{It's the day after their wedding. Let's see what our favorite Cabot Cove newlyweds are up to...}
... ... ... ... ...
Jessica slowly drifted toward consciousness driven by the chill she felt along her right shoulder and arm. Reflexively she snuggled closer to the source of heat radiating against the ventral aspect of her body.
Then the heat source protectively tucked the blanket up closer around her.
Mmmm, Seth, was her first thought of the day.
Gently Jessica smoothed her cheek against the nest of curly white hair that adorned her new husband's chest.
So soft, floated into her thoughts as she slowly opened her eyes to the faint light of pre-dawn gloaming through the bedroom window curtain. A smile crept across her face as warm memories of the night before came back to her and a soft giggle inadvertently slipped from her lips.
"You're having way too much fun there all by yourself, Jess," reverberated a bear-like voice from under her ear.
"Oh Seth, I didn't mean to wake you!" said Jessica tilting her head up slightly to look into his smiling face.
"That's all right, I just hope whatever you were giggling about was a happy memory."
"The best ever!" replied Jessica with an impish grin.
"Well, in that case, good morning, wife," greeted Seth as he tilted his head down.
"Good morning, husband," returned Jessica as she reached up to capture Seth's lips in a sweet kiss.
"What a wonderful thing to hear," he breathed as he returned her kiss.
After their lips parted Jessica murmured, "As well as to say," resting her head back against his chest. The faint light through the window drew her attention again and she inhaled sharply as she looked carefully at the sky.
"Seth, get up and come with me. There's something I want you to see," cajoled Jessica untangling her legs and rising from his arms.
"Do we have to get up to see whatever it is? It's so nice and warm right here."
"This will be worth it," replied Jessica as she quickly donned her satin robe and slippers against the chill of the waning night. "But time is of the essence," she insisted while holding Seth's plaid wrapper up for him.
Begrudgingly, Seth left the toasty bed and slid his arms into the robe Jessica held for him. He mumbled only a little as he tied the sash around his waist and, after sliding bare feet into slippers, followed Jessica down the hall and into the spare bedroom.
Jessica moved over to the east window and drew the curtains aside. Then she motioned for Seth to join her sitting on the side of the bed.
Settling in close and putting his arm around her waist Seth asked, "Now what is it you want me to see that you dragged us from a nice warm bed to sit in this chilly room and stare out the window when it's not even dawn yet?"
"Patience, Seth. It'll only be a few more minutes and it'll be worth a few shivers," she replied, leaning against him for warmth.
In response Seth reached back and drew up the opposite side of the bedspread and underlying quilt and wrapped the end around his and Jessica's shoulders and snugged it across her legs.
"Oh, that's better. Thank you dearest."
Seth smiled broadly, "I like it when you call me that," he said as he leaned in for a kiss.
"More of this later," chuckled Jessica after returning the buss. "If we're not careful we'll miss it. Ah, look there, over the ocean. It's starting," she instructed as she gazed out of the window.
Seth followed her line of view and noted the deep purple on the horizon of the Sea beginning to give way to a rosy band of pink that stretched as far as one could see from left to right.
"If I recall my mythology correctly that's Aurora's Belt, isn't it?" asked Seth.
"You're right, of course. But the real treat is what comes next. It's rare that there are so many cirrus clouds in this particular stacked pattern in the sky at dawn - we're in for a show."
As they sat cuddled together, wrapped in the spare bed's covers and looking out over the gathering dawn Seth asked, "Do you often come here to wait for the goddess of the Dawn?"
"Not really - only a dozen times or so. I just happened to be in here early one morning several years ago when the conditions were right and ever since then if I noticed those clouds stacked up like cordwood in the predawn sky I'd come up here to admire God's handiwork." Glancing shyly at Seth she continued, "I've never shared this with anyone before."
Deeply touched by her admission Seth reached over and took Jessica's hand. Gazing lovingly into her eyes he brought the back of the hand to his lips and held it there for a moment before cradling it against his heart. "Then we'll watch it together whenever we can. I love you, Jess," was all he could manage to say.
