❝𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚌𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔,
𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜.
𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚢𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚔,
𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜.
𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗
𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚍.
𝚆𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚢 𝚒𝚏 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗?❞
𝙵𝚕𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚌 — 𝚁𝚑𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚗

❝Well, he adopted your mom as his mother. Technically, he is your brother.❞  — 𝙰𝚍rian

Besides biology, Rhian had statistics with Henry, who loaned her his notes. She had history and Spanish with Summer, who loaned Rhian her notes. Besides that, she had a cooking class as an elective.

It turned out that at Chilton being part of a sport is required, so Rhian picked volleyball for her sport. She considered trying out for basketball, but decided to go with volleyball instead.

Rory had decorated her locker with black and white pictures of inspirational women, while Rhian put a magnetized to-do list and calendar in her locker to keep track of assignments and volleyball games. She even put a few pictures of her and her friends in her locker as well. Normally she would've asked her friends and Rory for stuff like assignments, but since she and Rory had different classes and Rhian and her friends went to different schools...she needed reminders without bothering Summer and Henry.

The rest of the week had passed by without much incident.

So, they went to another Friday night dinner. After some bantering, apparently Heidi had been let go because she had trouble closing things, including liquor bottles, there was a mix-up between Anton and Sophia, and the maid, Mira was actually named Sarah, Richard got brought onto the subject of his mother, Lorelai the first.

Rory said, "I thought Mom was the first."

Emily replied, "Not in the name."

Lorelai stated, "No, but in so many other things I was a regular trailblazer." She added, "Just finishing your thought, Mom."

Richard explained, "Lorelai the first is my mother. She's an extremely accomplished equestrian, a distinguished patron of the arts, and she's also world-famous for her masquerade balls. She's quite a woman, my mother."

Emily flatly said, "Yes she is. Mira, come cut the cake please."

Lorelai added, "Yes, and why don't you bring Sarah out here with you?"

Emily said, "So, Lorelai, how are things at that charming little inn of yours?"

Lorelai replied, "Mm, – they're still charming and little. We're just crossing our fingers it doesn't assert itself and become rude and large."

Rhian snickered at that, "Mom's having a huge wedding there."

Emily asked, "Really?"

Lorelai said, "Yeah, actually there's people coming from all over the country."

Emily stated, "Well, isn't that nice?"

Lorelai smiled proudly, "Yeah."

Emily turned to Rory, "Rory, how's Chilton?"

Lorelai stated, "Okay, done with me now."

Emily replied, "I'm sorry, was there more to the story?"

Lorelai said, "Uh, Rory and Rhian have to pick a team sport to play."

Rory stated, "It's a requirement."

Richard said, "Physical fitness is as important as intellectual fitness. So says Plato and so say I."

Rhian considered 'going to the bathroom' to avoid this conversation.

Emily asked, "What sport are you going to pick?"

"I'm not sure," Rory replied. "I'm not really the athletic type. That goes to Rhian."

"I told them that they should go out for the debating team," Lorelai stated.

"It's not a sport," Rory replied.

"It is the way the Gilmores and Adam plays," Lorelai stated.

Emily ignored her, "So, what are your choices?"

Rory said, "God, there's like a thousand of them: basketball, lacrosse, swimming, track, golf—"

"Golf?" interrupted Emily.

"Yeah," replied Rory.

Emily stated, "Well your grandfather is a golf player."

"Oops," Lorelai stated.

"I need to go to the bathroom," Rhian announced, getting out of her seat and going to the nearest bathroom.

She didn't feel like watching the Rory Show anymore. It was always like that when they came for holidays. Emily and Richard would focus on Rory, sometimes Richard would focus on Rhian, but mostly it was Rory.

There was a few times that Rhian stayed behind with her friends to avoid witnessing the obvious favoritism.

Rory was going to Harvard to become a journalist; she had one female friend.

Rhian was going to Yale because a diner owner didn't go and not because Richard went there, just like his father before him, she was going to become a marine biologist, and had four male friends. She was going to end up being the Second Coming of Lorelai if she wasn't careful once she turned sixteen, because Lorelai and Christopher knew each other when they were kids. Rhian knew her friends when they were kids.

