The Gilmore-Grey Union Book III: The Dinner
By Michael Weyer
POV: Christopher
You go along your day as normal as possible. You try to keep things straight. You try to carve a new life for yourself and put your old one aside and do a good job of it.
Then one day the mother of the mother of your child calls you up and tells you your little girl just got married.
I didn't want to believe it but Emily was insistent and soon convinced me. Needless to say, it was a bit of a shock. I know she's growing but it's still hard to think of Rory as anything but a little girl. Hearing she got drunk and got hitched is way too much.
I'm aware of the irony, of course. Lorelai and I never got married (despite the pressures from our parents to do so) and now Rory's gotten with a man she never even met before. However, I decided to not mention that to Emily.
"What do we do?" I asked her. "How are we handling this?"
"We're having his family over for dinner on Friday," she replied. "Come over and we'll discuss this. I'm hoping you'll be able to talk sense to Rory."
"I don't know Emily…I remember what happened last time Lorelai and I were in the same room. She still hasn't talked to me."
"Oh, she's gotten over that by now," she said in a tone so light it really should have sent up a warning flare. "Believe me, she'll understand. You're Rory's father, you have as much a say in this as she does, if not more. Come on over."
I sighed. "All right…I'll be there. For Rory."
Looking back, I really should have seen it. Emily can be a bit…conniving at times. Still, I had believed that she would have at least had the decency to inform Lorelai and Rory I was coming.
One look at their faces and I can tell I was off on that. One look at Richard's face and I'm thinking it may be time to get out now.
I try to ignore them and look to this Vincent. He's younger than I expected, not bad looking, I suppose and he's a bit thrown to see me here.
I don't get it. I've never met him and I have the overwhelming urge to kill him. Is this what it feels like to be a father, really? Weird.
I nod to the girls. "Lorelai…um, good to see you." I move in and hug Rory. "Hey, baby."
"Dad." She seems still shocked, which I guess is understandable. I back up and look at Luke, who's glaring back at me. I see Lorelai taking his hand and it doesn't take the skills of a CSI to realize their relationship has gotten even better.
Okay, Christopher, this is not the time to get maudlin or jealous or anything like that. This is not about me or Lorelai although I'm sure Emily will make that way somehow. This is about your daughter and correcting a huge mistake.
I'm still staring at him while Emily makes introductions to his family. They seem unsure of me although the blonde one is rather friendly. I take a drink and sit down to face them. "Well….have I missed anything?"
I see the glare Lorelai gives me and I know she's biting her lip to keep a "just the better part of twenty years" comment on her tongue. I sip my drink more and try to settle back.
"Well, now that he's here, we can get to dinner!" Emily perks up with a cheery smile. Amazing. She honestly doesn't seem to understand the actual mood of this room. She might as well work for FEMA.
I rise to follow her to the dining room, aware of the looks I'm getting. I've had difficult meetings with Lorelai before but this one…I just know this one is not going to go well. For all I know, before the night is over, I'm going to go to blows with either Vincent, Luke or even Lorelai.
Maybe staying out of your daughter's life isn't all that bad after all.