Message from the Past
Chapter 3
Her cell rang when she was in the tourist shop. Jane picked it up absentmindedly, as she looked at postcards, and other souvenirs.
"Rizzoli."
"Hey Sis. I got news," said Frankie.
"About my case? Tell me."
"Not yet. But Maura took off the court order. You can see Ma anytime you want."
Jane was grinning from ear to ear, but her response was, "Oh great. Still off work. Could lose my job, but I can go see Ma."
"You're a rotten liar, Sis."
"Did you hear why she ended that dumb court order? Do you think she hates me a little less.?"
Frankie hesitated at what he heard in his sister's voice. "Uh, maybe. I gotta go. My break's over."
It was then that Jane saw the tiny carved stone canoe. Perfect. It might carry her need for forgiveness. Maybe.
Angela opened the ornate card, and looked down at the Doctor's strong writing.
"Dear Angela,
I'm am so sorry for the pain I have caused you and your family. I wasn't myself–actually, I was a horrid little Banshee. Nothing excuses the language I used in your presence, or keeping your daughter from you. If you can ever forgive me...I just hope you can someday.
Maura"
And Angela looked down at the rosary in her hand, and smiled.
The street in front of Maura's house was dark. That fit Jane's mood. She was really kind of frightened. Who would answer the door? Gentle Maura, or explosive Maura. It was like tossing dice. She knocked gingerly, remember Maura's complaint that she was the only Rizzoli who knew how to knock before entering. The porch light came on, and the door opened. Maura was standing there. Was it the lady or the tiger?
"Hi. I brought you something." And Jane heard her own voice quavering. She held out her hand with the tiny stone canoe in it–waiting.
Maura reached for it, with a gentle smile. "It's Skennenrahowi's stone canoe. It's perfect. Please come in. I have a gift for you too."
She led Jane into the living room, past Bass, who actually blinked at her.
"Please sit down. I'm having a little trouble with my OCD lately, so please try to be patient with me." and Maura opened a desk drawer, closed it, opened it again, looked as if she wanted to cry, and did the ritual three more times, before taking out a hardwood comb–one Jane had seen before.
"So which one of us is Tadodaho?," joked Jane.
"I've filled that role the last few weeks, I think."
When Angela walked into Maura's living room, without knocking, she saw Jane facing Maura, their foreheads together, and holding hands. Angela backed out of the room, looking heavenward with a silent, "Thank you."