Chapter Ten
While Luke and Anna were talking, Lorelai was standing near Taylor and Miss Patty, listening to their conversation.
"Wow," Miss Patty said. "I'd forgotten what a real beauty Anna was. The years sure have been kind to her."
"Yeah," Taylor agreed.
"I'm surprised Luke let her get away."
"I know. I remember what a torrid affair they had going. They were so young. It was scandalous!"
After a few minutes, Luke came back to Lorelai.
"Taylor, I need to leave for a few minutes. I'm going to take April over to the diner. She's really tired and with all the people here I think it's better if she was there."
"But Luke, you've almost used up your ten emergency minutes."
"Fine!'
Luke took Lorelai in his arms, danced around with her for a few seconds, then said, "Yellow card emergency."
"Luke," Taylor said with some irritation, "weren't you listening when I was explaining about the abuses and mis-uses of the yellow card privileges?"
"Dammit, Taylor, I've been at this stupid thing for twenty three and a half hours, you can't cut me a LITTLE slack?"
"Well, okay, but make it snappy. Ten minutes is ten minutes."
"We've only got twenty minutes left," Lorelai said. "You have to go right now?" "I'll be right back, I swear!"
With that, Luke rushed back across the floor and hustled Anna and April out the door.
"Lorelai," Taylor said, "You have to keep dancing. That's the condition of the yellow card."
Lorelai slowly move her feet from side to side, staring across the room, not feeling very much like dancing.
"May I have this dance?"
Smiling at her daughter, Lorelai said, "You certainly may."
As she put her arms around Rory, Lorelai looked back at the open door, painfully aware of the knot in her stomach that began when Luke left with Anna and April.
Suddenly the third couple collapsed on top of each other.
From across the room Kirk's "Woo Hoo!" could be heard. "Two down and two to go!"
As Lorelai and Rory moved slowly around the floor, Kirk and Miranda danced past them.
"You're moving kind of slow, Lorelai. I don't know about you, but all this intrigue sure has invigorated me!"
Lorelai looked up at the clock – ten minutes left. As they danced by Miss Patty and Taylor, he said, "Lorelai, if Luke doesn't get back soon . . . ."
"He'll be here, Taylor. He'll be here."
She continued to stare at the door, and the minutes continued to pass.
Taylor began the final countdown, " Ten – nine – eight – seven – six –" There was no Luke.
"— five – four – three – two – ONE !" Taylor blasted his air horn for the last time, then said to Lorelai. "I'm sorry, Lorelai, but with no Luke here – well, you understand." Then he spoke through his bullhorn, "And, once again, I declare the winner of this year's charity dance marathon -- Kirk Gleason and Miranda Richards!"
As the band began playing the theme to 'Rocky', Kirk grabbed the trophy, hoisted it over his head and began running around the gymnasium, followed by Miranda.
"Oh, Mom, I'm so sorry. I'm sure Luke just forgot about the time."
"It's okay. Come on, let's go home. We both could use some sleep."
"Well, there's always next year."
Lorelai shook her head sadly.
"No. I don't think so. I thought with Luke we had a real shot at winning, but . . . I guess you can't always count on things turning out like you hoped they would. Or people you thought you could rely on would always be there for you."
As the two of them walked home, Lorelai looked up at the light shining from Luke's apartment above the diner.
The knot in her stomach wasn't getting any smaller, nor was it getting any less painful.
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A. N. -- Okay, I know this didn't end the way you wanted it to, or expected it to. But I haven't liked Luke very much lately. Too many times he's hurt Lorelai -- keeping secrets from her when he said neither of them should do that, and not letting Lorelai share his life with April, and postponing the wedding. But (Spoiler Alert!) he's going to get his! I already have a follow up story planned (Double Spoiler Alert!) called "Shooting Luke Danes."