She kind of looked like Lorelai; so of course, she was going to end up like Lorelai, like Emily thinks.

It was insulting as hell.

She paced the bathroom. She considered calling Adrian to bitch about what was going on, but that would be calling it close. So, she washed her hands and went back to the dining room.

Lorelai and Emily were gone.

Rhian picked at her cake awkwardly.

Richard asked, "How's the bakery, Rhian?"

It was always weird how Rhichard seemed to acknowledge her presence when Emily wasn't around.

"It's going good. We're trying to figure out what cakes to have when fall October comes. We're deciding to have these apple stack cakes, pecan pie cakes, pumpkin layer cake, and something else, but we can't figure out what it should be. My friends and I want it to be this caramel apple coffee cake."

"My mom and I agree with them," Rory stated. "We should bring some so you can try it."

"Sounds wonderful," Richard stated.

"I can try and bring some next Friday," Rhian said.

Richard smiled at her, "That sounds lovely."

Emily and Lorelai finally came back and dessert went slowly, while Emily looked smug about something.

After dessert was done, they went to get their coats on.

"I'll be seeing you both on Sunday," Emily stated.

Rhian asked, "For what?"

"Your grandfather is going to teach Rory how to golf," Emily said.

Even Rory looked confused.

Rhian asked, "Why do I have to go? I picked volleyball."

Emily didn't say anything and Lorelai ushered the two of them out the door.

Lorelai sighed once the door shut, "Oh, man, did you two get blindsided? I'm so sorry."

"That's okay," Rory replied.

"I tried to stop it," Lorelai said. "I swear."

"I know," Rory replied. "Maybe it won't be that bad."

"Maybe it won't," Lorelai stated.

"Maybe I'll like it," Rory replied.

"Maybe you will," Lorelai added.

Rory said, "Maybe you could come with us."

"Oh, is there a 'you're crazy' team? 'Cause I think they'd make you captain," Lorelai stated.

Rory said, "Please?"

"Rory, I love you," Lorelai told her. "I would take a bullet for you, but I'd rather stick something sharp in my ear than go to the club with you."

"Fine," replied Rory. "At least I have Rhian."

Rhian nodded.

"I'd rather slide down a banister of razor blades and land in a pool of alcohol than go to the club with you," Lorelai said.

"I got it," Rory stated.

"Don't stop me, I'm on a roll," Lorelai replied. "I'd rather eat my own hand than go to the club with you. Ooh, I'd rather get my face surgically altered to look like that lunatic rich lady with the lion head than go to the club with you."

Rory asked, "Would you like either me or Rhian to drive so you can continue your diatribe?"

Lorelai held out the key, "Would ya? Thanks. I'd rather cut off my head and use it as a punch bowl than go to the club with you."

Rhian and Rory looked at each other.

Adrian asked, "So, we're going to have a thriller marathon, tomorrow, right?"

They had themed movie marathons. Patrick had horror movies, Adam had superhero movies, Adrian had thriller movies, Jordan had action movies, and Rhian picked fantasy. Sometimes Michael would watch documentaries and historical movies.

("That's because my brother is a nut job," Patrick had claimed.

"Says the guy who claims he could be a better Pennywise than Tim Curry," Michael retorted.) However, most of the time, Michael picked Quentin Taratino movies.

Rhian shook her head, "I can't make it, because I'm going to watch Rory play golf with our grandfather."

"That sucks, man," Adrian said.

Rhian replied, "I know."

Her friends knew about the obvious favoritism, they had to sit or lay there and listen to her complain about it.

She looked at her friends, "Who's willing to be bored to death with me at the golf course?" Her friends made faces at the thought of that. "I'm willing to trade my movie marathon away for three weeks."

"I'll do it," Jordan said.

Rhian nodded at him, gratefully, "Thanks, man."

"No problem, dude," Jordan replied.

So, on Sunday, Rhian, Jordan, and Rory went to Hartford for a golfing excursion.

They ran a little behind because Jordan slept through the alarm clock and the two girls had to wait for Jordan to get ready and eat some bread for breakfast, before they went to Hartford.

Rory rang the doorbell and they waited.

