Black Friday

Maura had thought long and hard about what she was getting ready to do. She knew Jane didn't like surprises and figured she would forgive her at the end of it all but she knew she would have to put up with a grumpy wife for a little while in the meantime. She decided the end was worth the means or whatever the saying was, she couldn't always remember the sayings.

Maura had woken Jane up at 4:30 AM the Friday after Thanksgiving. Maura had never shopped on Black Friday. She didn't like crowds and she never found anything that was worth going out so early in the morning for. This particular Friday was an exception and she was going to go out and shop on Black Friday, however, she was not going to go alone.

Angela had spent the night and knew of Maura's general plan. She didn't know what she was shopping for but she knew that her Janie wasn't going to be happy to be woken up so early in the morning. She also knew that Jane would do anything for Maura, including get up at what Jane would call 'a God forsaken' time in the morning.

Maura had grabbed the keys to Jane's old Mustang convertible that was in need of so many repairs. It was drivable but Jane never drove it far for fear of something breaking down it. She really should have had it repaired years ago. Maura knew that Jane loved her old Mustang and that she would never get rid of it.

It hadn't taken Jane long to wake up. She took a quick shower and got dressed. Maura was already fully dressed when she woke Jane up. Maura gave a very vague explanation of what was happening and ensured Jane that she would make it up to her later if she would just go along with her plans today. Jane couldn't resist Maura and said she would cooperate.

Maura asked, "Jane, can I drive being as I know where we are going?" Jane looked at her and then nodded in agreement. Maura had never asked to drive the Mustang before, Jane was certain that Maura hated the car.

Maura drove to one of her favorite boutiques on Newberry street that she frequently purchased shoes from. She had seen their advertisement in an email a few days ago and had called the shop to verify the sale. She didn't want to plan to go to the store on Black Friday if what she is looking for would not be there.

Her favorite sales associate happened to take her call and let her know that she would be on duty on Friday morning. She couldn't set aside what Maura wanted but she could make sure that Maura knew exactly where the item was located in the store when she arrived.

Jane, who was still trying to wake up, was happy that they were in and out of the store within half an hour. She hadn't wanted to get out of their warm bed earlier. Maura loved her shoes and when Jane discovered where they were she figured would just go along with it. Shopping for shoes made Maura happy and that is all Jane wanted for her, she wanted Maura to be happy.

Jane had no idea where Maura was taking them to next, she simply carried Maura's bag and put the bag in the truck and then opened the driver's door for Maura and then ran around to climb into the passenger seat. Maura drove them to the Jeep dealership. "Maur, I am not trading my car in!" Jane said as Maura parked in front of the sales office.

"I know love, I would never ask you to get rid of your Mustang. I know how much it means to you. I have a surprise for you." They both got out and went inside.

"Dr. Isles so nice to see you again." A salesman said as he approached them. "We have everything ready. We just need a few signatures and then you will be all set. I will call Jim to take the Mustang. He said it would take him about four weeks to have everything done."

"Maur, what the hell is going on?" Jane asked as she stood there wondering what Maura was doing.

"You will see in about fifteen minutes love, just let me sign some papers." Maura replied.

"Who is Jim and why the hell is he picking up my Mustang?" Jane was a little concerned.

"Language Jane." Maura said out of habit.

"Maur, you are not telling me anything and I am getting a little upset." Jane told her wife.

"It is a surprise love, and you will like it. It has two parts." Maura said as she finished signing every place the salesman showed her to sign. She handed him an envelope and he handed her a small wrapped box. Maura handed the wrapped box to Jane and said, "Here love, you may open your surprise now."

Jane smiled and took the box from Maura wondering what was inside the little box. "What is it Maur?"

"Jane, open it and you will see." Jane had her back to the outside and didn't see them bring a brand-new black Jeep up.

