Authors Note: Thanks masamor99 for your review. I'm glad you're still reading it.

Chapter 4: The Dragonfly

Since Richard didn't gave me the slightest hint, that I should stay at the house, I moved into the hotel again when he came back. I hate staying here, but somehow I'm not ready to discuss this with Richard. I need some time away from here. I have to get out.

I know I'm normally not in Europe during summertime, but I think this year I'll go to Europe over the summer. I haven't been there on my own, since my college days. But then I don't want to be there on my own – not if there's another possibility. And there is. I'll ask Rory to accompany me. Every young lady should go to Europe at least once – and decently – not this hostel-backpacking thing she did with Lorelai. Yes, Rory would be a good companion. I'll suggest it to her on Friday.

When Richard came back from Philadelphia he was surprised to see me at home.

"Emily. What are you doing here?"

"I'm just getting some new clothes."

Somehow I couldn't admit to him, that I was actually living there – for the time he was away.

"Oh – Well do you have everything you need?"

"Yes. It's upstairs. I'll get it now."

"Good."

Do you have everything you need? What kind of question is this? Of course I have enough clothes, money – he took care of that. But what I need? I need you Richard – my old Richard – the man I married. But again, I was too stubborn to admit that to him. So I went upstairs. When I came into the hall again he was gone. So should I just leave? Without saying goodbye – again? No I don't think so. And perhaps he'll suggest that I should stay, that he would move. Unlikely, but who knows? So I'm going to his study. I knock at his door.

"Come in."

I open the door.

"Emily." Yes – who would you think it would be?

"I'm sorry, I don't want to disturb you. I just came to say goodbye."

"Oh – goodbye Emily."

Ok, he's not going to mention it. I am about to leave when Friday Night Dinner comes to my mind. So I turn around again.

"Will you be here on Friday?"

"Should I?"

"I think so. They will get suspicious when we cancel again."

"Yes. That's probably right."

"So I'll come around a little early on Friday – I think it's better when we see each other before they arrive."

"If you think so."

"So you'll be here?"

"Yes."

"Good. Goodbye Richard."

"Goodbye Emily."

That was it. No: Do you really want to stay in a hotel? Do you think we can talk? Nothing. I think my decision of going to Europe is the right one. Perhaps he misses me, when I'm not around the corner. I do hope he'll miss me. He can't just throw 39 years away, can he? I'm wondering if he's having the same thoughts that I have.

It's Friday and I am at our house – early as I said I would be. I don't want it to be like last time, when the girls were basically watching me sneaking into my own house.The rooms are a little dusty. But what can you expect from a maid, when noone is around watching her? Richard certainly isn't. I will talk to Sriva later. First I have to speak to Richard. We have to get over this awkwardness which is between us. I knock at his study.

"Come in. - Emily – you're early."

"Of course I am – I told you I would come early, remember?"

"Ah – yes."

And there it is – the awkward silence.

"Is there anything I can do for you, Emily?"

"I thought we should be around each other for a while, before the girls arrive. So that we can act as normal as possible when they're around."

"And you want us to do what?"

"I don't know. – Talk, perhaps."

"About what?"

"I don't know. - About this evening. I don't want them to get suspicious."

"Emily don't you think you're paranoid? Do you want to write down to me what I'm allowed to say?"

"No. I just thought – "

"Emily please – I have work to do. If you don't have something specific you want to tell me, I would appreciate if you would leave me alone. That way I have perhaps my work finished when the girls arrive."

I turn around and leave. That went just like I planned it. I go into the kitchen.

"Sriva, the house is full of dust. When you want to keep your job, it better is cleaner the next time I come around."

We're sitting at the dinner table. At least it's not so awfully quiet. The girls are trading garnish and Richard and I bicker about whether the sauce is rabbit or duck. I hope that we're sounding normal. Since noone is enjoying their meal I tell Sriva to get the plates. Only Richard is protesting. Typical.

I'm turning to Rory. This time is as good as any to tell her my plan. And this way everyone will hear it.

"So, Rory, I was thinking maybe we should go away this summer, just you and me. You should do Europe right at least once in your life, and this seems like the perfect time."

"Oh, well, Grandma, I don't really know what I'm doing this summer yet, but that sounds really nice."

"And really out of the blue." Lorelai says.

"I agree." Richard is chiming in.

Of course you have something to say to this. I hope you're surprised. I don't need you to have some fun.

"Were you going mention this to me?" Lorelai wants to know.

"I just did. Plans aren't made, Lorelai. It was just an idea. If Rory doesn't want to go, then Rory doesn't have to go."

