AN: Thank you Guest for Review, was beginning to wonder if anyone else besides the challenger was reading :)

Chapter 2

"Grady, Donna, good to see you," Sheriff Mort Metzger nodded to acknowledge their entrance into the kitchen as he sipped his coffee. "You're a lifesaver Mrs. F," he sighed happily as she refilled his cup.

"Anytime Sheriff," Jessica said cheerfully just as the phone rang. "That will be my publisher, I'll be right back," she announced as she breezed from the room.

"Hi Sheriff," Donna said brightly while Grady kept staring.

"Come here for coffee often?" Grady blurted out, his abrupt question causing Donna to wince, but Mort was used to the young man's social awkwardness so just shrugged it off.

"The coffeemaker at the station is on the fritz, Adele is on one of her retreats, and one can only make so many trips to the diner or their home in a workday." He laughed as he took another sip.

"You ok son," Mort asked, seeing Grady gawking at him as the young couple sat down as Jessica returned.

"Umm, yeah, I just…" Grady smiled crookedly and seemed to be searching for something to say before he was saved when Jessica started speaking.

"I just had to tell them the book was already in the mail," she said cheerfully as she got mugs out for Grady and Donna. "I assume the two of you can have some coffee before you go out this afternoon?" Jessica offered even as she carried the mugs to the table.

"Thank you Jessica, that would be nice", Donna smiled nervously as she took a sip while Grady seemed so focused on studying the Sheriff that he didn't even seem to see his. Mort returned his look for a moment, he would almost think the expression was an accusatory one but couldn't figure out why the young man would have an issue with him so just shrugged as Jessica, oblivious to the looks being exchanged at the table, filled his thermos and set it on the table.

"Are you ok Grady?" Jessica finally noticed her nephew's odd expression and unusual silence.

"What? Oh yes…. Just thinking," Grady said slowly even as pinched under the table by Donna.

"How is Adele?" Donna asked cheerfully, both to be polite and to remind Grady that the man sitting at the table was married and not likely to be stopping by for a midday quickie.

"Oh she's great," Mort started off on a story about his wife and her current retreat with a self-defense group she was teaching as he stood up and took his thermos.

"I've got to be off Mrs. F," Thanks again… Grady, Donna, hope you enjoy your visit, see you around." He cheerfully exited.

"Always nice when he can stop by, especially when there's not a murder involved," Jessica laughed. "What do you two have planned for the afternoon?" She said as she turned her attention to Grady

"I'm going to take Donna down to the docks, some sightseeing in the area, do you want to come with us?" Grady offered trying not to peer out the window to make sure the sheriff was leaving.

"No, no, you two go ahead. I'm going to do a little writing, but I'll have dinner ready when you come back. I have a refrigerator full of food and these groceries I picked up this morning," she gestured to some bags on the counter. I'm going to do a shore dinner tonight so you two don't eat too much in town." Jessica admonished as she started buzzing around the kitchen.

"That sounds great," Grady said excited, the sheriff's visit forgotten for the moment. Her shore dinners were a rare treat. As he and Donna left, he was able to take his mind off his aunt as he enjoyed showing Donna the docks and telling more stories about his boyhood in Cabot Cove.

A few hours later and Grady had almost forgotten about his suspicions, he and Donna were laughing as they approached Jessica's house, almost bumping into a distinguished older gentleman coming down the walk.

"Oh, hi" Grady automatically said then looked at the man, before stammering another hello, suddenly getting flustered again as he wondered who this was leaving his aunts house while they had been out.

"Good evening, you must be Grady & Donna." The man smiled as he extended his hand. Jess was just telling me you were here visiting. "Bennett J. Devlin, editor of the Cabot Cove Gazette at your service." Grady barely managed a nod as Donna exchanged brief pleasantries with the gentleman before they parted ways and continued their journey entering the house.

"Ouch," Grady winced as Donna swatted him before they walked into the front door

"Seriously Grady," are you going to look at every man who comes into the house as if he's molesting your aunt?" Donna chided her husband.

"You're right, I'll try to do better," Grady looked sheepish, his good intentions barely lasting a minute as they entered the house. He froze as he saw his aunt at the stove while Seth Hazlitt was looking in the refrigerator.

"What's going on here?" Grady asked, wincing at the tone in his voice.

"Oh welcome back, did you two have fun? Did you see Bennett? He stopped by to return a book I had loaned him, you probably just missed him," Jessica said affably, either not noticing or ignoring the odd tone in his voice as she went back to the pot on the stove. "Seth, have you found the butter?"

"Not yet, I don't know how you find anything in here," Seth grumbled as he continued to rummage around the space.

"We met outside," Grady mumbled trying to process this being the 3rd time in less than a day he had seen his aunt with a man around.

"He seemed really nice," Donna added brightly hoping Grady wouldn't say anything to further embarrass them.

"I'll help look for the butter," Grady all but elbowed the Doctor out of his way as he began searching through the fridge. Seth arched an eyebrow at the odd behavior but easily stepped aside. Grady was known for having some odd quirks, he had known the young man long enough to not be very surprised by occasional odd behavior, though he noticed Jessica look up quizzically also as Grady loudly searched.

"I'll start doing some of these dishes while the chowder is simmering," Seth offered moving to the sink. For a minute the only sounds were Grady in the refrigerator, the sounds of the food cooking and water running in the sink. Donna looked on helplessly, she did not have a good feeling about Grady's ability to "do better."

"I invited Seth to join us for dinner," Jessica finally broke the silence just as a carton half-filled with eggs crashed to the floor causing everyone to look up at the mess Grady had just made.

"Found the butter" Grady said weakly as he put it on the counter and began to clean up the mess, wisely choosing not to comment on Seth joining them.