{Note: I've filled in the names of various characters because either they were never given, or I couldn't remember them.}
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Jessica and Seth begrudgingly left the warm comfort of the bed. As they stretched the night's sleep away Jessica suggested, "Seth, why don't you go and shower while I get breakfast started."
"Sounds good, and I feel a lot kinder toward Mr. Hagarty since breakfast will have been supplied from the bag of groceries he left," replied Seth as he picked up his robe and headed to the bathroom.
After whisking eggs for a tasty scramble and putting bread in the toaster Jessica was standing at the counter waiting for the coffee maker to finish burbling when she had to pause for a mighty yawn. She balanced herself on the counter with her left hand as her right went up to cover her mouth.
Just then Seth came around the corner into the kitchen, fresh from the shower and dressed in his robe. "Have you tuckered yourself out making breakfast Jess?" he smiled as he came up close behind her and put his arms around her waist.
Finishing her yawn Jessica leaned back against him. "No, I guess that I'm still groggy after our adventures yesterday. What a day!"
"A-yuh, that was some day," agreed Seth as he leaned in to nestle his right cheek against her left one. "I see you've taken off your ring," he added as he gently covered Jessica's left hand with his.
"As you have yours," responded Jessica as she lifted her fingers up so they intertwined with Seth's. She sighed, "I know we'll never forget Ruth and Frank, and nor should we since we learned what it is to love with them. They'll always live in our memories."
Turning around in Seth's arms and looking into his eyes she continued, "But it's our time now to make our own memories and to love each other with all our hearts."
"I kind of think that we do them honor by loving each other well," Seth mused.
"Absolutely," agreed Jessica while putting her hand over Seth's heart. "It's your ring I'm looking forward to wearing."
Seth's eyes grew blurry as he leaned in and kissed her softly. "And I, yours," he said as he touched his forehead against hers.
They were enjoying the comfortable moment together when Jessica absent-mindedly noticed the white hair peeking out from the fold in Seth's robe. Is it as soft as it looks? she wondered as her hand left its spot over his heart and slipped over to the silvery curls. Impeded by the cloth of his robe, Jessica's fingertips found their way inside the fold as she softly caressed Seth's chest. Mmmmm, yes it is…
Her attention was gained by the sudden quickening of the heartbeat under her fingers. Puzzled, she cast her eyes up to his and inhaled sharply when she saw the glitter in Seth's darkening eyes.
"Jess," he whispered, "what your touch does to me…" No more was said as he took her mouth in a deep kiss as he pulled her closer. Jessica managed to slide her hand over the top of Seth's shoulder and clasped it there, under his robe, against his bare back. As the kiss grew heated between them one of them moaned; neither was sure which, nor cared.
The sproing from the toaster as the bread popped up brought their reverie to an abrupt end as they both jumped slightly.
"Darn toaster," complained Jessica. "I now hate that thing!"
"Me too!" chuckled Seth, giving the hapless appliance a dirty look, as they released from their embrace. The toaster wisely kept silent and still.
"Well Jess, why don't you have your shower while I get dressed and finish up making breakfast. We should move along a bit since we do have a plane to catch later today."
"Too true," Jessica smiled as she gave him a peck on the lips and then headed to the bathroom.
In short order both were dressed, groomed, and packed. While they were eating breakfast Seth smacked his head. "Shoot-fire, I knew things were going too smoothly! Rings, Jess! We'll need to get rings."
"Not to worry," she replied. "This is New York; there are three jewelers on this block alone. After breakfast let's take a quick stroll to Newburgh's Jewelers. I've bought several nice pieces there. I'm sure we'll find rings we'll like. The walk will do us good."
"I'm not so sure of that," said Seth quietly. "My last stroll almost didn't turn out so well…"
Jessica's face turned pale. "I'm sorry, Seth! I didn't even think - that all seems like a bad dream. We'll… take a cab there and then just go to the airport."
"Don't you want to come back here?"
"No, not right away," Jessica replied. "I've been thinking about it for a long while now and I meant to talk to you about it before your visit was… interrupted. I think that perhaps I've done what I needed to do here in New York… that it's time to spend more time in Cabot Cove since I miss it so much when I'm not there. When the lease expires on this place I'm thinking of not renewing it. Oh I'll, or rather we'll, come back to pack it up, but I'm pretty much done with living here. After all, now with computers I can write anywhere and even conference call with my publisher if need be. Of course, we'll still need to visit New York for theater dates but we can hotel it at that point."
