Chapter 7

I Have a Bad Feeling About This

"You want a cup to go?" Luke asked, pouring the last of the pot into Lorelai's mug.

"No thanks," she sighed dejectedly, seated directly in front of him at the counter.

"I have paper cups …" he prodded her, the coffeepot perched in his hand as he waited for her to respond.

"No, I'm sure Andy made a pot at work," she stated, looking down at the black liquid in her mug.

"When has that ever stopped you from taking a mug to go too?" he quipped, hoping to make her smile. It didn't work and he frowned, out of ideas to cheer her up.

"I guess I should go," Lorelai spoke, still looking down.

In a frenzy, the door flew open and everyone's attention turned in that direction, the entire diner stopping to look at what had caused the distraction.

"All hail the champion!" Kirk announced in a loud voice. He held a large gold trophy in his hands and shoved it in the air above his head, holding it up proudly. He was still clad in the same skin-tight gold, red, and blue get-up that he'd worn the previous night. It was embellished with sequins and rhinestones across the chest and down the side of the legs.

A murmur could be heard in the diner as everyone turned back to what they'd been doing before Kirk had barged in.

"Oh God," Lorelai groaned as she noticed Kirk was heading her way.

"Hello Runner-up," he grinned, standing next to her, still clutching his trophy. "You left so fast last night that I didn't get to ask if you wanted to hold the trophy … you know, feel what victory would have been like …"

"No thanks, Kirk, I'm good," she smiled politely. "I should get back to work," she added, slowly pushing herself from the stool.

"You really should hold it," he insisted. "The weight of victory is a heavy burden. You are given the honor of such a prestigious title that is yours to safeguard for a whole year. That is quite an honor for one person to hold."

"It is just a dance marathon, Kirk," Luke spoke, wiping the counter as he eyed Kirk's outfit.

"Says he whose fiancé came in second place," Kirk grinned. "I really can't help that I am the most durable Stars Hollow resident. I mean … this is what? The fifth year in a row?"

"Seventh," Lorelai corrected him.

"Ah, yes, how could I forgot the first year that I kicked your butt?" he smiled smugly. "Good ole 2001."

"Hey!" Lorelai objected. "You won by default. And you only won last night by default too!"

"Sore losers," Kirk sighed, shaking his head. "It's so sad, Lorelai. You had a world-class dance partner and you still lost."

"I have to go to work," she stated, her annoyance with Kirk at an ever higher level than usual.

"I'm having extra copies of the trophy ceremony video made for Mother. If you want one too, just let me know!" Kirk called out as Lorelai walked to the door.

"That thing has to go outside," Luke stated.

"I am not putting my trophy outside," Kirk protested. "It is my duty to guard it for another year."

"Outside," Luke stated again. "I don't have liability insurance coverage to protect me if you maim someone with it or if a two year old loses an eye on one of those edges."

"You are just bitter because Lorelai didn't win," Kirk huffed. "You know … she might have actually won if you'd been there to step in when Burton left."

"I don't dance," Luke sighed, feeling as if he'd already said that to every Stars Hollow resident he'd ran into this morning who had offered him 'condolences' for Lorelai's loss. "Either leave the trophy at the door or go home, Kirk."

"Oh God," Lorelai groaned, bending down to open a cabinet in the kitchen. It hurt to bend her legs.

"What are you looking for?" Andy asked coming up behind her.

"Mugs …" Lorelai stated, remaining in a squatting position.

"Ah, we moved them last week," he informed her. "At forty-nine, bending down to pick up a mug every time someone asked for coffee was just wearing out my knees," he laughed.

"Yeah, I know what you mean," she agreed.

"Lorelai!" Emily stated, walking into the kitchen to find her daughter bent down in front of an open cupboard. "You're back."

Andy moved to the other cabinet and retrieved a coffee mug, returning to where Emily stood next to Lorelai.

"What is she doing?" she asked Andy as he held the mug out to Lorelai.

"I don't know," he stated, watching as she took it from him.

"Lorelai?" Emily asked.

"Uh … just looking at the cupboard," she muttered. "You guys are really organized. I didn't know we had so many extra sets of forks and knives," she noticed.

"Why are you looking in the cabinets?" Emily asked.

"I was looking for a coffee mug."

"Andy moved them to the other cabinet," Emily pointed.

"Yeah, so he told me," Lorelai replied.

"So …"

"So what?" Lorelai asked.

"I'd really prefer to speak to you face-to-face," Emily stated.

"You can see my face from down here," she noted, looking up at her mother with a forced smile.

