Chapter 25: Upcoming Birthdays
"Hey Luke. How are things today?"
Luke looked up from behind the counter at the sound of Lorelai's voice.
"Not bad. And you?" Luke eyed Lorelai suspiciously because he could tell that something was on her mind. She wasn't meeting his gaze as she normally did.
"Listen, I was wondering...when have you been celebrating Heather's birthday?"
Luke was surprised at the question and then it hit him—Lorelai knew when Heather's real birthday was.
"The doctors knew Heather's approximate age when Liz and I found her but we were never able to pinpoint the exact date. Generally we've celebrated it around the 8th of October."
Lorelai's eyes immediately lit up. "That's her real birthday."
"Really? Luke asked in shock.
"Really."
"Heather will be thrilled to know..." Suddenly, he began smiling. "When she was little she convinced me one year that because we didn't know the exact date of her birthday, we should have a little celebration every day one week–just to make sure that we celebrated on the right day."
Lorelai laughed. "Always the smart one. Sounds like something I would have tried."
Luke smiled. "She actually had me make a different type of birthday cake for each day. I remember at the time thinking I would never want another slice of birthday cake again."
Lorelai smiled. She was happy that Heather had had such a wonderful childhood and had been lucky enough to have such a wonderful father. Inwardly she sighed and wished she could have been a part of her daughter's life. But as she reminded herself, there was no changing the past. There was only today and the future.
"That would be a lot of birthday cake... Listen, October 8 is coming up soon and I don't want to intrude on any special plans you had for Heather's 16th birthday but I would love to spend some time with her. Even for a little while..."
"Birthdays are usually a town celebration around here. I usually close down the diner and everyone comes here for a big party–young and old. Very relaxed."
Lorelai nodded in surprise. "You don't seem like the socializing type."
Luke shrugged. "It's for Heather. She loves those parties. Actually, I'm sure she would love it if you and Max came as well. I think she's ready to show you off to everyone now. I'm sure she's already invited Logan..."
"So we won't be the only non-Stars Hollow residents?"
Luke nodded.
"Thank you Luke. We would love to be there. It would mean the world to me."
Luke fulfilled Lorelai's usual coffee order and watched as Lorelai headed out the door and down the street toward the Independence Inn. He sighed—it would be different with Lorelai and Max there this year–but yet he knew that would be what Heather wanted.
"Hey Dad!"
Luke looked up as his daughter bounded in the door. "Hey Heather. Listen, Lorelai was in here today and..."
"And?"
"And we were discussing your birthday."
Heather nodded in response. Her birthday–the day they had usually celebrated her birthday was coming up–but now she would know when her real birthday was. She was surprised that she hadn't thought to ask Lorelai earlier. Everything had changed so much in the past couple of months. She supposed she could get used to celebrating her birthday on a different day–but it would seem strange. "So when is it?"
"It's October 8."
"Really?" Heather asked in surprise.
Luke nodded smiling. "And I've invited Lorelai and Max here. I assume that's ok?"
"Yes, it is... I've already invited Logan."
Luke nodded.
"And Dad, can we invited Lorelai's father?"
Luke nodded. "I think he'd like that."
Heather smiled—everything was changing. Yet she had a feeling that in the long run it was changing for the better. She was still going to have her Stars Hollow birthday–but with her new found family. She could hardly wait until the big day.