Getting Ready for the Test Run
Luke put down the papers he was reading and rolled over to face Lorelai as she slept. Sliding a couple of pillows behind his back, his movement on the bed caused her to groan a little and adjust her sleeping position.
He picked up the letter from his insurance company and read it again, making sure the details were correct. Lorelai was still sleeping, so he put his elbow down on the mattress close enough to start rolling her towards him. She slowly cracked one eye open, then closed it again, trying to bury her head a little deeper in the pillow.
"Hey, Lorelai," he started, leaning over to see if she responded.
Eyes still closed, she puffed a small breath out through her nose, signaling her dissatisfaction.
"Are you awake? I've got good news."
She pulled the pillow over her ear, trying to block him out. He lifted the corner of the pillow and gently brushed a stray lock of her hair back in place, studiously ignoring the riot of curls going on at the back of her head. She exhaled a long, patient sigh.
"If the good news isn't that I've just slept around the clock and am waking up refreshed to a gourmet breakfast in bed, I don't wanna hear it."
"Hey, c'mon, you have to get up soon anyway, might as well give in now."
Observing that she really was awake, in spite of her crabbiness he pushed on.
"I got the confirmation from the insurance company. You and Rory are now officially on the list, so you can go anywhere you like in the diner. It wasn't even very expensive to add you, in spite of the fact that insurance is one big racket sucking the lifeblood out of small businesses."
"Hold off on that rant, Bucko," she said as she opened both eyes to glare at him. "Remember that my father is in the insurance business and for the first sixteen years of my life, insurance paid for all of this wonderfulness you see before you."
"Wonderfulness? You're wearing your third favorite Hello Kitty pajamas. They have holes here, here and here," he said, poking his finger through the holes to touch her skin. She winced and pulled away dramatically even though he hadn't pressed hard enough to hurt.
"You can't even read the logo on your butt anymore, the fabric's so thin. Hmm, it does cling well, though," he added as he smoothed the fabric over her body.
She pushed his hand away grumpily and pulled the covers higher.
He smiled devilishly as he continued. "On this side of your head your curls are beautiful, but the other side, well, let's just say it's a good thing that I love you already."
"You're sounding awful cocky for a guy who has a massive problem with bed-head today," she grumped, making a futile attempt to fix the flat side of her hair.
"Maybe so, but it's just because I'm awake and feeling good. I mean I just woke up with the love of my life who will soon learn to wash dishes in the diner and clean out the grease trap, all for free. I'm glad to have you around to share the load." He made a subtle effort to smooth out the hair standing up on his head, not wanting to display his not-insignificant vanity.
Sliding down in bed, Luke demonstrated to Lorelai that 'feeling good' encompassed more than having some new, cheap, part-time help.
Giving up on sleep, Lorelai pulled the covers over both of them. She kissed his chest as she snuggled up to him.
"Hmm, I think I'm going to like pouring my own coffee and going behind the counter. Are you going to share your secret coffee recipe with me?"
"Whoa, use my secret recipe? I'm gonna have to think about that one for a while. I'm not sure I love you that much," he teased. Lorelai responded by pinching the soft skin between his ribs and his hip. "Hey! Take it easy!"
"Rory and I can start the potato sack games, too."
"Potato sack games? What the hell is that?"
"That's the game we couldn't play before now. Whenever I went back behind the counter, you yelled at me to get out because of the dangers of a potato sack falling on my head, and your insurance didn't cover me. Now it covers both me and Rory, so we can play potato sack toss whenever we want. If a sack of potatoes falls on my head, we're insured! See? It's just another reason that insurance is a good thing."
"Lorelai, by 'whenever' you really mean 'never,' right?" he warned. "There will be no potato sacks tossed at any point in time, regardless of whose head it might land on."
"Bagel hockey?"
"Maybe. I'm kind of jealous of Smitty, though." He rolled on top of her, bracing himself to not crush her completely, and began nibbling on her collar bone.
"Smitty's outta here. Tryouts for his replacement have just opened," she said, running her hands over his back. "I think you just might have the right stuff."
"Whine all you want to," he said, once they had reached the diner. "If you hadn't ruined my organization in the kitchen, I would have cooked you breakfast at home and you could have slept half an hour longer."
"Hey, how was I to know that you'd completely reorganized my kitchen?"
"Your kitchen? You never had a kitchen. At best it was a storage room for Pop-Tarts."
She smirked at him, love peeking out from behind the snarkiness. "It's good that I have you, then, you can show me how it's done."
"Why do I suspect you'd be the slowest learner in history? It'll be easier if I just keep cooking; it would also increase the chances of you eating healthy food once in a while." He picked up her plate from the window and set it in front of her. "Here. A fruit cup to go with your pancakes."
"Mmmm, canned sliced peaches. So much better than fresh, I hate all that fuzzy stuff." Luke rolled his eyes and started his round of the diner, coffee carafes in hand.
Returning to the counter where Lorelai was sitting, he noted with satisfaction that at least the peaches were gone as well as the pancakes.
"Hey Luke," Lorelai started, "I think I'm going to spend the night at the Dragonfly tonight as well as Saturday. Wanna come with me? Room 12 is our room and it's the only one with a door at the moment. Tom keeps promising the rest, but they haven't arrived yet."
"Hmm, don't see why not. Do you need me to pack?"
"Yeah, my outfits for the test run are hanging on the closet door, but I'll need some sweats and tops and underwear. Think you can handle that?"
"Handle your underwear? Uh, yeah," he smirked. "I can also run back and forth if you need anything else. You won't need me hanging around all day anyway. You're going to be swamped, I suspect."
"Need, no. Want, yes. All the time. There's nothing I'd love better than for you to be at my side all weekend. It would give me some confidence."
"You got it. You don't need confidence, by the way, you're dripping with it. You're prepared and you know you're prepared." He looked at his watch. "Don't you need to get going? Your mother will be there soon."
"Oh, crap, yes!" Lorelai gathered her things and stood up to leave. "Look at it this way, Luke. You have to do the packing, but that means you get to choose what I'm wearing to bed tonight." She gave him a significant look, wiggling her eyebrows.
"I already know what you're not wearing. Say goodbye to Hello Kitty. Now scoot!" With a quick kiss Lorelai dashed out the door to her Jeep and headed to the inn.
"You LIKE Emily, remember?" pleaded Lorelai.
"I do, but not when she meddles in my job." Michel was adamant.
Christy was more open. "You know, Michel, all those fancy events Lorelai has told us about? Many of them were organized by Mrs. Gilmore." She gave a sidelong wink at Lorelai, then added, "You want us to raise the standards here, right? No one can do that like Mrs. Gilmore, from what I've heard."
Christy had worked as Lorelai's assistant event planner at the Independence Inn for about a year, leaving only when it burned. Lorelai had been disappointed to lose her, but was delighted when she was willing to join the Dragonfly staff. A young, medium-height blonde, she lived nearby with her long-term partner and was thrilled to leave the big hotel in Hartford and work for a small inn near her home.
Not wanting to raise Lorelai's hackles before her mother arrived, Christy didn't mention that she had seen Emily in action more than once in Hartford at DAR and other charity events. Most of the time Emily was perfectly normal for a Hartford socialite, behaving with savoir faire, and was envied by most of the other women in her circle.
The most intense Christy had ever seen Emily was the time one of her now former friends made a loud unsavory remark about Lorelai. It was right after Lorelai had kissed that teacher at Rory's school, and the woman made a remark that drew a repulsive connection back to Lorelai's teenage pregnancy.
Using just two or three sentences, and in the privacy of an alcove at an event, Emily cut the woman verbally. She then followed up by cutting her socially as well. The woman, a mother of one of Lorelai's former classmates, suddenly found herself excluded from her favorite charity work and became slowly ostracized in other circles. Hartford society talked of Emily's skill to this day.
