Gilmore Girls: Another Year in the Life

[SPRING] Chapter 12: The Best Laid Schemes of Titmice and Men

~ A Few Weeks Later ~

It was a rainy Friday afternoon at the Dragonfly Inn and Lorelai had her hands full checking people in at the front desk. Michel had called in sick, so it was up to her to keep the place running and get guests settled in for the weekend. She had just finished pointing out a good bird-watching spot on a brochure map for a nice elderly couple when her cell rang.

"Hey, is the plural of titmouse 'titmouses' or 'titmice'?" Lorelai asked as soon as she answered.

"I'm really hoping this isn't a dirty joke," Rory said.

"It's a songbird native to Connecticut, which I had no idea about, and when I tried talking about birdwatching with this lovely couple from Arizona, I'm sure I made a complete fool of myself."

"Ah yes, everyone knows that the Venn diagram of bird watchers and grammar nazis is indeed a circle."

"So," Lorelai said, "you're the Yale graduate here. Which is it? So I know for next time."

"Maybe it's 'titsmouse'? How should I know? You have access to modern technology, you look it up." Rory said, then changed the subject. "Etymology aside, I was calling to make sure you're still coming to my book party tomorrow in Philadelphia. It starts at seven."

"Ohh, right," Lorelai said slowly. "You mean the party that Jess is throwing for you?" She tried not to put too much emphasis on "Jess."

"Yes," her daughter said sternly, "the party Jess is throwing me. And it's not just him, it's the whole Truncheon team cheering me on since they helped edit most of the book. Please, mom, it's really important to me that you be there. I know you're not a huge fan of the book or my relationship with Jess, but this book is just as much about you as it is about me and I'd be heartbroken if you didn't come."

Lorelai frowned. She felt like all she had done so far was criticize or complain about Rory's book from the very beginning even though her daughter was so passionate about it. She couldn't help it though. It had taken a long time for her to adjust to the idea that people she knew would be reading such an intimate, detailed account of all the big moments in her life over the past 16 years. She was barely okay with it, but realizing again how much this meant to her daughter, her best friend in the entire world, she suddenly felt horrible for not being more supportive.

"Of course I'll be there," she said softly. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Okay good. And you'll be nice to Jess?"

A few weeks ago, Luke had told Lorelai about Jess coming into the diner, about how he and Rory had been in a secret relationship since New Years Eve, and about how much Jess cared for Rory and the baby. Lorelai had struggled with this at first too, but after talking to Luke about it some more, he convinced her that Jess had only the best of intentions. However, she had reserved the right to be skeptical. Whether or not Rory's relationship with Jess would actually last after the baby was born was yet to be seen...

"Mom?"

Lorelai snapped out of her thoughts. "Yes, I'll be nice to Jess," she said defensively. She began rifling through some paperwork on her desk in agitation. 

"Okay, just checking. And by the way, it's 'titmice.'"

"Huh?"

"The plural of titmouse is 'titmice,'" Rory said, clarifying. She was trying to lighten the mood but to no avail.

There was an awkward silence for a moment until Lorelai said, "Alright, I'll see you there at seven."

"See you at seven."

Almost as soon as Lorelai put her phone down and looked out the window at the rain, deep in thought, her phone rang again. 

"No rest for the wicked," she whispered to herself as she lifted the phone to her ear. "Hey mom, what's up?"