"Will you just stand up?" Emily asked.

Lorelai frowned and made a pouting face. "I can't," she admitted.

"You can't stand up?"

"No," she stated in a pitiful tone of voice, trying to garner sympathy from her mother and Andy.

"Why not?" Emily asked.

"It hurts too much." Now Emily knew that she was clearly milking this for all it was worth.

"Lorelai," Emily sighed.

"I spent thirty-six hours dancing. I can't push myself up now. It requires too many muscles that no longer work."

Kindly, Andy bent down and helped her back to her feet. As soon as she was erect again, Lorelai leaned against the counter for support.

"Your dance marathon was this weekend?" Emily asked, though she knew the answer. Lorelai nodded. "I take it you didn't win," she noted.

"No," Lorelai pouted. "Kirk won … again," she huffed. "Seven years in a row … seven, Mother. Seven."

"I thought you had the perfect partner."

"I did. Everything was perfect. Burton and I were great together. We danced and danced and weren't even tired after twenty-four hours straight."

"So what happened?" Andy asked.

"Preston," Lorelai sighed. "He had a back spasm."

"He was there with Burton?" Emily asked.

"No, he was at home icing his ankle," Lorelai explained. "I guess he has a bad back too."

"So, what does his spasm have to do with you losing to competition?" Emily prodded, clearly needing more information.

Lorelai sighed. "Apparently the pain was too much for his pansy-ass to take and no one was there to go get his medicine from the bedroom. So, he tried to go upstairs and get it. Then somehow he managed to fall going up the stairs. He had a neighbor take him to the ER."

"That sounds serious," Emily noted.

"Yeah, I guess so," Lorelai huffed. "Burton had to go be with him before the surgery."

"Surgery" Emily asked, more alarmed.

Lorelai frowned and added, "Yeah, he apparently re-broke his already-broken ankle and the bone was sticking up out of the skin."

"A compound fracture, that's horrible," Andy spoke.

"Yeah, we were down to only two teams when Burton abandoned me."

"Lorelai!" Emily admonished her, clearly surprised by her daughter's brash behavior in regards to Preston's plight.

"What?" she asked defensively.

"The man's partner was going in for surgery. You can't fault him for that."

"Yes, I can," she sighed.

"Lorelai…" Emily prodded.

"Ok, fine, I can't. I just wanted to win once," she whined, pouting. "One time, Mom. Why is that so much to ask?"

"There is always next year," Emily reminded her.

"Thanks for the support," she groaned.

"What do you want me to say? Your partner was horribly selfish and you have every right to be upset with him for deserting you?"

"That would be nice," Lorelai smiled.

Emily rolled her eyes as Michel poked his head into the kitchen. "Lorelai, there is a phone call for you."

"Who is it?" she asked.

"Kirk," he informed her, pronouncing just his name with a tone of indignation. "He wants to know if you'd like him to bring the trophy by so you can rub it for good luck," Michel relayed the message.

"Tell him to drop dead," Lorelai groaned.

"It will be my pleasure," Michel smiled, returning to the front desk.

"Rendez-vous dans une autre monde, rendez-vous dans une autre vie, quand les nuits seront…" Michel sang, swaying slightly as he stood at the front desk, typing something into the computer.

"Michel…" Lorelai spoke, walking up behind him. "Michel!" she repeated louder when he didn't seem to hear her the first time.

"You bellowed?" he asked, a haughty tone commanding his voice.

"Why are you singing?" she asked.

"It is Céline Dion," he stated in an obvious tone of voice.

"That doesn't explain why you are singing," Lorelai continued.

"She is on tour." His answer was once again short and unsatisfying.

"Well … that's … great?"

"Great? Lorelai, it is fantastique," he emphasized. "She is only the greatest singer in the world."

"Uh … yeah, sure," she stammered, knowing it was probably best not to disagree. "Did you get that report finished?"

"What report?" Michel asked.

"The one I asked you to run this morning," she reminded him.

"You did not ask me to run a report this morning," Michel insisted.

"Yes, I did."

"No, you did not," he countered.

"Michel, I asked you not even an hour ago. You were singing that 'if I could reach higher' song from the Olympics…"

"Oh, yes," he admitted. "I remember now."

"Ok, so … the report?"

"It's not done," he announced.

"Michel…"

"I'm sorry. I got excited by Céline. Someone in the online fan club said that they think she may add another stop in Hartford at the end of her tour. That would mean she'd be back in April."

"Uhm, Michel … we need that report today," Lorelai insisted.

