Disclaimer: Characters belong to Tess Gerritsen and Janet Tamaro and not by me (##!)! I make no profit from their use.
Chapter 29
Everyone in the squad room practically held their breath, watching the clock. It was Christmas Eve, 4:29 p.m. Jane and Maura's wedding was ninety minutes away. No one wanted a last minute call ruin their celebration.
Jane, for her part, asked Frankie to light an extra candle in church to keep any murderers or rapists from striking. Angela did her part as well, chastising her parish priest to say extra prayers for Jane and Maura's wedding. Knowing full well the Catholic church did not condone same sex unions Angela refrained from telling her priest just how wrong she found that position, and the priest in question agreed to ask for a "beautiful day" for whatever reason. He was overjoyed when Angela nodded her agreement, thanked him for his help and left the church. He felt sorry for anyone who disagreed with Angela Rizzoli.
Maura stood in her walk-in closet, hand pressed to her chest, trying to breathe and not hyperventilate. She didn't think a blue-faced bride would add much to the ceremony and might make the wedding pictures come out funny. Maura knew Jane experienced cold feet a couple of days before and Maura presumed this was her turn.
She was marrying the woman she loved so what was the problem? Maura loved Angelo and Caitlyn as her own, even if marriage hadn't been possible for them she knew she and Jane belonged together and the kids were hers, even if Maura hadn't given birth.
"Maura come out of the closet and sit down here," Constance Isles spoke. She heard Maura trying to breathe and knew a last-minute attack of nerves had struck her daughter. Maura complied, sitting on the foot of the bed and looking up at her mother. Suddenly overcome by tears Maura began to cry. Constance enveloped Maura in her arms.
"Why cry on your wedding day? You're going to make your eyes all puffy. Jane won't like that," Constance tried a stern look. Maura laughed.
"Much better, Maura, you're too beautiful a bride to have puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks. Besides, Jane might wonder if you really want to marry her if you look like you've been crying."
"It's normal for a bride to feel last-minute jitters, Mother. Forty-two percent of all wedding planners report watching their brides' crying jags and temper tantrums while getting dressed or en route to the church. This must be my chance."
"You can always run away to the Mediterranean with me," Constance smiled.
"Thank you, Mother, I feel much better now," Maura smiled back.
"I lose out to Jane, then?" Constance said lightly.
"I'm afraid so, at least this time."
"Then come on, let's get you dressed." Constance stepped into the closet and brought out Maura's wedding dress. Helping Maura into it she zipped up the back and took a couple of steps back to admire her daughter.
"You're absolutely breathtaking, Maura. Jane would be a fool to not love you in that dress," Constance said. Maura felt tears threatening once again.
"Oh no, no, no more of that, Maura. Come on darling let's finish your hair and makeup. We have a wedding ceremony to get to."
"On time, I hope," Maura added.
"I wouldn't worry about it, darling. I don't think they'll start without you."
Across town in her own closet Jane was pacing. Her tux fit perfectly; Maura saw to that. She kept patting her pants pocket to reassure herself the ring was still there.
"Jane! Get a move on!" Frankie called from the living room. He arrived a half hour earlier to help move his sister along. He suspected Jane was nervous again.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Jane called back but didn't budge. A couple of minutes later Frankie knocked on the bedroom door.
"Come in, Frankie, I'm dressed."
"What's the problem, Jane?"
"My vows. Maura and I wrote our own. I'm afraid mine will sound cheesy compared to what she's probably written."
"I see. Why don't you speak from your heart, Jane?" Frankie suggested. She smirked at him.
"Yeah, Frankie, my beer and pretzel and Red Sox heart versus Maura's sophisticated champagne culture?"
"Haven't you discussed this with Maura?"
"No, we wanted our vows to be a surprise for each other." Frankie shook his head.
"I didn't mean your vows, Jane, I mean how she sees you."
"What are you talking about, Frankie?"
"This isn't about your vows, Jane. You're concerned Maura's going to wake up some day and think she made a mistake marrying you."
