Chapter Text
“Daddy, Uncle Cho is here,” called Charlotte to her dad in the kitchen from her lookout spot near the living room window.
Patrick Jane set a charcuterie board on the table, wiped his hands, and joined his daughter in the living room to welcome their first guest.
“Hey, Cho, thanks for coming.”
Cho handed Jane a bag from the local hardware store. “I didn’t wrap it,” he noted.
“No need for gifts, remember?” said Jane, setting the bag by the window.
“Yeah, I remembered but Van Pelt insisted we all bring something.”
Jane chuckled, knowing that Cho had been wise not to incur the wrath of Van Pelt, who took her self-appointed role as the team’s social secretary quite seriously.
“Uncle Cho, how d’ya like my banner?” asked Charlotte, pointing at the Home Sweet Home banner over the fireplace with preprinted letters that she had colored and decorated. Charlotte took the hand of the stoic man, who had a not-so-secret soft spot for Jane’s daughter ever since he’d seen her perform as the lovely Lottie, Jane’s special assistant for his final show as The Amazing Jane about three months earlier.
“Very festive, Charlotte,” said Cho, ruffling her hair and kindly ignoring that she had run out of glitter for the last two letters.
Jane winked at Cho as he opened the door for the rest of the team who’d just arrived.
“Charlotte,” yelled Ben Rigsby as he ran over to hug the girl who’d become his best friend at daycare, especially after they’d been the only ones to stay late a few times when the team was working after hours on a case. Ben’s dad shushed him to no avail, while Van Pelt followed Ben to try to occupy the kids with some puzzles Rigsby had brought.
“Congrats, man,” said Rigsby, handing Jane two gifts, both carefully gift-wrapped by Van Pelt.
“Thanks,” said Jane. “Help yourself to the snacks on the table, beers in the fridge.”
Rigsby didn’t need to be told twice and Cho joined him.
“Happy housewarming,” said Lisbon, handing Jane her gift.
“Hmm,” said Jane as he set it with the others by the living room window.
“No guessing,” Lisbon warned.
“Me? Guess?” Jane grinned at her.
“Well, at least don’t tell us until you open them,” she said, rolling her eyes.
Jane looked around and said, “OK, everyone, the grand tour starts now.”
XXX
As she walked through the house, Lisbon reflected on the ups and downs of Jane’s transition to homeowner. He had started his house hunt during his lunch hours the week he started at the CBI, and she recalled how preoccupied he’d been after his first few appointments to look at houses. That Friday morning, she’d seen him in the break room and asked if he had another lunchtime appointment and he shook his head.
“No, I’m rethinking my plan,” he’d said, taking a sip of his tea.
“How so?” Lisbon had refreshed her cup of coffee and motioned for him to sit at a table with her.
“Well, my priorities were a location close to a good school and work, a yard, a big kitchen, lots of space, and good light. Not a fixer upper. I like DIY but I don’t have time for it now. But after a few showings, I realize that I need to adjust my priorities to fit my budget.”
“So, what do you think you can compromise on?”
“I’ve been thinking about that. I was thinking about 2000 square feet, but I can get by with less, maybe 1400 or 1500 square feet. Still about ten times what I have in my Airstream.”
She smiled, “A small house will still feel huge to you and Charlotte. You could look for a place you could add on to in the future, or you could move into a bigger place in a few years.”
“Yeah, makes sense. And I’m learning just how big Sacramento is. I thought I’d be able to keep my commute to 10 minutes, but I think I’ll have to plan on 20 to 30 minutes. Then again, it’s not like I’m not used to driving.”
“You know, Rigsby’s place is 20 or 25 minutes out and it’s near the daycare you both use. You might want to check if there are any listings in his area.”
“Good idea.”
Lisbon paused for a moment. She didn’t want to overstep, but she wanted to help.
“Would you like some company to look at houses?” she asked hesitantly.
“Are you offering to come with me?”
“Sure, if you’d like.”
