{Author's Note: There are only a few chapters left to the story after this one.}
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After things had calmed down following Mort's visit during Sunday breakfast Jessica suggested, "We have time to make it to early service, and after service help me move some of my things out of the closets and bedroom dresser to make room. Then we can gather up your clothes and accessories and put them neatly away."
"Woman, you are far too organized and industrious for a Sunday morning!"
Nevertheless, Seth was hustled out of the house to church and afterwards the duo cleared space in the house's closets and drawers before making several trips to Seth's former residence.
They managed to gather a large portion of his essentials into the house on Candlewood Lane and stow them away. Late that afternoon, during their final trip for the day, Seth was gathering up a last box of odds and ends while Jessica was busy carefully wrapping and packing any delicate glassware or tchockies that she found.
Completing her task, she came from the kitchen into the office portion of the house and found Seth standing next to a nearly full box of knick-knacks on his desk and looking at something he held in his hand. His back was turned and she came up alongside him to find him holding the picture of a smiling Ruth cuddling a chubby baby Susan in her arms. He had a sad smile on his face and his fingers were spread across the heads of the mother and child; his first wife, long gone, and dear daughter - now a mother, herself. Heaving a heavy sigh he tucked the frame haphazardly into the box of odds and ends, joining several others already there.
"Hmm," said Jessica softly, causing Seth to turn to her, a little surprised at her presence. "Those might break in there. Here, let me wrap them up and put them with the glassware, they'll be safer."
"Okay, I guess. I've got several of these old pictures. I'll have to find somewhere to stow them."
"Oh, you can't do that! True love never dies and the memory of it shouldn't be hidden away. It becomes a part of us - the best part - and lives on in everyone whose life we touch in turn. These pictures are family, and friends - people you've loved and who've loved you. They deserve a place of honor. We can make room on the fireplace mantle for them."
She earnestly continued to plead her case. "They'll fit right in with the picture of Frank and me, and photos of Grady as a youngster, and of little Frank, along with Grady and Donna's wedding pictures."
"How about if we put them there? It will be the perfect place for them, since love unites us all."
Blinking away his suddenly blurred vision, Seth brightened and then put his arms around Jessica, drawing her in for a close hug. "That's a wonderful idea," he huskily said into her hair, "and a very kind and thoughtful one, thank you dearest."
"There's nothing to thank me for. We live there now and you need to have the things that make it home to you, too."
Seth drew back a little and leaned his forehead against hers. "I already do. I have you," he said before moving in for a sweet kiss. "We'll have to add some pictures of our memories, too."
"Right you are!" agreed Jessica. "Let's start by taking along a camera when we go up to Bar Harbor. Too bad we didn't think of it for South Carolina."
"True, but I'm sure those memories will live forever in our minds - and our hearts," asserted Seth with a twinkle in his eye.
"Oh, my! Yes, they certainly will!" chuckled Jessica as she returned the kiss, with interest.
Coming home with the last two boxes, Jessica and Seth set them before the small fireplace and she arranged the extra pictures amidst the frames already on the mantle. "See, they all tuck in perfectly," said Jessica as she tilted the last print slightly into its place.
"They do at that," agreed Seth as he smiled at the melange on the small ledge. "Speaking about 'tucked in,' I'm about all tuckered out. How about sandwiches for dinner and then bed?"
"Sounds like a good idea to me," nodded Jessica, fighting back a yawn at the mere suggestion of bed.
After delectable ham and swiss on rye sandwiches, accompanied by small garden salads, they both retired to rest from their very productive day, snuggled up together with the comforting heart-felt understanding that this was indeed now, their home.
... ... ... ... ...
Early morning light filtered through the curtains and gave a cheery glow to the bedroom as the couple roused from their slumber.
After morning kisses and breakfast were over Seth inquired, "Are you sure you don't want me to drive you to the library, Jess?"
"No, thank you anyway. I'll just pop my workbag into the basket of my bike and ride there. I need the exercise. I'm going to hide out in the side room so I won't be disturbed. There's a computer there that I'll have all to myself, if I'm lucky. I may be a while, but I'll certainly be home in time to start dinner."
"I know I don't need to encourage you, but enjoy yourself among the books," said Seth as he gave her a good-bye kiss and waved her out the back door.
