Present Day:
Jane's fingers tap against the edge of her car door. It's just after three o'clock in the afternoon. Her signature long locks have been ditched for a short 'do. The pick-up line moves at a snail's pace. She groans as snot nosed tikes yank off their face masks, and haphazardly shuffle their school supplies, and lunch boxes into various vehicles. Her charge races up to the car, and climbs into the back seat with the efficiency of a navy seal. The care in front of them inches forward. Jane makes a break for it.
They zip out of line, and collectively sigh in relief. For a moment she checks her rearview. Her typically bubbly, and talkative ten year old remains quiet and reserved. Her strawberry blonde hair is still secured in the braid Jane expertly weaved in the early morning hours. Her shoulders are slumped, and she chews on her cuticle as the car moves. Jane clears her throat.
"Maxi? What's on your mind?"
"I miss grandma," she answers.
Jane pulls into the first parking lot that she can find.
"What's really on your mind? We both know that is your go to cop out when you are feeling something overwhelming."
"Why do we have to live in Virginia? I want to live in Boston. Grandma is there."
Jane struggles to collect her thoughts, or string them into intelligible thought.
The level of angst rises in the ten year old's voice, "And don't tell me it's complicated! Some things are simple."
"Where is this coming from?"
"I had a bad experience in biology class," she explains.
"With a frog? Listen, Maxi everyone feels sick at first."
"No! Mom! Several of the kids in my class did their DNA tests for extra credit. Well… most of them did. They were teasing me because I didn't. I explained to them that because of your job you wouldn't let me. They were not convinced that it is a safety rule. Some of them said it was because I'm just a freak, and you don't want me to know the truth. One girl said suggested I was a member of the X-men. Maxi the brain, the girl who rids the world of injustice with her brain."
Jane grimaces, "I don't even know where to begin unpacking that one."
"What would they say if they knew I was adopted?"
"Maxi, kids are absolutely cruel. I wouldn't worry about it."
"Why do you look as if your skin is crawling? Can you ever just be real with me?"
"Maxi it is really com…"
Maxi cuts her off, "Just the truth. No Quantico BS please."
"The truth is that I don't feel you are old enough to discuss the circumstances of your adoption."
The tween says nothing. She removes her backpack from the floor, and buries her head in it to cover her tears. Jane sighs in defeat. She removes her phone from her cup holder, and vacates the vehicle. From outside the car she calls her former colleague. She doesn't expect an answer.
"Isles," the voice answers on the other end.
"Maura."
"Is something wrong?" Maura jumps to conclusions.
"Maxi is asking a lot of question. I don't know what to say. I had hoped I could avoid this day all together."
"There is a posting for a job at BPD."
"Maura…"
She cuts Jane off, "Jane you have been gone for ten years. I am not a porcelain doll who is going to break. We both know that a difficult decision had to be made. Each of us chose something that our hearts led us to. It is time for you to come up."
"What about Maxi? What about her heart?"
"I am not going to shatter. I am certainly not going to shatter hers."
"How can I be certain? When she looks at you with your eyes, and begs for the truth? No matter how much it hurts the truth is available to her right now. It is twice the pain to watch her agonize over the situation. You've never had to watch her analyze her entire life, and wonder what she did wrong."
"Please come to Boston."
The car ride home is relatively quiet. As they hit the entry way of their 3 bedroom suburban digs Maxi ditches her backpack on the floor, and stomps off toward her room.
"There is no need for an attitude."
"I just want to be left alone."
Jane plants her hands firmly on her shoulders, and spins her in her direction. "I am your mom, and I am never going to leave you alone. As long as you live no matter how angry, or sad, or hurt you are. I will always be with you."
"I just want grandma."
Jane sighs in frustration, "Then pack a bag."
Maxi shakes her head, "I hate it here. I want to come back."
"I can't promise you that. I can't just ditch our entire life, and go back to Boston. We can go for the weekend, and take it from there."
"Why am I so different?"
"You are an amazing human being. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being different. You are one of a kind," Jane wraps her into a tight hug.
"Can we really go see Grandma?"
"Yes."
"I can be ready in ten," she wriggles free from Jane's grip.