Oops, I Did It Again – Chapter 25
Sunday finally arrived and Jane was a little nervous about Sunday family dinner. She hadn't talked to her father all week. Her Ma had filled her in on some of their interactions but she didn't want to fill Jane's head with all of that. Frank had to work things out for himself. Angela felt if Frank knew of the consequences of his actions, he might get his act together. He had a great deal to lose if he didn't.
She didn't like threatening him but she had to make him understand that she was willing to walk away from their marriage if he didn't support Jane. Family was everything to Angela and her daughter's happiness was very important to her. Jane had never been so happy as when she was with Maura.
Jane's whole body lit up when she talked about Maura. She hadn't seen them interact too much but what she had witnessed verified that for her. Her Janie was in love, possibly for the first time in her life. Angela knew that Jane had cared for Casey but never like she does for Maura.
Jane had seen Frankie a few times at the station and he had asked about Maura. Frankie didn't have cause to go down to the morgue so he didn't. He did step into the bullpen occasionally and saw Maura there once and he said hello, other than that he hadn't seen Maura all week except when he helped move Jane's stuff to Maura's on Saturday.
Tommy hadn't called or gone by Maura's house so there was no way he had seen Jane or Maura until Saturday when he had also helped with the moving. He was still unpacking himself and getting settled into the apartment. Between work and trying to get settled he didn't have time for anything.
Frankie and Tommy were looking forward to seeing Jane and Maura. Jane told herself she would be herself at her parent's house. If she wanted to hold Maura's hand or kiss her, she would. She wouldn't let her father cause her to act any differently.
Moving day had been an adventure. Frankie drove the truck and Tommy rode with him. Frost drove his own car over to the house. He had picked up Frankie and Tommy so they could stop and get the rental truck. Jane and Maura were already at the apartment when they arrived. Boxes were scattered all over the apartment, much to Maura's displeasure. Maura said she wasn't going to fuss though. Jane had moved in with her and that is what she wanted, so she would put up with this frantic way of packing. Well, until help arrived. Once the guys arrived, she explained her idea.
Jane was just throwing things in boxes and Maura had a clipboard and wanted to number each box and then list what was inside each of the boxes before it went on the truck. Frost thought that was the best way to deal with all of Jane's stuff. They knew she wouldn't be able to unpack it all right away. By having the boxes numbered and items listed she would be able to find whatever she was looking for.
After several minutes of debate between Jane and Maura, Jane gave in and they started labeling all the boxes. Frost took a piece of paper and grabbed a sports magazine to use as a clipboard and started helping Maura indicate what was in each box before it was sealed and taken to the truck. It took them an extra hour to organized Jane's things but Maura was quite satisfied with the results and thanked Frost for his assistance.
Jane and Maura were the last to arrive for dinner Sunday night. They sat in the car outside her parent's house for what seemed like forever. In actuallality, it was only about five minutes. Jane was nervous. Maura held her hand and told her that her Ma and brothers support their relationship. Given time Maura hoped that Frank would as well. She told Jane, "It might take him a little time, he might need to take baby steps. We will just have to go inside so we can see. I will be right there with you. if you want to leave at any point I will go with you, no questions asked. We do need to go inside though."
Jane looked at Maura for several minutes. She took their clasped hands into her lap and then up to her mouth. She kissed Maura's hand, "Thank you, Maura. Thank you for being here with me. I love my Pop, but if he cannot accept our relationship it will hurt. I have always been daddy's little girl and if he stops loving me, I don't know what I am going to do."
"I know Jane. I have a 'gut feeling' as you would say that he just needs time. He loves you and this is just something he will have to work through on his own time. You also hesitated with our relationship, at first, if you remember."
"Yes, I remember. I'm so glad I came around. I love you so much. I never knew I could love someone so much. It did take me time though so I guess I should afford the same opportunity to my Pops. Let's go inside and see my family."
That brief conversation did wonders for Jane's peace of mind. She was calm as she opened Maura's car door. They walked hand in hand up the walkway and Jane knocked and then opened the front door. Angela was the first to greet them. "Hello, girls. Dinner is almost ready." She gave each of them a tight hug and then let them go.
They walked out to the living room still hand in hand to greet the Rizzoli men. It was a commercial. Jane said hey to both of her brothers and then walked over to her father. "Hey Pops, how are you?"
Frank rose and gave Jane a quick hug. "Fine." Was all he said. Maura was at Jane's side and he just smiled at Maura and said a quick, "Hi" as they had a seat on the couch. Jane made sure to keep hold of Maura's hand. It provided her with a sense of comfort. She could deal with whatever her father tossed her way as long as she had Maura by her side. She found her strength with Maura by her side.
They watched the game shouting at the referees and the players as they normally did. This always amazed Maura when Jane did this. Maura knew no matter what Jane screamed at the television, it wouldn't change the outcome but she thought it was cute how Jane was always so wrapped up in her games. A few minutes went by and then Angela called them for dinner. Frankie and Tommy had already set the table.
