Chapter 8
"You peeled the potatoes? How could you think that it's alright to peel the potatoes? I've never peeled the potatoes. It's what makes the potato salad good. The skin is where all the flavor comes from." Sookie grabbed the peeler out of the cook's hand.
Lorelai walked up behind her friend and business partner and rested her hand on her shoulder. "Calm down Sookie. He'll just have to boil some more potatoes."
"Oh he'd better get boiling if he knows what's good for him." She shook the peeler at the man as he ran off to the other side of the inn's kitchen.
"Are you ok?" Lorelai helped herself to the pot of hot coffee on the counter.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just the Anderson's had this great idea to change their menu from the braised pork chops and fennel salad to this whole barbeque thing."
"That's kind of cute. A casual summer wedding with the red checkered tablecloth thing. It's actually not a bad idea."
"Sure take their side."
"Sookie, I'm not taking sides. I just know that you can handle the change." Lorelai took a sip of her coffee then put the cup down on the counter. "Hey Sookie, can I as you something?"
"Sure, hun. You know you can ask me anything."
"Well, how did you know you were pregnant?"
"Pregnant?"
"Pregnant, with child, yeah."
"Why?" Sookie covered her mouth with her hand excitedly. "Do you think you're pregnant?"
"I don't know. Maybe. I mean, it's been a while and I just don't know what kinds of signs I should be looking for."
"Well there was that things where I lost my sense of taste." Lorelai nodded. "And then I flipped out at Norman Mailer."
"Well let's say I don't have any elderly writers to yell at and my sense of taste has never really been that sharp. What else?"
"Well why do you think you might be pregnant?"
"I'm, um, late."
"Oh, the lateness."
"Yeah."
"Any morning sickness?"
"Not really. I mean I was at Rory's a few nights ago and we had some jelly bean pizza and I've been feeling a little nauseous every morning since."
"Jelly beans and pizza?"
"No, jelly bean pizza. Pizza with jelly beans on it."
"Well that would probably make anyone sick…"
"Yeah but not me. I've been eating gross stuff like that for my whole life and it's never bothered me before."
"Well there's really only two ways to find out. You could go to the doctor…"
"That'll take too long. I need to know now."
"Then you need to pick up a home pregnancy test."
"I was afraid of that."
"Just run down to Doose's and buy one."
"And then Taylor will know."
"Well he's gonna find out eventually."
"I know but I don't want him to find out before Luke." Sookie shrugged. "I'll be back in a little bit."
"Good luck sweetie."
Lorelai walked out of the kitchen. She saw Michel standing at the front desk. "Michel, my favorite French guy."
"What do you want?"
"Well, actually, I need you to take a little field trip."
"No."
"But I didn't even tell you –"
"No."
"Please?"
"Hmm, let me think. No."
"I'll give you candy."
"You know I do not eat candy."
"Please Michel. I need you to go get me a pregnancy test. If I go the whole town will know in two minutes."
"What do I look like, a little errand boy?"
"Fine. I'm running out. I'll be back."
"Take you're time."
Lorelai pulled up in front of Doose's Market. She rested her head on the Jeep's steering wheel and took a deep breath. She quickly opened the door and hurried into the store. She dashed down the first isle, trying to avoid being seen. She hurried to the medical supplies isle and scanned the shelf for the pregnancy tests. They were no where to be found. "Shit. Shit shit shit." She looked around to see if anyone else was in the store. She realized that she was alone in the store and walked up to the counter.
Dean was finishing bagging Andrew's groceries. "Thanks Dean," Andrew said as he walked out.
"Hello Dean." Lorelai walked up to the register.
"Oh, hey Lorelai." Dean swallowed nervously.
"How've you been?"
"Good."
"Good."
"Oh, um, congratulations on the getting married."
"Thanks. Hey Dean, I kinda need you to do me a favor."
"Sure. What can I do for you?"
