Chapter 9 - I Feel That I Could Melt

AN: As best I can tell (via Google), there are no justices of the peace in Maine at this time. I couldn't find any information to let me know whether there ever had been any. So, in the time-honored tradition of fanfiction, I wrote everything exactly the way I wanted to see it…truth be damned! So, lots of shenanigans in this update.

"This is it, Jess." He turned to her and smiled. Jessica looked around. They'd pulled up a small circular driveway to park in front of the house. Seth reached for her hands and squeezed them. "You ready, woman?"

Jessica squeezed back. "Yes, but we forgot something rather important, Seth."

"A-yuh? What's that?" She pulled her left hand from his and held it up; her wedding band glinted in the interior light of the station wagon.

"Huh. So we did." Seth released her other hand so that he could rub the wedding band on his left hand.

"Mine's a little tough to get off," Jessica said softly as she tugged on the ring.

"You're not…having second thoughts, are you Jess?"

She looked at him, surprised. "No!" She unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned over to hug him. "I love you and I want to marry you, Seth. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." She was quiet for a moment. "I love Frank, and I always will. Somehow, I thought allowing myself to love someone else would take something away from what Frank and I were together. That I might...forget him...or not be able to love someone else as fully." She drew back to look him in the eyes. "But that's not the case." She kissed Seth softly on the lips. "I won't forget my life with Frank, just as you won't forget Ruth. But I think we're both ready to make new memories together." She put her arms around his neck. "I love you, Seth. I think I've loved you longer than I realized." She kissed him again, then stroked his cheek. "Now, we need to take our rings off, but I don't know what we'll replace them with."

Seth thought for a moment, then unbuckled his seatbelt. "I think I have just the things in my bag to take care of both!" He leaned over the front seat of the station wagon to grab his medical bag, which was on the floorboard behind him. He lifted the bag over the seat, opened it, and began to rummage around. He held up a tube of ointment.

"Here! It's an antiseptic ointment, but it just might work to slip our rings off." He unscrewed the cap and squeezed a dollop onto his finger. "Let me have your hand, Jess." She put her hand in his and he began to coat Jessica's left ring finger with the ointment. Satisfied he had used enough, he began to gently twist the ring. As he massaged her finger, the ring slipped right off. "Wait just a minute, my dear. I've got a clean handkerchief somewhere." He used his clean hand to empty his pockets until he found it and handed it to Jessica. "Let's wrap our rings in that."

Jessica smiled softly as she placed her ring in the center of the handkerchief. "Let me help you with your ring, Seth," she offered. In no time, both rings were wrapped in the handkerchief and placed carefully in the glove box. "Now, then. What shall we do for rings?"

"I've been giving that a little thought too, Jess." He pulled a length of blue rubber tourniquet and his pocket knife out of his medical bag. "I'd like to measure your finger, if I could." She obliged, and soon Seth had fashioned a makeshift ring that could be tied off around Jessica's finger. He looked up at her from his work. "Help me measure mine?"

"Of course!"

Seth had his own ring made up fairly quickly. "Ready, Mrs. Fletcher?"

"Ready, Dr. Hazlitt."

"Then let's go get married."

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Seth escorted his bride up the front walkway and rang the doorbell. He squeezed the hand that was resting in the crook of his elbow. "I love you," he whispered.

She kissed him swiftly on the cheek. They could both hear shuffling and what sounded suspiciously like muttering on the other side of the door.

"Do you realize the time of night, you young fools?" as the porch light went on and the front door swung violently open. A tall, imposing man peered at the couple, blinked, and stared some more. "That you, Seth Hazlitt?"

"It is, Sam. And I'd like to present Mrs. Jessica Fletcher. That is, if you'll ever let us off the front porch and into your house!"

Sam blinked again, clearly trying to make sense of the situation. "I'm pleased to meet you ma'am."

"Thank you, Mr….?"

