Chapter 28
Maura pondered where all the time was going. The wedding was now just two weeks away and she wasn't exactly sure how that happened. Everything was basically taken care of but she had a fear that there was something big that she was just forgetting to do or decide or purchase or plan for. But she and her mother and Angela and Jane and even the wedding coordinator that she had contacted at the last minute in a panic about details all said the same thing. "You have everything taken care of." She knew it she just had a hard time believing it.
Jane didn't sweat any of the details. But at times she wondered how Maura's sanity level would be if this had been a bigger function than what it was going to be. If she was freaking out a little about a small wedding Jane hadn't wanted to be around her if it had been a large one. As it was, the wedding and reception guest list was exactly 50 people. And exactly 50 people had RSVP'd their confirmation to attending the festivities. From Jane's understanding of how the day would progress, basically everything was arranged.
Well, everything that Maura was aware of anyway. Jane still had some unfinished plans of her own to attend to before the day was upon her. Which was how she found herself with her mother on a Monday night where she would have been happier either being home or at the Robber with Korsak and Frost watching Monday Night Football.
"Janie, you asked me for help with this five weeks ago. I can't believe you haven't decided yet. The clock is ticking."
"I know, I know. But I've been a little busy Ma. So please, instead of lecturing me, help me."
Angela had to bit her lip not to laugh at how desperate Jane sounded when she asked for help. Angela had been completely surprised when Jane had asked for help with this surprise for Maura in the first place. But since she had asked, Angela just loved the fact that it had allowed her to spend extra time with Jane leading up to the wedding. And it made her even happier knowing that she was the only person who knew what Jane was trying to do. They had a secret. Well, actually they had two secrets.
Jane's original idea had morphed into two surprises for Maura instead of one. Angela was shocked by the first surprise. But the second, well, the second one just blew her away. She had absolutely no idea that her daughter was as romantic as she apparently was. Angela thought she knew her but after listening to Jane talk about each surprise in relation to what it would mean for Maura she wondered if she ever really knew her daughter at all. And that was a pleasant thing to know as she had completely underestimated her.
"Alright. I will help you. I've been trying to help for you for two weeks now and you aren't making it easy."
"Just promise me that we won't leave here until all the details are arranged. I can't keep disappearing at night without having Maura wonder what I'm up to. It has to get finalized tonight."
Angela nodded in agreement and the two Rizzoli women set about making two major decisions and finalizing the little details. Two hours later it was all arranged. And Jane finally seemed to have relaxed.
"Ma, thank you. I couldn't have done any of this without your help," and she embraced Angela and held the hug for longer than she normally allows.
Angela enjoyed the moment taking it all in and knowing it would be something she would remember for the rest of her life. That was what this surprise had given her. It was a surprise for Maura but for Angela it had been a gift. The gift of time with her daughter and the gift of being a part of something that was beautiful and special. "It was my pleasure. It's driving me crazy that I can't tell anyone about this but it will be so worth it to see Maura's reaction so I've behaved myself and haven't said a word."
"And I appreciate that. I know that has been hard for you," Jane said with a smile. Her mother was a natural gossip and it had to be killing her that she was allowed to share this yet.
"So, we have that," and she turned and pointed to where they had just left, "taken care of. How about the other?"
Jane let out a heavy sigh. "That has been harder than I thought. But it's coming along."
"Can I help in any way?"
"No, that one is all on me. But thanks."
They parted for the night and Jane made her way home. She felt better now that she had taken care of everything finally and didn't feel as stressed as she had before. She had an exact idea about the surprise for Maura and she wanted it to come off perfectly. She was getting closer to having that happen. With only two more weeks until the wedding she hadn't wanted it to get much closer before finalizing details.
And then suddenly it was the day before the wedding. Neither Jane nor Maura knew how that had happened. But everything was ready. Even the weather was cooperating. Maura had been convinced for the last two weeks that a major snow storm was going to interfere with the wedding. But, on the day before the ceremony, there was not a snowflake predicted in the forecast. No travel plans to be interrupted and no concerns about the drive out the wedding site.
"Maura?! We are going to be late if you don't hurry up," Jane called up from the bottom of the stairs. They were supposed to have been in the car and driving by now. If Maura didn't hurry up they were going to be late for their own rehearsal.
"I'm coming," she said as she finally walked down the stairs.
"My goodness! It is so worth us being late! You look absolutely gorgeous," and Jane was beaming as she took in the sight of her almost wife.
"Thank you. We aren't that late, are we?" She asked slightly distracted.
"Um, yes we areā¦and don't I get at least an acknowledgement of slightly dressing up here?"
That made Maura laugh. "Of course. You, my dear, are stunning as usual." Maura leaned in for a kiss but had to make sure it didn't get too involved. They were running very late.
"Ok," getting the hint that they couldn't get distracted, "let's get going. They are going to rehearse our wedding without us if we aren't careful."
Thanks to Jane's police driving skills, they weren't too late for the rehearsal. Jane had managed to do the usually hour long drive in about forty minutes thanks mostly to the lack of snow on the roads. But finally they pulled up to their destination.