Humming tunelessly to himself, Seth got busy putting away several boxes of small things into various drawers. As he finished his chore a few hours later he reflected with some satisfaction, There! Now I just hope I can remember where I put everything…
His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the phone. "Hello?" he spoke into the handset.
"Doc? Hi, it's Andy down at the sheriff's office. Is Mrs. Fletcher, er, Hazlitt there by any chance?"
"No, she's off at the library. Is there something I can help you with?"
"I don't know. I've got a prisoner here from out of town who lost his identification and says that either Mort or Jessica can identify him. Of course, the sheriff is gone for the rest of the week and this fellow insists that I ask your wife to vouch for him. I really hate to bother you two on your honeymoon but I can't get this guy to shut up!"
"Can't you call his local police department for help?" suggested Seth.
"He says he's from Boston, but the storm is hitting there right now and I haven't had any luck getting through. Neither did he with his one phone call. I'd let him sit in lock up until his court date but if he really is a friend of Jessica's she may want to bail him out."
"She didn't want to be disturbed," explained Seth, "but tell me what this fellow's name is and what he looks like and I'll go ask her."
While listening closely to Andy's description, a small bell started jangling in Seth's head. "Tell me Andy, does this man look kind of roughed up, by any chance?"
"Yeah, he got into a scuffle with another guy and his girlfriend and he's bruised up a little, a black eye and some scratches. Nothing major."
Shaking his head a little Seth thought, A-yuh, it's another one. I sure hope at least this fellow doesn't call her 'dearheart!'
Seth replied into the phone, "I think I know who he is. I'm not going to bother Jessica. I'll come down myself and post his bail. See you in a little while." Now, into which drawer did I put the emergency cash? he wondered as he hung up the phone.
With bail money in pocket Seth walked into the sheriff's office. "Hello, Andy," he greeted.
Getting up from his desk the deputy answered, "Hello, Doc. Listen, I'm really sorry to have bothered you. Thanks for coming down to have a look at this guy. He's here in the first cell." He picked up a heavy set of keys as he led Seth into the holding area. Looking down at the dark-haired, disheveled man sitting on the cot he informed him, "You've got a visitor. Let me know when you're done Doc," the lawman advised as he turned for the door.
"Doctor!" came a loud voice as the man stood up and came to the bars. "I'm not hurt that bad - I don't need a doctor. You know, I never thought I'd actually miss Metzger, or that Floyd fellow," he muttered to himself. Staring brashly at Andy he gritted out, "I told you that I wanted to see Jessica Fletcher."
"I've got this Andy, thank you," offered Seth.
"He's all yours Doc. Let me know if you need me." Andy glared back at the tall, squarely built inmate.
"Now then, suppose you tell me who you are and how you know Jessica?" sternly demanded Seth while taking in the blackened eye, bruised cheek, and skinned knuckles.
"Don't doctors usually ask, 'How do you feel?' first?" came the snippy reply. "But okay, since deputy diligent over there didn't introduce us, I'm Harry McGraw. I'm a private investigator out of New York. That's where I first met Jessica."
"That's when she helped you with a matter with your old partner, Archie Miles, isn't it?"
"Yeah, she was a client of Archie's and later helped nail his killer. Hey, how did you know that? Say, who are you, anyway?" the P.I. asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm doctor Seth Hazlitt. Jessica's husband."
"Whoa! Jessica got married? I haven't talked to her in ages and I've been on the road for a while tracking these low-lifes. When did this happen?" a very surprised Harry McGraw asked.
"Just last week. What do they have you in here for?"
Shrugging off a lot of attitude, McGraw straightened up and answered in a more civil tone, "I was working a case, tracking a woman who was heading for her sister's place in Yarmouth. I figured she'd take the short cut and catch a ferry over to Canada from one of the docks along the coast. She made off with her much older, and richer, husband's valuable rare coin collection and a pile of cash. He hired me to find her and pay her off to get the coins back."
"Well, I had just caught up with her on the outskirts of town, at the Starlight Motel, when this dame's boyfriend took exception to the fact that I'd found her - with him, and jumped me. We had a ten knuckle discussion about it, and I was winning the argument when the dame clocked me from behind with something." He gingerly touched the back of his head.
"When I came to, my wallet was missing and the constable over there hauled me in for busting up the place. The owner wants his pound of flesh and he doesn't care who he gets it from. I couldn't prove who I was, and wouldn't you know it, Metzger's out of town, so I asked for Jessica."