"'Because you can never get enough theater,'" quoted Seth.
"Or friends, or chocolate!" finished Jessica with a bright smile.
"Jess, I never asked you before because it wasn't exactly my business, but, now… Well, what exactly did you need to accomplish with moving here to New York?"
"At the time I needed to be closer to my publisher and with all the traveling they had me doing it was just easier to have an apartment here. Grady and Donna were very kind to put me up for as long as they did but they needed their privacy. I just needed my own place, especially after I started teaching."
Jessica gave a hopeful glance at Seth to see if he was satisfied with her reply. He wasn't.
"That too, lacks some for an answer," Seth said, not unkindly.
"We do know each other well…" acknowledged Jessica, shaking her head. "Okay, it's going to sound a little silly now, but I had heard some nasty remarks from some of the New York book reviewers about how I was a fluke and a simple school teacher hiding in such a small 'podunk town' as Cabot Cove could not possibly make it in this city. I made the mistake of letting them get under my skin until I had to prove to myself that I could make it here."
"Are you going to start singing that great Sinatra tune?" interjected Seth hopefully. "I'm not crazy about New York, but I love that song!"
"You're terrible!" said Jessica as she smacked his arm lightly. "So yes, I did make it here. And I can make it anywhere. Cabot Cove is the place I want to be."
Seth looked concerned. "What about teaching? You love the interaction with your students, would you be happy giving that up?"
"That's just the thing. Manhattan University is going to affiliate with several other regional universities, including one in Maine, and they'll be offering extension courses out of Portland next semester. They've asked if I would like to teach there. Of course, it will mean going to Portland at least once a week, but the bus runs regularly."
"It may not be necessary for you to take the bus," said Seth. "There's something I've been wanting to talk over with you, too. I'm thinking of semi-retiring."
"You what?!" exclaimed Jessica.
"A-yuh, I'm at the point in life where I'd like to do a bit more fishing and maybe go on another archeological expedition and such. I don't think I'll ever give up doctoring entirely, but I am past retirement age. I've been thinking about taking on a partner."
He continued, "You know I had that second year resident, Sarah Pritchard from the hospital, working with me last summer and, well, she's just about to finish her residency and we've had a couple of discussions about what she'd like to do next. The thing is, she's from around Portland and she and her husband have been waiting for her to finish up so they could put down roots in the area. He's a computer programmer and could work from home."
"When Sarah saw my old housekeeper's suite she just gushed about how it would be a perfect home office. She wanted to know if there were any more houses in town like it. There aren't, of course. Sarah's a fine doctor and it would be a real blessing to the town to have her settle in Cabot Cove. I aim to try and make that happen but I wanted your take on it."
Jessica, who had sat quietly during Seth's explanation, looked at him with astonishment. "I don't know what to say - with me working more from home and you being around more it's… it's like we're starting a whole new life."
Seth scooted his chair next to hers and took her hands in his. "But Jess, isn't that what marriage is? A whole new life - together…"
"You're right, my dear," Jessica whispered as she leaned in to gently kiss him, "and I can't wait to get started. Let's lock up the apartment and go."
While they were tidying up the phone rang.
"Hello," said Jessica after picking up the receiver. "Oh, hi Ted. How are you? What? No, no I haven't, although they've approached me about a movie deal before; I declined. It's on the wire? Oh dear, that is bad. You've heard the paparazzi has a bet going about who can interview me first?! It must be a very slow news day. Yes, we will. Thanks so much for the tip. And Ted, thanks again for keeping our wedding a secret and letting us use the jet. I have a feeling it's the only way we'll have any privacy. Yes, we'll see you at the reception. Good-bye."
Seth, who had been casually listening while he continued cleaning, turned to Jessica as she hung up the phone.
"Problems, Jess?"
"That was my publisher, Ted Hartley. It's been put into print that I've agreed to a movie deal for the trilogy I've been writing. That's absolutely false but the rumor seems to be taking on a life of its own. Apparently the paparazzi has a wager going on about who can get me to speak about it first. We need to leave before they descend upon us."
"Well, we're just about set here. It's a good thing we're traveling light. Let's gather up our bags and get going off to the jewelers."
In the taxi that had been hailed by ever faithful Ahmed, Jessica and Seth pulled up to Newburgh Family Jewelers. Jessica walked up to the front door and waved to the receptionist while Seth asked the cabbie to wait.
"Don't expect the taxi to actually wait for us," said Jessica.
