*Hello everyone… I am sorry this is a bit late but Covid has hit a family member that I live with and although my son and I have been lucky and tested negative, I have been busy being the caretaker. I just want to say that I am sorry if the ending seems a little rushed but I just had to bring it to an end so I can concentrate on other things and move past this difficult time. I hope that you are all safe and healthy because this is no joke… I have seen first hand how hard it can hit someone you love and there isn't much you can do about it. Take care out there and I hope to get back on schedule next month.-Gypsy Hope
BLT
Chapter 15
"Mama, mama… wake up… Sanna came…" Valley launched herself across the room to land on top of Jane who was still curled up under the blankets sound asleep.
When the small projectile landed on her chest, Jane wiped the sleep from her eyes, yawned, and stretched before wrapping her arms around the small bundle of warmth and excitement laying on top of her. "Yeah?" She asked as she pushed honey-blonde hair away from dark brown eyes alight with excitement.
"Mommy said we can't open presents until you get up… so pease… Mama, get up… pease!" Valley's smile was so bright it lit up the room.
"Is your baby brother up yet?" Jane asked, yawning again. She had spent the better part of Christmas eve night helping Maura wrap presents, putting together a new bike, and unwrapping her own gift… Maura.
"Yes, yes… he's awake. Mommy is getting his bottle ready and hot cocoa for us, so pease… get up!" This time Valley punctuated her demand by jumping up and down to dislodge Jane from her warm spot under the covers.
"Okay, okay…" Jane tried to push herself up on her elbows but the weight of Valley on top of her made it impossible. "You're gonna haveta get off of me if you want me to get up though." She gave Valley's side a gentle pinch to get her to move, causing her to laugh as she rolled off.
"Hurry…" Valley jumped from the bed and ran towards the door then turned and gave Jane a very serious look. "Sanna brought soooo many presents…" she held her hands up and out wide to emphasize how many. "He even brought some for Liam even though he's just a baby and can't play with anything yet." She cocked her head to the side as if she were thinking hard about how her baby brother would open his own presents.
"Yeah? I wonder what he brought me…" Jane mused as she grabbed a sweatshirt and a pair of sweat pants from the dresser. There was a chill in the air but she knew that Maura would have turned the fireplace on by now and it would be toasty warm downstairs. Grabbing her slippers, she began to slide them on her feet then stopped when she saw that Valley's was watching her with an anxious look on her face. "What?"
"I hope he brought you some new slippers, those are icky…" Valley held her nose and waved a hand in front of her face as she pointed at Jane's old and well-worn Red Sox slippers.
Jane frowned as she looked down at her favorite slippers. Yes, they weren't much to look at nowadays, but Maura had bought them for her right before she had gone off to college and she had no intentions of ever replacing them. Although Maura had tried to wash them several times, they were coming apart at the seams and looked more like holey socks than slippers. "Your Mommy gave these to me…" she ran a finger over the Red Sox logo and then smiled at Valley who now had a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Well then, she can just give you a new pair of slippers… right?" Placing her hand on her hip and cocking her head to the side, Valley looked just like a mini-Maura and the sight made Jane laugh.
"Okay, you… let's get downstairs and see what the big man in red left us."
Valley reached out for Jane's hand and pulled her excitedly out the door and down the stairs to where the Christmas tree was waiting for them. The sight of the colorful lights on the tree, the fire in the fireplace, and Maura waiting for them on the couch with her feet tucked up herself almost brought tears to Jane's eyes. This would be their second Christmas with Valley but this year it was just them. No having to pack up and visit a long list of relatives and friends. Of course, the rest of the family would be joining them later for Christmas dinner and to open their presents but this morning and afternoon was reserved solely for the four of them and it lifted Jane's heart to new heights. This was how she wanted every Christmas morning to be from here on out.
"How's the little man?" Jane asked as she bent to kiss the fluff of dark hair on top of Liam's head as he laid back in his bouncy chair. He was wide awake, looking around at everyone with a smile on his face… or perhaps it was gas… Jane wasn't sure.
"See, even Liam is excited Sanna came…" Valley mimicked Jane and placed a quick but gentle kiss on her little brother's head, causing him to giggle and wave his arms around.
Maura yawned and then took a sip of her coffee, letting out an audible sigh as she did. Giving Jane a tired smile, she nodded towards the kitchen. "Your hot chocolates are waiting for you…"
"Why don't you hand out the stockings while I get our hot cocoa's…" Jane gave Valley a gentle pat as she left, only to return to find Valley very carefully setting the stocking out for each of them. Maura had hers and Liam's was laying next to his bouncy chair while Jane's sat waiting for her next to Maura on the couch and Valley had hers on the floor in front of her waiting patiently for Jane to give her the word that she could dig in and find out what Santa had brought them. "I can't believe how patient she is. When Tommy, Frankie, and I were kids… well… you can just imagine what Christmas day was like. We hardly waited long enough for Ma and Pop to join us." She rolled her eyes before giving Valley her hot cocoa and a nod giving her permission to dump out her stocking.
"I guess she's a bit like I am. I had to wait until my mom and dad got their coffee and started the Christmas music before we could start to open presents… when they were home, that is." Maura said, trying not to sound too forlorn about her past. Since Jane had come back into her life, things had been so much better between her and her mother. And now that Constance was a grandmother, she had become so much more accessible to her family and Maura was grateful.
"Well, I have to say I prefer this to the crazy, wild Christmas mornings from my childhood. All we did was fight over who got what and who had the most presents." Jane took a sip of her drink and sighed. "Of course, we didn't act like that as we got older, but there was definitely some competition when it came down to it. My parents always did the best they could too but I don't think I really understood how hard they worked to give us a good Christmas when we had so little money to spare."
"You always had each other." Maura smiled as she watched Jane take a seat next to her on the couch.
"We did and I wouldn't trade those days for anything… and now… here we are…" Jane leaned forward and gave Maura a quick kiss before bringing her hand up to run the backs of her fingers over the now flushed cheek. "We're making our own traditions… with our own family…"
"Look, Mommy… I got cards… with fish on them." Valley held up one of her stocking-stuffers. "Will you play with me later?"
"I would love to… Go fish is one of my favorites." Maura smiled down at Valley who had gone back to digging around in her stocking in search of more treasures.
"She hasn't seen the big one yet?" Jane asked as she leaned back to see around the side of the tree.
"No, you hid it pretty well. I suspect she won't see if for quite a while."
Jane glanced down to see if Valley was listening before lowering her voice. "I can't wait to take her outside to ride it."
"It may have to wait a day or two… the forecast is calling for snow later today." Maura glanced over Jane's shoulder at the sparkly blue bike that was hidden behind the tree.
"Well, we can probably get a few minutes in before it starts…" Jane had a hopeful look on her face as she looked out the sliding glass door windows to see that the sky was an iridescent white. "Hey, why don't you look in your stocking? I think Santa may have left you a little something special." She quickly turned her attention back to Maura, a small, yet sly smile on her face.