What no one in Hartford talked, or even knew about, was the fallout Emily experienced. After going all Connecticut-society-Braveheart on the woman, Emily spent the requisite face-saving minutes in the middle of the party behaving as if nothing had happened, then excused herself to go to the restroom. Christy half-accidentally ran into her there.
Christy entered the restroom quietly, the door clicking behind her was the only sound. She could hear Emily sobbing in a stall. Christy waited quietly, and as Emily got better control of herself, Christy placed herself coincidentally at the sink when Emily came out. They washed and dried their hands in silence, broken only by Emily when a few tears escaped her eyes and Christy silently handed her the box of tissues.
"Thank you," Emily said, "It's like a jungle out there sometimes." She wiped her eyes, touched up her makeup and returned to the fray.
Admiring the woman's strength, Christy leaned up against the sink, murmuring, "And you're queen of the jungle, defending your cub with a lioness' ferocity."
Emily entered the Dragonfly and looked around uncertainly. No one was there to greet her, there were a few doors leaning against a wall. How in the world do they think they're ready to open?
Michel came to the front desk carrying his cup of tea. With his professional aplomb normally reserved for the few customers he actually liked, he greeted Emily in French. After catching up on the latest from both Hartford and Paris, he invited her back to the kitchen where Lorelai and Sookie were finalizing the test run menu.
Emily walked through the door apprehensively. This is a real chance to do this better. She listened to me, even asked me for my advice and expertise. My daughter never asks me for advice. I hope I don't make our relationship worse.
Inside, Lorelai came involuntarily to attention. This is a real chance to do this better. We had a calm, good talk on the phone. We can do the same thing face-to-face. All I have to do is keep to our agreement-she gives advice and we do the best we can with it, but keep communicating with her. I hope I don't screw this up.
"Hello, Lorelai," said Emily. "Hello, Sookie."
"Hi Mom."
"Hello Emily," said Sookie warmly. "How are you? I haven't seen you in a long time."
"I'm doing fine, thanks. Congratulations on your new inn. Congratulations to both of you," she added, smiling at both of them. "It's such a big endeavor. I admire that you have both put in so much effort. Now, where shall we start?"
"Let me prepare some coffee and we can meet in Lorelai's office," proposed Sookie. "Or do you want tea?"
"Coffee will be perfect," replied Emily, as Lorelai nervously escorted her out the door of the kitchen and to her office.
Lorelai's office was large enough to have a sofa, desk and a meeting corner. She eschewed office furniture in favor of comfy chairs and an old, not antique table. She also had the benefit of a window that looked out off the side of the inn. The white accents and soft color scheme added to the femininity of the space.
"Lorelai, your office is lovely." Emily was clearly impressed.
"Thanks, Mom, I'm slowly moving past monkey lamps."
"That lamp was still better looking than some of the gifts Richard's mother gave us. Those dog statues!" Emily shuddered.
"That coat rack wouldn't win any art contests either," Lorelai joked. Both of them laughed, which became more awkward as they realized that they were laughing at the same thing for the same reason. Common ground was new territory for them.
Fortunately Sookie entered at that moment with a tray full of coffee and pastries. Lorelai poured the coffee while Emily praised Sookie for her usual astonishing array of delicacies.
"Tell me about your plans," asked Emily. "What kind of parties will you offer and how many people will attend?"
Lorelai pulled out her list of party services and handed it to her mother. "Essentially we want to offer small meetings with lunch for twenty people, cocktail parties for fifty and weddings up to two hundred, the weddings outdoors only."
"Very well. When I walk around with Michel and Christy, I'll keep that in mind. What market are you targeting?"
"Our market is upscale meetings and cocktail parties like the DAR, but weddings will probably be mostly local, people who live within fifty miles or so. We don't have the facilities for upscale weddings."
"How are your finances organized? Do you have a cash position to purchase the supplies needed for one of your larger events?"
"Sookie and I have equal cash investments in the inn, plus we are both on a small business loan, and I have an additional personal loan. We've reserved about six weeks of event budget to keep on hand for purchasing the party materials, and to cover any non-paying customers."
Emily was surprised to hear about Lorelai's personal loan, wondering why she didn't come to them. It must have been that argument with Trix. That was another regret; there was always something keeping Emily and Lorelai apart.
"Alright, then, that's all I need until I've toured the place with your staff. You'll meet with me afterwards to review?"
"Of course, Mom, we're excited to hear your recommendations."
Lorelai breathed an internal sigh of relief, glad that her mother hadn't pried into the finances too much. She'd tried but failed to manage the inn construction without Luke's loan, and felt bad that she hadn't given him the credit he deserved for his help. An idea suddenly popped into her mind.
After she and Sookie turned Emily over to Christy and Michel, Lorelai pulled Sookie aside.
"Sookie, I've been thinking. We wouldn't have been able to open the inn without Luke's money, but we haven't done anything to thank him yet."
Sookie giggled. "You don't think sleeping with him is thanks enough?"
"Sookie!"
"I was just teasing, sweetie! You know how I love to tease. Luke would do anything for you, Lorelai, you know that. What's on your mind?"
"Well, you and I have our equal shares of cash investment, and we share the one loan, but how about if we offer Luke a partnership proportional to his loan?"
"Would he have to do anything? What will he get out of it? I'd love to do this for him, Lorelai, but I'd hate to make him do something he doesn't want to do."
"We could offer him a vote of, say, twenty percent, with us splitting the rest at forty percent apiece. If he didn't want to have a say in running the business, he could be a silent partner."
Both of them giggled at that. Luke was the spitting image of a silent partner. They quickly agreed on the idea and Lorelai told her she'd ask him tonight, so they could announce it at the test run to their friends and family.
Back in the kitchen Lorelai and Sookie ran into Emily and her escorts reviewing the kitchen facilities. Sookie's staff was beginning to arrive for training on the kitchen.
"Sookie, dear, you don't have enough refrigerator space for a cocktail party for fifty people," Emily said. "There's no place to keep the hors d'oeuvres cold."
"Sure there is," said Sookie. "Watch this." She pulled several flat metal sheets out of a drawer, then a couple of stands. The stands she placed into the fridge on the shelves, then slid the sheets on top of them.
"And Presto! Changeo! We now have four times the storage space." Sookie waved her towel around like a magician with his scarves.
"Oh! That's amazing! Perfect, too, Sookie. I think you're all set." Emily was satisfied.
Lorelai looked at the staff clocking in and counted in her head.
"Sookie," she said in a low voice. "How many staff did you hire?"
Sookie grimaced. "I hired seven instead of the five we agreed upon, because someone always quits. But no one has quit, and I don't know what to do. They're all so good-I can't figure out which two to fire."
Emily leaned forward and spoke confidentially. "Would you like me to take a look?"
"Would you?" Sookie asked. "I'd be so grateful!"
Emily stood off to one side and watched everyone start working. After a few minutes, she walked around and watched each person individually, paying attention to every detail.
She moved towards the door, motioning for the girls to follow. At the door she stopped and pointed out two employees.
Once on the other side, she explained her decisions. "First, the shorter one couldn't keep his mind on his work. He kept mumbling to himself about personal things and made at least three mistakes while I watched. The second one with the red hair net wasn't keeping his hands clean and was slower than all the rest. You'll be better off without those two."
Lorelai and Sookie looked at each other in astonishment. "Those are really good recommendations, Mom," Lorelai said.
"Yeah, thanks, Emily, that's a big help," added Sookie.
"Lorelai, I think I'm done here, but I'd like to talk to you for a minute, if you've got a little time." Emily's demeanor was inscrutable, but she was nervous inside. Everything had gone so well, but there were a few things she felt she needed to tell Lorelai in private.
"Sure, Mom, do you want to sit outside on the patio?" That way I'll have an escape route if it gets too crazy.