"Don't worry, he will," grinned Seth. "I gave him the smaller end of a $100 bill and told him he'd get the rest of his tip only if he was here when we came out."
"Seth! That's rather extravagant, even for New York."
"Yes, but very effective. I don't think that we want to be lingering on the street. I just saw a TV truck go by and they were headed toward the apartment."
Just then they were buzzed in by Michelle, one of the partners in the firm. "Mrs. Fletcher, what a pleasant surprise!" exclaimed the young woman who came to greet them as they dropped their bags by the door.
"Hello Michelle," greeted Jessica "I'm so glad you're here - we're on a bit of a tight schedule and could use your talented assistance."
Laughing, Michelle replied, "Flattery will get you everywhere Mrs. Fletcher. What can I help you with?"
"Ah, first let me introduce you to my fiancé, Dr. Seth Hazlitt," said Jessica, beaming a smile at Seth.
"Mrs. Fletcher, Dr. Hazlitt! Let me congratulate you both. Do I guess correctly that you're looking for things both sparkly and shiny round?" Michelle said with an impish grin.
"You are absolutely correct young lady," remarked Seth. "We'd like to pick out an engagement ring and wedding rings."
"The only problem is," finished Jessica, "we need to take them with us."
"We just received our latest inventory shipment, plus we have a great assortment of custom work. There are many beautiful pieces and just by glancing at your hands I suspect you're both in the average ring size ranges. I'm sure we'll be able to find something to please you both. Let's go look at the cases."
A short time later, Seth plucked out a white gold ring with an emerald cut sapphire center stone surrounded by smaller white diamonds with an emerald cut diamond on either side. He walked over to Jessica, who was studiously gazing into an elevated display case with several men's rings in it. Taking her left hand in his he brought her around to face him and looking deeply into her eyes said, "Jess, this just popped out at me the instant I saw it because it just perfectly matches the color of your lovely eyes. I'm so glad that we're getting married." With that he slipped the ring onto her fourth finger. It was a perfect fit.
Jessica gasped, "Seth, it's beautiful. I'm… I'm speechless." Michelle came from around the counter and smiled at them. "I'm glad you like that. Please wait just one moment," she said as she disappeared into the back room, only to return a moment later with a sapphire encrusted white gold matching wedding band that sparkled at the edges. "Try this too," she suggested, offering the circle to Seth, and then discretely stepping away.
Seth slid the ring onto Jessica's finger and it nestled directly onto the engagement ring forming a dazzling combination.
"Seth," Jessica breathed looking at him lovingly, "I don't know what to say…"
"Then don't," he whispered, "just kiss me." Jessica put her arms around him and kissed him warmly on the mouth.
"Now it's my turn," she smiled. "Let's try this on you." With that she selected a white gold ring with a hammered center edged with an intricate scrolling on either side. Taking his hand in hers Jessica slipped the ring onto Seth's fourth finger; it too was a perfect fit.
"I've never seen anything like this," observed Seth, examining the band carefully. "The edges seem to gleam a little at you from every direction."
"That gleaming effect come from a process my brother and I developed," explained Michelle, coming closer. "That one happens to be the counterpart to the wedding band for Mrs. Fletcher. When the process is applied to the border of the hammered area of the man's ring it brings out the slight gleam. No two are ever alike; each becomes unique."
"Just like you Seth, one of a kind!" Jessica smiled at him.
"Aw, Woman," he whispered drawing her into his arms and softly kissing her forehead. "Let's get home so we can finally wear these wedding bands."
After they settled the bill and collected their luggage, they walked out to find the cab right where they had left it.
The cabbie, eager to collect his generous tip, deposited them and their bags into the taxi and drove them up to the door of the private terminal at JFK. He then hopped out to yank their bags out of the trunk.
"Here you go young fellow," said Seth as he paid the fare. "And here's the rest of that $100 bill I promised you. In fact here's an additional $50."
"Oh, thank you sir!" expressed the cabbie, who then grasped Seth's hand for an overly hearty handshake.
"Jess," grimaced Seth slightly as the cabbie drove away, "would you do me a favor and check to see if my hand is still attached? That man had the grip of a prizefighter!"
Jessica chuckled as she and Seth checked their bags at the entrance for the flight. She took his left hand in hers as they walked into the small terminal for private planes and were promptly mobbed just inside the door by Grady and Donna, Susan and John, and Marshall, Martin, and their respective wives, as well as Jessica's sister Marilyn and her husband. The wedding party had the little terminal all to themselves and had been making good use of it by getting re-acquainted with each other.