But it was enough. Jessica squeezed his hand gently and blinked the moisture from her eyes before replying, "I'm so glad you're here with me. I love you too, Seth," before leaning in and kissing him warmly on the lips.
They drew back from the kiss and sat smiling into each other's eyes when Seth noticed a rosy glow on Jessica's face. Before he could comment on it Jessica said, "Ah! It's happening. Look there," she directed him as she nodded toward the window.
Seth turned his head and gasped in delight. The brightening light over the horizon revealed endless feathery threads of clouds lined up across the sky from high overhead down to the bottom. The cirrus clouds, normally white in the daytime, reflected the sun just before it broke the curvature of the earth and glowed a fiery red against the medium blue twilight of the sky. Minute by minute the color intensified as dawn drew nearer until the whole sky seemed to be aflame in slashing vibrant red feathery strokes.
Seth gaped in amazement as Nature's light show continued and noticed that the background sky was brightening from its dusky blue as the intensely red clouds morphed into gold stripes before fading to fleecy white as Aurora's brother, Sol, finally began peeping over the distant horizon.
"Wow! That was amazing!" he exclaimed as he turned to Jessica. "I've never seen anything like it in my life!"
"It takes my breath away each time. I'm glad you found it worth a few shivers."
"Shivers, I'm downright toasty after watching that," replied Seth. "But you're not," he noted feeling the coldness in Jessica's fingers, still held to his heart. "Here, honey - let me warm you up," he offered as he turned his body to hers and drew Jessica into a full-on hug.
Jessica snuggled into Seth's embrace and tucked her chin into the crook of his neck as she slid her arms around him. The feel of his rough whiskers caused her to giggle.
"You are just the happiest thing in the morning, aren't you," commented Seth with a smile.
"I can't help it - your beard tickles."
Purposely rubbing his cheek against her, Seth impishly said, "Does it now... Well, I love to hear you laugh, so…"
"Seth!" giggled Jessica again. "Stop that!"
"Beg me."
"Please, stop..., giggle, that..., snort," pled a mirthful Jessica.
"Okay, but it'll cost you another kiss," bargained Seth as he drew his head back.
"Such a deal!" agreed Jessica as she pressed her lips fully against his.
Taken by her enthusiasm, Seth responded by deepening the kiss and the passion that had engulfed them the night before flared again. They willingly succumbed to its enticement.
... ... ... ... ...
Waking sometime later wrapped warmly in the bedspread and blanket Jessica saw the glow from the now risen sun reflected in Seth's face. Smoothing the hair that had fallen across his forehead back and running slender fingers down his cheek she purred, "Why Seth, you look so ruggedly handsome in the morning."
"Thank you dearest," a gratified Seth replied. "That sounds so much better than 'an ungroomed bum'!"
Jessica chortled, "For goodness' sake. I meant it as a compliment!"
"I know, Jess. I know. I just enjoy teasing you. Especially in the morning."
"And at lunchtime, and in the afternoon, and at dinner, and in the evening,…"
"A-yuh, and it gets you laughing and that warms you up! So it's good for you," reasoned Seth. "You're not cold anymore, are you?"
"No, but I wouldn't attribute that to your teasing," she replied with a raised eyebrow as she leaned in for a soft kiss. "We should get up, after all we do have a plane to catch to start our honeymoon."
"Any guesses on where we're going yet, Sherlock Hazlitt?" asked Seth as he threw back the covers.
"A few preliminary thoughts, but as my namesake expressed; 'Data! Data! Data!,…. I can't make bricks without clay.'" Quoted Jessica in an excellent rendition of an English accent.
After bathing and dressing Seth was sitting at the kitchen table sipping coffee while Jessica rummaged around in the freezer.
"Everything in here is as hard as a rock," noted a chagrined Jessica who then securely closed the door. "We're even out of bread, so there'll be no toast. Let's just stop out for a quick breakfast on our way to the airport in Portland. I don't know if you've heard yet, but the old Joshua Peabody Restaurant has re-opened."
"A-yuh, I did hear about that. They've reopened a restaurant named for someone who never existed!"
