Authors Note: Thanks Liz, llanoestacado and RiskaSG for your reviews. It's good to hear, that you're still reading and loving the story..

Chapter 23: Preparations

I'm going through the guest-list again – the Heads, the Andersons, the Barnes, the Campbells… yes I think I got everyone. But just to make sure I'll go over to Richard to show it to him – besides that's what I told him I would do. And it's Saturday so he's at home. I'm going through the garden and knock at his door – he's opening me.

"Good morning Emily, how are you?" he asks me cheerfully.

Looking in his eyes I'm tempted to believe that he enjoys seeing me.

"Good morning Richard – I'm fine."

We exchange a look.

"Please come inside – would you like a cup of coffee?"

"No, I just wanted you to confirm the guest-list." I say giving it to him.

He looks disappointed.

"But maybe a cup of coffee wouldn't be bad, - while you're checking it."

He's calling for his valet to get me some. While I'm drinking and looking around – I can't but notice that it's not so messy anymore, am I imagining things or did he tidy up this morning? – He's going through the list.

"What about the Donovans?"

"Excuse me?"

"The Donovans – I double-checked I didn't find them."

"Oh – well they're in Europe, have you forgotten? I'm sure I told you about it."

"Yes, I remember now."

"So is everything alright with it?"

"Yes – but I didn't expect otherwise from you."

Me neither – but it's nice to hear it from him.

"Good – then I'll mail out the invitations immediately."

"You do that. – I'm coming over around lunch? I thought that would be the best time to catch Rory."

He's actually putting thoughts into this – that's something. I wonder whether to invite him for lunch. Perhaps this is our opportunity to come closer together.

"Yes that sounds sensible – what about we have lunch together before we call her – to talk about everything." I add quickly.

"That would be lovely Emily."

Lovely? Did he just say lovely? I don't know what to think of this – I have to get out of here.

"Alright – I'll tell Olga to make us lunch. Well I have a lot to do, so if you would excuse me…"

"Sure – I'll see you then."

During lunch I had my feelings under control. Maybe I was only imagining things, but we got along just fine. Talking about the party and the call. After we'd finished lunch we're going into his study to the speakerphone. He sitting behind his desk – I standing next to him – as it was numerous times before. It's a good feeling. He dials Rory's number.

"Hello?"

"Rory, it's your grandmother."

"Oh, hey, Grandma."

"Your grandfather is here, also."

"Hello, Rory, how are you?"

"Fine, Grandpa, and you?" she sounds surprised – I knew it.

"We're wonderful. Thank you for asking."

"Rory, we're sorry to bother you at school, but next Friday, your grandfather and I agreed to host a little Yale alumni event at our house."

"It completely slipped our minds the other night."

"So we'll have to cancel our usual Friday-night dinner."

"Oh. That's okay."

"However, we were wondering if maybe you'd like to come." I added.

"Me?"

Of course you – silly girl – to whom are we talking?

"The alumni always like to meet the new generation of Elis, and, plus, we'd love to be able to show you off to all of our friends, wouldn't we, Emily?"

"Yes, we would."

"You might even make a few connections that could come in handy somewhere down the road."

"Please, come. We'd hate to miss our weekly Rory fix, and I promise you there won't be any chicken..."

"…or steak on a stick."

We're looking at each other – both laughing – oh yes we're in good form today.

"Well, sure. I'd love to come."

"Wonderful. Your grandmother and I are thrilled."

"Is it fancy? What should I wear?"

"Oh, just pick out a pretty little dress."

I don't want her to get suspicious now.

"And bring that face." Richard adds.

He adores her. Well to be honest we adore her.

"The face comes with the package."

"Oh, and Rory, I know you usually come at 7:00, but could you make it at 6:00 instead?"

"6:00 is fine."

Good - that way I can last-minute check on her outfit.

"We'll see you Friday." Richard says.

"See you Friday." she says, ending the call.

"Well that went just fine didn't it Emily?"

"Yes it did. – Thank you Richard."

"I said it before – no need to thank me, I don't want her to be together with Dean, either. So if there's anything I can do to help you…"

"…I'll let you know. Thank you Richard. But I think I have it all under control. The invitations will be out this afternoon and then I'll call the caterer to talk about the menu, the decoration – oh I thought about blue as the main colour, what do you think about it?"

"Blue sounds great – after all it's Yale alumni."

"That's what I thought. So I'm gonna make those calls now."

"You don't mind me staying here for a little while? – I have to take a look at some papers and then I don't have to get them over to the pool-house."

"No, I don't mind."

"Thank you Emily."

"You're welcome."

With that I left the study to make the preparations.

I'm about to go to bed, still thinking about whether or not to buy a dress for Rory – I've thought about it the whole day. I told her to pick out a pretty little dress – but what do I know what she'll wear – what she'll consider a pretty little dress? I want her to be the queen of the evening, I want her to look like a princess. But to buy her a dress? I decide to go to Lorelai's room to see whether or not something suitable is in her closet. All her dresses still have to be there – I didn't change anything. But maybe they're old-fashioned now?

Just when I thought that nothing suitable is to be found in her closet my eye catches a tiny little black dress. Yes – that would be perfect – and looking at it, it would certainly fit Rory. If I remember correctly that was even a dress Lorelai would wear on her own to some of her school-parties. Yes it's settled, when she's coming here in a dress I don't approve of, she'll wear that one.

Going back to my room I'm thinking about jewellery. I have more than enough of it – Richard was very generous. My birthday, Christmas, our wedding anniversary or sometimes even no special reason and he would get me jewellery.

