It has been two weeks since Amy arrived in Stars Hollow. She spent all fourteen days working with Luke and finally had a working agreement to fax back to Washington D.C. He had agreed that the arrival of Fine Print Inc. would bring much needed money and jobs to the small town.
With a sigh she sat back in the chair she was sitting on and rubbed her neck. Finally she could relax. The job she had set out to do was done and as an added bonus her little secret was safe. The kids were with their nanny that arrived in Stars Hollow the day after them. So it was just her and Luke. The last few minor details had been sorted out half an hour ago and now they were enjoying a light dinner that Luke prepared for them.
She couldn't help but notice the man sitting across from her at the dinner table. He was handsome. His face sported a neatly trimmed go-tee and the hair that was showing under the baseball cap had tasteful streaks of gray beginning to form. He reminded her so much of Daniel. Or maybe it was the other way around. Maybe she was drawn to Daniel because he had reminded her so much of the man she left. A man that she loved more than life itself. Having been lost in a day dream she didn't notice that she was now being watched. Blushing, she looked down at her partially cleared plate.
Luke knew he was being watched ever since they sat down to dinner. But he was curious as to why? Why someone like Amy Sinclair would want to gawk at him? The beautiful widow of a very propionate congressman who was totally above him in every way, shape and form? "Do I have something on my face?" He asked quietly with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Clearing her throat, Amy looked up at him. "Sorry about that. I was just thinking about Daniel." She offered him an apologetic smile. " I mean...you remind me so much of him. Your great with the kids. People love you." She absentmindedly played with her wedding ring. " I think I should go." She wiped her mouth with her napkin and placed it on her plate then stood to leave.
Listening, Luke felt slightly disheartened. He really liked Amy then to be compared to her dead husband. Well, lets just say that it was a blow to his ego. "I don't know what to say being compared to such a great man. But I do know that I don't want you to leave." He stood and walked around the table to stand in front of her. "I've only known you for a week and I feel...I feel the best I have in ages. I feel alive." In the two weeks they spent together working on the agreement for Fine Print Inc. he felt drawn to her. He felt ashamed to be having these feelings towards the widower but he couldn't help it. But he did know that he didn't want to lose her without seeing if she shared those feelings. As wrong as they maybe. "I know you've just lost your husband and I don't want to taint your good name. But I would like to get to know you before you leave. Tell me a little about yourself and how you met your husband." He reached out and rested his hands on her upper arms, in a comforting manner.
Amy felt the shiver race through her body as soon as he touched her. All the old thoughts and feelings towards the man resurfaced in a giant wave of emotion. She felt overwhelmed and had to back away from him. She hugged herself as she moved towards the large window that overlooked the darken square of Stars Hollow. Licking her lips, she began to speak. "Um...I was born and raised Winthrop, which is in the state of Washington. There was about three hundred and fifty people in the entire town. But it was the best place to be a kid. The whole town looks like a old west town. It's amazing." She let out a little laugh then continued. "My mother worked as the librarian for Liberty Bell Junior-Senior High School up until her death in nineteen eighty-four. Daddy owned and ran the Winthrop Inn but sold it to some out of town fellow when he decided to retire in nineteen eighty-nine. Three years later he died of colon cancer that was detected to late." This was a very detailed history that she had six years to come up with. Six years to make it believable. "I received a scholarship from Stratford University in Virginia for Hotel and Restaurant Management. I met Daniel when I applied for the job as his secretary. My schooling was paid for but I needed money to pay for housing and other expenses that I had. The salary was good. Full benefits and close to school. He hired me rater reluctantly I might add. I didn't have a clue to what I was doing. Then one thing lead to another and we found ourselves falling in love with each other. I adored little Ethan and Daniel loved Emily. The next logical step was marriage. He asked and I accepted. I adopted Ethan and Daniel adopted Emily. We were a loving and caring family." She took a shaky breath as the memories began to invade her mind. "We didn't even know Daniel was sick. He...um...He wouldn't let his doctor tell us. He was afraid that we'd worry too much. Then one night he got very sick and had to be rushed to the hospital. That is when we found out that he was in the advanced stages of Leukemia. Two days later he died surrounded by his friends and family." Tears were running freely from her eyes.
Luke was silent while she spoke. Taking in everything she was saying. "Ethan and Emily? Ethan isn't your child?" He didn't mean to sound rude but he was curious. Anything he ever read about the Sinclair family never mentioned the fact that both children were adopted by the other spouse. It always referred to them as the Sinclair children.
Wiping her eyes, Amy turned to look at Luke. "No. Ethan's mother died giving birth to him. He was two when I came into their lives. But I love that little boy like he's my own. I wouldn't have it any other way and neither would Daniel. He agreed that I should become the boys mother so I adopted him. Emily was a newborn when we got together and he was the only father she ever knew. He wouldn't hear of anything except adopting her." She held up a hand to stop any more questions. "Emily's father doesn't even know she exists. I left him before he found out. Things just weren't meant to be for us." She sat down in the nearest chair, unable to stand anymore since her legs were shaking so bad. She was so close to telling the truth that it scared her. " I have an older daughter that the kids know nothing about. Daniel knew. Daniel knew everything about me before we got married." She looked down at her hands that were resting on her lap. "She disappointed me. I guess that is one of the reasons why I left Emily's father. We were fighting about my oldest daughter, constantly. He didn't understand why I had disowned her. He didn't understand how she became the one thing that I fought so desperately against when I was younger. Something I despised against all other." She shook her head and glanced down at the diamond studded watch that was wrapped around her wrist. "I should get going. It's been a pleasure doing business with you Mr. Danes but I should really start packing. We have a early flight. If your ever in Washington D.C. look me up." She stood and placed a chaste kiss upon his cheek then pulled the door open, smiling at the bell that dinged when she did.
He was in awe at her story then it started to sound familiar like deja-vu. Luke watched as she stood and headed towards the door. She was leaving and he'd probably never see her again.
"What was your daughters name? The oldest one?" He questioned.
She stepped out and onto the cement step before hearing his final question. She knew the chances of seeing him in D.C. was slim to none so what would it hurt? "I think in your heart you already know the answer to that but I'll tell you anyways. Rory. Rory is my oldest daughters name. Goodbye Luke." With that she slipped out into the inky blackness of the night and into a waiting black town car.
Luke froze hearing the name. A name he was all to familiar with. Rory. Daughter of Lorelai and a man named Christopher. His Lorelai. The woman he loved beyond anything in the world. The woman that was right in front of him for two weeks and he didn't even know it. Lorelai who was know known as Amy. Someone else's wife and mother.