~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ch8, The Adventure Begins
Waking up tangled in and among Jane's arms and legs was something Maura began to expect and look forward to each morning. She stretched her arms above her head and slid her legs across the smooth sheets of the bed. Jane adjusted in her sleep and Maura quietly removed herself from the bed to begin the preparations for their drive to the outer cape.
While standing in the shower thinking about what might happen over the next ten days, Maura considered the potential for Jane to recover her memory along the road. Maura finally took the time to prepare herself mentally for any conceivable contingency for the duration of this trip. That is simply how her mind worked. Every possible pathway to every possible end was traced in her mind. She wondered if she herself would be capable to handle whatever happens on this trip and momentarily considered that she might be 'in over her head' as Jane would say. Maura exited the shower with a mental map of her next tasks.
Rambling through the house assembling items necessary for their excursion, Maura noticed all of Jane's belongings around the house. She discerned that Frankie and she had placed them, but she couldn't help the sensation that she'd somehow gone into a time machine that showed her the future. It was a gift of a realization of what could be, the real prospect of a life with Jane, not some hopeful, mischievous, teasing game of Counting Coup. The feeling she had standing among what could be a premonition of her future encouraged her to drive on with Jane. She couldn't hesitate. She must see this through, help Jane recover and then, together with Jane, build their life. She anticipated that this pathway would be tenuous and challenging. At least there was one thing she was sure about today, she knew in that moment that she wanted this, a life with Jane.
She collected enough supplies, clothing and odds and ends to last them for over a week into three large suitcases and then she checked the weather to be certain of driving conditions. The snow was supposed to continue to fall most of the day but it was light and the roads were dry. No more obstacles.
She packed a few more things and then went to wake Jane for what would be a nearly three hour drive accounting for weather.
There she was, sleeping so peacefully, Maura nearly decided to wait a bit and give Jane the peace and quiet she knew she needed. Instead, Maura momentarily gave in, just a little, to the invisible pull she felt since the moment they were introduced and existed inside any room containing Jane Rizzoli. She climbed back into the bed with Jane and lay next to her for a short while for no other reason than that being near Jane this way just felt so good. After a few minutes, Jane began to move and nearly rolled into her waking up. "Hey babe.' Jane drew in a slow breath. "Mmmmm, I love waking up next to you. You smell so good." Jane reached to hold Maura.
Maura slipped away and stood, "Jane, that's because I've already showered. It's time for you to get ready so we can go. Now, come on, let me help you." Maura went to the side of the bed to help Jane sit up. Jane was going to need some help yet with her broken rib still healing. So she eased Jane to a sitting position. With Maura standing in front of Jane with her legs against Jane's knees, Jane separated her own knees and pulled Maura closer. She wrapped her arms around Maura's waist and placed her head against her torso. Maura looked down to the top of Jane's head and gently moved her hands to the back of Jane's neck and softly held her there. They stayed in this position for a moment, both of them comfortable, unwilling to move.
Finally, Jane husked in her sleepy, morning voice, "Ok, let's get this adventure started. Just point me to toward the shower and give me a push."
Maura helped Jane for a bit and went to prepare some coffee and food for in the ride and then loaded the heavy bags into the trunk of her car. Overflow had to go to the back seat since the Jaguar's trunk, even with the top up, didn't hold very much. Maura never considered herself much of a wrestler, but positioning the suitcases and other items inside the car was combination of a game of Tetris and a wrestling match.
Maura smiled as she remembered the day Jane forced her to play Tetris on a super-sized video game during a surprise outing to an arcade. When Jane discovered that Maura had never heard of Tetris, she immediately drove them directly to The Beacon Hill Pub and their recently installed, shiny, new, full-sized Tetris machine. Maura was hooked and they didn't leave the bar until the owner requested they go so he could lock up. Jane was always bringing new adventure to her life. Since they met, her days with Jane rapidly became the best part of her existence and Maura didn't want that to ever end.
Maura pushed the silver button to start the car and let it warm up. She returned to the house to find Jane was dressed and almost ready. "Jane, you should dry your hair before you go out into the cold."
"Ah, it can dry on the way, you do have a heater in that spaceship you call a car don't you? See, I won't even have a chance to get cold." Jane had a point.
