{Author's Note: The reference to Jessica's experiences in San Francisco in this chapter pertains to her trip in the last episode of the regular series, "Death by Demographics"; Season 12, Episode 24. This rather anemic episode was the finale for a wonderful show that deserved a much, much better ending.}
... ... ... ... ...
After an afternoon of antiquing and then dinner in Charleston, followed by a carriage ride and dancing, Jessica and Seth had found themselves prolonging the evening by sipping iced tea on the porch swing while watching the moonlight dance upon the wave tips. At last giving in to fatigue they turned in for a deep, dreamless sleep in each other's arms.
... ... ... ... ...
Jessica came awake slowly and opened her eyes to the darkness of the vaguely unfamiliar room.
She twitched as she groggily thought, Oh no, not again… before she realized that Seth was tucked up close against her side with his head in the crook of her left shoulder and his arm protectively around her waist. Understanding then where she was, and with whom, caused a sleepy smile to form over her face.
Seth mumbled and then sighed as he shifted slightly, coming awake himself.
"Are you all right, Jessica?" he murmured. "Anything wrong?"
"I'm fine, Seth. I'm sorry that I woke you," Jessica quietly said with a yawn.
"Now you've done it!" Seth complained as he gave a huge yawn himself. "I wonder why yawning is so contagious? I've never seen a definitive study on it. There must be some reason."
"I've never read anything about it. But at least the cure is simple enough. Yawn back!" chuckled Jessica. "Actually I woke to a repeat of what happened on my last trip to San Francisco before I realized that I was here with you."
"Wasn't that where your old friend, the disk jockey, nearly lost his job due to the station changing its classical format? Going to New Wave or New Age or whatever it is nowadays. What happened?" asked Seth with some concern.
"Oh, nothing really. It's just that one morning I woke up in darkness, in the middle of the night - like just now, and I didn't know where I was. I knew the bed and the pillow weren't mine, and it didn't smell or sound like home or New York, but I couldn't for the life of me remember what city I was in."
Seth felt, rather than saw, Jessica shake her head a little in the darkness. He cuddled a little closer to her.
"It was a very uncomfortable feeling - not knowing where I was in the night," she continued. "But I've heard of this happening to frequent business travelers. They say it's a sign that it's time to get off the road."
"A-yuh, I've heard that too," added Seth. "So, what're you going to do?"
Without hesitation Jessica answered, "I'm going to get off the road."
"Completely?" Seth queried. "Would you be happy with that in the long run?"
"Oh, I'll have to do a few book signings and interviews in the future," she continued, "but I'm going to limit them. Besides, I'm hoping to get invited on some recreational travel, like 'another archeological expedition or such,' that a certain someone mentioned last week when he told me that he was going to semi-retire," she mentioned with a smile in her voice.
"Woman, I wouldn't want to go without you. It just wouldn't be any fun!" Seth countered. "And you don't have to worry about not knowing where you are when you wake up in the middle of the night. I'll be right there to remind you," he said as he gave her a little squeeze and reached up to give her cheek a peck.
"That sounds wonderful," Jessica whispered as she snuggled Seth even closer. Then she put her free hand behind her head to scrunch up her pillow more and noted, "You know, I really like these pillows, they're so comfortable."
"A-yuh, me too!" concurred Seth as he nestled more over Jessica's chest. Jessica felt his smile against the curve of her body.
"Seth! I meant these down pillows!" she chuckled.
"Oh, those. Yes, they're nice too. And really good for pillow fights."
"You're incorrigible!"
"No," Seth corrected. "I'm a husband in love with the beautiful wife he's snuggled up to in bed."
"Good save!" giggled Jessica. "Speaking of beds, we don't seem to be using much of this king sized bed, do we?" She looked past Seth at the empty expanse on the other side, which was dimly lit by the light of the sinking moon coming in through the blinds on the west window.
"Nope, it's too much for us, I think. But I wonder if the bed at the house might be a little snug? I'm a big guy and I wouldn't want to roll over and squish you or push you off of it."
"As tightly as you hold me, I don't see that happening," Jessica observed. "But we could put a queen sized mattress on the frame. That would give us a bit more wiggle room."