I want her to look like a princess – so she has to wear the tiara – that's for sure, but what else? A necklace - but which one? It has to match the tiara – after some time I decide that the diamond necklace Richard gave me on my 40th birthday will be the one. So I have the tiara, the necklace – what else? Rings? I take a look at them, but they don't seem to fit – and I'm sure most of them won't fit her slim fingers anyway – so no ring. But earrings – yes she definitely needs earrings. Again I'm going through the box.

Looking at all of this brings back memories. I know the history to each piece of jewellery I own. When I finally decide on the earrings I want her to wear I can't but remember. It was our first trip to Denmark.

It was a lovely day. We did some sight-seeing in Copenhagen and I even convinced Richard to go shopping a little.

"Don't you think that blue dress looks just lovely Richard?"

"It certainly would look lovely on you."

"Oh Richard." I said blushing a little.

"Do we have time – so that I can try it on?"

"We have all the time in the world my dear."

I went inside to try it on. It fit perfectly.

"What do you think Richard?"

"As I said, it looks lovely on you."

"Thank you."

My eyes were wandering around the shop. I spotted another great dress – in green. I went there to get it. When I came back to Richard I held it in front of me.

"Do you think that would be better?"

"I don't know – they're both beautiful."

"Well – I'll try it on."

While changing I promised myself that this would be the last dress I'd try on. He didn't say anything, but I know that he's not the patience for this. He doesn't like being in a shop and waiting for me to come out of the changing cabin. The green one was beautiful, too.

"So what do you think?" I asked stepping out.

"It's beautiful."

"But which one do you like better?"

"Hmm – I think the blue one. I've always liked you in blue."

"So would you buy me the blue one?" I said – already knowing the answer.

"Of course – I'll buy them both if you want to have them."

"No – you don't have to do that – the blue one – that's enough."

"Give it to me, that way I can pay while you're changing."

I gave it to him. Outside the store I turned towards him.

"Thank you Richard."

I gave him a little kiss.

"You're welcome – you look beautiful in it – how could I not have bought it?"

Back at the hotel I went to take a shower. When I came into the living-room of our suite again he was gone. That was weird – and no note. Well I decided to read my novel and wait for him. After half an hour he returned.

"Where have you been darling?"

"I just wanted to get some international papers."

"And where are they?" I asked him smiling.

"Who?"

"The international papers."

"Oh – well the latest weren't out yet. I've read them already. They'll come out tomorrow. I've looked everywhere – that's why it took so long. I hope you weren't worried."

"I wasn't."

"So what about you try on your new dress for dinner?"

"Sure. – Now?"

"If you don't want to do something else that's important now, I'd say yes."

"Okay."

Somehow he was weird – they didn't have the latest newspapers – he always knows when they're out. But well I shouldn't think about it too much. When I was sure that my appearance was perfect I went into the living-room again.

"So where are we going tonight my husband?" I flirted.

"Nowhere."

"Nowhere? But you wanted me to dress up."

"I thought you'd dress up for your husband – not the other people."

"Of course I do." I said – again blushing a little.

"Good – I thought we could have a lovely evening here."

With that he turned on the music – a Viennese Waltz – my favourite dance.

"May I have this dance?" he asked me – bowing down a little.

"You may." I answered – curtseying a little.

It was wonderful. We danced until the room-service brought us dinner. Before dessert I excused myself for a moment. When I came back a small package was lying on my plate. He can't be serious – he bought me a dress today already – an expensive dress not to say.

"For me?"

"Yes – open it."

The most wonderful earrings were in it.

"Oh Richard – "

"Do you like them?"

"They're beautiful."

"Put them on."

I did – my hands a little shaking. I can't believe this – it's not even a special day.

"They look beautiful on you."

I stood up, walked over to him and sat down on his lap.

"Thank you Richard." I said kissing him – this time more passionate than on the street.

"I knew they would fit the dress."

"You bought them today?"

"Yes. I saw them before, but when I bought you that dress today I knew they would match it perfectly."

"I've never believed the newspaper story anyway."

"Yes, you're smart – and I have to work on my excuses."

I stood up.

"Where are you going Emily?"

"I have to get in front of a mirror – to judge if they really match the dress perfectly." I said to him while going to the bathroom again.

They did. When I came back he was still sitting there.

"And?"

"You're right – they fit perfectly. And besides that they're the most beautiful earrings I've ever seen. I love them."

He took my hands to make me sit on his lap again.

"I hope so, cause they belonged to the Queen."

"Of course – and today you went to the palace and bought them from her."

"No – the brother of the king stole them from her and sold them to the place where I got them. I have good contacts."

"And you want me to believe that?" I asked amused.

"Yes, I do."

"Then I do." I said while kissing him again.

„You know that I don't deserve all of this – the dress, the earrings – and it's not even a special day."

"You do – and every day with you is special." he answered.

And before I could say anything else he was kissing me again – this time very passionately. Soon we went over to the bedroom.

Stop thinking of that Emily Gilmore. Stop thinking of his kisses and how it was back then. That's over. But a tiny voice in my head said, that maybe it wasn't over – maybe I would feel those kisses again sometime. Stop it Emily!

With that I shut down the jewellery box. And everything because I picked out some earrings for Rory. I have to stop thinking about the past. I should look forward to Friday and make sure that everything turns out as it's supposed to be.

But no matter how often I told myself this while sorting out the jewellery for Rory (so that I have it all in one place on Friday) I couldn't but think of how I found the green dress also in my suitcase, when we returned from our trip to Denmark. How he managed to get it into it without me noticing is still a miracle to me – he never told me.

But I hope you tell me what you thought of this chapter – the flashback and everything. I'd love to hear your comments – thanks!