Chapter Two
"Jane Rizzoli! Come here this instant!" the nun yelled at the little four year old with messy, dark-brown curls and large, deep-brown eyes. The little girl looked up from fixing the velcro on her new red sneakers and grinned mischievously. She got up off the ground and wiped her dirty hands on her khaki shorts. She clasped her hands behind her back, gently pulling at the hem of her blue polo shirt. She looked up at the nun who was now standing in front of her and tried to look innocent.
"Miss Rizzoli, did you punch Joseph Grant?" the nun asked, looking over at the small boy with tears in his eyes and an ice pack on his cheek.
"Yeah, but-"
"Miss Rizzoli, you know hitting is wrong and you will be punished!"
"But, Sister Winnie-"
"Miss Rizzoli, butts are for sitting in chairs, and my name is Sister Winifred."
"He tried to kiss me!" Jane protested loudly.
"That is of no matter. Joseph Grant is a nice boy. He did not deserve to be hit. Now, we are off to call your mother." the nun lectured, while grabbing hold of her right wrist, the nun's palm pressing into the black "M".
"Jane, I don't understand why you insist on being so rough." Angela chastised Jane, who squirmed in her carseat.
"But, Ma, Joey tried to kiss me! Yuck!"
Angela laughed despite herself and glanced in the mirror at her daughter's scrunched up and disgusted face. "Still, honey, you need to stop being so rough. And it's not just at school. You are always rough-housing with Frankie, and he's only two! And don't you dare say he starts it because we both know you do! You are his older sister! You are supposed to be a good role model, not getting into fights!" Angela pulled the car into the driveway of their house.
"I know, Ma, but he tried kissing me and I didn't want him to! That's not right!" Jane protested.
"You're right, baby girl. He should have asked permission first." she agreed while undoing the little girl from her carseat.
"Why would I want him to kiss me? Boys are gross!"
Angela smiled and shook her head as she unlocked the door to their house. Jane rushed into the house before her mom and hopped onto the couch.
"Ma?" she asked, patting the couch cushion next to her.
"Yeah, Janie?" Angela asked, sitting down next to her.
Jane wrinkled her nose at her mother for using her nickname, which she really didn't like.
"Yes, Jane?"
Jane smiled at her mother. "Ma, what's a soulmate?"
"Where did you hear that word?" Angela asked abruptly.
Jane's eyes widened. "Why?" she whispered. "Is it a bad word?"
Angela smiled at her daughter. "No, baby, I just wanted to know."
Jane grinned again."Oh! I heard some of the nuns talking about it."
"Jane Rizzoli, were you eavesdropping?"
"No, Ma! I promise! I just overheard. So, what is it?"
Angela sighed. Her daughter was very smart for her age and always curious. And damn stubborn until she got answers. She was a Rizzoli, after all. "Well, baby" Angela said slowly, trying to figure out how to explain this to her four-year old daughter. "A soulmate is the person you are meant to spend the rest of your life with."
"Like you and Pop?"
"Well, it's more complicated than that. The second you meet this person, you have an instant connection. They will be your whole world and you'll want to spend every second with them, and love them even with their flaws. To you, they are perfection. They are your whole world and the only person you'll ever want to be with. They can make you happy no matter what's going on around you. Just being near them makes your day better. You understand now?"
"Yeah, I think so. Does that have anything to do with this?" Jane asked, while holding up her wrist with the black "M".
"Yes, baby. That is the first letter of your soulmate's first name. As you get older, the letters will continue to appear until you have their entire first name.
"Really? So you have Pop's name on your arm?"
"Um, well…" Angela looked away and before she could think of a good lie, Jane had grabbed her wrist to read it. Jane's eyes looked away from the name and she quickly dropped her mother's arm.
"Honey-" Angela started.
Jane's eyes shot to her mother's and she stared at her, making Angela forget what she was going to say.
"Who's Sean?" Jane asked sadly.
"I don't know, baby. But, just because that's what my wrist says doesn't mean I love you, and Frankie, and your dad any less."
"Why are you here?"
"What do you mean, honey?"
"Why aren't you with Sean? He's your soulmate and the love of your life, right? So, why aren't you out there looking for him?"
"Honey it's not that simple. You'll understand when you get older. But you must know that I love our family, and I wouldn't trade you all for anything."
They sat in silence for several minutes as Jane contemplated.
"You should go find him, Ma." Jane said decidedly.
"What?"
"You belong with him, not us. We are your second best, not your first." Jane's little lip began to quiver and tears welled in her eyes.
"Oh, baby, come here." Angela said, wrapping Jane into a hug. "I love you, and Frankie, and Pop more than the whole world. This family is my soulmate. So don't ever think you are my second choice, because that's not true. I love you all so much. And that's what's most important to me."
Jane stayed quiet and Angela realized she had fallen asleep. Angela carried the sleeping girl to her bedroom and gently placed her in her bed. She kissed her head and turned to leave.
"Ma?" Jane whispered.
"Shhh…baby, go to sleep."
"I love you, Ma."
"I love you too, Janie." Angela walked out of the room and closed the door. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she sighed. "I really do."