A/N: Well, the plot thickens. I have to say I was a little shocked by this turn of events as this story is taking a life of its own.
Sidenote: my day job is in the field of HR/Benefits but have worked only in the private/corporate sector in the HR role and know that some things may be different when it comes to how federal/state/local agencies handle HR. I know that if your last name has changed, that will come up on a background check report and I can imagine one completed by the state would be able to pull such marriage information for Maura. Plus, the last chapter was written after midnight and my brain doesn't like to work as sharply at that hour so please forgive me for any typos or things that may not make the most sense. Thanks for being on this adventure with me and for all the reviews. I wish that I could just reply directly to your post but this website doesn't seem to have that format. And I apologize for any typos. In order to get myself in the mindset of the story since I have so many things I am working on right, I tend to go back and read the previous chapter and I see the typos and cringe. I am going to do better with them. I promise. Now, as always, I don't own any rights to Rizzoli and Isles both the television series (that belongs to TNT, show creator Janet Tamaro, and showrunner for the last couple of seasons, Jan Nash) that my writing draws its inspiration from and the characters written by Tess Gerritsen in her novels. Well, let's get to it.
Chapter Six: Jane Married A Doctor?!
I thought I understood the statement "tension so thick you could cut it with a knife" before but being in the car with Maura as she expertly maneuvers through the snow covered streets of Boston headed to her family attorney's office, I realize that I had no clue what that statement meant until now. While the heated seats and calming classical music are enjoyable, Maura's silence and tense demeanor pushes my mind to wonder exactly how we will be able to get out of this uncomfortable funk and back to the playful banter and exploration space we were in. Especially since you two will be working together now Rizzoli, I tell myself. You would think that our marriage almost two months ago would cause such tension but I guess as long as it wasn't real on paper, Maura didn't balk at being married to me. Okay Rizzoli, calm down. How would you feel being in her position? I have to admit, if Ma were to have been the one to find out instead of Mrs. Isles, my mother would have shown up at the Dirty Robber yelling "Jane, you got married off a drunken dare from your brother and your friends?! If they dared you to jump off a bridge, would you do it?! And she's a doctor and you haven't even introduced her to me?! Do you really hate me that much?!" as she cried tears and hit me and Frankie. Yeah, I definitely would be as upset as Maura. Especially with everything that Maura has shared already about her mother.
I glance at Maura as we stop at a red light. The grimace on her face has my heart conflicted. I am so unsure of what to do as I sit feeling a little helpless. As I get ready to say something, Maura holds a hand up to stop me as the car speeds forward through the intersection.
"Jane, I don't want to talk about this right now. All you need to know is this: Henry has been the Isles' family attorney for decades. His family's practice has been the lead legal team for our family since the early 1900s. Normally, one of Henry's team members will handle things for our day to day needs but when Henry calls himself, it definitely is serious. I don't know what my mother said to him but I knew the ramifications if our marriage became real in the eyes of the law. There is nothing that I can say to prepare you for this conversation. All I will say is that your friend better be true to her word about resolving this because if I know my mother, she already has had Henry investigate you and your friends to find out if I was coerced into signing the marriage license without a prenup to get access to the family wealth." The irritation is dripping off of Maura as she pulled into the parking garage and parks in the space labeled "Dr. Maura Isles, The Alvera Group".
Maura doesn't even look at me as she quickly exits the vehicle. I am all nerves at this knowledge and also in awe. She has her own parking space at the attorney's office?! What kind of money does her family really have?! This drunken bet is starting to feel less like a crazy bar story and more of the stupid choice I should have never let Maura agree to. I realize that Maura isn't waiting on me and has stalked off from the car. I rush to follow her through the door leading us into a high-rise industrial complex. I barely catch up to her as she is walking into an elevator. I stand solemnly next to her as the floors fly by. The elevator stops on the 25th floor and we walk directly into the lobby of the The Alvera Group. Even the lobby seems to scream "wealth" but Maura's status says "super wealth" when the receptionist greets her by name.
