*Hi, I hope this finds everyone well and that you enjoy this new chapter… until next time… take care and thanks for reading.
BLT 27
Jane took a deep breath as she stretched her arms and legs out, careful not to jostle Li who was snuggled up against her sleeping soundly… finally. It had been a very long day so far, marred with a fever, cough, and sniffles as time slowly crawled on from morning to afternoon. Summer colds sucked, she thought to herself as she ran her fingers through Li's sweaty hair. He was still warm but nothing like he had been earlier that morning when he woke up crying. Pushing herself up just enough to glance at the clock sitting on the bedside table, she noted that it was time to give Li another dose of Tylenol. She didn't need to look because the aches and pains in her body indicated that the Tylenol she had taken earlier was beginning to wear off as well.
"This sucks…" she sighed as she ran her fingers through her tangle of hair before trying to stifle a sneeze she knew would wake Li up.
When the urge to sneeze relented, she laid her head back down on the pillow and groaned quietly at the headache that was beginning to blossom at the back of her eyes again. Her throat was still sore too, but it was probably because of the post-nasal drip she was experiencing. Thankfully, the strep test Maura had administered before she went to work had been negative for both her and Li so as far as she was concerned it was just a cold. Maura wasn't as confident though.
"Come on, Maur… kids get sick all the time. They're germ factories…" Jane had tried to convince Maura that it was just a quick-moving virus and that they would be fine after a few days of rest. But Maura had insisted that they both start a round of antibiotics… a bubble gum flavored pink liquid for Li and a pill so big that a horse would have trouble swallowing for Jane and she wasn't too happy with the way it made her stomach feel either. Of course, it was to be taken with food but she just didn't feel like eating. If it hadn't been for Angela practically force-feeding her an English muffin with butter and honey on it, she probably wouldn't have eaten anything at all. Not only had her mother come over to make sure she was eating, but she had also taken Valley out to finish up her school shopping.
"Ugh…" Jane rolled her eyes even though it hurt her head. She had wanted to take Valley school shopping. Because her mom and dad had struggled financially when she was a kid, school shopping wasn't fun… and she ended up having to wear hand-me-downs from her cousins. The only thing she could remember getting new for school or her choice was her Red Sox lunch box. And since she went to Catholic School for all of her elementary grades, choices were far and few between. That was why she wanted to go shopping with Valley. Valley went to a private, progressive school where individuality was valued over conformity and for that, Jane was grateful.
"Mama…" Li stirred next to Jane before a coughing fit hit him. When he was done, he whimpered and snuggled closer to Jane. "Mama… I sick…" his voice was hoarse from coughing.
Rubbing his back, Jane did her best to comfort her son as he coughed again. His was much looser than hers was, indicated by the bubble that was now growing from his nose. "Whoops, little man… you got a boogie bubble…" she grabbed a Kleenex and wiped his nose.
"Ouchie…" Li groaned and shook his head as Jane wiped his sore nose, trying to get away from her. "I want Mommy…" he cried.
"I'm sorry but Mommy is at work right now." Jane heaved a heavy sigh because she completely understood why he wanted his mommy. Maura was just better at the little things… like wiping noses with finesse. She hadn't quite gotten the hang of it yet as she struggled to wipe Li's nose again because her first attempt had just resulted in smearing it across his cheek where it immediately dried into a green film. "Come on Li, help me out a little. I'm sorry I'm not as gentle as Mommy but I'm tryin' here."
Shaking his head again, Li used the back of his hand to wipe at his nose covering it in green slime. Jane looked on in horror as the snot coated everything he touched as he shifted around restlessly. "I firsty…" he smacked his lips together and blinked slowly as if he was trying to get used to the light in the room.
As Jane watched Li fidget, she realized that his fever was starting to come back. His cheeks were turning pink again and his hair was getting sweaty as he struggled to find a comfortable, cool spot on the pillow he was sharing with her. "Okay, sweetheart… it's time to take your medicine anyway." Sitting up, she reached over to the side table where Li's spill-proof cup was, along with his Tylenol. It was grape flavored and he seemed to like it okay.
