Chapter Four: Snow and Jealousy
Lorelai gathered her dress up in her hands and raced down the stairs. Mia came up the steps of the house and was met by Lorelai and Rory. The three of them shared a hug.
"Oh my babies!" Mia exclaimed.
"Oh Mia I didn't know you were coming!" Lorelai cried. "I sent you an invitation but I never got your RSVP. I am so glad you're here!"
"I called Rory a week ago to let her know I was coming but not to tell you. I wanted it to be a surprise," Mia said.
"Surprised I am," Lorelai giggled. "Luke will be too."
"Another confession, Luke already knows she's here," Rory said. "We wanted you to be surprised."
"Apparently it worked," she smiled.
Emily appeared on the steps. Emily and Mia did a stare down. Emily and Mia never did tell Lorelai that they met each other.
"Mom, this is Mia. She used to own the Independence Inn. She gave Rory and I a place to live when I first moved to Stars Hollow."
"Hello Mia. Would you like to come in? We're just waiting for the limo to take us to the inn."
"Thank you Emily," Mia said.
The four women came inside the house. The November weather was turning colder than it had in quite a while. Even with the impending snow Lorelai still wanted her wedding at the inn and in the square. She wanted a fall wedding and if it happened to snow, her love of snow would be enhanced. Lorelai loved snow. All sorts of good things happened to her when it snowed. Rory's first step, her best birthday, Luke building her a skating pond. All happened when it snowed.
"How's California, Mia?" Rory asked, trying to lighten the mood of the room.
"The damn sun still shines all the time. I am however, thinking of moving back here."
"Oh Mia that would be wonderful!" Lorelai exclaimed. "I know Luke would love it too."
"Would anyone like some coffee?" Emily asked, hoping for a chance to excuse herself. No matter how many years had passed Emily still felt that pang of jealously when she thought about the time that she missed and that Mia got to have.
"I would love some, Emily," Mia said.
"Mom you don't have to," Lorelai said. "I'll do it."
"You sit there in that dress. I will not allow you to ruin that dress with a coffee stain."
Emily went into the kitchen and rested her hands on the counter. She could hear her girls laughing with Mia. Emily knew that Mia wasn't there to make her miserable. Mia was there to see Lorelai be married. Mia was just as much of a mother to Lorelai as she was. Emily poured a cup of coffee for Mia and brought it out for Mia.
Outside a long white limo pulled in front of Lorelai's house. It was nothing too fancy but not plain either. Lorelai carefully putting on her coat walked out to the car as the first drops of snow trickled down.
"I smell snow," Lorelai said, quietly.
Things at the inn were chaotic. Some chairs were set up, while the rest were piled on the porch of the inn. The kitchen crew was lost without Sookie who was tending to the cake.
The cake was a thing of beauty. A five layer double chocolate cake with French vanilla butter cream frosting. Flowers of every color were dripping from it. Tiny figures, the groom wearing a backwards baseball cap and the bride holding a coffee mug and a donut. Sookie had it special ordered.
Jackson and Andrew carefully set the cake on the table in the square. Kirk had wanted to help, they however knowing Kirk's track record gave him the job of setting up the chairs. Jackson and Andrew had just got the special glass cover over the cake just as it started to snow. They waved as the limo passed the square.
"This really is a town event," Mia commented.
"Well the town's King and Queen are finally tying the knot," Rory teased.
Emily stared out the window of the limo to all the Stars Hollowians setting up for Lorelai's wedding. She could see how much this small town loved her daughter. She was jealous. Jealous of a woman who gave Lorelai a job and a place to live, jealous of a town with so much love that they were fighting snow to set up a wedding, jealous of a man who gave her daughter more than she ever had. A small tear trickled from Emily's eyes. She wiped them away as to not ruin her makeup.
The car pulled up in front of the inn. Michel came running out with an umbrella. He opened the door for Lorelai and helped her out. Lorelai stood on the porch waiting for things to begin. In less than thirty minutes she would walk down these very stairs with her father and into the arms of her true love.