"Yeah?" Maura raised a questioning eyebrow as she set her coffee cup down on the side table next to the couch. Reaching into the red stocking with the letter 'M' on it, she was surprised to find a small square box wrapped in green, glittery paper with a bright red bow around it. "What's this? I don't remember putting this in here…" she said as she held it up, examining the size and shape.
"Well, like I said… Santa musta brought it…" Jane smiled around the rim of her mug as she took another sip of her hot cocoa.
Maura carefully slipped a finger under the ribbon, sliding it off the box with ease before she started to unwrap it from the sparkly green paper to reveal a green box. She looked a Jane who had an amused expression on her face and then she pulled the top off to reveal a white piece of cotton the same size as the box. With shaky fingers, she pulled the cotton off and gasped at the sight of a silver pendant with two stones mounted to it. Reaching in the box, she pulled it out by the silver chain it was attached to and held it up so she could see the stones shine in the light that was beginning to filter in through the windows.
"It's a birthstone pendant…" Jane's smile was proud and radiant. "The purple one is an amethyst for Valley and the other one is an opal for Liam…"
"It's beautiful…" tears began to form in Maura's eyes as she cradled in the palm of her hand.
"When I was picking it out, the October gem is either tourmaline or opal and although the tourmaline can come in many different colors it is usually pink so I picked the opal because it changes color. I thought it would be more fitting…" Jane shrugged her shoulders, suddenly not sure if she had made the right choice.
Maura held it up again and smiled as the opal shimmered and transformed from a soft pink to a light blue with yellow speckles. "I think it's wonderful." She couldn't keep the tears back as they started to roll down her cheeks.
"I also left some room for more… ya know, just in case." Jane reached out to brush away the tears that had started to fall from Maura's bright hazel-green eyes. "Do you really like it?"
Shaking her head, Maura took a shuttering breath before throwing her arms around Jane's neck, almost causing her to spill the last remnants of her hot cocoa. "I don't like it… I love it!" She buried her face against Jane's warm skin.
"Mommy… why are you crying?" Valley asked, concern written all over her face. She was in the middle of opening a present when she noticed the tears start to fall. "Did Santa bring you the wrong present?"
"Oh no, honey… Santa brought me the perfect gift." Maura held the necklace up for Valley to see as she reluctantly pulled away from Jane's arms.
Valley stood up and studied the two stones with a pensive expression on her face because she wasn't sure what she was looking at.
"You see this purple stone?" Maura pointed to the stone at the top of the silver pendant. Valley nodded and reached out to touch it. "That is your birthstone for February and this one…" she pointed to the opal. "Well, it's Liam's birthstone for October. Now I can carry you both with me everywhere I go."
For a minute Valley was quiet as she tried to work out what Maura was saying and then she smiled as she jumped up into Maura's lap. "Is it kinda like a memory since it isn't really me and Liam?"
"I suppose so." Maura ran her finger's through Valley's hair, pushing bangs away from dark brown eyes filled with questions.
"Okay…" Valley nodded. "It's very bootiful, Mommy. Santa did good." She said as she kissed Maura on the cheek and then scrambled down out of her lap to continue opening the presents scattered around their tree.
"Indeed…" Maura winked at Jane. "I believe Santa may be deserving of an extra special treat… later." She mouthed that last word, causing Jane's cheeks to flush a bright pink. "Would you help me put it on?"
Setting her mug down, Jane jumped up from her corner of the couch and moved to stand behind Maura so she could secure the clasp holding the necklace in place around Maura's neck. Bending down, she couldn't help but place a soft kiss to the place just below Maura's ear that she knew would draw a shiver of anticipation of what would come later. She allowed her tongue to graze the soft skin under her lips as she lingered long enough to be rewarded with a shiver that traveled through Maura and into her. "Later…" she whispered in Maura's ear as she pulled away but not before giving Maura's shoulders a gentle squeeze. "Now… let's get back to opening presents."
But before Jane could move away, Maura grabbed her arm and stopped her. "I love you… my sweet Jane…"
Jane looked down into Maura's wide eyes that were filled with love and affection. "I love you too, beautiful." And she meant every word of it with every fiber of her being. She knew in her heart that this was the most wonderful and perfect Christmas morning she could have ever hoped for and with that thought, she dropped down on the couch behind Maura and wrapped her arms around the smaller body that was now pressed against her own. With a sigh of contentment, she knew that she was now holding the best Christmas present in the world.
YYY
"A Steelers onesie?" Jane's eyebrows disappeared under her dark hair as she held up Tommy's present to Liam. "No fu…" she bit down on her lip to stop herself from saying the word that was on the tip of her tongue. "No way is my son going to be wearing anything with a Steelers logo on it."
Maura rolled her eyes as she reached for the onesie that Jane was now holding up with her index finger and thumb as if it was some sort of smelly diaper. "Thank you, Tommy, that is very thoughtful of you." She offered when Jane said nothing. Instead, Jane continued to glare at Tommy as if he had committed a major faux pas. The football rivalry that continued to divide their households was something she didn't understand, nor did she want to get involved in. All she knew was that Jane was a Ravens fan and Tommy was a Steelers fan and apparently that made them mortal enemies on the 'gridiron' as Jane had put it. Maura wasn't even sure what a gridiron was but she did know enough not to get involved in their silly feud.
"Hey, he's my nephew and it's my duty to educate him on who the real champions are." Tommy grinned at Jane before he cast his eyes on Maura. "And you're welcome…"
Frankie just shook his head at his sibling's antics. He was an avid football watcher but he wasn't obsessed with a particular team like Jane and Tommy were. He was a Raven's fan by default but deep down inside, he preferred college football to professional so he didn't get involved in the semantics of either. To quell the impending argument about whose team was better, he reached into one of the bags filled with presents that he and Steph had brought and quickly handed it to Jane. "Here… this is from Tommy and me."
Surprised by having a present suddenly thrust into her face, Jane did the only thing she could… she took it and smiled at Frankie, but then she glared at Tommy. "This better not have a Steelers logo on it."
That statement caused Tommy to laugh out loud, startling everyone. "I might be a risk-taker but I'm not suicidal." He said with a cheeky grin.
"Just open it, would ya." Frankie crossed his arms and then glared at both Jane and Tommy.
"Alright, alright…" Jane held a hand up in surrender.
Carefully, she peeled away the wrapping to reveal a brown, unmarked box. "Hum… a box… nice." She joked, drawing another stern glare from Frankie and a laugh from Tommy.
