Walking Away

Chapter Six: Dog Eat Dog Shop

After a particularly difficult morning at the diner, Luke was grateful to get into the crisp, Stars Hollow morning, even if he was going to a pet shop of all places. Luke had never cared for pets. He had never owned a dog and had hated Liz's cat growing up. Fish were utterly pointless, and he didn't even want to think about rodents, such as gerbils or hamsters. He had, however, found Ralph an okay pet since April insisted he was mostly for scientific purposes.

After double-checking that Caesar and Lane were going to be okay, Luke walked the three blocks to Stars Hollow Pets and More, noticing the usual craziness as Patty and Taylor were arguing about when to take down the Thanksgiving decorations and how soon to put up the ones for Christmas.

"Lights do not go up the day after Thanksgiving, Taylor, that is just crazy," Miss Patty. "The town charter specifically states we have to wait until December 1 to begin decorating for Christmas and Hanukkah."

"Not anymore, Patty. I had that changed at the last town meeting, so decorations can now be put up the day after Thanksgiving."

"I was at that meeting. When did we agree to that?"

"Oh, well, it was a rider on the measure to raise the speed limit in the square to 20 miles an hour."

"Well, I'm not decorating until I'm good and ready, Taylor, and if you try to fine me, you don't want to know what I'll do to you."

As Luke passed him, he smiled and remembered that was a damn good reason he didn't decorate the diner. His diner was perfect the way it was, and didn't need tinsel that could fall into food or catch fire, or a giant turkey in the window to block his view of the square.

When he arrived at the pet store, he was greeted with a sight he rarely saw. Lorelai and Paul Anka were not only on time, but they were early.

"Hey, you're here," Luke said.

"Surprise, surprise," Lorelai said with a smile. "It seems that Paul Anka likes to wake up early, and since he doesn't have a doggy door, I have to get up to let him out. He likes a 5:30 morning walk."

"Yeah, that's my fault since I used to walk him when I woke up. I figured he would change his schedule if you didn't wake up that early."

"Oh, no, he expected me to change. That's why I'm getting a doggy door. "

"So, do you know what kind of door you want?"

"Um, one that matches the back door and Paul Anka can fit through it?"

"It's good to see you've given it a lot of thought."

"Was I supposed to research doors on the Internet? How many choices can there be?"

"All right, fine."

As they walked into the store, they were greeted with the familiar sight of Kirk behind the counter.

"Good morning, and welcome to Stars Hollow Pets and More. My name is Kirk. How can I help you?"

"We know who you are, Kirk," Luke said in his usual gruff manner.

"Hey, Kirk, I need a doggie door for Paul Anka here," Lorelai said. "What have you got?"

"We have several models to choose from, but I would suggest the Pet Safe Dog Door in Satin for a medium dog. Today, it is on sale for only $60."

"Can I see it?"

"Sure, there is one right in back. I'll bring it right out. While you wait, might I suggest you check out our latest line of toys for canines."

"We'll be fine, Kirk," Luke said, already exasperated.

Lorelai walked over to the dog toys and skimmed while Luke just watched her. She seemed a little more animated today as she viewed chew toys shaped like fire hydrants and bones.

"Why are you looking at those things?" he said as she turned around. "Paul Anka doesn't even like toys."

"I know, but it would have been rude not to. Kirk made such a nice display."

Luke's response to this was cut short as a loud crashing noise came from the back of the store followed by a scream, and Paul Anka running toward the front door.

"Kirk, are you okay, buddy?" Luke yelled.

"Help me!"

Luke and Lorelai ran to the back of the store, behind the counter to find Kirk trapped under about 10 doggie doors of various sizes and colors.

"What happened?" Lorelai said as she picked the first door off of Kirk.

"I tried to reach the door, but it was under the other doors, so I thought I could pull it out without moving the others. I guess I was wrong. Can you please get these doors off me?"

Luke and Lorelai quickly removed the doors from Kirk, who moaned dramatically.

"Will you stop that?" Luke said as he pulled the last door off him, then offered his hand to Kirk.

"Ah, thank you, Luke. If you hadn't been here, I might have been trapped for days."

"I doubt that, Kirk. Which one is the door?"

"This one," he said, picking up a door at Luke's feet. "Does it meet your satisfaction?"

After attempting to see if Paul Anka could fit through the door for five minutes, Lorelai gave up and had Luke hold him as she pulled him through it.

"It looks fine to me," Lorelai said. "Can you install it?"

"It seems pretty straight forward. I think I can do it in about an hour. Do you have time now?"

"Yeah, the Dragonfly is covered, so we can do it right now."

Lorelai paid for the door and for a cat toy that Paul Anka fancied while Luke bought vitamin supplements for Ralph, The trio then walked back to Lorelai's house, and she could feel the eyes of the town upon them. As they walked, Lorelai tried to think of conversation topics, but everything seemed so silly. She was actually enjoying the quiet of just being with Luke again, even if she knew it wasn't real. After he fixed the door, he would go back to his diner and to his new lady friend.

"So, how's it feel to be a pet owner?"

"I'm not a pet owner," Luke replied to the strange question.

"Uh, yes, you are. What is that you're holding in your hand?"

"Vitamin supplements for Ralph? Oh, no. Ralph's not my pet, he's April's science experiment. I just kept him because he freaked Anna out. I don't do take care of him or anything, I just feed him when April's not here."

"And the vitamins?"

"Well, April said he needed some, and I was at the pet store, so I got it. I am not a pet guy."

"Yeah, I remember. But you did take good care of Paul Anka."

"Well, someone had to feed and walk him when you weren't home."

"And you didn't like him just a little bit?"

"Nah, he's a stinking dog whose smell is still in my apartment."

Lorelai looked into Luke's eyes and she could tell he was full of it, but it was nice to hear a mini-rant that wasn't directed at her.

"I have to go back to the diner," Luke suddenly blurted out. "I don't have any tools."

"No, you don't have to go back. Your tools are here in your boat. Hadn't you noticed you didn't have your tool box?"

"I guess not. I hadn't felt like fixing anything lately. I'm sorry, I hadn't got the boat yet. I keep meaning to, but I hadn't found a storage space for it yet."

"Luke, it's fine right where it is, and if you want to come work on it, you can at anytime. You know, I'm not using the garage for anything, so it may as well hold the boat. You can pay me rent if it would make you feel better. A dollar a month."

"That sounds good. I'll go get the tools and meet you at the back door."

Luke watched as Lorelai entered the house and then made his way to the garage. He hadn't been in there in months, but the boat hadn't changed. It was still dusty and half finished and held years of memories for him. Inside, his toolbox was waiting for him. He pulled it out, and headed inside the house.

It took Luke less than an hour to install Paul Anka's door. Lorelai sat at the kitchen table and enjoyed the view as Luke worked to put a hole in her door with Babette's borrowed saw. She always loved watching him work. Once he finished the door, she offered to clean up the mess, but he laughed and said he'd take care of it. While he was outside, throwing away the garbage, she decided she needed to make another move, even the smallest of ones.

"Well, it's all done. Is it okay if I put the tools back in the boat?"

"Sure, uh, Luke, thank you so much for all your hard work. I can't let it go without repaying you. Can I please take you out to dinner?"