I don't own these lovely ladies, but do like to borrow to have some fun with them. This time, the ladies are pretty present day and age. Enjoy!
Jane and Maura stand at Maura's kitchen island drinking juice after their Saturday morning run.
"That was a good run, Maura."
"Yes. Perfect air temp to make us want to move, but not over-heat us."
"Got any plans for the rest of the day?"
"Not really. Do you want to go shopping with me?"
"No! I mean, I have a suggestion for us."
Maura cocks her head in her usual inquisitive way.
"Well, it's the weekend before Halloween and you don't have any pumpkins. Why don't we make a day of it and go out of the city to a pumpkin farm?"
"Oh, but Jane, There isn't enough time to get in touch with one of Mother's friends to paint a design on a pumpkin."
"Wait. What? You didn't carve or paint your own pumpkin?"
"Well, no. Mother would usually hire an artist to paint out pumpkins."
Jane shakes her head. "That's it. Let me go home and shower and you are going to have the whole pumpkin experience."
"Jane, you still have clothes here. Why don't you shower here and save time."
"Oh, right. Ok, meet you back down here in 15?
Maura looks confused. "Jane, you don't really expect me to shower, pick out my wardrobe, do my hair and make-up in only 15 minutes, do you?"
Jane raised an eyebrow. "Hair? Make-up? Wardrobe? Maura! Casual, casual, casual! We are going pumpkin picking, not to the ball. We'll be outside, so how about jeans and fleece or a sweatshirt?"
"But, Jane..."
"No buts, Maura."
"Are you sure?"
"The keyword is comfort, Maura, now let's get going!"
Jane takes the stairs two at a time to go into the spare bedroom to grab her clothes and then into the guest bathroom. She takes her time knowing that she will still finish sooner than Maura. In 20 minutes, Jane is back in the kitchen pouring herself a cup of coffee. She takes out her phone and starts to look for pumpkin farms. She finds one that suits her plans as she hears Maura coming down the stairs.
"Maura! I said casual." Jane looks at Maura in her designer jeans and pumps.
"Jane, these are the only jeans I have."
"Fine. Can you find more appropriate shoes? Ya know, like sneakers, boots, anything but high heels?"
"These are very comfortable, Jane."
"For you, yes, but not practical for what we are going to do. Please change them?"
Maura sighs, but goes back up the stairs to find other , she is back with acceptable flats on.
"Ready to go? I think I've found a farm not that far out from the city."
During the ride, Jane tells Maura about the jack-o-lanterns the Rizzoli children would carve. "It kind of became a competition of who could pick out the biggest pumpkin and make the scariest face." Maura is laughing as Jane shares the family stories.
Soon, they are following signs and pulling into a parking lot that advertises hay rides, apple cider, apple donuts and pumpkin picking. Maura watches Jane's eyes light up.
"C'mon, Maur!"
The ladies follow the signs that lead to the hay ride. It is a gorgeous fall day and there are many families visiting the farm. Maura feels excitement build in her body as they get on a hay wagon. Jane playfully throws hay at Maura's head and it falls over her shoulders and into her lap. Jane laughs and reaches over to pull a piece of hay stuck in Maura's hair. They come to a field filled with pumpkins.
"Ok, Maura. Take your time. Don't just grab the first one you see. Imagine the face you want to carve into it and pick out the right shape." Jane concentrates as she begins the process of finding the perfect pumpkin. Maura thinks for a minute, consults her phone, nods, and begins her search. A short time later, the ladies meet back up and wait for the wagon to take them back.
"What are you going to make, Jane?"
Jane smiles. "It's going to be a surprise, and don't tell me what you are going to carve either. Deal?"
"Agreed." Maura smiles at Jane's child-like enthusiasm. It's infectious and she finds herself feeling down right giddy.
Jane and Maura buy their pumpkins and also some cider and donuts to bring home. They enjoy the treats as they discuss where they are going to carve.
"Jane, these donuts are delicious!" Maura helps herself to a second moist, donut covered in sugar and cinnamon.
"I know, right? You just have to get apple cider donuts in the fall." Jane licks her fingers.
"Now, this can get a little messy, so do you want to do this outside?"
"I do believe that would be the most practical place, Jane."
"Ok, let's go get our implements of destruction."
"Destruction? I thought we were carving frightening faces?"
"We are Maura, but c'mon. We're going to be stabbing the pumpkin, carving a hole and pulling out the guts!"
Maura laughs at the pantomimes Jane is making. Jane makes her feel more... alive. "That sounds positively gruesome, Jane."
"Oh, it is Maura. It is!"
Jane begins to give instructions on how to properly carve a pumpkin, beginning with the top. She stands behind Maura and grips her hand to get the correct angle.
"Now, see? You have to hold the knife like this, at this angle so the lid doesn't fall into the pumpkin body."
The top of the pumpkins are removed and the Jane and Maura peer into the pumpkins.
"Ok, for the brave, we reach our hands into the slime and pull the guts out. Or, you can use an ice cream scoop to really scrape the edges."
Maura takes the ice scream scoop and starts to dig around in the pumpkin. She hears Jane making noises.
"Eww, feel the slime. Oh, yuk." Jane pulls out a handful of seeds and 'guts' and holds them up to Maura.
Maura finds a tough spot and starts to pull harder on the scoop.
"Hey, careful there Maura! The scoop will pop when you least expect it and..."
Maura's scoop pops up and Jane is sprayed with pumpkin entrails.
Maura eyes go wide and her mouth drops open. Jane is standing across from her, stringy pumpkin meat and seeds in her hair, on her face, and on her shirt.
"Oh, Jane. I am so sorry!" Maura begins to laugh as she walks over to pull the debris from Jane's face. She stops laughing as she stands close and looks at Jane's lips. She leans in, pressing her lips against Jane's...
"Ahem!"
"Ma!"
"Angela!"
"Don't mind me girls, I was coming over to borrow some tea. All I say is, it's about time!"
I really wanted to get this story out before Halloween, so here it is. Be gentle, I haven't proofed it, so there may be mistakes. Happy Halloween everyone. Have fun, be safe! Love to Belgium!