"Dr. Isles, Mr. Alvera is waiting for you in the boardroom. Would you like your chai tea or a latte coffee for your meeting today?" the receptionist says with a smile as she walks from behind her desk to open the door for Maura and I to head into the boardroom.
"Hi Jennifer. Thank you for the offer but I will have to pass today," Maura says with a smile that doesn't seem forced but born out of her upbringing to always be polite.
Jennifer immediately turns to me and asks, "Detective Rizzoli, would you like coffee? Cream and sugar? Or would you prefer a Blue Moon?"
I give Jennifer a sideways glance at her question as Maura leaves me standing in the door of the boardroom to walk over and greet who I can only guess is Henry Alvera. Turning to look fully at Jennifer who is smiling politely at me, holding the door open and waiting for an answer, I find my voice as it seemed to have left me in the moment.
"Um, no thanks. I'm good," I finally say as I walk in the room, hearing the door close behind me, locking us in and making my stomach tighten.
I slowly walk into the room, paying attention to the details of the layout. The room has a long oval shaped table that looks like it has 8 chairs spaced evenly around it. The walls are in a soft light gray color that doesn't seem to contrast with the abstract artwork on the walls, having enough vibrant colors to stand out but not make the room too feminine nor masculine but a calming mood for anyone who enters. The conference table is situated within the room with huge bay windows behind what I believe to be the head of the table. I look at Henry Alvera as he has hugged Maura and pulls her chair out. Standing at 6ft even, Henry Alvera looks more like my uncle Gino that owns a winery in Tuscany than an attorney. His olive skin seems to glow in the crisp blue Armani suit he wears. Immediately I realize that he and Maura are staring at me as I seemed to have been standing and staring at the two of them from the end of the boardroom table.
"Hi Jane. I'm Henry. Please take a seat next to Maura. I will do my best to make this meeting as painless as possible," Henry says with a voice that even gives off the Italian charm of the old world as my Nana would say. Slowly I make my way to Maura's side and sink into the comfortable conference room chair. Where did they find a chair like this?! Homicide probably couldn't afford a chair like this.
I steal a glance at Maura whose whole face doesn't show any emotion. Her eyes are aware that I am looking at her but she just continues to look at Henry, sitting poised and waiting on this meeting to be over. I look at Henry who graces us both with a smile.
"Well, I must say that this is definitely not how I expected to spend my Christmas Eve but you know that when your mother calls, you have to stop what you are doing and handle her request. Now, as you know, my team has already done its preliminary investigation so I will go over what we know and then either you or Detective Rizzoli can fill me in on the rest. Sound fair?" Henry looks at Maura, waiting for her acknowledgement.
"Yes," she whispers as Henry nods his head and opens up a folder that he has in front of him.
"So, according to our investigation, Maura, you went to a bar called the Dirty Robber, on November 4th shortly after you arrived back from your interview in New York for the Chief Medical Examiner position. You'd already met with the Governor of Massachusetts for the position here and had interviewed with the Captain of the Boston Police Department only as a formality to ensure that if given the appointment you would be a good fit to work out of their headquarters or have your office be elsewhere. As the story goes, you were approached by a one, Detective Jane Rizzoli whom was there on the eve of her 35 birthday, celebrating the festivities with a," Henry looks down at his notes and pauses before continuing, "one Detective Francesco Rizzoli Jr., of the Drug Unit and Jane Rizzoli's younger brother; Detective Barold Frost, the current partner of Jane Rizzoli; and Assistant District Attorney Nina Holiday, friend to Jane Rizzoli and romantically involved with Detective Francesco Rizzoli. Accurate thus far?" Henry looks at us for an answer.
Wait what?! Frankie and Nina are dating?! How do they know this information and I don't?! Maura looks at me sideways at the news regarding Frankie as my face still continues registering shock. "Henry, this is all correct. However, myself and I believe Jane as well, were not aware of the relationship status of Francesco and Nina until just now."
"Hmm," Henry murmurs as he marks something in his documents. Breathe Rizzoli and focus on what Henry is saying. I stare at Henry as he continues reading the documents in his folder and providing Maura and I a silent nod before he begins again. "Our preliminary investigation didn't reveal that the relationship status between Detective Rizzoli and Attorney Holiday was something unknown so I do apologize Jane for sharing something that you may have wanted to hear directly from your brother himself," Henry says with a solemn smile as he looks at me before looking back at his papers and continuing forward with his "discovery".
