Chapter 8 - Into Heaven I'm Hurled

"Seth, you make me feel so good."

They'd gotten off the water around 3, and Seth had driven Jess home. He walked her to her front door.

"May I call on you this evening?"

Jessica laughed. "You've never needed an invitation before!"

"I've never kissed you before, either, woman. Not like that," he added, to forestall the argument she'd drawn a breath to put forth. He fixed her with a piercing stare. "And you kissed me back. So I'll ask you again. May I call on you this evening?"

Jessica's eyes somehow became an even more brilliant shade of blue. "You may," she breathed.

"Good. I'll be back around 5 or so. Wear something nice."

"Where are we going?"

He smiled. "Your dining room." He leaned in to peck her on the cheek, then he squeezed her hands gently before he turned to leave.

"But what about-"

"I'll supply everything we need. All you have to do is wear something nice."

She laughed again. "You don't like what I'm wearing now?"

Woman, I like everything you wear, he thought. "We can fish practically anytime. Tonight is going to be special." He winked at her. "But if I don't leave now, " he trailed off.

"If you don't leave now, you won't be able to supply everything we need." She turned to unlock her front door. As she walked in, she called across her shoulder. "I'll expect you at 5, then."

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Seth didn't have much time. After he arranged for their meal, he stopped by the florist to pick up a bouquet of flowers, then headed home for a quick shower. He wanted to get the smell of fish off him. He dressed with care, then gathered Jessica's flowers and a nice bottle of wine given him by a grateful patient and headed for the door. He had one additional stop to make before picking up their meal.

"If the local gossip is true, Doc, then I know what brings you in here this time of day."

"What's the local gossip?"

"Oh, I think you know, but I'll humor you all the same. Word is, you kissed Miz Fletcher on the dock this afternoon. And it weren't no peck on the cheek." The barber smiled at Seth. "By now I expect the whole town's talkin' about it. You'll get no peace, especially this evening." He spun the chair around. "I'm guessing you want a shave, Doc?"

"I do, Bill. I want the works! I've got a special date tonight."

"I'm glad for you, Doc. We've all been wonderin' over the years." He prepped his shaving brush and soap as Seth settled in the chair. "Sure took your time about it."

"A-yuh," said Seth companionably. "We were good friends," Bill snorted. "Good friends," said Seth firmly, "for many years. There's a great deal to be said for that."

"A-yuh," agreed Bill, "and you had to wait for her to settle down."

"Settle down?"

"I mean from being a famous author. All that travelin' around and nonsense. I suppose she'll be done with all that now."

"You suppose wrong, Bill. If she wants to give it up, that's fine and dandy. But she won't be giving up anything on my account. No sir. She's perfect just the way she is."

"You don't care that somebody might call you Mr. Fletcher?"

Seth snorted. "Bill, I'll be on the arm of Jessica Fletcher. They can call me Ronald McDonald for all I care."

Bill whistled. "You've got it bad, Doc. You don't want to start out giving away the whole farm! It's been a mighty long time since you've been married. You wanna put your foot down, just a little," Bill mused. "Course Frank Fletcher never was able to. That woman had him wrapped around her little finger." He looked at Seth as he was dabbing on the shaving cream. "Looks like she's got you there, too."

Seth gave him a look, but he was too happy to fuss or argue with Bill. So what if the whole town knew that Jessica Fletcher had him wrapped around her little finger. It was only the truth. He started to smile, but Bill nudged him. "You don't want to show up at Miz Fletcher's with a nice big cut on your chin, do you? Settle down now, and let's get this shave done."

Seth complied by arranging his face into a mask, but he couldn't keep the glimmer from his eyes. He'd finally gotten what he'd wanted after so long. He could be patient a little while longer. Especially when he remembered how she'd commented on the scent of the aftershave that Bill used on him the last time he'd had a professional shave. Yes sir, he could be patient just a little while longer. And then he wouldn't have to be patient anymore.

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He arrived promptly at 5 and rang the front doorbell with his elbow. He heard Jessica coming down the stairs, and he shuffled the takeout bag, precariously stuffed with their meal and what he hoped was a charming bouquet of Gerbera daisies, in one arm without losing the bottle of wine he'd tucked under his other arm.

Jessica opened the door; Seth stared…she took his breath away. She was wearing a favorite of his: her blue polka dot shirtwaist dress. It pleased him to think that she'd remembered he always complimented her when she wore it.

"Oh, Seth! Let me help you," Jessica cried as she reached out for something to take from him.

"No, no, woman! Everything is stacked about as well as a house of cards. Just let me in the door!"

She stepped back quickly to allow Seth in, then shut the door and followed him to the kitchen. "It smells delicious!"

Seth put the bag and the bottle of wine on the table, then turned to reach for Jessica. He pressed her into his arms. "Mmm. So do you."

She laughed. "I don't smell like fish, you mean."

"I mean you smell delicious, woman! And you look mighty tasty, too!" Jessica squealed as Seth nibbled her neck. She batted him away gently.

