Lorelai stared at her reflection in the mirror and smiled. Bella stood behind her, still holding the kitchen shears she’d used to chop off Lorelai’s hair. She was apprehensive at first, but Bella talked her into cutting at least six inches off by the time they were done.

“So,” Bella asked, “do you like it?” She had styled the newly shortened hair so that it curled under her chin in a way that reminded Lorelai of the 1920’s flapper hairstyles.

“I love it,” Lorelai reassured her.

Bella nodded and set down the shears. “I’m glad. My mom used to tell me the best way to get over a man is to change your hair. Besides, I think this suits you better.”

“You’re really good. You should have been a beautician.”

“Maybe in another life.” Bella laughed. “I’m happy with my job, though. Who else is going to save the world?” She winked at Lorelai through the mirror.

The two women continued to talk and laugh together, it was the first time they had been able to just enjoy each other’s company in a long time. Ever since the debacle of an interview on SMZ, Lorelai had been bombarded by paparazzi trying to get pictures of her and asking about her relationship with J. It had only taken a couple seconds for him to destroy both her private and professional life.

Every time an article or video get posted with her name or picture in it, a flood of the Calientes’ supporters descended into the comments to call her a slut, a bitch, and a hundred other insults. Her reputation was being tarnished when she didn’t even do anything wrong; it was J who slept with her knowing he was engaged. Lorelai was the one stuck with the consequences, though, and it only took a week before her boss ‘laterally moved’ her to a ghostwriting position.

“Just until all of this blows over,” Mrs. Harrison said. “You’ll be back in front of the camera in no time.”

There were more people recognizing her on the street than ever before, which sounded nice in theory, but the reality was that it was torture. Men would walk up to her and try to lift her shirt over her head, or just yell crude remarks at her from the street. The women were worse, though, she couldn’t count the number of drinks she’d had thrown in her face in the last couple weeks. She had taken to just not leaving the house.

It wasn’t totally her fault, she had been getting sick the last couple weeks. She told her boss that she probably caught some obscure sickness from camping and had been doing her work from home since. She told everyone else that asked the same thing, and everyone believed her except for Arnav. He claimed that he would have caught something, too, since they were there at the same time. Lorelai agreed reluctantly, she knew that she wasn’t really sick.

“It’s been too long since we’ve gone out together.” Bella interrupted her train of thought. “We should hit the club tonight, just me and you. You have to break in your new style.”

“I don’t think I can.” Lorelai put a hand over her stomach reflexively. “I still don’t feel that great, you know? I shouldn’t push it.”

“Okay, I’ve had enough.” Bella spun her around and looked right into her eyes. “Tell me.”

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lorelai stammered.

“I’ve had two kids, Lor, I know was morning sickness looks like.”

Tears sprang into her eyes, she knew she would have to admit it some time, but she still didn’t feel ready.

“Why wouldn’t you tell me?” Bella asked. “I didn’t even know that you slept with J. Unless it isn’t J. Did you and Arnav-“

“No!” she interrupted, “it’s not like that.”

“But you and J?”

“Yes.”

“Why wouldn’t you tell me?”

“Because I was embarrassed!” Lorelai yelled. She pushed past Bella and stood in the middle of the room, giving herself space from her friend’s piercing gaze. “He followed me to Granite Falls and he told me he loved me. So, I did what every stupid, love-struck teenager does and I had sex with him. He even told me he was infertile so that I wouldn’t insist on waiting until we had protection.”

Something dangerous flashed in Bella’s eyes.

Lorelai could feel hot tears running down her face. “Then the next morning I got your call, but it was too late because we had already done it.”

“He was still there when I called, wasn’t he?”

“Yeah.” Lorelai let out a bitter laugh. “I lost it. I slapped him and told him that if he didn’t leave, I was going to kill him.”

“As you should have.”

She led Lorelai to her couch and pulled her down to sit. Lorelai fell into Bella’s shoulder, letting herself be held as tears continued to fall down her face.

Bella held her tightly. “Do you know for sure that you’re pregnant?”

Lorelai shook her head. “I can’t be seen buying a pregnancy test, it’d be all over the tabloids before I could pee on the stick.”

“I have some in my bathroom, you can take some and figure out for sure.”

