Chapter 2: So Far Away:
Traveling around sure gets me down and lonely.
Nothing else to do but close my mind.
I sure hope the road don't come to own me.
There's so many dreams I've yet to find…
But you're so far away.
– "So Far Away," Carole King
Opening the door of her Jeep, Lorelai inhaled the air around her. She missed that smell. Raking her fingers through her curls, she let her gaze fall on the house. It looked the same, but it looked different. Magenta wisteria still graced the eaves, but the house had been painted. That was no surprise. Sookie had told her as much when she was away. Rory had confirmed it when she stayed there for awhile after moving out of the elder Gilmore's home. The beautiful chuppah was in the same place, scarcely changed by time. Enhanced by the same wisteria. She suddenly felt overwhelmed with emotions. It felt good to be home. She opened the back door and began to unhook Kate from her restrains. Kate gave her a toothy grin.
"Well, what do you think? Do you like our house?" Kate nodded eyes wide in fascination, "Well, it's no Versailles, but I can't believe I ever wanted to live anywhere else." Lorelai unfastened the seat belt and Kate's arms immediately went up, desperate to be held. She was affectionate and after hours of being separated from her mother by a seat, she was needy for attention.
"Up we go," Lorelai stated, then spun her daughter around, much to her delight. Kate squealed and giggled until Lorelai was dizzy and had to stop. Kate couldn't stop laughing.
"Ah-gen," Kate managed to spout out between laughs.
"Hon, Mommy isn't 25 anymore. Give her a breather. But, keep the age just between you and me. I like to think that I am still young and desirable." Kate patted her cheek," Kiss," Lorelai said, and Kate gave her a slobbery peck on the cheek. Lorelai returned one on her daughter's forehead, before setting her down to retrieve a box from the backseat. She nearly hit her head on the Jeep's roof when a door slammed and a raspy voice yelled into the quiet air.
"Lorelai? Oh, it is you. Lorelai! MOREY, I'M GOING OUT!" A pleasantly plump blonde woman ran down the stairs of the neighboring house and toward Lorelai by the Jeep. She quickly put the box back and went out to meet Babette. It's been too long.
"Babette!" She yelled back and the two women met in the middle. Babette excitedly wrapped Lorelai in a big hug and slightly jumped up and down with her arms still around her middle. Kate toddled over, interested in what was going on with her mother and the strange woman.
"Oh, Lorelai shuga, we missed you around here," Babette stated, releasing Lorelai finally, "The town really needs you, you know. Things have certainly been less interesting for awhile." Kate tugged on Lorelai's jeans, "Oh sugar, is this your little girl?" Babette asked when Lorelai picked Kate up.
"Yep, sure is. Kate, say hi to Miss Babette."
"Hi." Kate responded obediently, wide eyes filled with curiosity.
"Oh, isn't she the cutest thing. Looks just like you. Oh, but looks like she's got a bit of Luke in her too. Can I see her?"
"Sure," Lorelai said, handing Kate over to Babette.
"Doll, I've seen pictures of you since you were a tiny thing, but I've been wanting to meet you for ages. We sure missed your mom and sister." Babette cooed to Kate, who was all smiles, patting her cheek. "Lorelai, does that U-Haul mean your moving back?" Lorelai smiled. She had been waiting for that question. She liked seeing Kate in Babette's arms. She missed this whole crazy town.
"Yes, it does. I missed you too Babette."
"Oh, that's good news. I'll have to tell Patty. Oh wait, haven't even told Morey yet. MOREY, LORELAI'S MOVIN' BACK!" Kate scrunched up her face with the yell and Lorelai shot her a sympathetic look. She held out her arms to her mother and Babette released her.
" COOL. HEY LORELAI!" was Morey's yelled response, soon followed by the melodic sounds of the jazz piano. Lorelai raised an eyebrow.
"Would you listen to that, shugas? He's playing your song," Babette said with a nod.
"We have a song?"
