Chapter 13: The saddest 21st birthday
"Something smells really good." Lorelai said happily when she walked to their apartment after work.
"I'm making your favorite cheeseburgers with extra cheese and bacon." Luke said.
"It's really good, mommy." Rory told Lorelai.
"There was no talking her out of it but, at least, I managed to snack some vegetables on Rory's burger. For you I'm afraid it's too late." Luke knew there was no point of trying to convince Lorelai to a healthier lifestyle. In the 6 years they were together she never once agreed to it.
"Please, it's too late for Rory, too. She may eat some lettuce and tomato to be nice to her dad, but she'll still end up like me." She stacked her tongue at him playfully and Rory giggled.
"Lord help me if that's true." Luke said with a smile. Honestly, he did know that there was a good chance that Rory would be a lot like Lorelai in the future. Even now, when she was only 5, she was a spitting image of her mom. And he didn't really mind it. If he could just get her to eat a little healthier than Lorelai he would feel good enough. "So, did you talk to Mia?"
"I did, and she agreed." Lorelai said happily. "I can't believe she's gonna let me throw my birthday party at the inn. And I even offered to pay, but she said she wouldn't take money from me and that this is her present for me."
"Of course she agreed. Everyone knows you're her favorite employee."
"Well, that may be true but people pay a crazy amount of money to do their events at the inn. I'm just so happy it all worked out. It's gonna be the best 21st birthday in history. Until, of course, Rory's 21st birthday."
Lorelai has always been a big fan of celebrating birthdays, she loved to throw parties not only for her birthday but also for Rory and Luke. But 21st birthday had the most meaning to her. She always associated this day as her moment of freedom. Of course, that was back when she was living with her parents, she felt free and happy nowadays. But the 21st birthday still held a special place in her heart. When she was younger she always fantasized about celebrating this day in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, with lots of gambling, lots of booze and lots and lots of fun. But now when she had Rory she couldn't imagine celebrating this day without her, and she believed that Atlantic City or Las Vegas is not the best place for a 5 year old. So, instead, she decided to throw a casino themed birthday party at Stars Hollow, where booze and gambling were still allowed, but children were also welcomed.
"Are you excited for mommy's birthday, Rory?" Lorelai asked.
"Yes, it's gonna be so much fun. Aunt Sookie said she'll prepare the food so it'll be delicious. Can I pick the music, mom?" Rory asked, excited.
"Well, you know I'm pretty picky about my music selection, right kid? So how about we pick the music together?"
"Deal." Rory agreed happily. "Daddy, will you dance with me at the party?"
"You know that I don't dance, hon. But there are two different pairs of blue eyes which can make me do anything, and, to your luck, one of them belongs to you. So of course I'll dance with you."
"Such a charmer." Lorelai said, smiling. "So I assume you'll save a dance for me, too?"
"You?" Luke asked, acting surprised. "Oh, sorry babe, I meant Rory and Kirk. When he looks at me with those big blue eyes I just can't say no." He joked.
"Watch it, mister. If you don't dance with me on my birthday, you may end up sleeping on the couch for eternity."
"Well, then I guess I can dance with you, if you insist. Just for the sake of my back, of course, cause I wouldn't be able to sleep on this couch forever."
"You know, now that I think of it, I may not be able to dance with you. This will be a party of the century, and I'm sure every guy there will want to dance with the birthday girl." She teased him.
"Okay, I changed my mind. I'd love to dance with you."
"See that, Rory? Watch and learn, boys are so easy." She laughed.
"Hey, don't teach our kids how to manipulate guys."
"Oh, please, she's a Gilmore. We learn that skill before we can ride a bike."
"I really appreciate you doing this, William. Luke wanted to help but he took Rory to the mall and since he hates malls I can only assume that they had to go there to buy me a gift."
It was the day of the big party. The food and the decorations were ready but Lorelai invited a few more town people at the last minute so she had to set up some extra chairs and tables and change the room arrangement a bit. Luke was supposed to help her but suddenly he had to go with Rory to the mall. Since Lorelai knew for a fact that Luke had already bought her a present, she guessed that something happened to it or that Rory wanted something specific. Luckily, William volunteered to help.
"So, are your parents coming tonight?" William asked politely. Lorelai knew that even after all this time her parents and William did not like each other very much. There was just too much history there. And they were very different people. However, they called a truce a long time ago, they were now tolerating each other just fine and were always polite and friendly for the sake of their kids and Rory.
"Oh, no, no. It's not really their style." Lorelai chuckled at the thought of her parents at the casino themed birthday party. "But Luke, Rory and I went to Hartford yesterday and we had a birthday dinner. It was very nice, but then again, not my style."
"You know, Lorelai. I think you're handling it all very well. I know that you and your parents don't always see eye to eye, but I must say that I can see you're trying with them and that's very important. If you didn't, Rory wouldn't have a relationship with them."