"A-yuh, as I recall the story she told me, you've been in Cabot Cove before - something about a manuscript from one of Jessica's friends, I believe."
"Yeah, that's right. Hey, she told you about me!"
"She did indeed. Hold on, while I go and arrange to get you out of here. Oh, and by the way, it might help your case if you were a little more polite to the deputy."
"Yeah, yeah. You're right. I just hate being locked up!"
Again, you mean… Seth thought as he stepped into the other room to make the necessary arrangements.
When they walked out the door of the Sheriff's Office Harry looked up at the blue sky and took a deep breath. "Ahhhhh, lemme tell you, freedom never smelled so good. How can I thank you for saving my skin?"
"Come on over to the house," invited Seth. "I'm sure Jessica would like to see you again and catch up, and I'd better have a look at that bump on your head and those other abrasions."
"That'd be great," Harry agreed as they walked over to the station wagon. "You know Doc, Jess told me some about you too, back in the day. Lemme see, how did she put it; she was forever amazed that her best friend had so much patience over the chess board, where he often won, but so little patience when it came to fishing, were he usually lost…"
"Hah!" Seth barked a sharp laugh as he stopped and looked up to find the private eye grinning at him. "Well, I can't agree with that summary. But then, I can't argue with it either!"
"Hah, hah, hah, hah," chortled Harry. "You know, you're okay, Doc," he said slapping him lightly on the shoulder.
"Thanks, and it's Seth. Have you eaten yet?"
"No, and my stomach thinks that my throat's been cut. I sure could put on the old feed bag."
"Good. Then you can help me cook dinner."
"Hey, I'm good in the kitchen. Harlan's Momma taught him right. What're we having?"
"Herb roasted chicken with wild rice stuffing, and a Caesar salad," Seth informed him as they got in the car and started back to the house. "You do the salad."
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Jessica sighed deeply as she sat back in her chair, took off her glasses, and rubbed her eyes. Then she picked up the ream of paper and tapped its bottom onto the desk, neatening all the corners, before adding a secure clip and laying it back down.
Done! And I'll just make my original deadline if I drop it off at the post office on my way home, she reflected with some pride as she contentedly patted the top page. I'll have to remember to send the electronic version, too. It certainly is easier, but after that time two chapters disappeared into the ether I'm not taking any chances. Let me just make of copy of this before I go home.
Home! Oh dear, look at the time, she cringed, glancing at the brass trimmed, mahogany combination ship's clock and lamp sitting close by on the desk. And I promised Seth I'd start dinner. Well, he knows how to cook - we won't starve. A small smile curved her lips as she mused, We've only been apart a few hours, yet I miss him. Ah, it's wonderful to be in love again… Well, the sooner I mail this the sooner I get back to my beloved.
Jean, the librarian, rolled up to Jessica as she was gathering her things together, along with the spare copy. "Done for the day, Jessica?"
"I certainly am, and thanks again for letting me use this side room." After saying farewell Jessica left the library and walked over to where her bicycle stood in the rack. With her soft leather case secured in the front basket she pedaled off down the street to post a thick manilla envelope and then wended her way home.
Leaning the trusty iron steed near the back door she smelled the delicious aroma of a roasting chicken wafting through the air. Oh, good. Seth did start dinner, she noted as she plucked her work case out of the basket. What a happy surprise.
But she was really surprised at the sound of a robust male voice that started singing "Funiculì, Funiculà" at the top of his lungs, only to be joined by Seth's unmistakable low timbre.
Stepping quickly through the mud room she passed over the open kitchen threshold to find Seth, wearing a paisley apron, bent over at the open oven, busy basting a golden bird and singing away. A tall, vaguely familiar stranger stood at the kitchen table with his back to her, wearing her favorite pink ruffled apron and tossing a salad with two spoons while he also belted out the Neapolitan aria.
A partly empty bottle of good brandy was in the center of the table, accompanied by two glasses, and immediately explained some of the mystery.
"Yeah, that was the song my Mom used to sing when she was cooking. Hey, I hope you like garlic, I put it into the dressing as well as rubbing the bowl with it," said the man at the table after the first stanza ended, while Jessica stood and stared wide-eyed and open mouthed at the strange scene in her kitchen.
