The temperament Jane displayed on Thursday was barely improved by Friday, but as Saturday dawned, Maura still planned that Jane and Angela would join her to welcome Constance and Samantha to Boston. After all, thought Maura, Angela and Constance had hit it off remarkably well over hamburgers, fries and milkshakes at the Dirty Robber. It was that evening's serendipitous atmosphere that prompted Maura's selection of grilled burgers and fries as the evening's menu.
Maura displayed a keen awareness when she recruited Jane to man her newly acquired charcoal grill. The outdoor cooking center was stationed conveniently on the patio along with also newly acquired patio dining and lounging furniture, setting the stage for a wonderful alfresco dining experience. As Jane prepared the charcoal and readied the grill for service, her mind wandered. She realized that she could easily visualize Maura and herself entertaining friends right there on their patio on mild Boston summer evenings.
Angela graciously volunteered to to stay with Jane during Constance's visit, so that the guest house would be available. To avoid any confusion, Maura told her mother of the arrangement ahead of her visit this time, so that there would be no need for a reservation at the Ritz. Samantha would be staying in Maura's spare room, since her stay would be only until Monday morning.
The idea of an old girlfriend sleeping just down the hall from Maura fueled Jane's uneasiness, but the detective promised herself that she would be cordial and make it through this weekend simply as Maura's friend. However, she also promised herself that as soon as the weekend was over she would sit down with Maura and come clean about the feelings and her desire to be Maura's lover rather than just her friend. As she arranged charcoals for lighting, she contemplated the weekend, knowing it would be difficult.
By late afternoon, the trio had everything ready for the arrival of Maura's guests. As she looked around, Maura was pleased with all the arrangements. Being as anal as she is, however, Maura again went over everything on her list, thinking to herself that everything was going to well. As she completed her checklist, her cell phone rang.
"Dr. Isles," she answered, as Jane and Angela looked on. Jane reached for her phone thinking that perhaps they were being called in on a case.
"Thank you Harold." said Maura, then turning to Jane and Angela she continued, "That was Harold, the limo driver, he just picked up Mother and Sam, they will be here in about twenty minutes."
She smiled as she looked around the room, happy with the way everything was turning out.
The doorbell chimed right on schedule and Maura swung the door open.
"Welcome Mother, I'm so glad you're here." said Maura.
"So am I darling," replied Constance, "I am looking forward to spending some time with you, with none of the distractions that plagued us on my last visit."
Her mothers cordial tone thrilled Maura, as she had always looked up to the woman who adopted her and so wanted to have more interaction with her.
"Angela, it is so great to see you again." she said as they embraced in the foyer.
Then Maura turned to see Samantha standing at the door. She looked much as she did in 1997, when both women graduated from Boston Cambridge. Maura went on to medical school at Harvard and Samantha did her post grad work at Wharton. They were a world apart, as evidenced by the fact that they hadn't seen each other since that day nearly seventeen years before.
As they silently looked at each other there was a hush. Angela looked at her daughter, ready to tackle her should the need arise to protect Samantha. The pregnant pause was interrupted as Samantha stepped forward into the foyer. Taking Maura's right hand in her own she suddenly dropped to one knee causing her skirt to slid well above mid thigh. She bowed her head touching her forehead to the back of Maura's hand as she spoke in Serbian to her former lover.
"Ja sam vas rob moja ljubavnica moja jedina zelja je vas uzitak," she said as she looked up at Maura with a smile.
"ju cete se koristiti za moj zadovoljstva," replied Maura.
The other women looked on, without a clue as to what was said. After what seemed to be an eternity Sam stood up and Maura embraced her. "I am so happy you came Samantha, Welcome to my home."
"It is so good to see you Maura, you haven't changed except to get prettier." said Sam.
"You look fantastic, Sam, still the most beautiful girl on campus." replied Maura.
Jane stepped around the couple, grabbing suitcases and moving them in.
"Oh where are my manners," gasped Maura, "Sam this is Jane Rizzoli, Jane and I work together, and this is her mother Angela."
Jane was remarkably cordial, though she really wanted to reach into the woman's chest and rip her heart out. "Nice to meet you Samantha." she said.
"Nice to meet you as well Jane," replied Sam, "so are you a pathologist, like Maura?"
"Oh no," replied Jane, "I am a homicide detective, and I'm certain there is no one like Maura."
"I certainly agree,"said Sam, as she and Maura continued to hold hand's. Looking into Maura's hazel eyes she continued speaking to Jane, "I've spent the last seventeen years looking for another Maura Isles and I can honestly report that all the likely candidates fall woefully short."
Casual conversation continued. Angela and Constance walked across the patio each pulling a piece of Constance's luggage. Jane and Maura each took one of Samantha's cases and showed her upstairs to the guest room, making her feel at home.
"How long will you be in town," asked Jane.
"I'm not quite sure yet." began Sam, "I told Constance we should have everything lined up within two weeks. I might have to go down to South Carolina for a few days. We have a project down there as well."
"Oh, I'm so glad you're here," squealed Maura, placing her hand on Samantha's arm.
"Me too, Maur." replied Sam.
Oh great, thought Jane, the bitch calls her Maur! I'm the only one who can call her Maur!
As the trio walked back downstairs, Jane looked at her watch and realized that the charcoal should be getting to its optimum temperature. "I am going to put the burgers on the grill Maur," said Jane.
"Oh good," replied Maura, "then I'll get the fries ready."
"Can I help?" asked Samantha.
"Of course not," spouted Jane, "you're a guest and you must be exhausted from your trip. We have a cooler of beer iced down on the patio, why don't you kick back on the chaise and have cold beer and relax."
"That really does sound good," she remarked, "will it be alright with you if I sit with Jane, ljubavnica"
"Of course its alright rob," she replied, "I'll be out there in a few minutes myself."
As Jane stood by the grill, Samantha reclined in the chaise lounge a few feet away sipping a Coors Light. Jane didn't have to be a detective to know that Samantha had a connection with Maura that she didn't. What really bothered her was the fact that had she been forthcoming with Maura about her feelings that she wouldn't be in this situation and wouldn't be trembling with fear that she might never have the relationship she so badly wanted, with the woman she loved.
As the burgers were searing, so was Jane Rizzoli. She knew now that her plan to come clean to Maura after her mothers visit was going to be a non-starter. The chemistry between Maura and Sam was palpable and their history would make it easy for them to renew their relationship.
Jane looked through the sliding glass door into the kitchen where Maura was lifting french fries form the fryer. She wouldn't let Maura go! She couldn't let her go even if she wanted to. The profession of her love wouldn't wait til later, Maura needed to know now. She HAD to know NOW.