Chapter Three
The director wanted to walk through the entire play tonight. Jessica knew all her lines and her markers so Acts One and Two were done with minimal problems and corrections didn't take much time. During Act Three there were a few problems with the placement of the cast, people obscuring each other so they had to make several positional changes but time management was still pretty good and they might get out on time.
Since Jessica wasn't needed in Act Four she went and sat in the audience behind the director. Mavis joined her.
Jessica didn't want to watch Seth and Eve slobber over each other again but she didn't want to appear affected either. Mavis leaned closer to her and whispered. "Oh my God, they look like two polar bears kissing. Why would anyone want to see that?"
Jessica noted the director had overheard the comment and she motioned for Mavis to be silent by putting her finger to her lips and pointing at Roger. Mavis covered her mouth with her hand and nodded her head.
Roger stood to stop the rehearsal with more pointers before stating, "I'm going to cut the kiss. It still doesn't appear natural and we don't have time to work on it anymore. Instead, let's get Rebecca to run over and give him a hug before sitting beside him." He pointed to Rebecca Nordhoff, a twenty year old waitress who worked at the diner. "Is it possible to move the boulder closer so she can sit on it with Seth?" It took fifteen minutes to determine the large rock could be moved after Act three into position for Act four.
Jessica didn't react visibly to the statement but inside she was jumping for joy. She glimpsed Eve's unhappy demeanor but didn't give anything away on her face.
Once Act Five was completed they had to practice both songs which ended the rehearsal in high spirits. Jessica and Mort left out the side door where he kept his car parked. She didn't look around for Seth. Even though she wasn't sure if he was taking Eve home, she didn't want to know.
Seth was standing with the mayor, Sam Booth, discussing whether or not tunics were appropriate attire when Sam mentioned how grateful Seth must feel not to do that kiss with Eve Simpson.
"She's a barracuda, Doc," complained Sam. "She tries to romanticize every production."
Seth didn't comment. He was grateful the kiss was cut from the show and people were patting his back and telling him he gave it a good try but he knew he didn't. He wasn't comfortable with her and it showed.
"Maybe you can get together with Jessica," remarked the mayor. "She probably didn't enjoy watching you and Eve making out."
"I doubt Jessica would be happy hearing you say it," commented Seth, but inside he was worried. More than one person commented that he and Eve were gallivanting around town getting to know each other better, wink, wink. Even Ideal Malloy asked him how many times a day were they practicing the kiss and she could give him pointers.
He was hoping Jessica hadn't heard such outrageous remarks. He decided to find Jessica and offer her a lift home now that Eve wouldn't monopolize his time but he couldn't locate her. Mavis told him the sheriff usually took her home now. The look she gave him meant she wasn't impressed with Seth. He had been feeling that he abandoned Jessica to spend time with Eve.
Thanking her, he left to go home. It was pretty late. He would wake early and pick up bagels at the bakery and take it by Jessica's house in the morning.
"Come on in, Seth," she greeted him the following morning still wearing her pajamas covered by her robe. He came inside and took the box of bagels over to the table. He noticed she opened the box and smiled with approval. Jessica placed a mug of coffee in front of him and took a seat.
She covered her yawn before declining a bagel. She sipped her tea trying to wake up.
"You look like you just woke up," Seth observed. "I looked for you last night but you'd already left with Mort."
"He's been dropping me off after rehearsals," acknowledged Jessica. "Did you hear they added a fourth show? The other three were sold out and there's still demand so Roger added a Sunday dinner show sort of…no dinner involved." She smiled thinking about it. "Friday night, Saturday matinee, Saturday night, and Sunday evening makes for a super busy weekend."
"Only three weeks left to rehearse," he remarked.
Conversation stalled and Jessica felt uncomfortable since neither one was mentioning the elephant in the room. She got up and placed her cup in the sink. She watched Seth choose a plain bagel, break it in half, and dip it into his coffee.
"Do you want to go fishing with me and Caleb on Saturday? We're leaving at eight," invited Seth.
"I made other plans. I didn't count on you being free," declined Jessica.
Seth looked at her sharply. "Jess, I'm sorry we didn't go the past few Saturdays. I was working with Eve, you know that. We are trying to have a successful play."
"I know, Seth," she answered coolly. "But I didn't know how long you would need to learn how to kiss Eve. You can't expect me to wait until you figure it out."
Seth pushed back his chair and stood. "That remark was uncalled for and cruel." He picked up the box of bagels and headed for the door. Jessica intercepted him, snatched the box out of his hands just as he stepped out the door, and slammed it.
She put the box on the counter and stomped up the stairs to take her shower. She was ashamed of herself by the time she was dressed. If Seth thought what she said was cruel then she must have hurt his feelings. Her statement wasn't meant to call his sexual prowess into question. But she had been hurt when he 'dropped' her like a hot potato to spend so much time with Eve.
