The Anniversary to Remember Chapter Three
Maura pulled into the driveway of the Stratford Inn "Jane wake-up we're here!" Jane roused herself and looked around. She could see that they had already pulled off the main road and were now heading up the little lane to the large early nineteenth century inn where they had spent their honeymoon weekend seven years before. Maura parked the car and smiled as she jumped out of the cockpit and breathed in the crisp autumn mountain air. The leaves were already turning and the mountains were alive with the brightness of reds, oranges and browns as the mountains transitioned from summer to fall. Maura helped Jane out of the Mercedes SUV and looped her arm through Jane's as they proceeded to the front door and into the lobby of the famed New England Inn. Dick, the innkeeper and his wife Joanna had owned the inn for nearly thirty five years and over the years had transformed the sleepy little inn into one of the premier destinations in Vermont. Besides being a celebrated innkeeper, Dick Loudon was also a friend of Arthur and Constance Isles. So, just as he did seven years ago, he made sure that the honeymoon suite was, in perfect condition and that the staff knew these guests were friends of the family and were to be given that extra special bit of attention. As they signed the registry and collected the keys Maura turned to Jane "I am so glad my mother recommended we come here." Jane mused about it for a moment "as I recall it wasn't really a recommendation. It was more like an ultimatum after you told her we couldn't go away for a honeymoon because of my new job." Maura smiled "well she asked if we could at least go away for a weekend, and after I said yes she had Arthur call Dick and before you knew it we were going to Vermont for our honeymoon."
Maura and Jane both smiled as they unlocked the door to the honeymoon suite. The room had been refurbished over the years, but many of the antiques including the bed frame were still there. Maura ran to the windows and drew back the drapes "Ohhhh look at that view! I absolutely love this room." Jane walked over and stood beside her and admired the view. "I am so glad we came." Maura looked over at Jane "I'm glad we came too. Now pour us something to drink as I unpack." Jane looked over at the table and noticed a gift basket of fruit and cheese which also included a bottle of wine, she noted the card that came with it was from Constance. Jane opened the bottle of wine and poured two glasses. "Maura, the wine is from Constance." Maura took a sip from her glass "mmmm, this wine is from that local winery." Jane took a sip, and then looked at the bottle "I do believe you're right." Just then the phone rang and Jane answered the phone "Okay, thank you." Jane put the receiver back down in the cradle of the phone. "That was Joanna confirming our dinner reservation for tonight at les Bons Amis." Maura laid back on the bed " Oh yes! les Bons Amis I don't think you will find better French cousine short of traveling to Paris than at les Bons Amis." Jane smiled "that's why I had Joanna make the reservation."
Maura changed into her black Chanel dress and was fixing her hair and make up, while Jane was elegantly dressed in Christian Dior. "Maura I was scared about coming this weekend. In fact I actually hinted to Canon Wells that I wouldn't have been upset if he needed me to stay back and help this weekend." Maura set down her lipstick, "why would you do that?" Jane looked down at the floor and after a moment or two " our honeymoon trip, it was so amazing, I was so worried that I would ruin that memory for us that I thought that..." Maura smiled "you were being silly. How could you ruin that memory?" Jane looked at her "That night together, it was something special, that still sends shivers down my spine as I think about it, but I can't do that anymore, I mean not like that." Maura stood up and walked over to Jane and took her hands into her own. "Jane, I enjoy the time we spend together, and I have never been disappointed by the experience of being with you. Besides there is a lot more to intimacy then just the physical experience. What made that night so special for me was you." Jane smiled "that's basically what Canon Wells said." Maura looked at Jane "Oh really, and what else did he have to say?" Jane smiled "Well he said Mother don't forget to get her a gift! I forgot to get Mrs. Wells a gift for our seventh anniversary and I still heard about it on our fortyseventh." Maura laughed "Well the Canon is a smart man you should listen to him." Jane reached into her handbag "I did, happy anniversary." Maura opened the little blue box that contained a Tiffany & Co. Infinity bracelet. "Oh I love it! Thank you." Maura said as she slid the bracelet on her wrist. Jane picked up Maura's wrap I think it's time to go to dinner. Maura kissed Jane and smiled as they walked out to the car and drove to the restaurant.
