Chapter 31
Emily stomped through the foyer and headed for the stairs to avoid being near Richard.
"Emily." She heard him sigh with exhaustion.
"I can hear you, Richard, from all the way over here."
"Yes, well that was the point, dear," Richard said tiredly. "Could you just stop being such a petulant child, and listen to me?"
Emily whipped her head around. "I can also hear the exhaustion in you tone – like I'm such a major pain in your BUTT that I am nothing more than an utter inconvenience," she spat, waving her hand in the air as a dismissal.
Richard frowned down at her with disappointment. "I am not your maid, Emily. You cannot dismiss me."
"Well, boo-hoo for me, then," she sneered before turning away and walking towards the stairs.
"Emily – Emily!"
She made it half way up the staircase before turning back around to glare at her husband.
Richard stood at the bottom. "We're talking about Lorelai, here. God only knows what kind of financial trouble she's in!"
Emily, frustrated and furious, stomped back down the stairs in her high heels and formal attire. "You may have no faith in our daughter, but I raised her right! She may have been in a few sticky situations back in her day, but she is fine!"
"Emily—"
"She will be fine!"
"I am not doubting you, Emily," he said with a sigh as he looked down at her. "I am merely saying that Lorelai has never been the most reliable of all people." He bobbed his head, "Especially not with money."
There was a knock on the door.
Emily pointed an accusatory finger at Richard. "You just wait and see – our daughter will open that inn: proud and without worry."
Richard sighed yet again. "I understand that, Emily."
The sturdy old woman strode over to the door. "Our daughter is more mature than you give her credit for," she said and then opened the door.
Fuck.
Emily's proud and furious smile immediately left her lips when she opened the door only to be greeted by her mature daughter wearing a t-shirt with a rhinestone penis on it.
"Lorelai, take off that shirt right now!"
Lorelai frowned. "Why? Is something wrong with it?"
Emily raised her chin and clenched her jaw and she said through gritted teeth, "Lorelai, you take that off right now. "
Lorelai's hands dropped to her sides and she frowned at her mother. "What do you expect me to change into? I mean, not that I'm ashamed about my birthday suit, but I thinks it's a little too casual..."
"Lorelai – listen to me right now: You will change into an old shirt from upstairs—"
"Mom, I was sixteen! It's not gonna—"
"Then wear something of mine," she declared, her chin not able to be raised any higher. "That's it," Emily said. "Those are your two options."
Lorelai's jaw dropped and Rory remained behind her mother, stifling a laugh.
Emily narrowed her eyes. "We will be waiting for you in the living room; with drinks."
"Ooh," Lorelai said, smiling and looking sharply at Rory. "The night's looking up," she grinned.