Gilmore Girls: More in the Life

Chapter 44

Lorelai spent the day at the inn. She worked on things in her office most of the morning, occasionally making the trek to the kitchen for a fresh cup of coffee and a visit with Sookie. Boy, after two years of being Sookieless, it was amazing to have her back at the helm of the restaurant. No matter who else she hired to fill the vacancy, it wasn't right.

With a refilled coffee cup, Lorelai made her way back to the check in desk. She helped a young couple who was celebrating their first wedding anniversary, putting them in room six. Once they moved toward the stairs, Lorelai noticed someone sitting on the sofa in front of her. It took a moment for her eyes to register that it was her mother.

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk Lorelai. Can someone else cover things for you for a while?"

"For a while? Uh, yeah. Let me get Aubrey over here." Lorelai ran to the back to grab Aubrey. She stepped into the kitchen. "Pssst, Sookie! If you don't see or hear from me in an hour, call the police! My mother is here and she wants to talk 'for a while'."

"Oh man, what do you think that means?"

"I have no idea!" Lorelai dipped back out the door and found Aubrey in the library, organizing books. "Aubrey, I need you to cover the front desk."

"Okay, Lorelai."

Realizing she could no longer delay the inevitable, Lorelai went back to her mother and waved her into her private office. After they were both seated, Emily seemed like she was trying to gather her thoughts.

"Mom, can I get you anything? Water? Coffee?"

"No, I'm okay."

"So why are you here? Not that you can't come by but you live in Nantucket now, which is quite the drive for a drop in."

Silence filled the room, creating tension. Emily's eyes met her daughter's as she began to speak. "When we were attending therapy together, you said you didn't give me a heinous letter one year on my birthday. Is that true?"

"Yes, I did not give you a letter." Lorelai stared on in disbelief, wanting her mother to continue.

"Seriously? You really didn't write that?"

"Absolutely not. I hate writing letters. I hate writing emails. I hate anything having to do with writing. I'm not Rory. What letter are you talking about, Mom?"

"On my birthday twenty-five years ago, I went upstairs to our bedroom and found a letter sitting against my pillow. I thought it was a love letter from Richard, given the occasion, but instead I found a stark description of how I had ruined the writer's life with my insufferable abuse and distaste of anything short of my outrageous demands. I was told that I would never find happiness by searching for anything and everything to critique in those around me and that the writer hoped I would one day understand the pain I'd caused." By the end, Emily's eyes had filled with such sadness that Lorelai felt helpless.

"Mom, you and I have had our issues over the years but I swear to you, I am not the writer of that letter." Lorelai's voice was quiet. She had no idea that anyone with access to her mother's bedroom would have been so brazen as to not only write but give Emily such a letter— and on her birthday. "Was anyone visiting around that time? Gran maybe? Could it have been a maid? Could someone have coerced the maid to put that on your pillow on your birthday under the guise of a sweet note wishing you a happy birthday?"

Emily's eyes grew wide. "That's it! It was Gran. Oh that old bag always had it out for me."

"Wait, how do you know it was Gran?"

"The week before that particular birthday, she came to stay a few nights when she was having work done on her house. I bet she cornered the maid, ordering that she place the letter on my pillow on that specific day."

Lorelai shrugged her left shoulder. "Sounds like it could be possible."

"I can't believe she would have the nerve to do that. I realize I wasn't Pennilyn Lot but at that point, Richard and I had been married for twenty-five years! It wasn't as if what he and I had was a fling that would quickly be ending. I was his wife, the mother of his child whom we named after her. And that's how she felt I should be treated? Berated in an unsigned letter? If she wasn't already dead—"

"Whoa there, Mom. I get it. You're mad."

Emily clenched her fists, her jaw tight. She sat like that for several moments, staring off.

"Mom, now would you like a water or coffee?"

Emily adjusted her gaze back to Lorelai. "A water with lemon would be good."

Lorelai excused herself and went to the kitchen. As she was prepping her mother's drink, she briefly filled Sookie in on the reason for the impromptu visit.

"How could someone do that? And to her daughter-in-law?"

"Ah, that is the Gilmore way. Attack when defenses are down to land the best strike."

"You're sure it's her?"

"I really think so. That's how Gran rolled."

Back in her private office, Lorelai handed her mother the water. Emily sipped it soundlessly. When the glass was empty, she placed it on her daughter's desk and began to speak.

"For all these years, I assumed you were who wrote those terrible things. That letter was never far from my mind. Every Friday night at dinner, I would remember a line or two as I looked at you. I felt hurt and bitterness creeping into my relationship with you but I thought it was your cross to bear since you apparently felt like I was the devil in heels. I am very sorry Lorelai for assuming the worst about you. I had no idea you were not to blame but instead, it slowly deteriorated our already strained relationship. If that letter had never been placed there or if it would have been signed, who knows what would have happened between you and me. We may have been able to grow closer rather than farther apart. For that, I am deeply sorry. I'm afraid it's too late now to repair all the damage done but, if you're willing, I would like to try."

Lorelai didn't realize tears had filled her eyes until one cascaded down her cheek. "Of course, Mom. I can't say as I blame you for thinking it was me. Even back then, as you said, we had a strained relationship. Forgive and forget."

Emily stood, clearly through with what she had come to do. She crossed through the inn to the front door, Lorelai following her. She paused in the doorway, turning to look at her only child. "If you don't mind, would it be okay to reserve a room here for Christmas?"

Lorelai smiled. "I'll give you our best room."

"Goodbye Lorelai." Emily closed the door and walked down the steps.

Without thinking, Lorelai opened the door to stop Emily. "Mom?"

"Yes?" Emily asked as she did an about face.

"I love you."

Tears formed in Emily's eyes. "I love you too."