The Forgotten Gilmore

Chapter Eleven: Family Ties

Alessia sat in the back seat of Lorelai's Jeep, her arms folded tightly across her chest. The drive from Stars Hollow to Hartford felt longer than usual, the familiar landscape slipping by unnoticed. She hadn't expected to end up at her grandparents' for dinner, but Lorelai's insistence had made it unavoidable.

Lorelai, her tone strained, glanced back at Alessia in the rearview mirror. "So, Harvard. How's it treating you?"

"It's fine," Alessia said, keeping her voice level. "Busy but good."

Lorelai raised an eyebrow. "Busy. Of course. Harvard's never known for being easy."

Alessia felt the sarcasm sting. Lorelai had always favored Rory, and the tension had only worsened since Rory didn't get into Harvard-the school Alessia had wanted to attend since she was a child but chose Harvard for its superior film and photography programs.

Rory, sitting in the passenger seat with her Discman on, glanced over at Alessia. The silence between them was loaded, a reminder of the awkwardness that had settled since Rory's Yale rejection. "Let's just try to make this dinner go smoothly," Rory said quietly, her attempt at optimism failing to mask the unease.

"Yeah," Lorelai said, rolling her eyes. "I'm all for catching up, especially when we're not discussing how Harvard is so much better than Yale."

---

Emily Gilmore's house was exactly as Alessia remembered-grand and imposing, a testament to old money. The scent of polished wood and expensive perfume greeted them as they entered. Emily, impeccably dressed, greeted them with practiced warmth.

"Rory, darling!" Emily said, enveloping her granddaughter in a hug. "And Lorelai, so good to see you. Alessia, what a pleasant surprise," she added, her surprise evident.

Alessia managed a polite smile. "Yeah, it was a bit of a last-minute decision."

Emily's gaze lingered on Alessia. "Harvard, is it? Quite the departure from the family tradition, isn't it? But I suppose we all make our own choices."

"I wanted to go to Yale," Alessia said quietly, trying to keep her voice steady. "But Harvard offered better opportunities for what I want to study."

Emily's smile tightened slightly. "Ah, well. Family traditions can be so constricting. But let's focus on the positives tonight."

As they took their seats at the dining table, Emily's demeanor remained poised. But her eyes were sharp as she snapped at the maid. "Sarah, these napkins are wrinkled. Must I do everything myself?" she said, her voice carrying a sharp edge.

Richard appeared with an amused smirk, his booming voice filling the room. "Ah, it's always the maid's fault. Right, Emily? I doubt you could keep a maid for longer than a few days."

Emily shot him a disapproving look, though Richard's attempt at humor lightened the mood slightly. "Oh, Richard," she said with a forced smile. "Must you always make jokes at my expense?"

Richard chuckled. "It's all in good fun. Though, Alessia, if you need any advice on maid management, just ask Emily."

The conversation shifted, but Alessia felt increasingly out of place. As they ate, Emily and Richard's jokes about the household staff only highlighted the chasm between Alessia and the rest of the family. Rory seemed more tense, trying to steer the conversation to safer topics, while Lorelai sat in strained silence.

Emily turned her attention to Rory. "So, Rory, tell us more about Yale. We're all so curious about your experiences there."

Rory spoke up, her voice growing more animated as she described her courses and experiences. Alessia could feel the weight of the conversation shift entirely onto Rory, and it stung.

Throughout dinner, Emily and Richard's conversation remained centered on Rory's achievements. Alessia felt the hollow ache of being sidelined, the reminder of her own choices echoing in the background. Lorelai's disapproval was palpable, though she kept her comments to herself.

As the evening wound down, Emily and Richard exchanged polite goodbyes. Emily's parting words were cool but polite. "I hope you'll come again soon, Alessia."

Alessia nodded, her smile forced. "I will. Thank you for having me."

Lorelai guided Alessia out the door with an air of finality. The drive back to Stars Hollow was filled with a heavy silence, and Alessia couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment and isolation that had settled over the evening. No matter how hard she tried, it seemed she could never quite fit into the mold her family expected.