Chapter 9-The Wedding Fund
It was early May. Lorelai woke up to the sounds of hammers downstairs. Today was the big day. She had almost forgotten. She mad her way down stairs and into the kitchen.
"Good morning!" she yelled to Luke who was in mid swing.
"Ahh.God...geez Lorelai, don't scare a man with a mallet.""Oh sorry."she said giving him a kiss.
"Can I help." Lorelai said.
"Gee I dunno, I mean it might be too much for your back..I mean...""Come on hand it over...the doctor said I healed the best he has ever seen."
"All right...all right." Luke said and he stepped back from the sledge hammer. Lorelai tried to pick it up but it was too heavy for her to heave above her head.
"Uh,...a little help here."Lorelai asked.Luke came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her and picked up the Sledge."Ready. One...two...three." he said.They swung the hammer into the wall knocking out a big chunk."Wow that was fun!" Lorelai said walking away."I thought you said you wanted to help with this?" Luke said."What do you think I just did?"Lorelai said."You're crazy.""You're marrying me."
"Fair enough." he said.
Lorelai pulled up outside Rorys dormitory later that afternoon."Hey kid,...you ready for today?" Lorelai called to her daughter out the window.
"I still can't believe you bought this thing.""I told you honey...it was just one of those things."
"How come, you are willing to be a soccer mom for this kid and not for me?"
"First of all, there is no kid yet...and second...things are going to be a little different this time honey, like I dunno, I won't dress them up in Bangles jumpers."
"Awe mom, that is a classic." Rory said.
"You know what I mean.""Yeah I do..you love the new baby more." Rory said sarcastically.
"Give it up will you." Lorelai said."You don't even have a sibling yet and you are playing for the sibling rivalry." They drove for a while before Lorelai spoke again.
"So, they started today." Lorelai said."Who? What?""Tom, on the addition."
"Oh right...I forgot."
"Yeah I got to knock a hole in the wall."
"I still don't see why you couldn't just make my room into a nursery."
"Then where would you sleep?"
"Well mom, I don't live there anymore."
"Shh. No you will always live there. I would never make you give up your room. Besides Luke still is all cooped up in the house, half of his stuff is still in the old apartment. I want him to be able to move all the way in when we get back from our honeymoon. We need the room for the home office too."
"I guess you are right. So is he still planning on renting his old place out to Lane ?"
"I think so. At least that was the plan last I heard." They pulled into the drive at the Elder Gilmore house and got out of the car.
"Hi, I am Lorelai, this is Rory, we are here to pick up my mother." Lorelai said to the maid."Right..she is with your father in the study.""Mom? With dad? In the study?" Lorelai said to Rory.
"That is what she said.""But, I mean..they aren't...are they?"
"Well ever since your accident they have been having dinners. And he has taken her to a bunch of her functions lately. They seem to be doing better."
"Is he still living in the pool house?"
"Yeah I think so...but this is good for them...they are falling in love again." Rory gushed.
"Uh...Mom...." Lorelai called from outside the study door. "You in there?""Yes! Come in!" Emily chirped.
"Okay, I know that the accident was traumatic to my head and all, but uh, how could it have effected sour puss and schnickelfritz." Lorelai whispered."I dunno but it has." They walked into the room. Richard sat behind his desk and Emily was perched on top of it."Hi guys. How's it going?" Lorelai said."Just fine." Richard said."Lorelai, you are looking wonderful. How are you feeling?" Emily asked giving them both hugs."Good enough to swing a hammer..."She said."You know...I know we are closer now, but I don't think I will ever understand a word you say." "That's okay mom, I brought Rory to translate.""She says she is feeling much better." Rory added.
"Yes well. You ladies have a good time today. And Lorelai your mother has my credit card...when you find the one you want you put it on there ok...same for Rory too." Richard said.
"Dad...I can't... I told you Luke and I have this.""I don't want to hear another word of it, I am your father I am buying my daughter a wedding dress and that is final."
"Did we just enter the Twilight Zone?" Lorelai whispered to Rory.
"Just take it." Rory said."Ok, thanks Dad." Lorelai said walking up to her father."My pleasure." Richard said. Opening his arms to his daughter for a hug."This is freaky even for them." Lorelai said to Rory. Then she hugged her father."I am so proud of you...learning how to walk again...and all." "Yeah well, it's like riding a bike."Lorelai said."So Grandma are you ready to go?""Yes I am." Emily said. She pecked Richard on the cheek he giggled like a boy and they were off.
"Lorelai I still can't believe you bought this hideous color of car.""Well mom I secretly always wanted to be a taxi driver." Lorelai said.
