Christopher and Lorelai had a heartfelt private conversation in very public place. Christopher revealed how Sherry had abruptly told him that she didn't want to be a mom any more and that she thought their marriage had been a mistake. Lorelai saw that Christopher was upset, more so for his daughter losing a mother, but also for the end of his marriage. He was trying to raise her alone, but felt overwhelmed and didn't want to do anything that would cause her to need therapy later in life. Finally he plead with Lorelai to help him out, just temporarily, until he felt more comfortable being the only parent Georgia had.
Lorelai thought for a moment and realized that whatever decision she made would be momentous in both his and her lives. She told him that she would consider it and figure out how she could help him. However, the business of the Inn could wait no longer and Lorelai had to leave Christopher sitting in the room alone.
She went about her duties, the box tucked inside her purse was forgotten for the moment. Christopher insisted on remaining at the Inn despite her suggestions that he hang out at her place. Therefore during every free moment she returned to him and Georgia for small talk and to play with the child. While she was tending to the daily business, she mulled over whether or not to tell Christopher about Luke. On the one hand, she wanted to make it clear that she had someone else in her life and was not looking to resume a romantic relationship, but on the other hand she didn't want to inundate him with her relationship happiness in the wake of his relationship demise. In the end she chose the later option, for now, promising herself that she would tell him when the time was right.
Lunch came and went and Lorelai was too busy to notice, although Sookie reported that she made sure Christopher and Georgia received some of her fine cooking. The afternoon was flying by and Lorelai was worried about what she was going to tell Christopher about his request for help.
Lorelai put her head down on the registration book, trying to concentrate on her problems. When she raised her head she was staring at Rory. "Rory? What are you ... was I expecting you?" she blustered.
Rory stared at her mother, since when did she need an appointment to show up at the Inn? "No, I just wanted to stop by and see you."
"Oh, well it's been kinds of a weird day. We have visitors." Lorelai told Rory.
"We have visitors, or the Inn has visitors?" Rory asked for clarification.
In response, Lorelai pointed toward the room behind her where Rory could see someone sitting. "Recognize that head of hair?" Lorelai asked.
Lorelai received only a bewildered look from her daughter and a feeble, "I don't know, is it Kirk?"
Lorelai started laughing at the thought of Christopher being mistaken for Kirk. "No, it's your father."
"Dad's here?" Rory stated, her face lighting up. She started to move toward the room.
Quickly Lorelai added, "He's got Georgia with him."
Rory stopped. "Oh, I haven't seen her in, well, in a long time. I feel bad, I told him that I'd visit, that I'd be part of Georgia's life and I haven't been."
"He knows that you've been busy, go say hi." With that Rory turned to go greet her father. Lorelai watched from afar, glad that Rory had some kind of relationship with him.
It wasn't long before Rory came back, "Hey, I'm going to take dad and Georgia to the house, they look kind of bored."
"I know," Lorelai stated, "I've been trying to get them to leave for hours. I'll be there soon. I guess they'll be staying the night."
"I need some chapstick first, that wind is really blowing outside," Rory said.
"Sure, I think there is some in my purse," she began to say absently, but as Lorelai glanced at her purse she clearly recalled what else was hidden in it. Rory had already picked it up so she snatched it away. "Hey, let me get that for you, I can probably find it quicker."
Rory stared at her mother, she'd never seen her react so quickly or so erratically, which is saying a lot, after all it was Lorelai, but she took the pro-offered chapstick and waved good-bye to her. As she turned to go Rory saw her mother clutching her purse tightly.
As Rory left, Lorelai wrapped the purse around her arm, she had almost let her secret out of the bag, literally, and she wasn't about to let her purse out of her sight again.
TBC