"All right, all right. It will get done," he sighed.

"Thank you," Lorelai sighed.

"Terre … terre … c'etait certain…" Michel began to sing again.

Rolling her eyes, Lorelai felt her cell phone vibrating against her leg and reached into her pocket to pull it out. "Aubrey," she smiled, putting the phone to her ear.

"Hello, Lorelai," she greeted. "I hope this isn't a bad time."

"No, of course not. What's up?"

"I was just calling to confirm for Friday. We have set-up scheduled for three o'clock. Someone will need to be there to tell our men where to go. Then the musicians will arrive around five o'clock to practice. You said that dinner would be provided for them, right?"

"That's right," Lorelai confirmed. "We'd be more than happy to take care of whatever they want."

"Wonderful," Aubrey chirped. "They'll start playing around seven and go until about ten."

"That sounds just perfect," Lorelai agreed. "We can't wait."

"Well, then, everything seems to be set."

"Thank you, Aubrey. We're looking forward to Friday."

Hanging up her phone, she slipped it back into her pocket and jumped when she looked up, finding her mother standing directly in front of her. "Mom, this has got to stop!" she breathed, holding her hand to her chest as if it could somehow slow down her erratic heartbeat.

"What has to stop, Lorelai?" Emily asked.

"You keep scaring the crap out of me!"

"I'm sorry, Lorelai. I didn't realize that my presence 'scares the crap out of you.'"

"Just don't … nevermind," she groaned.

"Who is Aubrey?" Emily asked.

"What?"

"The woman you were speaking with…" Emily prodded.

"Oh … that was…" Lorelai stammered.

"I ask because you were confirming plans for next Friday. I heard you talking about times. Miguel asked me earlier when he needs to be here. And Juan-Carlos and Marie also asked."

"That was Mrs. Fritzen-Heimer," Lorelai covered.

"Her name is Aubrey?"

"Uh … yeah."

"Lorelai," Emily sighed. "Am I ever going to actually meet this woman?"

"Of course you are," Lorelai insisted.

"So why is it that every time you are on the phone with her or she stops by to make plans, I've somehow just missed her by literally a few seconds? Doesn't that seem odd to you?"

"Gee, Mom, you sound kind of paranoid," Lorelai noted casually.

"I am not paranoid, Lorelai. I just want to know why I have never met this woman," she snapped.

"I don't know why you haven't, Mom."

"If I could reach higher … just for one moment touch the sky, just for one moment in my life … if I could reach," Michel breezed by, still singing.

"How 'bout you reach for that report, Michel!" Lorelai barked.

"I'm on it," he stated, walking past her without stopping.

"Now, Michel! Imagine Céline Dion is asking for it."

"It will get done," he called back.

Gritting her teeth, Lorelai shook her head. "I swear to God if I hear one more Céline Dion song today…"

Emily smiled a bit, holding in a laugh. "She really is not that bad when she sings in French."

"Yeah, well, I've had my fill for a lifetime. He always gets like this about her."

"It's cute," Emily insisted.

"Just wait until he gets into the interpretive dance version of the theme from Titanic. That will come around noon."

"You are not serious."

"Oh no, it's just after Because You Loved Me but right before The Power of Love. He acts that one out, too," she added.

"I don't believe you…"

"Just wait … you'll see…" Lorelai insisted.

Waving a file in his hands, Michel walked past Lorelai and back to the front desk, singing, "If you asked me to, I just might give my heart, And stay here in your arms forever."

Raising an eyebrow, Lorelai winked at her mother before turning and heading to her office.

"Luke!" Lorelai smiled, seeing him approaching the front desk at the inn. "What are you doing here?"

"Why do I always have to hunt you down?" he asked. "I mean, have you developed some sort of subconscious aversion to town meetings? Because the last time I checked, you were the one who liked going and I was the one who hated it."

"You are just a more astute citizen and leader in the business community," she insisted with a forced smile. "And you get all the news first because you and Taylor work side-by-side," she teased.

"You're not going to like this," Luke informed her, ignoring her comment.

"Like what?" she asked, worried by his tone.

"Taylor has called a special town meeting to start in twenty minutes," Luke informed her.

"Why won't I like that?" she inquired.

"He says that one of the main orders of business has to do with you," Luke added.

"With me?"

"Yep," he nodded. "And he's also demanding that you bring your mother."

"My mother?" Lorelai asked in surprise.

At that moment, Emily rounded the corner. "Hello, Luke," she greeted. "Did you need something, Lorelai?"