Jane opened her mouth to protest but realized how true Frankie's words were.
"You're right, little brother. I'm beer, blue collar, working class and Maura's in an orbit all her own."
"Don't you know what Maura sees when she looks at you, Jane? You're her knight in shining armor. She sees someone who's strong, loving, will do anything for her loved ones, takes care of others. In Maura's mind you wear a coat of armor, all bright and shiny who will take care of her." Jane listened to Frankie's words and felt the tears begin to threaten. She tapped him lightly on the arm.
"Okay, let's go. I don't want to ruin my hair or makeup." Frankie did a double take.
"Did my sister just mention her makeup?" Jane slapped him for real.
"By the way, since Dad isn't here do you want me to give you that father daughter talk about your responsibilities on the wedding night?" Frankie asked on the way out the door. Jane smacked the back of his head.
"Drive the car, smart ass, and don't worry about the wedding night."
The small resort Maura booked for the ceremony and reception was ready to go. Soft candlelight graced the main sanctuary with strings of white lights accenting the flowers on the pews and benches. Jane tapped her pocket one last time as she stood at the front of the altar. Frankie stood next to her.
She scanned the familiar faces in the first few rows. Angela, already lightly crying and clutching her handkerchief, clasped Korsak's arm as if she was on a roller coaster ride. Frost sat on Angela's left. Jane noticed the minister enter the church from the back with his bible in hand. Constance Isles hurried down the aisle and took her place. Jane straightened slightly at Constance's glance, she didn't want her mother-in-law upset with her slouching.
The organist launched into the wedding march and Jane turned her attention to the back of the church. The doors started to open.
"The ring?" Frankie whispered.
"Yeah, I have it," Jane whispered back then clutched her pocket one more time. At that moment Jane saw a vision she never expected. Maura, dressed in off white, was wearing a traditional strapless wedding gown with a full skirt and train. Jane felt herself straighten up taller. She loved this woman unconditionally and knew she was loved just as much.
The rest of the church and wedding goers fell away from Jane's vision. She saw only Maura, whose eyes latched onto Jane's as she began walking down the aisle. Jane smiled, took Maura's hands as she reached the altar. Maura's eyes, shining as brightly as Jane's, glistened with tears. The love she felt for Jane expanded inside her and she knew, looking at Jane, that Jane felt the same for her.
"Your vows, ladies?" the minister spoke. Jane didn't recall saying anything earlier or hearing the minister's words as he began the ceremony, she was locked on only Maura.
"Jane, when we met, I knew you were the one for me. That love I felt then has only grown. I can't imagine spending my life without you by my side."
"Maura," Jane began then tears overflowed. Choked with emotion Jane almost thought she wasn't going to make it through. She laughed lightly as she tried to clear her throat.
"Maura, I love you so much I get choked up," Jane said. Maura smiled as the guests laughed.
"Years ago when we were together I never knew how love felt. Then we were apart and I knew you were love personified. I can't imagine my life without you in it. Here you are, pledging your love to me for the rest of our lives. I don't know what I did to deserve you but I love you and will spend the rest of my life loving you and taking care of you."
The minister pronounced them spouses for life. Jane pulled up Maura's veil and kissed her wife. Maura kissed Jane back then handed her bouquet to Jane. Maura turned to Angelo and Caitlyn and motioned for them to join her.
"Ladies and gentleman, this is what we call a 'two-fer,'" the minister said. "You are attending two ceremonies in one. Maura Isles is adopting Jane's children as their second parent. Maura wanted to seal her commitment to Angelo and Caitlyn Rizzoli today."
Maura reached down and took each child in hand. "Angelo and Caitlyn, I love you so much I wanted to be your other mother. You already call me 'mama' and love me. If you'll have me, I want to be your mother too." Angelo and Caitlyn nodded and the minister gestured for the four of them to be presented to their wedding guests.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the Rizzoli-Isles family."
TBC