"I put some tofu and egg scramble breakfast wraps in the cooler in the car Jane. We should be going, you can eat your breakfast on the way." They both stepped outside the house and Maura locked the door.
Walking to the car, Maura stopped Jane for a moment. "Jane, thank you for agreeing to go with me. I think we need some time to get you better, away from everyone here and all the pressures of daily living." Jane saw that Maura seemed nervous and took Maura's hands. "Maur, sweetheart. I'd go anywhere with you. You know that." and she leaned in for the briefest kiss. "Now come on, if we're out here any longer, my hair is going to turn into one big icicle."
Jane climbed into the passenger seat. The seat was deep and wrapped around a bit at the sides. This car felt like it was built for racing. Maura punched the address into the on-board navigation system and they were on their way.
Jane pulled her breakfast from it's wrapping. She looked over to Maura for confirmation. "Really, you're going to let me eat in your new car?" Maura just grinned. "Well now, isn't Dr. Isles dropping her standards?" Jane loved to tease Maura. "and Tofu? Really?"
"Jane, you know it's good, I've prepared this for you before and you said you enjoyed it."
"As long as you put some meat in there, I'll be happy."
"Yes, Jane, I crumbled some bacon inside just for you."
"Oooh yummy, bacon! You know me well. Bacon makes everything better. You know, if you put bacon on your quinoa I might even eat that stuff too."
"You would, Jane? You know the protein content in quinoa is very high. It was a staple among the Pre-Columbian Andean mountain dwelling people. Today it is called a super-food but isn't it interesting that thousands of years ago, without knowing the benefits, this simple food nourished an entire civilization?"
"Well no wonder the monks from Tibet never smile, if they have to eat that stuff. I'll bet the Frangelico monks from Italy could show the Tibetan monks a thing or two about throwing a party."
"Jane, the Andes are in South America. Tibet is a plateau region in the Himalayas, a mountain range in Asia, a completely different continent. But yes, I will concede your point. Some monks do know 'how to party'."
"Whatever, wiki-warrior woman. Hey, that Frangelico stuff was really good, we should pick some up."
They were both laughing. Maura did notice that Jane just recalled the Frangelico from the night before her head injury. Maura wondered if it wouldn't be very long now before Jane 'wakes up'.
"And Maura, I was only joking about putting bacon on quinoa. Please, just don't. I prefer my quinoa in that nice recipe you make with goat cheese. I mean, why waste perfectly good bacon?" Jane took a bite of her tofu, egg, (with the tiniest pieces of bacon) breakfast wrap.
"Jane, just eat your breakfast." Jane flashed her eyes at Maura and beamed in pride more than just a bit. Maura was laughing. She loved to make Maura happy.
Jane's mouth was full and she quickly chewed to clear it to speak. "Maura, you just drive. I wanna see this cottage. I mean, who goes to a cottage on the cape in the winter? Don't get me wrong, I want to go. I mean I'd love to shovel snow guarding a broken rib after we get buried by a storm in the middle of nowhere." Jane tested Maura's sense of humor and turned to get a glance at the lovely doctor. "You must really want to get away." Jane watched Maura's smile turn serious.
Maura briefly glanced toward Jane. If she only knew. Maura was glad to see Jane behaving more like herself, and seeming to remember more and more of their actual time together before, well with the one enormously concerning difference, that she still thought they were married. "Jane, there are no weather related events expected, I checked the forecast before we left." Maura knew not to use the word storm because Maura did expect a storm, one in the form of Jane recovering her memory and reacting in a typical Jane manner. Maura put her eyes to the road clutching the steering wheel a bit tighter than usual and drove on.
"Fine, but when it gets cold, you're gonna be the one to chop down a tree for firewood. Are there even trees out there?"
Together they rode the several hours to from Boston to just south of Provincetown. Jane occasionally pulled Maura's hand from the steering wheel and held it until Maura needed it to go back to the wheel. The light snow was coming down, adding to the over twelve inches that had already accumulated since the last storm. Along the way, most of the shops were closed up with only a few of the restaurants and business remaining open to the public during the off-season.
Maura drove past the cottage and took them all the way in to Provincetown to get her bearings and to find a grocery store to stock the tiny house. Along Commercial Street in Provincetown, she stopped at Angel Market. When the two got out of the car they were struck by the charm of the fishing town's uniquely coastal architecture. It was as if they'd stepped into a postcard. Jane took Maura's hand as they walked inside for groceries.