"No," Lorelai shook her head. "Luke was just telling me about a town meeting tonight. Apparently Taylor wants me to be there. He's asking that you come too but that's not necessary," she insisted.

"It's fine, Lorelai. I assured Taylor I would be there," Emily informed her.

"You what? When did you talk to Taylor?" Lorelai questioned her.

"He called just now," Emily stated.

"Just now?" Emily nodded. "Did he say what the meeting is about?"

"No. He just said that it involves town business and it is imperative that we both attend," she repeated from the previous conversation.

"I'm sure you don't have to go, Mom. I mean, these meetings are ridiculous, even laughable at times."

"It's fine, Lorelai," Emily smiled.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Luke added.

"Me too," Lorelai agreed.

"The man is harmless," Emily insisted.

"Yeah, that's what you think," Lorelai mused. "He's a crackpot."

"Well, I will admit that the reference he made at Rory's goodbye party to her being birthed by this town was rather disgusting."

"Exactly," Lorelai sighed.

"I think we should begin with our most serious order of business," Taylor announced. "I'm sure we all know the reason that this special meeting was called tonight."

"The maze?" Babette called out. "It's not that big a deal, Taylor. I mean, we didn't need a special meeting just for that…"

"No, this is more important than that," he insisted.

"The pipe leak at the Baptist church?" Kirk asked.

"No!" Taylor growled. "We are here to address Lorelai Gilmore's direct breach of a solemn promise she made to this very body just a few short months ago."

Lorelai lifted her head, surprised to be called out as everyone turned to look at her. "Wait … what? What did I do?" she asked, confused to why she was being singled out.

"Lorelai, we've discussed this before," Taylor reminded her.

"What are you talking about, Taylor?" she asked from her chair in the middle of the room.

"At the diner. I tried to discuss this with you but you were too busy. This is the only way I thought we could work it out."

"Work what out? What is there to work out?" she demanded.

"At our meeting on September 26 it was promised that if this body overlooked your violation of Stars Hollow Town Code Number 701-08, you would agree that Emily Gilmore, the new investor in the Dragonfly Inn, would remain a silent partner." Lorelai was silent as Taylor spoke. She shifted her eyes to the right, where her mother was seated next to her but didn't dare turn her head. "Do you deny that she is no longer a silent partner?" he directed her.

"No," Lorelai admitted quietly.

"I'm sorry, Lorelai, I can't hear you," Taylor insisted.

"No, I'm not denying it," she stated more loudly.

"Very well, then. You admit that you have violated our agreement. We cannot allow such a vagrant violation our of town ordinances to go unpunished," Taylor spoke. A few gasps were heard and everyone spoke to each other in hushed tones.

Lorelai finally turned to her mother who remained quiet and unmoving in her seat, watching the scene unfold before her. She seemed calm and collected.

It was silent for a moment before Mrs. Kim stood up. Everyone turned to look at her. "She brings business to this town, to all of us. My antique store is packed on weekends. All sorts of fancy women with their big checkbooks. I cannot agree to this resolution or any punishment," she insisted. "It is not right to punish Lorelai for doing something good for our town. Emily brings all of us business."

"I agree," Kirk piped in, standing up from his seat.

"What has she done for you, Kirk?" Patty asked.

"Well, I'm sure you all know that I've been going to school to get my real estate license. She set me up with a Remax guy in Hartford. He thinks we could open up an office here. Maybe not selling real estate in Stars Hollow but, you know, just bringing people through the town, doing closings here and that kind of thing … so they just get to see the town and want to come back."

"And," Patty added, looking to Taylor, "the enrollment in my classes has shot through the roof lately."

"That could be due to many factors," Taylor argued.

"And why do you suppose that twelve year olds who live in Hartford and are training for their debutante balls want to attend dance classes in Stars Hollow?" she asked.

"Well … I … I'm sure there are logical reasons," Taylor faltered.

"Yeah, she sent them," Gypsy chimed in, rising from heat seat in the back and motioning in Emily's direction. "She sent this couple to me like two weeks ago. They just needed a flat fixed. Well, they came back last week and need a whole new engine in the car."

"That's a one-time thing," Taylor insisted.

"Yeah, but they're also sending their friends. I go two calls just today from people in Hartford."

"So…" Taylor stammered.

"So, that was just today. I got two other calls yesterday. I've got a waiting list now. Usually when people want their car fixed and I say no, they just go away. These people are willing to wait for me."

"Oh, and the video store," Kirk added. "Our rentals have been through the roof."

