"Man, I put more peas on his plate than I realized," commented Lorelai as she looked down.
"I will never look at the Jolly Green Giant in the same way again," vowed Luke.
"Huh. You're right. Very disturbing."
"How tall is your Dad, anyway? Nine feet?"
"Oh Luke, this is so not good," she ignored him and crossed to the kitchen for paper towels.
"Nope, in no way good," he agreed as he reached under the sink for a bucket and cleanser.
"Ugh, gross," said Lorelai as she knelt to begin wiping the mess.
"Certainly not how I was hoping to spend this evening," said Luke with an extra strong squirt of cleaning fluid.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Hey, 'Morning," she said tiredly as she plopped on a stool at the counter six hours later.
"You're in especially early," he told her as he poured her a mug of coffee.
"Yeah well, I wanted to check on Sleeping Beauty. How'd it go last night?"
"Well, considering that he was not the Gilmore I wanted to be with..." he told her softly.
"Aww..." she smiled
"...It went fine. He didn't move all night and I got up twice to make sure he was breathing."
"Oh thank you, Luke. You are a good, good man. Is he awake now?"
"He left an hour ago," he replied.
"What?"
"Yeah, he looked like hell but he borrowed the book and the tapes and went on his way. Said he wanted to call his travel agent as soon as possible."
"His what? Oh no, Luke, no..." Lorelai shook her head into her hands.
"Yes, 'fraid so," commented Luke as he put a couple of muffins on plates and walked out from behind the counter to serve them.
When he returned to his point of origin, Lorelai tried again, "He doesn't really think he's going to go to Paris to win her back, does he?"
"I believe that's exactly what he thinks," said Luke in no uncertain terms.
"Luke, what the hell is in this book that it's Stepford-ing every man I know? Does it have some sort of transmogrification spell embedded in it? Does it hypnotize you? What? Just tell me—What the hell is in that book?!"
Luke crossed his arms and thought for a moment, "Most of it seemed pretty stupid, actually," he began.
"Okay..." said Lorelai in irritation.
"But there was something about it..."
"What? What about it?"
"I don't know," he finally admitted with a shrug.
"Oh Luke," she sighed into her coffee.
He leaned in to her then, "Lorelai, he's a grown man. They were married for a long time. You need to let them work it out."
She stared at him a long moment, "You're right," she said finally and in some wonder.
He grinned at that and turned to grab a couple of plates for further table delivery.
"I hate that stupid book," she grumped.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::
"So to recap," Lorelai went on as cheerily as she could, "We'll have six rooms full for the weekend and four booked for next week. But the big test will come the following weekend when we have the governing board of the Hartford branch of the Jane Austen Society coming for their annual retreat. We were lucky to get them, and they could potentially turn into an annual thing for us as well, so we want to keep them especially happy. They have rented out the entire place, including the bungalow and meeting room..."
"Excuse me, Lorelai?"
"Yes, Dereck?"
"Will they be in costume?"
"I don't think so," she frowned.
"Ooo! That would be cool though," said Sookie.
"So Sookie, how are plans for their banquet coming?"
"I'm doing some very traditional Georgian dishes... roast meats, ices, marzipan, cold salad soups..."
"Okay," said Lorelai doubtfully.
"They'll love it," Sookie assured her.
Lorelai smiled at her enthusiastic friend, "I'm sure they will," she nodded. "So once again, I'd like to thank those of you who decided to return to our fold, and to welcome once again those who are new to The Dragonfly family. And---Let's have a great week!"
Lorelai sat down in exhaustion as the staff filed out of the Great Room and back to work.
"Jane Austen was an odious English hater of my fellow countrymen," sniffed Michel from his seat by the fire place.
"She wrote during the Napoleonic Wars, Michel, what did you expect?" laughed Sookie.
"Nevertheless..."
"Michel, you left France because you hate the French," pointed out Lorelai as the three rose together and moved toward the kitchen.
"That is irrelevant. I can have that opinion; I am French."
Just then Lorelai's cell phone rang.
"Saved by le bell!" she smiled and opened her phone.
"Hello."
"Mom!"
"Rory! How are you? Are you leaking from any recent puncture wounds?" she asked in concern.
"Um, no," said Rory.
"I can hear your brow furrowing in confusion trans-Atlantically."
