Sunday's at the Rizzoli household is something Maura never really had experienced before. There was constant noise, whether it was Angela on the land line gossiping loudly with Donna while she sweated over the stove stirring a deep pot filled with tomato sauce and meatballs. Frank Rizzoli cursing and arguing with Tommy about if he cheated or not in their game of poker. Then there she was sitting next to Jane on the couch with Frankie on the other side of Jane both engrossed with the Red Sox baseball game.
The doorbell rang and Angela yelled out "Someone open that damn door, I'm elbow deep into kneading this pasta dough!" But before anyone could get up the door was already opening.
"Hey y'all" Nina double fisting cases of blue moon beer. Jane jumped up, reaching for the cases. "Oh sweet my favorite" Then exiting to go and put them into the fridge. Frankie got up to greet his wife. Maura stood up wanting to greet her but wasn't sure how.
"Hello Nina," was all she could come up with then stood in front of her awkwardly. Nina laughed and plopped herself on the lazy boy that was next to the couch. "Doctor! Nice to see you." Maura smiled and sat back down, instantly feeling her chest tighten, Jane didn't immediately return back to the living room, and she wasn't too keen on small talk.
"So Maura, how are things with Jane?" Nina asked, Frankie had walked over to the dining room table where his brother and father were still arguing. It was just the two of them now. "Jane and I are going well." the blonde nodded slowly trying to decide if that was the right answer. Of course it was right? She's here in Jane's childhood home, if things weren't well then she wouldn't be here. "Yes, things are well." she decided out loud which made Nina chuckle.
"You already said that, how long have you two been going out? I didn't realize you two were an item when I first met you." she reclined the lazy boy, feet flying up in the air. Maura straightened her posture of blushed. "It's because we were not." Nina quirked an eyebrow. "And we still aren't. Jane and I are just friends." Maura was starting to get flustered. How many more times was she going to have to clear up the label of her relationship with Jane?
Nina shook her head and apologized. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Just when you guys kissed a few weeks ago I had thought… sorry I assumed." Maura opened her mouth then closed it. Not having anything to say. Obviously it wasn't Nina's fault for her to assume that Jane and her were more than just friends.
Jane walked in just then with a blue moon already in her hand. "Hey, Ma said dinner is ready to serve. She had me place out the dinner mats. C'mon"
Nina pushed down the lever to the lazy boy and hopped up making her way to the living room while Jane walked over to Maura and gave her hand to her. Maura smiled and allowed the brunette to help pull her up for the couch and let her place her hand on her lower back allowing her to walk out the room first.
The rest of the household was already in their seats. Frank was next to head and Tommy across from him. Frankie next to his father then Nina next to him. Leaving empty seats next to Tommy. Jane pulled open the chair next to Tommy for Maura. Maura graciously accepted the kind gesture before sitting down. Jane plopped in her own seat while Angela walked into the dinning room with the last plating of food. Which were the meat balls, the main event.
Angela sat at the head and said "Manja manja '' and everyone at once started to serve themselves the cut up bread, pasta and meatballs. Maura hadn't even had the chance to serve herself before Jane was already plopping three meat balls onto her plate. "Oh, Jane, thank you." the italian blushed and said "hey, I had to, or you would have just been stuck with the sauce with the way Tommy hogs all the food." Jane said with a sung smile knowing the comment would aggravate her younger brother.
"Not my fault, everyone is too slow." Tommy said with a mouth full of bread. Angela smacked him in the back of his head. "Oh marone, chew with your mouth closed. You're going to make the doctor think you were raised in a barn." she shook her head and cut into her food.
"But Ma he was, remember Frankie? Little brother over here was convinced he was a goat for a better half of his second grade year in elementary." Jane, Nina and Frankie laughed while Tommy shook his head in embarrassment. "Janie, leave him alone, don't let me bring up the time you cried when Pedro Martinez signed your baseball and you thought that was him proposing." Frank said in defense of his youngest.
This caused everyone to laugh. "No fair Pops, I was in love with Martinez. I had every right to think he was asking lil' 12 year old me a hand in marriage." This caused everyone to laugh harder, even Maura.
"Hey Doctor Isles, since you aren't dating my sister do I have a chance with you?" Tommy asked confidently, causing more to choke on her water. "Back off kid, ain't no way Maur is gonna date you." Jane clapped back fast. Maura was grateful she had the quick wit, and didn't give in to reject Tommy herself.