"Are they always like this at Christmas?" Maura leaned over and whispered in Angela's ear as she watched her wife revert back to acting like a petulant child.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Angela nodded and rolled her eyes. "This isn't even that bad." She said as she leaned back against the couch to watch her children act like… well children. And with a pang of regret, she wondered why on earth she had suggested that everyone come together at the cottage instead of Jane and Maura's place which was bigger and more equipped for the crowd that was now gathered in her small space. But then she remembered that she had done it to allow Jane and Maura some privacy and time together with their newest family member, Liam. Suddenly she didn't regret it so much, but she still felt a bit overwhelmed with having so many people present. Frankie and his fiance Steph were there, along with Steph's son Noah who was outside with Valley playing in the snow with Vince. Tommy was there without his new girlfriend who had opted to spend the day with her family and for that Angela was grateful because she wasn't ready to meet Tommy's new girlfriend for the first in this unpredictable setting. Constance and Bree would arrive there later to have dinner and Davi, bless his heart was in the kitchen where it was safe and quiet from the Rizzoli kids and their continued antics. She almost wished she could join him.
"How am I supposed to get into the box? It's taped up like Fort Knox…" Jane brought everyone's attention back around, including Angela.
"Here…" Tommy tossed Jane his trusty pocket knife.
"Thanks..." Jane said as she slid the blade out and cut through the tape. Slowly, she peeled back the two brown flaps to reveal something wrapped snugly in bubble wrap. "What the heck is in here?"
"Be careful with it..." Frankie warned. "It's breakable."
"Yeah?" Jane seemed intrigued by Frankie's statement. "Okay…" she carefully pulled the packed item out of the box and started to pull the bubble wrap away. As the layers disappeared to slowly reveal a bottle, her eyes widened at the sight before her. Letting out a long-winded 'wow', she turned the bottle around to reveal it's the label. "Holy shit…" she said under her breath as she ran her fingers over the raised embossed name of one of her favorite bourbons. "Four Roses small batch select." Her voice was filled with wonder as she continued to stare down at the treasure she had unwrapped.
"Well, we figured you deserved something really nice since you haven't been able to drink for the past… almost year or so." Frankie shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels.
"This is… too much..." Jane continued to stare at the bottle. It wasn't an overly extravagant bourbon but it wasn't her typical twenty dollar bottle either. Knowing that her brothers had gone in together to buy her something special, something she would never buy for herself warmed her heart. She could feel the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes as she carefully handed it to Maura before pushing herself up from the couch to give Frankie a hug and then Tommy… followed by a playful punch to the arm. "I love it, guys. Thanks." She said as she wiped at her eyes.
"See, I told you she'd cry…" Tommy said to Frankie.
"Shut up…" Jane gave Tommy a playful shrug.
"Almost five whole minutes." Angela sighed as she pushed herself up from the couch. The sigh and words caused all three of her children to look at her. When three sets of eyes fell on her, she could see they were sorry for ribbing each other, and a small smile slid across her face. "It wouldn't be a Rizzoli Christmas without the drama." She laughed. "I'm gonna go check on Davi and see how the prime rib is coming along."
"Sorry, Ma…" Frankie, Tommy, and Jane said in unison.
With a wave of her hand, Angela let her children know it was alright because when it came down to it, she was just happy to have everyone together. At this point in her life, that's all that mattered to her anyway.
Before anyone could say anything else in regards to Angela's quick exit, the front door flew open revealing Valley and Noah with pink cheeks and huge smiles on their faces. Behind them was Vince who was smiling as well but looked tired and cold.
"We made snow angels Mama!" Valley pulled her wet boots off before hurling herself towards Jane. "It was sooooo much fun!"
"You did, huh?" Jane knelt so she could be eye level with Valley. "Did Uncle Vince make one too?"
Noah, who was taking longer to remove his boots nodded excitedly. "He's the one who showed us how to do it." He grinned as he finally freed himself from his boots. Running towards Frankie, he held his arms out open so he could be picked up.
"You know, it was Uncle Vince who showed me how to make a snow angel too..." Jane said as she started to unbutton Valley's heavy coat.
"Really?" Valley's eyes grew wide in surprise.
"Really." Jane smiled over at Vince who was still wrestling with his boots and coat.
"Did you hear that Mommy? Mama can make snow angels too." Valley wiggled out of her coat and wrapped her arms around Jane's neck. Pressing her cold cheek to Jane's warm one, she giggled when she was met with a gasp. "I cold…" she snuggled closer to the arms that now held her tight.
"I heard and that's very impressive. I've never made one…" Maura started to say and regretted it the moment the words left her mouth. She watched as Jane whispered into Valley's ear, eliciting a giggle from both of them and suddenly a sinking feeling that she was being conspired against hit her. There was a playful twinkle in Jane's eyes as she continued to whisper to Valley and Maura knew she was in trouble but that it would be the best kind of trouble.
"Maybe Mama can teach you..." Valley said, a hopeful look on her face.
"Maybe…" Maura mumbled. "I think I'll go check on Liam." She sighed as she headed towards the guest room where they had set up the portable crib.
"I'll teach ya…" Vince called out to Maura as she disappeared down the hall. "If I ever thaw out…" he wrapped his arms around himself and rubbed his elbows to generate some body heat.
"Hey, why don't you crack open your new bottle and give everyone a little taste? It will definitely warm Vince up." Tommy suggested.
"Yeah? You sure?" Jane asked as she set Valley down so she could follow Noah to the play corner where their coloring books waited. "I don't want to do it if makes you uncomfortable."
"It's fine, Janie. I've been sober for almost five years now. I can handle it if you guys have a drink or two in front of me." His grin was genuine but slightly tight. It wasn't that he wanted to drink but sometimes he wished he could join in on the camaraderie that came with sharing a toast.
Reaching for her new bottle, Jane tilted her head to regard her brother. "If you're sure…" she said as she turned the bottle around in her hands.
"I'm sure." Tommy waved her off and then laughed when Frankie and Vince ran towards the kitchen where the shot glasses were sure to be waiting.
Jane continued to watch Tommy, a funny grin on her face. "You're a good guy, ya know that?" She said as she started towards the kitchen. "Even if you're a Steelers fan…"
"Then wait until Valley and Noah open their presents…" Tommy grinned slyly, drawing a one-fingered response from Jane. "Well… almost five minutes…" he looked over at Steph who was sitting quietly on the couch trying to stay out of their family squabble but her dramatic eye roll made him laugh. "Welcome to the family." He said with a quick wink.
YYY
"Did you have a good Christmas?" Maura asked Valley as she ran her fingers through honey-blonde hair that lay splayed out over her chest.
Valley snuggled closer against the warm body she was laying across as her eyes started to droop. "Yes, Mommy…" she nodded tiredly. "I can't believe Sana brought me a bike."
"Yeah, he must have known how much you wanted one." Maura continued to stroke the soft head nestled against her.
"And it's just like Mama's, only smaller..." Valley said as she popped her head up to glance over at Jane who was laying on the other side of the couch with Liam spread out over her, sound asleep… finally.