"That's not even a word, Mom... And, what? You know, on second thought, I'm not even going to ask." Rory dismissed.
"You know you say that, and it is of course a wise choice, but absolutely no fun." pouted Lorelai. "I just was worried that you had talked to Emily about Dean and that she had harmed you. So I am relieved to hear that you haven't been skewered." added Lorelai as she strode from the kitchen to her office.
"Okay," said Rory. "I did, though," she added then.
"Did what?"
"Talk to Grandma."
Lorelai paused a moment to take that in.
"Oh Rory," she said as she sat at the desk with a sigh. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, I am. And I have dis-avowed her of the concept that my... behavior... was in any way your fault."
"Unh hunh," said Lorelai as she began tapping her fingers nervously on the polished cherry wood before her. "And just exactly how did you do that?"
"By using logic," declared Rory proudly.
"Logic?" Lorelai was now worried afresh.
"Yes, I merely pointed out to her that it was in no way her fault that you got pregnant when you were sixteen..."
"Oh, Rory... Oh Rory, that's like Lewis Carroll logic with her," lamented Lorelai.
"...No, Mom, really... I was able to draw a parallel. And I've asked her to call and apologize to you."
"Rory, I lost the need for her apologies long ago. I just want to know that you are okay," Lorelai told her.
"I know, Mom. And I am. But it still wasn't right for her to yell at you."
"Okay kid, if you say so. How are you doing? The truth."
"I have good moments and bad," Rory admitted.
"Oh honey, I wish I were there for you."
"I'm okay Mom, really."
"Yeah? Okay. Because you know I will fly you home any time if you want me to..."Lorelai reminded her.
"I know, Mom. But you don't need to," Rory assured her. "So, how's it going with Luke? And is it going with Luke?"
Lorelai smiled.
"Mom, I can hear you smiling in happiness trans-Atlantically," laughed Rory.
"Rory, would you have me committed...? I mean... Would you totally pull a Frances Farmer's Mama on me if I told you...."
"What Mom?" Rory urged gently.
"If I told you that I love him?" she asked quietly.
Lorelai listened to the long pause on the line.
"Rory? Are you there? Tell me what you think. Tell me something...Tell me you're breathing, at least... Rory? I'm getting scared..."
"Chill Mom. I'm just processing."
"Okay, but process faster, damn it!" snapped Lorelai.
"You love him?" asked Rory.
"Yes," answered Lorelai.
"And you've told him that?"
"Yes," she answered again.
"And he's said it back to you?"
Lorelai smiled now, "Yes, babe, he did. We said it to each other and meant it so much."
"Wow." was Rory's only comment. "Too fast for you?" Lorelai asked her.
"Truthfully?"
"Of course," Lorelai assured.
"No."
"No?"
"We've known Luke for so long. I mean he's like family, really. And though I never really thought about it before, I guess we've always loved him, too. And I guess I could see now how you and he... I mean how it could be more for both of you. I think it's always been there in some way," she added the last thoughtfully.
"Really?"
"Yeah, come on, Mom. Think about it. It's always been there, like this little ghost in the corner."
"Maybe it has," allowed Lorelai, "Does this mean you're okay with it?"
"Does he make you happy?" Rory asked her.
"Oh honey, he really does," answered Lorelai sincerely.
"Well, then I am totally for it... A little weirded out by it, perhaps..."
"Well sure," agreed Lorelai, "Who wouldn't be?"
"But I can honestly say that I am totally okay with it."
"Thank you, sweets. That means a lot. It'll mean a lot to Luke too."
"Yeah well, he better be nice to you."
"He is."
"And he damn well better save me a sprinkled doughnut on Saturdays from now on."
"Oh that will be a done deal, I promise."
"I mean on a special plate, saved 'specially for me."
"Well, duh, of course, if it's left on a napkin, you lose valuable sprinkles."
"That's why I love you," smiled Rory.
"Because I understand the delicacy of the doughnut," reflected Lorelai.
"Of course. So is there anything else going on that I should know about?"
"Well, Dad's really missing Emily."
"Oh, poor Grandpa. Maybe I should call him."
"That would be really nice of you, honey."
"Is there anything else?"
"Uh... What do you mean?" asked Lorelai and began tapping her fingers again.
"I don't know, there just feels like there's something else, "Rory pressed.
Lorelai paused for a moment.
