𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓗𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀

35. Who sent the ice cream maker?

"Hush, she's coming," Sookie whispered.

Her, Rory, Lisa, and I stand in front of the box on the table as Lorelai comes into view.

"Hello?" She asked. "What's going on?" She smiled and the four of us spread apart.

"This came for you and Max," Sookie announced. Lorelai's smile faltered as I said, "We think it's a wedding present."

"Oh," my mother said. "I mean, what else would it be? A death threat? I guess news doesn't travel fast." She forces a laugh.

Rory and I share a look as my sister asked, "Can we open it?"

Lorelai scoffed. "Uh, no. Honey, it's a wedding present. And seeing as I am not getting married, it would be wrong to keep it. I'll send it back tomorrow—"

"There's no return address," Lisa said.

Lorelai raised her eyebrows. "Not even a card?"

"They're might be one inside..." Sookie smiles. Lorelai looked at the four of us and sighed. We took that as a sign to start ripping open the package.

"Oh! An ice cream making machine!" Sookie exclaimed. "Jackson just some apples in—we can make apple ice cream!"

"Uh, no. We are sending this back as soon as I find the card," My mother trailed off as she looks for the card. "Huh, that's odd."

"Oh well, guess we have to keep it!" Rory said, shrugging her shoulders.

"No, Rory we can't."

"What if it's an orphan?"

"Yeah," Lisa chimed in. "And we're giving it a home!"

"C'mon, Mom, we can't deny it a home and send it back out onto the streets," I whined.

"No, no, and no. I'm going to find out who sent this and no one touch it!" She stormed out of the room, leaving the four of us looking at the machine.

"Can we still make apple ice cream with Jackson's machine?" I asked Sookie.

"Sure, kid."

The next day, Lorelai was calling every person in our family to find out who sent the ice cream maker. She called people I didn't even knew existed and some that she hadn't talked to in 20 years.

I could tell she wasn't enjoying reconnecting as I sat in the living room doing homework.

"Well, as much as I've loved this conversation, I have to go!" Lorelai said, as Rory walked into the room and sat down next to her. "Promise to call in the next 20 years or so!"

"They didn't send it either?" Rory asked. Lorelai shook her head.

"I still have the family out west, but I don't think it was any of them. It's like it was just a big prank. How was school?"

Rory nodded. "Okay, I guess. I mean, where does performing act five of Romeo and Juliet with Paris, Madeline, and Louise fall?"

"Torturous and traumatizing?" I guessed. Rory gave a weak smiled.

"Paris appointed herself director."

"I'm sorry, honey. What part are you playing?" Our mother asked, clearly enjoying Rory's suffering.

"I don't know yet," my sister picked up her homework as Lorelai walked away. "By the way, I hired you to do the costumes!"

"What!?" Lorelai yelled.

"Paris needs a résumé and samples of previous work."

"This better get a good grade," Lorelai murmured, reemerging in room.