Chapter 6

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Emily stopped in the foyer of the Inn and turned slowly in a circle trying to think of where else to go. She'd already looked in the library, lobby, sitting room, dining room, kitchen and garden for her daughter and had yet to find her. Then she heard quick footsteps descending the staircase behind her. "Lorelai, there you are!" she exclaimed.

"Yep, here I am, Mom," Lorelai answered with a smile. In her hand she held a twig basket overflowing with brightly colored silk leaves, papier-mâché pumpkins, and other autumnal decorations. "Did you need something?"

"Yes, we just got a call from a Mrs. Samuelson. She wants to book a party for the Friday after next. Now, I know it's short notice, but I really think we can pull it together."

"Ahh… no. We can't," Lorelai replied walking slowly through the seating area of the lobby and over to the fireplace. "

Emily followed. "I know you wanted to keep this weekend relatively clear because of the dance marathon, but even if you couldn't be here next weekend, I really think the staff and I could handle everything."

"Well…" Lorelai murmured, moving to one of the side tables and continuing with her decorating.

"Unless you don't think I can handle it?" Emily asked.

Lorelai paused, a small bright yellow gourd in her hand, and looked at Emily. "No, it's not that at all, Mom. I think you would do a great job" she quickly assured her, "but… there's… um… there's already something booked for next Friday."

Emily flipped open the burgundy leather folio in her hands. "There isn't anything on the calendar."

Lorelai busied herself adding some gold and dark orange leaves to the display on the low table. "I… uh… I must have forgotten to put it on the calendar."

"Why wouldn't you put it on the calendar?" Emily questioned.

"I guess I just got distracted," Lorelai answered quickly moving to the windows. "You know, things were busy and I think a guest came to check in and Michel was on a break. I just forgot."

"When was this?" Emily slightly adjusted the placement of the arrangement on the side table before following Lorelai.

"Oh, um… about a week or two ago I think," Lorelai answered, her focus decidedly on the grouping of small pumpkins she was placing in the window sill.

"Well, who booked this party? What's the occasion?" Emily demanded in rapid succession. "There must be things that need to be done."

"Um… well, so far everything's under control," Lorelai quickly answered then walked out of the room and to the reservation desk. "but next week there will be stuff we need to do."

Emily was close on her heels. "You didn't answer my questions, Lorelai. What is the occasion for this party and who booked it? Is it anyone I know?"

Lorelai took great care in placing the basket on a low counter behind the desk before making a show of looking through the remaining decorations for something. "Uh, no, I don't think you know her Mom. It's a Mrs. ahh.. Mrs. Um," she stammered trying to think, "Fritzen-Heimer. She's used the Inn for events before, but not in a while."

"FritzenHeimer?" Emily asks incredulously. "Are you sure that's the right name?"

Lorelai smiled a big bright smile and nodded enthusiastically. "Yep."

Shaking her head Emily flipped open her folio and began to write the name. "FritzenHeimer."

Lorelai looked over her mother's shoulder. "It's hyphenated," she corrected pointing down to the paper, "Fritzen…Heimer,"

"Okay," Emily replied as she glanced at her daughter sideways before adding the correct punctuation to the name.

Lorelai sighed dramatically, her shoulders sagging as she stared blankly at the front door of her parent's home.

"What is it?" Luke asked, placing a comforting hand on her back. "Did something happen with your mother?"

Lorelai sighed again as she dropped her head on his shoulder. "No. I just can't believe it's already Friday night. The dance marathon starts in less than twelve hours. I really thought I'd be able to scrounge up a partner by now." She turned her face up to his, her eyes big and pleading.

"It's still not working." Luke reached around her and rung the doorbell.

"Man, you're mean," Lorelai pouted as she crossed her arms.

"I am not mean," he replied, "I'm just not dancing with you."

"Well that's mean," she protested.

Luke shook his head as the door opened to reveal Richard. "Good evening, Luke, Lorelai," he stood aside and gestured for them to enter the house.

"Hello, Richard," Luke replied politely as he removed his coat.