"So, somewhere during the night, Detective Rizzoli walked up to you and told you about a bet that her brother and friends had propositioned her with in order to get her to become more confident in dating after a one, Isabella Jacobs, broke off their engagement a week before their wedding. This bet being to convince a stranger to marry her before midnight. The agreement was that if both Jane and the other party agreed to the marriage, Attorney Holiday would have both parties sign a marriage license that she then notarized and a ceremony would be performed. After the ceremony, a total amount of," Henry pauses to find the amount in his notes, "approximately $15,000 would be paid out to Detective Jane Rizzoli who was ordered by Detective Frost to split the profits with the willing participant. Also, the willing participant would receive a suite at the Boston Harbor Hotel for the weekend, paid for in full. So, Detective Rizzoli came over to you and was honest about the wager and you agreed to go forward with this under the condition that this was not going to be legally recognized in any court because the document was not going to be filed with the probate clerk. Attorney Holiday was responsible for shredding the marriage license that you two completed. Detective Frost signed the document as your witness. The ceremony was performed in the middle of the bar with the bar owner, former detective Vince Korsak, his staff of approximately 6 at the time to include the DJ, and 35 bar patrons witnessed your wedding. Once the ceremony was complete, you two continued to drink with Jane's friends before Detective Frost drove the two of you, Maura, in your car back to your home in Beacon Hill. Attorney Holiday followed close behind to pick up Detective Frost to drop him at his own vehicle. From all that we gathered, Detective Frost is the only person who actually was aware of who you were and your status as an Isles before that night due to his close friendship with a Detective Kimberly Simone, your former lover and co-worker with the LAPD. Is that correct Maura?"
Henry closed his folder and looked at both Maura and myself. Maura sighed and showed emotion for the first time since we walked into this room. "Your recount is accurate. Barold is the only one who knew my status as an Isles but since we had never met officially, he was unsure of whether I was actually THE Dr. Maura Isles or not until he asked if I was related to my mother and that's when he put two and two together. He then informed everyone at the table of who I am and my family's foundation, financial status, Mother's art, and my accolades from working with LAPD." Maura seems to swallow the emotions that are bubbling to the surface to put back on her mask of emotionless expression. I look to Henry who is looking at me as though waiting for a response.
"Um, yeah. What Maura said. That um, that all sounds accurate," I say as the nervous energy that I was trying to keep tapered is fighting to make its way to the surface.
Henry nods once again and looks between the two of us. He doesn't speak as he removes two documents from his briefcase that seemed to appear out of nowhere onto the conference room table. He slides both to Maura who begins to review them as I sit very unsure of what is happening. After a moment, Maura looks up at Henry and emotion shows for the first time upon her face.
"You have got to be kidding me. Is my mother serious?! She really wants us to file for a divorce under the grounds of "fraud/severe mental lapse in judgement" and make all parties involved sign a NDA and pay everyone for their silence to never speak of what happened?! And is she really trying to ban me from interacting with Jane?! I accepted the Governor's offer for Chief Medical Examiner a couple of weeks ago. I will have to see Jane at work. This is ridiculous, Henry. I am not signing these and neither is Jane. You can seek an annulment on grounds of mental lapse in judgement. We can compare it to someone getting married in Vegas while intoxicated. We can ask for the records to be sealed and leave it at that. My mother is being ridiculous."
Maura pushes away from the table and walks to stand at the window behind Henry. I try to grab the documents but Henry beats me to it. He looks at me briefly before turning in his chair to speak to Maura.
"If Detective Rizzoli went home with you, I am assuming that you consummated your marriage, which would negate the annulment. I can try to get the divorce based upon your "Vegas" analogy. However, Maura, your mother is adamant about the NDA. She already has had me to track down and start the process of having every witness that was present sign the NDA and payout at minimum $10,000 each. If someone took photos and/or video, she stated that I need to pay out at least $50,000 and let her know if someone is playing hardball on getting back that physical proof as she isn't with the antics. I know that you two don't always see eye to eye but I am not sure she will be okay with you still having contact with Jane. We will have to discuss this when she arrives but Maura, we have to get the ball rolling today on certain things."