"You smell awfully nice, too, Dr. Hazlitt, but my goodness! Just exactly what kind of a date do you think this is going to be?"

"The very best first date I can make."

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Seth busied himself unpacking the takeout containers. "I called over to Mara's and had her pack up a few things for us. Nothing fancy, but-" He smiled at her charmingly. "I'd rather concentrate on you than cooking tonight, Jess."

A faint blush colored her neck and she bit her lower lip in that delectable way she had.

"Cat got your tongue, Jess?" he teased.

"I suppose I'm just not used to compliments. Sincere ones." She grinned at him impishly. "Especially from you!"

"Well, I'll have to rectify that in very short order. Get us some plates, would you?" Jessica raised her eyebrows. "Would you please, my dear?" Seth added.

This will take some getting used to, they both thought. Jessica pulled two plates from the cupboard and some serving pieces and the corkscrew from the drawer. She'd set the table before Seth arrived. She thought it might ease them into things if she opened the wine Seth brought and poured them each a glass. They didn't need liquid courage…just a slight nudge to comfortably get from friends to lovers. And Jessica blushed again.

"You look mighty serious over there, Jess. What are you thinking, woman?"

"Only that I ought to open the wine." She smiled in as bland a manner as she could as she opened the wine.

"That doesn't sound like quite the whole story, Jess, but you'll tell me if I need to know."

And there it was. That trust between them. Some things had changed, yes, but none of the essentials. They were still friends and now they would be lovers. She rolled her shoulders in an unconscious release of the tension she'd been holding. She poured them each a glass, then held Seth's out to him. As he took it from her hands, she smiled.

"A toast," she said.

"To what," Seth asked, with some trepidation. You never knew with Jessica.

"To new beginnings."

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After dinner, they took their wine glasses into the living room and sat on the couch. Seth took a sip of his wine and sneaked a glance at Jessica. They'd shared a friendly, easygoing meal, almost like they hadn't kissed each other senseless on the docks this afternoon. Almost. Now he felt nervous, awkward. Jessica turned toward him, took his wine glass from his hand, placed it on the coffee table, and leaned in to kiss him.

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"Seth," she whispered, "you make me feel so good."

Her hot breath on his ear made him feel alive in a way he hadn't in a very long time. This couldn't be more different than his furtive imaginings. They were tangled together on Jessica's couch, and in his haze, he couldn't quite tell where she left off and he began. He took a slow breath and murmured in her ear.

"There is nothing, and I mean nothing, Jess, that I'd rather do than make love with you right this moment. I'd carry you upstairs right now if I could." Jessica tucked her chin into her chest and Seth pulled back so that he could see her face. "But I just can't. Not yet. It wouldn't be right. Never mind the fact that every Cabot Cove gossip worth her salt has an eagle eye trained on your parlor window!"

She smiled tenderly. "I suppose you're right."

"You suppose? Now Jessica-" she kissed him again. He pulled away slightly-did she know what she was doing to him?-but she reached out to stroke his cheek, then leaned in to kiss him again. Seth groaned as she pressed even closer against him.

"Jess, wait. You might think me a fool, but what do you think about running over to Rockland and waking up the justice of the peace?"

"What?"

"I mean, why don't we get married tonight? Right now?"

"Now?"

"Yes now, woman! We can have a church wedding later if you like or just surprise everyone with a big party." He took both her hands in his and took a deep breath. "This isn't how I imagined it. Of course it isn't! But I love you, Jess. I've loved you for a long time now, longer than I even knew myself. I'm ready to begin our life together, and I don't want to wait a moment longer. Can you understand that?"

Jessica's impish smile faded as she considered Seth's loving, albeit impromptu, proposal. But was it really impromptu? She studied his face. No. His proposal might be many things, but impromptu it was not. She stroked his cheek tenderly. "A church wedding or a reception - whatever you like, dear. Wherever you are is where I want to be. Just let me freshen my lipstick and we can leave."

She laughed to see the shocked but pleased look on his face. She turned to get up, but Seth reached for her arm. "Wait!"

"Second thoughts?" She asked lightly.

"Never. Just one last kiss to tide me over." Slowly he drew her closer, then leaned in to trace the outline of her lips with his tongue. She shivered in his arms.

"Seth," she breathed.

"You're right, woman. If we don't leave now, we might not ever leave." He stood, pulled her up from the sofa and leaned close to peck her lips. As she turned to find her purse, he popped her lightly on the behind.

Jessica turned, an expression of mingled shock and delight on her face. "Seth! I don't know what to make of you!"

"I'm a man in love who's raring to go!"

"I'll say!" She smirked as she made her way to the door and picked up her purse. "I'll fix my face in the car, Seth. Let's go."

All I have to do is drive us safely round trip, and then we'll be home. He smiled then, and he knew that Jessica knew his thoughts and shared them. He was a fortunate man, and in that moment he cast a grateful meditation to the heavens for Ruthie and for Frank. Thank you for teaching us how to love.

"Yes, woman," as he walked toward her and took her elbow, ushering her out the door. "Let's go."