had been hit by a semi -- a semi named Lorelai. Caesar took one look and sent him upstairs to get some sleep. Luke was so grateful that he offered him a raise. Caesar laughed and told Luke they could talk about it later.
"Hey Luke, you know, you're a little old for this, burning the candle at both ends. Nicole was one thing, but Lorelai. You better slow down. Younger women can kill.......it's a nice way to go but....."
"Thanks for the advice. But it's Lorelai. I need her like I need oxygen to breathe."
"Well, right now I think you need some sleep." Caesar pushed him toward the stairway. "Night, boss. Don't worry about a thing."
Luke walked up the stairs, and fell into his bed fully dressed. A little after eleven he awoke feeling human again. He quickly showered and went down to help Caesar. They were both kept busy with the lunch crowd, but when all was quiet again, Luke sent Caesar home for the rest of the day.
Luke was reading the paper when the bell on the door rang. He was surprised when he looked up.
"Hey, Luke."
"Hi, Nicole."
"You look good."
"You do too."
Nicole smiled, "So you and Lorelai......last night.......looked pretty cozy. Guess you two finally got it together."
"Yeah, finally."
"That's good. You look happy."
"I am." Luke couldn't think of any way to make his answers longer. "You looked like you were having a good time."
"Yeah, second date with T.R., a new guy at my firm."
"Good."
"I just came in to explain about last night."
"You don't have to..........running into each other.........it was a little strange."
"For sure, unexpected and awkward."
Luke asked her sincerely, "Are you OK?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I've taken these last weeks to think it through. You were right. It's time to let the divorce go through. The marriage never should have happened."
"I'm truly sorry."
"Ah, Luke it wasn't all your fault. It was me too. We should have taken more time. If we had, we would have saved each other a lot of pain." She continued, "I explained it all to T.R. last night, and he was very understanding. We both agreed to take it slow, see what happens. "
"That's good."
"And you and Lorelai?"
"Nothing's ever slow with Lorelai. We had buried our feelings for so long. Once they came out is was like an explosion."
"Two passionate people, different but very much the same."
"Should be interesting." Luke quietly laughed.
"Well, I guess I'd better go. I just wanted to stop in and clear the air with you. Say goodbye. I pulled some strings to speed up the divorce. The whole thing should be over soon."
"Thanks, Nicole. I appreciate it. We both need to get on with our lives."
Nicole walked behind the counter and gave Luke a hug, holding him an extra minute. She knew she still loved him but he didn't have to know that. They said a final goodbye and then she left. She never looked back.
Luke watched her leave. He was sad but relieved that this last meeting had gone so well. He didn't notice that Lorelai had witnessed the last little exchange. Not knowing what to think, she had quickly walked away from the diner window, with tears in her eyes.
By the time she got to the Inn, the tears were falling full force. Her mind was reeling with all kinds of scenarios -- was he having second thoughts, was he going to give Nicole another chance, did seeing her last night change everything? Sookie didn't know what had happened. She just knew her friend needed a shoulder to cry on, and she had a very willing one. Lorelai cried on Sookie's shoulder until it was thoroughly wet. Then she pulled herself together and thanked her friend for being there and not asking any questions.
"I have to get to Hartford. The parents are back and I'm meeting Rory there for dinner. Hopefully, they will be so happy to see her they won't give me a second look."
Sookie gave her a quick hug and told her to drive carefully. She promised to be there when Lorelai wanted to talk.
Lorelai drove slowly to Hartford. She looked in her mirror and saw red eyes. Her head was throbbing and she was in no shape to be sociable tonight-especially to Emily. So she was relieved when she arrived at the same time as Rory. That would take the heat off. They walked in together and when Rory noticed her condition, Lorelai just said "don't ask."
Emily greeted them with hugs and quickly offered drinks and appetizers. Lorelai was thrilled that she was so busy playing hostess and talking about her trip, that she didn't seem to notice anything different about her. Her dad walked out of his study with Jason. Lorelai hadn't expected that. She also hadn't expected that he would be included in the dinner plans. Dinner conversation went fairly well and Lorelai was sure she was pulling her part off. But Emily finally asked why she was being so quiet, not her usual cheery self. Lorelai only admitted to a massive headache.
"Well, why don't you take something and lie down for a few minutes. We'll be happy to keep Rory busy with our vacation pictures. You can see them another time."
"Thanks, mom. I think I'll do that."
Lorelai went into the kitchen. She knew there was a bottle of Advil there. The maids often needed them, working for her mother. Lorelai grabbed the bottle and tried to open it.
"Damn childproof caps!"
"Can I help you with that?"
"Sure, Jason. Go find me a child. They are the only ones who seem to be able to open these things."