"Oh yeah. Morey was very depressed when we found out that you had gone to California and Rory was gone. He always thought of you two as secondary daughters. Heck, hon, I did too. He just sat at his piano and this song came out. But, he's picked up the pace now. It used to sound slower and sadder."
"Oh wow," Lorelai said in unbelief, "I had no idea that you and Morey cared about us like that. What's the song called?"
"You better believe it. I said it once and I'll say it again, we missed you. Oh, and the song's called 'Lights Out in the Crap Shack.'"
"Hm, jazzy,' Lorelai responded with her lips turned up in a smile. Kate was feigning interest in the conversation by keeping her eyes on Babette, but playing with the beads in Lorelai's necklace. She slobbered on a few of them over the course of a couple minutes.
"Well, I better go, so you guys can go inside. I saw Rory over here a few days ago, cleaning up a storm. You have such gorgeous daughters. See you later, sugar, and come get me if you need help."
"Okay Babette. Sookie and Jackson are coming over later today, but I may take you up on that offer to help."
"Any time. MOREY, I'M COMIN' IN!"
"OKAY!" Lorelai smiled as she watched Babette make her way back to the house, then looked down at Kate, who was still gnawing on beads. Lorelai bounced her a bit, before bringing the baby to her other hip.
"Alright sweetie, what do you say we go inside and I'll get you a snack to tide you over until Rory gets here and start putting things in the house? Good plan?" Kate nodded, releasing the wet beads, "And, I think I'll take these off."
Vermont was dull.
Day one was spent in the endless drone of the highway. The coffee/7-Up combination made for frequent bathroom stops. The nausea subsided in the afternoon, but the dull ache in the pit of her stomach never left. The trek from small town Connecticut to small town Vermont took longer than it should have. She got to the inn around 6:30, ordered in room service, took a long soak in the Jacuzzi tub, and was in bed by 8.
Lorelai wondered when she got to feel so old. Her daughter was nearly 21. She was pushing 40. She had a plan, and now the only thing that was right in her life was Luke. Luke had never been in the wrong place for her. But, the Rory issue was eating her up inside. Probably where she got dull ache from. It was probably more noticeable now when she was alone because Luke and the inn could distract her from the pain before. She saw too much of herself in her girl. Lorelai had always wanted Rory to take after her ambitious side. The side that was the top of her private school and bound for Vassar, not the side that got pregnant and dropped out of high school. Rory was too smart and too good for that. Lorelai had always made sure that she knew that. Now, things were so screwed up that Lorelai couldn't tell up from down. And there was almost nothing she could do about that. Rory was her mother's daughter. The more she was forced in one direction, the farther she would run from it. Luke had wanted her to come up with a game plan. She had none. There was nothing she could do. Rory would have to make this decision on her own. And, she had known this long before she left the driveway that day. This trip was starting to become pointless, but she would stay. She would stay to make Luke happy.
Day two started when the pinkish light of sunrise caused Lorelai to open her eyes. It was too early. She went back to sleep and woke up at 10. She ordered room service, but didn't feel well enough to eat. She munched on saltines and sipped coffee in bed while she watched Regis and Kelly. Katie Holmes was sickening in the interview.
Day two also allowed Lorelai to find the Mountain Day Spa. It was just what she needed. A seaweed wrap, massage, and facial later, she felt relaxed. Lorelai meandered through the shops and boutiques. All worse than Le Chat store in Stars Hollow. The diner she came across had awful pie and grotesque coffee and the owner was a robust woman in her fifties, wearing a muted muumuu. She couldn't get away with telling the lady to give her coffee with her pants off. She missed Luke. She missed home. The ache hadn't left. She went to bed early again.
Now, it was day three.
Lorelai woke up feeling worse than she did the other two days. She almost couldn't will herself to get out of bed. This was the day she had planned on going home, even though things were still unresolved in her mind. Everything still reminded her of Rory. The wedding magazine she picked up at the small grocery store. The movie she rented from the inn lobby the night before. Even the muumuu clad diner owner. This trip did not clear up her thoughts like Luke hoped it would. Rory was such a big part of her life that she was everywhere.