"Mom?"
"No nothing else now, honey."
"Okay,"said Rory doubtfully.
"So how long will you be in Paris?"
"Oh another week, anyway."
"Okay good. Well honey, I've got an appointment I need to get to."
"All right. I love you. I'll talk to you soon."
"I love you too. And you are a great kid! 'Bye."
"'Bye."
And with that Lorelai clicked off her phone and put her head down on the table with a sigh.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
It was eight o'clock that evening. Lorelai sat in her jeep in the parking lot of a nondescript professional building in Hartford. After a long ten minutes of staring at nothing in particular, she picked up her cell phone and dialed the diner.
"Luke's." came the familiar answer.
"Yes, I'd like to order a gallon of coffee and five pounds of chile fries to be delivered."
"Hey, where are you?" Luke's tone softened instantly.
"Uh... I'm in Hartford. My appointment ran long."
"Are you okay?"
"Sure," she assured him, "Why?"
"Your voice sounds different."
"Just tired."
"Oh, okay."
"So how did the will reading go?" she asked.
Luke groaned.
"That bad?"
"Lorelai, the woman had four million dollars in cash and assets, not including the house." he complained.
"What?! Oh my God! That has got to be the best thing I've heard all day!" she laughed. "Oh please don't tell me it was in her mattress, because I could literally die from laughter."
"Trust me, the boys are just as shocked," replied Luke tersely "And now, I have to liquidate and distribute this huge pile of money.... Stop laughing, Lorelai, I mean it!"
"I'm sorry, Luke. I know it will be a big hairy pain in the ass for you."
"Do you know the paper work I'm going to have to sort out?"
"Did she leave it to them all equally?" asked Lorelai, biting her lip.
"Yes, except for some commission that the boys and the lawyer are trying to foist off on me," grouched Luke.
"Well, damn them!" yelled Lorelai before she descended into further peals of laughter.
"Geez, Lorelai, the woman wore the same three polyester pantsuits for fifteen years. She only emerged from the house on double coupon day, unless it was to go to the library the day before double coupon day to clip the coupons from the newspaper in the reading room..."
"Luke, stop please! I'm getting a stitch in my side," begged Lorelai as she wiped the tears from her eyes. When she was slightly more composed she added, "That is precisely how she came to have four million dollars, Luke."
"Whatever... I guess... but why did she have to do it on my watch?"
"I don't know, Luke," she smiled.
"And I miss you.," he went on, "Are you coming in?"
"I miss you too," she told him quietly as reality returned, "And, I'm sorry, but no. I need to go talk to my Dad."
"Oh."
"I'm sorry, Luke. I really am. There is nothing I'd rather do right now than be with you."
Luke sighed. "It's all right. I know you're worried about him," he excused her.
"Thank you. God, I love you so much."
"Well, the feeling's mutual."
"Luke...?"
"What?"
"It's just.... I uh..."
"What is it, Lorelai?"
"Um... I miss you too. That's all," and it was her turn to sigh.
"Okay. Listen, you drive carefully."
"I will," she promised.
"And get back here as soon as you can."
"I will. Good night, Luke."
"Goodnight, Lorelai."
She clicked her phone off and breathed quietly into the resounding ache over the tenderness in his voice.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
An hour later she found herself in front of her parent's door. She stared down at her shoes and wondered about words for a minute. About how they completely change things. 'I love you' from Luke had turned her around to see her world in a whole new way. And now the words 'Specialists' and 'Tests' were sending her whirling in a whole other direction...
But no, it wasn't really the words, was it? It was the meaning behind the words, of course. The feelings, and more importantly, (and she sighed over this,) the facts. The facts behind the words, which are sometimes so different from the words themselves. Or what the words indicate really.
Truthfully then, words are pretty meaningless, she reasoned. Because they cannot even begin to show us the facts. The colors, the meanings, the feelings and the future. The future cannot be foretold with words. It just happens to you, sometimes in one fell swoop. And there were just no words for that.
"Aaaaggghhh!" she groaned in frustration.
She gulped the last of her coffee then and reached forward to ring the doorbell.
And when Richard himself opened the door, she was too preoccupied with her current inability to focus properly or to really understand words to be surprised.
'Lorelai? What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Dad... I need your help," she said and bit her lip so that her stupid brain would occupy itself with that rather than the tedious, and embarrassing, job of making tears.
