Chapter Two

It was a quiet ride home. She took his hand and held it while he kept one hand on the wheel. She placed his hand on her knee and he glanced at her before looking away.

"Seth, would you be bothered if I seduced you?" she asked.

Seth choked on air and began coughing. "I would be honored, Jess, but not tonight," he whispered in a strangled voice.

"Why not?" she asked as she guided his hand slowly up her leg.

"Because you've had far too much to drink," he answered succinctly. He moved his hand from her leg.

Jessica felt her tummy lurch. Oh great, just what she needed. They were in Cabot Cove now and closer to Seth's house than hers. "Seth, take me to your house. I need the bathroom, now."

Seth glanced over at her. She was pale and he worried she was about to throw up. In his car! He was home in two minutes and hurried to let her inside. She disappeared into the bathroom and he went upstairs to make coffee. If she was losing her dinner, it was just as well. The coffee was ready but she hadn't come out of the bathroom yet. Ten minutes later he was still waiting so he went downstairs to check on her.

She was sitting in a chair in the waiting room. Her face was pale and she was leaning her head back on the seat.

"Jess, feeling better?" He lifted her hand and put his finger to her wrist out of habit.

"Seth, I don't feel well," she admitted.

"I should say not," he replied. "Let me get some coffee for you." He returned quickly with a mug and she took a sip. She drank half and leaned back again, drowsy.

"Jess, let's get you home." He stood and tried to help her up but her legs weren't cooperating. This wasn't going very well. He managed to get her standing though. "Let's just get you upstairs then." It took a few minutes but he was able to get her upstairs and into his guest room. He left her sitting on the bed and returned with one of his sleep shirts.

"I'll come back in ten minutes, Jess. Undress and get into bed." He left and returned after a few minutes. Her gown was on a chair and she was in bed. Her face was still pale and her eyes were closed. He put a glass of water on the nightstand and a bucket by the bed, just in case.

"I don't think I have seductive powers," she murmured.

"You'll feel better when you wake up," he assured her. "Happy Birthday, Jess." He kissed her forehead and left.

Even though she went to bed late, she opened her eyes at seven am. She knew Seth thought she was drunk last night but she wasn't. Her tummy was upset so she crept down the hall and went into the bathroom.

Seth woke up when he heard noises coming from the hallway bathroom. He put on his robe and went into his kitchen to warm up the coffee he made a few hours ago. The only alcohol she drank was champagne. She didn't have wine with dinner. Two glasses shouldn't have been too much, not with the food she ate. He heard the toilet flush and knew she would come out in a few minutes. Instead he heard the shower going. Trying not to allow his thoughts to stray to imagining her in the shower, he tried to focus on preparing the mugs. She drank hers black but he preferred cream and sugar.

"May I borrow a robe?" Jessica stood in the doorway covered in a large towel. A second towel was wrapped around her shoulders like a cape. Her face had a little color now. It said a lot about her comfort level that she could stand before him wrapped in a towel.

Seth removed his robe and helped her into it. "How are you feeling, Jess?"

She didn't answer. She didn't want to lie to him but she kept things from him far too long.

"It's my birthday, Seth so you can't get upset with me." She tightened the belt on the robe and slid into one of the two kitchen chairs. "I haven't felt well for a few weeks."

Seth's head came up sharply. "You aren't eating well, you've lost weight, what else?" He tried to remember what else he noticed lately.

She related her symptoms to him and he paid attention to every word she spoke.

"Come to my exam room," he stated when she finished speaking.

She followed him downstairs where he took blood samples and placed the vials in a small refrigerator until he could take them to the lab at the hospital. He gave her a hospital gown and left the room while she changed. Lying down on the table she watched him while he palpitated her abdomen. She was able to tell him where she was tender. As expected she had to share all the details of her tummy troubles and bathroom behavior to him. She wasn't embarrassed, he was so matter of fact, but she still didn't like discussing it.

"I'm pretty certain you have an ulcer, Jess." Seth announced. The saltines were helping to counterbalance the acid in your stomach, that's when you felt better."

"How can I have an ulcer?" she asked. "I'm not worried…oh."