"Oooh, I just love it when you wiggle."
"Seth!" Jessica laughed. "You're absolutely incorrigible!"
"Just stating the facts, ma'am; just the facts."
"Is there anything you'd like to bring over to the house? You know, it will be our house now."
"Hmm," pondered Seth. "Not too much, I don't think. Just some books and photo albums, fishing gear, and my clothes and a few knick-knacks and such. Oh, and my dresser; I couldn't find anything without my dresser. I think I'll leave the rest of the furnishings for Dr. Pritchard and her family. I remember how hard it was for me to get started."
"That's very sweet of you, dear. I'm sure they'll really appreciate it." After a quiet moment Jessica wondered, "What time is it anyway?" as she reached over to the bedside table and rotated the clock around so that she could read the softly lit red numbers. "Goodness, it's only 4:42 a.m. but I'm fully awake."
"Me, too. But then we did sleep hard last night. Guess I'm done as well."
"I have an idea. When was the last time you saw the sun rise over the ocean with a clear sky, Seth?"
"It's been ages. What a great idea! Let's do that. We've got the perfect spot for it on the porch. You know, tonight's also the full moon. We can watch that rise as well."
And with that they roused themselves out of bed and make their way to the kitchen.
Stepping over to the counter Jessica pressed START on the coffee pot, which had been pre-filled and set the night before. "We'll let it perk early. It's probably a bit damp out on the porch. Let's turn the lights off in the kitchen and open all of the blinds so we can watch the sun rise from here. We can leave a candle lit on the coffee table in the other room to light our way."
"I'll take care of that," volunteered Seth as he move to the adjacent room. "You get the blinds." Soon the gentle aroma of a shortbread scented candle began to waft about.
They seated themselves next to each other in a couple of the comfortable armless wooden chairs around the kitchen table, both of them with a clear view of the eastern horizon, and waited for the coffee to finish perking.
"Oh, look. There's Venus rising," pointed out Jessica. "If we can see the Morning Star in the east can dawn be far behind?"
"Shouldn't be too long now. I can just barely make out the horizon; it looks like Nautical Twilight out there."
"Ahh, yes. I think that you're right," agreed Jessica as she peered through the large window to look at the thin line against the pale band of lightening darkness in the distance. "Intersting how the curvature of the earth over the long expanse of the Sea allow the predawn light to show. You know, I used that in one of my books some years ago."
"I'm not surprised," allowed Seth. "By the way, did you work out all of the details on the last chapter of your trilogy?"
"Yes, now I just have to put them into a coherent form. I'll do that when we get home and I can use my laptop - it's so much easier than writing by hand."
On they chatted companionably, having always enjoyed each other's company and having always been at ease with each other, as best friends tend to be.
Finally the coffee maker stopped burbling and Seth rose to pour the hot brew. In a minute he placed the steaming cups on the table and went back to the counter only to return with two plates of Danish pastries.
"I'll choke down extra oatmeal at home," vowed Seth. "Right now there's a cheese Danish with my name on it," he smiled as he offered a plate to Jessica.
They munched and sipped in contented silence as they watched the distant horizon start to lighten from its dark gray color to a soft tangerine - peach hue. Then the band at the edge of the Sea turned to a pale red as the sky above assumed more of its usual blue color.
"This part always seems to take so much longer," whispered Seth in keeping with the awe of the event.
"Perhaps that's so we better appreciate the final result; the dawn of a new day," suggested Jessica as she rose to refill the cups.
Settling the full cups and herself back down she quietly said, "Last night was a wonderfully magical night, Seth. The dinner at McCrady's was delicious and I can't believe that you arranged for the carriage ride and dancing at the Pineapple Fountain! It was all so fabulously romantic! I can't thank you enough."
"It was my pleasure. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, my dear," replied Seth as he took her hand in his.
Jessica looked at Seth with a wry smile. "And I'm particularly glad that you didn't punch Dennis Stanton. Especially when I looked up at you and thought I saw a bit of the Green-Eyed Monster in your eyes. I was happy that you two hit it off instead of you hitting him!" she said in a teasing voice.
"I was merely trying to protect you from what I thought was a masher," countered Seth, protesting his innocence.