After a nod from Emily and two cups of coffee they went to the patio, choosing a table underneath a tree, its leaves rustling in the soft breeze as the sun broke through the branches.
"This is such a nice corner. I could spend hours here, just drinking tea and watching life go by," gushed Emily.
"It's about time for the crew lunch. Shall I get us a couple of plates? I'm hungry."
"Let me go with you. I'd like to see the crew when they're more relaxed. It's very interesting to see the inner workings of a place like this."
The women joined Sookie's staff, Michel and Christy at the buffet Sookie had prepared. After filling their plates and going back outside, Emily grew quiet. She sat still, looking at her food, then slowly said, "Lorelai, your father and I have separated."
"Mom, I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do? What happened?"
"It was everything-Pennilyn Lott, that whole thing with Floyd. I just don't feel like I'm a partner with him anymore."
"Don't give up, you've been together too long to give up quickly. Where's Dad living?"
"In the pool house."
"You separated and you're living twenty whole feet away from each other? Mom, that's hardly separated."
"Just wait, Lorelai, one of these days you'll find out you can be separated while sleeping in the same bed. It's horrible. I'm just beside myself."
"Are you already predicting my breakup with Luke? How could you?! Mom, I just want you to be happy for me for once, not always trying to make me feel bad!"
"Lorelai, for god's sake shut up! I'm saying nothing of the kind."
Lorelai was stunned. Her mother had never told her to shut up so rudely.
"Good, now that you're quiet, you can listen to me. The only thing I know about your relationship is what you told me. What I've observed is that you're happier and calmer than I've ever seen you before. Is that due to Luke?"
"I don't know, Mom, it might be. Maybe."
"I think it is. Just look at us talking now, how we've talked all week. We've never gotten along like this in our lives. A big change like this comes for a reason. What's different in our lives? You've formed a relationship with this man, and I've separated from your father. Which of those two things are more likely to create positive change?"
"Certainly not you and Dad. You two really breaking up is terrible. How could that make our relationship better?"
"Exactly my point. If it's not that, then it must be Luke."
"So Luke, the guy I've known for a decade, has suddenly developed magical powers to be able to repair our relationship? Why? Because I'm sleeping with him? Or was it his irresistible kiss?" Lorelai suppressed any thoughts that he might have changed her in this short time they'd been together. She didn't need changing-it was the reclusive diner owner who needed to be brought out of his shell.
Emily chuckled cynically. "Lorelai, don't joke. People change when they fall in love. It happens. It happened with me when I met your father. It happened with him too. Now I see a big difference in you, and it's wonderful. Just accept it as a side benefit of being in love."
"Maybe he got superpowers when I kissed him. That could be it-maybe I've been infected with a radioactive virus that made Luke into Super Relationship Man! Ho! Ho! I'm looking forward to seeing him in the superhero tights."
Emily began eating her lunch, dropping a side comment of "Let me know when you've finished, Lorelai," when her daughter stopped to take a breath.
They finished their lunch in the same vein, Lorelai relentlessly imagining all of the wonderful things Luke would do to save the world, and Emily trying to help her daughter regain a foothold on reality.
"Lorelai, I do have a couple more recommendations for the inn, if you want to hear them."
"Fire away."
"When you've got the money, you should buy a tent for the weddings, not rent them, like Christy told me you're planning to do. Also, I think you should be doing fewer things and managing more. You need to establish authority, and carrying around every little trash can won't give it to you."
"Helping with the work builds a feeling of camaraderie, helps people realize we're a team, we're in this together."
"Lorelai, you're not in this together. You have a huge investment and a big debt. This is your career, your life on the line. For most of your staff, this is just a job. And you need to keep an eye on Sookie."
"Sookie's my best girlfriend! I can trust her completely!"
"You know as well as I do that she's a little offbeat. That may be fine in a friend, but you need to be aware that she can also be a little flighty."
"Mom!"
"Lorelai, you can love her and be her best friend, but if you don't recognize her weaknesses, it will hurt both of you. You're too strong and smart to risk your whole business by being deliberately blind."
"I can't talk about this anymore, Mom, thanks for your help." Lorelai got up to leave, too late realizing that she had nowhere to go to.
"Did you and Rory decide about Europe yet?" Lorelai asked tensely, hoping that a subject change would restore some of their earlier friendliness.
"No, I was going to stop by on my way home and find out what she was thinking. Do you think she should go?"
Lorelai sighed, her earlier worries about Rory and her summer resurfacing. It wouldn't be fun without her, but it might be good if she doesn't spend the summer sitting around waiting for Jess. "I think she would really enjoy it, but I can't tell if she's in the mood."
"I'll give you a call when we decide. I'm hoping to leave by the end of next week if we can get good flights."
Emily stood up to leave. As she passed Lorelai, she looked up at her and patted her daughter's arm. A hug was completely out of the question, even though it would have done both of them some good.
"She's growing up, Lorelai. Her independence is a sign that you've prepared her well," she said as Lorelai walked to her car.
"Hi, Grandma," Rory said as she answered her cell phone.
"Rory! I'm in Stars Hollow. Can we meet and talk about Europe?"
"Sure, um, can you meet me at Luke's? I'm just finishing with Lane and was going over there for lunch. Have you eaten?"
"Yes, I've eaten, but I'll be happy to meet you there. See you in a few minutes!" Hmm. This is a good idea-I get to talk to Luke as well as Rory. A very good idea.
Luke got a feeling that it was a Gilmore girl as the bells rang in the diner while he was in the kitchen prepping some meals. He was a little freaked out when he realized he was sort of right, except it wasn't Lorelai or Rory, it was Emily. He hurriedly cleaned up and went outside to find out what she wanted.
He approached her uncertainly. "Hello, Emily, can I help you?"
"Hello, Luke. I'm meeting Rory here in a few minutes. Is there a table for us?"
"Sure, sure, any of the free tables. This one by the window should give you a good view of Rory if she comes across the square. Can I get you something to drink while you wait?"
"An iced tea would be lovely, Luke, thanks."
She sat, looking out the window, watching the people go by on this sunny, pleasant day. This is my daughter's chosen future.
Luke pulled glasses down off the shelf in the back, looking for one that was both perfectly clean and without scratches and didn't look too old. Caesar watched him with amusement.
"Lorelai outside?" Caesar asked.
"Worse, her mother. If she wants anything to eat, I'm fixing it," Luke commanded, more nervous than he was willing to admit. He filled the glass and was gone before Caesar could think of a clever reply.
"Here you go, Emily," he said, placing the glass in front of her and setting silverware packets on the table for her and Rory, who still hadn't appeared.
"Thank you, Luke. Do you have a minute?" she asked.
He looked around the diner, then said, "I need to make a round with beverages, but after that, I'm good." She nodded her acceptance.
Luke took his time walking every table with coffee and decaf, giving himself breathing space and time to think. Halfway around he realized that there was nothing to worry about. The only interactions he'd had with Emily had been perfectly polite and innocuous.
He noticed Mrs. Lanahan's daughter pulling her car up outside the diner. Mrs. Lanahan came to the diner once or twice a month for coffee and boysenberry pie, and he gave her personalized treatment whenever she came. A little extra pie, some friendly discussion, it did them both good. Mr and Mrs. Lanahan lived down the street from his parents' house, and she had known them well. It was one of those connections to the past that he honored in his own quiet way. Out of the public eye he kept an eye on her, making sure her daughter was informed if anything seemed strange, helping out if needed.
Today he escorted her to the door and helped her down the steps, like always, where her daughter met her and helped her into the car. Luke never thought twice about such things, but Emily did. As he continued his round in the diner, she observed every detail without anyone noticing that she was watching him. Babette and Patty had nothing on Emily when it came to skills of observation. Decades of society parties had made her a master at this.