"Yes, I have to admit that I agreed to these dinners with my parents mostly because of Rory at first. To be honest I was so angry and so stubborn, that if it weren't for Luke I probably would never go back to that house. But you're right, it's important for Rory to know her grandparents. And I also want to have a better relationship with them. We're not exactly the Brady bunch yet, but it's getting better. "
"That's good, hon. You know I never really understood your parents, but after everything that happened with Liz, I kind of got to feel what they felt."
"It's not really the same, you know. Liz didn't give you a chance to be there for her." Liz was a sore subject to Danes family for a long while. It all started when Liz got pregnant at 17. Rory was 2 years old then and it was a hard time for William to accept that both his children were teenage parents. Nevertheless, he offered Liz the same help as he did for Luke and Lorelai. Liz, however, did not take his offer. Instead, she decided to marry her baby daddy, Jimmy Mariano, and ran off to New York with him. She only left a note saying that she was a wild spirit who can't be tamed. And they haven't heard from her for almost 2 years. It was only in January of this year when she called William, crying, as Jimmy left her and her little boy Jess all alone. William skipped the anger and the "I told you so's". Instead he told Liz to come home with Jess. So they did. For about a month, as Liz could not stay in one place for too long. So a few weeks ago she and Jess left for Philadelfia. However, this time she gave them her new address and phone number. So things were getting better between them.
"I don't think it really matters to parents if their kids left because of an argument or just because they wanted to. When they're gone, all you can do is worry. I started to worry 3 years ago and I haven't stopped since. I still get stomach aches, whenever I think of my little girl, being in a strange city with her kid. Let's change the topic now, to something more festive. It is your birthday after all. Are you excited?"
"I am, although not in a way I thought I would be. It's funny, actually. I always thought that this day would be a celebration of the freedom to come. But instead I feel like celebrating how far I've come already."
"Then you should consider yourself lucky. Not many people stop to take a look at the past and even less enjoy looking back. It means that you made all the right decisions and you're happy with the person you've become."
"I really am." Lorelai smiled widely at the thought. It really was an amazing thing to just simply be happy with her life.
"Okay, hon. We need to get back to work, or we won't finish it before the party. Where do you want this table?"
"There, by the door. But let me help you with that, it's too heavy for one person." Lorelai said but before she walked up to him, he already picked up the table by himself.
"Don't worry, it's not that heavy." He said and moved the table to the spot where Lorelai wanted it. He felt a little light-headed so he closed his eyes for a minute.
"William, are you okay?" Lorelai asked, worried, and rushed to his side.
"I'm fine, hon." He said. But a second later he felt a sharp pain in his stomach and fell to the ground.
"Excuse me, I'm Luke Danes. My father William is here somewhere, but I can't find anything in this damn hospital. Can you tell me where he is?" Luke said anxiously as he walked to the hospital reception. He was wandering the halls for almost 15 minutes now. When he and Rory got back from the mall it was over an hour after Lorelai took William to the hospital. Sookie gave him a message and offered to watch Rory, while Luke rushed to the hospital.
"He's in room 421, sir. It's right down the hall, first door on the right."
He didn't even bother to say thank you, he just ran to the door. He needed to see his father, he needed to know that everything was gonna be okay with him.
But when he got there, the bed was empty. Lorelai was sitting on a chair but she got up as soon as she saw Luke and she hugged him tightly.
"They're doing some tests now. Luke, it was awful, I was so scared when I was driving him to the hospital. He looked really sick and was in a lot of pain. They gave him something, though, and he was feeling better when they took him for more tests."
"Thank you for taking him. Did they tell you anything more? Do they suspect what caused it?" He asked.
"Nothing yet. I was just sitting here, waiting and worrying like crazy."
"Thank you, Lorelai, really. But you should go back to Stars Hollow. Your party is about to start. You've been planning it for weeks and I know you want to be there. I'll stay here and wait for the results. I'm sure it's nothing." He said, not really convincing himself.
"Are you crazy? I'm not going anywhere. It's your dad, Luke. He's family. I'm not leaving until I know he's alright." She said firmly.
"But it's your 21st birthday, Lorelai. You get to turn 21 only once in your life and this is it. There'll be no do overs."
"I know, Luke. And really, it's okay. I wouldn't be able to enjoy the party anyway. And there'll be other birthdays. Maybe not 21st but I'm sure they'll be fine." Luke squeezed Lorelai's hand, grateful for her words. Honestly, he didn't want to do this by himself but he also didn't want Lorelai to give up her birthday. And the fact that she offered it herself meant a lot to him.
So they spend her birthday in a hospital. They were talking, trying to remain calm. And when William came back from tests, he looked much better and healthier. He was smiling and wanted both Lorelai and Luke to go back for the party. But they wanted to keep him company instead. So they spent another hour chatting and laughing and they almost forgot they were in a hospital. Almost. Because when the doctor came in the room with a very serious face they all tensed up awaiting resultsAnd the results came, more devastating and more horrible than they could ever imagine. Cancer.