"Well, your mother seems to think I'm still a child, so maybe I can help."
Jason easily opened the bottle and handed her two.
"Three, please."
"Wow, you must have it bad. Trouble in paradise?"
"You'd love that, wouldn't you?"
"Well, maybe. Actually, yes."
"Well, there isn't. At least I don't think. I don't know really. I think I need to lie down."
Jason followed her upstairs. Emily walked out of the study just in time to witness Lorelai and Jason going upstairs.
"Thanks, Jason, but I really think I know my way to my old room."
"Just wanted to make sure you got here safely."
"I'm fine, really, I'll just take a little nap and I'll be great."
"Yeah, sure you will."
Jason pulled back the covers while Lorelai slipped her shoes off. She got under them and Jason pulled them over her.
"You know it's a proven fact that orgasm is a sure cure for headaches."
"And, of course, you're offering to help?"
"Yes, purely medicinal."
"It that little fact from the AMA or the Playboy Adviser? In any case, the only orgasm happening here will be self induced."
"Oh, but that's no fun." He smiled wickedly and said "Goodnight, Lorelai. Sweet dreams." And then he bent over and kissed her on the forehead. Lorelai put her arms up to push him away just as her mother walked in. Emily got an entirely different impression of this little scene.
"Oh, excuse me. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"Mom, it's OK. It's not what it seems."
"Of course, not Lorelai, you and Jason in an embrace on your bed in my house. I'm not stupid you know."
"Mom." But Emily had retreated slamming the door behind here. Lorelai winced and Jason started to laugh.
"Yeah, it's real funny. I'm going to sleep. You have to go down and face the dragon lady. You think she didn't like you before-just wait. I'd put on my coat if I were you. It's going to be frigid down there." Lorelai turned her back to him.
Jason left the room, trying to think how he could explain the little scene to Emily. But luckily, she had gone to her room and didn't come back down before he had to leave.
Lorelai didn't wake up until the next morning. She looked around the room and thought she was having some really strange flash back to her childhood. But then she remembered the events that had lead up to her being in her old bed. She went downstairs to face her mother, but she wasn't there. It was after eleven and Emily had already left for one of her luncheons. Lorelai grabbed some coffee and a piece of toast and quickly got in her car and headed back to Stars Hollow.
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Luke dragged himself into the diner the next morning, feeling like he had been hit by a semi -- a semi named Lorelai. Caesar took one look and sent him upstairs to get some sleep. Luke was so grateful that he offered him a raise. Caesar laughed and told Luke they could talk about it later.
"Hey Luke, you know, you're a little old for this, burning the candle at both ends. Nicole was one thing, but Lorelai. You better slow down. Younger women can kill.......it's a nice way to go but....."
"Thanks for the advice. But it's Lorelai. I need her like I need oxygen to breathe."
"Well, right now I think you need some sleep." Caesar pushed him toward the stairway. "Night, boss. Don't worry about a thing."
Luke walked up the stairs, and fell into his bed fully dressed. A little after eleven he awoke feeling human again. He quickly showered and went down to help Caesar. They were both kept busy with the lunch crowd, but when all was quiet again, Luke sent Caesar home for the rest of the day.
Luke was reading the paper when the bell on the door rang. He was surprised when he looked up.
"Hey, Luke."
"Hi, Nicole."
"You look good."
"You do too."
Nicole smiled, "So you and Lorelai......last night.......looked pretty cozy. Guess you two finally got it together."
"Yeah, finally."
"That's good. You look happy."
"I am." Luke couldn't think of any way to make his answers longer. "You looked like you were having a good time."
"Yeah, second date with T.R., a new guy at my firm."
"Good."
"I just came in to explain about last night."
"You don't have to..........running into each other.........it was a little strange."
"For sure, unexpected and awkward."
Luke asked her sincerely, "Are you OK?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I've taken these last weeks to think it through. You were right. It's time to let the divorce go through. The marriage never should have happened."
"I'm truly sorry."
"Ah, Luke it wasn't all your fault. It was me too. We should have taken more time. If we had, we would have saved each other a lot of pain." She continued, "I explained it all to T.R. last night, and he was very understanding. We both agreed to take it slow, see what happens. "
"That's good."
"And you and Lorelai?"
"Nothing's ever slow with Lorelai. We had buried our feelings for so long. Once they came out is was like an explosion."
"Two passionate people, different but very much the same."
"Should be interesting." Luke quietly laughed.
"Well, I guess I'd better go. I just wanted to stop in and clear the air with you. Say goodbye. I pulled some strings to speed up the divorce. The whole thing should be over soon."