"Hoping to keep the vampires away?" joked Seth as he straightened up and saw his wife standing in the doorway. "Jessica! Hi, honey. I didn't hear you come in!" Seth claimed as he quickly moved over and gave her a big hug and a kiss. "I've got a surprise for you," he whispered into her ear.
Pulling away, he stepped to the side as an elated Harry McGraw fairly shouted, "Jessica! You're a sight for sore eyes!" as he enveloped her in a bear hug.
"Harry?! What on earth are you doing here in my apron?" a still stunned Jessica managed to squeak out when she could breath again.
"We flipped for it, and Seth got first pick. Why? Don't you think I look pretty in pink?" the hardened private investigator teased as he swished the frilly hem of the apron to and fro in front of her.
Seth roared with laughter and Harry gave over to loud guffaws as they beheld the bewildered look on Jessica's face.
Jessica dropped her head into her right hand, shaking it slightly, and quietly uttered, "Dear me - and there's two of them. I think I just might need some of that brandy tonight," before looking up and joining in the merriment.
Eventually, they all settled down to dinner and Harry was finishing up giving Jessica a short summary of how he happened to turn up in their kitchen.
"Lemme tell you, Jessica. Your guy there is a prince in my book. Not only does he get me out of the pokey, he fixes me up just like new, and then waters and feeds me." Putting his hand to his mouth and leaning toward Jessica he added in a stage voice, "You might want to keep him..."
Smiling directly at Seth, Jessica replied, "Oh, I fully intend to do just that!" Seth beamed a smile back at her.
"So," Harry continued, "Seth here tells me you were at the library finishing up your latest yarn." Turning to the doctor he added, "You know, years ago I tried to talk Jessica into becoming my partner. I told her to stop screwing around with those stupid books and get to work! I'd be the the knuckles and she'd be the brains. We would have made a good team but I think she, maybe, made the right decision," he finished, as he looked back at Jessica with a grin, and winked.
"Well, I certainly think so," agreed Seth with a twinkle in his eyes.
The rest of the dinner was a fun affair, full of good food, and lively tales of past adventures. The trio lingered at the table long after their meal was finished.
The ringing of the phone interrupted them. "I'll get that," offered Jessica as she rose and picked up the receiver from the kitchen wall set. "Hello? Oh, hello Andy. Ah, that's good to hear. Yes, he's right here, just one moment. Harry, it's Andy from the Sheriff's Office."
Harry stepped up to the phone and mostly listened to the deputy in charge. He asked a few questions and then heartily thanked the officer.
"Hey, good news! They caught the woman in question and her boyfriend. It seems that there was a maid passing by the window who saw the guy throw the first punch and then the dame clobber me from behind. The wife's agreed to give up the coin collection, which is the only thing her soon-to-be-former, husband actually cares about, and will pay all the damages if I agree to drop any charges."
"Oh yeah, they also found my wallet and all my ID. I can collect it and the coin set and be off for home in the morning. The deputy wants me to get over to the Sheriff's Office right away though, so I'll have to say good night, and thanks a million for dinner and everything!"
"That's great news, Harry," provided Jessica. "You'll need a ride," chimed in Seth. "Let me get my keys."
While Seth went into the other room Harry came over to Jessica and took her hands in his. "It's been great seeing you again. You look just wonderful, you seem to be glowing - it must be with happiness."
Giving him a bear hug to rival the one he gave her Jessica replied, "Thank you, Harry. I promise we won't be strangers; we'll get together whenever Seth and I visit Boston. We'll be having a reception soon, probably in August. You will come back up for it, won't you?"
"Kiddo, I wouldn't miss it for the world!" he said, giving her cheek a small peck.
"Ready to go, Harry?" asked Seth as he walked up.
As they were leaving, Harry waved a final good-bye to Jessica and Seth gave her a quick kiss. "I'll be back just as soon as I can. After all, we need to pack for our trip up to Bar Harbor tomorrow morning."
"And the continuance of our honeymoon," she whispered back to him with an impish smile.
"Oooh, yes. Let me go and hurry back, then!" Seth said, kissing her again, and then dashing out the door.
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{A/N: the references above are related to two excellent episodes featuring Harry McGraw: "Tough Guys Don't Die"; Season 1, Episode 16 and "The Skinny According to Nick Cullhane"; Season 7, episode 22.}