Dragonfly Inn
Lorelai has Olivia on her hip as she talks on the phone by the reception desk. "Yes, Mr. McAdams the date is saved but I can't guarantee that it won't rain," Lorelai says into the phone as Richard walks into the Dragonfly. Noticing him, Lorelai looks a little shocked. Richard glances around the place and then walks over to Lorelai. "Yeah, sure will. Bye." Lorelai hangs up the phone and gives Richard a curious look. "Look who's slumming it," she quips.
"I'm not slumming it, I came to see you," Richard response, putting air quotes around 'slumming it'.
"Well knock my socks off."
"And your inn, I haven't actually gotten a good look at this place," Richard adds.
"Well this is it, feel free to look around," Lorelai responds with a wave of her arm. Richard nods and glances around but doesn't walk away.
"And I came to see my newest granddaughter." Lorelai raises an eyebrow and then smiles.
"Well why didn't you say so in the first place? Would you like to hold her?" Lorelai offers. Richard looks down at his feet before responding. Then he holds out his arms for Olivia. Lorelai walks around the desk and hands Olivia over to Richard, who looks every bit the proud grandfather as he stares down at his young granddaughter. Lorelai grins proudly, crossing her arms over her chest.
"She's so small," Richard manages.
"Yeah I had to pull on Rory's appendages really hard so that she would grow," Lorelai quips. Richard gives her a look.
"She's got the Gilmore eyes," Richard notices. Lorelai nods.
"Yep she does. So does Liam. Otherwise I would have had to give them back and exchange them for different babies." Richard doesn't respond as he touches Olivia's hand, causing her to wrap her small fingers around his much larger one. Lorelai is amazed to see how taken Richard is with the small child. "So Dad, you having a quiet summer without Mom?" Lorelai asks, moving her hands to her back.
"It's quiet all right," Richard mumbles. He glances up at Lorelai. "Have you heard from your mother lately?"
"Not since last week. They had just gotten to Rome and Mom was trying to pull a Nero," Lorelai responds.
"But she's well?" Richard inquires. Lorelai seems taken aback for a moment.
"Yeah, Dad, she is." Richard nods and then looks back down at Olivia. "Have you heard from Rory?" Lorelai asks. Richard looks up at her in surprise.
"You haven't talked to her?" Lorelai shrugs, biting her lower lip.
"We, um, had a small argument," Lorelai hesitantly replies.
"Oh." Richard clears his throat, not really knowing how to respond.
"I mean, it's no big deal. We just…" Lorelai takes a deep breath, not really wanting to let her father know how scared she is of losing Rory. Then she forces a smile. "Forget it, I'm sure she'll call soon." Richard eyes Lorelai warily.
"She seems to like it."
"Good, that's good. That's really good," Lorelai stammers. Michel walks over.
"Lorelai, your eternal slave is back so that you can get back to standing around doing something and pretending as if you do some real work here," Michel says sarcastically. Lorelai glares at him, glancing over at Richard to see if he heard, but he's still thankfully engrossed in playing with Olivia.
"I know it's hard for you to understand with all that hot air taking up space in your head there Michel," Lorelai snaps back. Michel raises an eyebrow. Lorelai gives him a pointed look and then turns back to Richard. "Hey Dad, I was just going to take a long lunch so I could take Olivia for a ride on the slide at the playground, she's never ridden on the slide and I've been dying to take her. Do you want to join?" Lorelai suggests. Richard seems to think this over for a moment. "Come on Dad, you know you can't say no to that adorable face of hers." She says this with perfect timing as Olivia blows a raspberry at Richard, making him smile.
"All right Lorelai, that sounds like a lovely idea," Richard agrees. Lorelai nods. She walks back into her office and walks back out with a single stroller and a diaper bag. "Just to go to the park?"
"Oh Dad, you remember how it is to take kids out for a little while. It's only been 36 years," Lorelai reminds him. Richard stares at her. Lorelai reaches for Olivia and Richard hands her over, a distant look still in his eyes.
"Actually Lorelai, I don't remember. I never took you to the park when you were a baby," Richard says. Lorelai smiles knowingly as she puts Olivia in the stroller.
"Yes, Dad, I know that, but I'm sure we went somewhere."
"No, Lorelai, I never took you out by myself. Normally it was the nanny and once or twice your mother." Lorelai glances up at Richard, who seems sad. She presses her lips together, trying to figure out how to respond.