She saw how he treated what were apparently regular customers with friendly familiarity, new customers with courtesy, and a few with annoyed tolerance. Barely remembering their names from Rory's birthday parties, Emily observed that last group of customers treated him with curiosity that crossed the line of civility into nosiness.
Luke Danes was no slouch at observation, even though with slightly less than ten years in his diner he was clearly nowhere near Emily's proficiency level. He had one advantage over Emily, though-he didn't care. Where Emily used her skill to advance herself and make the most out of any situation, Luke used his simply to avoid trouble.
Noticing that Emily's glass was nearly empty, he brought a fresh pitcher and refilled it without asking.
"Rory ought to be here soon. Last I saw her she was on her way to Lane's." Emily looked expectantly at him, waiting for him to give her that minute she'd asked for.
She's definitely not going to let that go. Better get it over with. "You had a question?" he asked, trying to lead her into a hopefully very short discussion.
No such luck. "Sit down, Luke, it will hurt my neck to talk to you while you're standing."
Repressing an eye roll, he took a seat. He briefly pondered telling Emily he'd noticed that she'd watched every move he made, then decided not to. I'd rather keep that card up my sleeve for a while.
"You're seeing my daughter," she stated simply.
Luke sighed. "Emily, I'll be happy to discuss this with you some other time, but not while I'm at work. Can we save the details for Sunday? What did you want to say?"
"Luke, all I wanted to say is that Lorelai and I had one of the best discussions of our lives this morning, and I'm convinced you had something to do with it. I just wanted to say thanks."
"I did nothing," he lied, discounting the encouragement he gave her before she called her mother. "Lorelai is working hard to have a good relationship with you, and I'm glad for it, but it's all her doing."
"Hi Grandma," said Rory as the diner bells jingled, announcing her entrance. She raised her eyebrows as she noticed Luke was sitting with Emily. "Um, Luke, is everything OK?"
He stood up, relieved to escape the awkward conversation with Emily.
"Emily, we'll talk more on Sunday, then. Rory, your usual?"
"Yes, Luke, thanks. So, Grandma, how are you?"
"I am excited to go to Europe, especially if you're coming with me. You are coming with me, right?" If there was one thing that worked with Rory, it was a leading question.
"I'm seriously considering it, Grandma, but I need to earn some money this summer. I've got to look for some sort of job."
"Nonsense, Rory, if you need money, we can give you an allowance. We're already paying for Yale, you know, so a little more on top wouldn't be a bother at all."
"No, Grandma, I insist. Mom has been giving me my spending money; I just keep running out at the end of the month. Also, a job is a good thing for a correspondent-real life experiences help me connect with people."
Emily searched her mind for options. "Aha!" she said, causing Rory to jump in surprise and catching Luke's attention as well.
"I've got it! We go to Europe, and when we come home, your grandfather and I will find you a job in Hartford. The DAR always needs extra help, and since I'm the president I can make sure your application floats to the top of a very small stack."
"But …" Rory tried to think of alternatives. What she really wanted to do was find a job where she could be near Jess.
"Or if not the DAR, we have friends who own bookstores and they can surely find something for you. Honestly, Rory, you should have brought this up much sooner. If I'd known your mother wasn't providing properly for you, I'd have taken care of this long ago."
"No, she does take good care of me," objected Rory in a small defeated voice. She recognized that there wasn't going to be anything she could do to fight this.
Never once looking up from his work behind the counter, Luke experienced firsthand the way the elder Gilmores treated the younger ones when they wanted their own way. Before he could think of a way to break into the conversation, Rory solved the question completely.
"I'd love to go with you, Grandma, and we can talk about jobs when we get back." Rory had a sense that she was being manipulated, but she also loved her grandmother and knew it would be good for her to have a traveling companion, now that she and Richard had separated.
Rory's lunch order came up a minute too late for Luke to intervene. As he placed the order in front of her, he asked, "Need anything else?" giving her a meaningful glance at the same time.
His look was not lost on Rory, who tried to reassure him by announcing their intentions to travel with her grandmother. "We're going to Italy, aren't we, Grandma?"
A delighted Emily launched into itinerary proposals that would require three summer vacations to accomplish. Luke and Rory exchanged glances, Rory letting him know everything was OK.
"Executive Staff Meeting!" called Lorelai as she passed by Michel and Christy at the front desk. "In my office, five minutes."
Manny, Michel, Christy and Sookie gathered in Lorelai's office.
"This is a quick one, folks, just a couple of points. I know you're all finishing up for the test run tomorrow. We're in very good shape, thanks for all your hard work."
"I'd also like to get your feedback on Emily's consulting today. Did she make useful suggestions? If there was anything that seems really important, put it on the priority list, and when we have budget, we'll get to work on it. So far, the best idea I've heard was to buy a tent for the weddings rather than rent."
A short discussion ensued with a few more ideas, and several complaints from Michel. Manny commented that the change in the staffing from seven to five crew members would increase efficiency, which was confirmed by Sookie.
When it seemed that Lorelai was going to skip the Luke topic, Sookie brought it up. "Don't forget that we're introducing you all tomorrow night before dinner, so be ready. Also, we're introducing the investment partners."
"Of course," complained Michel, "You and Lorelai are both on the Executive Staff anyway."
"There's one more investor we plan to introduce tomorrow, Michel. Luke Danes has a rather large stake in the Dragonfly and we're going to acknowledge that."
"What about Jackson? If you're going to include boyfriends, you ought to include husbands," Michel said snidely.
"Michel! That was uncalled for! Luke is an independent investor. Sookie and Jackson are invested as a couple, I am invested alone and Luke has invested as well." Lorelai, tired from the preparations, was at the end of her patience.
"Sorry." Michel offered his apology grudgingly.
Luke stood in front of the window. He'd never been so confused in his life.
Lane! I'll go ask Lane. She'll be able to help. Luke walked towards the diner, nearly running into Rory as she came out of Doose's with a bag full of junk food.
"Rory! I thought you were still with your grandmother. Come with me, I need your help urgently!
He took the bag out of her hands, leaving only the Red Vine she was chewing on as she walked. "Luke! Bring that back! I'm hungry!" she called as she chased after the man on a mission.
"My mother warned me to not let strangers grab me off the street," she joked, whereupon Luke stopped, turned, glared at her and asked, "Are you trying to be funny?"
"No, Luke, no way. What's wrong?" she asked, getting no answer as he turned the corner and continued walking. Geez, he's really bothered by whatever this is.
Finally he came to a halt in front of a store window. Rory, breathing hard, caught up with him and looked at the window.
"Do you see what that is?" he demanded.
"Uh, yeah, it's Davis' Flower Shop. They sell flowers," she said, confused.
"Exactly! They sell flowers! I can't go in there!"
"Luke, they let pretty much anyone go into the flower shop, especially people with money." Rory's confusion turned to concern as she began to doubt Luke's sanity. "Did Mom finally get to you?"
"No! She didn't get to me. That day hasn't come yet, although you and I both know it will. I want to buy Lorelai some flowers."
"Have you been banned? Did they refuse to serve you? Why don't you just walk in and buy some flowers? Look, Jeremy Davis is working. He's sixteen years old, he can't hurt you. All you have to do is walk in, tell him what you want and pay for it."
"That's exactly my problem, Rory. I know flowers mean stuff, but I can't remember what my mother said; what if I buy flowers that accidentally say 'you're a horrible person?' Lorelai will never forgive me."
"Take it easy, Luke, you can't go wrong with flowers."
"You know your mother-I certainly can go wrong with flowers. She still hasn't forgiven me for getting her lunch order wrong last month. Think what she would do if I got her flowers that said, 'Hey buddy, sorry about the prostate,' or something like that?"
"OK, Luke, we'll go in together and choose the flowers together. What do you want to say?"