"Thanks, Nicole. I appreciate it. We both need to get on with our lives."
Nicole walked behind the counter and gave Luke a hug, holding him an extra minute. She knew she still loved him but he didn't have to know that. They said a final goodbye and then she left. She never looked back.
Luke watched her leave. He was sad but relieved that this last meeting had gone so well. He didn't notice that Lorelai had witnessed the last little exchange. Not knowing what to think, she had quickly walked away from the diner window, with tears in her eyes.
By the time she got to the Inn, the tears were falling full force. Her mind was reeling with all kinds of scenarios -- was he having second thoughts, was he going to give Nicole another chance, did seeing her last night change everything? Sookie didn't know what had happened. She just knew her friend needed a shoulder to cry on, and she had a very willing one. Lorelai cried on Sookie's shoulder until it was thoroughly wet. Then she pulled herself together and thanked her friend for being there and not asking any questions.
"I have to get to Hartford. The parents are back and I'm meeting Rory there for dinner. Hopefully, they will be so happy to see her they won't give me a second look."
Sookie gave her a quick hug and told her to drive carefully. She promised to be there when Lorelai wanted to talk.
Lorelai drove slowly to Hartford. She looked in her mirror and saw red eyes. Her head was throbbing and she was in no shape to be sociable tonight-especially to Emily. So she was relieved when she arrived at the same time as Rory. That would take the heat off. They walked in together and when Rory noticed her condition, Lorelai just said "don't ask."
Emily greeted them with hugs and quickly offered drinks and appetizers. Lorelai was thrilled that she was so busy playing hostess and talking about her trip, that she didn't seem to notice anything different about her. Her dad walked out of his study with Jason. Lorelai hadn't expected that. She also hadn't expected that he would be included in the dinner plans. Dinner conversation went fairly well and Lorelai was sure she was pulling her part off. But Emily finally asked why she was being so quiet, not her usual cheery self. Lorelai only admitted to a massive headache.
"Well, why don't you take something and lie down for a few minutes. We'll be happy to keep Rory busy with our vacation pictures. You can see them another time."
"Thanks, mom. I think I'll do that."
Lorelai went into the kitchen. She knew there was a bottle of Advil there. The maids often needed them, working for her mother. Lorelai grabbed the bottle and tried to open it.
"Damn childproof caps!"
"Can I help you with that?"
"Sure, Jason. Go find me a child. They are the only ones who seem to be able to open these things."
"Well, your mother seems to think I'm still a child, so maybe I can help."
Jason easily opened the bottle and handed her two.
"Three, please."
"Wow, you must have it bad. Trouble in paradise?"
"You'd love that, wouldn't you?"
"Well, maybe. Actually, yes."
"Well, there isn't. At least I don't think. I don't know really. I think I need to lie down."
Jason followed her upstairs. Emily walked out of the study just in time to witness Lorelai and Jason going upstairs.
"Thanks, Jason, but I really think I know my way to my old room."
"Just wanted to make sure you got here safely."
"I'm fine, really, I'll just take a little nap and I'll be great."
"Yeah, sure you will."
Jason pulled back the covers while Lorelai slipped her shoes off. She got under them and Jason pulled them over her.
"You know it's a proven fact that orgasm is a sure cure for headaches."
"And, of course, you're offering to help?"
"Yes, purely medicinal."
"It that little fact from the AMA or the Playboy Adviser? In any case, the only orgasm happening here will be self induced."
"Oh, but that's no fun." He smiled wickedly and said "Goodnight, Lorelai. Sweet dreams." And then he bent over and kissed her on the forehead. Lorelai put her arms up to push him away just as her mother walked in. Emily got an entirely different impression of this little scene.
"Oh, excuse me. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"Mom, it's OK. It's not what it seems."
"Of course, not Lorelai, you and Jason in an embrace on your bed in my house. I'm not stupid you know."
"Mom." But Emily had retreated slamming the door behind here. Lorelai winced and Jason started to laugh.
"Yeah, it's real funny. I'm going to sleep. You have to go down and face the dragon lady. You think she didn't like you before-just wait. I'd put on my coat if I were you. It's going to be frigid down there." Lorelai turned her back to him.
Jason left the room, trying to think how he could explain the little scene to Emily. But luckily, she had gone to her room and didn't come back down before he had to leave.
Lorelai didn't wake up until the next morning. She looked around the room and thought she was having some really strange flash back to her childhood. But then she remembered the events that had lead up to her being in her old bed. She went downstairs to face her mother, but she wasn't there. It was after eleven and Emily had already left for one of her luncheons. Lorelai grabbed some coffee and a piece of toast and quickly got in her car and headed back to Stars Hollow.
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