As she helped him sit up, he seemed slightly groggy and sluggish at first but when she handed him his water, he drank it quickly before shoving it away. Grabbing his throat he winced and then turned those big blue-green eyes to her. "It hurts…" he said with tears in his eyes.
"Here, take your medicine. It'll help…" she poured out the dose and then helped him take it. When he swallowed he winced again but then nodded as if he agreed that it helped. "How about if get you in the bath to cool off a little?" She asked as she started to move to the edge of the bed so she could get up.
"Okay, Mama…" his voice trailed off as he lay back down and closed his eyes.
"I hate it when they get sick like this…" Jane muttered under her breath. The worry she felt was enough to set her off into a panic but Maura had assured her that everything would be alright if she kept up with the schedule that had been left for administering the medicine. But then when her head started to pound and her stiff, achy joints reminded her that she was also sick, she realized there wasn't much she could do but comfort Li and keep his Tylenol coming.
Leaving Li asleep on the bed, she headed to the bathroom to fill the tub with lukewarm water so she could wash off the green snot that had dried all over his face and hands, and also to help comfort him. She could remember her mother doing the same when she was little and it always made her feel better so she hoped it would do the same for Li.
When Li was clean and alert, Jane wrapped him in some extra fluffy towels and took him downstairs so he could watch some cartoons while she made some tea for herself. He was feeling better as the cool bath helped and the Tylenol finally kicked in. He was awake and talkative as he picked an episode of Paw Patrol to watch. While he watched his shows, Jane somehow got him to put his pj's on without much help and when he was dressed, she grabbed his favorite fuzzy blanket off the back of the couch and wrapped him in it. Even though it was still warm outside, the air conditioner was working overtime lately, keeping the house cool and comfortable even if it felt a bit cooler to her and Li at the moment.
"I'm gonna make some tea for myself, you feel like trying a little apple juice or apple slices?" She asked as she stood behind the couch and ran her fingers through his towel-dried hair, pushing it to the side so it wasn't in his eyes.
"Apple juice, peez…" he said as he looked around for Joe Friday who was waiting patiently for Jane to leave the room so she could jump on the couch… a restricted space… usually.
"Come on, Joe…" Jane patted the spot on the couch next to Li. "I won't tell Mommy if you don't." She offered Li a quick wink when he looked up at her in surprise. "She's been a good girl and extremely patient waiting for permission to snuggle you."
"Tank you, Mama…" Li giggled when Joe Friday jumped on the couch and twirled around a few times trying to get comfortable. When she had settled, Li wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her side as he turned his attention to the TV again.
Jane couldn't help but watch with a wistful smile. Even though they were both sick, she was grateful for every minute she got to spend with her kids. And even more grateful they had Joe Friday. She could recall growing up as a kid with their family dog 'Chip' and she knew how important it was for kids to have a pet. They were just lucky that she had convinced Maura that a tortoise probably wasn't the best choice for a family pet when toddlers were involved. But Joe Friday was great. She was the perfect dog as far as Jane was concerned. She was sweet with the kids and obedient… when it counted.
Reaching down, she gave the little mutt a quick scratch behind the ear. "You're a good girl, Joe…" she said, causing Joe to wag her tail and lift her head in acknowledgment. "Alright, I'm off to make tea… and get you some apple juice." She said as she turned to leave Joe and Li on the couch, entranced by what was on the TV.
"Tank you, Mama…" Li sighed as he ran his fingers through Joe's fur seeking comfort from her warm body.
Jane looked down at her son and smiled. Today might not be the best of days for them but at least she was able to be there with him. And soon enough, Maura and Valley would be there too to round out the family circle.
