Jessica hurried into Cabot Cove General Hospital. Seth had been taken in by ambulance and whisked away to the emergency room while she was trying to see him. She was unlucky to cross Nurse Ratched, aka Nurse Radovich and told to wait in the waiting room. She couldn't help crossing her arms and wrapping them around her. She felt cold inside and offered up prayer after prayer that Seth would be alright.
Jessica hurried into Cabot Cove General Hospital. She left the school immediately, barely informing the school secretary that she was leaving and someone would have to cover her sixth and seventh period classes. She was told to wait in the waiting room although she knew Frank needed her. She began to pray determinedly and repeatedly.
It took hours but Seth was finally awake and calling for her. She quickly followed the nurse to the ICU room where Seth lay in a bed hooked up to various devices. He was so pale. She squared her shoulders, trying to appear as if the situation was normal. She sat in a chair next to Seth's bed. He opened his eyes and spoke to her. He tried to cheer her up by claiming it was just an upset stomach but she had to tell him the truth. Tears fell as she was so happy he was alive but she told him it was poison.
It took hours but Frank was finally awake and calling for her. She quickly followed the nurse to the ICU room where Frank lay in a bed hooked up to various devices. He was so pale. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and tried to appear as if the situation was normal. She pulled a chair up to his bed. He opened his eyes and spoke softly to her. He tried cheering her up, explaining the hospital had it under control. Tears fell from her eyes as she was so happy he was alive. She had to tell him he had a heart attack.
Seth had to chide her for her tears. There was no reason to cry over him yet. She gave him a teary smile and agreed with him. She didn't try to explain the loss she would feel if he was no longer there. He knew it. She loved him. He could feel it in her very touch. She was only allowed a few minutes so she encouraged him to get better. She kissed his forehead and lightly touched his cheek before saying goodbye and leaving. She squared her shoulders as she left. Seth would be okay. He had to be.
Frank told her there was no reason to cry. He was still here and not going anywhere. She gave him a teary smile and agreed with him. She didn't try to explain the loss she would feel if he was no longer there. He knew it. She loved him. He could feel it in her very touch. She was only allowed a few minutes so she encouraged him to get better. She kissed his lips and lightly caressed his cheek before telling him she loved him. She squared her shoulders as she left. Frank would be okay. He had to be.
Seth was a horrible patient. He complained about everything, the food, the temperature in the room, the uncomfortable bed, the nurses, the bright lights, everything was wrong. Jessica patted his hand and listened to his diatribes patiently. She visited every day, sometimes twice a day just to make sure he was improving. She cared so very much about him and she would be unable to rest, to sleep, to relax until he went home.
Frank was an exemplary patient but then he was very ill. He didn't care about the noise, the beeping, the food, the bed, or the nurses. Jessica came every day and smoothed his blankets or shaved his face. She applied chapstick to his lips when they were dry and fed him ice chips. She tried to show him how much she loved him in everything she did. She would be unable to rest, to sleep, to relax until he went home.
Slowly Seth improved. He was in the hospital for over a week. Jessica didn't want him to go home alone but he insisted he was fine and didn't need her fussing over him. Her feelings were hurt and it must have shown because he stopped when they reached his car and gave her a hug and an apology. He was contrite because he knew he was glad to be alive. He felt he had been given a second chance and he wasn't going to blow it this time.
Frank's condition didn't improve. He was in the hospital for over a week and there was no discharge date even discussed. Jessica wanted him to get better, to come home with her. He told her he felt like he wouldn't make it and she argued with him not to give up, not to leave her alone. Frank's face was apologetic because he was certain but she still had hope and he didn't have it in him to ruin it for her.
Seth felt he had been given a new lease on life and he wanted to spend whatever was left of it with Jessica. He wanted to spend evenings discussing their busy days, laughing over anecdotes they came across, playing chess, and cooking suppers together. He wanted to share her bed, love her the way she deserved. He invited her to go fishing in the morning but she declined. He knew her though. She would be there.
Frank felt his life slipping away and he wanted to spend whatever was left of it with Jessica. He wanted her to remember how much love they shared, imprint a memory in her heart to remain with her forever. He wanted her to know he had no regrets, none at all. He loved her with all his heart and had a wonderful life with her. He told her to go home and he would see her in the morning but she declined. He knew she would. She would be there until the end.
Jessica was running down the pier to Caleb's boat. She hollered out to Seth and suddenly there he was. He helped her aboard and for a moment it appeared as though he didn't care if she came or not but Caleb set her straight. Seth was getting mighty cranky waiting for her according to Caleb despite Seth's denial. She stood at the bow letting the breeze ruffle her hair. They headed toward the ocean. Seth slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. She looked up at him questioning and he gave her a squeeze then placed a kiss on her lips. "It's about time one of us did," remarked Seth. He placed his hand over hers then told her to find the bait while he got the rods. Jessica moved away smiling. Her Seth was here and she would stay with him forever.
Jessica was running down the beach. She shouted up to God about being unfair. Her Frank told her it was his time to go. He told her he was waiting for her to accept it so he could go with her blessing. She sat on the rocks, tears pouring out of her. The breeze was ruffling her hair and she stared out at the ocean. She remembered his final kiss. She could almost feel Frank's arms holding her, telling her he would be right by her side, always. She wanted to make him proud but she felt so lost. She wanted him to know she would carry him in her heart forever.
Seth sat beside Jessica on the sofa in her living room.
"What did you want to tell me, Seth?" she asked curiously. "It must be serious."
"Ayuh, it is," he answered. "Jess, when I first went to the hospital and they were trying to bring me around. I heard them yelling, "we're losing him". He looked deeply into her eyes. "I could hear everything but no one heard me shouting. At least I think I was shouting."
Jessica patted his hand. She knew he had gone through a traumatic experience.
"I was about to give up, accept that I would die and then…" he paused to squeeze her hand tightly. "You know I don't believe in a lot of outer body nonsense but Jess, as I felt myself fading away, a man appeared in front of me. His exact words were, "You fool! Jessie needs you!" I felt a push on my back and suddenly I was breathing again. It was Frank."
Seth looked at her with tears streaming down his cheeks. "I felt his love for you. Jess, it was so pure. I promised I would love you and you would know it, feel it. I felt like I was given a second chance and I don't want to leave this earth without you knowing how much I love you."
Jessica wrapped her arms around him and sobbed. Somehow she knew if Frank were able, he would do what he could to make sure she was happy. He always did. They cried together for a while before parting and wiping their faces.
"Seeing you in the hospital brought back all those memories of Frank in the ICU before he died. I didn't want the same outcome. I worried you would never know how I felt. How much I love you." She kissed his lips softly, then more passionately.
Several moments passed as their kisses grew heated but eventually they pulled back. Jessica handed him a tissue and she used one herself. She was emotionally spent. As she leaned her head back on the sofa, she felt Seth move and grab the blanket from the chair across from them. She couldn't help sighing in contentment as he spread the blanket across didn't know what tomorrow would bring but they knew they would do it together.