Jane smiled over at her daughter as the TV played softly in the distance just enough to distract her from falling asleep herself. The sound of Judy Garland singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" lulled her into a relaxed state though and she couldn't imagine being anywhere else. Her eyes drifted up to meet Maura's and they shared a silent 'I love you' between them. It warmed Jane's heart but not her feet so she tucked her feet under Maura who was laying on the opposite side of the soft, worn leather couch. They were sharing a fleece blanket, lined with sherpa, a gift from her mother, each with a small body tucked into their arms seeking the same warmth and love that flowed through them.
"I'm glad Santa was good to you this year, but you've been a good girl… mostly…" Jane wiggled her eyebrows at Valley who dropped her head down against Maura again.
Jane's teasing caused Maura to reach under the blanket to give the foot that was now nestled against her thigh a gentle pinch. The move caused Jane to squirm and because of her sudden movement, Liam's eyes fluttered open before he yawned and his eyes closed again. Both Jane and Maura held their breath as they waited for Liam to settle back down to sleep before they each let out a sigh of relief.
"That was close…" Jane placed a hand lightly on Liam's back to help settle him.
"Maybe it's time we put them to bed." Maura gave a now sleeping Valley a gentle pat.
"I suppose so." Jane lifted her head so she could look over at Maura. "But first, tell me… was Santa good to you too?"
"Oh, Santa was more than good to me." Maura smiled. "And I suppose I should go ahead and tell you what Santa got you as well."
"But we agreed not to get each other presents." Jane tried to protest but stopped when Maura held up a hand in warning.
"Yes, we did… and you didn't listen." Holding up her necklace, Maura indicated what she was talking about. "So neither did I."
"Ok-kay…" Jane's eyes widened as a sly grin slid over Maura's face.
"With a few phone calls, I was able to finagle the suite at Fenway Park for opening day." Maura watched as Jane's eyes grew even wider than before.
"The same one you got all those years ago?"
"Yes." Maura grinned. "The Foundation no longer has it but I know who does and with a generous donation to the charity of their choice, they agreed to let us use it opening day."
"Wow… opening day at Fenway. You spoil me, ya know that?" Jane let out a heavy breath. The memory of their families coming together after their first Christmas in that same suite brought a wave of emotion over her.
"Well, I also considered Super Bowl tickets but I'm glad I didn't go with that idea." Maura rolled her eyes when Jane let out a huff. "Seeing as Tommy's team seems to be doing better than yours…" her voice trailed off.
"I would've never heard the end of it." Jane shook her head at the thought of going to her first Super Bowl with the possibility of having to watch the Steelers.
"Then I made the right choice." Maura beamed at Jane.
"You didn't have to do that, ya know. But I appreciate it all the same. It'll be so much fun having the whole family together for opening day." Jane said a little awestruck at the idea.
"Well, I remember how much it meant to you the first time we did it."
Jane was quiet for a second before she spoke again. "I did mean a lot to me and being able to do it again with these little ones…" Jane motioned to Liam and Valley with a soft smile.
"Speaking of little ones…" Maura wiggled her eyebrows. "How about we tuck these two in their beds and then meet up in our own."
"I'd say, you've got a deal." Jane grinned as she mimicked Maura's eyebrow wiggle. "I think that maybe we can prove that Santa can be good to you even when you're a little naughty."
Laughing lightly, Maura offered Jane a quick wink as her mind drifted to what they might get up to in the privacy of their room and it caused her to shiver in anticipation. She smiled at the thought that their Christmas together had been all she had hoped for and now that the kids were asleep, they would finally get to spend some much needed time alone. It was true that they had spent the night before in each other's arms but it was also true that she couldn't get enough of Jane and she wanted to prove it again and again. The smile directed her way meant that she would get to do exactly that.
YYY
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Maura asked as she smoothed down the front of her little black cocktail dress that hugged her full figure.
Jane's eyes roved over the body before her as regret churned around in the pit of her stomach. "I don't guess I have much of a choice, do I…" she shrugged her shoulders. "Our babysitter got sick and had to cancel." Her disappointment was apparent by the frown that turned her lips down into a pout. It was no one's fault that Steph and Noah had gotten sick, thereby canceling their plans to spend New Year's together. And it was no one's fault that the Isles Foundation was insisting on Maura's presence at their New Year's Eve party because Maura was considered the face of the organization. And Jane couldn't blame them for that either because Maura's beauty transcended just the physical.
"I wish I didn't have to go without you." Maura poked her lip out into a pout as well. "I was really looking forward to seeing you in that dress we picked out."
"Yeah, well…" Jane smirked as she held her hands out before waving them over the sweats she was wearing. "I guess this will have to do. But I can offer to help peel that…" she waved Maura's direction. "Off of you when you get home."
"I'll hold you to that." Maura laughed. "And I will do my best to get home as soon as I can."
"No worries, we're just gonna watch Toy Story for the umpteenth time."
"Well, I put a bottle of champagne in the fridge so we can celebrate when I get home..." Maura said as she grabbed the black clutch that matched her dress.
"Just promise me you won't drink too much, I have plans for you later…" Jane winked and she could see that it had the effect she was hoping for when Maura visibly shivered.
"Mama, when is the ball gonna drop?" Valley asked as she wrapped her arms around Jane's legs, looking up at both of her mom's with concern. "Why is Mommy wearing a dress?" She looked between Jane and Maura in question.
"Mommy is going to a party..." Jane said as she gave Valley a quick pat on top of her head.
"Are we going to a party too?"
"No, we're gonna watch Toy Story and have pizza and sundae's for dessert later..." Jane explained. She glanced at Maura and noticed the sad look on her face at having to miss out on their family time together. It was the first day off for Maura since Christmas and they had missed being together.
"Why can't Mommy stay home too?" Valley's eyes grew wide with unshed tears.
Dropping down to one knee, Maura reached out to touch Valley on the chin to bring her sad gaze to her own. "I have to go do something for work, but I'll be home all day tomorrow."
"You pomise?" Valley asked as she looked at Maura.
"I pomise." Maura nodded as she opened her arms, inviting Valley in for a hug.
"Can we play go fish?" It was Valley's new favorite game to play and no one played better than her Mommy.
"Yes." Maura wrapped her arms around Valley's small body and held her tight. Looking up, she offered Jane a soft, sad smile. It was breaking her heart to have to leave. All she wanted to do was put on her pajamas, eat pizza, and watch movies with her family but duty called and she was obligated to make an appearance at the party for the organization that had helped her get the clinic up and running.
"Okay." Valley sighed as she let Maura hug her. "Can we get olives on our pizza?" Her attention was quickly diverted to dinner as she wiggled away from Maura and looked up at Jane in question.
"Yeah, I think that can be arranged. Why don't you go set up the pillow fort in the living room while I say goodbye to Mommy." Jane gave Valley a gentle pat to the back in the direction of the living room and smiled at her as she started to leave but then was surprised when she stopped.
