Chapter 3 :
Memories :
Half an hour later, after putting themselves together Louis and Maura decided it was time for them to join the rest of the clan in the living room. When they arrived downstairs they were happy to find their friends and family members having lunch looking much less stressed than during the wake.
Elizabeth and Victoria were sitting in a large black leather sofa, their uncle Frankie comfortably settled between then, a picture album on his lap. Angela and Korsak were settled on a smaller couch besides them while Jane was on the arm of Maura's favourite rocking chair saving her the spot.
"Hey sweetheart, how are you feeling?" Taking a few steps towards her wife Jane could see on hers and Louis' face that they had just shared an rather intense conversation and was happy that they had had this opportunity. Despite priding herself in being Maura's main support losing her parents in law helped her face her own mortality and realize that she would not be around for ever and was thankful that if anything were happen to her Louis would be perfectly capable of taking care of his mother.
"I'm better thank you. I see you already started eating, I'm starving." Despite the apparent serenity she was exhibiting the only thing Maura wanted right now was lie in bed in Jane's arms and cry all the tears her body could possibly produce. Unfortunately the entire Isles-Rizzoli and friends' clan was gathered and she could not possibly consider throwing them out. Settling in her large chair Jane had saved for her Maura knew she would have to keep it together for a few more hours before allowing herself to collapse. Luckily for her, being an Isles she had been raised to keep her composure regardless of her personal feelings or needs and she had mastered that art.
"Forgive us Maura but you know how men are, unable to hold their stomach and wait." Angela replied forcing a smile as she stood up to grab a plate and some home made lasagnas for her daughter in law. Trying to no stare Angela took a quick look at Maura and immediately noticed the tiny bit of faded make up she had not completely washed away from her eyes and the pain and distress she was wearing instead. She, better than anyone knew how hard Maura had worked to earn her relationship with her parents, to find a place in their world that suited her and that didn't make her feel miserable or unworthy of being their daughter. After observing her fighting to build that relationship that unlike the one she shared with her own children was not born naturally Angela was worried that Maura would not be able to cope with her loss.
"It's alright Angela. Thank you of being here." Looking at Angela, the sad reality suddenly slapped Maura in the face : that she was actually a couple years older than her parents. Overwhelmed by the thought of losing the woman whom for a long time had been more of a mother to her than Constance, Maura suddenly felt compelled to spend as much time as she possibly could with her, the way they used to back in the day. Now that the kids were all grown up and living their lives independently she was confident that nothing would keep them from enjoying each other's company.
"You're welcome dear. You know that I have always considered you as the daughter I never had and that your parents were dear friends." Angela replied handing her a large plate knowing that she probably hadn't eaten probably in days.
"Hey ma! Thanks!" Jane replied rising her voice. Seeing her wife going through the unbearable loss of her parents Jane had started to see her mother under a different light and knew that she could not offer to take her as granted anymore and was determined to make the most of the years they had together.
"Oh, that's no what I meant silly and you know it. Just sit and eat your lasagnas. I added that secret ingredient Constance and I brought from our last trip to Italy." Ever since they had met twenty five years ago Constance and Angela had developed a strong friendship. Against all odds the two women, who had been raised in two completely opposite social economical backgrounds had found themselves sharing the same passion for food, nature, travelling and more than anything for their beloved daughters and grand children. Sharing the same taste from foreign cultures Constance had made it her personal mission to bring Angela to Europe so they could visit all the places Angela had dreamed to see her entire life but was never able to afford. Now all that was left of their friendship were laughters, memories, pictures and new cooking recipes that Angela would cherish for the rest of her life.
"Hey mom, do you think we could share our favourite memories of grand ma the way we did when grand pa Charles died? I think it would cheer us up." Elizabeth shyly asked not knowing if her mother would want to hear to about the numerous good memories they all shared with her grand mother.
"I think that's a wonderful idea Elizabeth, why don't you start?" The thought of talking about her mother was still very painful for Maura but she had to consider her children's well being first and what they needed right was to remember their grand mother, to keep her memory alive by talking about her regardless of how much it would hurt her.
"Well, to be honest I can't really chose one memory in particular because growing up Vicky and I spent so much time with her and we literally traveled around the world with her and grand pa. She taught us to speak french, she tried to expand our interest in literature and art and we alway looked up to her as a role model. But there is one thing that happen when I was a senior in high school that I will remember for the rest of my life. I remember you guys were away celebrating your wedding anniversary so it was just after Thanksgiving. I remember that Louis was out doing research for his second novel and Vicky was also out shopping with Nana so I took this opportunity to invite that guys I had a crush on over. Little I know grand ma, knowing that I was home by myself thought it would be a good idea to bring me shopping and let's just say she caught us in a compromising situation." Even if at the time the situation was extremely embarrassing for her Elizabeth was now able to look back at it and share it with her family smiling at the way Constance had handle the situation.
"Elizabeth Angela Isles! I can not believe you were having intercourse with someone while your mother and I were away!You were only sixteen, what were you thinking?" Raising Victoria and Elizabeth turned out to be more challenging than rising Louis who was the most responsible child whom she knew for a fact would never get a girl pregnant. The twins on the other hand had started dating very young and Jane and her had to talk contraception very early.
"Relax mom! I did not sleep with that guy. You and mom told me how important it was to only give yourself to someone you love and who loves you back and as I said he was only a crush. So anyway we were on that couch I had installed in my bedroom at the time, kissing while grand ma knocked at my door and came in before we could break the kiss."
"How did she react?" Jane asked curious to see if Constance was able to contain herself in that touchy situation.
