After lunch, Angela headed to the station to check in on Frankie. Jane (very vocally) had trouble understanding why her brother needed his Ma to see how his day was going—"He's a thirty-two year old detective, Ma! I don't think he needs you to make sure he got his sandwich and juice box."
"You wouldn't understand, Jane. A mother's work is never done—not even when your kids are ungrateful little twerps," Angela grinned at her own joke, gave Jane a kiss on the cheek and Maura a parting hug, and then left. In Jane's car.
Jane, reminded that she did have some parental responsibilities, asked Maura to take her back to her apartment so that she could take Jo Friday on an afternoon walk. And so they found themselves on the steps outside Jane's building, trying to decide the best route for a walk.
"We should just go around the block a few times, like we usually do! It's too damn hot to do much else. I mean look at Jo, she's sweating in this heat," Jane argued.
"I understand that Jane, which is why I suggest that we walk the extra half-mile to the park. The foliage there makes it a couple of degrees cooler than the surrounding city. And I think Jo would appreciate the effort after you abandoned her last night," Maura replied teasingly.
"I did not abandon her! I just…forgot…that I own a dog." Jane's protest sounded weak, even to her, and so the two women finally responded to Jo's tugging and started toward the park.
Once inside the park gates, both gave a reflexive sigh of relief. August in Boston was sweltering this year, and the city had begun to feel claustrophobic. They passed a few acquaintances as they walked along the path. Jo Friday tried to be menacing at each encounter, but only succeeded in charming the strange humans with her fluffy coat and spunk.
"This is nice," Jane reflected. "We haven't been on a walk in a while."
"Mostly because of your sprain," Maura replied.
"Even before then. I mean, I know I got the sprain when we were jogging, but that's not the same thing. Walking is different," Jane glanced at Maura, hoping that she knew what she was trying to say.
"Walking gives us time to talk. Or not talk, as the case may be," she paused, considering what Jane had said. "You're right; I had forgotten how lovely it is to be in your company with no pressure from the outside world and virtually no time constraints."
"I could never have walked like this with Casey."
Maura tensed at the mention of Casey. "Why on earth not? I thought that you enjoyed his company."
"I do…I did. But with him everything was so frantic and dramatic. Walking is a drama-free activity. And you, you know when to freak out with me and when to calm me down. I need that kind of balance in my life."
Maura replied after a brief pause. "I'm glad you feel that way. You balance me out, too, you know."
"Yeah?"
"Of course! Remember the time I had to go to that "Give the Shoes Off Your Feet" charity event? And I couldn't decide which shoes to give? I was panicking, but you gave me a reality check. It's one of my fondest memories of you, actually."
"Really?" Jane sounded skeptical.
"Really, Jane. I don't know what that look is for, but that situation proved to me that you will never lie to me. I mean, you did not spare my feelings at all and while I was somewhat annoyed at the time, I am forever grateful for your advice."
"Maura, I told you to pull your head out of your ass for two seconds so that you could see what a spoiled brat you were being."
Jane laughed at the memory, but Maura remained serious.
"No one has ever known me well enough to speak so rudely to my face. No one."
Jane had never enjoyed walking the dog so much in her entire life.
A/N: Your reviews, follows, and faves are such beautiful things to wake up to in the morning! I hope you enjoy this chapter...I think Jo Friday is definitely trying to do some matchmaking :)