She didn't tell Luke of her plans to go home when she spoke to him on the phone the night before. Lorelai wanted to take her time getting home, maybe even stop in Manhattan to go shopping. That way, if she didn't make it back to Stars Hollow tonight, Luke wouldn't worry. She packed her things slowly, fighting the waves of nausea that hit her at different intervals. In the shower, she found herself needing to sit down in order not to get sick. Lorelai couldn't remember the last time she felt this gross. Must've been a bug she picked up before she left. Or, bad apples in the pie she had last night. No matter, she would probably feel better once she hit the road.
In theory, that was a reasonable excuse to not stay in bed. On days Lorelai felt sick, getting up and going about her day usually made her feel better. Unfortunately, the road didn't have the same effect. Ten miles out of town she had to pull off the road to vomit.
Lorelai was not sure what motivated her to go to Boston that day. She saw the sign and turned the wheel. It was as simple as that. Maybe it was because of the sickness or maybe it was because Boston was closer to her than Stars Hollow. It could've been the fact that if anyone understood the pain she was going through, she thought it would be her daughter's father. But, that probably wasn't it. This was despite the fact that she still held reservations about seeing him again. That she still hated him for wanting her to break up with Luke. That she knew Luke would not be a happy camper when he found out where she was. So Lorelai didn't allow herself to think about what she was doing. She just went.
"Mom?" Rory's voice rang out in the entryway of her house. It felt good to see her mother's car in the drive again. The house was not a home without Lorelai.
"Kitchen!" Lorelai called back, munching on bananas and crackers with Kate. Her baby had a surprising love for fruit. It was a habit Lorelai fought hard to break, but stubborn Kate was too much like her dad. So, Lorelai knew that if she couldn't beat her, she should join her every once in awhile It would probably be healthier for Kate in the long run. God, when did I start sounding like Luke?
"Hello?" Rory called from the living room, dumping her overnight bag on the couch. Her grin was big. Lorelai jumped out of the chair and ran into the next room to embrace her adult daughter.
"Hey daughter!" She excitedly said into Rory's neck, gripping her daughter's middle tight.
"Hi…Mom…can't…breathe!"
"Breathing is over-rated. Come say hi to your sister." Lorelai grabbed Rory's wrist and led her toward the kitchen. Both women were overflowing with bubbly excitement. The Gilmore girls didn't get to see each other as often since Lorelai went to California, so any moment together was to be treasured. Now that Lorelai was back in Stars Hollow, they could make up for lost time. Lorelai stopped short before going into the kitchen, placing a finger over her mouth. They waited. Curious Kate stopped hearing voices and crawled off the piles of phone books and dictionaries that she had been sitting on. Lorelai and Rory heard her socked feet toddle around the kitchen and finally into the hall. She snuck around the corner and ran right into Rory's legs. Kate's inquisitive expression changed into sheer joy when her eyes went up to look at Rory. She immediately flung her arms up to be held.
"WOWY!"
"Hey kid," Rory said, whisking Kate up into her arms, "Kiss," Kate gave her a slobbery, banana flavored kiss on the cheek. Lorelai smiled as she watched the scene unfold before her. She cherished the moments when her two daughters were together. "What's all over her hands?"
"Ah, looks like bananas. Alright Kakers, let's get those hands washed." Rory scrunched up her nose as she followed her mother into the kitchen.
"Gross," Rory said to Kate. Kate just giggled. Lorelai took the reluctant younger sister out of Rory's arms and stuck her hands under the kitchen sink.
"So kiddo, how's work going?"
"I think I met Paris' match in my new boss."
"Nazi storm trooper?"
"Pretty darn close."
"You just can't get away from it. I read the new batch of articles you sent me before I left. Some very good writing, missy. I left them for Mia to read."
"How did Mia take you leaving?"
"Overjoyed. She's been trying to get me out of there for months. But, she almost didn't let Kate go. I had the option of coming back daughterless."