YYY
Maura let out a heavy sigh as she pulled the stethoscope from around her neck before dropping it on her desk. Running her hands through her hair and then her fingers down her face, she sat back and took a deep breath. She was exhausted, her back hurt, and her feet were a little swollen from standing most of the day. But she wasn't thinking about that… no, she was thinking about Jane and Li being sick. She had tested them for strep before leaving for work and both had been negative which indicated that they had picked up a virus somewhere… where she didn't know. But that's the thing with kids, isn't it… they picked things up everywhere and you could never really pinpoint where or who they may have come into contact with. At least Valley seemed okay and she, herself felt fine.
The ring of her phone startled her out of her thoughts and she quickly picked up when she saw it was Angela calling. "Hello… is everything alright?"
"Yes, my darling… all is well. I just wanted to check in with you and let you know that Valley and I got back from school shopping…" Angela let out a tired sigh at that last part. "And, well… kids these days need so much more than crayons, pencils, and notebooks…" her voice trailed off as she contemplated all the things on Valley's school list.
"Oh, thank you so much, Angela. We appreciate the help." Maura couldn't help but laugh a little at the exasperated tone in Angela's voice. "And yes, her list this year was… well, unreasonable if you ask me. But I suppose we need to help out the teachers with supplies too."
"It's a big list… I'll give ya that." Angela laughed as well. "And I checked in on Jane and Li. They were asleep on the couch when I went in so I just quickly covered them up and left as quietly as I could. I don't think I woke them up, though."
"Okay, I think I'll stop and get takeout for dinner. Would you like to join us?" Maura asked, secretly hoping Angela would say no because she wasn't sure if Jane and Li were contagious. But at this point, she supposed it didn't matter, since Angela had already been around them all.
"I'm making my Nona's famous chicken, lemon and orzo soup. It'll cure whatever ails you and it's Jane's favorite comfort food when she gets sick. But if you'd like, you could get some bread and cheese and we can make grilled cheese sandwiches to go with it… or you could make a salad for yourself if grilled cheese isn't healthy enough for you." Angela said as an afterthought.
"No, grilled cheese sounds good. I'll get some nice sourdough bread and some fresh mozzarella and heirloom tomatoes as well." Maura said as her stomach grumbled.
"Oh, wow… that sounds divine. I could make some tomato soup if you'd like. It wouldn't take much… I could whip it up and have it ready by the time you get home."
Maura was quiet for a moment as she contemplated whether she wanted tomato soup or chicken and orzo. "Um, I think the chicken soup would be fine. I am afraid the tomato soup would give me indigestion." She let out a disappointed sigh since the cream of tomato soup was one of her favorites but the acid was a little too much for her at the moment.
"Okay, dear… the soup I'm making is packed with veggies so it should be good for everyone..." Angela said. "And I'll keep Valley with me until you get home."
"Thanks for being such a great help. I should be home by six… baring any unforeseeable obstacles."
"No hurry, we'll be here when you get home..." Angela said before hanging up.
Maura leaned back in her chair and let out a heavy, tired sigh. It meant a lot to both her and Jane that Angela was so willing to help them when they needed it. Of course, she was living in Maura's bungalow for free but Maura didn't think that indebted her to them either. Regardless, it was nice and they appreciated it. And with her mother sharing in some of the babysitting responsibilities lately, it had truly become a family affair.
Crossing her arms, she glared at the stack of folders sitting on her desk, waiting for her. She could take them home and finish them there but she knew she'd never be able to concentrate so she decided to compromise by finishing half of them in the office and taking the other half home to finish. But before she could delve into the work, her phone rang again. This time it was Vince.
"Hello…" she said into the phone as she settled back in her chair.
"Hey Doc, I was trying to get a hold of Jane…" he said, a nervous undertone in his voice.
"Oh, she and Li are sick. She may have turned her phone down while they are resting."
"Sick? Are they okay?" The concern in his voice brought a small smile to her face. It was nice to have so many people in their lives that cared for them.
"Yes, just a virus I think. Is there anything I can help you with?" She asked, even though she had a feeling she already knew what he was calling about.
