"Wow, look at all the cars lined up like that... A lot of people must have really cared about her," noted Lorelai as Luke handed her out of his truck.
"Well, she got pretty cantankerous and solitary in the past ten years. I imagine most of the people are here for Kirk," replied Luke.
Lorelai nodded and took his arm as they walked quietly to the grave side.
"We are here to commit the remains of Catherine Deberg Gleason..." the Reverend Skinner began.
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"I hate cemeteries," Luke intoned quietly to Lorelai at the back of the crowd.
"I know you do," she whispered back sympathetically and squeezed his arm.
They stood in silence awhile then as all twelve sons of the deceased each in turn scooped up a handful of dirt from the newly dislodged pile next to the grave and tossed it.
"I've never understood that tradition," sighed Luke as the crowd began to disperse.
"Hey Luke," Lorelai turned to him, "Where are your parents?" she asked.
"Over on the crest of the hill, by that stand of trees," he indicated.
"Would you show me?" she asked.
He regarded her for a moment, "Really?" he asked quietly.
She nodded, "I think it's time I met your parents," she smiled sincerely.
"Lorelai, they're dead," he tried gruffly.
"I know Luke, the big granite speed bumps around here clued me in."
"You are quite the Sherlock Holmes," he noted drily.
"I prefer Agatha Christie, she was tall and wore natty tweeds.....Luke, please," she leaned in to him and wheedled.
"Well, only because you want to, "he gave in.
She nodded knowingly, "Thanks Luke. Oh, wait!" she said, and hurried back over to the truck and retrieved a large armful of red tulips from the seat. "I thought those were for the wake," Luke said when she returned to his side.
"Not any more," she told him and grabbed his hand.
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They stood quietly a moment.
Lorelai stepped forward and lay the tulips before the shared memorial marker.
"You know, you've told me a little about your mother being ill, and lots of great stories about your dad. Can you remember anything about them together? Something good?" she asked him after another moment.
Luke thought for a minute then smiled slightly, "They squabbled over the newspaper every morning—over who got the front section first. My dad didn't really care, he just liked to see her fired up a bit," said Luke.
"So, they were happy together, then?" smiled Lorelai.
"When you're a kid, they're just your parents. You don't really think about their happiness, until one is gone and suddenly the other is very unhappy."
"I'm sorry," said Lorelai.
He nodded, "It makes you think about things though—like how much coffee your loved ones drink," he added pointedly.
"Noted," nodded Lorelai kindly. "I wish I'd met them."
"My mother could happily kick anyone's ass in Scrabble," Luke remembered with a bigger smile.
"Impressive," noted Lorelai.
"I haven't thought about that in years," sighed Luke.
"She had a pretty name," Lorelai reflected on the carved marble before her.
"She was a pretty lady."
They looked a moment longer.
"Well..." said Lorelai finally,
"Yeah, we better get back."
"The funeral meatloaf's a'waitin'," she agreed.
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Lorelai set a pitcher of ice tea down on the counter which had become a makeshift buffet and looked about: Everything seemed in place and the crowd was growing by the minute.
"Luke," she called, "I'm going to take a plate up to my Dad." She started scooping mashed potatoes.
"Good idea," he told her as Taylor marched up to face him.
"Young man, what is the meaning of this?" he demanded as he pointed to three Gleason brothers who were setting up kegs of beer on a nearby table. "You don't have a license for alcohol."
"This is a private party, so shut up, Taylor. You know the old lady loved her beer."
"All right fine, but Eddie, Freddie and Gus are going about it all wrong. They should have the cups stacked on the left and...."
"Well, why don't you go over and sort that out? Okay Taylor? And leave me alone. I need to warm up the peas," cranked Luke as he turned to the kitchen.
Lorelai smiled over this exchange and headed up the stairs, her plate now full.
She opened the door to Luke's apartment and saw her father seated in the twilight at the table engrossed in a book.
"Hey, Dad," she called gently.
Richard removed his reading glasses and looked up at her.
"Lorelai," he said, "You weren't gone long."
"It's been a couple of hours, Dad," she told him as she stepped closer to the table.
