Hello, all! I'm so glad you all are enjoying the story so far!
This chapter is kind of shorter but I'm already working on the next one!
Onwards and upwards!
At 4:29pm, Jane let herself in Maura's house, both eager and nervous to see the blonde. She knew Maura did not mean to make her doubt her worthiness but the twinges of doubt that Jane had worked to keep at bay surprised her with their strength.
"Hey, ma," Jane said as she saw her mother in the kitchen filling a tea kettle.
"Oh, Janie," Angela grinned as she turned the tap off and moved to stand in front of her daughter. "You look so lovely," she stated.
"Thanks, ma," Jane smiled as she brushed an imaginary piece of lint off her black slacks. They were similar to the ones she often wore to work yet fit her a bit better and were more fashionable. She had paired it with a shirt Maura had once picked out for her—an emerald green silk blouse. "I thought about wearing a dress but since we got lawn seats at the amphitheater and I have no idea how to sit in a dress on a chair, let alone the grass, I figured this was safer. Do I clash with Maura?"
"Not at all," Angela said, noticing a box in Jane's hands. "Is that for Maura?" Angela asked, nodding to the item in her daughter's hands.
"Yeah," Jane said. "Flowers didn't seem special enough so I got here this," Jane added as she opened the box and showed her mother the photo frame she had placed her and Maura's photo from the other day in. "I know she can't see the photo right now so I was thinking of telling her that she can't open the gift until she gets her sight back. A little incentive, yeah?" she added with a laugh.
"I'm so proud of you," Angela managed to say as she heard her daughter speak. "You're such a great kid, Janie. So loving and thoughtful. I'm damn proud of you."
"Thank you, ma," Jane said as she shut the gift box and gave her mother a smile. "How's Maura?" Jane asked, eager to see if Maura's anxiety had been calmed by Angela.
"She is doing better," Angela replied. "It took a little while to calm her down and snap her out of her funk," she admitted sadly. "But after a little bit of a pep talk she perked right up and we had a lovely time laughing and picking out a lovely outfit. She even let me help her do her hair and make-up," Angela gushed. "She should be down soon. She was just putting her shoes on and some perfume when I came down to make some tea."
"Thank you so much for doing that," Jane thanked her mother. "When she called me crying saying she didn't want to go out tonight I thought she meant she never wanted to go out with me. Then-"
"I'm sorry for that," came Maura's voice as she stood at the bottom of her stairwell near where Jane and Angela were talking. When Jane heard Maura's voice, she spun around and immediately felt her mouth open.
"Wow," Jane breathed as she looked at Maura. She had on a soft yellow sundress, with embellishments on the bust that slowly faded out to a skirt that hit just above Maura's knees. She wore a pair of black heels that matched the dark necklace she also wore. Her hair was pulled to one side in a ponytail with a brooch attached to the hair tie.
"Do I look okay?" Maura asked softly, smoothing a hand over her dress.
"You look stunning," Jane admitted as she walked to Maura and put her hands on Maura's hips, oblivious to the way Angela was watching them with a large smile on her face. "Ravishing, actually," Jane whispered in Maura's ear, causing the doctor to laugh.
"Your mother was incredible," Maura smiled as she acknowledged Angela's help. "She is letting me wear this brooch in my hair," Maura said as she turned her head so Jane could see the golden butterfly brooch embellished with jewels.
"It belonged to Jane's grandmother," Angela said from her place in the kitchen. "She wore it on her first date with Jane's grandfather and I wore it on my first date with Jane's father," Angela continued.
"Ma tried to get me wear it when I went on my first date but I ran outta her grasp so far," Jane laughed. "I'm sure she's glad it is finally being put to use."
"I'm gonna run and grab my camera!" Angela said excitedly as she saw the two women standing face to face, smiles on both of their faces.
"Told ya she'd do that," Jane laughed as she watched Angela exit the main house out of the corner of her eye.
"Jane," Maura said gently as she placed her own hands on Jane's hips. "I really am sorry for saying we shouldn't go out tonight. I was overcome with emotions and didn't think before I spoke."
"It's fine, Maura," Jane replied. "You're allowed to stay things without thinking every once in a while. Lord knows I do."
"Yes, but saying things without thinking that cause you to doubt how much I care for you and how proud I am to be with you should never be allowed. You are amazing, Jane, and I never want you to doubt that. Or else I will start charging you a quarter every time you do," Maura laughed.
Not sure how to respond, Jane simply captured Maura's lips in a soft kiss, hoping that would communicate the words she couldn't. The tell-tale click of a camera caused them to pull apart and turn towards where Angela now stood.