They were having gnocchi, one of Jane's favorite meals. Angela always tried to teach Jane all the family recipes but Jane was more interested in watching sports on the TV with her father and brothers. Angela just let her be. Maybe Maura would be interested in learning the family recipes and she could share them with her. She would have to wait and see how tonight went. So far Frank was behaving himself. Angela had peeked in the living room to see how Frank interacted with the girls when they arrived. She was pleased that he at least greeted them.
Once they were seated at the dinner table and had started eating, Angela made a point to congratulate Maura about her new job in front of Frank. She wanted him to be aware of what a big honor that was, "So you are now the Chief, Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. That is a pretty big honor. Janie, told me the Governor came to your office and announced your new position to your staff and that he had been there the day before to witness you at work."
Maura had a huge smile on her face as she said, "Yes, Angela, it was really nice that he took the time to come to BPD and make the announcement. He is really proud of me and wanted to handle the announcement himself. I am really going to enjoy this new job. We have a meeting next week to go over my plan for the position moving forward."
This was news to Jane. Jane gave her an inquisitive look. "Sorry, Jane I haven't had a chance to tell you yet. It just happened, he notified me via email and I just read about it on the way over here. He had been looking over my program that I implemented at BCU and wanted to apply some of what I was working on to my position. So, he wants to talk to me about it."
"That is great." Jane said as she squeezed her hand. She really wanted to kiss her but figured she wouldn't push it. She wanted to make sure she didn't upset her father with any of her actions. She was already pushing it by holding Maura's hand so much in the presence of him. She wasn't going to let him interrupt her relationship with Maura and she told Maura she would be holding her hand but not kissing her as much as she would want in front of her father. Maura understood and was comfortable with that. She knew how much Jane's father meant to her and she didn't want to be the one responsible for ruining their relationship.
Light conversation took place after the discussion of Maura's new job, mainly about sports and what players were doing great and which ones weren't. it was typical conversation for family dinner. Frank didn't say too much, if he did talk it was about some plumbing jobs he had worked on during the week. Angela talked about some new menu items she wanted to add to the Division One café's menu. Jane talked about work in vague terms as she knew her mother didn't want her to talk about the gruesome murders she dealt with. Frankie talked about how he wanted to be a detective and get off of the streets. He enjoyed being a police officer but he didn't want to remain a patrol officer forever. Tommy talked about this new girl he was dating and how excited he was to have his own place now.
Angela had made fresh cannolis. As soon as they were finished with dinner, she brought out the tray of cannolis. Jane loved her mother's cannolis. "Maur, would you like a cannoli?" Jane asked before she took one for herself. Angela just smiled. Her Janie was so polite, seeing to Maura before herself. Her boys could learn a thing or two of how to treat a lady from their older sister, if they would pay attention to how Jane treated Maura.
"Yes Jane, thank you." Maura replied as Jane served her a cannoli and then she plated one for herself.
Tommy said, "Hey sis, can you get one for me?"
"Get it yourself, you are not special." Jane instantly replied and smiled at Maura.
"Wow, Jane, I see how it is. You serve your girlfriend but not your baby brother." Tommy said with a slight pout. Jane knew he was just giving her a hard time. She never served him and he knew that. "Can you please pass the cannolis and I will serve myself then?"
"Yes, here you go." Jane stated as she passed the tray to him. Frankie grabbed one off of the tray as the tray went by him. Angela had already given Frank and herself one before she set the tray down on the table.
Angela and Frank had talked earlier in the day and they had agreed that they would like to have Jane and Maura over for dinner so that they could get to know Maura better. Frank knew he had to attempt to get to know Maura before he passed judgement on her and her relationship with Jane. He was making progress. Baby steps as Jane had told her mother. They would continue this until such time as Frank could make up his mind about this new development in his daughter's life.
As Jane and Maura were getting ready to leave Frank asked if he could speak to them. Jane was a little nervous but agreed to talk with him. By the front door he said, "Your mother and I would like to have the two of you over for dinner." He looked at Maura and continued, "I, well we, would like the opportunity to get to know you better. Do you think Tuesday night would be okay?"
After glancing over at Maura, Jane replied, "Pops, we would love to have dinner with you and Ma on Tuesday night. Please know though that we might have to reschedule if we get a new case."
Frank nodded his head in agreement and said, "Okay, I will let your mother know. If you know you aren't going to be able to make it please call and let your mother know."
"I will Pop. Thank you." Jane responded.
"You're welcome, good night you two." Frank said with a small smile.
"Good night, Pop." Jane said without giving her father a hug.
"Good night, Mr. Rizzoli." Maura said. Frank didn't offer up for her to call him Frank. He wasn't comfortable enough yet with her and she was not offended by that. He talked to her and had invited her to dinner so that was progress. It was a baby step in the right direction and she was happy with that for now.