"Really?" said Richard in surprise and looked down at his watch. "You're right."
"I brought you some dinner," she said as she sat the plate in front of him.
"Well, thank you, Lorelai."
She crossed to Luke's refrigerator then and poured him a glass of milk and set that before him too.
"Well, this is nice. Can you sit with me for awhile and keep me company?"
"Of...of course," she agreed and sat.
The silence was uncomfortable.
"This meatloaf is delicious," Richard finally munched out.
Lorelai nodded, "It's one of Luke's specialties. So... what have you been reading, Dad?"
"Well," he said as he retrieved a large white paperback volume from the chair next to him. "I have found the most engrossing book. A sort of ... well, advice book, I suppose you'd call it."
Lorelai stared at the book in amazement, "Yep, you could call it that. Any good?" she asked casually.
"Well, it's absolutely fascinating!" continued Richard enthusiastically and then drank deeply of his milk. "Do you think Luke would lend it to me?" he asked when he'd finished.
"W-well, I'm sure he would, Dad," said Lorelai.
"If not, I suppose I could have my secretary track it down. I'd just have to write down the title and author. Or perhaps I could call Morris—he finds all my first editions for me. I'm sure he would know where to..."
"Dad, Luke won't mind," she assured him.
"Well, if you're certain."
"I am," she smiled. "Hey, why don't you come downstairs and join us awhile?"
"Perhaps later, Lorelai," said Richard as he re-opened the book, "I'd like to read a bit further if you don't mind."
"No Dad, that's fine. I better go down and help before Luke goes all 'Hidden Dragon' on Taylor, or Kirk starts crying again, or Miss Patty starts dancing..."
"Go, go, I'll be fine," he waved her away.
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An hour later Lorelai retreated to the stairwell. She climbed half a dozen stairs before sighing deeply and sitting down. She put her head weakly to her knees then and reflected on the past couple of days in amazement.
"Hey, I was looking for you," she heard. She lifted her head and saw Luke looking up at her from the foot of the stairs.
She smiled wanly, "Sorry. Just needed a break."
He climbed up and sat next to her.
"Tired?" he asked.
"You could say that," she smiled, "Not a lot of sleep last night," she explained.
He smiled and looked down, "Yeah, me either," he noted. "Are you... okay... with everything?" he asked a little nervously.
"I am so okay," she promised, "love does that."
"Love?"
"Yeah, remember all those declarations last night?"
"Yes, I do seem to have a memory of some... declarations."
"You better," she said and gave his shoulder a nudge with her own.
He put his arm around her then and pulled her close, "Hello," he said and leaned into her.
"Hello," she responded as he kissed her gently.
"I do love you," he whispered at last.
"Good," she sighed and lay her head on his shoulder.
"I have to go read the will to the boys tomorrow," said Luke finally.
"That sucks," Lorelai responded from his shoulder.
"I don't suppose..." Luke began.
"What?" she asked and looked up at him.
"I don't suppose you could come with me?" he finally asked.
"Oh Luke, I have an appointment tomorrow...." she told him apologetically.
"Oh well, that's fine," he brushed it off. "Maybe I could call and change it..." she offered.
"No, no, it's fine," he told her, "You've got your first paying guests at the end of the week, I know you've got a lot on. Just thought I'd ask."
"Luke..."she sighed as he shook his head at her.
"Don't worry about it." he told her and drew her in close again. "You feel cold," he added and began rubbing her back.
"I am..." she agreed.
"Lorelai?!" They both turned their heads then to her father's voice calling from above. He walked down the stairs to them then as they stood to face him.
"Hello, Luke," said Richard, "Thank you so much for your hospitality. Quite the handsome bachelor's place you've got here."
"Well thank you, Richard. It is a little small."
"Nonsense, my man, it's efficient! Everything right where you need it. No female fuss anywhere. Reminds me of a fishing cabin an uncle of mine had years ago upstate," remembered Richard fondly.
"Dad, would you like to come down and join us now?" asked Lorelai.
"Certainly, Lorelai, certainly; Let it never be said that Richard Gilmore is a rude man. Proceed!"