"That would've been a pickle." Kate smiled with fascination as she looked at Rory.
"This little girl is infatuated with you," Lorelai said as she wiped off Kate's hands. She immediately thrust her arms out again to be picked up by Rory, "I think I have been replaced."
"Never. I'm just a rare commodity. I don't even know why she likes me so much. I have never been that great with kids."
"Do one of your sock puppet shows. She'll love you forever," Lorelai said with a laugh.
"Shut up."
Lorelai found the apartment without difficulty. She could hear The Offspring in the background before she knocked on the door. Typical Christopher. She rapped just loud enough that he could hear her over the music. Footsteps became louder as they approached the door. There was a pause, and then it opened.
"Lor?" Christopher questioned. He looked stunned. Lorelai could only remember a couple of times when Christopher wore that expression. The time he crashed his brand new Porsche only hours after receiving it. That day she told him that she was pregnant. The phone call he received from Sherry at Sookie's wedding. When he found Rory and Logan in that compromising position at the disastrous Gilmore vow renewal. She threw him off right now and the funny part was she couldn't even explain why she was there to herself.
"Hi Chris."
"Of all the gin joints…" he quipped. Humor was a defense mechanism that they both used.
"Can I come in?" she asked softly. The smile was gone from Christopher's face. He knew something was up.
"I know this usually gets men into trouble," he began as he held the door open for her, "but you don't look so hot."
"Didn't get my beauty sleep last night." Lorelai made her way over to his couch, and with out asking, sank into it. She audibly sighed. She felt weak. Christopher came over and sat on the other side of the couch, uncertain of why she was there in the first place and what his next move should be. The last time he saw Lorelai he had been shamelessly drunk and they had parted on bad terms. Unforgivable terms. But, they had a history. They had a child together. No matter what horrible thing Christopher did, they always found a common ground. He never expected her to come to him in this manner, though. Especially looking the way she did. Her face was pale, eyes bloodshot, and clothes slightly disheveled. Something was definitely wrong.
"Lor, what's going on?"
"I honestly don't know," she began, "I mean I was away and I started feeling sick, but I figured it was stress or nerves. Then I ended up here and I don't even know why. I was away and I couldn't stop thinking about Rory. So, I thought that was making me sick. And-"
"Whoa," Chris interrupted, "Slow down. What about Rory?" He didn't know. For a minute, Lorelai had forgotten that he didn't know. She took a deep breath.
"She, uh, is taking some time off Yale and moved in with my parents when I told her that I didn't think leaving school was a smart idea."
"Wow," Christopher said in disbelief. He ran his fingers through his hair. He suddenly got a horrified look on his face, "God, she isn't…is she?"
"No," Lorelai said, a faint smile crossing her lips for the first time that day, "She isn't using our method to get out of school."
"Thank God," Christopher stated, exhaling a held in breath. He paused, and then decided he needed more information. "So, I need you to start over here. I got a little lost in the ramblings."
"Sorry. It's just…God Chris, when did everything get so screwed up. One minute, Rory's doing great. She was doing well in school, she had the Yale paper, she was happy with her boyfriend, and she got this good internship at a local newspaper with her boyfriend's father. Granted, I wasn't that happiest with the last two things, but she seemed happy and I want her to be happy. Then, the next minute she pulls a Bonnie and Clyde with that smug ass of a boyfriend and steals a yacht! I mean, who steals a yacht? It's big; you can't fit it into a purse. You have to have sea faring skills in order to get it away. She spent the night in jail. I got a call, during dinner with my mother, mind you, to go bail her out. This isn't Rory. She never even shoplifted as a kid. Not even on accident."
"Whoa," Chris said again. He was now resting his chin on his palms and slowly rubbed his temples, "That is a lot of information to process in two minutes."
