Jane got in late as usual for their Sunday dinner. And her Mother started rattling about all the time that she was late to dinner and how she never seemed to care about making the family wait for her.
"Don't tell me you have to run off after some bad guys again Jane," her Mother continued. "It's the holiday season. People should be loving and caring to one another."
'Well, Ma, the season only makes it worse. And I am not running after some perps. Can we eat now?"
"Help me set the table then. You know I could not rely on the boys to do their share of the housework."
Jane placed her bag, keys and phone at the living room table passing her father and Frankie, Jr. who were watching ESPN. "Hey, Pop," she greeted her father.
"Hey, sweetie, a little late are you?"
"Yea. Traffic's a burden this season, even on a Sunday." She replied.
"Shouldn't go to Back Bay this time of the year." Frankie butted in.
"I was not in Back Bay, smart ass," as she continued towards the kitchen.
"Who was in Back Bay?" her Mom asked her, getting wind of her last sentence.
"Ugh., Ma, I said I was not in Back Bay. Never mind. It's just Frankie starting again."
"Why do you need to go to Back Bay?" her mother asked.
"Ma, as I said a while ago, I was not in Back Bay."
"Then why are you late?" her mother asked while ladling tomato sauce over cooked pasta.
Jane sighed and started to get the dishes from the cupboard. She laid down the plates before answering her mother.
"I was looking for a gift for Maura."
"Ow, something for Dr. Isles? What did you get her?"
"Nothing. I can't find anything. What can you give someone who has everything?" The last sentence slipped her lips without really intending it to be heard by the mother.
"Janie, we will find something later. Don't worry about it."
Jane didn't believe her mother and continued to set the table, getting the garlic bread from the oven and taking the beers from the fridge. Somehow, she doubts that she will find an appropriate gift for Maura. What can she give the doctor? Clothes? Bags? Shoes? A nice scarf perhaps? But she knows whatever Maura uses costs more than her month's salary. Although she wouldn't mind spending even twice a month's salary just to get something nice for Maura.
The dinner did not help alleviate what she's feeling. Jane hardly participated in the dinner discussion and could only make short references to the cold weather. Angela looked at her daughter and knew all along what is bothering her. She knows that Maura is very important to Jane. And even for her. Without the doctor's help, she might have lost her children the last time Jane played the hero.
After dinner, Jane and her mother were left to clean up the dining table. Jane placed all the plates and utensils inside the dishwasher while Angela started to put the left-overs in plastic containers for Frankie and Jane to take home. Angela purposely cooks so much food every Sunday dinner so that her children will have something to eat at their own place for the week ahead. She knows that both loved working too much enough to forget to make time for meals.
When every plate has been dried and stowed away in the cupboard, Angela called out to her daughter. "Jane, I have something to show you," she called.
"What is it Ma?" the brunette asked.
"Wait here, I'll just get it from the bedroom."
Jane then took the time to make herself some freshly brewed coffee. She took the beans from the tin can, placed some in the grinder and looked for a coffee filter. When the beans have been ground fine enough, she took some spoonfuls and placed it in the coffee maker. When she saw that the coffee machine is slowly dripping coffee in its place, she noticed that her mother has returned to the kitchen.
"Jane, I think you could give Maura this," handing her a necklace with a heart pendant. It was a white gold chain with an old world charm. A pendant made of pure ruby stone formed into a heart surrounded by small diamonds.
"Ma, I can't give this to Maura, this is Nonna's and it was given to you. It's a family heirloom." Although deep in her heart, Jane knew that it was perfect. She would love to see the deep red pendant against Maura's silky white skin.
"So, I am giving it to you so you could give it to Maura."
"No Ma, I can't pay for it." Jane said.
"Who says you have to pay for it? Didn't I just say that I am giving it to you?"
"Ma, this necklace has been in the family for generations, I cannot just give this to Maura. We are talking about Rizzoli history here."
"Okay, do you want me to give it to Frankie then so he could give it to whoever he wants to have it?" Angela said with her eyebrows lifting high to make the point her daughter refuses to see.
Jane winced knowing that she wouldn't want the necklace be given to somebody else. The moment she saw it, she thought of Maura and how it would fit around the doctor's neck. She stood up, took a cup from the cupboard and poured herself some coffee and looked at her mother.
"Ma, I cannot ..I just have to look for something else, anyway there is still plenty of time, maybe I could find something before Christmas eve."
"Jane, Maura is practically family to us. To me. I think this is not even enough for what she has done for Frankie and for you. Or have you forgotten how the lady slaved for you?" Angela couldn't believe how stubborn Jane could be.
"So this is it? Are we paying her now with old family jewelries? Come on Ma, I think Maura will be able to see through that." Jane sighed. Now she has to deal with finding Maura a present and making her mother believe that the necklace would be inappropriate as a Christmas gift coming from her.
"We are not paying her, Jane. Sometimes I wonder where you get your reasons. Give this to her."
Jane still is not convinced. "Ma, I would love to give this to Maura but, how about the family tradition of keeping this heirloom within the Rizzolis eh?"
"Oh Jane, it will still be with the family, believe me." Angela smiled and placed the necklace in Jane's hands.