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It was after eleven as an exhausted Lorelai sat slack-jawed in a corner of the diner, her face resting in her hands as she watched the proceedings before her.
"One more round!" Richard called merrily and then drained yet another beer. His cohorts gathered about him happily. "Patty, let Leslie take the tenor line this time," he insisted.
"Whatever you say, darling," purred Miss Patty.
Luke crossed over and sat next to Lorelai.
"Am I in a frickin' Fellini movie?" she asked him.
"Kirk's a bit tall for that, but Miss Patty has the right make up," he noted.
"So is Kirk the baritone or the bass?"
"The baritone, your Dad is the bass."
"Okay. So when was the last time Barbershop drinking songs were sung in this place?" she asked him brightly. Then, "Oh right," she nodded at his thundercloud expression.
"Lorelai, your dad's had a lot to drink," noted Luke.
She sighed and nodded, "I know, Luke, but I couldn't stop him. I wish I knew what the hell was going on with him."
"He misses your mother," Luke shrugged simply.
Lorelai turned to look at him, "Oh my God, you're right, aren't you?"
"Come on it's obvious, look at him."
Lorelai turned to see her father doing the Charleston with Leslie.
"Oh Geez! Dad!" she called. "Dad..." she hurried over to Richard and pulled on his arm.
"What is it, Lorelai?" he asked with a jazz-hands shimmy.
"Let's go upstairs for some coffee. What do you think?"
"I think that sounds terribly dull," he responded.
"Please, Dad," she implored.
"Well, if you insist," Richard agreed reluctantly.
"I do, Dad. I do insist."
"All right, lead the way. Goodnight ladies!" he waved to Patty and Leslie.
Lorelai and Luke led her father to the stairs.
"Lorelai," began Richard shakily, "I seem to be feeling a trifle unwell..."
"Okay, Dad... Luke, help me.." They each grabbed one of his arms and wrapped them around their shoulders as they began their ascent.
"You know, I love your Mother, Lorelai. You know that don't you..." asked Richard mistily.
"Yes Dad, of course I do. Come on now, one step at a time... Right... Left.... And again."
"I could never love anyone like her," acknowledged Richard. "Have you ever loved a woman that way, Luke?"
"Yes, Richard, I have," responded Luke as he heaved Richard up another couple of steps.
"Good for you! Lucky man! It is better to have loved and learned than to never have...-- Oh, damn, what is it? What's the phrase? I used to know it by heart, Lorelai..."
"I'm sure you did, Dad," said Lorelai as she helped him up another step.
"It starts with an 'L'.... Let's see... leapt? lemon?"
"Leverage?" offered Lorelai as she groaned him up still another stair.
"No, that doesn't make sense," Richard told her irritably. "I tell you I used to know it. My tutor Mr. Collins insisted that I memorize long lists of well-known quotes and axioms... just for this sort of occasion.."
"Stupefication?" asked Lorelai under her breath.
"But I can't remember it, Lorelai," said Richard as he began to weep.
"Oh Dad."
"Come on Richard, come on.... just a few more steps," grunted Luke as he opened the apartment door.
"Your mother left me, Lorelai," Richard went on tearily.
They set him on the bed then and Lorelai knelt before him to untie his shoes.
"I know Dad, I know," Lorelai soothed.
"Luke, I read your book, and I've made a decision. I'm going to go to Paris and I'm going to win her back...."
"Well, good for you, Richard," said Luke and pulled off the older man's jacket and tie.
"Dad, you're swaying back and forth. I think you better lay down."
"Come on, big guy," coaxed Luke as he gently pushed Richard down against the pillows.
"I just know it will work. I will get her back.... Paris is the city of love, after all... or is that Philadelphia....?" mumbled Richard.
"Oh Dad," sighed Lorelai.
"Lorelai," said Richard as he grabbed her arm.
"Yes, Dad?"
"I know you didn't get pregnant on purpose. I know that," he groaned
"No Dad, you're right, I sure didn't," agreed Lorelai in dismay as she watched her father throw- up over the side of the bed, belch and sigh deeply, then roll over and go to sleep.
"Oh Geez," said Luke and Lorelai as one.