Rhian looked at her pocket watch that she attached to her black and white polka dot cross body bag.

It was eight-thirty.

The door opened to reveal Emily.

"Rory, Rhian, and friend, hello," Emily said.

"Sorry we're late," Rory said.

"That was my fault," Jordan said.

"Nonsense," Emily said, ushering them in. "You're right on time."

Rory said, "Hi, Grandpa."

"Rory, Rhian, nice to see you," Richard said.

"This is my friend, Jordan," Rhian said, thumbing at Jordan.

Richard looked at him, "Jordan?"

"Bones," the boy replied.

Emily asked, "What do your parents do?" It was like she smelt wealth on him.

"Uh, my dad is a public accountant and corporate executive and my mom is a lawyer," Jordan told her.

Emily and Richard looked at each other. They were probably hoping on Rhian marrying this boy.

Emily asked Richard, "This is a perfect day for golfing, isn't it, Richard?"

"It was cooler at eight," Richard said.

"Am I dressed okay?" Rory asked. "I didn't have any of those short pant things."

Rhian asked, "You mean golf pants?"

"Well, actually there is something missing," Emily said. "Oh, wait a minute..." She grabbed a colorful hat and put it on Rory's head. "Here you go. Now you look just like Tiger Woods."

"If Tiger Woods was a teenage white girl," Jordan said.

"Who wears ugly hats," Rhian muttered.

"Okay, off you go," Emily said. "Have a wonderful time."

"We will," Rory replied.

"You bet," Richard added.

After an awkward drive to the country club, Jordan and Richard talked about business stuff, 'til they finally got to the club.

After walking along the course, Rory asked, "Is it hard to become a member here?"

"Everyone has to go through a thorough screening process," Richard said.

Rory asked, "Kind of like the FBI?"

"We're much more thorough than that," Richard told them.

Rory said, "Wow."

"Yes," Richard said. "Did you know the merger of Forscape and DSS happened right here on this lawn?"

Rory asked, "Really?"

Richard hummed an affirmative. "International finance will never be the same and all because of a lost golfing bet."

"That's crazy," Rory said.

Rhian looked at Jordan, who shrugged, because he didn't know. He looked like he was regretting coming with her.

"Well, that's high finance," Richard said. "Well, here we are. Now, what do you know about golf?"

Rhian asked, "That you need to get the golf ball in the hole with one hit?"

Jordan added, "That a relative of the Kennedys killed a girl with a golf club?"

Rory asked, "That it's a good walk spoiled?"

Richard sighed, "Well, your driver is the most powerful club in your bag, and as such, it can be your most valuable asset of your greatest liability. To wield it properly requires a precise combination of confidence and humility."

"Confidence and humility, got it," Rory stated.

"There you are," Richard said. Rory took the golf club, "That's a pretty good natural grip."

Rhian whispered to Jordan, "Why am I supposed to be here, again?"

Jordan shrugged, "Beats me. I'm just here because I want to watch movies."

Rory swung the club and hit a clump of grass out of the ground.

"Ooh," Jordan said with a wince.

"That poor ground," Rhian added.

"I'm betting that was wrong," Rory said.

Richard said, "There are no rights and wrongs to the learning process." He sounded weary and went to put the clump of grass back in the ground. He backed away, "Try that again."

Rory swung and hit the clump of grass back out of the ground.

"I'm betting that was wrong," Rory repeated.

Jordan asked, "Come on, what did the ground do to deserve your wrath?"

Rory turned to glare at him.

After some time had passed, Rory finally managed to hit the ball and they moved on to go to a different building.

"I can't believe I hit the ball," Rory said.

"Well, it's quite impressive," Richard said.

"Your ball landed in the water though," Jordan pointed out.

"Well, yes, but the splash was quite impressive," Richard told him.

"This place is so beautiful," Rory said. "I could see just coming here to think or read, though it probably defeats the purpose of the hole with the flags in them."

Only Rory could think about reading at a golf course.

"There is something rather serene about walking around here," Richard said.

Rory asked, "Do you come here every week?"

"No, when I can," Richard answered. "I'm often working on weekends."

"Bummer," Rory said.

Richard replied, "Isn't it?"