"Bye Mommy… I love you." Valley said before leaving Jane and Maura alone in the entryway.
"Here, don't forget to bundle up. It's cold outside…" Jane said as she reached for Maura's coat hanging on a hook by the front door.
Letting Jane help her into her coat, Maura smiled fondly at the care and consideration Jane took in making sure she would stay warm outside. "Thank you, you take very good care of me."
"Well…" Jane said as she slipped her hands into the open coat and around Maura's waist. Pulling until their bodies were touching she buried her face against Maura's neck and placed a soft, lingering kiss on the soft skin she found there. "I'll be counting the minutes until you come home and I can peel this little black dress off."
"If you don't stop that, I might not leave."
Jane let out a heavy sigh as she pulled away and let go of Maura. "Okay, I know you have to go so I'll back off… for now." She offered Maura a wicked grin.
"I'll be home as soon as I can." Maura leaned close to Jane to place a kiss on her cheek before she opened the front door and stepped out into the cold air that on any other night would chase her back inside. And even though she regretted having to leave, she knew that the sooner she got there, making the required appearance that was expected, the sooner she could come home… and with any luck, there might be some leftover pizza waiting for her, among other things.
YYY
Maura stepped through the double doors into the opulent ballroom decorated in black, gold, and silver. Balloons and streamers filled the room taking up every inch of space and she immediately regretted having to be there. She had tried to beg off her obligation by using Liam as an excuse but even her mother, her staunchest advocate as of late, couldn't talk the board out of excusing Maura's presence this time. So, with a heavy sigh, she moved her gaze towards the many faces, some familiar and some not, for anyone she might know, and a relieved smile formed across her lips when she caught Amy's eye.
As she made her way across the crowded room with the occasional shoulder bump and nod of acknowledgment, she grabbed a cocktail from the tray of a passing server with a small smile of thanks just before arriving at Amy and her husband Steve's side. Craning her neck, she looked around for her mother who was also obligated to be there but couldn't find the familiar cascade of black hair and poised posture among the party revelers and the thought that the older woman had somehow gotten out of being there annoyed her.
"Hey, am I glad you're finally here. We don't know any of these people." Amy let out a frustrated huff as she waved her hands around. "Constance is the only person I recognize… other than you." She gave Maura a pointed look. "Where's Jane?"
"Um, our babysitter canceled on us." Maura shrugged her shoulders. "You said my mother was here?" She asked as she looked around again, catching a glimpse of her mother trying to make her way back over to where they were standing with several glasses of wine in her hands. The sight caused relief to wash over her.
Amy glanced around nervously before turning her attention back to Maura with a tense smile on her face. "I'm sorry Jane couldn't make it. I was looking forward to chatting with her about our new running group."
"Hey babe, I'm gonna go check out the bourbon bar…" Steve bent to give Amy a quick kiss when he saw several investors eyeing them with interest. He wasn't the least bit interested in being there and was more than happy to let his wife deal with the business side of the clinic.
"Wait…" Amy tried to stop him but he was gone before she could get out another word. "Coward…" she hissed under her breath.
"Can't blame him though." Maura huffed impatiently as she caught the eye of those same investors that were now making their way towards them. Unfortunately, most of the people who had invested in the clinic were the typical middle-aged to older man who almost always seemed to appear at these functions without their younger wives in tow. It didn't mean, however, that there weren't a few powerful women there as well, her mother being one of them.
"The sharks are starting to circle…" Constance appeared at Maura's side with a tired smile. "I see you've already started…" she nodded at the drink in Maura's hand. "You're gonna need it with this group."
"I so don't want to be here." Maura tipped her glass back and finished her drink in one gulp.
"Pace yourself, young lady." Constance chastised as she handed Maura one of the glasses she had brought over.
"Where's Bree?"
"She had other obligations. Where's Jane? I thought Steph and Frankie were going to watch the kids for you tonight." Constance said as she sipped at her drink, glaring at the small group of men who were trying to gather the courage to approach them.
"Steph and Noah got the flu so…" Maura sighed heavily as she leaned closer to her mother for support.
"Prepare yourself, ladies, I think we're about to have company." Amy glanced over Maura's shoulder as the small group of men headed their way, having made up their minds to conquer their fear.
Maura looked over her shoulder and took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. She wasn't in the mood to pretend she was interested in anything these men had to offer, so she steeled herself for the anger she would surely elicit as she moved away from Amy and her mother. "I have to go to the restroom." And before anyone could protest, she was already halfway there. Tossing an apologetic smile to the two women she had abandoned so abruptly, she could see that her mother was trying to hide a smile of admiration at her quick, yet skilled exit.
As she stepped into the large lounge in the ladies' room, she let out a breath of relief. Dropping down on one of the couches, she reached into her clutch for her phone to text Jane, but then someone called out her name and she braced herself for having to do the one thing she didn't want to at the moment… socialize.
"Maura… I thought that was you…" Kelly stepped into Maura's view and smiled down at her as she sat on the couch.
Trying to avoid eye contact at first, Maura looked up when she recognized the voice calling to her. "Kelly, what are you doing here?" The surprise was evident in Maura's tone as well as on her face as she looked up with wide eyes.
"My father is on the board and my stepmother is sick, so…" Kelly held her arms out to show off her slinky, silver dress that left little to the imagination. "I'm my father's date for the night. And let me tell you, I'm so glad you're here so I don't have to suffer through another minute of shop or golf talk with these old cronies." She rolled her eyes to indicate how painful it was to endure her father's constant bragging with his friends.
"Wow, um… yeah…" Maura struggled to say. She was happy to see Kelly because that meant one more person she could use to shield herself from people she didn't want to be around but she was somewhat surprised and just a little bit suspicious. Even though they had worked out the misunderstandin that had occurred when Jane went into labor, she still didn't completely trust her assistant. "Your father is on the board? And you're working as my assistant?"
Kelly's cheeks colored slightly as she nodded and then attempted to explain to Maura why she had taken a job that was clearly beneath her or at least that is what she thought. "Well, I promised my father that I would get to know a few things about the businesses he invests in and well, I'm good at organizing and stuff like that, so I thought… what the heck. And I really enjoy working with you…" her voice trailed off as her eyes shyly dropped from Maura's. But she knew exactly what she was doing and why. With a bit of convincing on her part, she had talked her father into getting her a job at the clinic when she had seen and read about Maura. She knew that nothing and no one would keep her from the woman she was destined to be with.
Sliding her phone back into her clutch, Maura offered a smile in response to Kelly's ramblings. Suddenly she wished she were with Amy and her mother fighting off the attention of the several men who had been brave enough to approach them. "Well, I suppose I should go back out there and rescue my mother and Amy…" she said as she pushed up from the couch and headed towards the door.
