Author's Note: I owe a big thanks to CharlieTheCAG for pointing out the problems with the last chapter as it loaded on the site. I have no idea what that was about. Also, KWQuiche gave me the push to do this chapter. It scared me! Huge thanks to her. -dkc
Chapter 12
Jane strode through the restaurant, catching the eye of Maura as she made her way to the table. Both Maura and Constance Isles stood to greet the detective. Jane reached for Constance's hand, gripping it in both of hers as they exchanged European-style kisses to each other's cheeks. When Jane turned toward Maura, their eyes locked and neither knew exactly how to greet one another. Maura simply reached for Jane's shoulder and they hugged briefly.
"Jane, it is a pleasure to see you again," Constance smiled.
"It's good to see you, too," Jane awkwardly shrugged out of her jacket.
"Maura was just telling me that your mother is doing well," Constance's comment caught Jane a bit off guard given the current turmoil between Maura and her mother.
"Yes, she is," Jane avoided looking at Maura as she answered.
"Do tell her I said hello," Constance's smile made Jane slightly nervous.
"I will," Jane looked around the table casually to see if there was a menu.
"I ordered for you," Maura leaned over, whispering to Jane.
There was a grateful look on Jane's face as she smiled at her best friend, now lover. Maura knew that places like this made Jane uncomfortable, especially when ordering.
"I am glad you called me, Jane," Constance reached for the bottle of wine, offering it to Jane who took it and poured herself a glass.
"I…" Jane didn't quite know how to respond.
"I am glad she called you, too," Maura saved Jane the trouble of finding a suitable reply.
"Tell me about your health," Constance looked to Maura.
As Maura swallowed an uncharacteristically inelegant amount of wine, Jane reached for her hand under the table and gave it a gentle squeeze. Jane's hand on hers gave her the courage she needed to begin the difficult conversation with her mother.
"I am doing well. My nephrologist says that I have healed properly and he is satisfied with my kidney function. I will, of course, have regular visits with him over the next year and occasionally as I get older," Maura spoke with the authority of her medical degree behind her.
"And," Constance paused. "The girl? I am sorry, I can't recall her name."
"Cailin," Jane helped.
"She is doing remarkably well. She and I see the same nephrologist," Maura said.
Jane knew that not only did Cailin and Maura see the same nephrologist, Maura was accepting the financial burden of this for Cailin. It didn't surprise Jane that Maura didn't share this with her mother. Maura was quite humble when it came to helping others.
"I understand that Patrick is awaiting sentencing?" Jane smiled at the bluntness with which Constance introduced the topic. She now knew where Maura got that bluntness.
"He is," Maura paused. "Yes."
There was sadness on Maura's face, as she couldn't finish her thought. Jane could see the struggle in Maura's eyes and thought it best to explain Doyle's situation herself.
"The district attorney anticipates a sentence that will keep Doyle in prison for the rest of his life. There is enough evidence against him, as the judge determined when the verdict came down, to support such a sentence," Jane explained.
"Maura, darling, this must be dreadful for you," Constance looked at Maura with great concern on her face as Jane placed her other hand on Maura's thigh under the table.
"He is who he is, mother. Justice must be served," Maura answered with composure.
"And this woman, Dr. Martin?" Constance asked.
"Hope," Jane and Maura said in concert.
"Tell me about her," those four words from her mother made Maura choke up.
Constance reached a hand across the table to place on Maura's, a physical gesture so foreign to their relationship and so touching that it made Maura's walls crumble. Tears began to trickle down her cheeks as she attempted stoicism, but failed. The doctor could not form words as she fought off her emotions.
"She looks like Maura," Jane began. "What I imagine Maura will look like in twenty years, anyway. She's a doctor who founded an organization that gives the impoverished around the world access to healthcare. She's brave, I think. She's spent time in war zones, caring for the wounded. She's brilliant. In fact the first time we met her, she was showing Maura how to pull a fingerprint from a body we otherwise wouldn't have been able to."
