So Far -- Lorelai gets a disturbing call from Christopher and goes to the diner; unthinking, she says some hurtful things to Luke; and she tells him she wants to visits the old Twickham house.

Chapter Four

Mean, Vindictive, Vile And Hateful

Before going inside, Lorelai wanted to walk around the outside of the house to see it from all sides.

Inside, everything relating to the museum had already been taken out and every room echoed with their footsteps and voices.

"Nice big living room," Lorelai commented.

"Want to see the kitchen? I'm thinking about remodeling it and getting rid of the old sink, stove and refrigerator and going with all new cabinets and floor."

"Right, like I'd really spend a lot of time in THERE!" Lorelai joked, but she still went to see it. "Wow, old man Twickham must have bought all this in an antique shop when they built the house."

They wandered around upstairs, and Luke said he could put in a second floor bathroom by taking part of one of the bedrooms.

"It doesn't matter if it's smaller. We can always use it for a nursery," Lorelai said.

She actually thought it was a pretty good idea, and she hoped this would help to undo the hurt she had caused him earlier.

"Yes we could," Luke agreed.

Everything seemed to be working out just like he wanted it to.

They went back downstairs and out to the front porch.

"So what do you think?" Luke asked hopefully.

"It definitely has potential. I could see us living here, but Rory would have to agree to it as well."

"That goes without saying."

They got back in Luke's truck.

"So, where do you want to go?"

Lorelai didn't answer him, but just sat there, thinking.

After almost a minute had passed, Luke asked her again.

"I want to go to Hartford."

This time it was Luke who didn't say anything.

"Did you hear me? I said I want to go to Hartford."

"I heard. But I don't think you want to do that."

"Of course I do. I want to go get my kid!"

"Do you really think she'd come with us?"

"She'll come. Now are you going to drive me or do I have to walk back to the diner and get my car?"

"Lorelai, will you just stop and think about this?"

"Fine!" Lorelai said, and got out of the truck.

Luke got out and rushed over to block her way.

"Lorelai . . . ."

"Get out of my way, Luke. I mean it! I'm going after Rory and no one, not even you, is going to stop me."

"What are you going to do, hog tie her and drag her out of your parents' house?"

"If I have to."

"You're not thinking straight. If you go barging in there, you'll just make things worse. Like it or not, we're going to have to give Rory some time. She's going to have to come to you. If you force the issue now . . . ."

"Since when are you on HER side?"

"I'm not on her side, I'm on yours. I'm always on your side. But going off half cocked isn't going to solve anything."

"Luke, I want my kid back! I want Rory with me, with ME, not with those Gilmores, and damned sure not with Christopher!"

"Neither do I. But Rory has to make that decision on her own."

"You don't understand. They have her! She's a prisoner!"

"She is not a prisoner. She went to them on her own."

Lorelai went around Luke and continued on to the diner with Luke following after.

"Lorelai, wait! Will you wait a minute?"

But she ignored him. Luke looked back at his truck parked in front of the house. He had left the keys in it. Should he stay with Lorelai or go back for his truck? He chose to stay with Lorelai.

When she got to her Jeep, Lorelai got in and started the engine.

"Are you coming?"

Luke got in with her.

During the thirty-minute drive to her parents' house, Luke tried talking Lorelai out of it, but her mind was made up.

She pulled up in the driveway and immediately got out and started ringing the bell over and over.

Emily answered the door.

"Lorelai! What are you doing here?"

"Where's Rory?"

"She's not here."

Lorelai pushed past Emily.

"Rory?"

"Lorelai, I told you she isn't here."

Lorelai walked through the house out to the patio, calling Rory's name over and over.

Emily chased after her, leaving the front door open. Luke looked inside then cautiously followed Emily.

Lorelai went into the pool house.

"RORY!"

Lorelai went back to the patio where Emily was waiting.

"Where is she? What did you do with her?"

"I didn't do anything with her. She's with Christopher."