Seth lifted his eyebrows. He waited for information but none was forthcoming. "What is it, Jess?"

She shook her head. "How do we fix it?"

Seth looked her in the eye. "I'm going to prescribe an antibiotic, give you some antacid pills to take, and give you a list of food and drink to avoid until it heals. You should be fine in a few weeks." He helped her to sit up.

She smiled slightly. "I guess I should have mentioned it earlier."

"Ayuh," he answered. "Care to tell me what you're worried about?"

"It's nothing."

"Just nothing that caused you to get an ulcer over it." he stated.

She stood up. "Thank you, Seth. Do you think you could run me home?"

Seth looked at her in disbelief. "I'll run you home, then get your prescriptions, drop off your lab work while you get cleaned up and dressed, then we talk."

Jessica left without comment. No point in getting into an argument. An hour later she was dressed in clean clothes and had taken her first dose of her medicines. Seth was sitting at her kitchen table looking at her and waiting.

"You can speak with me in confidence, Jess."

"I know, Seth. I think I want to work on it on my own for now," she mumbled.

"It doesn't seem like that's working out for you so far," he grumbled. "You don't have to tell me but if I don't see improvement, then we'll revisit this moment."

"Thank you," she leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

"Are you feeling up to going out today?" He asked while looking her over. "I could call Caleb and have him take us fishing.

"That would be lovely, Seth. It's been a few weeks since we've fished. I can't think of a better way to spend the day with you." She had chosen her outfit for the day with an eye to being outside so she was ready. Seth told her he would be back in half an hour. He wanted to get his fishing gear.

He returned carrying a large gift wrapped box under his arm.

"What is it?" she asked as she took it from him.

"It's a birthday present," he responded.

Jessica took a minute to shake it and feel the weight of it. It wasn't heavy, just large. She gave him a hug and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Seth." She untied the ribbon and carefully peeled away the paper. She folded the paper carefully while Seth huffed impatiently.

She lifted the lid and fingered the flannel material. She lifted out a nightgown that would cover her from neck to ankle in a voluminous fashion. The pattern was red and white checkered with a floral pattern running through it.

"It's lovely, Seth. Thank you." She was smiling softly and Seth smiled in return. "Let me put it away and we'll go."

She walked quickly up the stairs with the box. She took a deep breath once inside her bedroom. He got her a granny gown? He has never bought her clothing as a gift and when he does, it's an old fashioned grandmotherly gown. Well, if she ever wanted to know how Seth saw her, this was it. A frumpy old woman. She furiously blinked away tears. Seth was perceptive when he wanted to be and would notice if her eyes were red.

The fishing was great. They tossed back quite a few but kept a dozen or so remained for cooking. The ocean air always made Jessica feel better and today was no exception.

Seth wanted to cook a few for them and she agreed. Caleb let them off at the pier and she showered and dressed again. Once the food was in the oven, Seth went home and did the same.

Jessica tossed a salad and warmed some rolls. She chilled a glass of cranberry juice for herself and a glass of white wine for Seth. She was discouraged although she wouldn't show it. She was sixty today! She was sixty and Seth gave her a granny gown. An idea popped into her head and she ran upstairs.

After Frank died she put away her nicest lingerie. She had no need of them and wanted the room in her drawers for other items. She had placed them in a trunk in the back of her closet and forgot about them for the most part. But there were a couple she had never even worn and she decided to pull them out and try them on.

The blue one looked very good on her. The gown fell to her knees and there was a matching coverlet to wear with it. It was lined so it wasn't revealing but it made her eyes appear very blue and the lace in front concealed but still left little to the imagination. She found the matching slippers and twirled in front of her mirror. The spaghetti straps looked fragile but a quick tug gave her the assurance that it would bear her weight.

She went downstairs and set her dining room table for dinner. She placed candlesticks and dimmed the lighting in the room. She locked the kitchen door so Seth would have to come in through the front.

She opened the door at his knock on the front door. He entered without glancing at her and hurried to the kitchen to check on the food. She followed him. He pulled the food out of the oven and she stood behind him. Placing her hands at his waist, she said, "I'm really hungry, Seth."

