The plane landed at ten.
An uncomfortable plane ride had been made worse by the fact that Lindsay and Jess had to get their story straight. The only people who knew the truth were Jimmy, Sasha, Lily, and Luke. To everyone else, they had started dating shortly after arriving in California.
It had been utterly surreal to be discussing their so-called relationship. Especially with Lindsay looking uncomfortable every time Jess called the baby ‘his’ or ‘theirs’.
He was beginning to worry that this was a bad idea.
“Hi, Luke.” Lindsay forced a smile.
Luke nodded. “Lindsay. Jess.”
“Hey, Uncle Luke.” Jess cringed at the tone in which Luke said his name.
“You got your suitcases?”
Jess nodded.
“I’m illegally parked.” Luke grabbed Lindsay’s suitcase out of her hand and began striding purposefully towards the exit.
They followed.
Once seated in Luke’s truck, Luke nodded towards Lindsay’s midsection as he drove out of the airport. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay.” Lindsay’s hand instinctively went to her stomach. “Tired, but I’m okay.”
“Good,” Luke grunted, shooting a dirty look over at Jess, who sighed.
Clearly he was going to be the bad guy in all of this.
He couldn’t win.
***
“Jess.” Lorelai pasted on an obviously fake smile. “Lindsay, hi.”
He glanced at Luke, who shrugged. Apparently Lorelai wasn’t in the loop on this, which was just as well. The fewer people who knew, the better.
“Hi Mrs. Gilmore.”
Lorelai looked at Lindsay in surprise, not expecting such a warm welcome from her.
“Thanks for watching the diner.”
“No problem.” Lorelai was still in shock.
Luke cleared his throat and looked pointedly at Jess, who was standing stiffly in the middle of the diner. All around them, Stars Hollow’s patrons stared at them.
“I’ll take our bags upstairs,” said Jess gruffly, taking a wide berth around Miss Patty and Babette’s table on his way upstairs.
Miss Patty took a external evaluation of Lindsay. “Lindsay, dear, what is this we see?”
“I’m having a baby.” Lindsay blushed slightly as Patty and Babette continued their conspicuous inventory of her body.
“Look at her, she’s glowing,” Babette said to Patty.
Lindsay blushed some more.
Miss Patty shook her head. “To have that body, even pregnant! She’s a toothpick.”
“Hardly.” Lindsay placed her hands over her stomach.
“It’s a bump.” Babette smiled. “And a small one at that. We shouldn’t be hogging you, dear. I’m sure your mother is anxious to see you.”
“Right.” Lindsay took a deep breath as Jess reentered the diner. “I’d better go.”
He nodded reassuringly at her. “I’ll be here when you’re done.”
All around them, customers of the diner whispered, no doubt wondering what exactly was going on. Lindsay shuffled her feet, obviously uncomfortable.
Jess walked over and put his arm around her. “See you later,” he said, kissing her softly on the cheek.
A few audible gasps were heard.
***
Lindsay stood at door, torn between knocking and just walking in. Her mom knew she was coming today, but there were a lot of other things she didn’t know.
Things she didn’t know and Lindsay wasn’t quite ready to tell.
The choice was taken away from her when the door swung open. “Lindsay! You’re here!”
The next thing Lindsay knew she was wrapped in a bear hug, crying all over her mother’s shoulder. “Is dad okay?” she asked as soon as she could speak again.
“He’s fine.” Theresa wiped away one of her daughter’s tears. “The doctors are letting him come home tomorrow. He just needs to start eating better is all. Now let me take a look at you.”
Lindsay tried not to cringe as her mom pulled away to take a better look at her.
“Oh my god…”
“Surprise?” Lindsay whispered.
Theresa stared at her in shock. “Dean…?” she began.
Lindsay shook her head. “Jess.”
“Who’s Jess?” Theresa asked gently.
Lindsay took a deep breath before answering. “My fiancée.”
“Oh my.” Theresa blinked rapidly and attempted to smile. “I think we’d better go inside and talk.”
Lindsay nodded and followed her inside where they sat across from each other in the living room.
Unable to keep her eyes off of Lindsay’s bump, Theresa bit her lip. “Jess was the boy you went away with?”
“Yes. We stayed with his father in California.”
Theresa nodded, finally raising her gaze to Lindsay’s face. “He treats you well?”
Lindsay nodded. “He takes really good care of me, Mom,” she whispered, unable to control the tears filling her eyes.
“Do you love him?”
“Yes.” Lindsay was a little startled by her answer.
“Good.” Theresa folded her arms and forced a smile. “Well, I suppose that will have to be enough. Your father’s not going to be pleased.”
“I know.”
“Where are you staying?”
“With Jess in his uncle’s apartment.”
Theresa cringed slightly. “Well, as long as you two aren’t alone.”
Lindsay didn’t have the courage to tell her that Luke had been spending most nights at Lorelai’s house in the past few months.
“I didn’t tell your father you were going to be back today. I thought it would be better if we waited until he was home.” Theresa looked down at Lindsay’s stomach again. “I see now that I was right. I’ll call you tomorrow when he’s home.”
Lindsay nodded again. She was beginning to feel like a bobble-head doll. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
Theresa stood up along with her and walked her to the door. “Goodbye, Lindsay.”
“Bye, Mom.”