What's Next?

Lorelai Encounters of the Third Kind

"What?" Rory gasped. "What do you mean they're no where to be found?"

"I mean they're gone, Rory! I went in to visit last week and they weren't there so I tried to next day. When I saw that there was no car or truck in the driveway, I called both of their cells and got voicemail; I came in yesterday again and still no sign of anyone being home."

"Maybe they're just on a trip or something."

Emily sighed. "Without telling you?"

"I mean they're no Mark Twain in Innocent's Abroad but occasionally they travel..." Rory grabbed her keys. "Let me tell Jess and then we can go look for them."

Rory informed Jess and then headed out with Emily.

"Nana!" Haeven came running out.

"Hello there, little Haeven. You sure have grown up."

"Mommy said I grew this much tall!" Haeven stretched her arms out.

"My, my that sure is tall!"

"Bye, sweet girl." Rory kissed Haeven on the cheek. "See you in a little bit."

*****

"Come on, answer." Rory said aloud when her cell rang and rang.

They pulled up to Lorelai and Luke's house where Rory ran up the steps. She rang the doorbell and knocked profusely. After no reply, Rory grabbed a key that lay under a frog statue in the front.

"They leave a key that easy to find?" Emily was shocked. "What if someone where to come in? It must be terribly easy to break in."

Rory ignored her and got into the house. "Mom?" She yelled. "Luke?" She continued to search the house. It was strange, Rory noticed, that the house was neat; nothing looked out of place. Rory tried her cell again: no answer.

"Rory? It is okay to be snooping around their house like this?" Emily yelled from the doorway.

"I'm not snooping, exactly..." Rory walked in Emily's direction. "I don't know what's going on." She sat down on the porch steps and placed her head in her hands. "Am I making something out of nothing?"

Emily felt sympathetic and sat beside her on the steps. "I'm sure everything is fine, Rory. Your mother is known for crazy, unbeknownst schemes." She put a comforting arm around Rory's shoulders. "It's going to be okay, they'll show up."

"You're right." Rory stood up with a new sense of hope. "I'm going to leave a note and then I'll be out."

"Let's try Luke's." Rory said when she got into the car.

Emily drove to Luke's Diner and Rory got out. "Closed?" She stared at the sign that shook as she hit the door.

Babette walked by and Rory ran up to her.

"Have you seen my mom or Luke?"

Babette frowned. "No, sugar. I'm sorry. Is something wrong?"

"They've just been gone for a week without any explanation." Rory pursed her lips in doubt. "I'm worried."

"Oh, Rory I don't know where they are. The diner's been closed for a while, it's really strange. A matter of fact, Marty was looking for Luke a couple of days ago to get our porch fixed but he was nowhere to be found." Babette rambled. "Last time I saw either of them was at the festival at the square but that was a while back."

"Thank you, Babette. I'll ask around more." Rory smiled half-heartedly.

"No problem, sugar. Tell me when you find out more!" She waved off.