The Independence Inn was far from the monolithic home she grew up in and that was just how Lorelai liked it. She even liked being a maid, despite never having had cleaned a thing in her life prior to getting the job. She especially liked that when Rory wasn't in daycare, she could ride along in Lorelai's cart with her to each room, "helping" her mother clean with the little toy broom and dustpan one of the gardeners had gotten her for Christmas.
Lorelai absentmindedly shoved the dirty sheets into the laundry bag, her attention focused on the rain that raged against the windows of the room. She loved the snow more than anything, but she could appreciate the soft rasp of the rain, especially since it marked the coming of spring and the flowers that she and Rory loved to pick to decorate the little shed that they called home. Lorelai stooped down, swinging Rory up into her arms, sparking giggles from the toddler. She placed her back on the top of the cart, pushing it out of the now clean room.
"Quitting time, sweets," Lorelai said.
"No, Momma," Rory pouted.
"You have such a good work ethic," Lorelai said, grabbing Rory's nose between her fingers, making the girl laugh again. "We gotta get ready for dinner, Mia's making all our favourites."
"Birthday cake!" Rory clapped.
"Birthday cake!" Lorelai repeated with a laugh.
She pulled the cart through the back hallway, pushing it into the laundry room. She plucked Rory off the cart and sat her on the ground, holding her hand as they walked into the front lobby. Lorelai dug out the big pink umbrella from behind the front desk. Even early in the morning when she had pulled a sleeping Rory out of bed to make her rounds, it hadn't been cold enough for jackets. She stepped out of the Inn, opening the umbrella to cover them completely. As they made their way to the little potting shed, Lorelai let Rory take as many detours as she liked to stomp her tiny feet in all the mud puddles. It was a symbolic middle finger to her own mother who was known for nearly fainting at the slightest speck of dust on her clothing.
They ducked into the shed, Lorelai shaking off the umbrella before shutting the door behind her. Lorelai felt rain hit her head, turning her attention towards the ceiling. "Shit," She said under her breath as she saw the droplets forming and dripping down onto the floor.
"Shit," Rory repeated.
"No, no," Lorelai said. "Mommy didn't say that, she said...ship."
"Ship," Rory said.
"Great, now that's covered," Lorelai said rolling her eyes as she looked for something to catch the water.
A knock on the door startled her hand to her chest. No one ever came out to their potting shed. She pulled it open, finding the diner owner on the other side.
"Luke!" Rory shouted. Lorelai could swear she saw a smile replace his apathetic scowl for the briefest moment.
"You do deliveries?" Lorelai asked.
"Dinner's ready," Luke said shortly.
"And Mia had you come all the way from the diner to tell us?"
"I made it," He said.
"You made my birthday dinner?" Lorelai asked, a smirk touching her lips.
"Fancy chefs don't do burgers," Luke said.
"Burgers are my favourite," Lorelai conceded. "But tell Mia we're going to be a little late, I have to figure out something to plug up my ceiling."
Luke poked his head in further, looking up at the issue. "Your ceiling is leaking."
"Is that what it's doing? Hadn't noticed."
"I can fix it," Luke said.
"Make coffee, flip burgers, fix roofs, is there anything you can't do?" Lorelai said. Luke ignored her, instead focusing on the rain water dripping inside. "Speak in full sentences, I suppose."
Luke shot her a glare. "I can put up a tarp for tonight, but I'll come back tomorrow morning and get something more permanent on there."
"You're going to fix my ceiling?"
"You guys'll get sick if you're sleeping in a wet shed," Luke said. "I'm surprised you didn't catch something staying in here all winter."
Lorelai held her hand to her imaginary pearls, "Luke Danes, are you worried about us?" She mock gasped.
"You want your roof fixed or not?" Luke asked, hands on his hips.
"It's really nice of you to offer, but I can't pay you or anything. I'll just deal with the tarp for now."
"You're not gonna live under a tarp," Luke said firmly. "You don't have to pay me to fix it. I'll just do it."
"You'll come all the way out here, in the rain, in your free time to fix my roof, for nothing?"
"Yeah," Luke answered as if it were obvious.
"I don't take handouts," Lorelai said. This time, she was sure she caught a smirk.
"Consider it a birthday present."