"What I'm about to ask you is to never ever leave this store. It's between you and me. You can not tell anyone I was here. In fact you're probably better off forgetting that you even know me."
"Um, alright."
"Where does Taylor keep the pregnancy tests?"
"The what?"
"The pregnancy tests Dean. The little sticks that you pee on and it tells you if you're pregnant."
"I know what they are." He reached under the counter and handed one to Lorelai. "Taylor makes us keep them behind the counter. He thinks it'll help combat teen pregnancy or something."
"Smart man that Taylor," Lorelai said sarcastically. She took the box from him and looked at it. "Is this, um, a good one?"
"I wouldn't know."
"Oh right." She laughed nervously. "Alright, I'll give it a shot." She handed Dean twenty dollars.
"Lorelai, this is too much."
"I know. The rest is bribe money to keep you quiet." She winked and walked out of the store. She looked down and hurried across the sidewalk.
"Lorelai, doll!"
"Shit," Lorelai muttered to herself. She quickly put on a smile and shoved the pregnancy test into her waistband and covered it with her shirt. "Hey Babette."
"I haven't seen you in a while. How are ya? How's that husband of yours? Keepin ya busy?" She nudged Lorelai with her elbow.
Lorelai forced a small laugh. "Well I'd love to stay and chat but I'd better get back to work."
"Of course. I won't keep ya. Give Rory a kiss for me when you see her."
"Oh I will." Lorelai climbed into the Jeep and waved at Babette. That was close, she thought. She started the car and pulled out onto the street.
"Hello this is the Dragonfly Inn. Michel speaking. How may I help you?"
"Oh hey Michel. It's Luke."
"Luke who?"
"Luke. Luke Danes. Lorelai's husband."
"Oh yes, the diner man."
"Yup, that's me. Is she there?"
"No she is not."
"She's not? Where'd she go?"
"She ran out. Something about a pregnancy test."
"A pregnancy test?"
"Did I stutter? Yes a pregnancy test."
"Oh, uh, thanks Michel." Luke hung the phone back up on the wall. He stood, stunned for a while.
"Luke." Caesar stood with two plates waiting to pass them to Luke from the kitchen. "Luke!"
"Huh?" Luke turned around.
"Here's those orders."
"What?"
"The food for the customers." Luke just stared at him. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Hey I gotta go. Cover for me." Luke ran out of the diner, leaving Caesar alone with the lunch crowd.
"Oh this better be good," Caesar muttered.
"Is everything ok in there?" Sookie called through the bathroom door.
Lorelai opened the door. "Get in here." She grabbed Sookie's sleeve and pulled her into the bathroom.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"I can't look."
"What do you mean you can look?"
"I can't look. What if I'm pregnant?"
"But don't you want to be pregnant?"
"Well yeah."
"Then what's the problem?"
"You're right. Heh. I forgot. I mean the last time I did this I was hoping for a completely different outcome."
"Are you ready?"
"I think so. Hold my hand."
Sookie squeezed Lorelai's hand and together they checked the results of the pregnancy test.
Luke burst to the inn. "Where is she?"
Michel looked at him and rolled his eyes. "I am not a mind reader. How could I possibly know who you're looking for?"
"Lorelai, Michel. Where's Lorelai?"
"I have no idea. We are not attached at the hip, you know."
Lorelai came running through the lobby. "Luke! I'm pregnant! I'm pregnant!" She hugged him tightly as he lifted her off the ground and spun her around. "We're having a baby," she whispered in his ear.
He put her down and took a step back from her. She was smiled from ear to ear. "I love you." He pulled her back to him and kissed her passionately.
"It's so beautiful." Sookie wiped her eyes with her apron. She leaned her head on Michel's shoulder.
"Since when is it ok to touch me?" he snarled.
"Oh get over yourself." She playfully pushed him.
Lorelai ran over to Sookie and started jumping up and down. "I'm having a baby!"
"I know!" She hugged her friend and smiled.