Two men in a golf cart drove by, "Hi, Richard."

"Hello," the other man said.

Richard waved at them.

Rory asked, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead," Richard said.

Rory asked, "What do you do?"

"I'm Executive Vice President of the Gehrman-Driscoll Insurance Corporation," Richard told her.

"Wow," Rory said.

Rory asked, "And as Executive Vice President, what do you do?"

Richard explained, "Well it's a very big company – one of the largest in the US as a matter a fact. I have a myriad of duties which would bore you greatly to hear about."

Rory replied, "Oh, okay."

Richard added, "I oversee our international division."

Rory said, "That sounds important."

Richard replied, "Well it rates a parking spot."

Rhian asked, "If you do the international division, does that mean that you get to travel a lot?"

Richard said, "Quite a bit."

Rory stated, "Lucky."

Richard said, "I suspect you two have a yen for travel."

Rory replied, "I'm up to my ears in yens."

Richard asked, "Any particular place that you'd like to go?"

Rory said, "Hundreds of places – Paris, Rome, London, Prague, Istanbul, Fez – have you ever been to Fez?"

Richard stated, "Can't say that I have."

Rory said, "I want to go to Fez."

Richard looked at Rhian, "What about you? Where would you like to go?"

"Oh," Rhian said. "I want to go to Ireland and Germany. I want to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and Oktoberfest there. I mean, I already went to New Jersey to go to Action Park."

Richard nodded, "What about you Jordan?"

"Oh, I kind of want to go to Wisconsin because they have cheese," Jordan said. "Although over winter break, my dad was going to take me, Rhian, and Adrian to Switzerland. We were going to go see some castles and go on a train journey."

"I plan on doing some workshops to learn how to make Swiss chocolate truffles and cheese fondue," Rhian said, smiling. "I was going to learn how to make some watches to give to Mom, Patrick, and Adam. That was how I convinced Mom to let me go. I had to promise her that I won't do anything that brings me back in a cast. Again.""

Jordan nodded, "Patrick and Adam would've gone with us, but they had to stay home with family for Christmas. I feel like Patrick wanted to throat-punch us and Adam was going to punch us in the eyes for going without them."

"I asked to go with them, but Mom said that she didn't want me to impose because we plan on backpacking through Europe together when we graduate high school, doing the whole hostel thing," Rory explained. She had never felt so jealous of Rhian before.

"I promised to bring back chocolate and a souvenir for you and Mom," Rhian told her.

"And my dad would've been fine if you went with us," Jordan told Rory. "But if Lorelai doesn't want you to go, he just doesn't want to fight her over it."

"I think traveling for a young girl is a very important thing," Richard said. "Your mother never got a chance to travel much."

"Yeah, I just hope that us backpacking through Europe really happens," Rory said.

"Well, we'll just have to make sure it does," Richard said.

Another cart came up to them.

A woman with a dog said, "Richard!"

"Gloria, you look wonderful," Richard said.

"Aren't you sweet?" Gloria said, "Is Emily here?"

"No," Richard said. "I'm taking my granddaughters and—"

"Ooh, triplets," Gloria interrupted, looking at the three teens' and their matching eyes.

"Oh, no," Rhian said. "Jordan is just my friend. Although I guess you can say he's sort of like our brother."

Rory nodded.

"Oh," Gloria said. "Well, we must get together."

Richard said, "Absolutely." Gloria took off in her golf cart. To the teens, Richard said, "Most odious woman alive."

They finally reached the front of the clubhouse, where the steam rooms were.

Rhian and Jordan had looked at each other awkwardly, because Rhian would rather not sit around with a bunch of naked middle-aged woman. Well, there were towels, but Rhian felt like it was too much exposure.

Jordan had the same feeling, but it was with middle-aged men.

"Uh, now," Richard started, "We can meet back here in forty minutes?"

"Okay," Rory said.

"And then if you'd like, we can get some lunch," Richard said.

"That'll be great," Rory said.

"Fine," Richard replied.

"Cool," Rory said.

"Yes," replied Richard.

The two went into the respective locker rooms for the steam rooms.

Rhian got a few chapters in Blood Meridian when Rory and Richard came to their table.

