When Frankie and Nina had returned, Jane had given him an earful. However, he could see that the tension between the two women had eased a bit. It seemed like whatever had happened between them in the last 2 hours had helped. He and Nina had theorized about what the two women talked about while they were in that room. For once, Frankie was glad that his room was small as it had forced the two women into close proximity. As they went their separate ways, Frankie watched as Jane looked at Maura longingly.
It was time to activate Phase 2 of their plan.
However, it would have to take place after his bachelor party, which was set for 2 days from now.
"When are you going to tell me the truth, Jane?"
Jane looked up from the dog that she was petting. "What do you mean, Korsak?"
Korsak peers at her through his reading glasses. "How long have we been partners? How many wives of mine have you lived through?" He puts the mail in his hands down on the table. "We have spent more time with each other chasing leads and doing stakeouts than we have with any of our family members or lovers, Jane. I know this move to Quantico is more than a career choice."
Korsak was dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and tan slacks instead of his usual suit. Jane had stopped by to say hello to him and chase around some of his pups on a Saturday morning. With the dogs exhausted, Jane had sat down on Korsak's recliner, nursing a cold bottle of beer. He knew that his partner sometimes needed some nudging to open up. "It's Maura, isn't it?"
Jane looked taken aback. Korsak continues, "Jane. Come on. You work with some of Boston's finest detectives. You really think we wouldn't notice the way you look at Doctor Isles?"
"I wanted a fun morning with the dogs, Korsak. Not a therapy session. God knows I'm getting enough with that state-mandated psychologist."
Korsak sets his glasses down. "If I've learned anything from my last two marriages, it's that it helps to talk sometimes. What's the worst that can happen?"
Rolling her eyes, Jane stands up and grabs another beer. "Death, probably."
"Is it really that hard for you to talk about your feelings? No wonder Maura left you out in the rain." Korsak knows that this will trigger a sore spot in Jane and cause her to lash out. He wants a reaction from her so she will finally stop being stubborn and talk.
"For your information, Korsak. I left. It's for Maura's good."
He scoffs. "In what world, Jane? What is this savior complex that you have going on?"
"Why is everyone on my case? I try to be a good person and save people from being dragged into all of my shit and all people can talk about is how heartless I'm being. It's like no one even understands how isolating this is."
Korsak is glad that Jane feels comfortable enough to speak to him openly. Holding each other accountable was part of being a good partner and having each other's backs. Jane had done the same to him when he was an absent husband.
"I just don't want to see you give up something special, that's all. I've learned my lesson too many times about letting the good things in life slip away because of this damn job. It's not worth it," Korsak says.
Jane takes a long pull from her drink. "So, what? I just go crawling back to Maura? 'Hey Maur, sorry I basically told you we could never be together. I changed my mind. You in?' You think she would ever trust me again after I pulled that?"
Korsak opens the top of his beer using the edge of his table. "Begging seems better than trying to forget about her for the rest of your life."
Jane is silent, which Korsak knows is significant, as the hot-headed woman would be running her mouth right now if she didn't agree with him.
"I can't let anything happen to her, Korsak. I would never forgive myself."
"You can't hold yourself responsible for what others do. Maybe it's time for a career change but it doesn't have to be drastic and include moving to another state while you give up your one chance at love."
Jane bites the inside of her cheeks, thinking. Maybe Korsak had a point. But even if he did, it didn't mean that Maura would ever give Jane another chance again.
When Jane leaves, Korsak calls Angela.
"How did it go, Vince?"
"Just about as good as you would expect. But we are getting somewhere."
Angela had reached out to Vince after she and Frankie had implemented their transition to Phase 2. He had promised her that he would talk to Jane. After years of working together and becoming a part of the family, he knew that Jane looked up to him and treated him like a mentor. Angela was sure that he would get through to her in ways others weren't able to.
Angela sighs. "That girl only listens to one woman and one woman alone."
Korsak chuckles. "Yeah. And even then, she's so stubborn that Maura insists that Jane doesn't listen to her."
"Thanks for talking to her, Vince. Listen, I got some extra polenta with Parmigiano from dinner the other night. Let me drop some off for you."
Vince pats his stomach. "You're a threat to my diet, Angela."
Her laugh comes through the speaker. "A few bites won't hurt."
He thanks her and calls his girlfriend, Kiki, to see what advice she can provide on Jane. With everyone united to help Jane get back on the right track, something was bound to get better.
Maura brings the vase of flowers to her face, inhaling deeply as the smell of daisies and lilies fills her nose. She flips the card over.
For the most beautiful woman. I love you. I hope you find it in your heart to love me back again.
Without a signature, Maura isn't sure whom it's from. Wanting to figure out, she texts Jane.
