Disclaimer: This is an original story based upon the characters of Gilmore Girls. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit will be made from this story.
Author's Note: Thank you to all who have taken the time to post feedback. It is most appreciated. I hope you enjoy this next part of the story! Spoiler warning still in effect!
He is hovering—he always hovers when he has a point to make and doesn't know how to make it. He is also making the really annoying sigh sounds at regular intervals.
"Richard," I say to him, "You can stop now. I'm not going." He came and sat down next me.
"Ever?"
"Maybe"
"You are never going to go to another DAR meeting as long as you live?"
"Maybe!"
"Emily!"
"Richard—I am not going and nothing you can say will change my mind. I don't think I can ever show my face in public again!"
"Emily, how do you know they've even seen it?"
I turned and smirked at him,
"Richard, she probably gift wrapped an autograph copy and hand delivered to everyone of my friends."
"Now Emily...she did know such thing," I got up and started walking away. I didn't want to admit that I was angry with him. He had done nothing wrong. But I am still angry with him. He gets up and follows after me.
"I just don't think you should give up your entire life because your daughter said some things about you in a magazine article." I turned back around to face him,
"Richard—you don't get it."
"What? What don't I get?"
Oh I want to tell him! I want to scream it at him, "My daughter IS my life!" But I don't say it.
"Richard! What do you want from me? Do you want me to go to the DAR meeting? Is that what you want?" I walk over to the coat closet, grab my coat and my purse.
"Fine...I'll go to the meeting, and I will sit there and be stared at and then tell the ladies of the society all at once so I won't have to repeat myself how I am Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Endora, all rolled up into one. Are you happy?" He catches my hand on the way out draws me back in and kisses me.
"I'm only trying to help," he says. I smile sadly at him.
"She didn't say anything about you Richard. She still likes you." I go out the door and get in my car and drive away.
"Mommy...do you have to go out tonight?" she asked as she lay on my bed. I looked at her through the reflection in the mirror. She was lying on her back and waving her feet in the air—she couldn't sit still for a moment!
"Yes, Daddy and I have to go to the Hampton's party tonight, but Elana will be here with you and you'll have lots of fun!" I continued putting on my makeup. She was now on her stomach and pretending to swim around the bed.
"Lorelai, don't get the bed all messed up," I told her, "Why can't you a proper little lady?" She stopped and there was silence for a few minutes. I have learned to be wary of silence. I turned around and looked at her. She was lying still on the bed, her arms and legs rigidly straight forward. She was staring up at the ceiling.
"What are you doing?" I asked her, trying to hold back a chuckle.
"Being a proper little lady," she replied. I smiled and shook my head. I went back to the mirror and started to put up my hair.
"Mommy?"
"Yes?"
"If I was a proper little lady, would you stay home and play with me?" I put the brush down and turned to her, my heart breaking. I got up and went over to her, my dress swishing as I walked. I laid down on the bed with her and held out my arms for her. She looked up at me...
"I don't want to squish your dress" she said quietly. I reached out and brought her into me.
"I like squished dresses better," I answered back. She put her arms around me, and I ran my fingers through her hair.
"Sing me my song," she said after a few minutes, and I started to sing her lullaby. For a moment, there was nothing else in the world. No dinner parties, no undoubtedly impatient husband downstairs, no commitments, just me and my six year old angel. She laid her head on my chest and started to hum along. When the song was finished she smiled,
"I like that song," she said.
"Me too," I answered back. Suddenly the door opened,
"Emily...what are you doing, you haven't even put up your hair yet." Lorelai looked up at him embarrassed.
"It's my fault Daddy," she said. I looked up at him—this man I loved, that I adored, but saw a look in his eyes that I didn't like. An indifference, a superiority look that had been there more and more when he looked at Lorelai. Oh Richard—just look at her, really look at her! Tell her that you love her!
"Emily, the car will leave in fifteen minutes. Please be ready!" he said and then turned and walked out the door. I got up and walked back over to the mirror. I finished putting my hair up in a twist and then turned to look at her. It was the first time I had ever seen the look in her eyes—a look I would see more and more as the years went by. But this was the very first time and it took my breath away—disappointment...disillusionment.
"Have a good time with Elana" I said.
"Okay," she replied.
"I'll be home tonight but not until after you're asleep,"
"Okay"
"Are you going to come kiss me goodnight?" She hopped off the bed and came over to me, wrapping her arms around me and kissing me on the cheek.
