Chapter 3 - Rory Arrives
The squeak of rushed footsteps echoed off the polished hospital floor, and Lorelai looked up just as Rory rounded the corner, scarf flapping behind her like a cape. She spotted her mother instantly and hurried over, her eyes wide with worry.
"Mom!" Rory dropped her bag with a thud and pulled Lorelai into a tight hug.
"I'm okay," Lorelai said into her daughter's shoulder. "He's stable. We're still waiting."
Rory pulled back, nodding, eyes already flicking around, scanning for answers. That's when she noticed Luke.
"Oh," she said, blinking. "You're here."
Luke stood, suddenly awkward again. "Hey, Rory."
"Hey." She glanced at her mom, then back at him. "I didn't know you were coming."
"He just… showed up," Lorelai said, and something in her voice made Rory look at her a little closer.
"Right," Rory said slowly, the pieces falling into place. "That's… good."
Luke cleared his throat. "I should probably—uh—give you guys a minute."
"No," Rory said suddenly. Both Lorelai and Luke looked at her. "I mean—stay. Please."
Luke nodded, quietly sinking back into the chair.
Rory glanced at her mom. "You okay?"
Lorelai hesitated, then nodded. "I'm holding together."
"But barely," Rory said, knowingly.
"Barely counts," Lorelai replied.
They sat like that—Lorelai in the middle, her daughter on one side, Luke on the other—an unlikely triangle held together by decades of complicated love.
And for a little while, they didn't need to say anything.
They just needed to be.