Chapter Sixteen
"Mother," Maura exclaimed as she saw her mother just passing through the last of the security zones at Logan. The woman looked up and smiled what Jane determined to be a genuine smile at the sight of her daughter.
Maura advanced through the crowd to greet her mother. They exchanged a quick hug and even quicker kisses on the cheek. Maura then turned her attention to the man walking behind them. "Father," she said with a smile. Again, quick hugs and a quicker kiss was exchanged and Maura corralled the two people towards Jane for official introductions.
"Mother, Father this is Jane. Jane, these are my parents, Richard and Constance Isles."
Jane stepped forward and shook hands with both of Maura's parents. Secretly she was proud of herself for not belting either one of them at the first sight of them. She promised Maura she would behave and she would keep her end of that promise.
"Mr and Mrs Isles, it's a pleasure to meet you both. Your bags for supposed to be unloaded on carousel three," she said with a smile. She was going to be as helpful as she could for Maura's sake.
Everyone headed towards baggage claim to wait for the bags. Maura and Constance started having an immediate conversation about the flight leaving Jane and Mr. Isles to wait watching for luggage to come down a conveyor belt.
"So, Mr. Isles, Maura tells me that you are an Anthropology professor?" Jane asked trying to fill in the awkward silence. She hated making small talk with people she didn't know. Now she knew she hated making small talk with people she wanted to smack around.
"First of all, it's Richard please," he said looking at Jane with an honest smile. Jane hadn't expected that from him. "And yes, I am an Anthropology professor. My daughter tells me that you are a Homicide detective."
Jane nodded at this. "That's true. That's actually how I became friends with your daughter," she stated.
Richard turned to look at Jane. "From what my daughter tells me, you two are more than just friends."
His frankness startled her. She knew Maura had told Constance that they were together but she didn't know if that meant Richard knew. Or approved. But apparently she was about to find out that answer sooner than she thought.
"Well, while that is correct, I will always consider your daughter to be my best friend first and foremost," Jane said looking to gage his reaction to that.
Taking that answer in Richard couldn't help the smile that crossed his face. "Maura said you were unlike anyone she had ever met before. I can see what she means." He smiled again at Jane. "Before we all end up in a big group and our conversations turn polite and generic," he started looking Jane in the eyes, "Maura has sounded happier over the last few months than her mother and I have ever heard her. I believe you have a lot to do with that. Regrettably her mother and I have a poor history of being able to support Maura's emotional needs. I'm glad she has someone in her life who can start to fill the void I know perfectly well we have created within her."
Jane just stared at the man. While she still wanted to smack him, she maybe wanted to smack him a little less. As if saved by a bell, the conveyor belt alarm sounded and luggage started to drop giving Richard and Jane something else to focus their attention on.
With all their bags claimed the four headed towards the car. Maura and Constance continued to chat only this time they included both Richard and Jane. The conversation was casual and continued all the way to the car. If she had to Jane would describe it similar to Richard's description- polite and generic. Jane loaded the bags in the back declining Richard's offer to help. Maura and Constance sat in the backseat to continue talking while Richard rode upfront with Jane.
"Maura thought you both would like to go out for dinner," Jane stated as she was finally ready to head out from the airport.
"Dinner would be lovely," Constance confirmed for Jane. Jane nodded and started out towards the restaurant. Jane had made reservations for them all at Alonzo's restaurant.
"Now Jane," Richard started. "Am I to understand that you are a sports fan?" he asked.
"All things Boston," Jane replied with undeniable pride.
"Am I to further understand that you have not only gotten Maura to watch ESPN on occasion but that you have also taken her to a Red Sox game?" he was obviously teasing but still seemed fascinated with this development in his daughter's life.
"Guilty as charged," she answered. "Between you and me, I think there is an avid Sox fan buried deep with her which I'm determined to bring out." Both Richard and Jane snickered at that idea.
"I've told you Jane. I enjoy a baseball contest. I like all of the math and science involved with the sport," came Maura's answer from the backseat.
Jane couldn't help but look at Richard, "Then again," she said with a smile. Richard chuckled at the sentiment.
Jane was still not a fan of the Isles duo but she did find herself surprised that neither was immediately stand offish or cold. In truth, neither was what she had expected.