"Goodnight Mommy," I hugged her to me.
"Goodnight Baby, I love you," She broke away from me and her big blue eyes seemed to be looking me over.
"I know," she said quietly and walked towards the door.
"Mommy?" she called as she turned around.
"Yes?"
"You look very pretty" she said smiling at me.
I sit in my car, staring at the reception hall. I don't have to go in, I could just drive away, go to the mall or something. But in a way Richard is right. I have to still live my life. I can't run away from it forever. I turn off the car and walk inside. It feels as though everyone is looking at me...the receptionists, the caterers. I keep walking until I get to our meeting room. Sandra Ellingsworth is the first one that sees me.
"Emily! Where have you been? We've missed you!" She gave me a big hug. I couldn't tell if she was sincere or patronizing me.
"Oh, I've had that flu that's been around lately. Terrible!" I said—lying though my teeth.
"Well, you poor dear, come and sit down,"
I pensively walk over to the table, scanning the ladies to see if any of them had the snooty judgmental look on their face. I looked around the table and saw someone I had never seen before—a younger woman, with dark hair that was pulled up into a stylish twist. I had to do a double take. She looked exactly like Lorelai!
"Lorelai?" I called for the tenth time almost banging on the door. The music was still blaring.
"Lorelai answer me!" the music finally stopped. I knocked again
"What!" came the answer from the other side of the door.
"Don't use that tone of voice with me!"
"What do you want Mom?"
"Can I come in?" There was a pause.
"It's your house" she replied. I opened the door pensively and walked in. The room looked like a hurricane had struck. In the midst of the pile of clothes, Lorelai lay on her bed painting her toenails.
"Looking at this room, you'd think we didn't have any maids at all."
"I like it this way," she replied, not looking up from her work. I walked over to the bed, and cleared a spot to sit down. She was thirteen—so withdrawn, so far away from me.
"Can I ask you something?" I started quietly.
"Shoot" she replied, still not looking up.
"The DAR mother daughter reception is coming up..."
"Oh Mom," she whined.
"Lorelai stop it. I'm not asking you to undergo major surgery. I'm asking you to come spend one night with me."
"So you can show me off, wind me up and make me walk around curtseying and shaking hands. 'Pull Lorelai's string and she says thirteen different cordial phrases!" I looked away from her, not wanting her to see the hurt look that crossed my face.
"What night is it?" she asked quietly. I felt a glimmer of hope.
"The thirteenth," She rolled her eyes. "Mom, that's the night of the school dance! Chris already asked me to go!" Oh I was beginning to loathe the name Chris!
"So...you don't want to come?"
"Gee, let me think about it...no"
I stood up and looked down at her. There was a few moments of silence between us.
"But I don't really have a choice do I?" she asked.
"No," I said coldly as I turned and walked out of the room.
"Emily? Emily, dear are you feeling alright?" Sandra asks. I shake myself out of my remembering.
"Yes Sandra, I'm fine," I reply. She leads me over to the newcomer, who stands up and extends her hand. I try not to stare at her...she really looks like Lorelai!
"Emily, this is our new member, Mrs. Melissa Bates. You know Rodney and Melanie Ashworth of Boston? Well, this is their daughter. She's the widow of Charles Bates—poor thing." I take her outstretched hand,
"How do you do?" I say. She smiles at me.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Gilmore, I've heard so much about you." she says. I wince—good or bad?
"You are something of a legend in the world of the DAR." she continues. I hope we can get to know each other better. I find myself intrigued by this woman.
"That would be nice," I reply. The meeting starts and the young Mrs. Bates is full of energy and ideas. She gives us suggestions for the upcoming debutante ball, and for the summer conference meeting. I don't think we have ever had a meeting that has gone by this fast! The meeting ends and strangely I've forgotten that I was ever scared to come to the meeting in the first place. I stick around, making small talk with the other ladies and then say goodbye and walk to my car. I am almost to the door when I hear someone coming up from behind me.
"Mrs. Gilmore?" Mrs. Bates calls.
"Yes, Mrs. Bates?"
She smiles, "Please...call me Melissa"
I smile back, "Emily"
"I was wondering Emily, I've been so busy organizing the affairs of my husband's estate, and we moved here so shortly before he died, I just feel like I don't know anyone. I was wondering...would you like to get some tea?"
"Yes...yes I would," I reply with a smile