Jane quickly opened the box and found a car fob. "What is this for?" She asked as Maura reached over and pushed the unlock button and they heard a beep from behind them. Jane turned around to see a brand-new 2023 black 4-door Jeep Rubicon with a big red bow on it. "Is that for me?"

"Yes, love, it is an early Christmas present. I couldn't pass up this Black Friday sale. Don't worry your Mustang it is going in to be restored to its original factory condition. It should be back in about four weeks. I know that you don't like to drive it that much because you feel it might break down, but I was hoping you would like to drive this Jeep and maybe have some fun four wheeling in it. What do you think?" Maura asked as Jane hopped into the driver's seat.

"I love it Maur, thank you." Jane said as she leaned over the center console and gave Maura a huge kiss. It had taken Maura a minute to climb up into the Jeep. The salesman had brought out a step stool to assist her. Normally Jane would have assisted her but she was a little preoccupied at the minute checking out her early Christmas present.

The salesman grabbed their bags out of the Mustang and placed them in the backseat and told Maura, "Dr. Isles, you are all set. You may take your new Jeep home now."

"Jane, what do you say to taking me to breakfast in your brand-new Jeep?"

"I think that sounds like a plan babe. Where do you want to go?"

"How about your favorite little diner."

"I know you are not a huge fan of that place, we can go someplace else." Jane offered.

"No, Jane I want to do things that you like today. I like the diner, I just don't like what you eat at the diner. You were nice and went shoe shopping with me so I want to do something that you like."

"I definitely like to eat, okay to the diner we go." Jane was comforted by the fact that they did have healthy things on the menu and the owner knew them and their usual orders so they never had to give their order unless they wanted something different which they would let her know when she brought over their coffee.

"Thank you, Maura, this is the best Black Friday I have ever had. I got to go shoe shopping with my girl and got a new Jeep for my troubles, plus a car restoration. I would say I got the better end of this deal."

"Oh, the four-wheel drive and winch set up might come in handy sometime when you are out an about when the weather is bad. So, it is a safety factor for me also. Your police vehicle doesn't have four-wheel drive so if you are off-duty now you can have your Jeep. I got my new Louboutin multi-color Hot Chick Ombre Red Sole Pumps months ahead of schedule so I am very happy. They were not due to ship until March of next year."

"How did you swing that?" Jane asked.

"When you buy enough shoes from a boutique and they know your style, they can pull some strings and make things happen. Seriously though they were contacted by the Headquarters of Christian Louboutin and because they order so many shoes, they asked the boutique if they would be interested in receiving an advanced shipment of the new line. I read about certain boutiques being offered such a special offer and called the boutique and they confirmed that they were one of the boutiques that was selected for this treat." Maura said with a level of enthusiasm that Jane had never seen before.

They finished their breakfast and went home to see what their family was up to. The children were all up and eating breakfast. When Maura told them that their mama got a new Jeep, they all had to go outside and see it. They all wanted to go for a ride in. The Jeep would only sit four adults but there were three belt buckles in the backseat, so technically she could take all four of the children but she couldn't fit all six of them in the Jeep. It wasn't meant as a family vehicle they had the Range Rover for the family.

Maura told Jane to take the children for a short drive, she would stay home and visit with Angela. Angela told Jane, "I want to go for a short drive when you get back." Jane just shook her head in agreement and took the children for a short drive over to Uncle Frost's house. They visited for a about half an hour and then went home. Frost loved her new Jeep and said he would like a ride in at a later date. He knew she was busy with the children right now.

When Jane got back, she had to take her mother for a short spin so she took her over to Frankie's house and let Frankie and his family check out her new Jeep. Jane was still smiling when she brought the children home. MJ told his mommy that his mama was smiling the entire time they were driving around in the Jeep. That pleased Maura as she had been so nervous about dragging Jane out of the house at 5 AM to go Black Friday shopping.

Jane and Maura decided they didn't want to experience going out into the crowds again on Black Friday but the deals they were able to obtain made this Black Friday outing worthwhile.