"Yes, I would have to agree with your sister Thomas. I'm not particularly interested in dating the species of Goats." Everyone gasped and Maura had thought she had royally messed up in trying to be humorous. But before she could usher out an apology Angela pointed her finger at her youngest son and laughed so hard. 'HAHAHAAA SHE GOT YOU" the rest of the table began to crack up.
"She got you so good." Jane said, wiping a tear away. Maura couldn't help but feel proud. She was able to make this table laugh, really laugh. They weren't politely nodding her off or bluntly ignoring her. She felt included, she felt welcomed.
The rest of the dinner went the same. Filled with laughter, friendly banter and lots of eating and drinking. Angela had brought out the red wine and the beer had finally chilled. By the end everyone had full stomachs, everyone warm from the buzz they were on from their drinks. It was the boys turn to clean up while the ladies relaxed. Nina and Angela had stood at the table planning the next party for the cafe. While Jane had led Maura out to the back to sit on the porch screen. It was still early spring, so there was a light chill outside.
Causing Maura to wrap herself more into her sweater. "Oh, are you cold? Should I go get you a blanket?" Jane had stopped swinging them already about to get up. "No Jane, don't worry. Thank you, this wine will warm me right up. Maura must've been on her fourth and fifth glass of wine. She had lost track, she couldn't tell if the red wine was absolutely delicious or if she was enjoying herself so much tonight the drinking cheap wine would somehow slow down the night.
Jane relaxed back into the swing and started to sway them again. They sat there in comfortable silence, both lost in their own thoughts. "Hey Maur?" Jane spoke, breaking the peaceful quiet that engrossed them.
"Hmm?" The blonde hummed, her eyes closed and relaxed. Only hearing buzzing of the insects that lived in the small backyard and the distant talking coming back inside the Rizzoli household.
"What ended up happening between you and Jack?" Jane cursed herself for sounding so nervous. She stayed looking straight ahead, feeling bad she broke the peace. But she couldn't help but to ask, the last thing she heard about him was that he was cheating on her lovely friend with some other teacher from the school.
Maura opened her eyes instantly and turned her head to look at Jane. " I simply packed up his belongings that were left at my house and put them on my doorstep. I called him saying if he doesn't come in the next hour to pick them up then I'd be donating them to the good will store that's on commonwealth ave." Maura thought back to that day and how Jack didn't even question her. Just simply said he'd be there in 40 minutes to pick up the small box filled with some button up shirts, some socks and a toothbrush.
Jane turned to look at Maura, she had a sad smile. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. I'm sorry I wasn't there to comfort you." she apologized, Maura looked done at her glass and thought for a moment.
"No need to apologize Jane. It was something long overdue. My relationship with Jack had already ended months prior. Officially leaving him was something I had to do on my own." she took another sip from her glass and looked thoughtfully into Jane's eyes.
There was a trust she felt. She didn't feel judged or misunderstood when she looked at Jane. The brunette nodded slowly and took a swig of her beer. "Thank you for coming tonight. I know it was probably a lot." she rubbed the back of neck like she always did when she was embarrassed or nervous.
"No, thank you for allowing me to come Jane. It was overwhelming, yes, but I was so happy to be a part of tonight." Maura said truthfully. Jane smiled and let her head fall to rest on the blonde's shoulder.
The night had came to an end. Frankie and Nina had already said their goodbyes. Tommy was passed out on the couch and Frank had changed into his pajamas. Angela walk the duo to the door and hugged them both.
"Thank you again Angela, for inviting me tonight. Your food was wonderful." Maura said allowing Jane to help her put on her beige trench coat. "Any time, I've always wanted a doctor in the family. Now we have you. I hope you know you're invited any Sunday you want." themolder Italian said warmly.
"Good night Ma, see you tomorrow." Jane said, opening the door for them. She walked Maura down the steps and to the street. Where her piruis was parked right out front.
"Good night Jane."
Good night Maur, text me to let me know you got home safe." Jane said leaning in to side hug her friend.
"I will."and with that Maura slid into the driver seat and Jane walked up the driveway to her car.
The drive back to Jane's house wasn't long. It was late on a Sunday evening, not much traffic existed. When the brunette pulled up in front of her apartment building she noticed someone sitting on the stoops. She didn't recognize them because of the dark, she put her keys between her fingers in case this person wasn't good.
But once she got closer, she stopped in her tracks. Eyes wide like a deer in headlights. There seated on the stairs that lead into the building for a man in a military uniform with his bags. With crutches resting to the side of him.
"Casey?" was all Jane could squawk out. She felt as if she was in a twilight zone.
"Hi Jane, I'm… I'm back."