Chapter 29 :
Merry Christmas :
Today was the most beautiful day of the year : it was December 24 th.
After 2 weeks of hard work Maura and Angela managed to entirely furnished the knew Isles- Rizzoli residence. Jane obviously wanted Maura to feel comfortable so she give her her blessing to buy what ever she wanted as long as it wasn't too fashionable like the furniture she had in her old house.
To her big surprise Maura only chose very sober, comfortable furniture that made this house warm and welcoming.
Every chair, table or even the couch had been chosen wisely and with consideration. Just like Jane Maura wanted their house to be a family house not a designer house that looks great but isn't welcoming or comfortable.
It was the middle of the afternoon and while Janie and Jane were finalizing the decoration of the tree Maura and Angela were in the kitchen finishing the meals for tonight.
Maura was extremely anxious about this Christmas dinner, because not only it was their first Christmas together as a family and since she came back but also because she was the host this year instead of Angela and she wanted everything to be perfect.
She was flattered that Angela asked her to host Christmas this year saying that it was time to pass the torch to the new mom. Both women grew pretty close over the past 8 months and shopping for furniture and preparing dinner brought them even closer.
Everything was almost set, dinner was cooking, dessert as well, the table was set, decorations as well, and Maura's mom Constance Isles was expected to arrive in a couple of hours, everything seems to indicate that this very special christmas was going to be memorable.
After two hours of hard work Jane and Janie finally decided that the tree was perfect.
"So what do you think mommy is it good enough?" Janie asked looking up at the 9 feet tall tree.
"I think you my dear did a great job." Jane said lifting her up her feet.
"Oh now I can see better." Janie smiled her arms around her neck.
As they were admiring their magnificent Christmas tree Maura suddenly stormed in the room covered in flour and visibly still nervous.
"What are you two doing?" Maura asked agitating her arms as she entered the living room.
"We're looking at the tree, I did most of the decorations but mommy helped, do you like it?" Janie asked proudly showing the result of her hard work.
"Yes, but please if you're done just clean after yourself , look those boxes need to go before the guests arrive, come on we don't have time to just stand there a contemplate that tree!" Maura ordered before leaving the room.
"She didn't even look at it mommy, she doesn't care!" Janie sobbed heart broken.
"Oh sweetie, of course she cares, she's just nervous. Give her some time to finish everything in the kitchen and to calm down a bit okay?" Jane said wiping the tear of her face.
"Why is she nervous?"
"Well, tonight is the first Christmas we organize, so she wants everything to be perfect ."
"Where did you go for Christmas before?"
"At my parents' house, my mother usually cooked dinner and your mommy helped but this year she's in charge and she wants to make our friends and family happy."
"It doesn't excuse being mean." Jane frowned her arms crossed on her chest.
"You're right. How about you clean up a bit when I talk t your mommy?" Jane offered gently dropping her on the couch.
"Okay."
As she entered she kitchen Jane saw her mother and Maura both covered in flour and food every where. She knew Maura was nervous but Janie was right, it wasn't an excuse to be mean to her so taking a deep breath she tried to find the most diplomatic way to explain this to hurt without causing a scene.
"How's the cleaning going?"
"You made her cry Maura."
"What?How did I made her cry?"
"She spent the entire morning decorating that tree and you barely looked at it . All you did was telling us to clean up our mess. "
"Is she still crying?"
"No, I told her that you were just nervous because it was the first year you hosted our Christmas dinner but she's mad at you for being rude to her."
"I"m sorry, I'm just nervous, she can understand that right?"
"Look babe, she might be a genius but she's also a little girl who needs her mommy's approval."
"We both know she cares more about your approval anyway..." Maura groaned avoiding Jane's look.
"Gee Maura, my...our daughter is hurt and you're jealous of the relationship I have with her?"
"Yes, I'm sorry you two are just so close and decorating the Christmas tree has always been our thing but this year she insisted to do it with you..."
Seeing how hurt Maura was Jane understood her attitude. Maura and Janie had lived together for the first 4 years of her life and during those years Janie was Maura's little girl, but ever since they came back to Boston Jane and Janie had build this incredible bond. Ever since the first time they met Janie started to literally worship Jane, trying to talk like her, dressing like her , always asking to spend time with her and Maura slowly started to feel that she was loosing her, that she was becoming Jane's little girl.
"I'm sorry babe, starting next year the two of you will decorate the tree together okay?" Jane said as a peace offering, snaking her arms around her.
"I understand the two of you are just trying to make up for the time you were apart but it hurts when she choses you over me..."
"She doesn't choses me over you, when we're together all she can talk about is her awesome mommy who's a Doctor and who saves lives, you're her hero, don't ever forget that."
"I know, it's just Christmas has always been so hard for me. When I was a kid my parents always had those huge parties at our mansion, it was everything but a familly celebration , not to mention that when I was in boarding school in europe I didn't even come back for the holidays."
"Oh, you were that kid, the one who stays at school during the holidays?"
"Yes. I knew my parents were busy and I didn't want to bother them..."
