Authors Note: Thanks A-Karana, emilygilmore, llanoestacado and Liz for your kind reviews. I'm glad that you enjoyed the chapter – especially the flashback. And it's always good to find out that more people are reading this story, than I actually thought. Makes the effort all worth it.

Chapter 21: Rumours

It's Friday. Rory arrived a few minutes ago. Lorelai is – of course – late. I'm not quite sure, whether I'll still give her a chance to tell me, or if I'll just spill it out to her that I know everything. I don't think she'll tell me on her own though. Rory is talking about Yale and her classes. Of course she knows about Lorelai and Luke, too. But I can't blame her for not telling me. I can understand that she's loyal to Lorelai. Finally the doorbell is ringing – it's about time – and I'll stand up to greet her.

"Oh, I'm late." she says while coming in.

"I know." I say.

I know how to read a watch. Then she's telling me her lame excuse – something about honking and bumper stickers. I'm walking back to Rory and Lorelai is following me. Then she's telling the whole story to Rory again. I decide that she won't tell me about Luke this time either, so I can just as well tell her that I know everything.

"So, I hear you have a new boyfriend."

Lorelai gasps and turns to Rory.

"How did you – "

"Not from me." Rory says.

"Don't jump on Rory." I say.

"How, Mom?"

That's all you can think about – how I found out. Not even a little regret that I once again had to find out something important from a stranger. But I answer her.

"Kirk told me."

"Kirk?" Rory says surprised.

"Kirk who?"

Please Lorelai – don't play dumb.

"How many Kirks do you know?"

"My Kirk? Stars Hollow Kirk? Kirk who hasn't started shaving yet Kirk? How did you find out from him?"

"I called the Inn looking for you, and Michel answered, but he was in the middle of some argument with your horse veterinarian. Then there was a cracking sound, and the phone went dead. Then there was another man's voice saying 'Hello'."

"Kirk?"

"Bob." I correct her.

"The gardener?"

Really she doesn't know what's going on there.

"More twists than O. Henry." Rory chimes in.

"He told me something in a heavy Spanish accent all while Michel was yelling at the vet in French."

"I leave and the U.N. erupts."

You can tell.

"Then Kirk came on. He was there delivering something. And when I told him I was looking for you, he told me you were probably at your boyfriend Luke Danes' house. Now, why were you hiding it from me?"

"I wasn't hiding it."

Oh, yes you were.

"You jumped on Rory when you thought she told me. You were hiding it."

"She did not jump on me, Grandma."

Yes, defend your mother – but it's useless.

"Yeah, and I wasn't hiding it. The only reason I reacted to Kirk the way I did is that he's not in this world -- he's in my other world. It's as if I, out of the blue, told you I was having tea with Mrs. Van-uppity."

"Who?" I say confused.

"Hortense Van-Uppity -- tight bun, lace collar, tiny poodle, fictional friend?"

Ignore it Emily.

"You keep so much from me with these separate worlds of yours. It's not right."

"I will try harder to merge the worlds. I promise."

A likely story!

"Well, start now. I want to meet this Luke Danes."

"You've met him."

"Not in this capacity. I need to re-meet him."

"Well, I'm sure that day will come."

Me too – and sooner than you think.

"Next week."

"What?" she says – a little shocked.

"You have a gentleman friend of significance."

"Rhett is my gentleman friend, yes."

And again - ignore it.

So, it's only proper that you introduce him to your mother... unless he's insignificant. I don't want to meet a passing ship. That's a waste of my time. Is Luke a passing ship? Is he insignificant?

I've asked the question. I'm curious for her answer.

"No, he's not." she answers quietly.

I knew it. One more reason to meet him.

"I'll get my book, and we will pick a date next week." I say standing up.

"Mom."

"Next week." I say firmly.

"But I – "

"Next week."

With that I'm away to get my book. When I return I give her no chance to get out of this – I'm basically free every evening (I would cancel everything else for this dinner – I just have to meet him – them).

During dinner she again tried several times to get out of it, but in the end she gave up. I always get what I want.

Today Luke and Lorelai came over for dinner. At first Lorelai jumped on everything I said or didn't say. It was really annoying. After I'd excused myself to check on dinner, she'd changed completely though. She wasn't even once defending him. Well I did provoke him a little – I wanted to test, whether he would defend himself or his diner – well he didn't. He tried everything to please me. Reminded me of Jason a little. That was really annoying, too. And I wouldn't have expected that from him. I thought he would defend himself or try to stop me in some way – because I admit that with time I got a little rude – too rude? – well who cares. He didn't say anything about it except 'Thank you'. That's no way to earn my respect. I was right – Lorelai deserves better than him. Not only that he's not from our social circle – he can't even stand up for his opinions.

