Chapter 3: Family Reunion
Lorelai was wandering the pharmacy desperately in search of the cold/allergy aisle. She had developed a nasty cold shortly after moving back to Hartford. The ringing of her cell phone stopped her train of thought.
"Hey."
"Hey you, feeling any better?" the voice on the other end asked her.
"I would be if I could find the drugs I need. What communist organized this drug store?"
"Have you thought about asking?"
"Well, that would be too easy wouldn't it?"
"Lorelai, there's never a dull moment with you is there?"
"That's why you married me, right Max Medina?"
"Exactly."
"Listen, I just found the aisle. I've got to go."
"See you tonight. I love you."
"I love you too."
As Lorelai put her phone back in her purse, she didn't notice a woman coming up beside her and ran straight into her.
"Why can't you young people watch where you're going? You're always on those stupid cell phones and Lorelai?"
"Hello, Emily. Fancy running into you here."
"What are you doing here?"
"Buying drugs? What else do you do in a pharmacy?"
"You know what I meant. In Hartford."
"That's none of your business."
"Lorelai, please."
"One word, Emily. Rory."
"Lorelai. I'm still your mother."
"By biology only."
"Are you living here now?"
"Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. Either way it's none of your business."
"Lorelai, I care about you… I…."
"Save it Emily."
Emily desperately glanced at her daughter trying to figure out something to say… something so she wouldn't slip away again. "You're married," she said eyeing the wedding ring.
"Yeah, I am."
"Yeah, I am."
"Are you happy?"
"Rory."
"That's not an answer."
"Goodbye Emily."
With that, Lorelai turned and left the pharmacy as quickly as possible.
Emily stared off at the door to the pharmacy—still in shock that her daughter was back and married….
Later that night…
"Lorelai I'm home," Max said as he came into the front door of their apartment.
"I'm in the kitchen."
Max walked in the kitchen and walked over and gave his wife a big kiss.
"Hi beautiful how was your day?"
"I ran into my mother today."
"You did? Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I think so. Max, we talked about this. We knew we'd run into my parents when we came here. It was inevitable."
Max nodded looking at his wife, still concerned about her—knowing how hard the chance meeting with her mother must have been on her.
"It brought everything back didn't it?" he said quietly.
"Yes, it did," she said with tears streaming down her face.
Max took his wife in his arms and brought her close to him.
"I love you, Lorelai and if this is too hard for you… we can go back to California and I can get my old job back at Stanford…"
"Max, we discussed this. You belong at Chilton. I'll be fine. Just don't go inviting Richard and Emily over for a barbecue or anything…."
"Deal."