Thank you for the flowers. They weren't necessary but I appreciate the gesture.
Within seconds, her phone is ringing with Jane's photo on the screen.
"Maura, what flowers?" Jane asks without saying hello.
"The ones you sent me this morning. They just got delivered and they're a nice touch."
Jane tries to control the jealousy in her voice but fails completely. "Maura, I didn't send those flowers."
Maura immediately regrets her decision to text Jane. "Well, I'm not sure who else they would be from. I apologize for assuming."
Wanting to hit her head against the wall, Jane begins to think that maybe she should have sent flowers. "No worries. I gotta go. Is there anything else?"
"Jane, I'm sorry. I didn't know," Maura says.
"Like I said, it's all good. I'll see you around." Jane hangs up abruptly. What was she expecting? Maura was a desired woman and it was only a matter of time before someone else tried to win over the woman. Jane felt even more stupid, knowing that she had given this woman up willingly.
In reality, Angela and Frankie had sent those flowers to Maura, knowing that the woman would likely assume that it was from Jane. They wanted to motivate Jane with a sense of urgency, reminding Jane about how popular Maura is and how there would always be another person in line who was ready to give Maura their all. Hopefully, this would fan the flames enough to make Jane apologize to Maura with a grand gesture.
Angela was right. Jane had been reminded how it was her fault that she and Maura were currently barely speaking. She had been so close to finally being able to be with the woman she loved and she had thrown it away by acting self-righteous. Jane was still debating whether she should stick with her original plan to let Maura go or whether she would try as hard as she could to win the woman back. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Jane decides to send a reminder to Maura about just how much she is desired by Jane herself.
Walking over to Maura's favorite florist, she walks in as a bell attached to the door announces her arrival. Maurice, the woman who owned the store, peeks her head out from the back.
"Hello! Welcome. How may I help you today?"
Jane looks around the store, her eyes widened as she takes in the abundance of options available to her.
Maurice smiles. "I've seen that look before. Is this your first time buying flowers?"
"Yeah," Jane says sheepishly. "I'm a bit out of my league for this one. What flowers would you recommend for an apology?"
"Ah. The classic apology, huh? May I recommend blue hyacinths or pink carnations?"
Jane takes a look at the flowers that the florist has pointed out. She hesitates, knowing that those didn't fit Maura's taste. Jane wants to impress Maura, but she also wants the apology to be personalized. "Hm. Do you mind if I look around at some other options?"
"Of course. Take your time. I'll be right here if you need anything," Maurice says before returning to the bouquet that she was arranging.
"Thanks," Jane says before walking down each of the aisles, smelling the flowers and feeling their texture. She smiles to herself, thinking about all the times that Maura started eating the potted plants of mint and lavender on their table in the Dirty Robber. She finds a few options that she knows Maura would love. In her hand, there are dark purple hydrangeas, begonias the same color as the sky before it sets, and yellow, cheery buttercups. Filling both of her arms, she walks over to the counter.
Maurice looks up from her work. "Oh, dear! Let me help you out." Jane hands some of the flowers over as Maurice inspects the options. "You have wonderful taste."
Jane blushes. "I was trained well. The woman I'm buying these flowers for is very knowledgeable and I may have picked up a few things here and there."
Giving Jane a bright smile, Maurice begins to ring Jane up. "Must be quite an apology, honey. There are a lot of flowers here."
Jane taps her card on the glass countertop as she thinks. "Actually, I was hoping that I would be able to buy ten of each of these bouquet things. You can arrange them how you see fit, as long as these flowers are the centerpiece. I need enough to fit a room."
Maurice's mouth opens. "Enough to fit a room? How big is the room?"
As she thinks about the dimensions of Maura's living room and kitchen, Jane looks around. "Maybe the size of this store?"
Maurice grabs a pen, paper, and reaches for her phone. "I will need to make some preparations but that can be arranged. When would you like this delivery?"
"As soon as possible. Please. I am more than happy to pay to have things expedited."
After seeing the final amount, Jane was glad that she had saved up a good chunk of money from all of her paychecks. The Ted Williams signed baseball that Frankie had gotten her when she was shot was worth a whole lot of money and it gave her a few more thousand to work with. Jane had felt her heart ache when she sold the baseball, but the thought of losing Maura was much, much worse. As Jane swipes her credit card, they make plans for the delivery.
Jane knew that Maura would be at work tomorrow and thankfully Jane still had keys to Maura's place, so she told Maurice that she would let the delivery drivers in tomorrow afternoon. Upon hearing Maura's address, Maurice had recognized the woman on the receiving end of Jane's affection.
From her limited interactions with Maura, the florist knew that she was something special and was not at all surprised that Jane was going to such lengths to apologize.