Once inside the market, they were struck again by wonderfully delicious smells of freshly prepared food at the deli counter. Maura and Jane weaved their way along the aisles with Jane continually reaching for Maura's hand. Jane wanted to be close. Something felt so incredibly romantic to Maura. The most simple task of grocery shopping had been transformed into a whole new kind of experience. Everything seemed so much richer and brighter and more intense. She could feel the connectedness between herself and Jane. There was an energy building. They loaded their shopping cart and headed toward the deli for some freshly prepared items.
The man working behind the deli counter watched the two approach. "So, where are you two girls from?"
"Oh we're in from Boston for a mini-vacation. This is such lovely town." Maura was ever the polite one.
"What can I prepare for you ladies?"
Jane's eyes were all over the contents of the glass display. This was the source of all the delicious smells. "May we have the whole roasted chicken with potato salad and coleslaw." Jane looked toward Maura. "Is that ok, sweetie? That chicken just looks too good to leave behind."
Maura smiled and nodded her head and added, "May we also have six of these freshly baked rolls?"
"Sure," he said. "Would you like to sample the clam chowda? It's the best on Cape Cod. We also have some Lobsta Bisque. Now that, even I would drive a hundred miles to get." The man's rural Massachusetts accent was noticeable to the two women. This charming town was winning them and they'd only, so far, been to the grocery store.
"That sounds lovely. Jane, would you like to try some?"
"Yeah, sure. Thanks"
The man behind the counter handed them two small bowls, one clam chowder and the other lobster bisque, and began his task of packing their order.
Jane took a spoonful of the lobster bisque and her eyes grew big. "By the power of Grayskull, oh my God, this is so good. Maura, this is the lobster bisque?"
"Gray what? Yes, Jane, you have the lobster bisque."
"Gah, woman! What did they make you do the whole time you were a kid?" Jane held her bowl up. "This lobster stuff is incredible. Oh Maura, we have to get some of this. Just get enough for the whole week, I could eat this every day."
Jane put some in her spoon and offered it to Maura. Maura leaned in and Jane put the spoon into her mouth. Maura's eyes closed as she savored the luxurious richness of the most wonderfully prepared lobster bisque she'd ever tasted.
Maura opened her eyes to look at Jane as she pulled the spoon from her mouth. "See, Babe, I told you. It's really good." Jane had a silly grin on her face as she stood putting the spoon back into the little bowl for more.
Maura tried her clam chowder to less effect. "Excuse me sir, would you add a quart sized container of your lovely lobster bisque?"
The man smiled a wide smile. He'd happily watched the two interact. "I thought you two might like it, it is just the thing on a wintry romantic night when you stay in from the cold. You should take a look at the selection of wines before you go. And, remember, we're open all season. Come on back anytime."
Maura noted the man's 'romantic night' comment and she remembered that Provincetown is the lesbian mecca for the eastern seaboard. No concerns about anyone thinking them out of place as they held hands or even if Jane kissed her in public. This surreal experience had enough anxious moments built in, at least the townspeople would be welcoming. That was one worry off of Maura's mind.
She turned to look for Jane. Maura hadn't noticed the wine room before the man pointed it out and walked over to find Jane opening the exquisitely designed stained glass wine cellar door. Maura followed her in and was astonished that such a small market held such a large and eclectic stock of wines. The temperature was a bit more chilled in that room and she stood next to Jane as they explored the interesting wines. It was such a small, confined space they spoke in whispers. They took their time looking around, enjoying the closeness the small space allowed and the continuing warm feelings that had begun all the way back in Boston that morning.
"Hey Maura, let's get this one, the label is cool." Maura looked toward Jane shaking her head in disbelief, "Jane, we don't select wines based on label design, that is such a marketing tool." She reached for the bottle in Jane's hand and leaned across in front of Jane to replace it on the shelf. When Maura moved to stand back up, Jane inhaled and reached for Maura's hand. "Maura, um, let's, let's get this stuff to the cottage. I'm excited to see what the place looks like." Maura knew that's not what Jane was thinking. Maura felt it too. It was time.
