Chapter One
Jessica stood in front of her full length mirror and modeled her new sundress. She rarely wore spaghetti straps any more but these were wider and would hide her bra straps. It was a button front dress to the waist with a full swirl skirt and she couldn't help twirling around in it. She had gone into a lingerie shop while in New York and purchased a T-shirt bra. It had a plunging front and gave her more than her normal amount of cleavage. It was supposed to do wonders. The saleswoman said it would give her a smooth silhouette without lines and she wouldn't have to worry about nipples poking out or needing a lined bra since the dress was white with small purple flowers. There was a metal ringed hole in the center and when she asked about it, the woman told her it was to pin her bra to her dress so it wouldn't gape open if she bent over. Jessica had a small silver and amethyst pin she could use that would go well with her outfit.
She felt pretty wearing it. She had a pair of white sandals and a large white fabric tote to slip her wallet into. She was going antiquing with Seth and didn't want to carry much in case she found a lot of 'treasures'. She was also thrilled that Seth asked her to come. Lately he has been rather prickly and she didn't know why. Yet. Surely a two hour drive and a beautiful sunny day would lift his mood or at least give her an idea of what was wrong.
She closed up her house and stepped out onto the porch. Seth would be irritated if she kept him waiting and this way he would see her as soon as he approached. Just as she finished locking the door she felt the little brooch give way. She removed it and saw the pin had bent. It wasn't strong enough to hold her bra to her dress. She was about to go back inside and get a different brooch when Seth drove up. Slipping the brooch into her tote she made a note not to bend over in the stores, just in case.
Seth Hazlitt grumbled in front of his mirror. He had shaved closely this morning, or so he thought, but he missed a spot and had to correct it. He didn't want to be late picking up Jessica. He had looked forward to this day the entire week. He knew she knew something was wrong but so far hadn't mentioned it. He had no intention of speaking about it either so he was determined to be in a good mood.
He chose a short sleeved button down shirt and a pair of khaki pants with a sturdy pair of walking shoes. He returned to the bathroom and brushed his teeth, gargled, and put on a splash of cologne. She usually complimented him on the scent he wore. He gave a sigh. He hoped it would be a good day. He needed one.
He thought life was going great. He had a career he enjoyed, a best friend in Jessica, and someone to share day to day life but a visit to the grocery store a few weeks ago changed his opinion. He had finally admitted to himself that he was definitely intrigued by Jessica and wanted to spend more time with her. He wondered what would happen if he kissed her goodnight one day. He wasn't crazy enough to risk offending her but he thought about it. He thought about the cold showers he had been taking lately too.
Darla Monahan and Tonya Libby were two of the most malicious gossipers in town so he knew he should ignore what they were saying but they were speaking loudly and he heard them mention Jessica. He was in the next aisle but he could see part of their bodies through the shelving.
"Tonya, trust me if Jessica is in town then old doc Hazlitt is around here somewhere too. He follows her around constantly. The poor thing doesn't get any peace from him. He's too old to be sniffing around her. She's too nice to tell him to leave her alone and the other day he was talking to her and you could see her trying to edge away. It was embarrassing to watch it.
Seth had moved a couple of aisles over, away from them, and continued shopping but their words stayed in his mind. He couldn't recall Jessica trying to edge away from him. He put his few groceries in the trunk of his car and headed to the diner. He wanted to grab a quick bowl of clam chowder with a roll for a snack. He wanted to eat something because Jessica was a light eater and he didn't like to appear greedy in her eyes when they had dinner later. He took a seat at the counter instead of his normal booth since he was eating alone. The diner was full and bustling with customers at lunchtime. He listened to a couple bickering in the booth at his back but didn't turn around. He knew it was Dave and Geneva Carmichael, the most argumentative couple in Cabot Cove. This time it was over the cost of her new shoes versus the cost of his new bowling ball and which was frivolous and which was necessary.
He almost missed the discussion in the booth next to the Carmichaels. It was Lois and Elaine Lipton, sisters that were unhappy widows in their eighties. Elaine was telling Lois she needed to go to the hospital and get checked out because her memory was fading and Lois reminded Elaine that it was she that remembered they just had physicals with the doctor and he pronounced them fine. Elaine retorted with 'Doc Hazlitt is losing his own faculties. He had to be over seventy and didn't her Harold lose his mind around that time? They didn't even have relations the last five years of his life since there was no lead in his pencil and everyone knows men are testy when that happens. The doctor has been grumpy for years. Verna Mathis told her that's why he is chasing Jessica. Since everyone knows Jessica is still in love with her husband, Seth saves face by chasing after her. Poor thing. It's a good thing Jessica didn't want him. She would be miserable with him.
Normally Seth would be angry enough to turn around and tell them a thing or two but after just having heard Darla and Tonya in the grocery store, he didn't want to call attention to himself and have even more people gossiping about him. So he sat stiffly and quickly ate his chowder. How dare they think he was over seventy! He just turned sixty and everything was working just dandy, thank you very much! He hoped Jessica hadn't heard that particular rumor.
He drove over to Jessica's house and arrived promptly at one o'clock. He got out to open the door for her and assist her into the car. He complimented her dress and couldn't help noticing her cleavage as she leaned over slightly. They began their two hour-long journey discussing the usual opening remarks about their week and the weather.
