A/N: I decided after reading the first Chapter that this story needed a little more so here is another chapter covering the afternoon of MLK Day.
MLK Day Chapter 2
Jane and Maura finally had the children all dressed and ready for their lunch date with their nonna. They were dropping their book donation off first and then would meet Angela for lunch at 12:30. Every once in a while, they would go out to lunch instead of Angela cooking and this was one of those times. Angela had cooked last night for the Rizzoli Family dinner and she wanted a break so they had arranged to meet at a restaurant that Angela loved to eat at.
Jane and Maura were working on training the twins to behave in restaurants so they went out at least once a month. MJ was a perfect gentleman out in public. He was very much so a miniature Maura.
When they were close to the office Maura asked Jane if she could go into the office while she dropped the books off in the drop off line. Jane dropped Maura and MJ off out front and then she drove around to the back to drop off the books. Maura wanted to greet the staff and thank the volunteers that were working her normal volunteer shift.
The bells that were hanging at the top of the door chimed as Maura opened the door. MJ held the door open as his mother entered, always the perfect gentleman when it came to his mommy. A staff member provided a pleasant greeting as she entered. She didn't recognize the voice but the second person that greeted her made her glance up rather quickly.
"Mother." Maura stated surprised to see her mother standing there.
"Hello darling." Constance said as she walked over and hugged her daughter. Maura was still in shock and hadn't moved that far from the door yet.
MJ hugged her and said, "Grand-mère, I didn't know you would be here."
"I wanted to surprise you at lunch today. When I found out your mothers weren't working today grand-père and I volunteered to take their shifts." Constance informed MJ.
"Grand-père is here also?" MJ asked excitedly, he loved his grand-père.
"Yes darling, he is in the back with your nonna packing up books." Constance replied.
"Nonna's here also?" MJ asked surprised that nonna would be there too.
"Yes, that is how we found out that your mothers were not working their shifts today." Constance stated as she walked Maura over so she could sit down.
"Mother, I thought you and father were away on foundation business."
"We were and now we are back. We wanted to surprise you but when Angela said that you were not volunteering today, we contacted the volunteer supervisor and told her we would like to work your shifts."
"But how did you complete the volunteer training?" Maura questioned her mother.
"We came early and she ran us through the training and we filled out all the appropriate paperwork. She knew who we were and knew that we could be trusted. She ran a quick background check a few days ago so we were approved rather quickly."
"I am so happy to see you." Maura added.
"What do you think about adding this as one of the foundation's charitable businesses? We are always looking for worthy businesses and this one seems to meet that requirement. I love the idea of helping the prisoners rehabilitate themselves. You and your father both love books so much, I wasn't surprised to find out this is how you give service on this very important day of service."
"I love the idea. When Jane and I were looking for some place to volunteer years ago I read about this program and thought it would be perfect with both of us working for BPD. I contacted the volunteer coordinator and we have been working here every MLK Day since. MJ came with us for his first two years until the twins were born and then we left the children with Angela as we volunteered. This year we are donating 50 books. Jane is out back in the drop off line to hand over the books."
Constance said, "Well, I guess she might be surprised when Angela or Arthur are the ones unloading the books."
"I would love to see the look on her face." Maura stated as she smiled at her mother.
"Why don't we go back to the warehouse and see them." Constance suggested.
"Can we grand-mère?" MJ asked, he was excited to see his grand-père. They had been gone on foundation business for a few weeks and MJ had missed them both. He was used to having them around.
"Yes, my shift is almost over, let me tell the supervisor what I am doing and then we can go. Plus, I would like to see the look on Jane's face as well." Constance announced.
"She is going to be surprised." MJ said.
"Yes, sweetie I think she will be." Maura stated. Maura knew that Jane liked her father very much and that she actually missed both her parents when they left on foundation business. The last four years Constance has made sure that she and Arthur were more present in their lives. Whatever Jane had told Constance years ago made a huge impression on her and she made changes to their lives to ensure that they were available for Jane and Maura and now the children.
"I will speak with the program director this next week and see if we can add them to our list of charitable organizations. Maybe we can even have a fundraiser just for them so we can raise money to buy the books that the prisoners have requested and pay for the postage. I understand money for the postage is an issue for them." Constance stated.
"That would be great mother." Maura said.
After Constance talked with the supervisor they went to the back and found Arthur and Angela. They were both surprised to see Maura and MJ and then Maura told them, "Jane and the twins are in the drop off book line. We wanted to see the look on Jane's face when she saw the two of you."
MJ ran up and hugged Arthur when he saw him. Arthur picked him up and swung him around. He loved his grandson so much. Moving back to Boston was the best decision he and Constance had ever made. He has been able to spend so much time with MJ and the twins. MJ being the oldest Arthur had spent more time with him. When Arthur put MJ down, MJ then moved over to hug his nonna. He didn't want her to feel left out.