He turned to look at her and his eyes widened incredulously. She boldly stared into his eyes. "Jess?"

"Let's dish up. I'm starved." She bustled about filling plates with food and carrying them into the dining room.

Seth followed and he stopped and stared at the table. The flowers he had given her were placed in the center of the table with candles on either side. She placed the plates on the table and stood by her chair waiting. She looked pointedly at her chair and Seth hurried to pull it out for her. Seated, they began eating. Neither spoke for a few minutes. Seth was unsure but Jessica seemed as though she was just fine sitting there in a beautiful sexy gown that made him want to tear it off her. This had all the trappings of a romantic dinner.

Jessica began a general conversation about nothing much and Seth was able to keep up and respond when needed and still think about the negligee she was wearing. What did it mean?

After dinner was cleared away, Jessica suggested a game of chess and she surprised him by actually making him work for his victory.

"You almost had me there, Jess," he smirked. "Maybe I've taught you a thing or two after all."

"Another one? I think I can win this time," she smiled.

Seth took her up on her offer and they began another game. She studied the board when it was her turn but when it was his turn to make a move she kept breaking his concentration. It was little things. She stroked his leg with her foot two or three times, always apologizing or excusing herself. She brushed his hair off his forehead once, letting her fingers graze his brow. Twice she got up for one reason or another and he was distracted watching her leave the room and return. Needless to say he lost the second match.

"You aren't playing fair, Jess."

She smiled at him and winked. "I've never tried to seduce someone before, Seth. At least someone I wasn't married to and wanted to share myself with tonight."

"Jess, you are not seducing me."

"I'm not?" She stood up and walked behind his chair. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Her perfume wafted over him and he moaned softly.

"Jess," he said weakly. She moved her arms and placed her hands on his shoulders while bending over and kissing him behind his ear.

"Do you like this?" she asked as she placed more kisses on his neck.

Seth turned in his seat and looked at her sternly. "Woman, if you're going through a midlife crisis, let me know now."

Jessica pulled on his arms for him to stand. He stood warily and she placed her hands on his chest. She began moving her hands across his chest, around his back, and returned to the front before encircling her hands around his neck.

"I'd like to kiss you," she whispered. He didn't say anything so she tentatively placed her lips on his. Waiting a second or two she pressed firmer. He wasn't responding and she was unsure if he liked it or not. She pressed her lips even firmer and let her chest touch his while her hands dropped to his rear. She deepened the kiss and felt Seth beginning to respond. It was a start but she wanted more. She created space between them and brought her hands to his chest. She unbuttoned him from the bottom while kissing him. He jumped as her fingers slipped into his waistband as she pulled his shirt and undershirt out of his pants.

Seth reared back. "Jess!"

She looked into his eyes. "What?"

"You can't undress me, woman!"

"I believe I'm more than capable, Seth." She slipped her hand beneath his shirt and touched his abdomen. His skin was warm. "Do you want to go upstairs?"

"Jess, I don't know what is going on with you but I think I better go home." He held both of her hands in his. He didn't want to leave but he was obviously missing something.

Jessica was shocked. She obviously didn't know how to go about seducing someone. She nodded and stepped back. Seth awkwardly tucked both shirts in without unbuttoning his pants. "Goodnight Seth." She turned and walked up the stairs and into her bedroom. She obviously needed practice. Seth was too honorable to just cede to her demands. What must he be thinking?

Seth stood there staring after her. He wondered if she was upset. Was she just trying to see if she could seduce him? She couldn't be teasing him, could she? He didn't understand what was going on with her. Maybe she needed reassurance that she was still an attractive woman. Did turning sixty make a huge difference to her? He was uncertain. What should he do? Maybe she felt trying it out on him was easier. They were friends, he was probably safe for her. Did she want him to follow her upstairs? He sighed heavily. Women could be so hard to understand at times.

He began turning off lights and checking windows and doors. He sat down on the sofa in the family room. It was quiet upstairs. He didn't hear her walking around. Was she in bed? He silently left the house. Something was going on with her. Did it have anything to do with her ulcer? Was she worried about getting older? Were there other physical problems she just didn't mention?