New Beginnings

Act 7 ch 7

"You're looking good, grandpa. I'd say you shaved a few minutes off your last lap" Victoria says walking around the hospital with the rest of the Gilmores.

"If I had to guess I'd think you're clocking in at about a 45 minute mile, which puts you just behind Mrs Abalone" Lorelai tells her father. "Lorelai, really" Emily says.

"I think that's an unfair comparison. Mrs Abalone had her bypass two whole days before mine" Richard points out. "No excuses. You have to dig a little deeper, just visualize Mrs Abalone eating your dust" Victoria tells him. "Victoria, honestly" Emily says.

"No, it's all right. How's this?" Richard starts walking a little faster.

"Wow, I would say we have a new slow walk leader in the cardiac recovery wing. Hey, do you hear that?" Lorelei asks as she starts cheering. "What, the crowd cheering?" Rory joins in.

"Whoo! Yeah, grandpa" Victoria cheers. "Would you girls stop? You're making a scene" Emily complains. "Mr Gilmore, congratulations on your recent victory. Any opinions about the allegations of steroid use among your fellow athletes?" Lorelai mocks a reporter.

"Well I consider myself prof positive that it can be done, and done clean" he goes along with the joke.

"Richard, must you encourage them?" Emily gives her husband a look. "Excuse me, Emily. I'm getting a little stir crazy in this place" he tells her.

"Well you'll be getting out of here soon enough. Oh, I forgot to tell you Kate and Daniel airman called to send their regards" Emily replies. "Oh, hey, Mr Gavelle" Rory says as another old guy walks by. "Looking good, Ira" Lorelai says.

"Well, they sent a lovely floral arrangement to the house. Although personally I find white roses a little uninspiring" Emily gets back to what she was saying.

"I think my favorite arrangement is still the one that Christopher sent us, it was very tasteful and appropriate and so colorful. I mean, we're not in mourning for heaven's sake" she continues. "I'm getting very tired of white flowers, you thanked him for us?" Emily asks her daughter.

"Uh, yeah. Hey, you know that young guy who's been uh visiting Miss Santiago in room 236?" Lorelai starts. "Not her son. Her boyfriend" she tells them. "No" Victoria gasps in disbelief.

"Yes" Lorelai insists.

"Girls, I don't think that's any of our business" Richard tells them. "But he's at least twenty years younger than she is" Emily says equally as shocked as her granddaughters.

"32 according to the night nurse" Lorelai says. "32?" Rory asks. "Well, he's just a boy. What could they possibly have to talk about?" Emily says confused.

"I don't think they're doing a whole lot of talking if you know what I mean" Lorelai tells her.

"I most certainly do not know what you mean" Emily replies. "All right. That's enough" Richard says.

"Rory, remember you owe me a whole report on the T.A. who's taking my spot. The whole semester should concentrate on microeconomics, so if the Culbertson fellow even mentions Ben Bernanke give me a call" he tells the granddaughter who's taking his class. "I promise I will" Rory nods.

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"Hello? Hi, there" Lorelai says as her mother's latest maid skittishly opens the door.

"How you doing?" Victoria asks walking in. "How are you?" Lorelai rephrases the same question.

"May I take your coats?" the maid whispers. "Hmm?" Victoria asks not hearing her. "Coats?!" the maid yells.