"Oh Seth, don't start with that again," said Jessica while rolling her eyes. "Besides, Amos Tupper isn't here to argue the point with you and I just don't care about it that much."
Seth went to the sink and queried as he rinsed out his mug, "Speaking of which, are we going to invite old Amos to our reception?"
"He's not been back to visit since he retired down to Kentucky to live with his sister. We still write, but I'd like to see him again. You and he bickered a bit but wouldn't you like to see him again, too?"
"Actually, I kind of really would," admitted Seth ruefully. "I just hope that he doesn't bring that whole family of his with him. What a bunch! I'll never forget that time you cooked your marvelous Seafood Feast for those ingrates."
"I don't think anyone will ever forget the barbitals in the clam chowder. No matter how hard we try," replied Jessica shaking her head.
"All right, then. Let's add him to the guest list," grinned Seth back at her. "In fact, we'll tell him that he was at the top of our list. That should make his day."
After cleaning up they grabbed their suitcases, closed up the house, and headed out to Seth's car for the short drive to the Joshua Peabody Restaurant.
As he came around the rear of the station wagon to open the back hatch Seth was surprised to find the large "FINALLY MARRIED" sign attached there. Jessica, coming up behind him, burst out laughing when she saw it.
After a moment, Seth got over being stunned and felt his mouth twitching into a grin and then joined Jessica with his own guffaws.
"So that's why Mort was so eager to drop your car off at the Dockside," deduced Jessica.
"A-yuh, and his next physical is going to involve an ice cold stethescope," chortled Seth as he tore the poster off before dropping open the trunk door and stowing away their luggage.
A few minutes drive brought them to the newly re-opened eatery. "I see they have a new sign," noted Seth as he pulled into the parking lot. "I hope they have a new cook, too. That last one was a real flakey type."
"It's been years, so I'm sure they do," said Jessica as they entered the eatery. As they were being led to their booth many patrons offered their best wishes to the newlyweds.
Shortly after being seated in the comfortable enclosure a waitress, dressed in period garb from the 18th century, promptly took their orders for coffee, scrambled eggs, sausage, orange juice, and toast and had just walked away when Peter, the new owner, approached their table.
"Jessica, Doc! Congrats on your wedding," enthused Peter as he came close.
"Thank you, Peter. And congratulations to you on your new restaurant," graciously replied Jessica.
"You've done a nice job refitting it Peter," added Seth. "I see you've kept the old costumes for the waitresses though."
"Yes, they're not crazy about that, but the tourists like it, so I've kept them. Well, enjoy your breakfast," he wished to them as he left.
Very shortly the waitress returned with arms laden with delicious smelling platters of food. After she arrayed them on the table she added a small bowl of small plastic packets of various jellies.
Seth looked with askance at the contents of the bowl and shook his head sadly. "Guess those home made preserves are a thing of the past."
"Yes, but there's a better chance of these not being poisoned, so you can actually finish your meal this time," cheerfully noted Jessica.
"True, true," acknowledged Seth as they tucked into their breakfasts with gusto.
After a few silent moments dedicated to chewing, Jessica pleasantly sighed, "That's another thing I love about being home. In New York fans come right up and interrupt you while you're eating. No one would dream about doing that here."
"I know you appreciate that," agreed Seth. "But I completely understand the city folk for wanting to be near you, beautiful and brilliant woman that you are."
Rolling her eyes again, Jessica rejoined, "Oh boy, you must be buttering me up for something."
"What? Can't a man compliment his wife?" Seth smiled as he motioned the waitress for the bill.
"Hmmm, okay, let's go with that for now," Jessica replied, returning his grin.
The waitress approached and informed them that breakfast was on the house, compliments of the owner. After thanking her, Seth left a tip and they expressed their gratitude to Peter on their way out.
A short drive brought them to the Portland airport's small terminal for private planes where they found their out of town wedding party waiting for them. Seth was especially happily surprised to see his sister Helene with the group.
"Helene!" he said giving her a big hug. "How wonderful to see you. But, what happened? Did you miss your flight?"
"No Sethie, I have an open ended ticket and Susan and John invited me to stay with them for a couple of days so I told Shelby he'd just have to manage without me a little longer."