"And what does that have to do with Emily?" Taylor asked.

"She told some group of old ladies about our classic film section. I always said we've got the best collection in Connecticut," he smiled boastfully. "They've come in three times this week alone."

"We have no information to prove that all of these … these coincidences are due directly to Mrs. Gilmore. What we do have is proof that an oral agreement made by this very council and Ms. Gilmore was breached. We were promised that the new investor in the Dragonfly would remain a silent partner."

"Shut up, Taylor," Luke groaned.

"Excuse me, Luke? I'm assuming your rather rude interruption means you'd like to say something…"

"This is ridiculous. She's clearly not hurting the town. Hell, even the diner is doing great. She's been sending all kinds of people to eat there. And we've all seen the boom in business at the Soda Shoppe. Even you are benefiting…"

"You know he's right," Patty agreed. "The Soda Shoppe has been rather busy lately. I've gone by every day this week and it has been packed. Last week the girls in my night class wanted some ice cream and we had to wait twenty minutes just to order."

"I have a new ad campaign," Taylor argued. "It's very innovative."

"Yeah, you use Emily as your advertiser," Patty cracked, causing the crowd to laugh.

"Order!" Taylor demanded. "This is a serious matter."

"Fine," Patty insisted. "Let's vote on it."

"Vote on what? We are dealing with a breach of oral argument."

"We're supposed to be a democratic body. Let's vote on if we want to pursue this breach you keep talking about."

"That is …. This is not in accord with the rules," Taylor insisted.

"Screw the rules!" Gypsy yelled.

"Yeah!" Kirk added, pumping his fist in the air.

"The rules are stupid," Babette chimed in.

"All those in favor of thanking Emily for her recommendations and forgetting about Lorelai's previous promise that she would remain a silent partner … say aye," Patty instructed.

The entire room responded. "Those against?" It was silent and everyone looked to Taylor.

"I didn't say I was against the woman. I was just following proper procedure," he insisted.

"Well, the motion passed. Let's move on," Patty suggested.

"Very well," Taylor conceded, "we should discuss the maze allocations. After the success of last year's Hay Bale Maze…"

As the meeting continued, Lorelai tapped her mother on the shoulder. "You want to get out of here?"

"Gladly," Emily agreed, reaching down to pick up her purse, her coat still folded across her lap.

"Sorry about that," Lorelai stated as they were walking away from the meeting hall.

"For what?" Emily asked. "It was rather nice to hear that not everyone in this town despises me."

"Why would you think they'd despise you?" Lorelai asked.

"Lorelai, this is your town. You came here and … well, I just don't know what these people must think of me," she stated, a bit uncomfortable by the topic of discussion.

Realizing that they were treading on thin ice and about to delve into a touchy subject, Lorelai moved the discussion to a safer realm. "Well, clearly, Mom, they seem to like you. Or at least they like all the business you bring them."

Emily smiled politely. "I suppose so."

"Even Luke stood up for you," Lorelai reminded her.

"Yes, he did," Emily noted. "Will you thank him for me?"

"Sure," Lorelai agreed as they reached Emily's car. "Are you going home?"

"Yes, your father is waiting for me. I didn't tell him that I'd be this late."

"Well, you didn't know about the meeting until the last minute. I'm sure he'll understand," Lorelai reasoned as they crossed the street to where her mother's car was parked.

"Do you need me to drive you home?" Emily asked.

"No, I'll wait for Luke," she insisted.

"Very well. Good night, Lorelai," Emily smiled, opening the door to the car and sliding into the driver's seat.

"Good night, Mom," Lorelai replied, watching as her mother drove off. She stood watching her car disappear, taking in all that had happened tonight. The people of Stars Hollow had stood up for her mother. They'd all somehow been affected by her. Turning on her heel, she shouldered her purse and headed back to the town meeting, smiling to herself as she thought that Taylor would probably be holding a vote over the height of corn stalks to be used in the maze.

"Yes, Jennifer, I'm sure. We will hold dinner until Mrs. Gilmore arrives," Richard stated, stalking through the dining room and into the foyer. He glanced at his watch and emitted a low growl. It was now a quarter to eight. Emily had assured him that she would be home for dinner tonight, a dinner that was to be served – as always – promptly at seven o'clock. Once he reached the bottom of the stairs, he turned and started back toward the dining room.

