AN: Believe it or not the story was actually a lot lighter and pretty much finished except for some editing when posting the first chapter. Then Seth and Ruth had a lot to say, things got more serious, and this chapter wasn't even written. Guess Frank & Jessica needed to talk also. So unexpected drama detour. Always fun when the characters take the reins. Frank & Jessica: A dream? Or a visit from the other side? I'll let you decide what works best for you. Once again, a lot of creative license. And last note for fun if anyone still reading this far, a prize of being able to give me a MSW story prompt for the first reviewer who catches and names the classic movie reference in the story. Thanks as always to those who reviewed.
The waves were crashing against the shore as Jessica strolled barefoot along the sand on the Cabot Cove Inlet, walking towards a familiar location where she and Frank had often had picnics together in their earlier years.
Jessica knew she was in a dream but still felt a moment of surprise when she saw a familiar figure waiting at their usual spot. Her dreams of Frank were rare and often much too short, they were so real she couldn't if they were a dream, or a visit from the afterlife.
She approached the younger version of her husband cautiously, afraid he would disappear as he sometimes did if she ran towards him, but he didn't move, just gave her the familiar easy grin she had loved as she felt her heartbeat quicken. He was dressed in his captain's uniform which she had always found particularly attractive.
"Hey gorgeous," Frank said with his dimples showing as he smiled at her and held his arms out to welcome her approach, though they had dropped by the time she stepped up to the blanket.
"Did I die in my sleep, are you here to take me back with you?" Jessica blurted out the first thing that came to her mind at this new encounter. Feeling an odd mix of hope and alarm at the thought.
She loved the sound of his rich tenor when he laughed, "No honey, you're not coming back with me anytime soon." He said as he motioned for her to sit on the blanket with him.
Jessica continued to drink in the sight of her husband as he had been in his youth, the dark hair, sculpted features, and sparkling blue eyes. She had almost forgotten how handsome he was. "Is this a dream?" She had to ask, it felt so real.
"You're just as beautiful as ever," Frank said, not answering her question as she sat down next to him, still staring.
"Goodness Frank, look at you, and look at me, I've gotten even older and it's taking more work to keep the gray hair from showing." She laughed self-deprecatingly, "If I'm going to dream of you being young and handsome, at least I could dream of myself as I used to be also."
"You've always been gorgeous, at any age," Frank said sincerely as he faced her on the blanket. "I'm sorry I had to leave you when I did, but you've done well without me."
"I would gladly burn every book I've ever written if it meant having you back," Jessica said sincerely, still soaking in the experience.
"Fate can be cruel," Frank agreed, "but it doesn't keep us from having second chances." He studied her as he let the meaning sink in.
"You mean Seth?" She said, struggling to say the other man's name in the presence of her husband, intuitively understanding that was what had brought this dream on a cold February night.
"I do mean Seth, you love him, and need to be able to let me go." Frank stated plainly, he had never been one to beat around the bush and saw Jessica almost flinch at his words. "No, that's not a bad thing," he soothed, "If there had been time for us to talk about it when I got ill, then I would have told you I didn't want you to be alone for the rest of your life." He assured her but she still looked guilty.
"I don't know what to do Frank," she finally spoke, whether he was a dream or a ghost she knew she could talk to him about her feelings. "I do care very deeply for Seth, but he's not you."
"Of course not, we had the passion of a young love and many years together, we were growing old together, then I left." Frank validated her feelings. "But you and Seth share something special also, and you can avoid the word all you want but I know you Jessica, you do love him, even if you're afraid to say the word."
"After you were gone, I swore on your grave that I would never love again." She said softly.
"It's ok to break that promise, you made it to my grave. If you had tried to make it to me in person, I would have told you I wanted to you be able to love again if the right man came along." Frank said, his tone serious.
"How do I know you're not just my subconscious telling me what I want to hear?" Jessica questioned, still feeling conflicted about this experience.
"Do you think I would be so selfish as to want you to be alone for the next 30 years?" she heard the slightest edge to his voice that he had gotten during times they had rare disagreements. "That I would want you to live on clinging to a memory and some pictures? You've always been a vibrant loving woman, just because you can survive alone, doesn't mean you're happy that way."
"No, but….." She trailed off, not knowing what else to say. "30 years? Is that how much longer I have to live?"
"I didn't say I'd want you with just anyone now did I?" Frank said, the touch of humor back in his voice, not answering her question. "Some of those men who have flirted with you while you've been traveling around. I'm glad you had the good judgement to not jump into just anyone's arms. That murderer Preston Giles, my friend Lee, Ethan Craig or that conniving Michael Haggerty just to name a few, most of them aren't bad, but we both know Seth is the only one that's truly a match for you."