"Donelson, ma'am. Sam Donelson." He collected himself and stepped back from the door. "Well, come in. Come in, for heaven's sake!" Seth gestured for Jessica to cross the threshold, then he followed. "Little late for a social call, isn't it Doc? What brings you out here?"

Seth swallowed. In his haste to marry Jessica, he hadn't accounted for the embarrassment factor. He could see Sam struggling to contain a grin, and Seth got ahold of himself. He was absolutely darned if he was going to let Sam Donelson try to make him or Jessica feel ashamed. He put a comforting hand on Jessica's back. The way she looked at him… he felt emboldened and drew himself up to his full height. "Well, Sam, the fact of the matter is we've come here to get married."

"Married? Here? Tonight?" He guffawed. "What's the rush?" He tossed his head at Jessica. "Afraid her father'll find out?" And Sam roared with laughter.

"What's all this?" A short, pleasant-looking woman bustled out from behind Sam. "Samuel Alexander Donelson, why in the world are you keeping this couple out in the foyer? Come in, come-" She finally stopped talking long enough to get a good look at the couple. "Seth?"

Seth nodded politely. "Elizabeth."

"What in the world are you doing here at this hour?"

"If you'd listen more than you talk, Lizzie, you'd already know that Seth here is hoping to get married to this fine filly." He gestured to Jessica. "Mrs. Fletcher, allow me to introduce my wife, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth looked stunned. "Mrs. Fletcher? J.B. Fletcher, the writer?"

Jessica smiled. "Yes, that's me." She cast a fond glance at Seth. "But more importantly, tonight I'm the bride."

"Oh my goodness me, so you are." She came over perplexed. "And you two want to get married here? Now?"

"That's what I said, Lizzie! Darned fool here can't wait twenty-four hours to do things proper like." He grinned slyly. "These two'll spend more time honeymoonin' than the young couples we usually see, eh Lizzie?"

Elizabeth and Seth spoke over each other.

"Sam, be quiet," Lizzie hissed.

"You listen here, Sam Donelson, I-"

Jessica put a calming hand on Seth's chest, then turned to look at Sam. "Mr. Donelson, when you find the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, you want to start that life just as soon as possible." She looked him straight in the eye. "You can understand that, can't you?"

Sam looked from Jessica to Seth, then back to Jessica. "Yes ma'am," he said soberly. "Yes ma'am, I surely can. If you'll follow me into the living room, I'll start getting the paperwork ready. My wife can be the witness if you've no objection."

Seth merely grunted his assent. Leave it to his Jessica to smooth over all the ruffled feathers. She cast a quick glance his way and he smiled to let her know how pleased and happy he was with her. Donelson, on the other hand… She winked at him, and he nearly lost his composure. Good lord, what that woman could do to him with her face. He tugged on her elbow and she paused on the way to the living room. "You're sure, Jess? You're sure this is what you want…I mean you won't be disappointed about not having a more traditional marriage ceremony?"

Her eyes, if possible, turned an even deeper, warmer shade of blue. She kissed him, quick and fierce, then whispered "Are you trying to make me late to my own wedding?" She grabbed his hand, turned and pulled him along with her.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Sam was all smiles for Jessica, but he had nothing but glares for Seth. "You don't have a marriage license?"

"Did I stutter?"

"Seth," Jessica warned.

"Now, Doc…that makes everything just that much more complicated."

"Oh Sam," Elizabeth said. "Don't be so dramatic." She put her hands on her hips. "Everyone, including Seth, knows you keep a few licenses around for..."She cleared her throat. "emergencies. They're in the top left drawer of the secretary." As Sam left the room, Elizabeth began taking her duster off as she walked toward the couple. "I can't say I'm surprised to see you here, Seth. Not exactly. But with someone like Mrs. Fletcher…well!"

Seth rared up. "Now what's that supposed to mean?"

"Now, now." She soothed. "I meant no harm. I've seen a fair number of couples come through here. You should know…you sent enough to us over the years!"