"I'm sure that'll be hard for him but I'm so glad to see you again, even if it's for just a little while," effused Seth.
Sethie? Jessica smiled inwardly, storing the knowledge for later.
After hugs and kissed were dispensed all around and all luggage checked, the small group boarded the plane and it left on time for New York.
Once the flight requirements were finished, including an admonishment not to all gather in one spot due to the size of the aircraft, the passengers were free to move about the cabin and everyone began visiting with each other and chatting about how wonderful the wedding and the dinner had been.
"That was really nice how your friends decorated the church's patio for the ceremony," commented Marshall to his sister.
"It was so very sweet," agreed Jessica.
"You're just glowing, sis. It does my heart good to see you so happy," tenderly said Marshall. "I'm glad that you have such a good man in your life again."
"Thank you, Marshall," Jessica responded giving her brother a peck on the cheek. "I am happy. Happier than I've been since, well, since Frank died."
Gathering her in a hug, Marshall looked over at Seth, who was animately chatting with Helene, Susan, and Martin, and he added, "And I think you can say the same for Seth. He looks positively bright and he certainly deserves a good woman like you."
"I'm so glad you could make it," Jessica said as she hugged her eldest brother back. "It means so much to me that everyone dropped everything just so they could join us."
"Hey, that's what family does," Marshall replied smiling into his little sister's eyes.
After the flight attendant had passed out snacks and drinks, Donna whispered to Grady, "I think we'd better do this before it gets too late."
"You're right, honey," Grady said as he guided her over to the front of the plane where Jessica and Seth were admiring the view of the coastline from a port side window.
"Aunt Jess, Uncle Seth," Grady drew their attention. "In fact, everyone…" he called to the others. "We have a brief announcement…" He turned to Donna and smiled lovingly, "You're up."
Jessica looked quizzically at Seth, who kept on his best poker face, and then back to Donna and Grady as Donna grinned and said in a voice filled with joy, "We're expecting again."
Jessica's hands flew to her mouth and her eyes grew wide as moons as the small cabin rang with resounding exclamations of congratulations to the beaming couple.
"Oh, my dear," a tearful Jessica said as she embraced her niece. "How absolutely wonderful! How far along are you?"
"Seven weeks, give or take," replied Grady who was busy extracting himself from the bear hug Seth had given him.
Laughing with glee, Jessica somewhat reluctantly traded Donna to Seth, who gave her a big, knowing wink along with his hug, while Jessica kissed Grady's cheek as they embraced.
"There's more, Aunt Jess. We think that it might be twins!"
Jessica chortled again with glee as she stood in the arms of the man she had raised as a son.
More calls of delight emanated from the group. Eventually, Jessica and Seth released them and Donna and Grady moved along the aisle way collecting best wishes from everyone along the way.
Seth looked into his wife's face and noticed the wetness there. Gently cupping her on either side with his palms he ran his thumbs over her cheeks and dried them before the tears fell.
"I know these are tears of joy, but it's my job now to capture them," he whispered before softly pressing his mouth to hers.
Returning from the rear of the plane Donna and Grady approached them and again drew their attention while the rest of the party discussed the joyous news and reminisced about their own offspring.
"Aunt Jess, Uncle Seth, we have a favor to ask of you," Grady said with a big smile on his face.
"You see, well, even though I love them, well, you've met my parents Aunt Jess, and well…" Donna stuttered. "These babies are also going to need a set of normal grandparents. Just like you've been to little Frank." Donna smiled brightly at Jessica.
Looking from Jessica to Seth, Grady finished, "Would you both please be grandparents to the twins as well?"
"Ohhh!" Jessica cried out while Seth stood speechless. "Of course! Of course we will!"
"We would be honored and delighted!" said Seth, finally finding his voice.
After hugging Grady and Donna again Seth put his arm around Jessica and, drawing her close, mischievously said, "Just think Jess, more little ones to spoil rotten!"
"And he's really good at it, too!" emphatically called out his daughter Susan from the back of the jet. Even the steward joined in as laughter rang throughout the plane while it continued on its way to New York.