"Uh-huh. So are you going to stick to that story?"
Quietly laughing a little self-consciously, and grateful that the dim light was hiding his reddening face, Seth confessed, "Well, I admit that old Greeny did wink at me. I was just a little jealous to see another man with his hands on you, but then a great memory flashed into my head and washed Greeny away forever."
"Oh, what was that?" asked Jessica curiously.
Seth said softly, but clearly, "He may be your friend, but you chose me to be your husband, and your lover."
"I did," Jessica agreed with a small hitch in her voice, gently squeezing his hand.
"And the way you made my dream come true the other morning when you made love with me…" Seth continued, the feeling evident in his low, gravelly voice.
He stopped and drew a deep breath, then looked up directly into his wife's blue eyes, now brightening along with the sky. "Jess, I know that you love me, but I can't tell you what it means to me to know that you want me. That you need me. The same way that I want and need you. I just don't have the words…." he trailed off as emotion overtook him.
Misty eyed herself and leaning in close, Jessica suggested, "When words fail a kiss will usually do nicely."
"Yes," agreed Seth as he gently tugged on her hand and drew her the short distance over to him; pulling her onto his lap and wrapping his arms around her waist. Jessica slid her arms around his shoulders and dropped her head slightly to smile into his eyes.
Seth shifted his left hand up and found Jessica's right cheek with tender fingertips and then his eyes left hers and dropped to her lips just before he covered her mouth with his for a deep, loving kiss.
They kissed for a long time, gently and sweetly at first, both enjoying the building passion as their hearts began to race with anticipation.
Jessica slipped her hands up from Seth's shoulders and ran her fingers into his soft, white hair. She pulled back slightly to draw a deep breath and leaned in closer to mark him with a line of small kisses starting from his left temple and continuing along his forehead and down to the other side.
Seth inhaled sharply as Jessica's touch took his breath away and then gave it back to him.
He responded by placing small, feathery kisses from Jessica'a lips down along the underside of her chin and continuing ever so slowly down the middle of her neck. She gasped out loud when he reached the point where the clavicles meet and gently licked, then softly blew on the tender flesh.
Ahhhhh, another erogenous zone, he thought, satisfied with her reaction.
Seth continued his persistent trail of delicate kisses down the middle of her body and neared the top the three large buttons of her silk pajama top. Not to be deterred, and unwilling to take his hands off of her, Seth grasped the edge of the material with his teeth and tugged the buttonhole wider as he pushed the button through with his tongue.
Jessica felt her entire body quiver in response to the warm wetness of his tongue on the middle of her chest and moaned with pleasure.
Seth proceeded with his line of kisses downwards, continuing to nuzzle the newly exposed creamy and sensitive skin, and undid the next button just as he had the first, all the while caressing his hands slowly up and down Jessica's side and back.
Jessica clutched at Seth's head and shoulders as his touch set her senses aflame and she couldn't keep from squirming in his lap. When he finally undid the last button in the more conventional fashion, he slipped his hands under the silk fabric to revel in the smoothness of her skin. As his palms and fingers moved along the slightly rough backs of his hands caught against the grain of the material but his touch remained gentle, insistent, and tortuously delicious with the practiced ease of a skilled surgeon.
Her passion so ablaze that she didn't trust herself to form words, Jessica did the only thing she could think of. She took Seth's head in her hands and lowered her mouth to his; breathing him in as their lips touched.
Seth moaned with delight as her mouth took his and he felt the desire coursing from her. When the kiss finally ended Jessica drew back and looked deeply into his sparkling hazel eyes while she demanded, "Seth. Take me to bed!"
"Your wish is my command, my love," he uttered throatily as he slid her gently from his lap onto the kitchen floor, never taking his hands off of her. Once standing Seth bent slightly and scooped her into his arms in one fluid motion and marched into the bedroom, kicking the door closed behind them before he lay her down on the bed in the softly brightening light of dawn.
Clothes were quickly discarded, and speech forgotten, as they delighted in the feel of each other as their bodies molded together. Their joy intermingled as they felt the tide of passion rising, then flowing over them and carrying them away to bliss.
... ... ... ... ...