"Would you mind letting me join you? I don't want to hear about how my father made a hole in one twenty odd years ago again for the millionth time." Kelly started to follow Maura.
Clenching her teeth together, Maura could only nod because she wasn't sure she could do much else. "Sure… but I might head home before midnight."
"Why?" Kelly asked, surprise written all over her face.
"Does it surprise you that I'd want to spend New Year's Eve with my family?" Stopping, Maura couldn't help but glare at Kelly as unease settled in her stomach.
"No, I thought Jane would be here with you." Kelly offered in defense.
"Well, our babysitter got sick and had to cancel." Maura's expression softened. She doesn't normally let her temper get the better of her but having to be away from Jane and around Kelly was enough to make her feel unsteady.
"I'm sorry, I certainly understand. But is it okay if I hang out with you until you leave?" The hopeful shine in Kelly's eyes and smile was enough to make Maura pause. "Please…"
"Yes, of course..." Maura said as she turned back in the direction where her mother and Amy were waiting. "But I think we may need to find a table, my feet are killing me." She said, reaching down to rub at her sore feet. The statement she never thought she'd make caused her to cringe because she loved her designer shoes, but as of late, she'd been wearing more comfortable ones at the clinic since she was on her feet more often than not. With a shake of her head, she knew she had no choice but to accept that things had changed and this was just one of those changes she would have to live with, even if she didn't like it.
"For what it's worth, I think you look stunning." Kelly's light blue eyes roved over Maura's body in admiration.
A shiver ran up Maura's spine at the look of longing in Kelly's gaze and it left her feeling cold and empty. Those light blue eyes couldn't compare to the dark, chocolate of Jane's that warmed her heart each time they were directed her way and she suddenly felt a pang of guilt. The guilt was quickly chased away with the apprehensive feeling that she was making a mistake by not leaving the moment she was approached by Kelly, but the obligation she felt towards the clinic and the need for the foundation's support kept her feet from heading out the door. And as she allowed Kelly to follow her, a foreboding feeling began to grow deep down inside of her, one she only experienced when something very wrong was about to happen but instead of taking heed of the warning, she pushed it away. Perhaps she would look back on this decision and regret it, perhaps not. What she did know was that the moment she saw her opening to leave, she would take it… no matter what or who stood in her way.
YYY
"Vince? What are you doing here?" Jane couldn't hide her surprise when she opened the door to reveal Vince Korsak standing on the front porch with a sly grin on his face.
"I talked to Frankie and he said Steph had to cancel tonight and that Maura had to go on without you, so…" holding his arms out, he offered her a bow. "I'm here to babysit so you can ring in the New Year with a kiss from Maura." His grin spread out into a genuine smile as he watched the surprise play over her face.
"I don't know…" Jane said as she glanced over her shoulder at the Grandfather clock in the foyer. "I don't think I can get dressed and make it downtown in less than an hour." She gave him a sad but thankful smile.
"I won't take no for an answer, now get upstairs and get dressed… you have exactly ten minutes before you need to leave." He gave her a gentle push as he stepped inside the door, closing it behind him as he watched Jane take off towards the stairs.
Without looking back, Jane only hesitated briefly. "You sure?" She asked, hoping that he wouldn't change his mind.
"Yep, git outta here…" he pointed at the stairs to emphasize his statement.
"There's leftover pizza in the fridge if you get hungry..." Jane called over her shoulder but didn't stick around long enough to notice that Vince had brought his own midnight snack in the form of a brown paper bag from a local fast-food restaurant. And taking the stairs two at a time, she heads out to put her plan into motion to get dressed and downtown in record time to give Maura the first kiss of the year.
YYY
It only took forty-five minutes for Jane to find herself pulling up at the hotel and handing over a twenty-dollar bill for parking (the most she's ever paid) before finding herself standing in an elevator on her way up to the grand ballroom where the party is being held. She had left Vince with both kids who were thankfully asleep, so he didn't have much to do but hang out and watch the ball drop on television, but she was ever so grateful that he had showed up when he did.
Glancing down at her phone to see what time it was, her heart begins to race with anticipation because she only has a little over five minutes before midnight. And there she stands, sliding her hands in the pockets of her suit pants and silently willing the door to open so she can finally find Maura with minutes to spare. Looking down at the black pants she is wearing, she notices some lint before removing a hand from her pocket to pick at it and she can't help but second guess her choice to wear the suit instead of the dress. But she knew that wearing the dress would have required more effort and more time if she wanted to look good, so she opted for the one thing she knew could rival it… the tux that hung in the back of her closet encased in a zip-up garment bag. It had been quick and easy to slip into and with the help of a clip-on bow tie, she was out the door in record time, much to her surprise.
When the elevator dinged, alerting her to the fact that she had arrived on her floor, a flutter began in the pit of her stomach at the thought of surprising Maura. She could envision how it would happen… with seconds left on the clock, she would spy Maura sitting alone with a forlorn expression on her face and she would swoop in with a kiss just before the stroke of midnight, thereby saving the night and making Maura smile again.
Stepping through the double door with an urgency she hadn't felt in a long time, she looked around the room in search of a glimpse of honey-blonde hair and that black cocktail dress that took her breath away when Maura had squeezed herself into it earlier before she had to leave. With less than a minute left, her heart sped up as she began to frantically make her way across the ballroom floor where people were starting to gather. Shoulders, knees, and elbows collided with her body but she didn't care because she was on a mission.
When the countdown started, she finally saw Maura standing just a few feet away but before she could approach, a pair of cold blue eyes glared at her over Maura's shoulders causing her to freeze. Her heart sank as the countdown reached 5, then 4, then 3 and she realized she might not make it to Maura in time. And then those cold blue eyes shimmered with something she could only identify as malice and she watched in horror as a sinister grin slid across Kelly's face as she leaned close to Maura just before the stroke of midnight, bringing their lips together in the kiss that should have meant for her.
Watching Kelly kiss Maura took Jane's breath away and time seemed to stand still just before her eyes met Amy's who looked both confused and concerned. She hadn't even realized the moment she turned around, crossing the crowded ballroom on her way towards the door. Someone was calling her name but she didn't stop… she couldn't stop. She had to get away before the tears that were now blurring her vision began to fall. And as she stepped into the elevator and doors began to close, the last thing she saw was Maura running down the hall towards her with a painful expression on her face that mirrored the pain Jane was feeling in her heart.