Henry turns back around and faces me. "Jane," Henry starts as he pulls out a document for me from inside of a folder, "this NDA states that the actions on the night of November 4th, 2019, will not be mentioned of again. That you agree to the cash payment of $250,000 as payment for signing and agreeing to this Non-disclosure agreement. The terms of this agreement shall stay in place through the rest of your natural life or 30 years, whichever one comes first. You will not have any further contact with Dr. Isles. I will have to amend it as your position with the Boston PD requires you to interact with the medical examiner's office but if Dr. Isles and Mrs. Isles can come to an agreement on things, this NDA will be amended to state that you will not have any contact with Dr. Isles outside of a working relationship. This statement also agrees that the only parties that are aware of the events of November 4th are all listed as previously stated. Please read through this and ensure you understand everything that is being outlined. Since I am having this amended, you can take this as your copy and can consult only with Attorney Holiday about it and may bring her with you to our next meeting. Once Mrs. Isles comes to town, we will schedule a follow up."
I stare down at the agreement as I feel Maura's eyes on me. I look up at Henry and a frustrated Maura still standing near the window. "Um, so, funny thing. My brother Tommy knows. I didn't tell him myself but the morning after at Maura's, well" I pause and clear my throat, "Maura accidently answered my phone and Tommy was at my house and supposed to take me with him to the hospital as his girlfriend Lydia had just had a baby. So I told him I would meet him at the hospital and well, he started asking Frankie questions and saw Maura dropping me off there and long story short, he knows that we are married. He has been sworn to secrecy regarding telling my mother and thus far, hasn't let anything slip but I'm not sure if he has kept his mouth shut with Lydia. So you may want to add all three of them to the list as I can't guarantee that Lydia is going to continue to keep her mouth shut since they live with my Ma and she doesn't always remember when something is supposed to be a secret. I should have taken Jennifer up on that drink."
I place my face in my hands as I hear an aggravated sigh leave Maura's lips. Henry's face is still gentle but I can tell he is thinking. I look up as Henry clears his throat as Maura takes a seat next to me again. "Well, while I will have to draft additional agreements, I think that we will be fine in doing that. Maura, just so you are aware, the payout for the Rizzolis and her immediate friends will be coming out of your trust per your mother as she said and I quote: "You have to pay for the cleanup of your total lapse in judgement". The payouts to those in attendance at the bar, the bar owner and workers will be handled by your mother. Just so you are aware, the payout to the three Rizzoli family members along with Lydia whose last name we will need, Barold Frost and Nina Holiday will be $50,000 each along with the same terms of Jane's agreement including the amendment for those who work in Boston law enforcement and/or the district attorney's office."
Henry looks between Maura, who is definitely visibly upset and not a picture of poised elegance, and myself, a ball of nervous energy. I hear the Boardroom doors open as Henry stands up from his seated position. Maura stands and smooths her skirt as she regains her composure. "Well, Ladies, it is Christmas Eve and I have my grandchildren waiting to see me and start our holiday tradition of sipping coco and watching Christmas films. Maura, I will see you in a couple of days. Jane, my office will reach out when it is time for us to meet. You two try to have a Merry Christmas."
I watch as Henry gathers his items and makes his way out of the boardroom. Jennifer is standing near the boardroom doors and gives us a smile as she waits for us to exit the room. Maura is close behind Henry as I struggle to get out of my chair and towards the doors.
"Jennifer, I should have taken you up on that Blue Moon," I say as I walk past Jennifer whose sympathetic smile seems to make the situation that I am facing that more daunting. An NDA?! Never speak to Maura again?! What happens if I decide not to sign it? I have so many questions but not enough time to even attempt to get answers. I walk into the waiting elevator with a poised but pissed off Maura. I don't even know what to say to her and not even sure if I want to. We make our way to the parking garage and into her car before I attempt to look at her again as she starts the car but doesn't pull off. I watch Maura grip the steering wheel with a vice grip, causing her knuckles to turn white. I try to find my voice as the tension we had at the beginning seems to have worsen from our meeting with Henry.