After idle chat, Rory was saying, "She caught him in the pool house with the tennis pro, not the riding instructor."

"I had no idea," Richard said.

Rory replied, "That committee of yours is not looking at people as much as you think."

Richard said, "Huh, why would they? From what you've told me, they're all involved in one nefarious activity after another.

Rory replied, "It's a conspiracy."

Richard said, "It's 'Peyton Place'. Is there more?"

Rory asked, "Can you handle it?"

Richard stated, "Oh, I'll steel myself."

Rory said, "Okay. Mr. Neville likes all things frilly."

Richard said, "Good God. He's my broker."

Jordan said, "Well, it shouldn't affect anything."

Two men joined them at the table.

One man asked, "Mind if we barge in?"

Richard looked at them, "Well, look who's here." He smiled, "Ah, Rory, Rhian, and Jordan, this Julian Johnson." The man in the yellow cardigan did a slight bow. "And Edward James."

"Call me Ed," the man not wearing a cardigan said.

"Yeah, you can call me Ed too," Julian said.

"It's nice to meet you," Rory said.

Richard asked, "Would you care to join us?"

"If your grandkids don't mind us intruding on their time with their grandfather," Ed said.

Jordan looked at Rhian, who was trying not to laugh. It was the eyes...

"Its fine, you two can," Rhian said.

"Yeah," Jordan said.

Rory nodded, "Its fine."

Julian and Ed pulled up some chairs.

Julian said, "Ah, good. So we hear that you're attending Chilton."

"We just started," Rory said.

"That's a hard school," Julian said.

"It is, but it's challenging in a good way," Rhian said. Rory nodded.

"Rory and Rhian are excellent students," Richard bragged.

Julian asked, "Really?"

"Rory has a 4.0 grade point average and Rhian has 3.9," Richard said.

"And I have a 3.5," Jordan chimed in. "That's probably why I'm not attending Chilton."

Julian said, "Wow, that's got me beat!" He and Ed started laughing.

"They're going to Fez, Ireland, and Switzerland someday," Richard said.

Julian asked, "Fez? What the hell is in Fez?"

"That's for them to find out," Richard said. He and Rory exchanged looks.

Ed asked, "What are you reading, Rhian?"

"Blood Meridian," Rhian said.

"I read that book," Ed said. "It was terrible, but a good book."

"It's awful so far, but it's very good," Rhian said.

While Rory went to the diner, Rhian and Jordan headed to Adrian's home to try and cram in some thriller movies while they still can.

Patrick asked, "How was golfing with your grandfather?"

"It was fine. Boring though," Rhian said. "Six people confused Jordan for my and Rory's brother though. There was ne woman on a golf cart, three people in the steam room, according to my grandfather, and two men in the dining room of the country club."

Jordan nodded, "Yeah. It was kind of weird."

"It's the eyes," Rhian told him. "You, Rory, my mom, and I have matching blue eyes apparently."

"Well, he adopted your mom as his mother," Adrian said. "Technically, he is your brother."

Rhian nodded. It did make sense. "Well, I'm not calling his dad, 'Dad'."

"He'll be one hell of a dad to you than your own dad," Adrian told her.

Rhian nodded, "I guess." She thought Luke was more of a father-figure to her than William or even Christopher. She asked, "Wait, what are we watching again?"

Adrian said, "Silence of the Lambs."

"Oh, okay," Rhian said.

Jordan asked, "What's next?"

"The Frighteners," Adrian said.

Patrick asked, "Isn't that a horror movie?"

"I found it in the thriller section," Adrian said. "If it is, who cares?"

Rhian nodded, "Yeah."

"It's still a movie," Adam said.

Patrick threw popcorn at his friends, "All right, shut the hell up already. I want to hear the movie."

Rhian settled back. "Do you think that there'll even be a TV series based off of Hannibal Lecter?"

"I hope so," Adrian said.

Patrick dumped popcorn on the both of them.

Rhian said, "Jesus Christ."

Adrian exclaimed, "Holy shit!"

"Shut up," Patrick told them.

"Now that was just a waste," Adam said.