YYY
The moment leading up to Kelly's kiss had seemed surreal to Maura. She had been on her way out when Kelly grabbed her by the arm to stop her. The hour was at hand, and Maura was ready to go home and that is exactly what she intended on doing. The fact that she wouldn't make it home in time to ring in the New Year the way she wanted didn't deter her, she knew she would at least hopefully get home in time to wrap her arms around Jane, offer a toast, and get that first kiss she craved so much. But Kelly insisted on delaying her with the nonsense of waiting until the stroke of midnight causing her temper to flare as all around her people started counting down. And then she felt a presence behind her, one her heart recognized without having to look but before she could turn around, Kelly's grip on her arm tightened painfully causing her to focus on pulling away. As she struggled with the hold that was keeping her from moving, she saw something sinister flicker in Kelly's eyes as they stared over her shoulder and she knew without a doubt that Jane was behind her. But then something terrible happened, something she couldn't stop, something that would cause her world to tilt off its axis almost taking her feet out from under her in the process. Her eyes widened in horror as she watched Kelly lean towards her and then felt lips press against her own… lips that weren't Jane's… lips that weren't welcomed or wanted. The sudden pressure caused her to gasp and try to push the offender away but Kelly was holding her so tight that she knew there would be a bruise left by those fingers that dug into her skin. She didn't give up, however, because the knowledge that Jane was there… witnessing what was happening without context spurred her to gather the strength to fight off the unwanted advance and with a shove, Kelly was pushed away. The smug look on Kelly's face made Maura sick to her stomach and without thinking, she raised her hand and slapped that smug smile as hard as she could manage drawing a surprised gasp from Kelly who was now holding a hand to the spot Maura had hit.
"You are fired! I don't ever want to see you again…" Maura fumed as she spun around to try and catch Jane who she knew from experience, was running instead of facing the problem head-on. "Jane… Jane… Please… stop…" she called out to the back that was retreating into the crowd. She lost sight of Jane as she continued to run after her and then stopped when she saw the crestfallen look on Jane's face as the elevator door's closed, leaving her standing in the hallway alone and broken.
Racing to the coat check, she needed to get her keys from the valet so she could go home where she hoped Jane would be waiting for her so they could talk but deep down inside, she knew Jane would disappear until she could come to terms with what she had just witnessed. And even though Maura hadn't done anything wrong, she knew she should have heeded the warnings about Kelly and disposed of the woman earlier, instead, she would forever be haunted by the look on Jane's face as she disappeared from sight leaving Maura to sort out what to do next.
And this was the image that played throughout Maura's mind as she drove home and flew through the front door to find Vince, who could only look at her with a surprised expression on his face. Her heart broke all over again when she realized she had no idea where Jane had gone or when she would be home… or even if.
"Hey, what's going on?" Vince reached out to pull Maura into a hug as she let the tears finally fall. Through her sobs, she recounted what happened causing Vince to let out a heavy sigh and shake his head. "Kelly…" he said not even trying to hide his disdain.
"I know I should have listened to everyone about her, but you know how I am… always looking for the best in people."
"I know Doc, but sometimes you just need to accept that some people don't have the capacity to be good. Your years as the coroner should have taught you that." Vince pulled back from their hug so he could look at Maura.
"What am I going to do, Vince? I don't know where she is…" Maura's voice trailed off as she wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, smearing her mascara.
"Well, I think I might know where she is." He reached up to wipe the smudge under her eye with his thumb. "But I think you may need to freshen up a bit before you go."
"You don't mind staying?"
"Of course not. We both know that Jane can be a hot head sometimes but I suspect she might have a reason to be upset this time, don't you?" He asked with the tilt of his head to regard Maura for a moment. He didn't mean to chastise her but the fact the Kelly was still even in the picture was beyond him. And after Frankie and Frost had filled both him and Jane in on who she was and what she was capable of, but then again, he knew Jane hadn't told Maura yet either. "And I suspect she might have some explaining to do as well." Shaking his head, he offered a sad smile.
"What?" Maura asked, a surprised expression on her face.
"Just go and talk to her."
"Okay…" Maura mumbled before she cleaned up and headed out to do just that.
YYY
Maura sat in her car with her fingers wrapped tightly around the steering wheel as she contemplated what to do next. She could see Jane sitting in a booth by the window, hunched over a cup of coffee and it broke her heart. Vince had been right about Jane seeking solace at the twenty-four-hour diner they had frequented many times over the years they were partners.
She wanted to run inside and explain everything to Jane but something about Jane's posture gave her pause, so she sat quietly trying to decide what to do next. As she sat, contemplating, her phone buzzed interrupting the silence she had quickly become comfortable with. She didn't need to look at it to know it was Amy, Angela, or her mother wanting to know what was going on. But she didn't have an answer so she didn't pick it up, instead, she slipped it into her purse to mute the notifications that were sure to continue.
Taking a deep breath, she squeezed the steering wheel a few times before gathering the courage she would need to deal with the wall she knew that Jane had already built. She knew she couldn't wait any longer, it was time to face the music… so to speak.
As she climbed out of the driver's seat, the cold night air bit into her cheeks, making her eyes water, or at least that's what she told herself as she walked across the parking lot. When she reached the door, she paused before pushing it open in an effort to slow her racing heart. As she pushed the door open, a bell hanging above it rang out to announce her arrival. But the few scattered people that sat, enjoying their solitude didn't bother to look at her. Even the small smattering of party-goers who had migrated to the diner in search of late-night snacks kept their gazes amongst themselves. For a brief moment, she felt very alone but then she felt a pair of dark brown eyes watching her from across the room and she knew Jane was aware of her presence.
Throwing her shoulders back to project an air of confidence she wasn't feeling, she met Jane's gaze with a determined one of her own. Her guilt didn't stem from what Kelly had done because she knew she hadn't welcomed it but she should have listened to everyone who told her Kelly was up to no good. Accompanying that guilt was a slowly simmering anger at Jane for running away and not trusting her to do the right thing.
The fluorescent light above Maura flickered briefly drawing her attention to the harsh glow it cast over the entire diner. The colors around her were muted, reminding her of a washed-out watercolor and the mood of the room made her think of a film noir. It was as if everyone there was radiating pessimism but as her feet began to carry her across the highly polished black and white checkered linoleum floor, she could see something in Jane's eyes that gave her some hope that all was going to be okay between them. As she got closer, she recognized a mixture of guilt and sadness flickering behind those brown eyes she loved so much.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, she found herself standing by the booth, looking down at Jane. She didn't wait for Jane to invite her to sit down as she took the seat across from her. "You ran away from me. Why?" She asked.
The question hung in the air, heavy and thick as Jane dropped her eyes from Maura's questioning ones. Looking in her coffee cup which was full because she hadn't taken a drink yet even though she had been sitting there for at least thirty minutes, she let out a heavy sigh before bringing her gaze back up to Maura's. She shrugged her shoulders and cleared her throat as if that was answer enough but she knew it wasn't. The answer was on the tip of her tongue but for some reason, she wanted to make Maura wait for it just a little bit longer.
"We both know that what you saw was one-sided." Maura began to plead her case. "If you had stuck around, you would have seen what happened next."
Knowing Maura, Jane had an idea of what had happened after she turned around to leave. Raising a dark eyebrow in question, she continued to sit silently ready to listen.