"I will never look at the Jolly Green Giant in the same way again," vowed Luke.
"Huh. You're right. Very disturbing."
"How tall is your Dad, anyway? Nine feet?"
"Oh Luke, this is so not good," she ignored him and crossed to the kitchen for paper towels.
"Nope, in no way good," he agreed as he reached under the sink for a bucket and cleanser.
"Ugh, gross," said Lorelai as she knelt to begin wiping the mess.
"Certainly not how I was hoping to spend this evening," said Luke with an extra strong squirt of cleaning fluid.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Hey, 'Morning," she said tiredly as she plopped on a stool at the counter six hours later.
"You're in especially early," he told her as he poured her a mug of coffee.
"Yeah well, I wanted to check on Sleeping Beauty. How'd it go last night?"
"Well, considering that he was not the Gilmore I wanted to be with..." he told her softly.
"Aww..." she smiled
"...It went fine. He didn't move all night and I got up twice to make sure he was breathing."
"Oh thank you, Luke. You are a good, good man. Is he awake now?"
"He left an hour ago," he replied.
"What?"
"Yeah, he looked like hell but he borrowed the book and the tapes and went on his way. Said he wanted to call his travel agent as soon as possible."
"His what? Oh no, Luke, no..." Lorelai shook her head into her hands.
"Yes, 'fraid so," commented Luke as he put a couple of muffins on plates and walked out from behind the counter to serve them.
When he returned to his point of origin, Lorelai tried again, "He doesn't really think he's going to go to Paris to win her back, does he?"
"I believe that's exactly what he thinks," said Luke in no uncertain terms.
"Luke, what the hell is in this book that it's Stepford-ing every man I know? Does it have some sort of transmogrification spell embedded in it? Does it hypnotize you? What? Just tell me—What the hell is in that book?!"
Luke crossed his arms and thought for a moment, "Most of it seemed pretty stupid, actually," he began.
"Okay..." said Lorelai in irritation.
"But there was something about it..."
"What? What about it?"
"I don't know," he finally admitted with a shrug.
"Oh Luke," she sighed into her coffee.
He leaned in to her then, "Lorelai, he's a grown man. They were married for a long time. You need to let them work it out."
She stared at him a long moment, "You're right," she said finally and in some wonder.
He grinned at that and turned to grab a couple of plates for further table delivery.
"I hate that stupid book," she grumped.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::
"So to recap," Lorelai went on as cheerily as she could, "We'll have six rooms full for the weekend and four booked for next week. But the big test will come the following weekend when we have the governing board of the Hartford branch of the Jane Austen Society coming for their annual retreat. We were lucky to get them, and they could potentially turn into an annual thing for us as well, so we want to keep them especially happy. They have rented out the entire place, including the bungalow and meeting room..."
"Excuse me, Lorelai?"
"Yes, Dereck?"
"Will they be in costume?"
"I don't think so," she frowned.
"Ooo! That would be cool though," said Sookie.
"So Sookie, how are plans for their banquet coming?"
"I'm doing some very traditional Georgian dishes... roast meats, ices, marzipan, cold salad soups..."
"Okay," said Lorelai doubtfully.
"They'll love it," Sookie assured her.
Lorelai smiled at her enthusiastic friend, "I'm sure they will," she nodded. "So once again, I'd like to thank those of you who decided to return to our fold, and to welcome once again those who are new to The Dragonfly family. And---Let's have a great week!"
Lorelai sat down in exhaustion as the staff filed out of the Great Room and back to work.
"Jane Austen was an odious English hater of my fellow countrymen," sniffed Michel from his seat by the fire place.
"She wrote during the Napoleonic Wars, Michel, what did you expect?" laughed Sookie.
"Nevertheless..."
"Michel, you left France because you hate the French," pointed out Lorelai as the three rose together and moved toward the kitchen.
"That is irrelevant. I can have that opinion; I am French."
Just then Lorelai's cell phone rang.
"Saved by le bell!" she smiled and opened her phone.
"Hello."
"Mom!"
"Rory! How are you? Are you leaking from any recent puncture wounds?" she asked in concern.
"Um, no," said Rory.
"I can hear your brow furrowing in confusion trans-Atlantically."
"That's not even a word, Mom... And, what? You know, on second thought, I'm not even going to ask." Rory dismissed.