"Well, I was just hoping to get together with her and Frankie to… well… you know… discuss the other night." He blew a heavy breath and then coughed nervously.
"I'm sure she'll be happy to meet up with you as soon as she feels better. I'll let her know to call you, would that be okay?"
"Of course, whenever she feels like it. I just want to explain… ya know…" his voice trailed off and Maura could almost hear the shrug of his shoulders as well.
"I'm sure she'll be happy to finally get an explanation… even though I think what you and Angela do is none of our business. Unfortunately, a Rizzoli doesn't always feel that way when it comes to family." Maura couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes.
"I understand their concern so I just want to make sure we clear some things up."
"Sounds good, Vince. I'll make sure to have her call you." Maura said with a measure of relief in her voice. She was tired of hearing Jane theorize and speculate on what was happening between Vince and Angela.
"Well, alright then… I hope they feel better soon. And make sure you take care of yourself and that little bun in the oven. Bye…" he laughed before hanging up.
Maura hated that expression… 'bun in the oven'. She couldn't quite understand how anyone could compare a human being in someone's uterus to a bun in the oven. But that was a moot point at the minute because now she needed to finish up some of her work so she could get home to take care of Jane and Li.
YYY
A slice of lemon floated around in Jane's steaming cup of tea, looking a bit like a crescent moon. For some reason, it fascinated her and she couldn't stop the compulsion to poke it even though the tea was hot… and boy was it hot. She realized too late as she pulled her finger away and shook her hand as if that might alleviate the slight sting from the hot liquid. Taking a deep breath, she breathed in the steam that smelled like lemon, honey, and whiskey. It was Maura's secret recipe for a stuffy nose and cough, and so far it was working. She couldn't help but wrinkle her nose a little when she brought it to her lips and took a sip. It was slightly bitter at first, followed by a sweet and spicy warmth that filled her chest making her let out a long-held sigh. Maura always knew what to do to make her feel better and today was no exception.
"Feeling a little better?" Maura appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she had some bubbles on her forehead, obviously unbeknownst to her because when Jane looked up at her and started to laugh, she didn't understand what was so funny about her question. "What?" She asked, her hands on her hips and a frown marring her almost perfect lips.
"Come'er…" Jane crooked a finger, beckoning Maura to come closer.
"You've got a cold… one I'd rather not get." Maura stood her ground, thinking that Jane wanted to kiss her.
"I'm not going to kiss you, silly…" Jane cleared the crud from her throat before taking another sip to clear away the mucus. "You have bubbles on your forehead. I was just gonna wipe them away."
"Oh…?" Maura reached up and felt the small bubbles before swiping them away with her hand. "Sorry…" she shrugged her shoulders.
"It's okay. I wouldn't want to get too close to me either." Jane coughed and then cleared her throat again. "But this is helping." She held her mug up and offered Maura a half smile.
"I'm glad. How about I finish up in the kitchen and we settle in for a movie?" Maura asked. "With Li down for the night…" she held her fingers up and showed Jane they were crossed. "And Valley with Angela, we might just get a little quiet time in… if you're up for it, that is."
"I'm up for it." Jane snuggled back further into the couch and tucked a blanket around her knees. "Are you sure you won't let me help in there?" She asked as she tilted her head towards the kitchen.
"Nah, you just relax and I'll be done in a minute..." Maura said, trying to stifle a yawn as she slipped back into the kitchen.
Finding herself alone again, Jane turned her attention to the lemon floating around in her tea. With a frown, she contemplated calling Korsak and setting up a time to get together to talk but she just didn't feel much like dealing with it at the moment. She had talked to Frankie and he agreed. He wasn't sick but they were still trying to deal with the fallout of Steph's Ex leaving and all the paperwork that went into Frankie officially adopting Noah… not to mention Steph was just a month away from her due date. It just seemed like there was way too much going for either of them to try and rationalize Korsak and their Ma being a couple… if that's what they were.