"She told me she would be waiting for me in the kitchen and closed the door. I obviously asked the guy to leave and when I joined her in the kitchen she had tea and my favourite cookies waiting for me. She sat me down and gave me the longest lecture on contraception, teen pregnancy, IST and MST I have ever had in my entire life. I thought the one you and mom gave us when we were 12 was painful but this was...excruciating. I had no idea grand ma could be that graphic, specific and medically accurate but now I know where you got your google talking from Mom. From that day I swore never to get pregnant out of wedlock and to always be safe because the idea of having a " I told you so" conversation with her was more than I could handle."
"Yes your grand mother was not a angry person at all and had her own way of teaching you what she thought was right. I remember the numerous lectures she gave me on the same subject. I'm glad that she scared you out of having unprotected, teenage sex." Maura replied as she reached for her daughter's hand.
"I agree with you mom. She wasn't a violent person at all and I don't think I ever heard her screaming. You know it's funny because people think that Ma is the one who scared us out of making all the mistakes teenagers usually do because she's a cop and she can be pretty scary but as far as I'm concerned grand ma kept me for making the wrong decision a few times. Like this time when I was in sophomore in high school and despite hearing you teaching us that smoking was dangerous and could cause cancer I decided to try it and I actually liked it. Unfortunately grand ma caught me and instead of lecturing me took me to the cancer unit that the family foundation had funded and what I saw traumatised me for life. I had only bought one pack and smoked a couple of cigarets but that day I swore never to do it again." Sharing her experience with the rest of the clan Victoria realised the influence her grand mother had had on her and her siblings over the years and didn't know how she was going to continue living without her guidance.
"Wow, it looks like she caught you guys doing a lot of forbidden things that could have get you grounded for years, but she never told us. What about you Louis? Did she ever catch you watching porn?" Smiling at her son Jane knew that out of her three children Louis was the one who was the closest to Constance, maybe because he was her first grand child or maybe because he was so close to Maura and that the mourning process would be long and painful for him.
"Actually, when I was fifteen she caught me going through that lesbian porn collection you had stashed under your bed. She laughed as hard as I did when I found it and didn't lecture me." Looking at her mother Louis who had inherited Jane's taste for smart banter was hoping he had embarrassed her and by the look on Maura's face he knew he did.
"Jane! What was our adult films' collection doing under our bed? The girls were only ten at the time! What if they had found it?" Her eyes wide open and her finger pointed at her wife Maura had rarely been so embarrass in her life and despite being very open about sex with her three children had wished they never found about their taste for adult art.
"I'm sorry babe. I guess we must have used it the night before and I forgot to put it back in the closet."
"Don't worry mom, remember we were only ten when we caught you and ma having sex on your birthday and by caught I mean that you were both naked with nothing to cover you what so ever. Now that's an image that's going to stay printed on my eyes and soul for ever, so trust me when I say that some porn would have not shocked us and besides I think it's sweet that after all those years you're still interested in sex." Elizabeth replied as she unsuccessfully tried to chase that image of her brain.
"Well I'm glad we managed to raised you guys to be opened and comfortable about sex, right babe, aren't you happy that we didn't raise three prudes?" Jane asked smiling through grinned teeth knowing Maura was going to make her pay for that later.
"Yes I am. So Louis, did you have another event you wanted to share?"
"Well It's not an event in particular but just something grand ma was the only was capable of doing. I was only four when you got pregnant but I remember being constantly worried for you and he twins, probably more than you and ma actually were. I used to have sleep overs here at the mansion on regular basis but that after you got pregnant I stopped because I didn't want to leave you in case something had happened. When you girls were born, things didn't get better. I remember having nightmares about what had happened with my...with him the day you were born and that I would wake up in the middle of the night to check up on you. I remember that ma caught me a few times and that it took her a long time to convince me that he would never hurt any of us ever again. But I think grand ma was the only one who was able to calm me down before or after you were born. She was also the one who convinced me that moving to New-York so I could develop my career was the right choice to do. I remember torturing myself and losing sleep over making that decision and she helped me realize that it was the best thing to do, even if it meant leave my family behind. I don't how but she always managed to understand and canalise that obsession I had to take care of you and protect you. She also gave me wise advice on how to handle my career and improve my writing and to be honest I don't know if I can manage without her." Over the past years Constance had helped Louis not only with his writing but also to understand his need to protect his sisters and he had come to the conclusion that he was obsessed with his sisters' safety not only because he took his role as a big brother seriously but also because he blamed himself for what had happened the day they were born. Despite being only five at the time it was very clear to him that Dean had escaped from prison to get him and that if it wasn't for him his mother would have probably delivered them safely. Constance was the only one he trusted with this and she had truly helped him coming to terms with what had happened and had managed to make him stop blame himself.
"Well I think we're all going to cherish everything she gave us for a long time that her influence will last for the rest of our lives." Gently rubbing Louis' back Maura realised that those memories, that print they had left in their lives was her parents' true legacy, not their professional or philanthropic achievements and could only hope she would leave such a trace and influence in her own children's lives.
Hello guys and girls. I noticed that this story hasn't received the interest I was hoping for so far, maybe because it's too dark or because no one cares about Jane and Maura at the age of 60...All I know is that I'm proud of this story and considering I'm currently grieving writing it helps me a lot. I am also completely in love with Louis and I have a nice story line planned for him so I'm definitely continuing this story regardless of the number of views or reviews ;) (That was for the people who messaged me asking if I was gonna continue it.)
I hope you enjoyed that chapter and that you didn't find the humour I tried to insert unsettling or inappropriate(Jane and Maura's porn collection made me laugh really hard when I wrote it). Also I think that more than sharing simple memories like vacations, shopping sprees or intimate conversations it was important to show the influence Constance has had on her grand children.
What do you think?
Next chapter : the reading of Constance's will that is probably going to surprise you.