"So you and Dad looked cozy, things are going better for you two." Lorelai said changing the subject.
"It is like we are 17 again." Emily said."Ahh to be young and in love." Rory said."Speaking of..."Emily started."Ohhh sorry hon...you set yourself up for this one...""Are you seeing anyone special?"
"No, one special, but I am seeing a bunch of not special people."
"That better be your mothers horrible humor coming out in you young lady."
"That's my girl." Lorelai said.
"No grandma, no one special. I am kinda seeing this guy...""Wait a second...you have been holding out on mommy."
"I told you I was seeing him." She said.
"Yeah but all I have gotten is a name." Lorelai said."Well with every thing that has been going on, the accident, the SUV, the addition, the wedding,the baby." Rory said knowing that the subject was about to change."Baby? What baby?" Emily said. "Are you?"
"No mom, not yet. You know we are trying."
"Yes I knew that, and I still think you could keep that fact to yourself considering you are not yet married."
"Mom, I think that cat is out of the bag and it's name is Rory."
"You know what I mean."
"Yes, I do, it isn't proper you are right, but we will be married in a few weeks and then all will be right in the world. By the way Rory nice job, jumping the hot seat..but uh...who's the fella?"
"Yes what is his name perhaps I know him." Emily said.
"Cause you are suddenly tight with the 21 and under crowd?" Lorelai said."I might know his family Lorelai.""Oh thanks for clarifying I was afraid you might be punking me." Lorelai laughed he own joke.
"I am ignoring you now. Rory what is this young mans name.""Yeah if things with grandpa don't work out mom her might want to pull a Demi with him." Lorelai said.
"Wow too Kutcher jokes back to back impressive." Rory said."I try.""What is his name!" Emily said.
"She is locked on tight kid, you better tell her or she won't let go until she hears thunder.""His name is Logan Grandma, Logan Huntzberger and it isn't anything. We are just hanging out together." In truth Rory had seen Logan almost every day since the first date. they hadn't really gotten to the title game yet though. For now, they were just...going out.
"How long have you two been hanging out?" Emily said."Well since I dunno, since...I don't know...like 3 more like 4 months or so.""You are telling me, that you have been seeing someone for 4 months and it is still totally casual?" Lorelai said.
"Now, that's your girl." Emily said."Ha ha score one for grandma." Rory said."What's with the ganging up on me? I am the bride there will be no ganging up." Lorelai said.They arrived at the boutique where Emily used some of her D.A.R. strings to get an appointment on short notice. Lorelai let her, it was a huge help and it gave her mom something...a little control, it wasn't picking the dress or anything like that, but it was including her and that is all she every really wanted. It had taken 36 years but, she finally had Emily figured out."Uh...mom...."Lorelai said when they walked in."Yes."
"Um...where are...uh...the dresses."
"Oh Lorelai, you didn't think that we were buying off the rack were you?" Emily said.
"You mean?" Rory said."But how the wedding is in less than a month."
"If you pay a person enough anything can be done Rory." Emily said.
"Mom, no, it will be too expensive." Lorelai said."Now, Lorelai you heard your father.""Mom."
"No...I mean, what else are we going to do with the wedding fund." Emily said with a smile.
"Wait, the what?""Wedding fund."
"I thought that you, I don't know spent that a long time ago." Lorelai said.
"You honestly think I had given up hope on you Lorelai?" Emily said."Well...mom...yeah.""Have you ever known me to give up on anything?"
"Well no."
"Then tell me, why it would be that I would give up on my own daughter getting married."
"Thank you." she said hugging her mother.
"Thank you so much." This was just one of many surprise they had discovered about eachother in the last few months."Ok, so bring on the wine...bring on the dress samples!" Emily said."Git Er Done!" Lorelai said in her best southern accent."You have been holding that one in a long time haven't you." Rory said."You have no idea." Lorelai said.Three hours, 24 measurements and 103 dresses later they had come up with the perfect dress.Simple very classic, strapless silk, long and flowing in the back, and detailed with sparkles in the front. When it came time for the total Lorelai nearly fainted.
"Nine thousand one hundred and fifty six dollars and eleven cents." The woman said.
"Very well." Emily said handing her Richards platinum card."Oh my god..."Rory said."Uh Grandma...is there a...uh..wedding fun for me?""I don't know...is there a grand-son-in-law prospect for me?" Emily said.
"Point taken." Rory blushed.
"Bring him to the wedding won't you?" Emily said.
"I don't know grandma really, we aren't that serious yet."
"Well you can at least ask him can't you?" Emily said.
"I'll ask him." Rory said. She would ask him...she hopped he would come too, something had to keep her from having to spend any unnecessary time with Jess.