"It's okay Dad, you were busy," Lorelai whispers. Richard shakes his head. She sighs, buckling the last buckle. "I mean, Christopher never did."
"Does Luke take the twins out on his own?" Lorelai glances up at Richard.
"Yeah, Dad, he does." Lorelai stands. Richard plays with his hands, the tension mounting. Lorelai touches Richard's arm comfortingly. "Dad, I understand, that's how it was then. I mean, you did what you were supposed to do, you provided for us." Richard doesn't seem to feel any better about this. "Anyways, you're here now and you're here for Rory. So let's go. Okay?" Lorelai raises an eyebrow. Richard nods.
Lorelai turns and pushes Olivia's stroller outside the inn, where Richard stops. Not noticing, Lorelai keeps walking. "Dad!" Lorelai calls, glancing behind her at him. He looks over at her. "Walk this way." She grins. "Come on, talk this way." She winks. Richard finally moves to follow her.
"So, how are the wedding plans going, Lorelai?" Richard asks as they walk towards the playground.
"They're going well Dad. I think Sookie and I have really made a big dent in the planning and we're well on our way to a beautiful October wedding."
"Ah, an October wedding. There's something special about a fall ceremony," Richard comments.
"There's no leaves on the trees?"
"No, Lorelai, it's when the world is fill with fruits and flowers. William Blake said it was when 'the narrow bud opens her beauties to the sun and love runs in her thrilling veins'," Richard quotes.
"Ah, that Blake, he really had a way with words."
"And is Rory going to be in your wedding?" Lorelai looks at him like he's crazy.
"Yes, I can't let her stubbornness ruin my wedding day," Lorelai responds. "So Rory and Sookie and Luke's sister Liz."
"That sounds nice, it's good to have family in your wedding." Lorelai looks over at Richard curiously.
"Dad, you know you're going to walk me down the aisle, right?" Richard seems a little timid.
"I wasn't sure," Richard hesitates to say. Lorelai smiles at Richard.
"Well you are, of course you are." Richard almost blushes, pleased to be asked. "I may have waited until I was 36 to get married, but that doesn't mean that you missed your chance to perform your last fatherly duty."
"My only fatherly duty," Richard mutters. Lorelai shakes her head.
"No, there's also one about determining the sex of the child." Richard sighs. Lorelai smiles, touching Richard's shoulder again. "Hey, here's the playground. You want to take Olivia on the slide?"
"Lorelai, you said you've been wanting to take her." Lorelai shrugs.
"Well, I can take her anytime," Lorelai replies, trying to hide the fact that she really does want to take Olivia, but Richard knows her too well. He smiles.
"No, Lorelai, you take her." Lorelai nods. She bends down to take Olivia out of the stroller.
"Come'ere half-pint," Lorelai sings, lifting Olivia into her arms. "Ready for the best experience of your life so far?" Lorelai's eyes light up as she takes Olivia over to the slide. Lorelai reaches out and runs her fingers down the sliver metal of the slide. "You know, Olivia, when your sister was about your age I took her on this slide and she loved it, so I know you'll love it if you're anything like her. You just gotta trust me on this." Sadness flicks in Lorelai's eyes as she tears her gaze from the slide over to Olivia. "You gotta trust me kiddo," she whispers. Adjusting Olivia on her hip, Lorelai walks over to the back of the slide and grabs onto the railing as she climbs the stairs. Lorelai holds onto the railing as she sits down at the top of the slide and glances up at Richard, who is looking back at her, his arms folded over his chest. Lorelai smiles at him. Lifting Olivia's hand to wave, Lorelai calls, "wave to Grampa, Olivia!" Richard nods to her.
Lorelai wraps her arms tight around Olivia as the child settles in her lap. "Don't be scared, Sweetie. Mommy's got ya. Mommy will always protect you," Lorelai whispers in Olivia's ear. Then she pushes off yelling 'wee' on the way down and Olivia squeals in delight. Lorelai hugs Olivia to her at the bottom of the slide. "See Olivia, I knew you'd love it!"
"Ma!" Olivia squeals making Lorelai hold her tighter.
"Your first word! You had your first word! And it was Ma!" Lorelai cries, a happy tear running down her cheek as she holds Olivia tightly against her. "Oh Olivia, I love you so much!"