Needing some time off and since there was no rehearsal tonight, Jessica decided to spend a few hours at the new senior facility in town. She had been doing readings for the residents monthly but there were a few that couldn't leave their room and she had the time for more personal attention.
She enjoyed herself for several hours. She was wheeling one of the residents to the dining hall when she encountered Seth coming out of one of the residents' rooms with his nurse. He nodded at her and walked away.
She left the facility and headed downtown at a brisk pace. If she sauntered she might give into emotions and she didn't want to do that, not in public. She wished she had biked over. While exercise was good, she wanted to do a bit of shopping. With a sigh she picked up her pace and entered the meat market first. She needed coffee and fruit so she went to the grocer's next. It was pretty crowded for the middle of the day but she took her time. She was able to carry both of her bags without too much difficulty but it was precarious at times.
The tooting of a horn caused her to pause. Eve Simpson was pulling over to the curb. Jessica sighed. Just what she didn't need at this moment. She put one of her bags on the ground and waited. She didn't bother shielding the hurt from her eyes.
Eve stopped in front of her and threw up her hands. "I'm sorry, Jessica!" She wrapped her in a hug despite the bag being in the way. "I was disappointed and took it out on you. Please, please forgive me." She gave her a theatrical kiss on both cheeks. "I tried to get back at you by hogging all of Doc's time only to find out you didn't even know you were getting the part. Doc told me. I feel just awful. Friends?"
"Of course," Jessica answered with a small smile. "I need to get home. I'm trying to finish up my book before the play begins."
Eve picked up the bag on the ground and marched to her car. "I'll give you a lift home, Jessica."
Jessica got in the passenger seat and set her bag at her feet.
"I guess you'll be able to fish with him now. I feel guilty about stealing him away every weekend," admitted Eve.
"Fishing will have to wait. I wanted to go because I was in a tricky part of my book and needed to sort it out. Being out on the water has always cleared my head. I've passed that point now so I have no time to go out on the boat. I already told Seth."
"Wait! I spent all that time with Seth Hazlitt and you weren't even bothered?" asked Eve.
"Why should I be bothered? Seth and I aren't glued at the hip." Jessica returned.
"But you're always together."
"When I'm in town, we're together a lot, yes, but now I need to finish my book, do the play, then I'm going away on vacation for most of the summer."
"This is what I get for being petty, I suffered for naught!" moaned Eve dramatically. She pulled up in front of Jessica's house and helped her carry her bags inside.
"I'm going to make it up to you, Jessica."
"It's not necessary, Eve." She offered coffee or tea but Eve declined. She had a client meeting with a buyer to look at a potential house for sale and had to leave. She called out a swift goodbye and left.
Jessica shook her head. Eve was her friend and she was happy things were resolved. She wasn't one to carry a grudge anyway. Now she had to fix things with Seth.
She waited until his office hours were nearly over and walked over to his practice. Beverly had her wait in the reception room while he was with his last patient. She told Jessica it would only be a few minutes and offered her coffee. Jessica declined with a smile.
She was chatting with Beverly about the play for several minutes. Seth's nurse had congratulated her on getting a part and told her she had a ticket for the opening night. Beverly escorted the final patient out and called goodbye to Jessica before leaving herself. Seth was in his office now so she knocked and entered when he replied.
"Seth, I'd like to talk for a minute." Jessica walked into the room and took a seat in front of his desk.
"There isn't much to say," he replied, leaning back slightly. "You said what you intended."
"I didn't mean to imply you were incapable of kissing adequately." Her blues eyes stared into his eyes. "I never want to hurt you."
"Well alright, I can concede that."
Jessica stood. "My feelings were hurt also. You knew Eve was angry with me about the play and the role she felt I stole, yet you went along with her plan to spend time with her so you wouldn't be available to spend any time with me."
"She explained if we spent time together then kissing would get easier," said Seth. "We weren't going around kissing each other, just doing regular things and talking. We only ever kissed on stage during rehearsal."
"But dating otherwise," added Jessica. "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. I just wanted to clear the air."
"We weren't dating," stated Seth succinctly. "I would have preferred spending the time with you and now you're engrossed in another book so I'll have to wait."
Jessica was at the door to his office now. "I'm engrossed as you put it because after the play is over I'm going on vacation. It was a mistake to get involved with the theater and I'm looking forward to a few weeks' rest. Goodnight, Seth." She closed the door gently and left the practice.
She felt a little better that she apologized but she meant what she said about the play. She didn't need additional drama in her life, at least not that sort of drama.
Seth sat in his chair thinking. Looking at it from Jessica's point of view he realized she wasn't having much fun. Her friend, Eve, had been upset with her and then he abandoned Jessica to spend time with Eve, even neglecting to offer her rides to the theater and back home. That wasn't necessary. They had a lot of fun in the beginning. Rehearsing at her house, spending time together on something they were both enjoying.
He would call her in the morning and offer to take her to rehearsal and maybe walk after breakfast.