He looked at his feet, then up at Rory, slightly embarrassed. "I want to say 'I love you,' and I want her to have a bouquet that she'll remember for the rest of her life."
"That's easy, Luke. These are the first flowers you've given her, right?"
"They're the first flowers I've ever given any woman." This didn't surprise Rory much.
"Because they're from you, she will remember them forever. I promise you that. To say 'I love you,' we need red roses. Beautiful, dark, long-stemmed red roses."
"Sounds good. Roses mean love."
"No, red roses mean love. Yellow roses mean friendship. Do you know what Mom's favorite flower is?"
"Yeah, that's easy. Daisies. She's told me that about a million times over the years."
"That's all you need to know, then. Jeremy?"
"Hi Rory, are you ready?"
"Luke needs a killer bouquet of dark long-stemmed red roses and white daisies. Can you put that together?"
"Sure, no problem. It'll just take a few minutes."
Rory turned to Luke. "Now you just stay here, choose a vase, and pay for the flowers. It's not harder than that."
Luke looked visibly relieved. "OK, Rory, thanks. Um, sorry I lost it a little bit back there. This kind of stuff makes me a little crazy."
"The last thing you do here, Luke, is ask Jeremy to start a card for you. That way, the next time you need flowers all you have to do is call and he can look up what you ordered last time."
"Good idea. That will come in handy for birthdays and anniversaries. Thanks!"
"Can I have my food back, please?"
"Yeah, sure. You going home?"
"Yep, I'm going to watch a couple of movies and take it easy for the rest of the afternoon. See you there later?"
"Sure. See you later, Rory."
"Rory! Where is your mother's garment bag? I can't find it up here!" Luke, having prepped for the evening rush as much as possible at the diner, turned the reins over to Caesar and Lane, then went home to pack enough clothes for Lorelai and him to spend the next two nights at the Dragonfly.
His duffle bag had plenty of room for his clothes and their PJs and personal items, but Lorelai's dress outfits were still hanging on her closet door.
"Oh, I borrowed it! Just a second!" Rory stopped the movie she'd been watching and got the bag out of her room. She carried it upstairs to Luke and Lorelai's bedroom.
"Here you go." She looked around. "All packed?"
"I think so. Why don't you look in the bathroom and see if I missed any of Lorelai's critical lotions and stuff."
Rory walked into the bathroom for the first time since Luke had moved in. The first thing she noticed was the smell. There was more than the riotous bouquet of scents that made up Lorelai Gilmore. Now there was a woodsy undertone to the room, not a pine scent, but similar to autumn leaves and the bracing smell of fall.
She moved Luke's shaving cream aside to reach Lorelai's favorite hair clip, the one she used every evening while getting ready for bed.
"Do you need your shaving cream, Luke?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm gonna shave on Sunday. Almost forgot." Rory carried both items out to him and he dropped them in the duffle bag, adding, "Or was that a hint on your part that I need to shave?"
"No, no, I would never suggest that. You and Mom need to work that our between you," she laughed. Rory watched as Luke carefully put her mom's clothes in the garment bag, shaking it out so nothing would be wrinkled. He zipped the bag closed and the two of them carried the bags downstairs.
"Luke, you take really good care of Mom. She is going to love those flowers," Rory said, brushing her fingers over the vase filled with red roses and white daisies. "It's cool that you got the red roses for love and the daisies because it's her favorite flower."
"Thanks for the help. I've never bought flowers before. I was feeling kinda lost at the shop." Luke was grateful that Rory could help him when he ran into her coming out of Doose's Market. "What are you going to do tonight?"
"Lane and I are getting together after the diner closes. We'll probably just listen to music or go to the late show at BWR. It's nice to finally relax again. School was really hard this year. I also need to start packing for my trip with Grandma."
"Do you have time for a drink? I thought I'd have a beer before going over to the inn." Luke didn't have to listen to Rory's tone of voice very long to understand that she would appreciate a little company.
"OK, that'd be nice," she said. Luke at home is very different from Luke at the diner. I wonder if Jess is different at work than he is at home.
In the kitchen, Rory looked around, seeing the boxes full of Luke's utensils and other cooking gear. "What happened here?"
"Oh, your mom thought that she'd clear out some space for me in the kitchen."
"But your stuff was already put away."
"Yeah, she didn't exactly notice that, seeing as she was doing this at three in the morning. Hope you aren't planning on cooking anything this weekend."
Rory scoffed at the thought. "No, whatever I don't eat at the diner or the Dragonfly will come with chopsticks or plastic forks. I'm good." She opened one drawer after another. All were empty. "Man, you have a lot of patience."
"Nah, after ten years of practice I'm just used to the crazy. What do you want? Beer? Wine?" asked Luke as he peered in the fridge.
"Beer sounds great, although it feels a little weird drinking at home, like I'm doing something I shouldn't."
"Think about it this way, Rory. It's legal to drink at home in your family, but most college kids drink whenever they want. When was the last time you had a drink at school?" he asked, as they settled into chairs on the porch.
"OK, you got me. I had a drink while I was packing. Have I told you this story yet? Grandma came by while I was in the middle of a big funky monkey." Rory hadn't told Lorelai this story either. So much had gone on this week there simply hadn't been time to share every detail of her life with anyone, not even her mother.
"A funky monkey?"
"Everybody in the dorm pours their leftover liquor into a bowl and we all drink it. It tasted horrible at first, but got better the more I drank."
"Oh yeah, I've had those in my day. Trust me, it didn't taste better, your taste buds simply passed out," chuckled Luke. "What about Emily?"
Rory took a draft on her beer and put her feet up on one of the empty chairs. This is nice, having Luke around. I can share different things with him than I share with Mom. This two-parent family thing is good. She smiled as she remembered packing up. "Grandma dropped in on me last Saturday while I was packing. At first I was dazed, because the alcohol was really getting to me, and I thought maybe I was dreaming. Then she set me up on a blind date."
"How did she do that? You came home on Sunday."
"Oh, Grandma didn't let a moment pass by. She brought the guy WITH her."
"Unbelievable. That's worse than any townie who tried to set me up with someone."
"He cut me some slack, though, by letting me know I had alcohol on my breath before I got too close to Grandma. We couldn't find any way out of some sort of date, so he invited me to have a drink with his friends that night."
"How did that go? Clearly it wasn't love at first sight." Luke hadn't heard any of this from Lorelai yet.
"They were in the middle of a pub crawl. Since the last thing in the world I wanted to do was get into a car with all of those drunks, I called Dean to pick me up. The great part about the story was, they left their tab open, so Dean and I ate a huge dinner before he gave me a ride back to my dorm. He left pretty quickly and that's when Jess appeared. You know the rest."
"That was a busy evening, three dates. Well, not really dates." Luke's mind was blown. Dean? Dean was in the mix?
"I never want to repeat it. It was an awful evening, the whole day actually. I do like my Emily story, though. What was she thinking?"
"I don't know, kid. I'm still getting to know her. Today was bad enough, the way she manipulated you."
"We're used to it. Well, I'm used to it, Mom still gets pretty upset sometimes."
"You're sure you want to go to Europe with her?"
"Yes, it will be really good for both of us to get away for a few weeks. I hope she'll find a way to get back together with Grandpa, but she won't do it if she's sitting at home moping, or worse yet, taking it out on Mom."
Luke finished his beer, then said, "Your mom is lucky to have you, Rory."
"Right back atcha, Luke."
Kissing Luke and escorting him into the inn, Lorelai commented, "I thought you'd be here earlier."
"Me too," he added, "but I stopped to talk to Rory for a while. She had some free time until she meets up with Lane, so we chatted about school and stuff. It looks like she's going to go to Europe with Emily."
"I know, she called me a couple of hours ago with the news. I'm not thrilled, but it would be good for her to get away for a while."
