Other Girls of Gilmore Girls: The Lindsay Lister Story

Chapter 19

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Erica made sure to introduce me to everyone at the environmental conference in Woodbridge. I was terrified of attending anything called a conference, but it was more of a street fair with tables lined up and people showing off how they maintained sustainability or promoted environmentally-friendly products. She invited me over to her and David's place after. It was a townhouse in Litchfield, tall and narrow, with original woodwork and delightfully squeaky wood floors. "I love it!" I exclaimed almost as soon as I walked inside. "Sorry, didn't mean for that to be an outburst. It's just that Dean and I are so cramped in our apartment."

"David and I got a good deal on this place because with everyone wanting separate, single-family places, townhouses don't sell as well. Something like that. Whatever, it's more my style. Affordable and beautiful. Plus, why waste that money renting?"

I memorized Erica's argument and delivered it to Dean that night at dinner. I had roasted a chicken, even after my full day at the environmental conference and visiting Erica I still had time to roast a chicken. I asked Dean how he liked it, and he said, "it's good." Nothing else. We sat in silence for a minute, and I brought up the benefits of a townhouse.

"A townhouse? A townhouse, Lindsay? How are we going to afford that?"

"You won't always be working at Doose's. Your income will always go up."

"But it's not going up next week." Dean was right.

"I was thinking of getting a part-time job," I said even though I hadn't. My mom and I talked earlier in the week about my ability to fully support Dean in school and work so that he could provide. What would it look like for me to support him? My support should be in keeping everything in the house clean and ready for him to go to work each day. Laundry, meals, and I should make sure he has time and quiet for school work. She told me that if I didn't do my part, he couldn't do his. If he was going to support both of us and eventually a family, I would have to figure out how to support him. Right now, I knew that while making food was helping, we needed money. And maybe getting a part-time job was just as important as keeping the towels clean. It wouldn't be anything I'd keep as a career. I had an idea: "The Dragonfly Inn is opening, and Lorelai will need employees. I might ask her for some part-time work to help us make enough money for the down payment. Hell, I'll even save the entire down payment myself. How does that sound?"

Dean was quiet.

"I don't want you to," he finally said.

"Why? We don't have kids yet, and I'm doing pretty good at taking care of you, right? I have time for a few hours a week of work."

"I can provide. I can figure it out, and you can keep your life as it is. This is for me." He sounded sad, and I reached over to touch his arm. He let my hand rest there but didn't look at me. I waited. He stayed still. "Well," I started, "I'm going to clean up."

Dean moved to the couch and turned on the television, but I don't think he was paying attention.