Searching for my Identity

15. Chapter Grandma knows best

First of all I want to apologize that it took me so Long to post another chapter. Life hadn't been easy the last months. But now I'm trying to write more and post more regularly. I hope you will enjoy this chapter and please feel free to leave a comment at the end of the chapter and thanks again to my beta reader @LindaProsser1 and of course a good friend of mine @claudiacleland

Chapter 15 Grandma knows best

"Thanks for the ride, Dad. I'll give you or Mom a call when I need a ride back home. Love you." she smiled at her dad. "Ok, Nathalie and I love you too," Logan replied and made his way back home again.

Nathalie went up the stairs with a wide smile and pressed the doorbell. "One moment, I'm coming." she heard her grandmother's voice.

Lorelai opened the door and was surprised when she saw her eldest granddaughter. "Nathalie, Honey, what are you doing here?" She greeted Nathalie with an astonished smile. "I hope I haven't disturbed you and Grandpa..." Nathalie answered hesitantly.

"That's nonsense, don't even think you're disturbing us. Come in sweets, your grandpa's still at the diner. You know him, he just can't quit working, although Caesar is taking good care of his beloved Luke's. How about we go to the Dragonfly Inn? We could have a chat over coffee and cake." Lorelai began to ramble and hugged her granddaughter.

"Sounds like a great idea," Nat nodded then entered her grandparents home.

„Good then let me grab my purse, and we can walk to the Inn." Lorelai continued talking and was looking for her handbag and coat, while Nathalie entered the living room.

"Okay, grandma." , the young girl grinned. Looking around the room, she recalled so many of her first memories. Here she had taken her first steps with the help of her dad, her first scar when she fell and hit her forehead on the edge of the coffee table. For a second she closed her eyes and leaned against the large wing chair.

Lorelai looked at her granddaughter anxiously and wondered why Nathalie came here today. Usually, she called her before to see if she stopped by. She cleared her throat with a lousy feeling.

"I'm ready sweetheart. Come on,", Lorelai winked at her with affection, and they left the house.

Not a single cloud could be seen in the sky, and the sun seemed to sparkle on their way to the Dragonfly Inn. Lorelei and her granddaughter walked over the Muddy River Bridge and saw the swan swim lazily passed them, they listened to the birds chirped gleefully as they continued on the trek.

No one spoke at first since neither of them really knew how to start the conversation. Lorelai finally tried to encourage the conversation with her granddaughter by putting her arm around her shoulders.

"So sweets, tell me what's bothering you. I'm here for you.."
The young girl was anxious for a moment, but a small smile spread across her lips as she looked into her beloved granny's face.

"I don't know where to start grandma, it's so complicated. I know I should have talked with mom or dad, but I don't want them to worry about me. They've got so many things on their mind right now." Nathalie shrugged her shoulders, stopping for a second as they approached the park bench. She sat down and looked at her grandmother wondering what she should say.

Lorelai sighed and followed her. "I'm all ears Nathalie, and you know grandma knows best.", Grinning at her granddaughter, Lorelai sat down beside her and held her hand.

"I have so much homework to do at school, and I feel so am overwhelmed Grams, I love going to school, but right now it's torture to go to the French classes. Miss Francine, my French teacher, is giving me quite a hard time because I didn't do well on the last tests. Maybe I should look for a French tutor." she began to speak and took a short break.

"Then there's Jason, Grandma. I like him. Apparently, he sees in me only just a good friend." Nathalie continued.
Lorelai gave her granddaughter a small smile and pulled her into her side and rubbed her shoulder. "It's tough growing up."

"Grandma, did my mom had a boyfriend when she was my age?", she asked looking into her grandmother's face.

Smiling Lorelai rubbed her granddaughter's arm "Your mother's first boyfriend was Dean Forrester, and he was the first boy who had kissed her. It was a funny story,", she smirked thinking about how the time has gone by so fast.

With a wistful smile, she thought of all the changes in their lives these last few years. Lorelai was so glad that her grandchildren grew up in a loving, intact family without worrying about anything. Notably, she was happy about the strong bond, she had with her two granddaughters Nathalie and Grace.
Although it tore her heart apart when she thought about Norah. She would do anything to have her back in Rory's and Logan's life. It almost destroyed her daughter's marriage with Logan, but then Grace came along.

Logan and Rory worked hard to keep their marriage and have a loving home for their daughters and their son.

Things seem to be better between Rory and Logan since their short trip to Martha's Vineyard. Of course, she knew Logan and Rory weren't going to solve their problems overnight. Nevertheless, Lorelai was confident that the two would understand each other better from their diary entries where they shared their worries and despair.

Lorelai closed her eyes and tried to ignore the guilty conscience that was spreading in her body again. She glanced at her granddaughter who starred thoughtlessly at the river. Lorelai grabbed Nat's hand and squeezed it softly.

"Grandma, would you mind telling me about it? I'm curious. Mom has never had never spoke much about her childhood and boys.", Lorelai snapped back to reality and grinned at her granddaughter.

"Your mom was about 15 at that time, and she and Lane went to Doose 's pretending to do some shopping. Dean liked your mother. She was walking down one aisle, and he surprised her. Your mother pretended she needed cornstarch then Dean leaned in and kissed her." Hearing this tale, Nathalie started to giggle.

"After the kiss, she was so embarrassed that she ran out of the store with the box of cornstarch. She never paid for the box of cornstarch. When she returned home, she was still holding the box of cornstarch in her hands."

Nathalie began to giggle more picturing herself as her mother becoming embarrassed if Jason had surprised her with a kiss. Her mother was so perfect, she couldn't imagine her getting into any trouble.

"Nathalie I bet your mother still has the box of cornstarch in a box hidden in her closet labeled Dean..", Lorelai told her, and they both began to laugh.

"No way! My Mom stole a box of cornstarch from Taylor Doose's shop? That's so funny Grandma.", she giggled and leaned her head on her grandmother's shoulder while Lorelai was stroking her soft, blonde hair.

"Yes Nathalie, and don't worry too much about boys. It will come at the right time. I promise that your prince charming is waiting for you,", Lorelai winked at her granddaughter and kissed her on the temple.

"Do you think so?" Nat questioned.

"Of course. sweets, and how about movie night tomorrow? We could cuddle up with Grace and your mom in front of the TV and watch a bunch of good movies," Lorelai suggested.

"Yes, that's a good idea but only if we're ordering a lot of Chinese food from Al's Pancake World Grams." Nathalie agreed with her grandmother and beamed at her happily.

"Great then we save the date for tomorrow. Now tell me all about this boy Jason. I only saw him at your birthday party, but you never introduced me"