On Friday, they went to Hartford for another Friday Night Dinner. Rhian brought a small display cake stand with her for the caramel apple coffee cake.

Emily opened the door, "Oh, good, you're here."

"Hey," Lorelai said.

"Hi, Grandma," Rory and Rhian said in unison.

Emily noticed the stand and white box that Lorelai was holding. "My goodness, what is that?" She was smiling.

"We brought dessert," said Lorelai.

Emily replied, "Really? How thoughtful, what is it?" Emily looked in the box.

"Blueberry shortcake," said Lorelai.

"I've never heard of blueberry shortcake," said Emily.

"It's a specialty in Stars Hollow," said Rhian. "I brought this caramel apple coffee cake that Grandpa wanted to try."

Emily asked, "Why is the shortcake already cut?"

"It was left over from the wedding," said Rhian.

Emily stared at them.

"That was at the inn," clarified Lorelai.

"Yes, I know where the wedding was," replied Emily, closing the lid of the box and looking at Lorelai.

"Oh, sorry," replied Lorelai. "You were just doing that staring thing."

Emily asked, "You brought us used dessert?"

"It's just left over," said Rhian. "At least the coffee cake is fresh though. I got it out an hour ago.

"Yeah," said Lorelai.

"How nice," replied Emily. "I'll just put them in the kitchen next to my half-empty box of Cheer." She started leading them to the living room, but she passed the box to a maid who took the cake stand from Rhian before leaving.

Lorelai whispered to the twins, "She's in a good mood tonight."

Rhian nodded, but she was glad because her mother and grandmother weren't arguing with each other.

Emily asked, "Can I get you a drink?"

"Uh, white wine would be nice," said Lorelai.

"Coke," said Rory.

"Make that two Cokes," replied Rhian as she sat down on a chair.

"So, Lorelai, did Rory and Rhian tell you all about the wonderful time that they had at the club?" asked Emily as she poured a glass of water.

"She sure did," said Lorelai.

"Your father was simply flying all week. Rory really charmed him," said Emily.

"Ah, well, if anybody could, it would be her," replied Lorelai.

Emily asked, "I mean, in this age of MTV and one hundred television channels, who would've imagined that two young girls could still get a thrill spending a simple afternoon with their grandfather?"

Rhian cringed, bcause now it seemed like she was simply rubbing it in Lorelai's face that Rory and Richard had a good day together. It was strange because Rhian didn't have much fun at the country club.

"That wine would be real good right now, Mom," said Lorelai.

Rhian kind of agreed. She, too, would like some wine to get through this evening.

Emily asked, "I think we should consider getting them a membership at the club, don't you?"

"If they want, sure," said Lorelai.

"I mean to have a place to go where they can socialize, that's very important to a young girl," said Emily.

Rhian had friends and Rory had Lane. They had friends.

"Well, now especially that the crack den is closed down on the corner, all of their really good friends are gone," said Lorelai. Emily tilted her head to the side like she didn't understand the joke. "What do you think, Mom? Should I pursue the career in comedy?"

Emily asked, "It's just very interesting the way thins turn out, isn't it?"

Rhian guessed that it did.

Richard walked in, "Oh, you're here. Lorelai."

"Dad," replied Lorelai.

"Rhian," greeted Richard, looking at Rhian.

"Grandpa," Rhian replied. "I brought the caramel apple coffee cake that you wanted to try."

Richard smiled, "Wonderful." Richard looked at Rory, "Rory, I have a surprise. Not only did I find that copy of Mencken's Chrestomathy we discussed, I also found a first edition of his memoirs as well."

Rory replied, "You're kidding?"

"It's in my office if you'd like to see them," said Richard.

"Oh my God, I totally would," said Rory.

"I'd like to take a look at those myself," said Emily as she passed a wine glass to Lorelai, before they left the sitting room.

Lorelai took a drink of wine and looked at Rhian. "You can go, if you want. You have no obligation to sit here with me."

Rhian moved to sit next to Lorelai, "I'm good. Besides...I'd rather be here and talk to you than be there and have nothing to offer."

"You have plenty to offer, Rhian," Lorelai told her. "Just don't let them make you feel differently."

Rhian nodded, though she felt differently.