Chapter Five

"I messed up, kid," Lorelai finally said. "I messed up so bad. And I don't know how to fix it."

"You'll find a way."

Lorelai shook her head. "It can't be fixed. I told Luke what I did. You should have seen the look in his eyes. It's over. We're over. Everything's over."

"What happened Mom? What made you . . . ?"

"I asked Luke to elope."

"What?"

"I asked him to elope -- for us to drive to Maryland, get married, and come back here and he could move in."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because I was tired of nothing happening! After I talked to Lynnie, I realized we were at a standstill."

"Who's Lynnie?"

"She's the psychologist your grandmother tried to set Christopher up with at Friday night's dinner."

"I don't remember any Lynnie. She must have come after I left."

"She did, but they never connected. When I tried to leave, she had me blocked in, and somehow I ended up sitting in the backseat of her car, just pouring my guts out."

"About what?"

"My love life, what else? But it made me realize some things, like I never really loved Max . . . . "

"I figured that out when we went on the road trip."

"And that even though in some way I love your father, I never really LOVED anyone until Luke. He is the one I want to marry, live with, have kids with, and die with. Preferably in that order."

"And she told you to elope with him?"

"No, that was my idea, but she did tell me that unless I asked for what I wanted, nothing was going to happen, not as long as he was hung up on this thing with April."

"So, you asked him and he said no?"

"He said he wanted to talk it out, said he had to think about it. I was just so - - desperate to get married, it just came out. And when he still wouldn't commit, I told him it was now or never. And then I left and ended up at your dad's."

"You didn't go there just to spite Luke, did you? Just to hurt him?"

"NO! God no! I would never do that! I just needed someone to talk to. And since I had just seen him at dinner, he was the first one I thought of. And we did talk, for a long time. But you know me, for some reason whenever Christopher and I are together, the tequila always comes out. I know I should stay away from it at times like that, but I don't – didn't. Anyway, Christopher was supportive, and understanding, and sympathetic, and I ended up sleeping with him."

"But you told Luke?"

"It came out, not in the specific words, but he knows."

"Is that when you gave him the ring back? I saw it next to his cup."

"No, I took it off after he left. I didn't know what to do with it. I suppose I should give it back. Maybe I'll just mail it to him. Make it easy on both of us."

"Maybe you should hang onto it. I know you two can work this out."

"I don't see how. I know this time he REALLY hates me. It's not like after your grandparents' wedding renewal, this is so SO much worse."

"Well, give it some time. You know it took a long time for me to get over what Logan did."

"So I should jump off a cliff? Are you kidding? Luke would be there to give me a push."

"I don't think he would do that. But I'm just saying, keep the ring for now. You don't HAVE to wear it, unless you want to explain everything to Sookie, or Michel, or Miss Patty, or Babette, or Kirk . . . ."

"I get that. You're right. I'll put it back on. I guess that Yale education is working out for both of us."

"So, why don't you go upstairs and take a long, long hot shower? 'Cause I have to say, you've looked better."

Lorelai smiled for the first time in what seemed like forever.

"Yeah, I do feel grungy. How about ordering us some food?"

"Sure, I'll go get something from Al's."

"Okay then."

They got off the bed and Lorelai put her arms around Rory.

"Thanks, Babe, for coming. And thanks for letting me talk."

"Well, Logan always said there were three sides to every story."

"Okay, I'm upstairs and you're off to Al's."

When Rory got out on the front porch her cell phone rang. It was Logan.

"Hey, I was just going to call you," she said.

"Well, I couldn't wait. So what's the verdict? Are you staying or going?"

"I'm staying. We had a good talk, and it was like you said, there are three sides. I've heard Mom's, I want to hear Luke's side of it, and maybe Dad's. I'll tell you all about it later, okay? Right now I'm on my way to get some take out."

"Okay then, we'll talk later. And Ace?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad you decided to stay."

"Me too."

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