R&I
"Jane!" came the call from the chef as he approached the table the four had just been seated at. It was the table reserved for his personal guests. "Questo sta diventando un'abitudine mio amica! Welcome," he said. Jane had stood up and embraced her friend.
He looked down at Maura and smiled. "Dr. Isles, cercate bella stasera! It's a pleasure to see you again."
Maura smiled, "The pleasure is all mine Alonzo. May I introduce my parents, Richard and Constance Isles."
"Avete una bella e graziosa figlia," he exclaimed with a smile. "It is very nice to meet you both. I have a special meal prepared for you all. Please enjoy your evening. I'll send out the wine and will come check on you in a little while," he said as he retreated back into the kitchen.
Wine was brought to the table and the conversation continued amicably. Again, safe generic topics of conversation. There was a run down on Constance's work and Richard's. A briefing on Maura's transition in both Boston and as Chief ME. A few questions about Jane and life as a female detective, something Constance seemed particularly interested in. But the conversation flowed and there were no uncomfortable silences.
About halfway through dinner Constance looked at Jane. "Jane the food here is fabulous. Maura says you know the owner?"
Jane didn't want to get into the details of that so she merely answered, "I've known Alonzo and his family for several years. He really is a wonderful chef. Maura and I have come to frequent this place."
Maura smiled at Jane's attempt to be discreet about Alonzo's family. Constance didn't question Jane further on the subject and the four spent the rest of the night enjoying a comfortable, light conversation. Richard and Jane got wrapped up in discussing the Red Sox and baseball in general while Constance spent time discussing the new fall fashion lines with Maura.
All in all it was a very pleasant evening. Outside the one comment Richard had made to Jane at the baggage claim carousel none of the topics of conversation were intimate or personal. Neither Richard nor Constance seemed to ask Maura nor Jane about their relationship. That may have been the one thing that struck Jane as most odd. If this was a Rizzoli dinner, the intrusions into the personal aspect of everyone's life would have been frequent and perhaps even inappropriate. But the Isles family seemed to avoid all things personal. To Jane, it felt weird. Not mean. Not impolite. Just unfamiliar and impersonal.
Alonzo joined them for a cup of coffee. He was a very charismatic man and he even took Richard and Constance on a tour of the kitchen and his personal wine cellar. That gave Jane and Maura a few moments alone together.
"This was nice," Jane said looking at Maura.
Maura nodded. "My parents are nothing if not polite," she answered. Jane detected her disappointment with the nature of the conversation.
"Is it better than not speaking at all? Or fighting?" she asked.
"Yes. But it falls short of actual engagement," she answered sadly. "I think that's the thing about your family that I'm the most jealous of."
Jane looked at her. She was pretty sure she understood what Maura meant but wanted to ask just in case. "Which part is that?"
"The level of intimacy you all have with each other. Jane, your family is anything but polite and I mean that in a good way. You all are involved in each other's lives. Maybe a little too involved sometimes but you are all involved."
"I'm sorry you don't connect with them on that level. Have you ever?" she asked.
Maura shook her head. "No, it's always been like this. My whole life, it has always felt like we were strangers in some ways. Like we were unaccustomed acquaintances instead of family."
"Well, just remember what I said. You're my family Maura. You are home to me. You're not alone anymore," she said and took Maura's hand in hers.
"Not anymore I'm not," Maura confirmed with a loving smile. They stayed holding hands and looking into each other's eyes until Alonzo returned her parents to her.
Goodbyes were shared and the four made their way out of the restaurant and headed to Maura's.
Once to the house, Jane took her parent's luggage to the guesthouse while Maura took them on a tour of the main house. By the time Jane had finished with the luggage she found the three in Maura's living room.
"It was a pleasure to met you both but I need to be heading out now," Jane said. She needed to get over to Angela's.
"You're not staying?" Constance asked. Maura had explained that she was involved with Jane and she hoped Jane wasn't leaving on their account. Both she and Richard had no issues with who Maura chose to have in her life. It was her life after all.
"No," Jane answered. "I'm sorry but I am needed at my mother's for this evening," she answered but didn't expand on the explanation.
"I'll walk you out," Maura said excusing herself to walk Jane out. Once outside she wrapped her arms around Jane. "Thank you for tonight. I'm glad you didn't smack either one of them."
They both chuckled at that comment. "It was a pleasant evening. Maybe if I'm gone you three will have a more substantial conversation."