"You know you say that, and it is of course a wise choice, but absolutely no fun." pouted Lorelai. "I just was worried that you had talked to Emily about Dean and that she had harmed you. So I am relieved to hear that you haven't been skewered." added Lorelai as she strode from the kitchen to her office.
"Okay," said Rory. "I did, though," she added then.
"Did what?"
"Talk to Grandma."
Lorelai paused a moment to take that in.
"Oh Rory," she said as she sat at the desk with a sigh. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, I am. And I have dis-avowed her of the concept that my... behavior... was in any way your fault."
"Unh hunh," said Lorelai as she began tapping her fingers nervously on the polished cherry wood before her. "And just exactly how did you do that?"
"By using logic," declared Rory proudly.
"Logic?" Lorelai was now worried afresh.
"Yes, I merely pointed out to her that it was in no way her fault that you got pregnant when you were sixteen..."
"Oh, Rory... Oh Rory, that's like Lewis Carroll logic with her," lamented Lorelai.
"...No, Mom, really... I was able to draw a parallel. And I've asked her to call and apologize to you."
"Rory, I lost the need for her apologies long ago. I just want to know that you are okay," Lorelai told her.
"I know, Mom. And I am. But it still wasn't right for her to yell at you."
"Okay kid, if you say so. How are you doing? The truth."
"I have good moments and bad," Rory admitted.
"Oh honey, I wish I were there for you."
"I'm okay Mom, really."
"Yeah? Okay. Because you know I will fly you home any time if you want me to..."Lorelai reminded her.
"I know, Mom. But you don't need to," Rory assured her. "So, how's it going with Luke? And is it going with Luke?"
Lorelai smiled.
"Mom, I can hear you smiling in happiness trans-Atlantically," laughed Rory.
"Rory, would you have me committed...? I mean... Would you totally pull a Frances Farmer's Mama on me if I told you...."
"What Mom?" Rory urged gently.
"If I told you that I love him?" she asked quietly.
Lorelai listened to the long pause on the line.
"Rory? Are you there? Tell me what you think. Tell me something...Tell me you're breathing, at least... Rory? I'm getting scared..."
"Chill Mom. I'm just processing."
"Okay, but process faster, damn it!" snapped Lorelai.
"You love him?" asked Rory.
"Yes," answered Lorelai.
"And you've told him that?"
"Yes," she answered again.
"And he's said it back to you?"
Lorelai smiled now, "Yes, babe, he did. We said it to each other and meant it so much."
"Wow." was Rory's only comment. "Too fast for you?" Lorelai asked her.
"Truthfully?"
"Of course," Lorelai assured.
"No."
"No?"
"We've known Luke for so long. I mean he's like family, really. And though I never really thought about it before, I guess we've always loved him, too. And I guess I could see now how you and he... I mean how it could be more for both of you. I think it's always been there in some way," she added the last thoughtfully.
"Really?"
"Yeah, come on, Mom. Think about it. It's always been there, like this little ghost in the corner."
"Maybe it has," allowed Lorelai, "Does this mean you're okay with it?"
"Does he make you happy?" Rory asked her.
"Oh honey, he really does," answered Lorelai sincerely.
"Well, then I am totally for it... A little weirded out by it, perhaps..."
"Well sure," agreed Lorelai, "Who wouldn't be?"
"But I can honestly say that I am totally okay with it."
"Thank you, sweets. That means a lot. It'll mean a lot to Luke too."
"Yeah well, he better be nice to you."
"He is."
"And he damn well better save me a sprinkled doughnut on Saturdays from now on."
"Oh that will be a done deal, I promise."
"I mean on a special plate, saved 'specially for me."
"Well, duh, of course, if it's left on a napkin, you lose valuable sprinkles."
"That's why I love you," smiled Rory.
"Because I understand the delicacy of the doughnut," reflected Lorelai.
"Of course. So is there anything else going on that I should know about?"
"Well, Dad's really missing Emily."
"Oh, poor Grandpa. Maybe I should call him."
"That would be really nice of you, honey."
"Is there anything else?"
"Uh... What do you mean?" asked Lorelai and began tapping her fingers again.
"I don't know, there just feels like there's something else, "Rory pressed.
Lorelai paused for a moment.
"Mom?"
"No nothing else now, honey."