"Hi, Dad," Lorelai murmured glumly, as her father helped her off with her coat.

"Emily's in the living room," Richard said as he took both garments and handed them to the maid who had appeared quietly at his side.

Luke walked through into the next room. Lorelai started to follow, but her father took hold of her elbow and held her back. "I wanted to speak with you for a moment. How are the plans proceeding for your mother's party?" he asked in a hushed but excited whisper.

In the living room, Emily rose from the loveseat, placing her martini glass on the coffee table as Luke entered. "Hello, Luke."

"Good evening, Emily," he replied.

"Your usual?" she asked cheerily as she reached the drinks cart.

"Thank you," he answered, taking a seat on the couch.

Lorelai smiled at her father's enthusiasm and whispered. "Everything's good, Dad. The orchestra is booked, the invitations went out a few days ago…"

"I know. We've already started to get RSVPs at the office. Marjorie is keeping a list." He took a step to the side, pulling Lorelai with him and glanced furtively into the living room to make sure Emily wasn't looking to see where they were yet. "How should we coordinate the list? You'll need a count soon, won't you?"

"I'll call Marjorie next week and give her my email address. She can send me updates that way."

As Emily finished pouring the beer into a tall pilsner glass, she looked around for Lorelai. With a puzzled expression, she headed towards the foyer.

"Oh brilliant, your mother is going to be –" he abruptly broke off seeing Emily approach.

"Richard, Lorelai, what are you two whispering about out here?" Emily asked, a note irritation clear in her voice.

"Nothing, Dear," Richard answered quickly as he walked to his wife.

"We weren't whispering, Mom," Lorelai replied then with a quick glance at the beverage in her hand added, "So, Miller time?"

Richard chuckled and gently squeezed Emily's arm as he planted a quick kiss on her temple then continued on into the living room.

Emily gave Lorelai a quizzical yet reproaching look and shook her head.

"Martini, Lorelai?" he called out.

"Thanks, Dad," Lorelai answered taking a seat on the couch next to Luke.

Emily handed Luke his beer and resumed her place on the loveseat.

Richard poured Lorelai a drink from the pitcher of martinis he'd mixed earlier, and handed her the glass before taking a seat next to Emily.

Emily glanced between her husband and daughter as an uneasy quiet settled over the room then three voices spoke at once. Luke was the only one happy to sit back and remain quiet.

"So, Dad, how's bus – "

"Luke, tell me – "

"What were you – "

"Go ahead, Mom," Lorelai gestured to her mother.

"Yes, Emily, you go ahead," Richard agreed.

"What were you two talking abut in the foyer? Neither one of you answered me." She fixed each one of them with a determined stare in turn.

Richard turned toward his daughter, a desperate look on his face.

"Well, Dad was just asking me about the Inn, Right?" she signaled her father to join in the conversation. Anything would be better than him sitting there with his mouth gaping open like a fish out of water.

"You were asking Lorelai about the Inn?" Emily's voice was growing colder by the second. "I've been home for over an hour, you could have asked me about the Inn." She crossed her legs and leaned away from him. "Or were you asking her about me? That's it, isn't it? You weren't asking about the Inn at all. You wanted to know if I'm driving her crazy or running the place into the ground or something, right?"

"Now, Emily, that isn't it at all. I was at the Rosenblatt's party. I know you're doing a wonderful job at the Inn."

Emily shook her head and took a sip of her martini.

"Really, Mom, it wasn't anything like that. It was just small talk. Dad knows things are great at the Inn," Lorelai was trying to dig them out of the mess her fib had created as she again realized how colossally bad she was at lying to her mother. You'd think so many years of practice would make her better at it, but no, there was just something in her genetic code that made it physically impossible to come up with a good lie when her mother fixed her with that Emily Gilmore stare.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I was telling Lorelai that I had a meeting with Norman Shields yesterday," Richard explained. "Trina was so taken with the Dragonfly she wants to have the engagement party for their son and his fiancée there. I would imagine you'll be getting a call from her next week."

Emily raised one perfectly manicured eyebrow at him incredulously, "You don't say."