Each time Maura pulled into the Lord Thompson Manor it took her breath away. The manor was set on a 40 acre estate in Connecticut. It had been one of Maura's favorite getaways over the years and Jane had been the first to suggest the location for the wedding and the reception. Maura was instantly happy with the choice. The lateness of the year had made it a little difficult getting the place but Constance had used her pull with one of the investors and had managed to have to property available for the exclusive use of the Rizzoli-Isles clan.
Maura was surprisingly greeted with a very mild early December and was happy that she may be able to wander the grounds before the wedding without worrying of frost bite. It appeared as if everything was going to go off without a hitch provided that both brides-to-be could get settled and down to the rehearsal.
Jane made sure that all the bags were divided correctly and each set taken to the appropriate room. She pouted slightly as she did this. She had wanted to spend the night with Maura but had lost that argument about two weeks ago. Apparently Maura decided she believed that it was 'bad luck' to see the bride before the ceremony. This all but ensured Jane's banishment to a separate room in the Manor. But Maura's promise to make up for lost time on their wedding night at least gave Jane something to look forward to. Once the bags and rooms were settled, Jane and Maura made their way to the Essex room where the ceremony was to take place. They were definitely the last ones to arrive.
Fending off Angela Jane announced as soon as they walked in together that their tardiness was all her fault. "Sorry, I didn't pack my stuff last night like Maura requested. It slowed us down this morning." She received a stern look from Angela but no one else seemed to think any harm was done. Maura just smiled a slightly shocked smile. It had been a sweet gesture.
"Maura, this place is amazing," Constance stated as Maura approached to greet her mother.
"I've always enjoyed it here," she said with a smile. "In the fall to walk the grounds with the leave color changes is breath-taking."
"I can't believe we have the whole place to ourselves," Tommy stated. He wasn't used to being involved or invited to such nice places but he was thinking he could get very used to it.
"You can thank Constance for that," Jane stated. "They usually close down for a couple of months right about now but she had enough pull to get the staff to stay through the weekend for us."
After a little more chit-chat, the wedding party got down to the actual rehearsal. Jane and Frankie would walk down the aisle together before the start of the ceremony. Tommy was escorting Angela. Frost was escorting Constance who would also stand up for Maura after being escorted down the aisle by Frost. And then Korsak was going to walk Maura down the aisle. The paired duos all practiced their walks and tried to time their steps just right so the walk would be comfortable.
The ceremony itself would be quick. Jane and Maura had agreed to exchange personal written vows and then exchange rings. Jane went to comment that it would take longer to get everyone in position than it would for them to actually get married but she decided not to upset her bride-to-be and kept that thought to herself. She'd whisper a remark similar to that later to Frankie and he would chuckle about it.
They went through the motions a handful of times and everyone felt like they could pull it off without major incident the next day. The wedding party all started to mix and mingle as a few questions were answered and they all just generally were hanging out. Dinner was going to be served in about an hour for the group so they had time to kill. Conversations were casual and it was clear that everyone in the wedding party was very comfortable spending time together.
The rehearsal dinner was also casual and the conversation flowed with ease. Dinner was fantastic and everyone commented that if the rehearsal dinner was this good the dinner tomorrow night would be equally enjoyable. Towards the end of night Jane stood up to speak to the group that had gathered.
"I'm not one for speeches but Maura and I wanted to thank all of you for being here and being a part of our day tomorrow. Both of us couldn't have gotten to this night or to tomorrow without the love and support from each of you over the last few years. We both consider everyone sitting at this table family and have felt that before trying to make it legal. We are blessed to have you all in our lives. So, eat and drink up tonight and tomorrow. What Maura and I want more than anything else is that everyone just has fun tomorrow and finds everything enjoyable."
Maura squeezed Jane's hand as she sat back down. The rest of the night passed with humor, stories and good times as everyone talked and shared and bonded as the makeshift family they all felt like they were becoming. Finally, it was time for everyone to head to bed. Jane didn't want to be apart from Maura even for the night. So she tried once more to talk her way into Maura's room.
"It's a stupid tradition. And I vote that it only applies to bride/grooms. Not bride/bride. I don't think those rules have been written yet. Can't I just sleep with you tonight?"
Maura was having a hard time saying no to Jane. She was absolutely adorable when she was practically begging. But her resolve was final. Separate rooms for tonight. End of conversation. "This from the woman that wouldn't let me have my wedding date as 12/12/12. Nope, you have your superstitions and I have mine. Deal with it." She snuck in one last kiss and then promptly closed her door leaving Jane in the hallway. She did it more to keep herself from caving into Jane's desires.
Jane sulked all the way back to her room. It was going to be a long night. As soon as she got to her room her phone vibrated.
One night won't be the end of you- stop sulking
She had to smile. That was exactly what she had been doing and thinking.
You are SOOOOO worth the risk to the superstition rule
That was the best attempt she could think of. One last try before she would just have to brave the night in an absurdly large bed alone. She got the answer almost immediately.
We don't have that kind of luck. Tomorrow it will have to be
Jane smiled but sighed at the same time. Maura was probably right.
Good night. I'll be the one at the end of the aisle awaiting the most gorgeous woman on the planet
She wanted for Maura's last response. Part of her was hoping one last shot at flattery may tip the scale on the whole sleeping alone concept.
I'll be the one walking towards the best person I know
Denied. Very sweetly denied. But denied nonetheless.
Tomorrow was almost here.