With a shake of her head, Jane tried to dispel her darkening thoughts but it wasn't easy. It's not that she didn't think they would be good together… it's just she knew too much about Korsak… the good and the bad. Her mother deserved someone who remembered anniversaries, brought her flowers for no reason… someone who would come home at the end of the day…
"Shit…" Jane muttered as she ran her hand through her hair, pushing it away from her face.
"Language…" Maura appeared again with just a hint of annoyance in her tone. She moved to stand behind Jane and began to massage her neck and shoulders. "And what, may I ask, has put that frown on your face?"
"I was just thinking about Korsak and Ma…" Jane's bottom lip poked out in a pout.
"Well, you already know how I feel..." Maura said as she bent to place a kiss to the top of Jane's head.
"I know, I know…" Jane leaned her head back so she could look up at Maura. "And as much as I appreciate what you're doing for me right now…" she said as she rolled her head from side to side. "I think you need to sit down and let me massage your feet. You've been on them all day and I know they must be hurting you, besides… I might be contagious and you shouldn't stand so close to me..."
For a minute Maura was quiet. Her feet did hurt but she was trying to massage Jane's neck to help drain her lymphatic system. But then that ache in her calves reminded her that she had, indeed, been on her feet all day and was still on them now.
"Okay…" Maura gave one last squeeze to Jane's neck before moving around to sit on the couch next to Jane. Laying back, she placed her feet in Jane's lap and let out a long, slow sigh.
"You look tired…" Jane said, setting her cup down and grabbing one of Maura's feet to rub.
"I am… and I'm looking forward to cutting back to half days." Maura closed her eyes and let herself enjoy the feeling of Jane's strong hands. With the baby due in December, they had agreed that she would go to half days starting in October and she was counting down the days.
"I know how you feel. I was so tired when I was pregnant with Li… beyond any tired I've ever felt before. I'm glad you agreed to cut back at work the further along you are."
"Well, with my age… there are some risks involved so I want to make sure I do this right since it will probably be the only time I do it." Maura sighed.
"You're not that old…" Jane tried to reason.
"I'm pushing forty… so yeah… I'm old."
"You're only thirty-eight…" Jane frowned at the thought of how quickly time had gone by.
"So, tell me what has you so upset over the prospect of Vince and Angela?" Maura changed the subject.
"I don't know. It's not that I don't like Vince or anything… it's just that I know him. He wouldn't be good for my Ma. She deserves better…" Jane shrugged her shoulders and sighed.
Maura didn't say anything at first because she too knew Vince's track record when it came to romance… or lack thereof. But then something came to her and her eyes popped open. "Hey, isn't Vince dating Rosie? He wouldn't two-time her… would he?"
"Not with my Ma. He knows I'd kill him." Jane sat up a little straighter as the thought of Vince dating Rosie and her Ma made her feel sick. "But, yeah… I thought they were living together."
"Why don't you just call him and set up a time to talk? He said he needed to explain…" Maura closed her eyes again as Jane's fingers continued to rub her feet.
"Hmmm…" Jane glanced over at the side table where her phone sat. "How about if I text him. My throat is still a little sore…"
Maura opened one eye and peered over at her suspiciously but then she nodded her understanding. "Whatever you need to do to get this taken care of."
"It means I'll have to stop rubbing your feet." Jane's lips twitched into a sly grin.
"Well then, I suppose you could wait until tomorrow…" Maura relented, not wanting to give up her foot massage.
"My, my, my… is Dr. Isles suggesting I procrastinate?"
"No, I'm merely suggesting that there is no need to rush into anything, right now…" Maura said, causing Jane to pause in rubbing her feet. "There are more important things at hand right now…" she wiggled her toes to prompt Jane to continue.
"More important things… huh?" Jane laughed as she took the cue and continued to rub Maura's feet.