Maura rolled her eyes doubting that would happen. "Tell Angela I send my best and that I'll see her for dinner tomorrow night." She leaned in and kissed Jane letting the kiss linger for a moment.
Once they broke the kiss Jane leaned in, "I'm just a phone call away if you need anything."
With one last kiss Jane got into her car and headed out towards her mother's house immediately regretting that she had agreed not to stay with Maura.
R&I
Tommy had planned on working a double shift at the convenience store. He didn't mind the extra hours. He liked the money and quite honestly working was keeping him out of the apartment and away from his father who was still entrenched on his couch. He was mad at him for what he had done to his mother but the guy was still his father and Tommy couldn't find it within him to cut the guy off simply because he made a mistake. Especially not since Tommy had made more mistakes in his young life than any Rizzoli in the family. Honestly, who was he to judge any of them?
But he found being around his father during all of this was a bit too depressing for him so it had been better for him to not be around too much. He had now gone seven weeks without a drop of alcohol and he had to admit that he was rather proud of himself. It was longest stretch of sobriety he had managed in years.
He liked his job and his boss. A boss who understood that Tommy made a few mistakes in his youth and was willing to look at the hard work he managed in the present more than his poor judgement from the past. He was looking at a promotion to a key carrier within the next few weeks and it was the first time in his life he had earned an advancement by his own merits. Things were really looking up for him and he was determined to keep himself on the straight and narrow.
He had even started attending some AA meetings. Not very regular. But on occasion he was going to a site that he knew held meetings. He hadn't told anyone he was starting the meetings because he wasn't sure if he was going to continue to attend them and he was tired of constantly disappointing his family. He figured he'd decide if the meetings were something he wanted to continue for a while before mentioning this step to his family. Enough was going on with them that he didn't want to get their hopes up if he wasn't going to stick with it.
So, when his boss stopped into the store that night and told Tommy he could go home early Tommy was surprised. He told Mr. Anderson that he had no problem staying until close but the man insisted that Tommy had been working too hard lately and he appreciated it so much that he thought he would give him a few hours of his night back. He then told Tommy that starting on that Monday he was going to promote him to a key carrier.
The smile that broke out across Tommy's face lit up the store. He thanked Mr. Anderson about twenty times before finally heading out for the night. He was elated. A promotion. One he earned on his own. Finally something he didn't mess up. He couldn't wait to tell his mother, Jane and Frankie about this on Sunday. He even thought Maura would be happy for him as he was sure she would be at dinner too.
Tommy walked the three blocks from the store back to his apartment but he honestly couldn't remember the journey. His mind was racing and he was just so wrapped up in the news that he had earned his promotion he didn't really register anything around him.
He missed the sounds of music and occasional bursts of laughter lofting out into the hallway as he approached his apartment door. He didn't even really notice the lights were turned down and a few candles were flickering when he opened the front door letting himself in. It wasn't until he heard snippets of voices coming from his bedroom that he realized something was going on inside his place.
He pieced together the scene. Lit candles. Soft music. Wine on the coffee table. Various clothing items, including a bra, scattered around on the floor in the living room. He understood what it all added up to but he couldn't believe what it all added up to. For some reason he needed to see it for himself. He found himself walking towards his bedroom door and he was trying to brace himself for what he knew was on the other side of the door.
Against his better judgement, he opened his bedroom door. He wasn't wrong about what was going on. Frank was screwing some woman on his bed. His bed. His own father was continuing to cheat on his mother. In his apartment. In his bed.
He stood there for a minute but then backed away. He turned around and saw the two things he needed in that moment. A bottle of wine and Frank's car keys. In an instant he took them both and made his way out into the night.
Frank never saw or heard Tommy come home. Neither did the woman he was screwing.
R&I
Jane entered the house through the kitchen, "Ma!" she shouted her usual greeting.
"I'll be down in a minute," Angela hollered. "There's food on the stove if you are hungry."
"I'm good. I told you I was having dinner with Maura's parents tonight," she shouted back. She took a seat at the kitchen table and waited for Angela to come down. She didn't want food but she was sure she could talk Angela into tea or coffee when she came down.
A few minutes later, Angela joined Jane in the kitchen. "Hey sweetheart," she greeted. Angela couldn't begin to thank all three of her kids for the love and support they had shown her ever since the fallout with Frank. She knew it was a huge inconvenience for them to work out the rotation they had to make sure one of them was always sleeping at the house.