Maura selected some otherwise attention-grabbing wines and they both exited the wine cellar. Jane spotted the distinctively shaped bottle of her newest favorite liqueur, Frangelico, just outside the door and slid it into their cart.
They paid and left the grocery store. While they loaded the groceries into the back seat, Jane noticed an art gallery and museum across the street. The banner in the front informed they'd be open through winter. "Maura, let's come back tomorrow and we can go into the art gallery. I know you'd love that."
"Ok Jane, let's see how the weather holds up and see how you feel, but I would love to go there with you." Maura didn't want to guarantee anything as to their schedule, so many factors were in play.
Jane was still on the driver's side of the car while Maura loaded the groceries inside. Once the last item was stowed, Jane reached for Maura and pulled her close with her hands low on Maura's waist. They stood in the parking lot, light snow falling all around with the wind blowing. Their breath was visible as they exhaled into the cold air. The sparkle in Jane's eyes was, to Maura, like looking into a candle's flame. She could not tear her eyes away. For stability, Maura put her gloved hands on Jane's upper arms. Jane leaned in and Maura could feel Jane's cool skin against hers as Jane softly placed a kiss against Maura's lips. They stood in the cold wind holding that kiss, feeling the warmth from it. Jane broke away and reached up to remove a snowflake from her wife's now windblown hair, "OK, let's get you home and all warmed up. I'm hungry!"
Maura drove them back toward the cottage with a small detour past the hospital. She wanted to be sure she'd be able to bring Jane quickly if need be. Jane was calmly looking outside the car window at the charming scenery along the way. This place was idyllic, most of its streets were narrow and compact, there were wooden pathways along the wharf and fishing boats moored along the harbor. It was like stepping back in time. The charm had insinuated itself into their imagination. Boston seemed more than a few hundred miles away. They found themselves on a virtual bubble escape, just what Dr. Swen ordered for them both.
The cottage was equally delightful. It appeared that someone had recently removed the snow from the parking place as well as the sidewalks. Maura reminded herself to thank her friend later. Rachel must have called someone to prepare the cottage for their arrival. They went inside to check out their space, carrying just the groceries in for now. Jane couldn't carry very much with her rib so Maura did the heavy lifting. Jane pulled the hot food from the bags and found plates in the kitchen.
Maura found the control for the heat to get that going, the house seemed chilled to her even though the temperature had been set at 68 degrees. Maura realized that it wasn't the house that was chilled, it was her. Her nerves were getting the best of her. She rationalized that the 'fight or flight' reflex had involuntarily kicked in. Maura was nervous about what this week would bring and even more so now with the practically carnivorous look she saw in Jane's eyes back at the wine cellar. Maura wondered if this was nervousness or excitement of anticipation but she was definitely being physically affected. Maura's hands were shaking.
Maura breathed in deeply and slowly let it go. She told herself that she could handle this.
Maura wished that Dr. Swen could be there sooner. All of the recent events were beginning to overwhelm the usually unflappable Dr. Isles. Without Jane as her keystone, grounding her, she was beginning to be set adrift. Part of her realized now how much Jane wanted a relationship with her from the beginning. Frankie was quite clear and, if she were to be honest with herself, she sensed it before during the many moments they shared together. Jane would have described it as a 'gut' feel, but Maura was never one to trust her intestines.
At that time, before all this, there was still that invisible line she dared only approach and touch briefly. Flirting glances, lingering touches and ambiguous double entendre were all part of Maura's practice in her engaging version of Counting Coup, but she knew there were real feelings behind those behaviors. To think that if she'd only been brave enough to do more than play a game, her life with Jane could already be well on it's way. But Maura didn't deal in hypotheticals, Maura dealt with facts and the facts were clearly showing her that after Jane recovers her memory, Maura should assert her desires toward Jane.
If she'd never been brave before, she needed all she could muster now. Here she was in the middle of discovering her own intense need to have Jane in her life, not just as friend or even lover. She wanted all of Jane, a partner in life. For keeps.
Maura went back out to lug the heavy suitcases from the car herself. It was all about taking care of Jane at this point. She did what she needed to do.
Note: For those who may have missed it, 'By the power of Grayskull' is a reference to the He-Man cartoon series from the 80's "Masters of the Universe". Jane likely would have watched it with her brothers growing up.
The next chapter title is: Inescapable Spark, and will force the story rating to change to M.