"Yeah, you're probably right, as usual. I'm just, uh, going to get the bags from the truck."
"But Luke, we're in the …" He was gone before she had a chance to tell him their room was around back, separate from the inn itself.
A few moments later he returned, flowers in hand.
"Luke! These are beautiful!"
"They're for you," he said, standing a little straighter and smiling with the nervous pride of a teenager with his first girlfriend. "The daisies are because they're your favorite and the red roses because I love you." He laughed nervously.
"Well, thank you, kind sir. Do you seduce all your women with this maneuver?" This is Luke at his most adorable, doing something romantic that he's obviously never done before.
"Nah, I save these smooth moves for the tough nuts to crack. Sometimes I gotta pull out all the stops to get the woman I want."
He moved closer. "What do you think? Am I going to score tonight?"
Lorelai looked at him innocently. "Why, Mr. Danes, how presumptuous of you! What makes you think I'm that easy?"
"Oh, I know you're not easy. You're just worth the effort."
"How about if you start your 'efforts' after we've eaten? I'm starved, and you didn't bring any food."
"There was no need to bring food. You've got a huge kitchen here and Sookie's been working all day. I'm confident we can find something to eat there. I'll fix us something," Luke said as they pushed through the swinging door to the kitchen.
"Not so fast, Luke Danes!" cautioned Sookie, who'd overheard the last bit. "This kitchen is sacred space. MY sacred space. You don't plant seeds in Jackson's garden and YOU don't cook in my kitchen, period."
She turned to Lorelai, adding, "You bring him again and I want him on a leash. I mean it."
Sookie lasted approximately 10 seconds before she broke out in giggles. Luke's outburst years ago in the diner had stuck with her all this time and she was happy to finally get her revenge by heartlessly mocking him.
Lorelai and Luke stood dumbfounded before her. Eventually Lorelai remembered and joined her in laughter. Only Luke needed to be reminded in detail, which resulted in another round of mocking.
"Why don't you open a bottle of wine, sit down outside for a while, and I'll cook for you?" suggested Sookie.
Once outside, the beauty of the lake and the evening drew the couple into a walk. Luke pulled a young bulrush and swatted the grass as they walked along the edge of the lake.
Lorelai swept her hand towards the open space just behind the inn. "We're going to put up a tent over there on the left for weddings. It leaves enough room to have the ceremony outside if the weather's good, or in the tent when it's not."
"Do you have any weddings booked yet?" asked Luke. He squatted down by the lake, looking at the fish. Wonder how far ahead you have to plan a wedding? At least the kind of wedding Lorelai would like, not like Liz' wedding, which was probably planned in three days.
"Not yet, I think most people want to see the facility before they book a big event like a wedding. Christy is so good, though, she'll bring in business just by word of mouth."
"It's a beautiful site, I'm sure you'll do fine." Teasing the fish with the bulrush, he added, "Have you considered a little fishing dock for the kids?"
"What do you mean?" Luke, the guy who hates jam hands, is suggesting ways to bring more kids to the inn?
"The fish here aren't big enough for eating, but there are a lot of them. A family could come here, do a little catch and release fishing. You could have a board over here teaching about wildlife conservation. It would be a lot of fun." He looked down at his shoes for a moment, then offered, "If you like, I could give a talk once in a while about conservation."
When he looked up at Lorelai, she saw something different in his eyes. Kids? Fun? Luke? Does this mean he wants to put the topic of kids on the table?
Lorelai shook that idea off and casually replied, "Another great idea. I'll put it on the list. We'll be looking at these ideas in a few months. You wouldn't believe the great ideas we've gotten from my mother, and Christy and Michel. It's been amazing. I want to run out and implement them all immediately!"
"That would be a good way to go broke really fast."
"I know. That's why I was so careful to explain that to my mother. Michel, however, is just as bad. He practically wants to build a spa. Hey, Luke, why don't you have this problem?"
Luke chuckled darkly. "I didn't have partners, and I don't spend money if I can help it. Being a cheap dictator can be very cost-effective. That was true until recently at least."
"Ahh, I get it. You've entwined yourself right into a mess, with a girlfriend who talks a mile a minute and keeps prodding you to paint the diner and take more time off to spend with her."
"Exactly. On the other hand, I hear she has a freakish love of doing dishes, and the diner produces a lot of dirty dishes, so I think I'll come out on top."
Taking a sip, Lorelai looked at him over the edge of her wine glass with a sultry look in her eye. "You might want to take that position, but I have another offer for you."
"You do? What's that?" he asked, pressing his body up against hers.
"Come with me, I'll show you." Lorelai took his hand and began pulling him up the hill. "Anyway, I'm hungry. Let's go talk to Sookie."
"Sookie? What does she have to do with us? I don't think I like where this is going, Lorelai."
"Hush, or I'll make you paint the diner again. You don't know what you're talking about. Be patient."
"But Lorelai, …"
"Some new curtains would be nice for the diner, don't you think? Maybe placemats. Oh! I know! Uniforms! You would look so cute in a pink polo shirt!" she teased as she led her grumbling boyfriend up the hill.
Sookie had just finished plating the salads in the dining room when they came in.
"Great! Let me get your entrees, then we can talk." Sookie bustled back to the kitchen, returning shortly with two plates.
"A sirloin for Lorelai and sea bream with capers and artichokes for Luke."
"That looks fantastic, Sookie. I'm feeling spoiled," said Luke. Tasting the fish, he added, "This is just perfect, thanks."
"You should feel buttered up," Sookie giggled, "because that's what we're trying to do with you."
Pouring him a large glass of white wine, Lorelai said, "We have a proposition for you, Luke."
"Oh I can't wait! Luke, we want to add you as a named partner to the inn!" Sookie bubbled over with excitement.
"No."
"What, 'no?' You're an investor, we just want to acknowledge it." Lorelai raised an eyebrow. This was not supposed to be hard.
"No. Absolutely not."
"Give us one good reason."
"A partner has to make decisions. I don't want to make decisions about the Dragonfly, that's your business. Anyway, I've got too many decisions to make about the diner. I don't have time to come to meetings and discuss things!"
"Sookie, I think we're going to have to go to our backup plan," Lorelai conceded.
"I know. Luke, are you sure you won't rethink it?" asked Sookie.
"Definitely not. The last thing in the world I want to do is referee disagreements between you two. Do you think I'm crazy?"
"OK," said Lorelai, "we hear you. No full partner. We are going to name you a silent partner, though. You can't deny us that at least."
Sookie giggled. "You're the perfect silent partner! Luke Danes, monosyllabic man!" Even Luke cracked a smile at the truth of that statement.
"What does that mean for me?" he asked, still a little skeptical.
"You will have a twenty percent stake in the business, based on your investment, and you don't have to do anything."
"Nothing? What does it mean for you two?"
"We get to keep your money unless you want us to pay you back, at which time we'll agree on terms of payment and buy you out." Lorelai kept this on a business level, knowing that Luke would hate it if they played their friends and lovers cards.
Luke pondered this. He'd felt weird about Lorelai trying to pay him back from the beginning, and he liked the idea even less now that they were together.
"Well, I guess it's OK, as long as I don't have to get involved in your decisions."
Sookie enveloped him in a giant bear hug, saying, "I knew you'd see it our way! I'm so glad!"
She turned to Lorelai. "Hon, I'm going home now. You'll clean up? The dishwasher's ready to run once your dishes are added."
"OK, Sookie. Tomorrow's the big day!" Lorelai got up to give her a big hug. "Kiss that baby for me, will you?"
"I will. Luke, don't forget to dress pretty tomorrow night! Bye, you two! Enjoy your evening of lust!" With that, Sookie was gone, leaving Luke and Lorelai alone together in the building.
"Geez. Does she have to do that? What did she mean about me getting dressed up, anyway?"