She had never asked them to do it but she was more grateful to them for it than she would ever be able to express. She hadn't spent a night alone in over thirty five years. So the thought of being in their big house all by herself was horrifying to her. Her blessed children, however, had managed to keep that from being an issue as of yet. She knew it wouldn't last forever but she was going to enjoy it while they were all willing to do it.
"How was dinner?" Angela asked.
"The food was good," Jane said. "The conversation was polite."
"That doesn't sound very good," Angela pointed out as she started the water to make tea.
"It wasn't bad," Jane admitted. "It was just different. They didn't have three heads or anything. I couldn't help but get the feeling that Maura and her parents are practically strangers. I mean, it was polite conversation but it was almost what I would expect at some sort of business dinner or charity function instead of a family dinner. Especially since Maura hasn't seen either of them in almost a year." She didn't hide her sad tone.
"She had a pretty lonely life, didn't she?" Angela asked.
Jane nodded. "It just kills me to think about how she had to grow up," Jane said looking up at her mother. "She's been alone for too long."
Angela reached over and put her hand on top of Jane's. "Honey, she isn't alone anymore. She has you."
That put a smile on Jane's face. But it didn't last. She suddenly felt guilty for thinking about how happy she was when her mother's marriage was falling apart.
"What?" Angela asked noticing the change in Jane's demeanor.
"I'm sorry Ma. I shouldn't be talking about Maura with you when you're going through everything with Pop."
"Nonsense!" Angela said with conviction. "Your father and I are not of your concern when it comes to our marriage. That's mine to work through. You are entitled to your happiness Jane. In fact, it does me good to see that you are letting yourself be happy. I've seen the way you look at her. And I see how she looks at you. A love like that...well it's special. Don't hide that from me."
Jane smiled at her mother. It was nice that she could speak to Angela about her relationship and feelings about Maura. She loved her mother very much but her acceptance of Jane and her happiness made Jane love her even more. "Thanks Ma," she replied.
"Jane, no family is perfect. Maura's relationship with her parents is something that she will have to decide how or what form it will exist. There isn't anything you can do about her past. But you certainly can impact her present and I would hazard a guess her future as well. Be there for her. Do that and the rest will take care of itself."
"I'm trying Ma," Jane replied and watched her mother prepare two cups of tea.
The knock on the door took them both by surprise. Neither was expecting anyone. Frankie or Tommy would just let themselves in. "I got it," Jane said getting up and heading into the house to get the front door.
When she opened it she immediately knew something was wrong.
"Jane," Korsak started gently.
Jane was immediately shaking her head. "Damn it Korsak, this can't be about Frankie!" She knew that look. That's the look a cop gets when he had to do a notification for a family. The fact that it was Vince standing in her mother's doorway the only thing Jane could think of was that Frankie was injured while on duty.
"Jane," he started again quietly. "It's not Frankie." He paused letting her mind play catch up with her ears.
"Frankie's ok?" she asked again.
Korsak nodded. "He's fine. I just talked to him about five minutes ago."
Jane started to relax until she realized that Korsak hadn't told her what he needed to tell her. And then it hit her.
"Jane? Who's at the door?" called Angela as she walked into the living room. "Oh Detective, we weren't expecting you," she answered cheerfully. But then she saw the look on his face and the look on Jane's.
"Vince?" Jane asked staring at him.
"Jane I'm so sorry." He looked over to Angela as well. "There's been an accident."
"Vince?" Jane repeated knowing he was just trying to give them both time to hear what he was saying. She had been through this routine plenty of times before.
"Jane. Angela. I'm sorry. Tommy. He's been in an accident." His voice trailed off.
"Not my Tommy!" Angela let out. "Jane, get the car. We need to get to the hospital!" She started to scramble around the room trying to find a coat or shoes or something.
Jane looked at Korsak and they exchanged a look she fully understood. She turned and walked over to her mother and pulled her down to the couch. "Ma," she started. Tears were already starting to stream down Angela's face. "Ma," she said again.
She knew. She just didn't want to believe it. But she knew without needing to be told. "No. Not Tommy."
Jane just wrapped Angela in her arms and let the grieving mother cry. "Not my Tommy," was Angela's repeated chant.