"Really, ma?" Jane half groaned, half laughed.
"I think it's sweet," Angela said as she reviewed the photo she had taken of the women. "Something to show my grandbabies when you tell the story of your first date."
"Okie dokie," Jane sighed as she took Maura's hand in her own and grabbed Maura's gift from the counter. "You mention grandbabies and that is our cue to leave."
"Goodbye, Angela," Maura laughed as Jane guided her to her front door and quickly shut it behind them.
"Sorry about ma," Jane laughed as she helped Maura into the light jacket she had grabbed from the rack next to Maura's front door.
"It's endearing," Maura said.
"Sure," Jane laughed. "Oh! I, uh, watched a few YouTube videos that people have made for the correct way to guide someone who is visually impaired," Jane said nervously as she grabbed her keys from her pocket and clicked the unlock button for her car. "Do you wanna try? If it's easier for me to just hold your hand we can go back but all the doctors and stuff suggest this way."
"Let's try it," Maura said confidently.
"Alright," Jane said, smiling at Maura's confidence. "If I understand everything correctly, I walk to the side of you but half a step in front and you hold on to my elbow," Jane said, moving to stand a bit in front of Maura and bending her arm so her elbow could be grasped by Maura.
"Like this?" Maura asked, grasping Jane's elbow.
"Yeah," Jane replied. "This works because if I slow down or have to move to the side to avoid something, you can feel me move and do the same. I think. Wanna try walking to the car?"
"Yes," Maura said, smiling as she felt Jane take a few steps forward and realizing that she was following her with ease. When Jane veered a bit to the left to guide Maura to the passenger side of her car, Maura sensed the change of direction and confidently walked with Jane as her sighted guide until they reached the car and Jane opened the door. "That was nice," Maura said as she kissed Jane's cheek before entering the car.
Jane just smiled as she shut Maura's door and jogged to the driver's side, climbing in and starting the car, eager to get to the restaurant.
"You smell very nice, by the way," Maura complimented Jane.
"Still not telling you the plan," Jane laughed. "But thank you. I used some of that lotion you got me with the citrus and ginger scent. I figured if you bought it for me then you liked it."
"I do," Maura replied as she tried to focus on the route Jane was taking without the use of her sight. She found herself unable to but didn't seem to care as she and Jane talked about what they hoped Angela would make for Sunday dinner and their plans to go to the park on Monday if the spring weather continued without rain. Maura felt the car stop moving and hear Jane take the keys from the ignition.
"We have arrived," Jane stated. "But don't get outta the car!" she said quickly as she exited the car and went to Maura's side, opening the door for her and grasping Maura's hand to help her exit the car before resuming her position half a step in front of Maura to guide her into the restaurant.
"I can already smell it," Maura said as she inhaled deeply as Jane helped guide her towards the restaurant. "The herbs I smell lead me to believe that we are about to enter an Italian restaurant. Is that correct?"
"Yeah," Jane smiled as a well-dressed waiter opened the restaurant doors for the women, allowing them to walk into the reception area.
"Welcome to Pezzo di Cielo," the hostess warmly greeted the women as they approached her.
"Piece of Heaven," Maura smiled as she heard the name of the restaurant. It was a renowned Italian restaurant that she had heard of but never had anyone to go with.
"Hi," Jane greeted the hostess. "We've got a reservation for Jane Rizzoli."
"We actually just got your table ready," the woman smiled. "If you'd like to follow me I can take you to it," she added as she grabbed two menus and began to escort the two women to their table. Jane felt Maura squeeze her elbow gently before letting go when they reached the table and sat down. "Your waiter should be here in a moment to get you ladies started," she said before returning to her position at the front of the restaurant.
"It smells incredible," Maura said as she inhaled the aromas of the restaurant.
"The smells don't do the food any justice," Jane said as she eagerly began to peruse the menu. "This place is incredible. They make everything from scratch—the pasta, the dough for bread and pizza crush, cure their own meats. It's insane."
"Hello, ladies," a waiter said as he appeared next to their table. "I'm Ryan and I'll be helping you out tonight in any way I can. Your breadsticks will be out shortly so I can get you anything to drink before I go get those?"
"Maura here is the wine expert," Jane said, nodding her head in Maura's direction. "So direct all questions to her," Jane added. "And order whatever you think would be best, Maur."
Jane couldn't help the butterflies in her stomach when she saw the look of excitement on Maura's face as she turned her head to begin questioning the waiter on what wines they had available.
"Did you pick something good?" Jane asked when the waiter left a minute later, promising to return with breadsticks and the wine.
