Chapter 4: Family Reunion Part 2
Max and Lorelai were rolling their cart through the grocery store planning out the week's menu.
"Ooh can you make that chicken with the tomato sauce and the.."
Lorelai stopped and glanced up, seeing her father standing a short ways in front of them.
"What's he doing here?" she said to her husband.
"Who?"
"My father."
"He's here?"
"Right there," she replied pointing in her father's direction.
"Do you want to say something?"
Lorelai nodded blankly. She walked forward toward her father with Max by her side.
"Dad?"
Richard turned around in surprise at the sound of his daughter's voice. "Lorelai? Lorelai? Oh thank God," he said giving her a huge hug. "It's been so long."
"I know Dad. I'm sorry. It's complicated."
"Lorelai, I just…. Oh, I'm sorry," he said noticing Max standing there for the first time. "I don't believe that we've been introduced. I'm Richard Gilmore, and you are?"
"Dad, this is my husband Max Medina."
"Husband? Well…I guess that congratulations are in order…."
"For how long now?"
"Eight wonderful years," Max said smiling at his wife.
Lorelai nodded.
"So you're back in Hartford then?"
"Max took a job teaching at Chilton."
"And you're?"
"I'm a consultant with the Durham group. We just acquired a small inn in Stars Hollow—the Independence Inn."
"The Durham group is one of our best clients—excellent reputation.. Lorelai, would you consider coming to dinner sometime… It would mean so much."
"Dad, I don't…."
"Please."
Finally, Lorelai nodded. "But I'm only committing to this once."
Richard nodded. "How about Friday night?"
Lorelai nodded. "We'll see you then."
"Nice meeting you Max."
"And you too Mr…."
"Please call me Richard."
"It's nice meeting you too Richard."
With that, Lorelai's father walked away.
"Lorelai, are you sure about this? I mean can you…"
"This is for my father. He had nothing to do with what Emily did."
Max nodded. "Honestly I've always been curious to meet your family and see where you grew up."
"Well, here's your chance. Probably your only chance."
Max and Lorelai continued their shopping trip in silence—each wondering what the rest of the week had in store for them.
Later that evening at the Gilmore house…
"Emily, you won't believe who I ran into today."
"Who?"
"Lorelai and her husband Max."
"You saw her too?"
"Where did you see her?"
"At the pharmacy earlier today."
"Apparently she's living in Hartford again."
"You met her husband as well?"
"Charming fellow. He's a teacher at Chilton. Apparently they've been married for eight years now."
Emily nodded in silence—taking in just how much Lorelai had cut them out of her life for the past sixteen years.
"Oh and by the way. I invited them both her to dinner on Friday night and they agreed."
"Lorelai's coming here for dinner…"
"Yes, I am assuming that's ok?"
"Yes, of course. I'm just surprised that after all this time."
"She's home Emily."
"Yes, she is Richard."
Emily turned away looking far off in the distance—not wanting to meet her husband's gaze. And that meant that eventually Richard was going to learn the real truth of why Lorelai had left all those years ago…