"Dinner's ready," the maid announced from the doorway and Luke watched as both Richard and Lorelai breathed a visible sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Jennifer." Emily downed the remainder of her martini and placed the glass on the end table before rising and leading them all into the dining room.

"That was a great dinner, Mom, really top notch," Lorelai complimented her mother as the maid removed her plate. The tension had lessened during the meal, but it didn't hurt to keep the positive vibes flowing.

"Yes, Emily, everything was very good," Luke agreed.

"Thank you both," Emily acknowledged them each with a slightly wary smile.

"Yes, a wonderful meal indeed. I particularly enjoyed the roast," Richard added.

"Well, I know you're of the opinion that I serve too much fish, so I thought you'd enjoy something else on your first night home," Emily said dismissing his compliment.

Richard ignored her slightly derisive tone and replied sincerely, "I enjoyed it very much. Thank you."

Emily couldn't help smiling at her husband's words and expression. Her gaze briefly met his before dropping down to the bowl of sorbet and berries the maid placed in front of her.

"Mmm, this is good but I can't place the flavor of the sorbet," Lorelai commented before taking another bite of the deep red sorbet topped with mixed berries.

Luke swallowed his second bite and reached for his water glass. "I think it's a wine base. Not what I'd think of first as dessert, but it's very good."

"I believe you're right, Luke," Richard joined in the discussion happily. "A cabernet if I'm not mistaken. Isn't it, my Dear?"

Casting an admiring glance at her husband, Emily answered, "That's exactly right."

"So, I'm eating frozen wine?" Lorelai eyed her full spoon suspiciously and took a big sniff.

"Lorelai, don't smell your food," Emily chided.

Lorelai shrugged and ate the bite on her spoon. "What are we having next week, beer Slurpees? Screwdriver soufflé? Oh, maybe martini mousse."

"You know, those sound pretty good," Richard observed with a grin.

"Don't encourage her," Emily admonished between bites.

The strains of Abba's Dancing Queen began to fill the momentarily quiet room. Emily quickly turned to Lorelai as she pulled the phone from the purse on the back of her chair. "I don't know how many times I've told you to turn that phone off during dinner."

"I know Mom, I'm sorry," Lorelai apologized as she stood up.

"…and must it play those horrid songs? Can't you choose something more appropriate?" she added.

"Well, we all can't have Vivaldi, Mom. How would we know whose phone is ringing?" quipped edging her way to the foyer.

"I tell her exactly the same thing at the diner. I hate those things," Luke grumbled.

"But it might be important," Lorelai continued, "I've still got a lot of feelers out about the marathon tomorrow, gotta keep my options open."

Emily rolled her eyes as her daughter left the room. "Is she still going on about that?" she asked with a look to Luke.

Luke nodded.

"Dance marathon?" Richard asked.

"I told you about it, don't you remember?" Emily asked.

Richard shook his head. "No."

Luke tried to explain. "It's this annual Stars Hollow event. It's become something of an obsession of hers to try to win it."

Lorelai rushed back into the room, "Luke, hurry up! Gotta go!" Quickly she grabbed the purse off the chair. "Sorry to eat and run."

Emily took hold of Lorelai's arm as she passed her chair. "Hold on just a moment. You can't just rush out of here like that. What's the matter? Is it Rory? The Inn?"

"It was Burton… Burton Laurentis… you remember the flower guy? Well he called to tell me that his partner Preston broke his ankle. Isn't that great? Anyway, he asked if I was still looking for a partner and I am, or I was, but now I'm not because Burton is going to be my partner!" she explained in a rush, joy emanating from her entire body.

"Lorelai, sit down. If you don't want yours, at least allow Luke to finish his dessert," Emily instructed. "Ten more minutes isn't going to make a difference."

Lorelai sat down with a huff and after a moment resumed eating her sorbet. "How lucky is it that Preston broke his ankle?" she asked excitedly. "Luke, you won't believe this Burton guy. He's a professional ballroom dancer. Kirk is goin' down!" She accented her statement by gesturing with her spoon splattering sorbet on the table cloth.