Jane noticed the grimace on Constance Isles' face and remembered that the mother was nothing like the daughter when it came to the things they'd witnessed on the job. She steered her comments away from the topic, all the while holding Maura's hand under the table and feeling Maura rub her thumb across the puckered skin Jane wore as a reminder of the darkest time in her life.
"She has a daughter. Well, two," Jane smiled. "Cailin is eighteen. She even looks a bit like Maura. And Hope asked Maura if she would save Cailin and Maura didn't hesitate. She is…" Jane trailed off.
"A very amazing woman," Constance finished.
"That she is," Jane felt herself overcome with emotion.
The waiter arrived at their table with their dinner and Jane was relieved to see that the meal Maura had ordered her was something she recognized—nothing exotic.
"This looks fantastic," Maura finally spoke, her voice raw from the disappearing tears.
"Thank you for ordering something I know, Maur," Jane chuckled and began eating.
The conversation between the three women flowed freely as they ate. They didn't discuss Hope or Paddy again, a welcome change for Maura who was emotionally exhausted. Jane found herself glancing at Maura and losing herself in the selfless, beautiful human being she was blessed to know and love. Jane's glances, though furtive, were noticed by Constance more than once. Constance found herself watching the interactions between Jane and Maura throughout the night. The woman seated across from her, who had once been so assertive with Constance, was tender with Maura. There was something different about Jane; Constance knew it had everything to do with Maura.
"I suppose I ought to return to my hotel," Constance said as she gathered her purse. "Next time I am in town, we must get together with Angela again. Just the four of us."
Jane snuck a look at Maura as Constance suggested another mother/daughter evening and Maura looked at ease. Jane was in awe of her best friend's resilience.
"I would like that," Maura took Jane's outstretched hand as she stood from the table.
"Let's not go so long without talking next time," Constance reached for Maura and hugged her. It was the first time Jane could remember them hugging for a length that suggested they were more than just casual acquaintances. Jane saw a tear fall from Maura's eye and knew that Maura was having a similar thought.
"Jane," Constance said as she reached for the brunette, kissing each of her cheeks as well.
The three women made their way to the door as Jane struggled to pull on her jacket. Maura finally reached out and adjusted the sleeve for Jane. As they exited the restaurant, Jane looked toward her car and wondered where Maura's was.
"Jane? Would you see me to my car?" Constance asked.
Jane eyes caught Maura's, the detective having a momentary inner freak out about the request, but Maura's eyes urged her on, telling her it would be okay.
"Of course," Jane said as she offered her arm to Constance just as she would Maura.
"Thank you for calling me, Jane," Constance said quietly as they made their way to her town car.
"I was worried about Maura and I didn't know what to do," Jane was no longer abashed at having made the call.
"I never know how to help her," Constance seemed sad. "She's a grown woman and I am just as inept at caring for her as I was when she was an adolescent."
"She knows you love her. That is enough," Jane reassured her.
"She won't call, but if there should ever be a time when I can support her, I hope you will," Constance smiled at the detective and squeezed her arm before reaching for the car door.
"Let me," Jane reached the door first and opened it for Constance. "I will call."
The two women smiled at one another briefly and Constance climbed into the car.
"Oh, Jane?" she said before Jane could close the door for her. "Does she know you love her?"
Though sly, the weight of the question was upon Jane quickly. She simply looked at Constance who nodded and closed the door herself. Jane watched Constance drive away, her feet heavy as if she were cemented in place.
"Jane?" Maura's voice forced Jane out of her head. "Is everything okay?" There was worry on Maura's face as she reached for Jane's hand, interlacing their fingers.
"Yeah, everything is good," Jane looked at Maura as if she were seeing her beauty for the very first time.
"Let's go home," Maura spoke softly as she rested her head on Jane's shoulder.
"Home," Jane murmured as she led them to her car.
To be continued…