It Takes Two To Tangle

Ch. 7

This story is coming to an end soon, probably one more chapter to go. I've made some adjustments based on reader recommendations. Thanks for continuing to read.

The drive to Connecticut seemed longer than Jane remembered. She navigated the Crown Vic through narrow roads and over steep hills. The time ticked by ever so slowly, and she used it to sort out the thoughts racing through her mind. She wondered how she would be received. Jane neglected to tell Maura that Sandra's mother slapped her face when Jane told her that their daughter had a serious drinking problem and needed help. Her mother insisted that what her daughter needed was a more supportive partner. "The whole family was a bunch of classic enablers," Jane thought.

As Jane traveled south on Interstate 91, she tried to prepare for what condition Sandra would be in once she arrived. She remembered what her great grandmother looked like when she was dying of cancer. It was horrible, her flesh was tightly wrapped over her bones, her cheeks were sunken, and her eyes had lost their depth. It was an image that Jane could never shake.

Jane dragged her feet across the floor of the third Dunkin Donuts she had stopped at on her way down. She ordered another large coffee and this time she also got a sesame bagel with strawberry cream cheese hoping that it would settle the acid bubbling in her stomach. She groaned as she sat on the hood of her car eating the last bite of the bagel. Two boys on skateboards went by eyeballing the detective's gun and badge. Just as she stood to toss her garbage, Maura's ring tone sliced through the silence. Jane tossed her head aside so she could answer the phone. "Hey Maura, miss me already?"

Maura laughed as she greeted Jane. "I just wanted to check in on you."

"Well, I'm almost there, and I'm scared shitless and over caffeinated."

"Sounds par for the course. You'll be fine; you're a strong person Jane. Keep in touch and good luck."

Minutes after hanging up, Jane was back in her car and pulling into the stone driveway of the Carolla's house. It was different that Jane had remembered. It was sided a Confederate gray, the pool was filled in, and the gazebo torn down. The yard was lined with new trees, and a shed had been built. Jane ran her hands through her hair as she approached the front door, her heels clopping on the walkway. She rang the bell,and the door creaked open just a crack before swinging wide.

Maria Carolla stood before Jane looking exactly as Jane remembered her. Her long dark hair and piercing blue eyes were exactly like Sandra's. She was slightly taller, and two years older, but still youthful looking.

"Jane. Please come in." The woman was hesitant to look Jane in the eye.

"Thanks. How is she?" Jane stood in the elegant foyer as the light cast shadows on the stone floor."

"They say that people rally right before they pass, and that seems to be where she is right now. She'll be pleased to know that you're here."

"Where's your parents."

Maria coughed nervously, "They didn't want to be here when you arrived."

Jane tucked her tongue into her cheek and shook her head. "Guess some things never change."

Maria raised her voice slightly. "You have to understand. They think they're being good parents."

"Look, I didn't come here to argue with you. All of you enabled her to continue drinking. You're loving her to death, and I don't see how treating me badly is honoring or helping Sandra. I've seen it in my own family, and it never ends well. While we're at it why not deny the drinking had something to do with her cancer!" Jane's temper was bristling.

"Jane, maybe Sandra asking you here was a mistake."

"You got it. Sandra asked me here; let her decide if it's a mistake. I'm not making any promises about forgiving her, but at least I'm open to hearing her out."

Maria stared down at her shoes before meeting Jane's eyes. "We've been under a lot of pressure these last few months. I'm sorry, but I'm going to ask you to see Sandra and leave."

"That was my intention. I didn't think we were all going to sit around the fireplace and drink hot chocolate together."

"It's the top of the stairs, third door on the right. You can let yourself out."

Jane tried to calm herself as she ascended the top of the staircase and rounded the corner. She closed her hand and was about to knock on the door when she heard a familiar and surprisingly strong voice say, "Come in."

Jane feared that Sandra heard her arguing with her sister. She twisted the doorknob and entered the dimly lit room.

"I'd know the sound of those footsteps anywhere Jane Rizzoli." Jane released the breath she was holding; apparently Sandra had missed the fighting between the two women.

The thin, pale woman wore a nasal canula to increase her oxygen intake. Nearly lifeless eyes gestured for Jane to take a seat in the chair next to the bed.

"Jane, I know it wasn't easy for you to come here, so thank you." The woman moved her hand under the sheets, pulled out a tissue and coughed into it "I want to make amends with you, and tell you I'm sorry for the way I treated you, and for the way my family treated you. I hope that you can forgive me."

"I want to, but…..." Jane didn't know what to say. This was a kinder, gentler woman than the feisty drunk she had dated, and even pulled out of a few bar scrapes. Jane wasn't sure what to make of her.

"I'm not asking you to forgive me because I'm going to die. I'm asking you because if you don't, you're going to bring anger and bitterness from our experience into every intimate relationship you enter into."

Jane instantly thought of how often she snapped at Maura recently, and how badly it made her feel. It went beyond her normal teasing and verged on being downright nasty.

"I know you Jane. You've got a big heart, and a part of you believed that you failed this relationship in some way, but you didn't. If you forgive me, you move out of that place and take control back. By not forgiving me, you've given me power over you that I don't want. Release me and release yourself; stop letting what happened between us define your relationships."

Jane bit her lip. "How do you even know I do that?"

Sandra pointed to Jane's ring finger. "You're still single, and I bet you tell yourself you'll end up married to your job or settling, but secretly you'd enjoy coming home to someone every night."

Tears were brimming in Jane's eyes as she gave the ill woman half a smile. "When did you get so smart?"

"I've had a lot of time to think, and I've sabotaged every relationship I've ever been in. You know what they say about lessons learned."

"Sandra, I can't say it will be today. It's going to take time, but I promise I will forgive you."

"That's all I ask." The woman was now breathy, and extremely tired. "Jane, I need to sleep, and take my meds, but I want to thank you for coming."

"You're welcome. I'm sorry this has happened to you." Jane squeezed the woman's hand before descending the stairs and quietly closing the front door behind her.