As for will they be together forever? I don't know – let's hope Lorelai comes to her senses, but I doubt that. However I don't know what I can do about that right now.

I've barely seen Richard in the last days – it's always a polite 'Hello' and 'Goodbye' nothing more. I wonder whether he knows about Luke. I didn't tell him. I don't even know why – but what could he do about it anyway. The phone is ringing.

"Hello?"

"Hello Emily – it's Bitty."

Oh my – more rumours? I wonder what she's up to.

"Hello Bitty – good to hear from you – how are you?" I say cheerfully.

"I'm fine thanks – and you? I haven't seen you since the dinner."

And again I hear the undertone – the one asking me whether the rumours are true.

"Well you know Richard is very busy – and I had a lot to do around the house."

"But I've seen Richard – he was at the club yesterday."

Was he? Now I really wonder what she's up to.

"Yes, I know – he needed some time to relax, after all the travelling – and golfing always was relaxing for him."

And why am I defending myself?

"Well too bad you didn't accompany him."

"Yes, well as I said I had a lot to do around the house."

"Hiring another maid?" she asks ironically.

"That too."

I have to live up to my reputation.

"I was just wondering – who was the young man who accompanied Richard?"

Young man? What young man? Did he have a business meeting after all? But I can't say that – after I've told her before he was there to relax. Damn why am I talking so much? I don't know what to say. Thankfully she continues – I hate that I've nothing to response.

"I've never seen him around the club before – wearing a baseball cap and flannel."

Luke – he was there with Luke? I can't believe it. I'm too shocked to say anything.

"Rumours say he's the new boyfriend of Lorelai."

Oh yes, she's enjoying this. I have to pull myself together.

"Of course – I'm sorry Bitty, I thought he was there with Luke the day before yesterday – you confused me a little. As I said, there are too many things I have to think of right now – so a little mix up can happen."

"Of course it can. So he is her new boyfriend?"

"Yes he is."

I have no choice than to admit it. – Why would he take Luke to the club? Is he insane? And not telling me – but well only another sign that I don't exist in his world anymore.

"Well that's nice. Have you heard about Linda…."

I have to try hard to follow the conversation from now on. But I have to – I was too inattentive already. At the first opportunity I end the call.

I can't believe it – he showed Luke off at the club – without telling me – without thinking about the consequences – now we'll be the center of gossip even more. I would like to go over to the pool-house right now – but he's not there. So I have to wait.

The minute I see him coming home I storm out of the house. I reach him, when he's unlocking the door.

"Why would you go golfing with that man? Why on earth?" I say upset.

"Who, Luke?"

Richard please – who else?

"You are encouraging this ridiculous relationship."

"Emily, please."

No not 'Emily please'.

"He is not good enough for Lorelai -- or to be Rory's stepfather, God forbid."

I haven't really thought about this until it got out of my mouth, but I'm right – Rory deserves her real father and not some diner guy, who can't even stand up for his own opinion

"Can we be a little more of a snob, Emily?"

I don't think he's getting it.

"The fact that you paraded him around the club -- our club!" I'm really upset.

"It happened to be a fruitful outing. I am going to assist him in franchising his diner."

I can't believe what I'm hearing – it's getting worse – franchising?

"Richard! That hirsute lout is not capable of running a complex business."

"Well, that's obvious, Emily. That's why he will have no significant role. He'll be the front man. We'll shave him, stick his picture on the menus. The whole thing will hopefully bestow some credibility on him. At least then, if this insane relationship between him and Lorelai continues, we can legitimately take him to places like the club. - At least on holidays."

I can't believe what I'm hearing – besides the fact that he was doing all of this without telling me, it's simply insane. I mean he just admitted that this relationship is insane, but that didn't stop him to show him off at our club.

"This is absurd. You're absurd. The whole thing's absurd."

I'm turning around to leave – it makes no sense to talk to him, when he's really thinking this is the right thing to do.

"And you're not thinking ahead." Richard says.

What? What does he mean? Does he think the two of them will stay together – marry perhaps? I'm looking at him, but I can't read his face.

"Excuse me."

With that he's going into the pool-house. And I'm going back to the main house. How I hate this. We should be united on this – and he's making plans behind my back.

I wonder if that will ever change.

Sorry that I didn't include the actual dinner, but I really don't like how Emily was portrayed there, and I couldn't think of the thoughts she might have had during dinner, plus it would've been very long. But kicking it out altogether didn't seem right either – so tell me, did I make the right decision?