Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls
Emily at twenty-one.
February 1963
"Did I order ten trays of salmon puffs?"
"No, ma'am."
"But I see ten trays of salmon puffs!"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I ordered eight trays and I see ten trays. Do you see ten trays?"
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Fix it." Lydia Bentley turned on her heel and marched out of the kitchen to check on the flowers being arranged in the hall. Her daughter, Emily Bentley, in whose honor the birthday party at the West Birch Hotel was bring held, entered from the parlor, where the six piece orchestra band was tuning up.
"That bass is far too large," she was saying over her shoulder, "if there is any way to do without it, or at least disguise it…I do not want it in sight from the dance floor!" She let the door slam behind her. "Unsightly hunk of wood," she muttered to herself. She was momentarily distracted from her critique of classical instruments by a waiter carrying a tray of salmon puffs toward the garbage. "What are you doing?" she demanded. "There are supposed to be ten trays of those salmon puffs."
"No, miss," the waiter shook his head. Emily was incredulous.
"No? Did you say no?"
"Yes, miss."
"Unbelievable…"
"Your mother, miss, -"
"My mother doesn't know a thing about salmon puffs. I added two trays to the order of eight. Two and eight is ten. Can you do simple math?"
"Yes, miss."
"Well," Emily oozed, "That's excellent."
"Miss Emily," called an attendant dressed in white, entering from the hallway, "Miss Celine is ready to dress you."
"Finally. Is the stylist here?"
"Yes, miss, they are waiting for you upstairs."
"I'm coming." She walked off even as she held out the tray to the waiter. She dropped it without even looking over her shoulder. The waiter caught it in midair and looked up to see Lydia entering the room again, receiving a kiss from her daughter as the passed each other in the doorway, then surveyed the room, looking the staff and the food over once again.
"Oh, good, just dispose of these." Lydia took the waiter by the shoulders and turned him toward the garbage.
"Yes, ma'am." He held his breath and squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself as the salmon puffs spilled off the tray and hit the bottom of the trash can.
Later, the party underway…
Having greeted a long line of guests, Emily stood, poised in the hall, watching everyone mingle and waiting for the right moment to flow into the crowd herself.
"Well, there's the birthday girl!"
"Richard!" Emily very nearly flung her arms around her beau, and then kissed him chastely on the cheek. "You're late," she informed him, stepping back.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he told her, his cheer not at all phased by her haughty exterior. "I just got in from New Haven. Let me tell you, the train seems to go even slower than usual when I'm on my way to see you." Emily smiled up at him adoringly.
"Well, I'm glad you're here. Come, mother will want to look you over," she began to lead him off into the crowd."
"Wait, wait, first thing's first. Your left hand, please."
"What?"
"Left hand out and close your eyes."
"Richard, I told you -" Emily protested, even as she closed her eyes and thrust her hand forward, shifting to stomp her foot with a very ladylike huff.
"Happy birthday, Emily." Her eyes shot open when she felt his fingers around her wrist. He slipped a corsage of pink rosebuds over her extended fingers. "I know you want to wait. Our engagement shouldn't overshadow your birthday," he said with a smile and a warm wink, knowing he had tricked her to expect an engagement ring on her hand instead of flowers. Emily reddened a little at her hasty assumption.
"It wouldn't be proper," she said, fingering the pearled band around her wrist. The cool fragrance of the fresh flowers wafted around them.
"You're very right, my dear. The engagement will be occasion enough all on its own. But in the meantime, you need a 'proper' birthday gift. Turn, please." This time, Emily silently obeyed, thrilled a little as Richard put his arms around her from behind, leaning forward to whisper in her ear as he displayed an open jewelry box before her eyes.
"Oh, Richard, I love you, too." He withdrew momentarily to remove the necklace from their velvet bed as she waited, breathless, then he encircled her in his arms again to fasten the string of pearls around her neck.
"Beautiful," he murmured. He turned her to face him again and lifted her hand to his lips.
"Thank you," she answered, batting her eyelashes demurely. Music swelled in the ballroom and Richard raised his eyebrows in an invitation. Emily nodded and he led her to the dance floor. "Richard?" she said with an alluring smile as they stepped forward and back together.
"Yes, Emily?"
"Let's not wait too long." He gave her a smug smile and spun her out and back in, holding her close to him.