Some time later Seth awoke to the early dawn's light, softened by the closed shutters, casting a glow across Jessica's features while she still slept in his arms.
Gazing at her in contented amazement of the passion they had just shared it occurred to him that pastries and coffee were not sufficient for the energies they had recently expended.
I'd better get some nutrients into her, and me too, he thought. It wouldn't do for either of us to faint from hypoglycemia during our honeymoon! And with that he carefully disengaged himself from their embrace, donned his robe, and padded softly into the kitchen, returning a short time later with a tray covered with glasses of orange juice, grapes, cheese, and half a loaf of crusty French bread.
Jessica came awake to the sound of rustling as Seth pushed the paperback novel on the night stand aside to make room for the tray. She propped her head up on her hand as she rested there watching him.
"Mmmm, is that breakfast in bed?"
Slightly startled by her voice, Seth turned around to find Jessica's lips curved into a great big grin as she looked at him.
"Good morning, my dear!" he said as he sat down on the bed and leaned over to give her a buss. "Yes, let's have breakfast in bed - scoot over a little."
After they seated themselves comfortably in the large bed Seth pulled the tray over and rested it atop their laps. Jessica found that she was starved and dug into the repast with great gusto. It wasn't until after Seth had picked up the tray and walked it back into the kitchen that she realized that she had eaten most of the food on it.
As he re-entered the room Jessica exclaimed, "Oh, Seth! I'm sorry. I seem to have gulped down most of the breakfast tray. You must still be famished. Let me get some more for you," she offered. She was a bit surprised by the bright twinkling in his eyes as he bade her not to bother.
"I am still hungry, but not for food," he said as he smiled mischievously back at Jessica, and then winked.
Finally understanding his meaning, Jessica was astonished. "Seth! Again?! A man your age… How?!"
"Let's just say that you inspire me!"
Hiding her giggles behind a corner of the sheet Jessica answered, "I'm glad that I do! But, still - is there something you're not admitting? Hmmm?"
"Well, Jess. After all, I am a doctor and I know a few, uh, things." Seeing the merry, quizzical look still on her face he continued, "That, and I've always really, really liked… oysters. Steamed, fried, grilled, roasted, Rockefeller, or just raw with a squeeze of lemon and a dash of hot sauce. I've eaten them my whole life. That's part of the reason I also stuff down, ugh, oatmeal every day."
Jessica's giggles escalated into full blown saucy chortles at Seth's admission. Her shoulders shook as she held the cover to her face and eventually dropped it a bit to dab her eyes dry as her laughter subsided.
Seth was standing just a couple of feet from the bed and was getting caught up in Jessica's merriment, a grin starting to stretch his own face. "What is it that you find so funny about that?" he cautiously asked.
With a great big smile gracing her face she replied, "Oh, I'm just so very, very glad that we live in Maine. Where there are lots, and lots, and lots of oysters!"
Seth's mouth dropped open with comprehension of her meaning and he returned her smile. "Why Jessica Beatrice MacGill Fletcher Hazlitt! That is the most salacious thing that I've ever heard you say in all the years that I have known you!"
"You're right, you're right! I know! And I don't care - come back over here!" Jessica insisted, dropping the sheet and stretching her arms out to Seth.
"Oooh, yes ma'am!" promptly obeyed an elated Seth, as he doffed his robe and re-joined his wife in bed.
... ... ... ... ...
The sun had climbed much higher into the sky when the honeymooners woke for the third time that morning.
After showering and dressing they raided the refrigerator and carried out what edibles they found to the table next to the swing for their lunch.
While Seth cleared the table Jessica started on the dishes. Just as she immersed her hands in the sudsy water that phone rang. "Seth, would you get that please," she called.
Seth came in and picked up the phone on the third ring.
"Hello? Oh, hi Kendall, how are you this fine day?" he asked.
"I'm okay, Seth. How are you and Jessica getting along? Is everything going well?"
As Seth looked over at Jessica he blew her a silent kiss. "Oh, we're having a great time." Jessica winked back at him with a chuckle.
"I'm glad. Well, I'm sure you know why I'm calling. I've just heard from Evelyn and Robert. You may want to sit down for this."
