A/N Thank you PerryLovesDella for betaing.

Chapter Three

Standing at Jessica's front door, now that he had actually done it, Seth was a little uncertain. Buying someone else a living creature really was a no no.

Rather than give himself time to really begin to reconsider his actions, Seth quickly rang the doorbell.

The smell of the tantalizing taste treat that was her brisket began wafting out as soon as she opened the door.

Still drying her hands with the towel from the kitchen, she smiled and referencing his frequent complaint, asked him. "Did you forget where the backdoor was? The one that I never lock?"

Seeing the awkward way he was holding himself with his hands behind his back - obviously concealing something, Jessica asked. "What's this?"

Seth hesitated, but only for a moment.

From behind his back, he brought out the cage that he had bought back at the rummage sale. The little bow he had put on it was looking a little worse for wear given the pecking it had received from the little yellow canary inside on the drive over.

Jessica gave a little gasp. Thankfully, she looked not just surprised, but clearly delighted.

Seth told her. "Looking after your bird when you are away isn't an imposition. When you have plans to be out of town for a few weeks, he can come stay at my house."

The look of gratitude she gave him had him shuffling his feet a bit.

Seth suggested. "We should get him inside before he catches cold."

Jessica took the cage and put it on the little table while Seth went back to his car to retrieve the stand and the cover that Jessica had sewn to perfectly match her parlor drapes.

Coming back in, Seth smiled watching her trying to coax the bird into chirping.

She looked absolutely enchanted by the bird.

Seth found himself just as enchanted.

Suddenly, Jessica remembered. "The brisket!"

As she started to stand, Seth, already on his feet, put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. "I'll take care of the brisket. You two keep getting acquainted."

Before he could turn to go, putting her hand over the one of his that was on her shoulder, Jessica told him. "Seth, thank you."

A bit bold of him, before hurrying off to the kitchen, kissing her on the cheek, Seth confessed. "I rather like you feeling obligated to hurry back here, back home to Cabot Cove, as soon as you can."

Finis

A/N Reviews are greatly appreciated.