"They have one of my favorites," Maura smiled as she turned back to Jane's direction. "It is a sweet red that I think you will be quite fond of," she explained.
"If it's your favorite, I'm sure I'll love it," Jane said. "Now, what are you hungry for? Pasta, pizza, or something else?"
"What do you recommend?" Maura asked, wishing she could peruse the menu but refusing to allow sadness to take over her date.
"They've got a portabella mushroom ravioli that I've heard good things about," Jane smiled. "You can get it with any of their home made sauces and I know how much you love your fungus."
"You really should give mushrooms a try, Jane," Maura laughed as imagined the face Jane was making at her suggestion.
The waiter soon came to deliver their wine and breadsticks as well as take their order. Maura happily ordered the mushroom ravioli while Jane requested gnocchi. They laughed for most of the dinner, enjoying witty banter and telling stories of their friendship. Jane had just set her credit card down to pay when she picked up the gift box she had set on the empty chair next to her.
"I, uh, got you something," Jane said softly as she watched Maura take the last bite of their dessert.
"Jane," Maura said gently, setting her fork down and looking up at Jane. "You have already taken me out to a lovely dinner and given me the best date I've been on. You shouldn't have."
"Well, I did," Jane grinned. "And the date ain't over just because dinner is over," she added as she took one of Maura's hands that was sitting on the table and placed the box in Maura's palm.
"There's more to the date?" Maura asked, giddy with excitement as she imagined what she and Jane would be doing next.
"Yep," Jane confirmed. "Now open the gift."
Maura gingerly lifted the lid off of the box and reached into the box, pulling the photo frame out. She ran her fingers over the intricate detailing of the wood and along the back where the stand was that would prop the frame up.
"A photo frame?" Maura asked after she had felt the frame for a few more moments.
"Yeah," Jane said sheepishly. "I know you can't see the photo that I put in there," she began as she signed her name on the credit card receipt the waiter had just placed next to her, "but I think once you get your sight back that you'll love the photo."
"Which one is it?" Maura asked, trying to think of the possible photos she knew Jane deemed acceptable to be put on display.
"You'll just have to see for yourself when your vision comes back."
"Thank you, Jane," Maura smiled as she reached over the table to find Jane's hand, grasping it when she found it. "I can't wait to see the photo."
The two women passed through the venue security with ease since Maura only had a small purse and Jane carried only a blanket to sit with her wallet and keys in her pocket.
"Sorry we got lawn seats," Jane said as she guided Maura to an open patch of grass on the knoll just behind the actual seats to the outdoor amphitheater. "Last minute seating was pretty pricy and it sounds just as lovely out here as it does in the formal seating."
"This is perfect," Maura said as she let go of Jane's elbow so the detective could spread the blanket out. "I'm very excited to hear the Boston Symphony perform the music you have so graciously introduced me to," Maura laughed, remembering the bashful way Jane had told her they would be enjoying Disney music for their concert.
"Really?" Jane asked with a smile. "Or are you trying to use sarcasm?"
"I'm being serious, Jane," Maura smiled as she felt Jane take her hand and guide her to the blanket. Maura sat down, ensuring her dress remained covering her as she stretched her legs out in front of her and crossed her ankles. She expected that Jane would sit next to her and wrap an arm around her shoulder so when Jane sat behind her, legs open so Maura could be pulled flush against Jane's front, Maura smiled.
"This okay?" Jane asked, wrapping her arms around Maura's midsection and placing a soft kiss to the woman's neck.
"More than okay," Maura replied as she relaxed into Jane's arms and placed her own arms over Jane's.
The concert began and both Jane and Maura had smiles on their faces as they listened to some of the most iconic Disney songs from Snow White to the most recent one, Frozen. Maura would occasionally hum along if she could remember the tune and Jane would tap her fingers on Maura's midsection to the beat.
The conductor announced that the next song would be the last of the evening and Jane felt goose bumps form on her skin when 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' began to play.
After years of seeing her father tell her mother he loved her only to betray her and hating the way Casey disguised his manipulative personality with vows of love, Jane was hesitant to ever use the word love for anyone outside of her family.
Yet sitting on the hill with Maura in her arms, a smile on the blonde's face despite her inability to see, Jane felt as though her body would explode with the sheer force of her love for Maura.
"Hey, Maura?" Jane whispered, her lips brushing Maura's ear to ensure the medical examiner heard her over the symphony.
"Yes?"
"I love you."
Jane said the three words! Yay!
The next chapter will maybe have some fun between our lovely ladies as well as feature Sunday dinner with the whole gang! After that we might have a little cameo from the lovely Constance Isles. Any other suggestions, feel free to throw them my way!