"Okay,"said Rory doubtfully.
"So how long will you be in Paris?"
"Oh another week, anyway."
"Okay good. Well honey, I've got an appointment I need to get to."
"All right. I love you. I'll talk to you soon."
"I love you too. And you are a great kid! 'Bye."
"'Bye."
And with that Lorelai clicked off her phone and put her head down on the table with a sigh.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
It was eight o'clock that evening. Lorelai sat in her jeep in the parking lot of a nondescript professional building in Hartford. After a long ten minutes of staring at nothing in particular, she picked up her cell phone and dialed the diner.
"Luke's." came the familiar answer.
"Yes, I'd like to order a gallon of coffee and five pounds of chile fries to be delivered."
"Hey, where are you?" Luke's tone softened instantly.
"Uh... I'm in Hartford. My appointment ran long."
"Are you okay?"
"Sure," she assured him, "Why?"
"Your voice sounds different."
"Just tired."
"Oh, okay."
"So how did the will reading go?" she asked.
Luke groaned.
"That bad?"
"Lorelai, the woman had four million dollars in cash and assets, not including the house." he complained.
"What?! Oh my God! That has got to be the best thing I've heard all day!" she laughed. "Oh please don't tell me it was in her mattress, because I could literally die from laughter."
"Trust me, the boys are just as shocked," replied Luke tersely "And now, I have to liquidate and distribute this huge pile of money.... Stop laughing, Lorelai, I mean it!"
"I'm sorry, Luke. I know it will be a big hairy pain in the ass for you."
"Do you know the paper work I'm going to have to sort out?"
"Did she leave it to them all equally?" asked Lorelai, biting her lip.
"Yes, except for some commission that the boys and the lawyer are trying to foist off on me," grouched Luke.
"Well, damn them!" yelled Lorelai before she descended into further peals of laughter.
"Geez, Lorelai, the woman wore the same three polyester pantsuits for fifteen years. She only emerged from the house on double coupon day, unless it was to go to the library the day before double coupon day to clip the coupons from the newspaper in the reading room..."
"Luke, stop please! I'm getting a stitch in my side," begged Lorelai as she wiped the tears from her eyes. When she was slightly more composed she added, "That is precisely how she came to have four million dollars, Luke."
"Whatever... I guess... but why did she have to do it on my watch?"
"I don't know, Luke," she smiled.
"And I miss you.," he went on, "Are you coming in?"
"I miss you too," she told him quietly as reality returned, "And, I'm sorry, but no. I need to go talk to my Dad."
"Oh."
"I'm sorry, Luke. I really am. There is nothing I'd rather do right now than be with you."
Luke sighed. "It's all right. I know you're worried about him," he excused her.
"Thank you. God, I love you so much."
"Well, the feeling's mutual."
"Luke...?"
"What?"
"It's just.... I uh..."
"What is it, Lorelai?"
"Um... I miss you too. That's all," and it was her turn to sigh.
"Okay. Listen, you drive carefully."
"I will," she promised.
"And get back here as soon as you can."
"I will. Good night, Luke."
"Goodnight, Lorelai."
She clicked her phone off and breathed quietly into the resounding ache over the tenderness in his voice.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
An hour later she found herself in front of her parent's door. She stared down at her shoes and wondered about words for a minute. About how they completely change things. 'I love you' from Luke had turned her around to see her world in a whole new way. And now the words 'Specialists' and 'Tests' were sending her whirling in a whole other direction...
But no, it wasn't really the words, was it? It was the meaning behind the words, of course. The feelings, and more importantly, (and she sighed over this,) the facts. The facts behind the words, which are sometimes so different from the words themselves. Or what the words indicate really.
Truthfully then, words are pretty meaningless, she reasoned. Because they cannot even begin to show us the facts. The colors, the meanings, the feelings and the future. The future cannot be foretold with words. It just happens to you, sometimes in one fell swoop. And there were just no words for that.
"Aaaaggghhh!" she groaned in frustration.
She gulped the last of her coffee then and reached forward to ring the doorbell.
And when Richard himself opened the door, she was too preoccupied with her current inability to focus properly or to really understand words to be surprised.
'Lorelai? What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Dad... I need your help," she said and bit her lip so that her stupid brain would occupy itself with that rather than the tedious, and embarrassing, job of making tears.