Chapter Two: Letters and Gifts

Luke automatically recognized the handwriting even though he hadn't seen it in years. It was his mother's. Underneath the envelope was another envelope addressed to him. He carefully pulled out the note and began to read.

My Dear Lucas,

My guess is that if you're reading this letter than I am no longer with you. I had hoped to get to see you be married and have children. Apparently God had other plans. I loved this box that you had made for me. You were always good at making things. That's why I taught you to cook. That way the things that you make will always be good.

I am leaving you this box with a few pieces of my jewelry that I want you to give to the girl that you marry. Whoever she is. I hope that they bring her as much joy as they brought me over the years.

I love you Lucas. I hope that you find the girl to make your life complete.

Love forever,

Your Mother

Luke wiped away the tears that he felt drip from his eyes. Memories of his mother flooded his mind. Her smile, her laugh, the way she never called him Luke, always Lucas. How he wished that both of his parents could be here to meet Lorelai and Rory. In a way they already knew them. Every year on his "dark" day, he would go to their grave site and talk about Rory as if she was his own.

"My Rory got into Chilton, the prep school in Hartford," he would tell them. "My Rory kicked major PSAT butt today. A 1500, 100 points from perfect. My Rory is going to Yale. My Rory was valedictorian."

In private she was his Rory. Today it would become official. He gathered up the box and walked from his apartment to their house. He knew that if Emily caught him there would be hell to pay. Luke could take it. This was important.

"Luke you know you're not supposed to be here right now," Emily said from the porch. "It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.

"I know that Emily. But this is important. I have a gift for her."

"I'll make sure she gets it," Emily said holding out her hand for the gift.

"You don't understand. This is special. I have to be with her when she opens it," he tried to explain.

"What is it?" Emily asked.

Luke explained about the box and the letter inside. Emily's stern look softened as she gestured for him to enter. As he entered the house, he saw his beautiful fiancée walk down the stairs in her dressing gown, her hair a mess and her face bare without a trace of make up. He thought she had never looked more beautiful than she did at that moment on the stairs.

"Luke, what are you doing here?" she asked.

"I have a present for you, Lorelai," he said.

They sat together on the couch and Luke handed her the box. She traced the initials engraved into the wood. AFD. She had no idea who the box used to belong to but, she loved it.

"I made this for my mother before she got sick," Luke said quietly. "She kept all sorts of special things in it. For a while she kept me and Liz's report cards in it. Then she switched to the jewelry that was very special to her in it. I found it this morning and decided that she would have wanted you to have it."

Lorelai carefully removed the lid of the box. Inside she saw the envelope addressed to Mrs. Lucas Danes. She lifted the precious document out of the box and laid it on the coffee table. She stared at the contents of the box. There was an old bottle of sweet fragranced perfume, two necklaces and a ring. Curiousity got the best of her and she opened the letter.

To the woman who has stolen my son's heart:

My name is Avery Faith Danes, Lucas is my son. If you are reading this letter, I guess I am no longer with Lucas. He made me this box, if he didn't tell you. He was always good at making things and fixing them. I taught him to cook so that no matter what he made, it would always tastes good.

I wish I knew you're name so I could make this more personal. But I guess this will have to do. I want you to know that you are marrying a wonderful boy. I know him only as a boy and you know him as a man. I hope that the values that his father William and I taught him carried over to his adult life.

You are a very special girl. Because you are special I want you to have a few special things of mine. The first is a bottle of my favorite perfume. I would only wear it on special occasions, like my anniversary, my children's birthday's, my own and Will's birthday. Next is a necklace. This one has a small diamond pendant that was given to me by my father on my wedding day. He saved for months to buy it for me. I would be honored if you wore it on your wedding day. There is another necklace in this box also. This one has a tiny pear in the shape of a teardrop. Will bought this for me after we brought Lucas home from the hospital. The last is my engagement ring. Wear it with pride.

I hope that you and Lucas are happy together. I would have very much liked to have gotten to have met you, young lady. Shame on you Lucas for reading over her shoulder like that! You should know better!

Lorelai looked up and laughed through the tears that were dripping from her eyes. Luke was getting scolded by his mother some thirty years later. She carefully lifted out the necklaces. She felt so honored to be given these things. She continued to read the letter from Avery.

Congratulations, kids. I love you both so much. Lucas take care of this girl.

Love Forever, Your Mother, Avery Faith Danes

Lorelai carefully placed the letter back in its envelope and set it gently in the box. She held out the diamond pendant to Luke in a silent request to help her with it. She pulled aside her hair and Luke wrapped the necklace around her slender neck and locked it in place.

"You have never looked more beautiful to me than you do at this very moment," he whispered into her ear. "I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered back.

The pair shared a tender kiss. He got up to leave and she walked out with him. She watched him walk away.