Two Weeks on Lake Michigan, Chapter 26
Maura was the first to awake the next morning and she slipped out of bed to shower, she decided to let Jane sleep. When she came back into the bedroom, Jane was just waking up having felt the blonde's absence.
"I thought I'd go down and walk the labyrinth this morning, and then maybe go for a little run along the beach," said Maura.
"I'd like that too."
"Okay, then, get yourself up."
"I think I'll shower when we get back, then we can go to breakfast. Come here and give me a kiss."
Maura moved to sit on the bed and so she could kiss Jane, then she shifted her position and laid on top of her, kissing her passionately. "I love you," Maura mumbled as she kissed Jane again.
"Are you sure you want to go get enlightened? Wouldn't you rather just stay here and make love?"
"Jane, as tempting as that is and as hard as you are to resist, I would love to go walk the labyrinth. And, I promise you when we get home tonight, we will make love until you have to catch your plane in two days. How's that?"
"Umm, that sounds perfect."
"Okay, sweetie, let's go." Jane dragged herself out of bed and quickly dressed.
Walking the labyrinth was a unique experience. The quiet of the woods coupled with the repetition of walking through the pattern put both women in a calm state. It was, they both agreed, a great way to quiet your mind and it worked for Jane because she didn't have to sit still. Jane began walking the pattern thinking about being back in Boston surrounded by her family and her colleagues. She imagined them angry, judgemental, and disappointed. By the time she reached the inner circle and started to walk out, she felt a sense of resolution about how she might handle rejection as well as acceptance.
They walked toward the hotel holding hands and commenting on their appreciation of the view and the gardens. After quickly showering and packing, they met Catherine and Marie in the dining room for breakfast.
As they were eating, Marie remembered that they had wanted to visit the "Hall of History" before they left. They took more pictures with the portrait of Jane Seymour from the movie, then on the porch, then in the horse drawn carriages. Finally, they boarded the ferry and said goodbye to two wonderfully romantic days at the Grand Hotel.
They retraced their driving route back to their little lakeshore town and made plans for dinner together.
As Jane and Maura began to unpack, Jane felt the need to be close to her lover. She found Maura sitting on the couch staring into the fireplace lost in her own thoughts.
"What's up, sweetie?
"I was just reliving these past few days. Thinking about how lucky I am." She moved into Jane's arms. Make love to me Jane; I need you as close to me as you can be."
"Oh, my God, Maura, do you have any idea what you do to me when you say that. Come on, let's go to bed."
They shared the kind of lovemaking that resulted in intense intimacy, tears, and unbelievable satisfaction. They were lying naked in each other's arms when they heard knocking on the back door.
"That's probably our beautiful relatives," Maura said as she rolled over and kissed her lover again.
"I don't think I can actually move," replied Jane.
"I'll get it." Maura wrapped herself in a blanket and went to the back door.
From the bedroom, Jane heard, "I'm sorry; I must have the wrong house."
Then she heard Maura reply, "Who is it you're looking for?"
"Marie Rizzoli."
Jane's sat up with a start and her mouth flew open. The voice that had just shocked her into a fully awake state was that of her mother. "Ma," she screamed.
"Janie, is that you?"
Maura stood paralyzed at the door when Angela walked right passed her to the bedroom. "Oh my God!" Maura realized she was standing at the door naked wrapped in a blanket.
Angela got to the bedroom door and saw Jane sitting stunned and naked on the bed.
Maura couldn't move, Jane still had her mouth open and Angela had stopped in her tracks staring at Jane.
Angela's voice was louder than it normally was. "I couldn't get in touch with you for 3 days, Jane. I finally got so worried I got on a plane. Why are you naked in bed at noon, and why is that other woman naked? Jane, what the hell is going on?"
"Ma, go out on the porch, we can get dressed, and we'll come out there in a couple minutes." Angela still had a shocked look on her face, but walked toward the porch. Maura passed her with her head down on her way to the bedroom.
Jane was in a complete panic. She had jumped out of bed and was running around in circles looking for her clothes and talking a million miles a minute. Maura was just standing at the bedroom door unable to comprehend what was happening.
"Oh, my God, help me find my phone. Can you find yours? Call Marie and Catherine and tell them to get down here. This is the mother of all shit storms." Maura finally kicked into gear and began looking for her clothes and her phone.
"Jane, this is terrible, I know, but I almost can't help myself, I want to laugh, but then, I think I'm going to throw up."
"You're going to throw up? No, I'm going to throw up."
Maura found her phone first and dialed her mother. "Mother, Jane's mother just showed up at the door. Yes, I said Jane's mother. How fast can you and Marie get here? Please hurry, please," Maura begged.
Maura and Jane were both dressed when the blonde finally took Jane by her shoulders to try to calm her. "Okay, honey, I know you're really upset, I'm upset, everyone's upset, but we have to just calm the hell down."
Jane took a deep breath and gave Maura a peck on the lips. "Okay, alright, okay, I'm going to go put on some coffee." She took another deep breath. "Then we're going to sit down and have a conversation with my mother."
"Jane, I love you, just remember that."
"I love you too, baby."
The front door burst open and Catherine and Marie came rushing in as if the house was aflame.
Marie went to Jane and put her arms around her. "It's going to be alright, Janie, I promise."
"Oh, my God, Aunt Marie, I think I'm having a heart attack."
In the meantime, Catherine was holding Maura. "It's okay, my darling girl, it's going to be okay." Maura just sunk her head into her mother's arms.
Jane was in the kitchen making coffee while Marie went to the porch. "Angela," she greeted her sister-in-law, holding her arms out for a hug.
Angela gave her a reserved hug. "What the hell is going on here, Marie? A naked woman answered your door and my naked daughter was in bed." Marie smiled gently. Come on, Angie, let's go get some coffee and sit down. We'll tell you all about it.
Well, the shit has indeed hit the fan. I wanted to get this posted while I regroup and figure out what's next. Would love your comments.