"I can't believe you did this. You've done some mean, vindictive things to me in the past, but I never thought you'd go this far. You couldn't stand it because Luke and I got back together, so you decided to get between Rory and me! What a vile, hateful woman you are!"

"You have no right to talk to me like that! Whatever goes on between you and that man is of no concern of mine. But Rory IS! You all but threw her out of your house, and when she felt she had no place to go, WE took her in! WE made sure she had a decent roof over her head, and WE gave her someplace she felt safe and WANTED! Which is a lot more than she got from YOU!"

Lorelai had no comeback argument. There was nothing she could say, so she went quietly back inside. Emily then noticed that Luke was on the patio with them. She gave him a short, harsh look then followed after Lorelai and Luke followed her.

Lorelai went through the house and out the front door. Emily stood there waiting for Luke then closed the door behind them.

When Luke got to the Jeep, Lorelai was already in the driver's seat. He climbed in beside her.

"Damn it!" she exclaimed, then hit the steering wheel with both hands in frustration.

After a few seconds she dug down in her purse and took out her cell phone and punched in Rory's number. After four rings, her voice mail cut in.

Lorelai cut the connection.

"Lorelai, can I make a suggestion?"

Lorelai looked at him.

"So, suggest."

"Now I know this sounds crazy, and I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but maybe you should call Logan."

"What! You're right, that IS crazy. He's the one who got Rory mixed up in all this in the first place!"

"I know that. But so far we haven't heard anything about him. Does he even know that Rory's quit Yale?"

"I don't know. Probably not."

"I don't like him, not even a little bit, but from what I've seen, he does seem to care about Rory, and maybe right now he's the only one who can get through to her."

Lorelai realized Luke was right. She should have thought of that herself. She gave him a small smile.

"I think we're going to make a good team. Now, if I only had his number . . . ."

"You don't know anyone who does?"

"Well, he was on the paper with Rory and Paris, maybe Paris has it. I think I have her number."

Lorelai scrolled down the names until Paris' name came up. She called her.

"Paris, hi. This is Lorelai … Good, I'm good … Oh, Rory's fine. She's spending some time with her dad and little sister. And how are you? … Well, that's great. Look, the reason I'm calling is I was wondering if you have Logan's number … Well, I'm just getting her voice mail, but I really need to talk to him … Well, is there anyone you know who might have it? … Can you try for me? … Thanks, I really appreciate it … Yeah, thanks."

"She doesn't have it?"

"No, but she said Doyle, her boyfriend, might. He's the paper's editor and she said there's a good chance he would. She's going to call him then call me back."

They sat in silence for a few minutes until the phone rang.

"Hello … He did? Great! … What is it? Wait a minute … Luke, I need a pen."

"I don't have a pen. You always assume . . . ."

Lorelai gave Luke a quick, irritated look.

"Hang on, Paris, I need to get something to write with."

Lorelai dug down in her purse and found one in the bottom.

"Okay, what is it?"

Lorelai wrote the number on the palm of her hand.

"Okay, got it. Thanks, really. Oh, and why don't you give Rory a call sometime? I'm sure she'd like to hear from you. And thanks again. You have a great summer. 'Bye."

"Well, here goes nothing."

Lorelai dialed the number.

"Hello," a woman said.

"Is this Logan's cell phone?"

"Yes it is. Who is this?

"Is Logan there?"

"No. Who did you say you were?"

"I'm Lorelai Gilmore, Rory Gilmore's mother. Who is this?"

"I'm Honor, Logan's sister. What can I do for you?"

"I need to talk to Logan. Are you sure he's not there?"

"He's not here. He's always leaving his phone laying around and I found it."

"When you see him, will you ask him to call me? It's important. It's about Rory."

"I guess I can. I'll save your number and tell him when he comes to get his phone."

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

"So, now what?" Luke asked.

"I guess we go home."

Lorelai started the Jeep and pulled out of driveway. A few minutes later she turned onto the road back to Stars Hollow.

To Be Continued