The maitre d' led Maura and Jane to a table for two by the window. Maura looked at the wine list "Jane they have wonderful selection of French wines, but I really would like a bottle of sauvignon blanc from our favorite local winery." Jane suppressed a laugh and smiled "are we going to end up buying two bottles of their fruity wine to take back to our room like we did seven years ago?" Maura looked a little embarrassed "Well, maybe just one bottle." Maura ordered the sauvignon blanc and for hor d'oeuvres Escargot Beignet while Jane ordered Quiche au Rouquefort et aux Poireaux. The waiter brought out the wine and poured a glass for Jane and Maura and left the bottle. Maura took a sip of wine "Oh, that's nice! I am so glad my mother insisted we come here." Maura paused for a moment's reflection "I am also glad she insisted that we had our wedding in a church. A toast to Constance." Jane raised her glass " So Maura, how did that conversation with Constance come about?" Maura thought for a moment "Well it was the day after our engagement party at the Dirty Robber, and you were livid with Angela, after her statement that our wedding wouldn't be real if weren't married in a church. So I figured I should tell Constance what was going on. Then after telling her the whole story she surprised me she said [Well I agree with Jane's mother wholeheartedly, you two should be married in a church.] I couldn't believe she was agreeing with your mother. I wondered was this her way of saying I shouldn't get married?" Jane took a sip of wine as the waiter set her quiche in front of her. Maura continued "I told her we couldn't get married in the Catholic church, but she said [why would you want to get married in the Catholic church? You're an Episcopalian. Just like your father and the entire Isles family, they've all been members of the Episcopal Cathedral for years. Get married there!] Well you know Constance within fifteen minutes we had an appointment to talk about our wedding." Jane smiled "So that's how come you came downstairs saying we're going to church?" Maura nodded as she ate some escargot. The waiter came to take their dinner order and Maura ordered the Lamb Noisette, Jane ordered Poulet Chasseur and they both ordered Salade avec Laitue at Fines Herbs. "Well Maura, I find it strange to say now, but I was really nervous that Sunday morning when we walked into Saint Paul's. I mean I didn't know what they were going to say? My mother just told me I was going to Hell so I couldn't see this ending well." Maura nodded and poured some more wine "What surprised me was how nice everyone was, and when we met Anna and her partner Maggie, I knew we were in a safe place." Jane smiled "I really like Anna and Maggie." Maura smiled as she sipped her wine "I am thinking we're going to need two bottles of the fruity wine. I thought we were going to arrange a wedding venue, instead we found a home where we accepted for who we are."
Jane and Maura walked back into their bedroom. Maura was a little tipsy from all the wine at dinner, and Jane was happy to see she was enjoying herself. "Maura do you want me to light a fire?" Maura nodded "You need to help me out of this dress first." Jane and Maura changed out of their evening clothes and Jane lit the fireplace. "So we had the wedding date and we were going to be married at the cathedral, thanks to Constance, now we just needed to invite the guests. Unfortunately my family still seemed not to be talking to me." Jane was sitting on the couch and Maura snuggled beside her "play with my hair." Jane smiled as she ran her fingers gently through Maura's long hair "as we filled out those wedding invitations I really wondered if anyone would care to show up." Maura looked up at Jane "it feels nice when you play with my hair." Jane thought back for a few moments "When it came time to fill out my mother's invitation I wrote a personal note to her."
Please Ma,
I really hope you will be there for the most special day in my life.
I will love you always!
Jane
Maura sat up, "I didn't mail her invitation." Jane looked shocked, but before Jane could say anything Maura continued "I hand delivered it. I drove over to the Dirty Robber when I knew she was working." Jane looked over at Maura "what happened?" Maura stood up and walked over to the table and opened one of the bottles of wine. "Well, she wasn't pleasant. She accused me of lying to her about our relationship, and sneaking around behind her back. She said she was embarrassed both because she didn't know, and she honestly wondered if the reason you were a lesbian was because of something she did as you were growing up." Jane stood up and took the glass of wine she offered. "What did you say?" Maura thought for a moment "I told her that neither you or I lied to her, and I gave her the invitation. I told her it would be a serious mistake if she decided against attending the wedding and that she would destroy her relationship with you forever."
Jane smiled "Thank you. How come you never told me?" Maura smiled "I didn't want you to get more upset than you were already." Jane sat back down on the sofa and motioned for Maura to join her. "I was upset, until there was a knock at the door. I looked out the window before opening the door and saw that it was Frankie. I opened the door and I could see by the look on his face that he was nervous. He said hello and asked how I was doing, then he took out the wedding invitations [Janie, I just wanted to drop these off. Nina and I are coming and so is Tommy, just put him down as plus one.] I just hugged him." Maura smiled and Jane continued "Frankie said [Idon't know how to say this so I'll just say it You're my sister and I love you, and I will always love you. I love Maura, I have considered her to be another sister for a long time, so I hope you two are happy together. And well if you'd have me I would consider it to be an honor and a privilege to walk you down the aisle.] I hugged him and said yes!"
