Chapter Three

They both started speaking, then stopped for the other. And they both waited.

"Okay, me first." Lorelai said after a while.

She took several breaths, gathering her thoughts, looking everywhere but at Luke.

"You know," she finally said, "there are very few people in this town, or anywhere for that matter, that I truly respect. And fewer still that I feel I can trust completely. Rory is one of them. And you were -- and I emphasize the word 'were' -- another."

Luke took a breath like he was going to interrupt but Lorelai put one hand up, stopping him.

"Now, I know you aren't perfect. God knows I'm not, but I always knew if there was one person, one person AT ALL, who had integrity, who was honest, and who I knew I could count on no matter what, it was Luke Danes. But now – I don't know. I really thought I knew you -- knew what kind of person you are. But these past few weeks has made me wonder if I ever knew you at all."

Lorelai paused, waiting to hear Luke's rebuttal, but he only looked at her, as if he had none.

"And another thing," she continued, "Why is it that you don't seem to mind that Lane, and Caesar, and . . . Kirk, or anyone else who comes into the diner when April is there, can talk to her and get to know her, but EVERY time she comes to see you, you always tell me that you'll see me AFTER she leaves? Why, Luke? Why is that? Don't you want her to know me – your future wife? Is there some something about me you're ashamed of? Really! I want to know."

Luke opened his mouth as if he was going to speak, but didn't.

"Come on, Luke, you said you wanted to talk. So talk to me."

After a couple false starts, Luke finally said, "You're right. You're absolutely right. I did everything wrong. I should have told you about April just as soon as I found out about her. And after I decided I wanted a relationship with her I should have introduced you two so you could get to know each other. But I didn't do that, and I'm sorry. But you have to understand, I like things simple. And when they get complicated, I don't deal with them so well. I don't always think clearly. I keep things inside, hoping they'll sort themselves out so I CAN understand what's the best way to handle things."

"But that's what I'm here for. Or, that's what I'm supposed to be here for -- to do what I can to help you through the rough spots. Like you've helped me, over and over, for how many years now?"

"But I'm not you, Lorelai. I think differently and I do things differently. I work things out my way, the best way I know how. And I'm sorry if that's not good enough for you, but that's just the way it is."

Lorelai didn't answer right away. She was thinking, trying to come to a decision. And as she did, she found herself twirling her engagement ring on her finger. And as she did that, she was slowly slipping it toward the end of her finger.

"Maybe . . . maybe we should rethink this engagement."

"Rethink it? Now wait a minute, Lorelai, you asked me, remember?"

"I remember. And I remember I barely got the words out when you accepted. But maybe it wasn't the right time. Maybe it was me who wasn't thinking clearly. Maybe I was so upset about Rory that I needed . . . someone I knew was on my side. I mean, think about all those times, after Friday night dinners, I couldn't wait to get to Luke's -- couldn't wait to get to that fresh air of sanity."

Tears were beginning to roll down her cheeks.

"So, when I came to you, hurting and upset, and you ranted on and on about getting Rory back into Yale, why wouldn't I think that I would want to spend the rest of my life with you? But maybe . . . maybe it was just too soon."

Lorelai held out the ring to Luke.

"No, I don't want that. I gave it to you, for a reason."

"Please, take it."

"No!"

"Will you just take the damn ring?"

"NO! I'm not taking it!"

But before he could do anything about it, Lorelai took a step forward and dropped it into his shirt pocket.

And before he had a chance say anything, she went back inside and closed and chained the door.

As before, Luke knocked several times, trying to get her to open the door, or at least talk to him.

But she would do neither, and after several minutes, Lorelai heard his footsteps leaving the porch.

Lorelai stood with her back against the door. She felt paralyzed. There was no place in the house she could go without seeing the work Luke had done, or had spent so much money on, just to please her.

The tears continued to roll down her cheeks.

Then she sensed something, and looking up, she saw Luke standing there.

"How many times have I warned you about leaving the back door unlocked?"

"Luke," Lorelai said weakly, but he cut her off.

"This not going to happen, Lorelai – us breaking up. It's just not. I can't change what I've already done, but I can make damn sure I do things differently from now on."

Then Lorelai noticed that Luke was holding her phone, which he held up, punched in some numbers, and waited a few seconds.

"Hello."

"April. Hi. It's me, Luke. Is this a bad time?"

"Uh, no. We just got home. Is everything all right?"

"Yeah, it's fine. Everything's fine. The reason I'm calling is that I was just wondering -- what time do you get out of school tomorrow?"

"I'll be home. No school tomorrow."

"Oh, okay. Well, I was wondering if we could come by about ten. There's someone I want you to meet."

"Is it Lorelai?"

"Yeah, it is. How did you know?"

"I just had a hunch. And ten would be good, or nine, even."

"You know, I was thinking maybe the three of us could spend the day together, maybe go on a picnic or something."

"Um, sure. It's been a long time since I've been on a picnic, but – sure."

"Great! Then we'll see you tomorrow, at nine."

"Okay."

As Lorelai listened to Luke's side of the conversation, her tears continued to fall as she was biting the inside of her lip, but the horribly painful knot in her stomach had completely disappeared.

End