"Yes, he is different from the others," Jessica agreed thinking of the doctor and his pink roses. "He's intelligent yet down to earth, he challenges my thinking and never asks for anything in return. He's helped share his medical knowledge for my books and not once has he asked anything in return. He keeps that gruff exterior as a protective shield, not many people realize how sweet he can be." She was wistful for a moment before straightening. "But I don't have to be with someone, you know I can manage just fine on my own?"
"Yes, you are doing just fine, you're a strong independent woman. You don't have to have a man in your life, you could have already done that if that was all you were looking for. There's a big difference between need and want." Frank agreed seeing her relax at her words. "And while he doesn't ask for anything, you always mention him in your acknowledgements, you even dedicated a book to him" Frank smiled again.
"I had to, I was at a real stumbling block with how the killer could have gotten away with his crime and then he gave me the perfect idea," Jessica herself sounding almost defensive. "I did dedicate my very first book to you."
"Indeed, you did and rightfully so. Imagine how many fans of your writing would have missed out if I hadn't died?" He said it with some mirth but they both paused as they considered that point together. "I like how he cooks for you also," Frank added, "You've always been a fine cook Jessica but we both know it was always more of a necessity than something you enjoy, you don't enjoy it as much as writing. If not for Seth you would probably be existing on toast, coffee and the occasional can of soup."
"He is a good cook," Jessica agreed thoughtfully, letting her thoughts and feelings rise to the surface as she wondered how much longer she would be able to enjoy this dream. "I'm scared," she finally admitted.
"Scared? My brave wife who has literally faced down murderers scared of a new romance?" Frank challenged.
"What if I start forgetting you? What if I can't give him the love he deserves because I'm still thinking of you? What if it doesn't work and I lose a best friend?" She finally gave voice to her fears.
"You won't ever forget me," Frank said with another easy confident smile. "What if you don't take this chance and then spend the rest of your life alone, in an empty house and a cold bed wondering what might have been?"
"I can always get an electric blanket," she blushed a little then laughed at him as she let his words sink in. "Oh Frank, it was so much easier when I had you encouraging me every step of the way."
"And yet here you are, forging ahead without me. Bestselling mystery author, running around solving crimes for the police, confronting killers, if anything you have become even braver than I knew." His wistful smile as he started to stand signaled to her that the dream was about to end.
"We will be together again one day?" she asked as she saw him rising to start walking away.
"Count on it," he said with a wink, as he began to turn towards the surf, "just as Seth and Ruth will be together again one day, but until then neither of us want you to be alone," he said as he began to amble back towards the ocean, this time walking directly towards the water.
"Neither of us want you to be alone…." She whispered digesting the words and their meaning, as his image started to fade into the surf.
Jessica awoke with a start to the rays of sun shining through her window, wondering how real the dream she just had was. She considered her subconscious, was it really telling her it was ok to pursue a relationship with Seth? Or had Frank come to give her that message himself? She didn't tend to believe in the supernatural, yet Frank's presence had seemed so real.
As she continued to reflect on her dream, she thought back to the precious time she and Frank had together before his death. He had been so busy after a poor prognosis from his cardiologist, making sure his military pension and other affairs were in order. Aside from that they had spent the time they had chasing medical treatment, fighting the inevitable and savoring the others presence. To her it felt they had so little time before the heart attack that had taken him. It had not occurred to either of them to talk about her personal life without him as they both clung to hope that the medications and treatments and searching out resources that would work to save his failing heart. Jessica had spent hours researching, calling medical experts and alternative treatment centers. She had not yet accepted that he would die and true to form he did everything he could to support her beliefs, following every medical recommendation and treatment he could to try to stay with her. They had both held onto that hope until a heart attack claimed him in the wee hours of a Thursday morning. She had woken, hearing him gasp with pain as he tried to sit up and then he had collapsed back into his pillow and just like that her handsome fighter pilot and soulmate was gone. She had tried desperately to perform CPR, to revive him but it was soon apparent her efforts were in vain.
Grady had come to stay with her for a few months after Frank's death, he had been like a son to them both. He had stayed with her through the worst of her grief, but eventually she knew he had to go. It was fitting she supposed that after he left and she had pulled out the typewriter to fill in the empty hours of her day, that death had been the topic she had started writing about.
With a final replay of the dream, whether her subconscious or not, she felt a new sense of peace and hope as she thought of Seth. "Thank you Frank," she whispered to his picture before she started busying herself with getting ready for the day.
PS: Interesting discovery for those who didn't already know – as I was on IMDB pulling up Claude Akins character of Ethan Craig for his mention in the story, as it seemed to me he was likely supposed to have the role that Seth eventually took as "local male friend", there was a note that he played chess with Bill Windom. Such a nice little interconnected MSW world