"Honestly Lorelai, how you can revel in someone else's misfortune like this is appalling. A broken ankle can be a very serious injury." Emily was horrified at her daughter's callousness.

"Well, I'm not reveling in his misfortune Mom, just in the part where I get a killer dance partner out of it," Lorelai reasoned defensively.

"I'm glad to see that fighting Gilmore spirit in you," Richard proudly declared. "With an attitude like that you're sure to win."

"Thanks, Dad," Lorelai said sweetly.

"I just don't see why everything has to be so competitive," Emily stated haughtily.

Richard laughed loudly. "You have got to be kidding."

"Well, it must be a Gilmore trait," Emily retorted as she reached for her wine glass.

"A competitive drive is definitely a Gilmore trait and one I'm very proud of, but our daughter comes by hers quite naturally from you as well as from me."

"Richard, really. I don't know where you get these things," Emily protested.

Lorelai leaned over the table towards Luke and whispered loudly, "This is going to be good."

Richard put his spoon down in his enthusiasm to contradict his wife. "This from the woman who took down Miranda Shaw in the finals of the mixed doubles match at the club."

"Oh, please, that was an accident," Emily argued.

"Ha!"

"Ooh, come on Dad, tell us what happened," Lorelai asked excitedly. "This sounds like a good story."

Richard focused his attention on his daughter. "We were playing the Shaws for the mixed doubles title at the club. Your mother played with a particular zeal that day, I might add," he chanced a sidelong at his wife, who was studiously ignoring him at the moment. "We'd won the first set 6-4, and were tied at 4 all in the second when she drilled the poor woman in the face with an overhead smash."

"Oh, my God!" Lorelai exclaimed, covering her mouth and looking at her mother.

Emily shrugged and spooned up more of her sorbet, "How was I to know the stupid woman was going to lunge for the baseline?"

"She broke her nose," Richard continued.

"Oh, my God!" Lorelai exclaimed again.

Richard continued, "Then the poor woman, now stumbling around in pain ,tripped over her dropped tennis racket and fractured her wrist."

"My mother, the terminator," Lorelai announced in awe.

"I can hardly be blamed for the air-head tripping over her own tennis racket," Emily replied.

"She was scarred for life. Never played tennis again," Richard proclaimed with delight.

"She wasn't very good to begin with," Emily commented with a shrug as she nonchalantly took another bite of her sorbet.

"She couldn't attend the U.S. Open anymore," Richard said with a chuckle then sobered, "and the resulting arguments with her husband Joseph over losing the title led to their eventual divorce."

Lorelai again turned to her mother. "You broke up a marriage with tennis. I'm impressed."

"Oh please, what kind of marriage hinges on a mixed doubles title? If that's all they had to hold them together, they shouldn't have married in the first place."

"And on that note…" Lorelai glanced at Luke. He nodded. "I think we'll call it a night."

Luke rose from his seat. "Thank you for a lovely dinner."

"Yeah, thanks for dinner, Mom." Lorelai rose and headed for the foyer followed by her parents, "and Dad, thanks for that oh so enlightening story. When I feel like I'm hitting the wall in the marathon tomorrow, I'll just think of Mom, and how lucky I am that she's not after that trophy too. I'd probably end up with a spiked heel in the back of my head."

Emily opened the door with one hand as the other came up to point ominously at her daughter. "If you don't watch it, little girl, you still might."

Lorelai put a protective hand over the back of her head and ran out the door.

"Good night," Luke said with a shake of his head as he walked through the door.

"Good night, Luke," Emily replied.

"Good night," Richard echoed just before his wife closed the door and turned to face him. "You know, it's been a while. We really should play tennis more often."

Emily tilted her head slightly to the side as she studied his expression for a moment, trying to read it. Finally agreeing, "Yes we should."

Richard watched as she walked passed him and started up the stairs. Her voice was low but he made out every word she said even though she was facing away from him. "I don't know which you like more, the tennis or the outfits."

"On you? The outfits. Definitely the outfits," he mumbled, his eyes glued to her legs as they disappeared up the stairs before he quickly followed her.

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