"Well things are different now, you have a beautiful daughter who loves you more than anything and family and friends who can't wait to spend Christmas with you and who will come back next year even if things aren't perfect. We're here for you Maura and I promise you're never gonna be alone for Christmas ever again. So please just relax okay?"
"I know, I'm sorry, I'm going to apologize to her." Maura sighed cleaning herself up.
When Maura arrived in the living room Janie was lying on the couch her thumb in her mouth, watching tv.
"Hey sweetie, I'm sorry for earlier, I shouldn't have talked to you like that. I'm just a bit nervous about diner." Maura said running her fingers through her little girl's hair.
"I don't care!" Janie replied rolling on her side turning her back to her .
"God, the more you grow up the more you have your mother's temper." Maura sighed.
"But she says I have your taste."
"Well looking at that tree, she's certainly right."
"So you like it?" Janie replied turning around her face lit up.
"Yes I do. I'm sorry for not paying attention earlier, I suppose I got a bit jealous."
"Because I asked mommy to do it with me instead of you this year?"
"Yes." Maura ashamedly admited .
"I'm sorry Mommy, I didn't want to hurt you but it's the first year mommy is with us and I wanted to show you how we decorate the tree but I still love you mommy." Janie said jumping in her mommy's arms.
"I love you too sweetie." Maura replied holding her little girl as tight as she could.
After apologizing to each other Maura and Jane spent a long moment admiring the tree and taking pictures for the family album. Everything were finally back to normal, the atmosphere was light and joyful again when :
"Well I see my grand daughter inherited my artistic side." A familiar voice suddenly spoke a few feet behind them.
"Grand ma!" Janie yelled running towards Constance Isles who was standing in the middle of their living room.
"Mother, I thought your plane arrived at 5..." Maura said embarrassed trying to fix her hair.
"I took an early flight." Constance said picking up Janie.
"Well we're both happy that you're here. Will you be staying here or at the Ritz?"Maura asked hugging her mother.
"I think I will be staying with you if that's no trouble."
"Yes mommy please please please..." Janie begged.
"Yes of course, it's just the guest room isn't finished yet."
"I'm sure It's perfect darling don't worry, you certainly did a great job with the living room, it looks gorgeous "
Looking around Maura realized what her mess the living room was. There were empty boxes from the decorations everywhere not to mention she was dirty form the cooking. She had worked hard for the past two weeks to make this house presentable but most especially for her mother. Even if she was 35 Maura was still looking for her mother's approval and she knew that she had disappointed her when she left Jane and refused to go back to Boston. Even if she didn't agree with her decisions Constance always supported her and helped her with Janie, actually they grew closer over the past 4 years and Maura was excited to show her the new life Jane and her had built and she wanted everything to be perfect.
"You're all set Mrs Isles, your bags are in the guest room and I took the liberty to turn of the heat a bit" Jane said coming behind them.
"Thank you darling. How about your mommy and you go clean up yourself a bit while Jane and I talk for a little while?"Constance offered releasing Janie .
"Yes, mommy smells funny." Janie laughed.
"Well if both of you think I need to shower then I should go. Come on sweetheart we need to choose what you're going to wear tonight. Mother, it's very nice to see you."
"It's very nice to see you two mother." Maura smiled before leaving the room .
"Well Jane, it seems like you found yourself a very nice house here." Constance said as she carefully inspected the living room.
"Thank you, well it was a mess when I bought it. My dad, my brother and I spent almost 2 months redoing the floors, the plumbing, but Maura and my mother took care of the furniture and the decoration."
"Well you certainly did a fantastic job together, I'm happy Maura decided to come back to Boston."
"So I am, she told me you tried to convince her to do it for a long time and I wanted to thank you for that."
"Well I might have missed on a good part of her life and I might not know my daughter as well as I should but the one thing I know is that she loves you and you love her . I knew she would have been miserable for the rest of her life especially if she had to raise her daughter alone."
"I know, and trust me I was miserable as well, but now she's here, Janie is here and we're a family and I promise I'm going to take good care of them."
"You adopted my grand daughter, gave her your name not to mention you bought this gorgeous house for them, I think I can trust you to give them everything they need and I will always be grateful for that."
"Thank you, actually there is something I would like to talk to you about, well actually there is something I need to ask you..." Jane said taking a deep breath.
As Jane and Constance were talking in the living room and Maura and Janie were cleaning themselves up to welcome their guests Angela was still in the kitchen finalizing the cooking of the last pie they would serve for dessert. Being here in that kitchen, in the house her daughter had bought and renovated for her family Angela felt a bit nostalgic. Only a few years back Maura would come to her house asking her advice on various things including Jane but now it seems that neither Jane or Maura needed her help anymore. They had their own family, careers and had started their own Christmas tradition. She felt that her work here was over, that the daughter she had raised had become this loving mother and partner and she was proud of her and of herself as well feeling that somehow it was because of her.
So guys, did you like this first part?I know it's more of an introduction then a real Christmas chapter. Don't worry next chapter will be the dinner itself...Some surprises are coming :)
So tell me guys do you understand Maura's attitude and jealousy?Or was she over reacted again?
As always reviews are welcome...
