Rory pulled up the long driveway that led up to her grandparent's house. Rory parked her car in front of the house and started walking toward the front door. She could see her mom's car parked a few feet away from where she had parked hers and knew that her mother was already inside with her grandparents. Rory rang the door bell and waited patiently until the maid came and opened the door.
"Rory, good to see you," the maid said, smiling and holding open the door. Rory smiled back and walked down the hallway and into the living room. Her grandma walked over and hugged her tightly.
"Rory, you look beautiful," Emily Gilmore said, smiling down at her granddaughter. Rory smiled at her mother who was sitting on the couch with a drink in her hand. Loralei smiled at her daughter and took another sip of her drink. When Emily released her granddaughter, Richard stepped forward and smiled down at Rory, giving her a hug before walking as far across the room from his wife that he could possibly get without getting too far away to be a part of the conversation. Rory smiled, knowingly at her mom and went to the couch to sit down beside her. Emily took a seat across from them on the loveseat.
"Rory, did you know that yourmotherwaited until tonight to let me know about her wedding?" Emily said, giving Lorelai a hard look before turning a sweet smile back toward Rory. Rory tried not to laugh, surprised that her mother had told her grandma so soon. Rory started to respond but Lorelai interrupted.
"Mom, I said I was sorry," Lorelai said, "I've just been really busy with the plans and sending out invitations." Emily held up her invitation.
"Yes, I received mine," Emily said before adding, "very recently." Lorelai rolled her eyes. The maid walked into the room.
"Mrs. Gilmore, dinner is served," the maid said, smiling. Emily nodded and stood up to lead the others into the dining room. Lorelai sighed.
"Saved by dinner," Lorelai said, leaning in so only Rory could hear her. Rory smiled and walked around the table to take her seat across from her mother's seat.
It was only a few seconds later when they had all been given their plates and had begun eating. Emily was the first to speak.
"So, Lorelai, have you decided what kind of dress you would like to get?" Emily asked, "Certainly not white." Lorelai glanced across the table at Rory. Rory smiled at her.
"No, mom, I was thinking of a cream color or maybe a light pink," Lorelai replied. Emily nodded.
"You always looked much better in light blue but whatever you want," Emily said. Lorelai rolled her eyes and Rory gave her mom a smirk as she took another bite of her food. When Emily's remark was left unanswered she decided to try again.
"Where do you plan on looking for a dress?" Emily asked, watching her daughter and waiting impatiently for Lorelai's response.
"Here in Hartford," Lorelai responded, receiving a knowing look from Rory right afterwards. Emily laid her fork down on the napkin beside her plate.
"Oh, that's wonderful," Emily said, smiling, "I would love to help. I know a great dress shop and I'm sure your father and I could pay for everything." Richard looked up from his food and nodded in agreement as he looked over at Lorelai.
"No, mom, I would rather pay for this myself," Lorelai said, watching her mother's face for the reaction she knew she would get.
"Lorelai, I won't hear nothing about it," Emily said, "It's your first wedding. We want to do this." Rory saw the anger on her mother's face as she stood up and looked down at Rory's grandmother.
"Mom, I thought we went through this before!" Lorelai started. Emily glared at her daughter.
"Don't raise your voice at me young lady," Emily said. Lorelai started to respond but Richard spoke first.
"Emily, Lorelai, sit down and finish your dinner," Richard replied, making everyone look at him in surprise as he stared up at the two women, "Emily, she wants to pay for the wedding herself so if you want to help her pick out the dress that is between the two of you but leave her alone about the money," Richard said, he turned his attention to Lorelai, "And as for you, you are still our daughter and you will show your mother respect in this house." The anger was apparent on both women's faces but they sat down and continued eating anyway. The rest of the dinner was ate in silence.
"I knew she would do that," Lorelai said, as she walked through the front door of her house, her daughter Rory close behind her.
"Yes, you did," Rory said, smiling as she shut the door behind her. Lorelai turned around to face Rory, giving her a hard look before turning and walking into the kitchen.
"Okay, so I did," Lorelai said, "but I definitely did not know my father was going to do what he did." Rory rolled her eyes and sat down at the kitchen table.
"He was just trying to stop the argument," Rory said, sighing. Lorelai nodded.
"Yeah. I know," Lorelai said, "he's just never done that before." Rory yawned and stood up. She walked around the table and gave her mom a hug.
"I know, mom," Rory said before walking toward her room, "goodnight."