"Yes… more important things…" Maura's whole body relaxed into Jane's touch. It was the same touch that roused something deep inside of her but with Jane being sick at the moment, she might have to find another way to deal with it. Perhaps a long, hot shower… she thought to herself. A slow, sexy smile slid across her lips at the thought of touching herself just before she drifted off to sleep on the couch next to Jane.
YYY
"I was beginning to think that you were avoiding me…" Korsak said as he dropped down in the seat across from Jane with a huff.
"Nah, just been sick…" Jane lied. It was true that she had been avoiding him but not altogether true because she had been sick too. "Li and I got a summer cold or something." She shrugged her shoulders before waving the server over so she could order a beer.
"Yeah, Maura told me. Is Frankie coming?" Korsak asked, uncertainty radiating off of him.
"Yeah, he should be here shortly." She answered before turning her attention to the server. "I'll have a Blue Moon…"
The server nodded then turned to Korsak. "I'll have a Bud on draft…" he said as he settled back in his seat crossing his arms. "I guess we should wait until he gets here to start."
"Unless you want to have to repeat yourself… then yeah… I suppose so." Jane couldn't keep the cool tone from her voice.
He eyed her with some trepidation as they sat quietly, waiting for their beers. When he couldn't bare the silence any longer he let out a heavy sigh. "So, you and Li were sick? Valley and the Doc okay?"
"Yeah, it was just us. Cough, sore throat… stuffy nose… stuff like that. No big deal. Just needed a few days of rest and relaxation, and now we're as good as new." Jane rambled on nervously.
"Glad to hear you're better. Summer colds are the worse…" he mused just before the server set their beers down. With a grateful smile, he picked up his mug and took a long drink. Jane did the same and for a minute the silence between them was comfortable.
It was the beginning of happy hour and the bar was starting to fill up. Along with the influx of people, the sound level was growing louder and Jane was beginning to rethink her suggestion to meet there. Perhaps they should have met somewhere a little more private, somewhere they could have a conversation without having to shout. But then Korsak set his beer mug down with a thud, startling her from her thoughts.
"How long have we known each other, Jane?" He asked. The crease in his brow indicated how serious he was being at the moment.
"Um… a long time…" Jane stuttered. She couldn't quite put a number on how many years because she didn't seem to have a memory where he wasn't present in one way or another.
"A long time…" he said as he ran his finger along the top of his mug. "I think I've known you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper…"
"Wow… that's something I haven't heard in… well, ever…" she chuckled. But it was true. Korsak had almost always been there when she was growing up and when she joined the academy… he was there too. He was there to help pick up the pieces of her life when the Hoyt incident happened and when Maura's father Paddy came back into the picture. He was always there, reassuring her, holding her up… and well… saving her life more than once. "I guess I've known you pretty much my whole life…" she said as she dropped her gaze to the beer bottle she was holding in her left hand.
"You know, I knew you mother… long before you were born." He paused and took a deep breath as if he were trying to dig up the courage to continue. "We were high school sweethearts for a short time… before I was sent off to Vietnam…" he brought his eyes up to meet hers but she was still looking at her beer, a frown on her face.
"You were… dating?" Jane finally looked up to find him staring at her with sadness.
"When I came back, I was a different man. I could never be the person she needed me to be at that time, so we broke up and that's when she met Frank."
Running her finger over the label of her beer, Jane allowed Korsak's words to sink in. She could remember her mother mentioning someone from her past… someone she had loved… someone she had to let go of before her pop came along. "It was you…" she sighed. "But you and my Pop were friends… best friends… how?"
"I didn't meet him until after you were born. We struck up a friendship and your mother and I… well, although it was hard at first… seeing her with someone else, we rekindled our friendship as well."
"Didn't it bother you to see her with someone else?" Jane asked.
"Maybe in the beginning, but truth be told… I was happy to see her happy and well… Frank was the one… at the time." He frowned at the thought of Frank walking out on Angela and what it had done to her. "I've always loved her, ya know… but I needed to grow up… get better if I was ever to be a part of her life again, even if that meant we could only be friends. And we are… friends." He said that last word with a heavy emphasis. "For now…"
"It's the later that has me worried." Jane sat up a little straighter. "And why are you telling me all of this… I thought you were going to wait until Frankie got here." She groused because she didn't want to have to bare the responsibility of knowing what she now knew.