“Thanks, Lisbon. This is a big step, and I’d like to be able to talk it over with someone.”
Over the next week, they went out four times looking at houses with Jane’s realtor until they found this one near Rigsby’s place. After compromising on square footage and commute time, Jane had found a place he could call home.
“I think this is the one,” he said. “But I have to get one more opinion. Can you stay here for about ten minutes?”
His realtor agreed and Lisbon just smiled and said, “Go get Charlotte.”
Jane returned shortly with his daughter. Her eyes widened as she walked into the house.
“Hi, Treesa,” she said. “Daddy says this could be our house.”
“Hi, Charlotte,” said Lisbon. “I like it. What do you think?”
Charlotte walked into the kitchen, looked out the sliding glass doors at the yard, then returned to the empty living room and twirled in excitement. “I like it. Daddy, where’s my room?”
Jane took her hand, walked down the hall, pointed at the master bedroom, and said, “This room will be mine and you can pick which of these two rooms you want to be yours.”
Charlotte walked into the room nearest the hall bathroom and considered it seriously, tapping her lips with her index finger. Lisbon smiled as she recognized the gesture she’d seen Jane make many times. Then Charlotte walked into the corner bedroom across from the master and spread her arms wide, announcing, “This is my room.”
“OK, then,” Jane said to the realtor. “Let’s make an offer.”
A little over a month later, he’d sold the Airstream and they’d moved in, but they’d spent the first few days with their only seating being lawn chairs, sleeping at night on air mattresses in a ‘tent’ made of moving boxes and bed sheets. It was time to start furnishing their new home. Jane had enjoyed having Lisbon’s company while looking at houses, so he asked her to help him and Charlotte pick out furniture the first Saturday afternoon after the move. Lisbon was glad to help, feeling like getting the Jane family settled had somehow become her favorite hobby.
At the furniture showroom, Jane’s first goal, of course, was to find a couch for his living room. Lisbon suggested a large navy sectional covered in velvety microfiber and Charlotte agreed, stretching out on it and rubbing the fabric. Jane, though, was drawn to a camel color leather sofa, much like a new version of the one at the CBI. He sat down on it and sighed. Lisbon knew immediately that Jane had to have it, so she whispered to Charlotte, “I think your daddy really wants that one. Why don’t we find a couple chairs that will go with it?” She saw a couple navy microfiber swivel side chairs and pointed them out to Charlotte. “What do you think of those?” Charlotte was a fan of chairs she could move in while she sat, or rather slouched way down so that her feet reached the floor to push herself around. Lisbon then found an area rug with navy and camel colors.
Meanwhile, Jane had hardly moved except to rest his head on the back of the couch, close his eyes, and smile contentedly.
Lisbon walked over to him and smirked. “Jane, I know you could live on that couch, but your house really needs a few more items. How about a pair of the chairs Charlotte is sitting in and this area rug to get your living room started?”
Jane huffed and dramatically dragged himself off the couch to look at Lisbon’s suggestions and smiled. “Perfect,” he said.
After picking out a contemporary wood dining table and chairs, they headed to the bedroom department. Charlotte had already decided that her bedroom was going to be pink, so she ran straight to a pink canopy bed, jumped into it, and rolled around.
“You seem to like that one,” commented her dad, winking at Lisbon. “Let’s just make sure the mattress is good. Lisbon, would you try it out?”
Lisbon rolled her eyes but lay down beside Charlotte, who snuggled next to her. “Isn’t it the best bed in the world?” Lisbon gave her a squeeze and said, “It just might be.” She noticed Jane watching them with a warm smile that made her blush, so she got up and told him the mattress was fine. They completed their essential furniture shopping by looking at beds for the master bedroom. A salesclerk approached, introduced herself to Jane, and asked what type of mattress he was looking for.
“King size, medium firm,” he said.
“You might sleep better on a softer mattress, more like the couch,” Lisbon teased her insomniac consultant.
