Chapter Nineteen
Much later they dragged themselves from the bed and hopped into the shower.
"You know, it's going to be hard getting used to taking a shower alone again. It's been so much fun sharing."
"Fun, questionable but I'm glad we took this time away."
"Are you saying that you haven't enjoyed this?" Lorelai made some moves. "And this?" She made a bolder one.
"Well, when you put it that way." He smiled knowingly.
"I thought so. I don't remember one single protest." She gave the same smile back. "Thanks for forcing me to come."
"Forcing you?"
"Encouraging me to join you in this little adventure."
Luke leaned down to kiss her while he turned the water off and then pulled her out of the shower. They slowly dried each other off and slowly pulled on their clothes. Neither was in a big hurry to get this particular day started and neither was in a very chatty mood.
They silently worked gathering their few possessions together. Both finished packing their bags and then headed downstairs for one last check of the cabin.
Reluctantly Luke grabbed their bags while Lorelai gathered all of the shopping bags together.
"So are we forgetting anything?"
"I think we've got it all. We didn't bring much."
"But you doubled the load with your shopping." He pointed to her full hands. "Guess it's time to get on the road. We can be back home by early afternoon."
Lorelai looked around the little cabin and sighed.
"Lorelai we will be back, I promise. Anytime, just say the word."
She smiled and answered softly, "I know."
They got in his truck and started down the road.
"Luke..."
"I know, food and coffee. You are insatiable women."
"So you told me last night."
"All of your appetites are huge."
"And that's a complaint?"
"Not totally." Luke grinned. "Actually we're stopping up ahead. I know a place."
"You sure know a lot of places."
"Well, I had a life before you."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, I've lived. Not as well as now but it's been pretty good."
"You know everything about me. I don't know so much about you."
"You know the important stuff."
"I guess."
Luke sensed a question there. "If you have a question just ask it."
"Well, I know about your childhood and most of the recent stuff. I understand how all the stuff happened with Nicole. But what about Rachel.....why did she leave so suddenly? I know it was a while ago but she gave me the impression that she really wanted it to work."
"Rachel, that's ancient history. I haven't thought of her in ages."
"Really, I thought she was the love of your life?"
"The love of my life....I thought that was you."
"Nice try but it's a detour I'm not taking."
"Rachel was my first love. It was special but it ran its natural course."
"And she left because it had run its natural course?"
Luke was silent for a few minutes, never taking his eyes from the road.
"She left because of you."
"Me? That's crazy."
"Rachel questioned my feelings for her and my possible feelings for you. She sensed a difference and she thought it was because of you."
"Interesting, that she thought that."
"She was right about the feelings even though I had done my best to ignore them."
"Luke that was years ago."
"Yep."
"So you have felt this way for a while?"
"It was always at the back of my mind."
"What finally brought it around to the front?"
"The front?"
"The idea, to the front of your mind."
"Well everything that's happened lately -- Jess, the book, Liz's marriage, my ridiculous farce of a marriage......and you."
"Me?"
"Your reactions to certain things and spending so much time with you. I had a wife who I didn't see as much as I saw you. A wife who didn't seem to care about me the way you did. And all of those times we were innocently together were just....well they felt so right. I looked forward to you coming into the diner. And some of the things you said and did....just made me want to be with you more."
"We have had some crazy experiences lately. Moving Rory to Yale, movie night, that night in the church and I'll never forget the sight of drunken Luke with the blood on his shirt and the Barbie band aids in his palm. And bailing you out of jail.....my personal favorite."
"Don't remind me. Not my finest moment.
"Great one for me, great stories for the grandchildren."
"Grandchildren? That would mean children first."
"Just an expression, don't read anything into it."
"Still, might be something we should discuss. This is the second time the subject has come up."
Lorelai was quiet for a moment.
She didn't look at him but spoke quietly, "I think I might want it Luke."
Luke looked straight ahead.
"I think I might want it too Lorelai."
Luke pulled over to the side of the road. "Are you sure?"
Lorelai smiled, "Yeah, I've been thinking about it a lot. You've never had a child and you were so good with Jess."
"Yeah, right."
"You were. He was a huge challenge."
"A challenge I didn't meet well."
"You were great with him and with Rory."
"She was easy."
"Up until now."
"Hey, it will work out. She's growing up, bound to make mistakes."
"Like her mom."
"The mistakes make us the people we are."
"And hopefully we learn from them." Lorelai answered quietly.
"So we will seriously talk about all of this later?"
"Sure. Let's go get breakfast and then go home."
"I like a woman with a plan."
"Yeah, yeah, so feed me already."
True to his word, Luke knew a place. A great little diner with great coffee and a wonderful breakfast buffet. He had lots of fruit and a bowl of oatmeal and Lorelai had a little bit of everything. Stuffed they headed back to Stars Hollow. Luke dropped her off at her house and he headed to the diner.