"Oh, just wait. Believe me, it gets better. The next day, she drops the bomb on me. She doesn't want to go back to Yale next semester. She doesn't want to be a journalist anymore. She wants to take time off of school. And I was floored. I kept thinking that this wasn't Rory. I wasn't hearing those words coming from her mouth. And I was upset, but I calmly tried to tell her what was going on inside my head. That I regretted not having the opportunity to go to college, even though things worked out for me. That I didn't work my ass off for twenty years for her to cop out like that. Not my exact words, of course."
"Of course."
"But, I can't get through to her anymore, Chris. I've felt the 'mom-card' slowly fall from my grasp." Lorelai paused to catch her bearings, " So, now we come to the part where Lorelai makes her mistake. Lorelai has a talk with her parents."
"I could've warned you about that one."
"Believe me, my other half was screaming, 'don't do it, don't do it!' the entire time. The funny thing is, I actually believed that they would help me talk sense into Rory. Of course, they didn't believe the indiscretions of their angel grandchild at first, but I thought we wound up on the same page. We had a plan. We all didn't want Rory to drop out of Yale. Then…"
"Gilmore's strike again?"
"Gilmore's strike again." They were quiet for a moment. Christopher raked his fingers through his waves again, trying to process every tidbit coming at him.
"How long has Rory been gone?"
"A month."
"Hasn't gone crazy in the Gilmore House of Fun yet?"
"She's living in the pool house."
"Ah, so it might take awhile for the Emily death rays to hit her."
"Exactly." They became silent again. Lorelai had forgotten about the music in the background, but it made the pauses not quite so uncomfortable.
"You still haven't answered my question," Christopher prompted, breaking the silence, "I don't think you came here just to tell me about Rory. You normally would've handled the situation yourself, and then told me about it afterwards."
"She isn't a kid anymore, Christopher. I can't handle the situation. She has to find her own way in this. I was four years younger than her when I did."
"What did you mean earlier when you said you were sick? What's wrong with you, Lor?"
"I miss her, Chris," Lorelai confessed, fighting back tears, "It's eating me up inside. And while I was home I had the inn and Luke to distract me from the pain. But, Luke was worried about me. He knew something was wrong when I couldn't even tell him. I couldn't tell him what was going on in my head. So, he told me to get out of town. Take a break. Clear my head. Be a Thelma-less Louise. Plan for the wedding a bit," Lorelai saw Christopher wince slightly, "Sorry, I guess I forgot to mention the engagement." Lorelai held up her hand slightly to show the ring.
"Luke has good taste," he said gesturing to the ring, but also looking right into her eyes. Then he let his eyes urge her to continue.
"I listened to him. I went to Vermont for a few days. And, I just felt gross. Something wasn't right with me. I was off. I was nauseous. I felt weak. Today, I was ready to go home and I had to pull over ten minutes out of town to hurl."
"That's not at all disgusting."
"I had to pull over four more times. Something is wrong with me and I think I finally figured it out. I thought I was because of this whole deal with Rory, but now I'm not so sure. And then I saw the sign to Boston. I just turned and ended up here. I don't even know why."
"So, what's the verdict then?"
"I'm late." Christopher didn't say anything for a minute. She continued. "All the signs were there, but I pegged everything on stress. I didn't even notice that I skipped my period until I stopped to think about it."
"You're late…You think you are, uh…"
"I'm late." Christopher laid his head on the back of the couch, exhaling loudly.
"This must be what an aneurism feels like. I think I'm in information overload. Rory. Engagement. You…pregnant."
"By the way you're acting you would think it's yours." She felt slightly better getting that information off her chest. It had consumed her thoughts ever since she realized that she hadn't needed a tampon in almost two months. Lorelai thought it would be easier to tell Luke now.
"Well, the conversation is vaguely familiar."
"Can I ask you something?" She asked after a few moments of silence.
"Might as well."
"Where can I buy a pregnancy test?" Christopher exhaled again.
"I'll do you one better," he said, "I'll get it for you. I could use a drink right about now."
