Besides the scenery and the food, the detective focused on the woman sharing the experience with her. The days were filled with a kind of warmth and happiness that was new to both of them, and Sunday's arrival was not welcomed.

"We have to go back, Maura. It's a long drive, and we have to go to work tomorrow. Plus, we have to find something for Ma's birthday next Sunday," Jane sighed heavily as she curled into Maura's side and away from the morning light. "Actually, I'm feeling kind of guilty for not going to family dinner tonight. Ma wanted us both to go tonight. She was making some sort of French chicken something she said you'd really like. She wanted your take on how well she did with it."

Maura checked her wrist. Backwoods vacation or not, she hadn't left her Cartier watch at home. "Actually, I think we could start driving in about an hour and be back home in time to shower, change, and get to your parents' house on time, with one small change in plan. Do you have an idea of the sort of gift you'd like to get her?"

"I was thinking a piece of jewelry, like a necklace. Ma doesn't actually have a lot of jewelry, but I know she likes to wear lockets and pendants." Glancing at the watch on Maura's wrist, Jane narrowed her eyes. "I just realized your watch cost more than my car." She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Go figure. Anyway, why do you ask about Ma? You got something in mind that doesn't cost more than my car?"

Maura looked a little uncomfortable as she slipped her arm around Jane's waist, delightful all by itself, but also having the benefit of removing her timepiece from direct view. "Um... No, it won't cost that much. If you like, it won't even cost what your car is worth right now. I just want to save us some time this week, okay? Let me see if I can get cellphone reception out here." Soon she was on the phone. "This is Maura Isles for Peter Garcia. Yes, I'll hold. ... Hello, Peter. It's good to talk to you again, too. How's your father holding up? Oh, I'm so glad. Look, I need a special item, and we'll probably need to view a selection, because it's very important. I'd like to see three to five choices by... oh, Thursday evening after work, or we might be able to come to your offices on Friday over lunch. The budget is anywhere between..." She lifted a brow in question until Jane caught on and named a figure, which Maura doubled when passing it on to the person at the other end of the phone. After all, there were two of them. "Will you take the specifics from my friend? It's for someone she knows much better than I do." After obtaining assent, she handed the phone to Jane, then stretched out on her back.

Questions fired back and forth. Desired metal, color, engraving, stones, chain length. Matching earrings or bracelet? Very good, madam. When the desired level of understanding was reached, Maura took the phone back from Jane, smiling. "Thank you again, Peter. I'm so grateful to have your help. What? Um," she glanced towards Jane, blushing, "y-yes, it was. Oh, you are bad." She giggled. Actually giggled. "I think not, Peter. There are limits to what I'm willing to ask a gay man to do for me more than once. I'll take care of that myself this time. Be well, Peter."

"What did he just say to you?" Jane asked, eyes suspicious. "Yes what is? Why is he bad? Maura?"

Maura giggled as she hung up the phone and tossed it back onto the little table where her purse lay. "He asked if this friend was actually my lover, and then he asked if he could help us locate and purchase anything for..." her brows arched suggestively, "...each other. Don't think he's out of line for asking, Jane. He's been my personal concierge since I was eighteen, and he knows that I trust his discretion implicitly."

"I'd be shocked you have a personal concierge and embarrassed by his offer, but I think I'm starting to get accustomed to the curveballs you throw me all the time." Jane kissed the back of Maura's left hand. "Why did you double my price?" Whoa, she just told someone about us. Back that truck up, Rizzoli. "Wait a sec, Maura, did you just admit to someone that we're together?"

"Just Peter," Maura dismissed the concern. "Actually, I called him from work on Monday. He needs to know as much about me as possible in order to be effective at his job. I already know that I can trust Peter with absolutely everything. There's a reason he felt able to ask me if we needed anything of the kind he mentioned." She slid her arms around Jane's waist, not quite up to letting either of them get dressed yet. "When I was eighteen and first acquired his services, Peter told me that his highest value was discretion. I tested him by asking him for things that I was certain my parents would dislike enough to challenge me if they found out about them. Items such as those, very personal and obvious in function, were on my list. My parents never did confront me about any of those things, which is how I know that no matter what I ask of Peter, as long as it's legal, he will literally take my secrets with him to the grave."

"Okay, I trust your judgment." Jane readjusted to allow Maura to move even closer to her. "But, the cost of the necklace? You doubled the price I gave you! Maura, I don't understand why you did that." She frowned, confusion and traces of anger clearly written on her face.

Maura was taken aback by the sudden upset she read in Jane's expression, but she explained patiently rather than becoming upset, herself. "You told me what your budget was. I doubled it because I'm contributing the other half. I want to get her something too, Jane, but I can't get her a separate gift or she'll wonder why. Your mother won't know what the gift costs. She'll just know that it's from her daughter who loves her. If you're truly uncomfortable with the idea, I can call Peter and ask him to reduce the target budget, but I really hope you'll let me do this."

The brunette's jaw flexed as she bit down, trying not to say anything else before she could think it through. Maybe Ma should know it's from both of us? Maybe Maura should buy a present for Ma herself? I don't think she'd think anything of if Maura did. I mean, Ma's always telling me Maura is 'practically family' anyway. Maura is family. … … … which is why she wants to contribute to the gift. She's family even if the family doesn't know it… yet. Oh. "When we decide to come out," Jane started after the moment's quiet reflection, "and if Ma turns out to be okay with it, I want you to promise me that you'll tell her you helped buy her birthday gift this year." She gave the small woman a gentle squeeze as she placed a kiss on her forehead. "You're part of the family. You should be able to contribute to Ma's gift, and, when you're able, you should be able to let Ma know that you helped. She'd want to know. Okay?"

Maura turned her face up towards Jane's kiss, pleased that her request had been accepted. "Whenever that happens, Jane, whenever you're ready, I'm happy to go forward with you. At your pace."


Thank you for reading. As always, your reviews are loved and welcomed. We have at least one, if not two, more stories in this series to go.