Chapter 4

Evening was approaching, still Wednesday the 29th, and Jane slipped into her sweats, but didn't fully unpack as she was trying to book a hotel room while on her phone. Frankie long gone, back home to Nina, only to come back tomorrow. Angela sought out Jane and overheard her on her phone.

"Really...you got nothing?! Not even a room in the basement? Na...na I'm kidding...forget it!" Jane tossed her phone onto the bed, as she dropped on top of the mattress accepting defeat, letting out a tired sigh.

Angela crept into the bedroom and sat on the bed. Jane was now laying down rubbing her eyes, disgusted. Angela rubbed Jane's leg to comfort her child.

"Jane, honey...are we that bad? You really don't wanna be here? With us? With family? With me?

Jane looked up at her mother, while resting up on her elbows.

"It's not you ma. Of course, I wanna be here. I love you. Love you all. I don't want to be in the way of you and Ron. He'll be here soon, and I don't know if I'm ready for a hot 'n steamy homecoming with YOU and him. I mean these walls are pretty thin." Jane joked.

Angela swatted Jane's leg, "Oh stop! We're not gonna do anything!"

"I don't know that ...ma. You don't know that! What if he comes home wearing his doctor's white coat...you know those coats can be sexy!" Jane wiggled her eyebrows, as she coxed her mother. They both shared a laugh and Angela added, "I guess it depends who's wearing the white coat...right Jane?"

Jane sat up straight, looking at her mother. "What's that supposed to mean? Ma? What are you implying?"

Angela started to get up from the bed.

"Nothing, Jane. You just keep on brooding. I promise Ron and I won't do anything tonight."

Angela tried to escape, but Jane grabbed Angela's arm and tugged her back onto the bed.

"Jane! I think you pulled my arm outta it's socket!"

"Oh...you'll live. Plus, you're dating a doctor and there's one next door, too! Now out with-it...what do you mean brooding?"

"We're gonna do this now?" Angela rolled her eyes and asked.

"Quit stalling ma! Brooding? You've been playing scrabble with Maura?"

"What...your mother isn't allowed to expand her vocabulary?"

Jane was growing impatient and barked out, "Ma! Come on!"

"You love Maura." Angela confessed.

"Yeah, she's my best friend. Sure, we haven't talked in a while...but I think we're still friends."

"Bullshit!" Angela now letting out her Italian, by waving her hands in the air and yelling bullshit again.

"MA?!" Jane now confused.

"How's that scrabble world for ya? I've known Jane. I'm your mother. I can see it all over your face. And you blew it. Whatcha got now Jane?

Jane felt as if she was being scolded like a child.

"Ma...I had to move. We just went our separate ways. Life goes on."

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that!"

"Ouch...ma, that's mean! Below the belt. And what do you know? See it on my face...sure...right?! You kept trying to fix me up with every Tom, Dick and Harry, knowing all the while that I'm gay! Brooding...sure, whatever. I'm gonna book a room and I'm outta here!

Angela tried to take the sting out of the room and soften up. She placed both hands on Jane's cheeks, forcing Jane to look at her. Jane shook her head from side to side trying to break free from her mother's hold. Angela started in a soft, soothing, motherly voice, "Jane...Janie...my Janie...my beautiful girl."

Jane finally caught Angela's eyes and started to cry. Angela rocked her baby into a reassuring hug, as Jane cried.

"SShhh, let's not fight. I only want to help you. I know who you are, what you've become. You're strong, opinionated, fearless, determined, loving, tender, yes gay, but more than anything, you're my baby. You'll never outgrow or throw that away. You deserve love and to be loved. I'm not one to break a marriage or family, God knows your father did enough! And I'm not encouraging you to be like him, but if you still feel...this...if you still love Maura, then you gotta do something. I don't want her to break your heart, but from where I'm sitting, she already did, maybe not intentionally...cause I don't think she's ok."

Jane wiped away her tears and sniffled, while pulling back away from her mother she asked, "Not, ok? Why? What happened?"

Just then the front door opened, allowing a gust of snow filled wind inside, followed by Ron. His wind-swept hair a skewed, and the tips of his ears, red from the cold. He should have been wearing a hat, he's a doctor, he should know better.

"Angela! Angela!" Ron called out.

With one last hug and an I love you kiss to Jane's forehead; Angela was out to greet Ron.

"Angela!?"

"Ron...hi honey. Let me get your coat."

Angela proceeded to strip Ron of his winter apparel and kiss him hello.

"How was things at the hospital? You hungry? I could make you something?"

"Work was work, just happy to be here with you." Ron kissed Angela once more. "Sure, I'll take something to eat, as long as it doesn't put you out."

"Nonsense. I'll get it ready."

Jane went into the bathroom to wash her face and calm herself down. As she looked at her reflection in the mirror, she paid witness to the redness surrounding her eyes. She took a deep breath and told herself to get a grip. She was all those things her mother had said. Time to be strong and nut up! Just get through the holidays.