The now three Gilmore girls sat around the kitchen table, sipping some of the boxed apple juices Lorelai bought for Kate. Well, she had bought them for Kate with good intentions. After the first straw/juice incident, Lorelai learned to squirt the juice in a bottle or sippy cup. Kate wasn't quite ready to master a straw yet.
"I feel very juvenile drinking these," Rory commented.
"Yeah, well, beggars can't be choosers. The fridge is empty."
"Yes, and it was very gross. You wouldn't believe what I found in there when I was cleaning the other day."
"Ooo, really, what?"
"Molded butter!"
"Butter can mold?"
"Apparently. At least I think it was butter. The label had some sort of health food inscription. It must've been left by Lu- I mean someone." Lorelai's face changed to serious.
"You could've said Luke. You aren't defending me anymore by not talking about it. Luke and I have a good parental understanding now."
"I know. I guess it's just force of habit. Sorry."
"It's okay, hon. I just need Kate to know that her father and I have a good relationship. I don't want her to grow up with a negative outlook about her dad. That's one of the main reasons I came back."
"Kate's lucky. Luke isn't Christopher."
"Yeah, he's a good dad under the circumstances. I have a lot to make up to him. He deserves to be near his kid."
"I've missed Luke."
"Yeah?"
"I haven't had a decent cup of coffee in ages," Rory quipped. Lorelai smiled. Neither had she "And," Rory began, unsure if she could continue with this train of thought, "I missed him being around here."
"I did too." Lorelai said with a sad smile. Yet another good thing that I managed to screw up.
"Mom, I'm glad you're back."
"Me too sweets."
"Talking on the phone just isn't the same."
"No, it's not."
"And, I like that I can see Kate more."
"She'll love you for that, huh baby?" Lorelai ruffled Kate's curls. Kate had been playing with Rory's car keys.
"Mommy, hungry," Kate spoke up. Lorelai glanced over at the clock on the oven.
"Jeez, it's almost two. I'm sorry sweetie. Let's go get you some lunch. You want some French fries?" Kate nodded with a big grin. She loved French fries, almost as much as she loved bananas. "Alright, it's settled. Let's walk to Luke's"
"You're kidding right?" Rory looked incredulous.
"No, it's time we introduced her to the food that we thrived on for over ten years. I could kill for a decent burger right now."
"Mom, are you sure? Does Luke even know you're here?"
"I hadn't told him yet. But, I might as well go see him now rather than put it off."
"Maybe you should call him first."
"Maybe we should just go."
"Didn't Luke call you this week?"
"Yeah, but he always calls on my cell, so there was no way of knowing where I was."
"You probably should have told him you were moving back."
"Maybe, but there's not much he can do about it now. I don't foresee him getting mad about it. He'll get to see Kate instead of just talking to her on the phone once a week."
"But, still…You know what? Never mind. You've already made up your mind about this."
"That's my girl. I'll tell you what. You can take Kate over to see the puppies and I'll go in and talk to Luke. Then I'll call you and we'll all have lunch in the diner. Sound like a plan?"
"Woof." Kate said.
"See, Kate thinks it's a good plan."
"Doggies Wowy." Kate said to reinforce her mother's plan.
"I guess that's okay," Rory said with a hint of uncertainty, "I just don't want to be around for the awkward conversation. You guys haven't seen each other in over a year."
"Yes, but we've talked plenty since then. Like I said, Luke and I have a good parental understanding. Everything will all work out. Trust me."
"Okay Mom. I guess we're off." Rory bent down to pick up Kate, who proceeded to stroke her older sister's sleek straight hair.
"Hi Wowy."
"Hi Kate."
A wave of panic hit Lorelai right then. Any confidence that she had shown a moment before suddenly vanished. She wasn't sure this was a good idea any more. What was I thinking? Popping up and surprising Luke like that. He's going to hate it. She hesitated.
"Are we going Memento girl?" Rory asked as she turned Kate around to give her a piggy back ride. She noticed the sudden change in her mother's expression.
"Do you think we should change?"
