In Death There Is Life
Chapter 1
Authors Notes
So i've had this idea for a while now and i really wanted to put it into story form. please note this story has been inspired by the novel In the Distance There Is Light bu Harper Bliss. it's such a great book, if you haven't read it then i suggest you do! My story is only slightly inspired by this novel so will have many differences. This story will involve age gap romance, mother-in-law/ daughter-in-law romance so if that isn't your thing then don't read! Please no nasty comments.
Jane Rizzoli couldn't control the sobs that were escaping her mouth. It was the day of Luke's funeral and she really didn't think she would get through it. It had been two weeks since she got the phone call, two weeks since the love of her life had died. Luke had been coming home from work, it was a particularly bad day weather wise. It had rained most of the day and the wind had been unusually strong. Luke had lost control of the car and hit a tree, the car had crumpled on impact and Luke was killed instantly. Jane remembers getting the phone call, she had dreamed of it every night since. Did he know he was going to die? Was he scared? Did he think of Jane in his last moments?
And now Jane was stood in her mothers kitchen waiting to go to his funeral, to say goodbye to him and she wasn't sure she would survive his loss. She had chosen a simple black dress with black pumps. Her mother had gone with her to buy the dress as she didn't owe many and certainly not one that was suitable for her boyfriends funeral. 'Are you ready Jane? We should get going if we want to be there on time.' Angela Rizzoli was barely keeping it together, she had loved Luke almost as much has Jane had loved him. He was the perfect man for Jane, they really were a match made in heaven.
Jane cleared her throat before speaking, desperate not to cry 'Yeah Ma I'm ready' with that, they made their way to the car. Once they were at the cemetery, they climbed out of the car and made their way over the the crowd that was gathering. Jane spotted Luke's mother almost immediately, she was stood at the foot of Luke's grave, hand over her mouth. Jane left her mother talking to one of Luke's relatives and made her way over to Luke's mother. As much as she loved her own mother she really wanted to be with someone who understood what she was going through and the only person who could possible understand that was Maura Isles, Luke's mother.
'Hey Maura' Jane didn't really know what to say so instead she enveloped Maura in a hug. Maura hugged back, stroking Jane's back before finally letting go. 'Hi Jane, is your mother here with you?' Jane looked towards her mother who was still engaged in conversation. She turned back to Maura 'Yeah, she's talking to your brother.' Maura gave Jane a slight smile but it never quite reached her eyes. Jane could tell that Maura was struggling as well. 'Do you mind if I stand with you, I love my mother but she gets way too emotional at funerals and I'm not sure I can hold her together as well as myself…' Jane trailed off. Maura squeezed Jane's hand 'sure Jane, you can stand with me'
The funeral went pretty quickly, Luke had always insisted that he didn't want a church service, he didn't believe in God so what was the point? Jane had always told him that they didn't need to talk about death and funerals because they were so young- Luke being 32 and she only 28, she told him he was being dramatic when he drew up a will…turns out she was the silly one after all. After the funeral was over and Luke's coffin was lowered into the ground people started walking away until it was just Jane and Maura left. Neither one of them wanted to leave him there but they knew they had to. Luke had specified that he did not want a wake, he didn't want people standing around looking miserable. "Just throw me in a box and bury me, no need to prolong the pain" he had said it jokingly but Jane knew he was being serious, confirmed only after he had died and Jane found out he had left detailed instructions on how he wanted his funeral to go.
Jane turned to Maura 'we should go, it's getting cold.' Maura turned to face Jane, she gave Jane a sad smile and then turned and walked away. Jane followed. Angela was waiting for Jane at the car she pulled Jane into another hug, Jane rolled her eyes she hated hugs and her mother knew that. 'Ma I'm okay, no need to crush me with your breasts.' Maura smiled despite being sad, she had always loved the interaction between Jane and her mother, it was endearing. Maura turned to head towards her car. She really didn't want to go home she was used to living alone, she had been single since Luke's father had left them 15 years ago but she had never felt so lonely than in the past two weeks. She was so used to Luke coming to visit her, he had called it mother, son time, they would do things together like go to the movies or on a hike together. He came every Friday after work and he hadn't missed one Friday in 15 years since he started the tradition…until now. It dawned on Maura that she would never spend another Friday with Luke again. 'Hey Maura, do you want to come back to my place for a while? I know Luke didn't want a wake but I'm sure he wouldn't mind us having a drink to celebrate his life.' Jane looked at Maura hopeful, she really didn't want Maura to be alone and to be honest she didn't want to be alone either. Her mother was going to go home at some point and Jane dreaded being alone. Maura thought about it for a while, she didn't want to be alone, she could do with a drink and there was worse company than Jane and Angela Rizzoli. 'Sure that sounds nice, I will follow you in my car…' Jane offered a small smile before getting into the car with her mother and driving off…