Jessica was pleased that Seth appeared to be in a good mood. Chatting was easy and soon he was joking and making her laugh. She had to brace her hand on the dashboard as she was laughing pretty hard. When she stopped and looked at him, he had an odd look on his face. Naturally she wondered about it but didn't ask in fear of spoiling his good mood.
Seth fell into their usual pattern of joking around pretty easily. If she didn't want his company, she wasn't being obvious about it. He began to discount the gossip he heard. This was Jessica, his Jessica. When she leaned forward laughing he feared she would bump her forehead but she braced herself with her hand on the dashboard. As she moved her dress yawned open and from the side he could see between two of her buttons. He could see most of one breast. It was a beauty too. He recalled fantasizing about her once and now he could admit to the probability of future fantasies. He turned away before she noticed but had to exercise mental control against a possible bodily reaction.
There was silence for a few minutes, not awkward but not as comfortable as usual.
"Oh, I meant to show you the picture of Ideal's newest grandbaby," announced Jessica.
"Come now, Jess. All babies look alike," he complained.
She leaned forward to reach her tote on the floor and her dress gaped open again. From the front it wouldn't be noticeable but from the side, where he sat, he again saw quite a lovely view.
"Jess, be careful, your dress is opening and showing your brassiere," he cautioned.
"Thanks," she called out as she came up with her wallet and pulled out the baby picture. After showing it to him, she put it back in her wallet and leaned over to drop the tote back on the floor.
"Jess," he grumbled. He motioned with one hand to the front of her dress.
"I know, Seth. I'll have to pin it again when we stop." She pulled down the visor to check her lipstick. "At least it was you and not someone else."
"And what does that mean?" Seth asked. "I am a man, Jess."
"Oh yes," agreed Jessica. "I only meant you aren't a stranger and you're a doctor, Seth."
"So it's okay for you to flash every doctor?" he asked.
Jessica tried to placate him but he wasn't having it. He was complaining and in a bad mood suddenly. Did she think he was incapable of desires and urges as well?
"Seth, it's over now. At least I'm wearing a bra. It could be the late sixties and you might have seen more." She laughed.
It was the laughter that sent him over the edge. "I saw enough! I was trying to spare you the embarrassment."
Jessica looked at him shocked. "Oh," she said. "Well, there's no need for embarrassment." She pulled her broach out and bent it back in place. Maybe if she just pinned it without going through the small hole…Looking out the windows to see if another car was nearby, she quickly pinned her bra and dress together. "There. Better?" she asked.
He didn't answer. He was staring out his side window.
"Seth?" She touched his shoulder. "I didn't mean to upset you." She gave his shoulder a squeeze. He turned his head forward but continued to remain silent.
"What's wrong, Seth?"
Silence
Jessica looked at his face. He looked grumpy but there was something else.
"I thought we could talk about anything," she put forward quietly. "Have I done something?"
Seth pulled off the highway and stopped the car. He got out and began pacing behind the car. Jessica watched him for a couple of minutes. She heard him open the trunk so she got out. He was removing items from one side and putting them on the other side. She leaned forward ready to help when he stopped her.
"Look down," he demanded.
She looked down into the trunk.
"Not the car, look at your dress," he said through gritted teeth.
"Oh," she exclaimed understanding. She stood upright. "Sorry, you are getting quite the display. I didn't realize my cleavage was so visible."
"Cleavage! I saw your breast, woman!" Seth looked at her with eyebrows raised.
Jessica's face was a little pink but she wasn't upset. "I'm sure mine are no different from all the others you've seen."
"You think seeing yours is like seeing everyone else's?" he demanded.
"Seth, I apologized. What do you want me to do?" Jessica was looking bewildered.
"Keep them covered!" He grabbed the blanket he was seeking and stomped back to the driver's door and got inside.
Jessica closed the trunk and entered on the passenger side. He handed her the blanket and said, "Maybe you can keep them out of sight now." The rest of the ride was silent. When he finally reached the antique store and parked, he got out and opened her door. She exited but stopped him from walking away.
"Seth, I don't understand why you're so angry with me." she said quietly.
"You don't see me as a red blooded male," he muttered. He took a deep breath. "Why did you come if it wasn't what you wanted?"
"Seth! I wanted to come. I wanted to spend time with you." She stated sincerely. "How can I not see you as a man? That's what you are."
Seth pulled away and went inside the store. Jessica followed and for the next hour they looked at everything in the store, separately. Jessica's mind was on Seth. Yes, it was a little embarrassing but it wasn't on purpose and if she had caught a glimpse of him, surely she wasn't going to be angry about it. He was up by the register now so she moved forward and stood beside him. She grabbed his arm and tucked her arm inside so he couldn't pull away.
"Did you find something?" she asked.
"A couple of things. What about you?" he answered gruffly.
She shook her head. Seth purchased his items and they left the store.
"Would you like to go to another store?" He asked.
"I'd like to sit and talk and find out what's going on," stated Jessica. "If you're going to be angry with me, I'd at least like to know why."
"I'm not angry with you, Jess," mumbled Seth.
Jessica waited but Seth didn't speak again.
"Can you tell me what's wrong?" she asked. "What can I do to help?"
"Let's go into that store across the way there," suggested Seth ignoring her question.
He took her arm and led her across the street. They entered the store and began browsing. Jessica allowed the matter to drop but it was a long drive back and she was determined to have a talk with him.