Maura bristled when Jane continued to stay silent as she leaned back and crossed her arms. "I shouldn't have to explain myself…" her expression softened when she thought about the look in Jane's eyes as the elevator doors closed before she disappeared from her sight. "I'm sorry…" she let out a heavy breath and let her harms fall away to her sides.
"I am too." Jane finally spoke. Reaching across the table, she held her hand out for Maura to take and frowned when Maura hesitated. She knew she deserved Maura's reluctance, but it still hurt. Closing her eyes, she waited until the feeling of Maura's warm hand landed on her own before she continued. "I know you didn't do anything wrong, but I had to make her think that I did…"
"What? Why?" Maura laced her fingers with Jane's, tightening her grip.
Taking a deep breath and then letting it out in a heavy sigh, Jane reached up to run her fingers through her hair, pushing it away from her face so she could see Maura better. "I need to tell you something and I need you to hear me out before you get mad, okay? Can you promise to let me explain…?"
With the tilt of her head, Maura regarded Jane with a suspicious eye as she stiffened her back, sitting up straighter as if it might help her understand better what Jane was about to say. Nodding ever so slightly, she offered her consent for Jane to continue but she couldn't stop herself from frowning at the prospect of what was to come.
Clearing her throat, Jane gave the hand resting in her own a gentle squeeze before speaking. "Okay, first I just want to say that I was going to tell you everything… I just didn't get a chance to and I didn't expect her to be at the party tonight, although I guess I shouldn't have been surprised…" her voice trailed off.
"What were you going to tell me?"
"Well, Frankie and Frost did some investigating, and well… they came to me with what they found out." Jane shrugged her shoulders as if that explained everything.
Maura's eyes widened in surprise. "You had Frankie and Frost do a background check on Kelly?" Her tone held a mixture of annoyance and uncertainty.
"Um, no… I did my own background check months ago and when it came back clean, I moved on…" Jane glanced down at her coffee and then brought her dark eyes back up to meet Maura's hazel-green ones. She knew she should have told Maura what she had done but since she didn't find anything, she thought it was safe to move on… but that was before. "It was Amy who got Frankie and Frost involved after that stunt she pulled when I went into labor and well… I'm glad she did."
For a moment, Maura was quiet as she thought about what Jane said. She had a bad feeling that she might know where this was all leading but she would soon discover that it was far worse than some assistant with a crush.
"Maura, we're dealing with something that goes way beyond a harmless crush." Jane echoed Maura's thoughts.
"Explain, please." Maura pressed her lips together in a grim line.
"She's a stalker, Maura, and well…" Jane let out a heavy sigh. "I'm afraid she's set her sights on you."
"A stalker?"
"Yes, a stalker." Jane let out a heavy sigh. She could feel a sense of dread wash over her at the memory of what had happened just an hour ago… the look on Kelly's face was filled with contempt and hate and it was directed at her.
"I… I can't…" Maura stuttered. "Oh my God, I slapped her just before I fired her." The surprise on Maura's face mimicked Jane's but then Jane's surprise was replaced by pride.
"You slapped her?"
Nodding with a small smile twitching at her lips, Maura wasn't sure it had been a good idea but it sure made her feel good to do it.
"I wish I'd seen that." Jane's look of pride dropped to be replaced by the shadow of doubt. "I had to make her think I was angry. I don't want her to know that we know anything about her past."
"Please, tell me… what do you know?"
"Well, every charge brought against her has somehow been dismissed and I think it has something to do with her father."
"He's an investor… isn't he?" Maura asked as she tried to recall what Kelly had said about him.
"He's more than that." Jane tried not to scoff at Maura's statement. "He's under investigation for money laundering and racketeering… among other things."
Maura bit down on her lip as she thought about her father and his dealings with the Irish Mafia. "Does he have mob connections?" She asked.
Jane nodded slowly before she finally spoke. "It's not the "mob" in the traditional sense of the word, but yeah… bribery, extortion, and making people disappear seem to be his specialty. In fact, several people have brought charges against Kelly and then never showed up to the court hearing causing the charges to be dropped, as well as every restraining order that's ever been requested. I think he may have a few judges in his very deep pockets."
"What charges?" Maura wasn't sure she wanted to know.
"Um… kidnapping…" Jane started to say.
"Kidnapping?!"
"Among other things…" Jane sighed as she rolled her eyes. It seemed that Kelly was like Teflon because nothing that had been thrown at her stuck. But that was about to change because she had picked the wrong family to mess with. "Look, I talked to Liam and he is coming over Sunday so we can make a plan… and well.. to meet his namesake for the first time."
"You talked to Liam before you talked to me?" Maura's temper began to flare.
"I only just called him after I left you at the hotel. I couldn't wait."
Maura closed her eyes and nodded her understanding. This was very real and she knew she would do anything Jane told her to do to protect them. "Okay… should I be afraid?"
"I'm not gonna lie to you and tell you no but you know that I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. We just need to make sure she doesn't find out that we know about her."
"I fired her, what should I do now?"
"You need to call her tomorrow and apologize… tell her you over-reacted and that she isn't fired. I think having her in sight is the best way to deal with her at the moment." Jane had the decency to looked abashed at having to ask Maura to apologize.
"I have to apologize? What if I don't want to?" Maura huffed indigently.
"She needs to think she's driven a wedge between us. It will give her the incentive to make her next move."
"Her next move?" Maura wasn't sure she liked where this was going.
"Look, how about we go home so I can hold you in my arms and end this night the way we were supposed to. We can start planning on how to deal with this tomorrow."
Maura was quiet for a minute as she thought of Jane's suggestion. Nodding slowly, she agreed because all she had wanted from the moment she left Jane at home to go to the party was to let Jane wrap her up in strong arms and hold her all night. "Okay, but I don't like any of this… especially letting anyone think they can drive a wedge between us because it will never happen."
"I know honey, but we need to be careful." Jane gave Maura's hand another squeeze before letting it go. "Let's go home, kiss our kids goodnight, and then climb under the covers until the sun chases us out of bed or the kids wake up… whatever comes first. What do ya say?"
"I say, yes… let's go home." Maura agreed even though she knew these new revelations and the implications would tug at her all night. She was tired of having to deal with outsiders coming along and trying to push her and Jane apart. If it wasn't family demanding their attention… it was something else. And then something suddenly occurred to her when she thought of family, perhaps Paddy could offer some insight into the situation. His ties to the criminal underworld might benefit her and Jane. He would know more about Alan Wolfe, Kelly's father and hopefully, he would know how to fight fire with fire because if there was one thing she understood better than anyone… when it came to a criminal, you had to think like one if you wanted to beat them. Now all she had to do was convince Jane to accept help from Paddy… but when Jane stood and reached for her hand with a soft smile on her face… Maura decided she would wait until tomorrow to bring up her idea. Tonight would belong to them and no one would take that away.