He'd read the evening paper, had a glass of scotch, and chalked her absence up to just running late for the first half hour. At seven thirty, he'd tried calling her cell, which had gone directly to voice mail, prompting him to begin worrying. Had something happened to her on the way home? Was something wrong with Lorelai? Pushing the more serious and frightening options to the back of his mind, he decided she had once again just disregarded any thought of him in favor of one of her other obligations. Maybe some perceived crisis at the Inn or a meeting of one of her myriad committees.

Out the window he saw a car's headlights momentarily illuminate the entryway and stopped his pacing directly across from the front door. The sound of hurried footsteps could be heard then her key in the lock before she herself appeared.

She was not at all surprised to find her husband waiting for her. "Richard, I'm sorry I'm late. I tried to call from the road but my phone was dead and I must have left the charger in Lorelai's car the other night. There was – "

He cut her off, his tone dry and clipped. "Oh, I'm sure whatever it was that kept you was of the utmost importance. It always is, isn't it?"

"Well if you'd let me explain," she insisted.

"There's no explanation necessary Emily. I see how things are…where I fit in on your list of priorities."

"My what?" she scoffed.

"I know how fond you are of your lists. You must have one: Lorelai, The Inn, the DAR, the Symphony League, the Women's League, The Horticultural Society, the Hospital Benefit Committee, the Arts Council… I know there are more, but they seem to have slipped my mind at the moment," his voice dripped with biting sarcasm." Tell me does your husband and your marriage come before or after the Friends of the Hartford Zoo?"

"You listen to me Richard Gilmore," Emily's voice dropped into a dangerously low register. "I've had just about enough of your childish complaints. I spent years coming in second or even third to your work, and even then not being treated as your partner here at home while you played Lord and Master, making all sorts of life-altering decisions without so much as a word to me. All I've done is been a bit busier than usual lately."

He laughed bitterly. "Busier than usual? Is that what you call it? You make it home for dinner two, perhaps three nights a week. There are days I don't see you at all because you've taken to scheduling breakfast meetings for your numerous committees. I see that they're still receiving your full commitment. Tell me…really… would the Symphony League cease to function if you weren't there to choose the color scheme for their annual Brunch of the Three Bs?"

"You know that my participation in the Symphony League involves much more than picking colors. It won't always be like this. Things will settle down," Emily reasoned.

"And what exactly is going to change Emily?" Richard demanded. "Are you going to stop working at the Dragonfly?"

"Certainly not," she replied quickly.

"Are you going to resign from any of your various committees, clubs, and organizations?" he questioned.

"No," she replied.

"Then I fail to see what's going to change," Richard observed flatly.

"Well, I don't know yet, but it will, I'm sure."

They stood silently staring at each other, clearly having come to an impasse. The maid cowered in the doorway of the dining room. Her voice barley loud enough to hear, "Would you like dinner served now, Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore?"

"Yes, Jennifer, that would be fine, thank you," Emily answered.

The meal was a painfully quiet process, the only sound coming from the clicking of their cutlery against the china plates. As the fruit compote was served, Richard sighed and decided to try to break the stalemate. "Everything well at the Inn today?"

The effort behind his question wasn't lost on Emily. She attempted to answer politely in kind. "Yes, everything's going well?"

"Was there some other problem then?" he asked, still attempting a civil conversation.

"Well, it seemed there might be but everything turned out well in the end. You recall that fellow Taylor Doose?"

"Strange man," Richard nodded as her remembered the few times he met the man in question, a particularly disturbing child birth analogy leaping to mind.

"Well, he tried to create some problems at a town meeting tonight. It seems he was upset that I've taken an active role at the Inn."

"Emily, why didn't you tell me the man was causing problems for you?" he questioned, clearly upset. "I should have been there."

"Richard, calm down. Everything's fine. The rest of the townspeople wanted nothing to do with his tyrannical little proposal and voted him down."

"That's beside the point," Richard argued. "As your husband and Lorelai's father, I should have been informed that you were having difficulties. What if legal council had been necessary?"

"You're not a lawyer!" she countered, "and it only came up at the last minute. As a matter of fact, I was about to come home when we found out about the meeting. If there had been any problem as a result, I would have told you about it."

"Hmm," Richard grunted and spooned up some more of his fruit compote. "I still think I should have been informed," he muttered, then resumed eating his dessert.

Emily decided not to further acknowledge his sulking and put her spoon down, no longer interested in eating anything, instead reaching for her wine glass.

Thanks to Sandra, LorLukealways, swimmerluver, DuckDuckLuke, Mary, B. Alex Milligan, and DieHardJavaJunkie14 for the reviews! As always, we greatly appreciate the time you guys take to tell us what you think!