"It is so nice that you two are here. I didn't know I was going to see you before lunch. I guess my surprise of bringing your parents to lunch is out of the bag now." Angela told Maura.
"It is a nice surprise Angela thank you. I am use to my parents being around now so when they are gone, I miss them and so does Jane and MJ. The twins love them but they are too young to miss them like the rest of us do."
Maura walked out the back door when their vehicle approached with Jane and the twins. When Jane parked and got out of the SUV to help take the books out of the back, Constance, Arthur and Angela walked out to get the books out of the vehicle. Jane turned around and was surprised. "What are you guys all doing here?"
"We are volunteering darling." Constance said. "When we found out you were not working your shifts this year, we thought we would work your shifts for you."
"I thought you were out of the country?" Jane stated.
"We were, but we are back now and we wanted to surprise you." Constance said as she gave Jane a hug.
"Well consider me surprised." Jane said as she looked at her wife and smiled.
AJ picked that moment to raise a fuss. "Out mama, out." He said as he saw his mama at the back of the SUV.
"In a minute AJ. You and Lily stay right there. When we get to the restaurant you can get out, okay?" Jane asked her youngest son.
"Okay mama." AJ said as he turned back around and played with one of his toys that was in his car seat. Lily was very quiet and just looked around to see what was going on. She smiled when she saw her grandparents.
They unloaded the books and said their goodbyes. MJ asked, "Can I ride with my grandparents?"
"If they would like to take you the restaurant. Did you ask them or are you volunteering yourself to ride with them?" Jane told MJ.
MJ spoke up, "I haven't asked them yet. I was volunteering myself."
"Grand- père, can I ride with you and grand-mère?" MJ asked as he tilted his head to one side and waited for an answer. Maura never understood why he did that except that Jane does the same thing and she figured he just picked it up from her.
"Yes MJ, we would love for you to join us." Arthur responding after glancing over at Constance who had a huge smile on her face. Constance took MJ inside after they said goodbye to his parents and then Constance, Arthur and Angela finished up the last few minutes of their shift and then headed to the restaurant. Angela was also riding with Constance and Arthur.
Angela liked to eat at the Time Out Boston Market because there was a selection of eateries to eat at, sometimes she didn't make up her mind until she got there. When she was eating with others it worked out great because there was a selection of different type of eateries so everyone could find something that they might like.
On the way to the Time Out Boston Market MJ told them all about watching the Martin Luther King Jr. documentary and answering all the questions on the worksheets. He also told them that Jane would take the family to Atlanta next year to see his birthplace, his first church and see his memorial as well as visit the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. He talked for the entire car ride.
They all arrived at the Time Out Boston Market about the same time. They were parked side-by-side. MJ was able to get to Maura's door before Jane so he opened it up for her. Constance, Arthur and Angela just smiled at how polite MJ was. Before Maura rose from her seat, she gave him a kiss on the cheek. Jane seeing that MJ beat her to Maura's door, started getting the twins out of the car.
Angela grabbed Lily and said, "I'm going to go ahead and get seats for us."
"I will go with you Angela." Constance said. Arthur stayed to help with the boys.
They found a table, well two tables close together and sat down. Jane, Maura and Angela all went to various eateries to acquire their meals. They enjoyed their lunch and conversation. Maura told Jane, "This next week Mother is going to check into seeing if the Isles Foundation could help fund the Prisoners Book Program and maybe even have a special fundraiser for them."
"That would be awesome Constance, thank you." Jane said as she reached over and grasped Constance's hand.
"Don't thank me yet, I don't know if we will be able to until I check with their director. I need to make sure they have the right 501c status for our foundation. If not, I will personally make a sizeable donation to them. I know they need help with the increasing postage costs." Constance told Jane.
"Whatever you can do I'm sure they will be thankful." Jane told Constance.
"It is my pleasure." Constance said.
"Grand-mère, can we have dessert?" MJ asked.
Constance just laughed, "You need to ask your mothers, darling."
"Mommy, can we have dessert?" MJ asked.
"Of course, sweetie." Maura answered.
"Okay, grand-mère mommy said yes, can you take me to get some dessert?" MJ asked.
Constance replied, "Yes, darling. Let's go." They went to Gelato & Chill and ordered gelato for everyone. Jane and Arthur went over to help take the gelatos back to the tables once their order was ready. They enjoyed their dessert and then made their way back to Jane and Maura's house, it was time for the twins' nap.
MJ showed Constance, Arthur and Angela the worksheets he had completed that morning and asked if they wanted to watch the one-hour documentary. He was surprised when they said yes and they all sat down and watched the documentary with MJ. He was so happy. He was sitting on Arthur's lap and leaning his head on Constance. Maura broke out her camera and took a picture. She loved having pictures of these little snapshots of their lives.