Chapter 10: Letting Go

(Cue: Luke inside his diner, wiping down some tables after the lunch rush. The only customers left are Kirk and Lulu, taking their time to finish their lunch and one other table which is occupied by an anonymous Stars Hollow couple that we don't know.)

There are some emotions that exist just under the surface of the skin yet are never discovered. Love, for example, was one of them that Luke pondered as he wiped down tables after most of the lunch crowd had dispersed that afternoon. His heart beating a mile a minute, he had anticipated Lorelai's entrance every time a customer entered his diner for the past hour, at least.

He knew that her first staff meeting after everyone had left was extremely important, and, knowing Lorelai the way he did, he knew that she wouldn't leave any stone uncovered. Even Taylor's minuscule complaints would be addressed, he was certain of that. So, that must be the reason she hasn't come in for their lunch date. She will be here, he tried to calmly tell himself.

After all, she was the one who made the date.

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(Cue: After the staff meeting.)

Lorelai was alone in the inn. Everyone had left. Immersed in final inventories and clean-up she walked through the inn thinking of the test run last night. Having read through every last comment card, the only negative comments had been found in Taylor's very detailed analysis of his stay. She was grateful that there was at least something to work on. She had sent her staff home filled with positive energy, she hoped, and with things that needed to be worked out for their grand opening.

Her staff, she thought. The thought sent tingles down her spine. Her dream had finally come true. She had her inn with a great staff and her best friend was her partner. Things couldn't possible get worse. And then there was Luke. How incredible he had been. That kiss. Oh, that kiss. And the way he stood at her side through all the craziness with Rory, Dean and Jess. Well, there had to be something. Things couldn't be too perfect. Of course there was still the situation with her parents. She had learned long ago she couldn't argue either one out of any decision that they made. And, yet, she hoped beyond all hope that they would be able to reconcile the things that had gone wrong between them. She had never been too great with letting go....

She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice the door creek open and the male figure who walked up behind her as she stood staring upward, toward the stairs, lost in thought.

Lorelai (turning around suddenly): "Christopher! What are you doing here?"

Christopher (laughing): "I'm here for you, sexy..." his words trailing off as he gazed into those beautiful blue eyes he had missed so much.

Lorelai (shocked): "Where is Sherry? And, what are you doing standing in my inn calling me sexy? Aren't you engaged?"

Christopher: "Sherry left last month. She took Georgia with her. Somewhere in New York. She won't tell me where. She said that she couldn't be with someone who was pining for someone else. I didn't understand what she meant until a week ago when I realized that I still loved you and it had been obvious to everyone but me."

Lorelai: "Oh, Christopher, you shouldn't be here, this is not a good time...." her words trailing off as Chris took the initiative to plant a wet kiss on her lips.

Lorelai tried to break away but gave in and kissed him back. What was she doing? She wondered. This wasn't anything like what she had felt kissing Luke under the doorway last night.

Oh! Luke! She gasped for breath as she pulled away from Christopher. She was supposed to meet him for lunch. She had asked to meet him for lunch!

Christopher: "What's up with that?"

Lorelai: "Chris, I have got to go. Please. I found... I mean..." (she wanted to tell him there was someone else but the words didn't come out right away...)

Christopher: "What? There's not someone else is there? I thought you and the insurance guy broke up."

Lorelai: "Where on earth did you learn about him?!" Though she thought she already knew. Emily. Who else?

Christopher: "Well, Emily called me. It was pretty much out of the blue too. Last week. She said that you were having trouble getting rid of him. It was at that point that I realized how much I loved you because all I could think of was getting down here to make sure you were alright."

Lorelai: "Chris, please, can we talk about this later? I have to meet someone for lunch. It is already planned and I am late."

Christopher (reluctantly): "Well, if you must. Is Rory home? I would love to catch up with her."

Lorelai: "Actually, Rory isn't really available today. She is working through something right now. I think she needs the distance and the time. I just have to let go." (God, that thought alone of letting go of her daughter was just killing her inside.)

Christopher: "What? If Rory is upset maybe I can help...."

Lorelai (cutting him off): "No, Chris, not today. But maybe in a couple days? You could come back and talk to her? She could probably use her dad around for awhile. But, for right now, I really have to go.

As Lorelai walked off after Chris said he would catch up with her later, Lorelai thought to herself that she really should have just told him about Luke. Why hadn't she? One thing she knew for sure, Luke was not going to be happy to hear that Chris was back in town. The two of them had never really gotten along. She had to tell Luke first.

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Rory and Dean were walking toward the bridge when Dean tried to hold her hand. She flashed back and remembered all those crazy feelings of love she had once felt. But this was different. All she could think of was that this wasn't right. She couldn't do this to herself, or to Lindsay for that matter. She wasn't that type of person, dammit!

Rory: "Dean, let go please."

Dean: "Rory, I love you. I told you that. What is the matter? I came over to tell you that I am going to tell Lindsay today that I am leaving her."

Rory: "Dean, I have to be honest with you about something. I have been going over and over in my head what happened last night, and, the only thing that feels most comfortable is that we not see each other anymore....even as friends" (she added this last part as an after thought. After all, she wanted to be very clear.)

Dean: "Rory, you don't mean that...you can't...."

Rory: "I do...I do mean that. Please don't make this that hard. Just walk away. Go with Lindsay. You chose to marry her. I don't like being the other woman."

Dean: "Ror, you are not the other woman! I am leaving her!"

Rory: "Dean, please...listen to me! I don't love you anymore...."

They were just crossing over the duck pond bridge and Dean couldn't take anymore after hearing Rory say that she didn't love him. He would never understand what went through her head. After all, she had let him in her house, her room, and then her bed last night. He knew what an important step that was for her. How could she say these things? Didn't she trust him?

Obviously not, he thought.

Dean just looked at Rory with a blank look in his eyes.

Rory: "I need to go home now," she said silently.

Rory forced herself to walk away. This is for the best, she thought, as she headed in the direction to her house.

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