“What about you, Mrs. Jane?” asked the salesclerk. Charlotte giggled and both Lisbon and Jane blushed.
“No, I’m not…,” said Lisbon.
“You really should both try it out to be sure it works for both of you,” continued the clueless salesclerk.
“Well, a second opinion couldn’t hurt,” teased Jane with a devilish grin as he lay down on the mattress, scooted over, and patted the space next to him.
Lisbon’s pulse quickened for just an instant, but then she shot back, “You’re right,” picking up Charlotte and tossing her gently on the bed.
As they laughed on the bed, Lisbon explained to the salesclerk, “We’re just friends.”
Jane wrapped up his purchase of a medium soft mattress, after trying one out, and a contemporary wood bedframe.
Leaving the store with arrangements to have all the furniture delivered on Monday, Jane said, “Thank you, Lisbon. I can’t tell you how much easier and more fun you’ve made this whole process.”
Lisbon said, “I’ve had fun, too.”
“Me too,” said Charlotte. “Thanks, Auntie Treesa.”
That was the first time Charlotte had called her that and she was touched. She and Jane looked at each other, both a little misty-eyed.
XXX
On the house tour, Lisbon admired all the large and small changes Jane had made since moving in. The furniture they’d picked out worked perfectly in the space, and Jane had filled in smaller items like shelves, plants, a coffee table, a flatscreen TV over the fireplace currently behind Charlotte’s banner, and a chest of drawers and nightstands in his bedroom. The walls were still mostly bare, because Jane was an art connoisseur and he needed time to pick the right pieces, and he hadn’t gotten around to furnishing the guest bedroom/office yet, but the place was really becoming a home for him and Charlotte.
The last room on the tour was Charlotte’s, and it was her dream room, with the walls painted a pale pink, her pink canopy bed, gauzy white curtains, and an abundance of fairy lights. Charlotte eagerly pointed out her ‘warming’ present from Auntie Sam and Uncle Pete, a large plush elephant she of course had named Daisy.
“Remember Daisy at the carnival, Dad?” said Ben.
“I sure do. That was one hungry animal,” said Rigsby
“Takes one to know one,” commented Cho.
Jane clapped his hands together and said, “Speaking of which, I have hamburgers and hot dogs ready to put on the grill. What are your orders?”
After everyone placed their orders, the guys did their guy thing and gathered around the grill on the patio with Jane, while the kids played cornhole in the yard, more or less by the rules.
Lisbon and Van Pelt stayed inside to set the table and drink some wine.
“It’s good to see Jane really settling in,” observed Van Pelt.
“Yeah,” agreed Lisbon. “I wasn’t sure how he’d adjust to the ‘real world,’ but he’s so intent on giving Charlotte a normal childhood that it seems to be working.”
“It must help that she’s adjusting so well. I pick her and Ben up from daycare now and then, and they have really hit it off.”
Lisbon glanced out at the kids who were by then running up to the board to throw their bags in the hole. “That’s for sure.”
After setting the table, the women wandered out to the living room and looked at some of the framed photos on Jane’s shelves. Lisbon recognized a grayscale photo of the carnival’s Ferris wheel. Then Van Pelt said, “Look, this must be Angela when Charlotte was a baby.”
Lisbon picked up the photo of the young mother holding her newborn with a broad smile, and she felt a pang. It should have been Angela looking at houses and picking out furniture with Jane. She wondered how Jane felt settling down without her.
Just then Jane walked in with a platter of burgers and hot dogs and said, “Dinner is ready, ladies.” He saw Lisbon looking at the photo and noted her discomfort as she quickly set it back on the shelf. Lisbon and Van Pelt got the salads they’d brought out of the refrigerator and set them on the table, while Jane placed the platter of meat along with a basket of buns and a platter of trimmings next to them.
Cho and Rigsby brought the kids in and soon everyone was sitting around the table. Rigsby raised his beer in a toast, “To Jane and Charlotte, may they always enjoy life in their new home.”