Luke walked through the door and almost ran right into Babette.
"Hey, Luke. How was the fishing?"
"The fishing?"
"Caesar told us you took a couple days off to go fishing with a friend."
"Oh, well, the fishing didn't happen. But I did have a good time with my friend."
"That's good. Now that you're back you are going to have to do something about Lorelai."
"Huh?"
"Lorelai your friend, new owner of the Dragonfly? Come on get with it here. She's been working so hard the last couple of days that I haven't seen her. I mean she lives right next door and I haven't seen her outside the house. She must go in before dawn and stay late into the night. It's not healthy. You need to go out to that inn and make her take a break."
"Why do I have to do it?' He baited her wanting to know exactly how much she knew. He was sure word must be all over town by now.
"Cause she won't listen to anyone else. She listens to you."
"Since when?"
"Well, at least you can try. She needs a break. She's working too hard. Especially now that there's no man in her life."
Luke smiled he knew she was fishing a bit herself. "Well, if you insist Babette, I'll give her a call right now."
Luke walked over to the already ringing phone and grabbed the receiver.
"Luke's."
"Hey, are you mafia connected?"
"Lorelai, I was just going to call you."
"Answer the question slick."
"Well, not that I know of. I do have an uncle that lives in New Jersey."
"Is his name Guido, Soprano or Corleone by any chance?"
"Nope, his name is Richard Danes. What's going on over there anyway?"
"Well, it seems that we had a small wedding planned for mid September and all of a sudden it's off. Just seemed a little coincidental to me."
Luke smiled. "Or fate has stepped in."
"You don't believe in fate remember? You don't believe in fate or planning ahead."
"You got me on both counts."
"So no mafia connection?"
"Nope."
"Ooo-kay. How's the diner?"
"Amazingly good, another twist of fate."
"Again that word. How so?"
Luke waved at Babette as she walked out the door. She had gotten them connected so she was pleased.
"Seems Babette is concerned about you. You've been working so hard at the inn that she hasn't seen you for the last couple of days. She thinks I need to come out there and rescue you. Especially since I've been off fishing while you've been working your fingers to the bone."
"Ahh, now that's a friend."
"Nope that's one of the town gossips trying a little fishing on her own."
"Or a little match making. I'm surprised the word is so slow getting out. We're engaged and planning the wedding and they don't know we're dating yet. Sookie must be bursting at the seams keeping all of that in."
"Maybe you better go relieve some of that pressure. So do you need rescuing tonight?"
"Not really but we can let her think that I do. Everything went fine here without me. Although I think Sookie thought I might be a little more upset about the wedding cancellation."
Luke laughed. "So I guess the New Menu needs a little alteration?"
"The New Menu has already been changed."
"Good to hear. So you want to do something later? I have paper work to catch up on. Not sure how long it will take."
"I have a ton of my own paper work to do. And Sookie is in a tizzy about a luncheon tomorrow. We were thinking we'd both stay late and get some work done. Tomorrow night would be better for me."
"Tomorrow night it is. I feel the real world creeping in."
"Yep, we're back. It's sucks too."
Luke laughed. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
"You have a lot of making up to do."
"Why?"
"Off fishing while I work my fingers to the bone. How insensitive."
"Goodbye Lorelai."
"Bye."
Lorelai hung up the phone and went to look for Sookie. She found her muttering to herself as she ran around the kitchen.
"Hey, we need a break. How about a quick bite now that the hungry crowd has been fed?"
"Sounds like a plan. And you can fill me in on your romantic little trip."
"And you can fill me in on why no one in this town seems to have gotten the word."
Sookie smiled. "It's such a fun secret to keep. Everybody thought there was a little something going on the other night. Now they aren't sure. I like watching them squirm a bit."
"I didn't know you had such a mean streak."
"Not mean just a little innocent fun. Plus I knew you would have to answer a million questions when you got back in town or at the very least get those awful knowing stares. I just saved you from all of that."
"I thank you my friend. But now the word really has to get out. Luke and I are going to be together a lot and there's this ring, and the wedding....."
"The wedding...you picked a date? Is that what you're trying to tell me?" Sookie squealed.
"Calm down girl. This means a lot of extra work for you....that is if you want to...."
"Want to? I'd be devastated if you asked anyone else."
"Good. We don't have much time."
"You two are in a big hurry, huh?" She smiled.
"Just want to get the formalities over and get on with our life."
"Lorelai this is your wedding. Hopefully, your only wedding and the most romantic day of your life. You don't say things like getting it over."
"I didn't mean it that way. I just meant we want to get married with a minimum amount of fuss and as soon as possible."
"So we're talking spring?"
"We're talking mid September. Here at the inn. I'm sliding our wedding into that space that just magically became available."
"September, Lorelai that's impossible."
"It's all planned. Luke and I planned it all while we were away."
"Luke planning a wedding? I would have liked to witness that."