"What I'm telling you… about Angela and I's past… well, I think it'd be best to keep it between us at the moment. It holds no relevance to what is happening today. Which is…" he took a deep breath and let it out in a huff. "Angela and I are just friends."
"I find that hard to believe… you showed up in my front yard in your boxer shorts, Vince. What am I supposed to make of that?"
"Whatever you want to because I know you well enough to know you've already made up your mind. But I'm here to tell you that nothing happened. Angela was just being a friend…" his voice trailed off at the skeptical look Jane was giving him. "Okay… I'll just explain now… and then again when Frankie gets here." He waved his hands in the air.
Jane crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. She was preparing herself for whatever he was going to tell her. No matter what he said, he still wasn't good enough for her Ma. "Well?" She said, raising a questioning eyebrow.
"Okay…" he let out a heavy sigh. "So, you know Rosie and I have been together for a few years now… and finally moved in together last year…" pausing briefly, he took another deep breath. "Well, last week I came home early and found out that someone else has been keeping her warm at night while I've been at work…"
"Rosie is cheating on you?"
Nodding, he looked away from the pity he knew Jane was offering. "I moved into a hotel and Angela found out… she offered me a few days in her guest room until I figured out what my next move is. That is all that happened…" he said, but then his cheeks turned a light pink.
Jane studied him for a minute, the slight flush to his cheeks was giving away what he wasn't saying. "Something else happened… didn't it Vince?"
"Okay… um… so… well…" he started to shift nervously in his seat.
"Spill it old man…" Jane huffed, but her anger from earlier seemed to subside some at his nervousness.
"We kissed… um, Angela and I that is…"
Biting down on her bottom lip, Jane ruminated over what he had just told her. "You aren't good enough for her… you know that, right?"
He nodded but didn't say anything as he dropped his gaze to the table.
"She deserves someone who will spoil her… bring her flowers for no reason… take her on dates…" she cleared her throat before saying the thing that bothered her the most. "She deserves someone who will come home at the end of the day…"
Vince squared his shoulders before responding to Jane as he reached deep down for courage to tell her what was in his heart. "I've loved Angela longer than I've had the right to… as my first love and then as my friend. Neither one of us wants to do anything to jeopardize what we've built over the years but I'm here to tell you that I would give up everything I have to make her happy if it came to that. I've left Rosie and found a new apartment… with Angela's help, and we've decided to take it slow. If something comes of it, well then… I expect you to respect our choice to be together. I'm not saying it's going to happen but we both would like this second chance. I think we deserve it."
"I'm sorry about Rosie…" Jane said as she picked up her empty bottle to wave at the server for another one. "You want another?" She asked and held up two fingers when he nodded. For a minute, she was quiet as she thought about what she wanted to say next but then she cleared her throat and went for it. "I never liked her, though. The way she treated you and your rescue dogs… I didn't like it at all."
"Yeah, she wasn't much of a fan of the pups… was she?"
"I'm glad you've moved on from her but I'm not sure how I feel about you and my Ma. And the fact that you've known her… well… that you were together in high school...I just don't know what to say to that." Jane shrugged her shoulders.
"Listen to me Jane, I would never do anything to hurt Angela… intentionally that is. My retirement is just a few months away. I know how hard it is for her every day to worry about you and Frankie… about whether you're coming home at the end of the day and I don't want to do that to her, so I get it… really, I do. But I've waited a lifetime for a second chance and I can't give it up… not for anyone… not even for you."
