Chapter 9
Two months passed like the wind. This pregnancy was going much faster than the first. It was a given after that night that I'd be absent from Friday night dinners from then on out. Rory continued to go, as per their deal. Really, the deal was broken when I stopped showing up, but I always knew they wouldn't stop paying for Chilton. They couldn't do that to Rory.
All three of us, that is, me, Luke, and Rory, tried to pretend everything was okay, but we knew it wasn't. The whole town still thought the baby was Luke's.
"When are you going to tell them?" Rory asked me, one lazy Saturday afternoon, at home.
"I don't know. It's not something you just bring up in daily conversation."
"I know, but you still have to tell them."
"I will, I will. I just want to do it in a way that won't make them think I'm a whore."
"They won't think that. Only Mrs. Kim."
"She's thought I was a whore since the day I stepped foot in Stars hollow with you on my hip and no husband."
"So, there you go. Nothing will change."
"Ok… ok, I've got it. I know how to do it. Hand me the phone."
"Here." I sat at the kitchen table, and dialed Babette's number.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Babette."
"Oh, hey, Doll! What can I do for ya?"
"Oh, nothing. I was just calling to chat, you know, catch up. I haven't seen you for awhile."
"Yeah, Morey and I have been cooped up all week. We got a new kitten, and we can't leave it alone. Somethin' about getting' used to its new environment."
"Right, right." I rolled my eyes at Rory.
"Put her on speaker phone!" Rory mouthed to me. I set the phone on the table, and pressed the big red button that said Speaker Phone so that Rory could listen.
Almost right on cue, Babette said, "So, Doll, where's Rory today?"
"Oh, you know Rory, she's in her room… uh…. studying," I scrambled. I wasn't expecting that one.
"Well, of course, that girl is so smart."
I smiled at Rory. "Yeah, she is."
"So, Lorelai, how's that baby of yours?"
Here it goes.
"It's fine, Babette, really well."
"Good, that's wonderful. I'm so happy for you and Luke."
"Well, Babette, it's not Luke's."
""It's not?" she practically screamed.
This is where my acting came in. "No, no, it's not. It's Christopher's. You remember Rory's dad. It's his," I said, through fake tears.
"Yeah, yeah, I remember him. It's okay, Honey. Does Luke know?"
"Yeah, he knows." For all Babette knew, I was blubbering like a baby at that point. Rory was almost crying herself, trying not to laugh out loud.
"Well, if he knows, and he's okay with it, then everything's all right, right?"
"Right, right. I gotta go, Babette. I need to… I don't know. I just need to go."
"Okay, all right. Is there anything you need?"
"Well… I could really use a nice, warm batch of brownies."
"Of course! I'd be glad to! Bye, Doll. Morey! Screw the cat! I'm goin' over to Patty's!" We heard her say before she hung up the phone,
"Mom! That was brilliant!"
"Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week."
"And we got brownies out of it, too!"
"Kiss the mommy." Rory kissed me on the cheek, and we sat there giggling for an eternity.
That Friday, Rory went off to dinner at her grandparents', and left me all by my lonesome, so, of course, I called Luke.
"Hello?"
"Hey, baby."
"Hey, Lorelai. What's goin' on?"
"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. Rory deserted me for her grandparents again, so I'm all alone."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sure you are… What're you wearing?"
"What?"
"Come on, Luke! I need some entertainment!"
"No!"
"Luuuuuke!"
"No!"
"Mom, I'm home!"
"Luke, I gotta go. Rory's home and it's only 8. Something's up."
"Okay. Call me back later."
"I will. Bye."
"Bye."
Rory stormed into her room and slammed the door shut. I walked in and watched her as she angrily took off her coat and shoes.
"Rory, what happened? Whoa!" I said, dodging the shoe she threw past me and into her closet.
"They happened, she said, referring to my parents.
"What did they do?"
"They… and then they… but then they-" she stumbled, gesticulating wildly.
"Rory, honey, full sentences, please," I said, pulling her down to sit on the bed with me.
"I just, I can't believe them!"
"What did they do this time?"
"They… they… No, I can't tell you. I don't want to upset you anymore than you already are with them."
"I appreciate that, but, Rory, I can't be anymore upset with them. Just tell me."
"They called you… well, they basically called you… a slut… among other things. They just, they have no respect for you as their daughter, and me as your daughter and best friend."
"I know, and this surprises you?"
"Yes! It doesn't surprise you?"
"No. They've always been like that, ever since I was little. They told me, to my face, that I was a disappointment when I was seven after I failed a spelling test. I'm sure they didn't realize what they were saying, but they said it."
"Wow."
"Yeah, well, what they didn't remember was that I couldn't study for it because I was out all night at a function with them the night before the test."
"Is it okay if I don't go to dinners anymore?"
"It's up to you, babe. Just hope that they keep paying for Chilton if you don't."
"We both know they will."
"From your lips to God's ears, Honey."
Tbc.
I know, not the best place to stop, but it's lunch time and I'm damn hungry! So you're just going to have to forgive me this time. I know this wasn't the best chapter, but it was necessary. I promise the next one will be brilliant! Chips and Salsa, here I come!
Review!
Random Question: Why do you press harder on a remote control when you know the battery is dead?