Jessica raised her eyebrows, and Elizabeth answered her unspoken query. "Oh, yes. Seth's quite the matchmaker-"

"That's one way of putting it," Seth muttered.

"He's an old romantic, Mrs. Fletcher, but I expect you know that or you wouldn't be here right now."

Jessica smiled fondly at Seth. "He's a lovely man."

Seth stared back at Jessica with such a look. A look Elizabeth hadn't seen directed toward her in many a long day.

She looked closely at them. "I see," she said quietly.

"See what, Elizabeth?"

"I see a man in love." She nodded hastily in Jessica's direction. "A couple in love." Elizabeth smiled to see them look at one another. Seth leaned in closer, almost as though he were planning to kiss his bride, but he collected himself with a grimace. "You do want to be married tonight, don't you Seth?" asked Elizabeth, a twinkle in her eye. She giggled as the bride and groom both answered a hasty "yes." "So it's like that, is it?" Elizabeth watched as Seth and Jessica looked anywhere but at each other. "Sam? Sam?" she hollered behind her. "Have you finished filling out that license yet? We need to get a move on in here."

"Coming, coming Elizabeth," he grumbled. "Though I don't understand what all the hurry is for." He winked at Elizabeth as he shook the license so the ink would dry faster. "I'll need you two to sign this, then I'll need to see some ID please."

"Now, Sam-" began Seth.

"Honestly, Sam. You and I will certify these folks. We've known Seth for years now, and we know Mrs. Fletcher by reputation. For heaven's sake," she muttered. "You can carry a joke too far, you know."

"Alright, alright, my dear." He handed Jessica an ink pen. "Ladies first."

She signed the license, then handed the pen to Seth. "It's not too late to back out, you know," she teased.

"Not on your life, woman." Seth signed the paper and pushed it towards Sam.

"Alright, Elizabeth. Come put your John Hancock on this thing and we'll get this show on the road."

Elizabeth signed the paper, then took her place on Jessica's left.

"Ready?"

Seth and Jessica looked at one another. "Yes."

Sam moved out from behind his desk to stand in front of the couple, and Elizabeth moved discreetly a few steps to the right.

"We are gathered together in the presence of this company to unite Seth and Jessica in the spiritual union of marriage. This contract is not to be entered into lightly-" Sam stared hard at Seth. "But thoughtfully and seriously, with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. Please remember that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home. "

"Do you Seth take Jessica to be your lawful wedded wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and be faithful to her through sickness and adversity, as well as health and prosperity, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?"

"I do."

"Do you Jessica take Seth to be your lawful wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and be faithful to him through sickness and adversity, as well as health and prosperity, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?"

"I do."

Sam fixed Seth with another challenging glare. "I suppose it's too much to hope that you actually have rings?"

"Got 'em right here!" He kept the ring he'd made for Jessica and handed her the ring he'd fashioned for himself.

"What in tarnation," exclaimed Sam as he got a good look at the rings. Seth opened his mouth to speak, but Sam heaved a sigh. "As good as any. Repeat after me, Seth: Jessica, with this ring, I thee wed, as a token of my love, faith, and loyalty."

"Jessica, with this ring, I thee wed, as a token of my love, faith, and loyalty." He looked into her eyes as he slipped the ring onto her finger and squeezed her hand.

"Your turn, Jessica."

"Seth, with this ring, I thee wed, as a token of my love, faith and loyalty to you."

"Since you two have consented together in the presence of this company, I by the virtue of the authority vested in me by the state of Maine, pronounce you husband and wife."

"You may now kiss the bride."

Sam expected tears from Lizzie. She always cried at weddings. He was surprised, though, to find a few tears gathering in his own eyes as he looked upon the couple as they embraced. Seth was a good man, and Sam was glad he'd found his measure of happiness at last.

Of course none of this meant he wouldn't tease the dickens out of him every chance he got. He'd just have to make sure Lizzie was out of earshot.

Stay tuned next Sunday for the penultimate chapter in this story.