"Well, it was short and sweet. It went pretty well actually-- a couple yes's, several no's with lots of grunts and groans in between. And Sookie I already found the perfect dress!"
"You're kidding! I thought you were having a 'nature' get-a-way."
"Have you ever known me to go anywhere and not find a place to shop?'
"Point taken, I can't wait to see."
"Now we just have to find dresses for you and Rory. That is if you will be my matron of honor? Rory will be the maid of honor of course...."
"I'm there honey." With that Sookie gave her a huge hug. Then she grabbed some paper and started to write furiously.
"Hey, Sook?"
"Yeah?"
"Starving here."
"Oh, yeah. With all the excitement, I almost forgot."
Sookie bustled around the kitchen and quickly whipped up a simple dinner for them. Sitting at the table they sketched a basic plan for the wedding. Over dessert, Lorelai even had time to share a little about their trip.
Lorelai got home before eleven. She had gotten caught up on all of her paperwork and had copied Sookie's notes for her wedding. She fell into bed exhausted and slept like a baby until eight the next morning. Lorelai heard the phone ringing in the distance but she was not interested in talking to anyone that early in the morning. When she finally did drag herself downstairs, she hit the button on the answering machine.
"Hey, mom. It's me. Remember your daughter Rory? Well, just in case you forgot, I'm on my way home to remind you. I'm going to stop at Grandmas. She wants me to spend the night with her. Hope you don't mind. I have to stop at the paper anyway and make plans to start work. That puts me back in Stars Hollow by tomorrow night. Can't wait to see you. Talk at you later. Love 'ya, bye."
Lorelai smiled to herself and went back upstairs to take her shower. All was finally right with the world, things were falling into place.
Lorelai literally flew around the inn all day. She was happy about finally getting her daughter back home and spending the evening with Luke.
It was after six when Lorelai finally made it to the diner. Luke was no where to be found. She made her way upstairs and found him just ready to lock the door.
"Hey stranger."
"Hey yourself." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
"Um, nice."
"So what's the plan?"
"Dinner and a movie or if you want we could...."
"Talk about it over dinner, I'm starved."
"Of course, I wouldn't expect you to be any other way." He laughed as they headed back down the stairway. Luke helped her into the truck and they drove out of town. The conversation was lively and full of laughter as they caught up on their day apart. They both agreed it was strange not seeing each other or sleeping with each other the night before. Luke could tell how excited she was about Rory finally coming home. He was pretty happy himself although he didn't know how it was going to go for them. But he sure wasn't going to rain on her parade just yet. Plus he thought the time apart probably had done them a world of good.
He took her to a little country place he had heard about. Far away from the prying eyes of anyone who lived in Stars Hollow. Word had finally started to spread and it was nice to be away from all of that. They sat outside on the patio and ate by flickering candlelight. The food was simple but good and they sat and talked and laughed. It was good just to be together again.
The evening was too beautiful to waste being inside in a dark theater. They drove down the road and stumbled upon a miniature golf course. On a lark they decided to stop and play. Lorelai started out wildly swinging her club and she didn't have a clue in the fine art of putting. Luke wrapped his arms around her and taught her how to drive. He had to do it again to teach her to putt. Lorelai quickly got the hang of it and was soon beating Luke by several strokes. She rewarded him with several sweet kisses and everyone watching them smiled. They didn't notice that they were being watched. Luke took defeat well. He rewarded her victory with a stop at an ice cream place they happened upon. Lorelai ordered a banana split with extra whipped cream and two cherries. Luke got a simple vanilla cone. Lorelai took one of the cherries and popped it into his mouth pulling the stem slowly away in a sensual manner, setting the scene for the rest of this ice cream experience. They found a small table far from the building and away from the harsh lights. His cone was gone before Lorelai had made a small dent in hers. She offered him a spoonful of her treat and somehow managed to miss his mouth and smear whip cream and chocolate all over his mouth. She laughed at the sight and bent over to lick it off of his face. . Luke had never enjoyed ice cream more. He took the spoon away from her and took his own turn at feeding her. He missed her mouth as well and returned the clean up favor. They started laughing and forgot the ice cream when the kissing took over. Lorelai murmured, "I think we should go home."
Luke hastily agreed and they drove back to Stars Hollow. "My house or yours?"
"I don't care."
"I vote mine. At least we can have a decent breakfast."
"That would imply that I might be spending the night."
"That would state that you are most definitely spending the night."
"Okay, if you insist."
"I most definitely insist." Then he mumbled, "I missed you last night."
Lorelai grinned at that admission, "Don't like sleeping alone?"
"Nope."
"Good, neither do I. And by the way, I do have pop tarts."
"I have eggs, bacon, pancakes, anything you could want."
"You win"
"Like there was ever a contest." He chuckled as he parked the truck behind the diner. They went up the stairway and Luke locked the door behind them.
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