"I have to say, that um, didn't go as I expected," I say with a laugh while looking at Maura. She still isn't looking at me and I am not sure she is even registering that I am in the car with her. I place my hand on her forearm and she flinches. Raising my hands, I lean back in my seat as close to the door as I possibly can. "Maur, I keep telling myself that I should apologize to you for pulling you into this because I never wanted to disrupt your world in any way, shape, or form. But I don't think I could go not being in your life anymore. Like, I'll do whatever we need to regarding the divorce but signing this NDA, I don't know if I can do that. But I will sign it if that's what you want me to do. Is that what you want me to do, Maur?"
Maura closes her eyes as she leans back into her seat, loosening her grip upon the steering wheel. I watch her take a few deep breathes before she opens her eyes and puts the car in reverse and heads out of the parking garage and into the Boston snow. I continue to wait for Maura to speak but the silence continues as we drive through the streets and seem to be heading towards Beacon Hill and not back to the Dirty Robber and to my car.
"Um, Maur?" I start to ask when I realize that we are definitely going towards Maura's and not back towards the precinct nor the Dirty Robber.
"We need to talk and in order to have this conversation, I need to be in my home where I am comfortable. If you have plans, then we can have this conversation later but we need to have it before my mother gets in town because once she arrives, I am not sure when I will be able to speak with you one on one again or if I will be able to. Ugh. There is so much to unpack."
I look at my phone for the first time since I left out of the Dirty Robber. I have multiple missed calls and urgent text messages from my brothers. I call Frankie as Maura pulls into her driveway and is waiting for my response.
"Hey Frankie, wassup?"
"Jane, Ma knows," I hear Frankie expel out in a hush tone.
"What do you mean Ma knows?! Frankie, you got 30 seconds to explain."
"Apparently Ma was at the Dirty Robber helping out Korsak with organizing his backroom. She walked out and was on her way over to say hey to us when Maura stormed in and went off on Nina. She heard everything and she is waiting on you to get here."
"Great. Just great. Frankie, tell her that we will have to talk about it tomorrow. I am still with Maura and her family lawyer. I won't be there for our Christmas Eve gift exchange. I'm sorry but I'll be there in the," I hear a rustle over the phone before I hear the voice that I wasn't trying to speak to.
"Jane Clementine Rizzoli!" is all I hear through the phone as I look at Maura and give her an apologetic smile.
"Hey Ma," I try to say to sooth things over.
"Don't hey Ma me! You're married and didn't tell me?! I gotta hear it after the fact and everyone else seems to know about it?! Including Lydia?! And she's a doctor?! What are you trying to do to your poor mother?!"
"Ma! Ma! Its complicated. Look, I have to go. I have to take care of some business this evening so I will miss the Christmas Eve gift exchange but I will be there tomorrow and we will talk all about it. Okay?"
I never receive an answer the line disconnects. I close my eyes as I feel a gentle hand on my arm. I look at Maura who is giving me the same sympathetic smile that graced Jennifer's face earlier.
"I hope you have something stronger than wine to drink because yeah, this is definitely a shit show that I have gotten us into."
Maura gives my arm as squeeze before she goes to exit the car and says over her shoulder, "I will order Thai take-out and I have Whiskey and Rum. You can pick your poison. Let's get inside because it is going to be a long night."
I gather the document that Henry gave to me and exit the vehicle, so unsure of what this night would hold but hoping for a mini-Christmas miracle.
Well Rizzoli, let's go figure out your life, huh? I stand up straight as I walk the snow covered path leading up to Maura's front door and walk in behind her, praying that this talk will help give me clarity on why her mother is so gun-ho against us and how I can save this marriage. Whoa Rizzoli. Not save the marriage. Save this friendship. I think that's what I meant.
Author's Notes: I apologize again for the delay. I know this is a short chapter but I hope you enjoy it. Definitely looking forward to your feedback.