"Rory didn't say she didn't want to go."

I knew you would like it. And Lorelai and Richard will get used to the idea, too. Though at the moment he is frowning. Lorelai notices it, too.

"You okay, dad?" she asks him.

"I'm fine. When is dessert? I have work to do."

"It's coming as quickly as the woman can spoon fruit over ice cream." I answer.

"Well, clearly, she has carpal tunnel or some other modern disease which is slowing her down." he says.

"If she's going too slow for you, why don't you just go into the kitchen and give her a hand?" I reply.

The whole evening it was this way between us. And I'm sure it would have been for the rest of it, if Lorelai wouldn't have dropped the bomb on us right now.

"I forgot to mention, we're doing a test run at the Inn this weekend. We're inviting all our friends to spend the weekend, just to make sure we're ready to open. Hey, you know what would be great? If the two of you came."

"What?" I asked – shocked.

"For the weekend."

"Oh."- Oh Lorelai, why are you doing this?

"Well..." Richard seems to think the same. At least there's one thing we agree on this evening.

"I mean, I've been working toward this goal for, my God, what is it, Rory, now, twenty years?" she's going on.

"Twenty years."

And even Rory supports this. Does she know, too? No, I don't think so. But you never know – they tell each other so much.

"Twenty years, wow. So basically, this is the biggest thing that's ever happened to me in my life, except for Rory being born, and I'm sure my parents wouldn't want to miss it. I mean, unless there's some specific reason why you guys can't come, both of you together. No? Okay, good, so you'll be there. Fantastic. Isn't that great, Rory? Grandma and Grandpa are coming to the test run together."

If there was any doubt left that Lorelai wouldn't have noticed our problems it is gone by now. She knows and she wants to torture us. And she knows that she will get us this way.

"Lorelai" – though Richard is trying to get us out of it.

"Dad, seriously, you have no idea how much this means to me."

I have to butt in. I'm not sure whether Rory knows or not, and just for the possibility that she doesn't, we have to pretend everything is alright.

"We wouldn't miss it for the world." I hear myself say.

The rest of the evening Richard and I are hardly saying a word to each other – we're both lost in our thoughts about the coming weekend. Finally the girls are gone.

"We wouldn't miss it for the world. Are you insane?" Richard is saying.

"Well what was I supposed to say? I think we agreed that the girls shouldn't know about our problems."

"You agreed that the girls shouldn't know."

"And do you want them to know? Do you want Rory to know it? To witness all of this?" I yell.

Why am I yelling? This way I'm certainly not getting what I want. The whole evening was too much for me. Richard is just staring at me. If he would only yell back – then I wouldn't have to do what I have to do now. I know I have to swallow my pride.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell." I'm nearly whispering the words.

Why is it so hard for me to say them? Not when they have the meaning "I'm sorry, I don't want to disturb" but when they mean something like "I apologize – Forgive me." Of course I had to say them to my parents as a child, but Richard is one of the few people I told them as an adult. I bring myself to look at him again. He nods slightly. His sign that he accepted my apology ( if we weren't separated I would most likely receive a kiss on my forehead, too, because he knows how hard it is for me to say these words – but I guess those days are over).

"No I don't want Rory to know." he says quietly.

His face softens when he's talking about her – at least some things are still the same.

"But do you honestly think Lorelai doesn't know?" he continues.

So he has noticed it, too. Of course he has. He is not stupid. I sigh.

"No, I guess she knows. - Please Richard – one weekend. And it won't be the two of us alone. The whole town will be there. We won't have to spend that much time together."

He's about to give in. I see it.

"Besides you've already agreed to come." I remind him.

"Well - alright then. I have work to do now. Goodnight Emily."

"Goodnight Richard."

He turns around and leaves for his study. I turn around and leave for my hotel room. I'm so glad that I'll be in Europe soon, hopefully with Rory – but I bet she'll come.

So next weekend the Dragonfly. I'm afraid of it. Richard and I just can't communicate anymore. Lorelai did this on purpose I'm sure of that. But perhaps if we are forced to be together he will finally talk to me. A glimmer of hope is inside me. And Lorelai's intentions – besides torturing her parents, which I bet is fun for her – might be to get us back together. All children want their parents together. Perhaps that is even right for Lorelai.

So next weekend – I think next weekend will be the turning point for Richard and me. If we can get through with it decently our marriage might have a chance – if not – I better don't think about that.

So next weekend…

Stay tuned to witness what will happen next weekend (not that you don't know ;-))I'm quite satisfied with this chapter – so please tell me your thoughts.