“Thanks.” She pulled away, realizing why Bella would have extra pregnancy tests. “Wait, are you and Mortimer trying again?”

Bella smiled. “More like we’re not actively not trying. I’m happy with Cass and Alex, but there’s still plenty of room in this big house.”

“That’s true.” She laughed and wiped away her tears. “Who knows, we could end up at Mommy and Me classes together.”

She and Bella stood in the doorway saying their goodbyes. Bella slipped the tests into her purse.

“Call me as soon as you know.”

Lorelai nodded and pulled her into a hug. “Thanks again.”

When she reached her house, Fish to the door to greet her. She jumped up and put her paws on Lorelai’s lap. She started whining and butting her head into her stomach. Lorelai scooched her off and went inside to grab the leash. The test could wait an hour.

This was the first time she and Fish had been able to take their jog around the neighborhood without someone bombarding them with pictures. No one was giving her a second glance with her new haircut. Bella had done a great job, and with the new length she didn’t have to put her hair up to keep it out of her face.

When they got back to the house, Lorelai noticed a big brown box sitting by her front door. She unclipped Fish’s leash and walked up to it. The label was printed in blocky handwriting that she recognized as Arnav’s from the few post cards he’d sent her from San Myshuno.

Lorelai had assumed that he’d lost interest since she hadn’t heard from him since the SMZ story broke. He was one of the few people who knew that everything J said in that interview was completely true, and who wants to keep in touch with someone whose claim to fame is being slutty enough to sleep with a man who’s engaged.

Lorelai hoisted the box onto her hip and carried it inside. She grabbed a knife and carefully opened the package. The first thing she saw was a handwritten note.

Lorelai, I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to talk to you recently. I finally convinced my landlord to let build my garden and the past couple weeks I’ve spent out building everything and getting the first plants to sprout. The days of manual labor kind of knocked me on my ass, you know? Not as cushy as a laboratory or as free as a national park, but I love it. Not that that’s and excuse not to check on you, especially since you’ve been sick. Hopefully, by the time you get this you’ll feel better. If not, this box contains the key to making you feel 100% again in no time. I have written down my mom’s classic soup recipe and included some produce from the first harvest of my garden. She used to insist on making her recipes with fresh produce because she said it “tasted like hard work”, and I guess I agree with her. Make yourself a pot of this, and you’ll be back on your feet within the day, scout’s honor. (I was never in the scouts, but I do promise.) I also want to address the elephant in the room, since I know it’s not something you would talk about in person or over the phone. Yes, I saw the SMZ interview, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen something so repulsive How that parasite didn’t get arrested on the spot is beyond me, and I hope it’s not causing you too much pain. Know that I am always in your corner. If you need someone to kick his ass, I know, like, two football players who would be glad to help. Rest up! Yours, Arnav

Lorelai smiled and set the letter to the side. She should have known that he’d find a way to make his garden in the city. She peered inside and saw fresh carrots, lettuce, and even a few apples sitting at the bottom.

“Where did he have the space for an apple tree?”

She gathered up the ingredients and the index card with the recipe written in it. If Arnav knew that she might be pregnant, he probably wouldn’t be sending her care packages with fresh fruit and family recipes. As kind as he was, even he wouldn’t want anything to do with someone who was dumb enough to get pregnant with a parasite.

She followed the instructions on the index cards to a T and soon her house was filled with the smell of soup. Fish came trotting in from outside, sniffing at the air expectantly.

“Not for you,” Lorelai chided.

She spooned some into a bowl and walked over to the couch. After the SMZ interview, she’d broken the habit of watching the trashy tabloid news, but she still enjoyed turning on the political channel or a good movie. Fish followed her and curled up by her feet. The soup really was delicious.

Her phone beeped next to her. Lorelai grabbed it, assuming it was Arnav responding to her. When she looked, however, it was a message from an unknown number. When she opened it, her blood began to boil.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Lorelai threw the phone into the coffee table next to her empty bowl. She stormed over to her purse. “I’m not going to the wedding. Why would I ever? Jesus Christ.”

She’d put this off for too long already. She grabbed the pregnancy tests and went to the bathroom. She was sick of uncertainty and surprises.