"Oh, Lorelai, I wish I could change your mind." Sookie regretfully spoke.
Lorelai let a small smile cross her face. "We'll be fine, Sookie. I promise we'll come back to visit."
"London is so far away…"
"Don't think of it as good bye." Lorelai replied. "Think of it as, see you later."
Sookie tried to not let her emotions show. "You could stay here, I don't mind having you with me."
"I know, Sookie. You've been more than a friend, you've been a angel, but I can't continue to stay here, we've invaded your apartment for the last two weeks. I don't have enough money to find my own place… I refuse to go back to Hartford. Like there's a place for Rory and me, anyway. London is all that I have right now."
"Are you sure Richard's mother will take you in?"
"I've talked to her over the phone… she's not thrilled about the idea, but says she can't leave a Gilmore stranded without a home, so…" Lorelai scooped Rory up into arms. "It'll be good for Rory to see another culture, you know."
"And Luke?" Sookie asked.
Lorelai's face saddened. "I think this will be best for both of us. He'll move along much quicker without me in town."
"Are you telling him that you're leaving?"
"I wrote him a note." Lorelai replied. "I haven't had the courage to give it to him yet… I was kind of hoping… maybe…"
"I'll give him the note." Sookie smiled.
"Thank you, Sookie."
"Your welcome." Sookie embraced Lorelai. "Promise you'll call and write and visit as much as possible."
"I promise…" Lorelai remarked. "And I want you to do the same."
"I will." Sookie placed her hand on Rory's small head. "Stay sweet, Rory." Sookie gently kissed her. "I'll come with you to the airport if you want."
"Thanks, but I can take it from here. See you later, Sookie." Lorelai smiled.
"See you later."
Lorelai climbed into the cab with Rory in her arms. After the cab had pulled far enough down the street, Sookie broke down into a small cry. Lorelai had been such an inspiration and a true friend. She knew she would never find another Lorelai. Gazing down at the letter in her hands, she decided to take it to work with her at the diner.
"You're late." Luke noted as Sookie walked through the door.
"I'm sorry." Sookie replied.
"I've had to serve all the customers by myself." He complained.
Sookie sighed, ever since the break up, Luke had been so hateful and unfriendly. He refused to hire any extra help, but Sookie didn't know how much longer they could make it without a waitress.
"Luke, this is for you." Sookie handed Luke the letter.
Luke took the piece of paper and threw it down on the counter.
"Well, aren't you going to read it?" Sookie asked.
"I'll read it later. I'm working now." Luke muttered as he flipped the eggs.
"I think you should read it now." Sookie forcefully replied.
"Who are you to tell me when to read my mail?"
"Luke, just read the damn letter."
Luke grabbed the letter from the counter and opened it. He quickly skimmed through the letter reading it to himself. Finally, he crumbled it in his hands and glanced back up at Sookie.
"Why didn't she give this to me herself?"
"I don't know, Luke… Why would Lorelai feel like she couldn't talk to you? Or tell you good bye?" Sookie asked.
"Well, if she thinks she's better off in London, then…"
"Stop!" Sookie shouted. "Would you listen to yourself? Both of you are pretending there is nothing between you! You two have so much to lose… do you know how lucky you are to have found true love?"
"True love?" Luke asked, becoming upset. "I asked her to marry me… and she told me no! So much for true love!"
"You what?" Sookie asked unable to believe what she had heard.
"I guess she didn't tell you that… did she?" Luke asked in a calmer voice. "I offered to be her husband… and Rory's father. She turned me down. She ended us."
"Why didn't you just wait… give her time?" Sookie asked.
Luke quickly wetted his lips. "She has no intentions of every marrying me. I don't want to be with someone who doesn't love me."
"She loves you, Luke." Sookie replied with certainty. "She's been a mess these last two weeks."
"She offered to leave… I never kicked her out."
"Don't you want her back?" Luke didn't answer. Instead he stared at the crumbled paper in his hands. "Don't you want to try?"
"Lorelai doesn't give second chances, Sookie." Luke somberly answered. "And I'm not much for asking for them."
Sookie shook her head. "If I have to keep trying to convince you to stop her from leaving this country, then I suppose it's not true love. I really thought you loved her, Luke. I thought you were the one. I was wrong. I just hope you can live with yourself knowing that she's moving to London and you had the chance to stop her and didn't." Sookie took off her apron. "I appreciate the job you've given me… but I think it's time I find another one."
"So you're walking out on me too?" Luke asked. "Everyone's walking out on me!"
"No, Luke. Everyone isn't walking out, you're just standing still."
Sookie threw her apron onto the counter and left the kitchen. Luke reopened the crumbled paper in his hands.
"Sookie!" Luke yelled just as Sookie was about to open the diner door. She turned and faced Luke. "Watch the diner till I get back."