“To Jane and Charlotte,” said all the guests, clinking their assorted bottles, cans, and glasses.
XXX
After dinner, the kids went to Charlotte’s room to play on her electronic dance mat, while Jane guessed and opened his housewarming gifts.
He picked up the hardware store bag from Cho.
“Gardening tools?” Cho nodded.
“Perfect,” said Jane. “I’ve never had a yard, and this one definitely needs some work. Thanks!”
Then he picked up a heavy long flat package from Rigsby.
“Fireplace tools?” Rigsby rolled his eyes and nodded.
“Thanks, man. Again, I’ve never had a fireplace, and I haven’t used it yet, but I will put these to good use when the weather gets chillier.”
Next, he picked up a large light rectangular box from Van Pelt.
“Hmm. Towels or a blanket?” Van Pelt sighed and nodded.
Jane opened the box and found a luxurious handwoven navy throw.
“Van Pelt, this is wonderful. Thank you. However did you know my color scheme?” he said with a grin at Lisbon.
Jane picked up a fairly heavy square box from Lisbon and looked at her closely, while she tried not to give anything away.
“Some kitchen appliance, a food processor? No, an ice cream maker. Of course, you know Charlotte and I have a fondness for ice cream. Thank you so much. I promise to invite you all over for make-your-own sundaes when I have the supplies.”
Jane began to thank them all for their gifts, when he noticed Lisbon and Rigsby exchanging glances.
“We all chipped in for one special housewarming gift for Charlotte,” said Lisbon. “Rigsby, Cho, will you bring it in?”
Jane finally looked surprised. He went down the hall to get Charlotte, while Cho and Rigsby went out to his SUV and got out a large box.
Van Pelt held the door as they brought in the heavy box and set it down.
“Charlotte, this is your housewarming gift from everyone,” said Jane. “Go ahead, open it.”
Charlotte started to carefully remove the wrapping paper and then just ripped it, revealing a picture of the box’s contents—a white art table and chairs with storage bins and art supplies galore.
“Wow. Daddy, look,” said Charlotte, clearly thrilled.
“Wow, indeed,” said Jane, overwhelmed by his friends’ generosity. “This is… You are so…”
Cho and Rigsby patted Jane on the back, while Van Pelt pointed out all of the special features in the picture to Charlotte and Ben. After a moment, Jane said, “Thank you all so much for everything. You are such good friends.”
XXX
A few hours later, the party over, the kitchen cleaned, and Charlotte asleep, Jane stretched out on his couch and thought about how much his life had changed in just three months. He had gotten out of the carnie life, found a good job, made a real home for Charlotte, and found some wonderful new friends. He was a lucky man.
As happened often these days, his thoughts drifted to Teresa. As was her preference, he called her Lisbon in person, but in the privacy of his thoughts, and dreams, she was Teresa. He remembered her discomfort when he saw her looking at Angela’s picture. He knew she thought she’d been infringing on Angela’s territory in some sense. It’s true he’d often thought about how Angela would have enjoyed the last three months, but he’d never thought of Teresa as infringing, but rather as helping fulfill Angela’s wishes for her family.
He was happy to see Charlotte beginning to bond with Teresa, and he couldn’t deny that she was awakening feelings in him that he hadn’t felt for any woman since Angela. He was almost certain she was interested in him, too, but he wanted to wait just a little while before asking her out on a real date. Charlotte needed a chance to adjust to starting school before she had to adjust to her dad dating. Then there was that stupid CBI policy against coworkers’ dating. He’d seen how hard it had been on Rigsby and Van Pelt to keep their relationship a secret, albeit an open secret. He was sure even Teresa knew about it and simply chose not to acknowledge it so that she didn’t have to force one of them to transfer. Still, he had no doubt that it was one thing for Teresa to overlook someone else’s forbidden relationship and entirely another to engage in one herself. A relationship with Teresa might be complicated, but, more and more, he knew he wanted one.