"You look great, Mom," Rory said with a smirk. After all this time, her mother still fussed about her appearance around Luke.
"Uh, I wasn't talking about me. Kate. How does Kate look?"
"She looks fine too."
"Just fine? Luke hasn't seen Kate since she was born. Maybe she should wear something nicer. Maybe we should make her look mondo-fabulous"
"You know, sometimes I think you really should be diagnosed. You're bipolar."
"Will you just answer my question?"
"Luke's not going to care what Kate is wearing. Frankly, he's just going to be shocked that you are here and happy that he gets to see his daughter."
"You sure?"
"Positive."
"You don't see any banana remains?"
"She's squeaky clean. Besides, I think Luke would like to know that you are feeding Kate bananas."
"I guess." Lorelai's brows were still scrunched. She already could already feel the urge to avoid Luke at all cost. She couldn't do that Kate. Push through. Get on with it.
"We don't have to go to Luke's now. We can get you settled here and maybe Sookie can bring us some lunch from the inn."
"No, hon," Lorelai stated simply. She willed her confidence to return," We need to go to Luke's. He won't appreciate it if we go a day without letting our presence known. He deserves to know."
"Alright, so we're going."
"Let's go."
"Doggies," Kate said.
Lorelai walked out of Christopher's bathroom after the allotted time. He was waiting for her on the couch.
"Positive?" She nodded. Lorelai knew the answer before she took the test. She sat down next to Christopher. He handed her an orange juice.
"I could kill for a martini right now." Christopher scrutinized her face.
"Are you disappointed?"
"That I'm pregnant? No. I always wanted another kid. Luke will make a great dad. It's just the timing. The timing is all wrong. Rory should be here. Luke and I should be married. God, Emily will have a hay day when she finds out."
"The mood certainly won't be celebratory at the Gilmore home."
"How could I do this again? I mean, getting pregnant once when you aren't married, a mistake. Twice? What do you call it after two times? Al?"
"What do you think Luke is going to say?"
"He'll be shocked, but I think he'll be happy. I know that behind that 'I don't like jam hands' exterior, he wants to be a father."
"So, it's good then."
"Yes."
"You don't seem enthused."
"I just wish things weren't so screwed up with Rory." They were quiet again. Lorelai sipped her orange juice. Christopher opened another beer.
"Can I use your phone? My cell is dead."
"Sure," Christopher reached over to the table next to him and presented Lorelai with the cordless, "Calling Luke?"
"Yeah."
Lorelai, Rory, and Kate stood still at the side of Miss Patty's dance studio. They could see people milling about town. Kirk was walking a dog. No, not walking. Being dragged was the more appropriate term. Lorelai's gaze went to the diner.
"Are you ready?" Rory asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be."
"No circling."
"No circling."
"Just walk in."
"I'll just walk on in. Casual. Like I didn't even leave."
"I'd scratch the last part."
"Alright then, well, you…you two have fun with the puppies and I…I'll give you guys a call in a bit."
"You'll be fine, Mom. See you in a bit. No circling."
"No circling," Lorelai repeated to herself again, almost in a whisper. Then, she took a deep breath and attempted to make her steps confident as she walked over to the diner.
A/N: I know that the introduction of Christopher in this chapter was a disappointment to many. I know I have been burned by him recently, like everyone else. But, I've always thought of Christopher as a decent,cute, charmingguy, who would make a great friend to Lorelai. Granted, I don't think that they should end up together (I'm a JJ all the way), but when these two don't let sex get in the way, they really help each other through tough times. So, the whole purpose of bringing in Chris in this story was to be a person Lorelai could use to help clear her head and to talk to about Rory and her pregnancy. I think he understands Lorelai's parents and childhood in a way that Luke, so he's going to automatically understand how it feels for Rory to go behind Lorelai's back and move in with her parents. I'm not saying that Luke doesn't understand, but I feel that Lorelai thinks that Luke won't understand b/c they don't have similar backgrounds. But, enough of my ramblings. Thanks for all the positive feedback. I love you guys!