Lorelai continued eating her steak, saying, "Oh, it's nothing. We're introducing the management team tomorrow night at the test run, and as a partner you're part of it. It will take just a second, then you're free to do whatever you like."
"You're introducing me as a partner to the whole town? Do you really have to? I hate that sort of thing."
"I know you do, honey, but we really need to show a strong management presence, give people the confidence that we know what we're doing. Your support as a leading Stars Hollow business owner gives us more credibility."
"You promise me that I don't have to do anything more than stand there, smile and wave, right?"
Lorelai laughed, "No one expects you to smile, Luke. We know that's asking way too much of you. You just stand there looking handsome and I'll take care of the rest. You can be my trophy partner. I'll walk around with you on my arm, and all the women will be so jealous."
Seeing that he had given in, Lorelai stole a piece of artichoke from Luke's plate. "You know that's a vegetable, right?" he commented.
"I do. That's one of the many mysteries you have left to discover about me, sweetie. Which veggies do I love, and which will I hide in my napkin? Here, have some more wine. I want to get you drunk so I can have my way with you. We have to christen the Dragonfly honeymoon suite properly."
Lorelai's arms were up to her elbows in hot soapy water. Standing behind her, Luke wrapped his arms around her waist and began nuzzling her neck.
She arched her back at his touch and moved her backside against his body. He pulled the neckline of her top to the side, trailing hot kisses from her earlobe down to her shoulder.
"If two bottles of wine gets you this worked up, Luke, I'm putting a wine cellar in the Crap Shack and plying you with wine every night." She pushed her back against his body as he pulled her tighter.
"Maybe it's the dishwashing and not the wine that turns me on," he said in a low, sexy tone. "Maybe the sight of you in an apron drives me wild."
His hands moved upwards, sliding underneath the apron bib, palming her breasts, coaxing her nipples into a hardened state.
"Luke," panted Lorelai, losing focus on the large bowl she was scrubbing. His hands moved down below the waist of the apron, rubbing her thighs, nearing, but never making contact with her center. She closed her eyes, lost to the feelings stirring inside her.
Luke nestled his head into the crook of her neck, feeling the smooth skin of her cheek again his scruffy one. He reached over her arms, dipping his hands into the hot water, then covering her hands with his own, entwining his fingers with hers. Lifting one wet hand to the base of her neck, he allowed a small rivulet of soapy water to carve a path through her cleavage deep inside her shirt.
Lorelai had nearly abandoned all hope of getting the bowl any cleaner when Luke uttered a sound that was more like a choked-off laugh than a moan of pleasure. Her cloud of desire evaporated and she turned around to face him. The evil smile on his face prompter her to push him away.
"This is just about the dishes, isn't it, you … you … charlatan!" she exclaimed, pouting as he chuckled.
Luke pulled on the apron strings she had tied at the front of her body, vehemently denying her accusation. "No, Lorelai, never!" he said, his voice giving lie to his alcohol level and the laughter in his eyes telling her the truth of his ploy.
"Don't you 'No Lorelai' me, Luke Danes, you're still trying to get me to do dishes at the diner, aren't you? You can't pull those Tom Sawyer tricks on me."
"Aw, Lorelai, c'mon," he coaxed, "just one little kiss."
"Enough! I think you should go to the truck, get the bags and meet me in the room. Maybe then I'll be in a mood to accept your apologies." She faced him towards the door and gave him a little push, adding a not-too-gentle smack on his bottom for emphasis.
She finished cleaning the bowl and set it off to the side to dry, then started the dishwasher.
Opening a new bottle of wine, she poured a glass and contemplated her boyfriend. Years of Friday night dinners had improved her tolerance to alcohol compared to Luke's ability to process large quantities of wine. It is fun, though, to see him lose some inhibitions, and oh my god was he sexy, like Patrick Swayze in Ghost, trailing his hands over mine in the water. I could have taken him then and there.
She looked around the kitchen with satisfaction. Sookie's demanding nature when it came to her profession had resulted in an amazing workspace. Luke had complimented her several times on the efficiency and practicality of her design. Fine, it would have been better if Sookie had been more involved in the construction rather than Lorelai having to do it all, but that was water under the bridge. They had finished, the Dragonfly was ready, and tomorrow would be the acid test.
Tonight, however, she had nothing to do but rest and relax with Luke. Tipsy, uninhibited Luke. This was a rare moment and one she intended to enjoy to the fullest.
Sookie had left a tray with cheesecake and fruit for their dessert. Lorelai took two fresh wine glasses, the newly-opened bottle, and the food tray and headed to the honeymoon suite. On her way through the lobby, she noticed her flowers and, shifting a few things around in her arms, managed to carry everything outside, down the steps and back to the room.
The door was open and the light on when Lorelai approached the suite. Upon entering, she was greeted happily by Luke, who was lolling on the bed.
"Hi," he said in his sexy voice, "I've missed you." He watched her put her things down on the small side table, nearly tripping over the bags left lying on the floor. She caught herself, straightened up and looked at Luke with one eyebrow arched.
"Looking pretty cocky, aren't you, mister?" she challenged.
"That remains to be seen. Shall we take a look?" he offered. Standing up, he approached her, taking her intractable form in his arms.
"Lorelai, I was just kidding," Luke said, sounding less drunk than before. "It's not the dishwashing that turns me on. You only have to stand there and I can't resist."
Lorelai let her annoyance dissipate, saying, "I might not be so willing to forgive you if you hadn't given me such beautiful flowers today. Let me hang up my clothes and we'll find out just how cocky you are tonight."
As she unzipped the garment bag, Luke filled both glasses with wine. Carrying them over to Lorelai, he handed her one and toasted, "To the Dragonfly, and her amazing owner."
She clinked glasses and drank with him, adding, "And to one very generous investor, who saved my ass at just the right time."
"That was an ass definitely worth saving," he growled, pulling her close for a heated kiss.
Relaxing into the kiss, Lorelai was once again excited by this uninhibited side of Luke. She folded her arms above his shoulders, wrapping her hands around his head for a long kiss. Breaking away, she continued unpacking, removing their toiletries bags and putting them in the bathroom. She pulled a teddy and several of her favorite bras out of the duffle bag, digging deeper for her panties, but coming up empty.
"Luke, I have four bras here, and no panties. How could you forget my panties?"
"Maybe I didn't forget them, did you ever think of that?" He pretended to leer at her as she rolled her eyes at him.
Acting too sweetly, she took him by the hand and led him to the bed, Luke following willingly. She pushed him onto the bed and straddled him, saying, "One of us has to go back home for some underwear for me. If I go, I'm sleeping there. What's it gonna be, buddy?"
Luke cracked up laughing. "OK, I give in! They're in the duffle bag in the zipper pocket. Can we please have sex now?"
"I'm not so sure you deserve it after all you put me through tonight," she muttered as she began to undress him.
He smirked, saying, "I promise to not enjoy it then, OK?" He rolled her over onto the bed and silenced her laughter with his mouth.
"Lorelai, I have coffee," Luke said as he kissed her awake. "Come on, get up. I want to show you something."
"I love coffee," she mumbled, "and I've already seen it, Luke. Last night. Twice."
"Not THAT," he said, "Outside. Here, put on this robe." He held up a Dragonfly robe, standard issue for all guest rooms. He reached under the covers and pulled her feet out, slowly bringing her to a sitting position and slipping the Dragonfly slippers on.
Lorelai looked at all the Dragonfly embroidery on the slippers and robe. "Somebody went overboard on the advertising. I feel like I'm a walking billboard."
"You spent a week torturing me with embroidery samples, and even after I gave an opinion, you still chose to embroider everything in sight."
"It was pretty!" she protested.
"Hey, you remember your snow thing? How the first snow of winter is so magical and all that crap?"
"It's not crap," Lorelai grumbled.