The anger that Jane had felt earlier suddenly lifted, making her feel lighter. Vince was right, they deserved their second chance just as she and Maura had. Perhaps things would work out… perhaps they wouldn't, but far be it from her to make that call. "You need to work on your romance game, old man. My Ma deserves to be treated like a Queen. Do you think you have it in you to do that? You can't forget important dates because she is all about the dates… and you have to remember to keep her on her toes, surprise her once in a while with flowers or dinner out… stuff like that. My Pop didn't cherish her as he should have. He didn't deserve her either."
"I can agree with you there. And although I'm not sure that I deserve her, I'm certainly going to give it the best I've got."
"So, as of now… nothing is happening between you two?" Jane needed to clarify.
"As of now, we're friends... considering something more…" He said with a crooked grin.
Jane nodded her understanding. "I'm not saying I'm okay with it… yet… but as Maura has said over and over again… what you two do is none of our business so I need to respect whatever decisions you make regarding your relationship or the prospect of… so, with that being said… good luck cause you're gonna need it." She offered Vince a crooked grin and she could see him visibly relax. "As much as it pains me to admit it, the two of you just might surprise us all…"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." He chuckled but then he turned serious. "I promise to treat Angela with the utmost respect… no matter how things turn out. The most important thing is that we stay friends."
"I can agree with that. Just please… no more middle-of-the-night meet-ups on the front lawn in boxer shorts. Got it?"
"Yeah, I got it but I think that's a conversation for Frankie. Whatever happened, anyway?"
"Steph's ex did finally leave and he signed the adoption papers for Frankie to adopt Noah. I think harassing us was his last-ditch effort to fight off the inevitable. Hopefully, it's the end of that…" Jane let out a heavy sigh. She was glad that was finally behind them and they could all move on from it. With three Rizzoli babies on the way, they needed no more distractions.
"Glad to hear it. Frankie is gonna make a great dad." Vince said, a touch of emotion in his tone.
"That he is…" Jane smiled. "And for what it's worth… you make a great dad too." She said, feeling the sting of tears prick at he eyes because it was true. Vince had been more of a dad to her and her brothers than their own had been. And he was still around.
Vince swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat and when his beer finally arrived, he picked it up and took a drink, foam and all.
"Well…" Jane said nodding towards the door. "You get to do this all over again cause Frankie just walked in." Waving at Frankie so he would know where they were, she smiled at Vince. "Good luck, old man… I'm gonna head over to the bar so I can call my wife and see if she wants me to bring home some fish and chips for dinner." She pushed herself up from the table to leave.
"You're not gonna stay? Help me out?" Vince had a panicked look on his face.
"Nah, you've got this. He isn't nearly as hard to convince as I am… so you've won half the battle there." She winked at him. "Now, if you'll excuse me… I'm gonna finish this beer and then head home to my wife and kids."
Vince looked up at her and smiled, and she smiled back with a full genuine smile that filled her face. No, things could always be worse and with new clarity, she realized this wasn't one of those things. Pulling out her phone, her finger hovered over Maura's number but then she clicked on her mother's, opening a text message. She glanced at Vince and then shook her head as she typed out a message to her mother.
'Hey, just had a long talk with Vince… and I'd like to hear your side of the story… please…'
A few seconds went by before Angela's response came through and it made Jane smile. Ever since Valley had shown her GiGi how to use emojis, Angela seemed to answer every text with them and she did not disappoint this time either. The heart, a woman waving, and a smiley face were the answer she got and she realized she would have to pin her mother down if she wanted some answers.
"Okay, Ma…" Jane said under her breath as she closed the text bubble and opened one for Maura. Leaning against the bar, she typed out her message to Maura and didn't have to wait long to get an enthusiastic 'yes' to fish and chips for dinner. With a smile on her face, she ordered her food and finished her beer with thoughts of having dinner with her family floating around in the back of her mind. She felt lighter and happier than she had when she had arrived earlier and realized that perhaps Maura was right… she needed to let go of things she couldn't control and concentrate on the things she could. Angela had a right to live her life as she saw fit and Jane would just have to accept that. But sometimes it was hard to let go… especially when it was your mother.