The Gilmore-Grey Union

Book III: The Dinner

By Michael Weyer

POV: Amy

We settle in for drinks as I try to get a handle on the situation. I've been with rich people before, in New York and then with Stu. I know better than the others how they operate in their own separate world that doesn't conform to the one us mere mortals exist in.

So I know Mom is already not on the same page as Emily Gilmore. The fact that her husband and Mom go back a ways does seem to defuse some of the tension, which we all need.

I glance at Bruce and I can tell he's not feeling comfortable here at all. He's never gotten along with higher society and he knows how out of place he is. The Gilmores don't strike me as racists but I can tell Emily's a bit thrown having a tall black man in her living room.

"So," she begins as she gazes at us all. "Just what do you all do?"

"Um, I run the family insurance business," Peter pipes up. "Gillian is, ah, between jobs as she tends to our children."

She nods and glances at me. "And you?" It's more of a demand than a simple inquiry and I have a flashback to my first meeting with Stu's mom.

"Ah, I'm a judge for family court in Hartford."

"Vincent's mom works for Family Services," Rory pipes up, obviously trying to be helpful.

Emily just sniffs. "I see. Charity work?"

"No, I am paid," Mom says. "Nowhere near what is deserving of my long hours and hard work, of course but pay nonetheless. Of course, some people do choose to work for nothing. Not that you'd understand that, of course."

I see a flash in her eyes and I know the fuse has been lit. Emily looks over to Bruce. "And you, sir. Just what is your…relationship to this family?"

"I'm Judge Grey's court officer," he evenly answers. "I'm here as a friend."

She just nods. "I see. Well, then, as a friend, how do you feel about a member of your family taking advantage of my granddaughter in such a horrendous manner?"

I close my eyes and pinch my nose. I swear, it's like this woman is trying her damnest to push Mom to the brink. I hear a sucking of air from Peter and Vincent so they feel the same way.

I chance a peek to see Mom glaring at her. "This was a mutual mistake, Mrs. Gilmore," she snaps. "You can't put this all on Vincent."

"I most certainly can!" Emily snaps. Oh, God, she snapped. Mom doesn't like people who snap at her. "Rory doesn't do things like this!"

"Um, actually, she told me about the drunken yacht crash," Vincent pipes up.

Mom stares at him. "I beg your pardon?" She looks at Rory. "You got drunk and smashed up a yacht?"

Note to self: Do not give this girl eggnog at Christmas.

"Yes, that's my daughter, always overachieving, even with binges," Lorelai says in what I suppose is an attempt to lighten up the situation. The glare Emily gives her lets her know that it's not a good attempt.

Richard coughs as he tries to speak. "Now, Emily, I know this is difficult but can't we put that aside for now? At least until a civil dinner?"

A civil war dinner at the rate this is going.

"Thank you, Richard," Mom says. "It's nice to see one person here has some manners."

Emily gives her a death look but Mom just smiles smugly as Richard turns to me. "I believe I remember Maxine mentioning you before. You were a Wall Street lawyer?"

I nod. "Yes but after my marriage fell apart, I moved to Hartford and got my judge's appointment."

"So, just family court?"

I shrug. "Well, I tried criminal a bit but it just didn't suit me. I think I do more good for families."

"Really?" Emily sniffs as she sips her drink. "That hardly seems likely."

"I'm sorry?"

"I just mean, from what I can see of this family so far, you may not have the best example to set."

Oh. No. She didn't. I feel my jaw stiffen and Bruce puts his hand in mine. It's obviously meant to try and calm me down and, oddly, it seems to work a bit. But not enough as I lean in to face her.

"Mrs. Gilmore. I'm not trying to add to yet another piece of tension to our little crockpot here but I do not need to defend myself to you. I deal every day with family problems that make this look like a picnic. I do my best to make sure that the children can be sent somewhere safe and can live, if not happy, then at least safe and comfortable lives. I have to witness horrors you cannot imagine and deal with them while raising a brand new teenage daughter on my own so I really don't need to have someone who obviously hasn't had a job since the Eisenhower administration talk down to me."

There's a very long silence as I sit back, realizing what I've just said. "Ah…sorry about that." I look down and take a very long sip from my drink. I chance a glance and see everyone staring at me in amazement although there are smiles on the faces of Mom and…

Bruce.

Wow, he's actually smiling at me. He rarely does that in public. It actually feels pretty good and I'm thinking brining him along might actually make this night tolerable.