"I want to show you my crap. You like snow, I like the lake in the morning."
"Is it magical?"
"It's magical, and it has coffee. Come on." Luke finally had her in a standing position, tightened the robe around her waist, and led her out the door.
"This is my favorite spot in the whole inn. Just look at the lake, the mist rising off it, the first birds taking flight."
"Coffee."
"Sit here. This chair is great, Lorelai. I didn't even know they made Adirondack chairs for two people. I think we need one of these for the lake cabin."
He guided her onto the fat, fluffy cushions, sat beside her and covered them both with a wool blanket left on the porch for exactly that purpose. The inn behind them was silent and it felt as if they were alone on the planet.
"You really know how to make a guest feel comfortable," Luke said as he handed her coffee and moved his tea closer. "This porch is wonderful. It's private, but has a great lake view. Coffee and tea in the room, and that shower is great. The natural slate makes it feel good, and the rain shower head is like standing under a waterfall."
Look at him, so talkative this morning. Now I understand the notion of kissing someone just to shut them up.
She sipped her coffee, found it to be a good drinking temperature, then took a deep gulp and lay back, waiting for the caffeine to kick in. Luke pulled her against him, caressing her hair as her head lay on his shoulder.
She looked down the hill, seeing what he'd described. A lone blue Heron landed in the bulrushes near where they'd stood last night, looking to do a little fishing himself.
"Did you see that?" she said enthusiastically. "That bird is huge!"
"That's what I meant when I suggested we use the lake to show conservancy issues. We can take pictures of the wildlife that use the lake and put a board up so people can learn about them."
"You just said 'we' when talking about the inn. Does this mean you want to be a full partner? Sookie and I can still change it. We haven't had the papers made up yet."
"No, it means I'm willing to help a little with the fishing dock. All the other decisions like napkins and doilies you can keep for yourselves."
"But you'll still do a nature talk sometimes, right?"
"Once in a very long while, like one time each summer."
"Will you wear a Dragonfly shirt?"
"Maybe, depends on how lame it looks."
"I'll have your name embroidered on it."
"In that case, no. Absolutely not."
"Ranger Luke."
"Forget it."
"Will you wear a ranger hat? I'd like to see you in a ranger hat." Under the blanket Lorelai began unconsciously sliding her hand up and down Luke's thigh, an action that did not go unnoticed by him.
"You like the hat thing, do you?" he remarked with a grin.
"I might. We'll have to see how well you can balance it when …"
"No hat."
She smiled up at him oddly.
"You're still picturing me in that hat, aren't you?" She nodded.
"No hat," he insisted.
She kept smiling up at him as she drank her coffee, not saying a word.
Sensing that a topic change would be to his benefit, Luke said, "So today's your big day. The test run, then next week you open for business. Are you scared?"
"No. Yes. No. OK, I'm terrified."
"Seems about right. You do know that you are amazingly well-prepared, don't you?" He squeezed her shoulders in support.
"It feels like we're going to crash and burn on the very first day."
"Tell me what you think isn't finished."
Lorelai thought for a while, but came up empty. "I can't think of anything."
"So you're as prepared as you can be, right?" Lorelai nodded, still a little uncertain.
"Good. Then there's nothing left to do but open for business. Congratulations, today's your first business day. Who gets to place the first order? Where will your first dollar come from?"
"You, if you'll buy something." She grinned. "Buy a Dragonfly gift for your girlfriend! How about a lovely robe?" She swatted him with the end of the belt tied around her waist.
"Too fluffy. My girlfriend needs something girlier."
"Something girlier, hmmm. Beer cozy-girly, but not quite girly enough." Luke gave her a double-take on that comment. "Oh! Wait! I have just the right thing! We got some samples from a merchandising company. They gave us five silk scarves with dragonflies on them. You can buy one of those!"
"Deal. Let's do it when we go up to the inn. I still need to work the breakfast shift today."
Luke refilled Lorelai's cup from the pot he'd brought outside earlier. He shifted nervously in their chair. Lorelai could feel him suddenly get tense.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Yeah, I was just thinking about the year I opened the diner. Every day was crazy and the year just flew by."
"It must have been exciting." Lorelai could picture Luke being run ragged every day until he found his rhythm. She hoped it wouldn't be as bad for her, since she had so much inn management experience compared to Luke starting with very little experience.
"It was, but when I think about you and the Dragonfly, that year is a really long time." He looked in his tea mug, still searching for the right words to use.
"But you just said it would fly by, Luke. What's bugging you?"
He glanced at her, then turned his eyes to the lake, a view that wouldn't change or run away if he said something stupid.
"Luke, honey, you need to tell me. I can't guess, and you're getting me worried."
"We're not kids anymore, Lorelai."
"Yeah, my childhood ended the day the stick turned pink. You must have been about eighteen at the time, so you weren't a kid anymore then, either, right?"
Nodding, he rubbed his chin, then said, "That's not what I mean. We're old enough to plan ahead a little." He paused, then blurted, "I don't want to wait that year before we start discussing marriage and kids." Having dropped that bomb, he looked uncertainly at Lorelai, waiting to find out what her reaction would be.
"Oh."
"Oh!? That's all you've got to say? Oh god, I've really screwed this up, haven't I?" He got a sick feeling in his stomach.
"Luke, calm down. You haven't screwed anything up. Give me a minute to think, OK?" She pondered for a moment, then asked, "Is that what you want? Do you want to get married? How about kids? You've never been a fan of jam hands, if I recall correctly."
"You know those comments were all theoretical, right? Half the time I was jealous of the guy you were with or irritated by someone else's kids."
"Why don't you stop being theoretical and tell me what you want, hon."
"Marriage is a no-brainer for me. Of course I want to marry you, the sooner the better for me. I get all confused about these weird titles and husband and wife is just easier. 'Life partner' sounds silly, and I don't want to be sixty years old living with my 'girlfriend,' but what we call ourselves doesn't change the fact that I'm never going to leave you."
"You'd be willing to have my dream wedding? I can dress you up like a Ken doll and parade you all over Stars Hollow?" She smiled at the thought, not really surprised at Luke's traditional thoughts on marriage.
"As long as I get to take you home that night as my wife and we never ever have to do it again, then you can do pretty much what you want with me that day."
"And kids?" she asked, less certain about this topic.
"We could have a kid," he began, "or kids, if you want. Or not, if you don't want any more kids. I mean, we've got Rory and she's amazing. If you're done with babies, you're done. But maybe another little girl, who looks like her mother and sister, that could be something special. But only if you want."
"I might want a little boy, with dark hair and dark blue eyes. Would you be OK with that? Maybe even one of each. Two grumpy little babies lying on their daddy's chest."
Luke let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. "So kids-yes?"
"Kids would be good," she said simply.
"So we can start talking about when and where and how after the Dragonfly starts to settle down?"
"We can probably skip the 'how' part, sweetie. I think we're pretty good at that already, but yeah, we can start throwing ideas around anytime."
Luke continued to look at the lake until the tears threatening to fall were under control. Kissing Lorelai again, he said, "I think I'm going to enjoy the year of the Dragonfly."
As they dressed, Lorelai, said, "You know, Luke, some merchandising for the diner could bring you a little more profit for very little effort."
"No."
"We could have coasters made with the Luke's sign on one side and your smiling face on the other."
"Forget it."
"How about Luke's T-shirts? Or those pink polo shirts I mentioned earlier? They don't have to be for the crew only, you know."
"Let's go, I have to go to work. The crew is not going to wear pink polo shirts. I told you that already." He dragged her by the hand out of the room, while Lorelai continued her list.
"Fishing hats! Coffee mugs! Tool boxes with Bert's name inscribed! A charm bracelet with tiny hamburgers and fries! I wonder if they can make plaid flannel panties; those would sell great! …