So Far -- Lorelai has lunch with Christopher. Emily makes dinner reservations at the same restaurant Christopher and Lorelai have plans for. Lorelai argues with Luke about Christopher's intentions.

Chapter Eight

A Bite In The Ass

Lorelai walked into the restaurant at 7:10. She gave the maître d' Christopher's name and she was led to his table.

"Where's Gigi?"

"I got the woman next door to baby sit. She's really good with her."

"And where's Rory?"

"She called me just as I got here, she got tied up with Emily and is running a little late."

"Then why don't you call her, just to see when she'll be getting here?"

"I can't, at least not inside the building. They have a block on all cell phones. That's one of the great things about this place."

"I see."

"I ordered you a martini, unless you'd rather have wine."

"No, a martini's fine."

"Do you want some kind of appetizer?"

"No. I'll wait until Rory gets here."

"You look really great tonight, not that you don't look great any time."

"Yeah, well, thanks."

"I know I didn't say anything before, but you've done a terrific job with the Dragonfly. I am very impressed, and very proud of you!"

"Well, thanks again. It's hard work, but I like it."

"You never were afraid of hard work. That's one of the things I always loved about you."

"Chris, let's cut to the chase. Is Rory really coming, or is this just something you made up to get me to have dinner with you?"

"Rory's coming, Lorelai, I swear! Trust me, she IS coming."

Lorelai started to argue back when she saw Rory walk in, but before she could say anything, she also saw Emily and Richard.

"Why are my parents with Rory?"

"WHAT?" Christopher was stunned. "I – I don't know. I don't understand."

"Well, neither do I. But I'm going to find out."

"Lorelai, wait! You don't want to make a scene. Maybe Rory misunderstood me, or . . . ."

"Or? Come on Christopher – or what?"

"Why don't you stay here and I'll go find out what's going on?"

"Why don't we BOTH go?"

"Lorelai, I don't think that's a very good idea – you don't want to confront all three of them, not in here. Things are still very volatile between all of you."

But Lorelai had already gotten up and headed in the direction they went.

The three of them were already seated when Lorelai found them.

"Mom! What are you doing here?"

"I just thought I'd drop by to see why you brought THEM when you were supposed to be having dinner with your father and me."

"I never said I was going to have dinner with you."

"Well, according to your father you were!"

"Lorelai!" Richard said quietly, but intensely. "This is neither the time nor the place for one of your tantrums. Please sit down!"

"No, Dad I will NOT sit down! And I'm talking to my daughter, not you. Rory, why would your father lie to me about you having dinner with us, especially since you bailed on us at lunch?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. I never said I was going to have lunch. I had to go back to Yale to get some books I left. I did call him when I got back, and he did invite me to eat lunch with you guys, and to dinner, but I said no to both."

"Well, then it appears that your loving father lied to you as well as me! He told me the three of us were going to eat lunch at Palmer's, and when you didn't show up because you weren't feeling well, you agreed to have dinner with us here."

"He said that? But why?"

"Well, it's pretty obvious, now. I should have listened to Luke, he knew what Christopher was doing all along."

"Where is Dad? Is he here now?"

"He's supposed to be, unless he took off when he realized all his lies were coming back to bite him in the ass."

"Lorelai!" Emily said, "This is no place for your gutter language!"

"You're right, and this is no place for me, either."

Lorelai turned to leave, but Rory grabbed her hand.

"Mom, don't leave! Stay? Have dinner with us? Please? PLEASE?"

"I don't think that's such a good idea."

Lorelai was trying hard to keep her tears in check, but she saw that Rory's eyes also were glistening with unshed tears.

Still clutching her mother's hand, Rory turned to her grandparents.

"Grandma, Grandpa, make her stay."

"Lorelai," Emily said, trying to be insistent without raising her voice. "You are making a scene! Not only are you embarrassing me, but your father, yourself, AND your daughter! Please sit down!"

The very last thing Lorelai wanted to do was sit at the same table with her parents. But seeing the desperate look on Rory's face, she knew she could not walk away from her daughter.

"Okay, I'll stay. But I need to . . . fix my make up. I'll be right back."

"I'll come with you," Rory said as she got up. "Mine need fixing, too. Excuse me, Grandma, Grandpa."

To Be Continued