Chapter 1

Seth had worked a long day starting by making rounds at the hospital, before coming back to his office to find the waiting room already full. Beverly had triaged the walk-ins and as usual, had a plan for how to see the most ill first, without angering those who actually made appointments.

Working non-stop the rest of the day, he had not even paused for lunch.

Just as the last patient of the day left, Beverly was not far behind, calling out that she would see him in the morning.

Seth sat at his desk, making notes in patient files for Beverly to type and file later tomorrow. His stomach was growling, but he wanted to finish, so he could have the evening to himself. Maybe he would call Jessica and see if they could meet at the diner.

No sooner had he had that thought, than his phone rang. He hoped it was not a patient emergency. He was exhausted.

"Doc Hazlitt."

"Seth, it's Jessica. I'm grilling a couple of steaks. Would you like to come over?"

"Ayuh, I'm finishing up a few patient files. Half an hour alright?"

"That will be fine."

Hanging up, he had a fresh surge of energy coursing through him, as he focused on the remaining patient files. He wanted to have time to shower and shave, too.

Half an hour later as promised, he walked through Jessica's back door carrying a pie from Sassi's.

Jessica was standing at the oven, bending over to take potatoes out. The smell of the potatoes combined with the steaks sizzling on the stove, made his mouth water. Standing in the doorway, he looked at her bending over. She had not heard him come in and he took the rare opportunity to stare at her without her being aware.

Tonight, she was wearing a pair of jeans and a pretty green cardigan over a white collared shirt. He had not seen her front yet, but was enjoying the look of her backside, even as he knew if she caught him staring, he would be in for it. Moving back a few steps, he walked forward again but this time, noisily, to announce his presence.

"Hi, Jess!" he said a bit too loudly, as she bumped against the countertop.

"Seth! You startled me!"

"Sorry about that," he mumbled, before setting the pie on the table, before he asked, "Anything I can help with?"

She motioned to the cabinets, asking him to set the table, as the food was ready.

Shoving some papers out of the way on the table, he did as she asked, and within a few minutes, they sat down to steaks, baked potatoes and salad.

"This is a feast, Jess. What made you cook all this tonight?"

"Oh, I saw the steaks in the store today and couldn't remember the last time I had one. It sounded delicious, so on an impulse, I got some and set to work," she said while smiling at him.

"Thank you for inviting me."

"You're always invited, Seth, you know that."

"I know, but it doesn't mean we see each other every day. I might not have come over tonight without your call."

She arched her eyebrow, looking at him quizzically.

"Or maybe I would have. Guess we will never know, will we?" causing them both to chuckle.

Continuing to eat, they were quiet for a brief period of time, before Jessica asked Seth how his day was.

"Brutal."

"Oh? That's an unusual word for you to describe your day."

"Yes, well, it was brutal. Rounds at the hospital and a full waiting room in my office. No time for lunch. Except for two cups of coffee and a granola bar I snagged at the hospital off of another doctor's desk this morning, I have had nothing else."

"No wonder you are grouchy. I have never known you to willingly eat granola," she said, but smiles broadly, conveying that she is teasing.

"I thought I was a beacon of patience actually," he responded, but was not surprised when she laughed aloud, and was enchanted at the sound.

Jessica has the best laugh. He will always act the fool if he can get that type of response from her.

"I'm glad I had a steak and potatoes for you tonight, Seth. It sounds like this was the night for a big dinner."

He nodded in agreement. He was thankful for this woman. She was always a delight to be with whenever the occasion arose.

She had finished her meal, moving her plate to the sink and refilling their coffee and tea before sitting back down. She watched him eat, but stayed silent. He began to feel a sense of foreboding. There was something behind this dinner invitation tonight and he was nervous about what it was.

He ate every last bite, while she sat sipping her tea. When he finished, wiping his mouth with a napkin, he sat back in his chair, and said, "Alright, what is it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Something is on your mind. I can see the cogs turning. Was there a particular reason you made me a big meal tonight and invited me over?"

She appeared offended at first, standing to clear his plate, but he grabbed her wrist gently, and said, "Jess, I know you. Just talk to me. Please."

She exhaled, but instead of answering, she grabbed the papers that he had moved to the other side of the table when he arrived and put them in front of him, her hand tapping the pages a few times sending a signal that he needs to look at them, before turning to the sink to wash the few dishes.

Focusing on the pages in front of him, it is clear on the first page that it is a contract between Jessica and her publisher. She is initially referred to as "Jessica Beatrice Fletcher," "AKA JB Fletcher," henceforth known as the "Author." Why does legal verbiage have to be so hoity-toity? It is annoying at best and more often than not, damn confusing.

As he scans each page, noticing her initials and someone else's at the bottom of each page, it seems more and more garbled. Several pages include financial agreements, and although his brain registers a lot of zeros, he flips the pages before retaining anything more. He does not need to know that information. As he continued though, he was not sure what she wanted him to see and almost asked her in frustration. He was glad he waited though, because when he got to the next to the last page, there were bullet points summarizing the agreement.

Jessica will only guarantee one manuscript for each year over the next three years, with the option to submit up to two more if she chooses, but it is her choice only. If she does choose to submit more, each of those manuscripts will be negotiated separately by her agent.

She will agree to one tour only for the guaranteed manuscript when it is published each year, to only three major cities, New York, Boston, and San Francisco. The tour will last no more than three weeks, one week in each city. All other publicity needed to promote her book will be done via internet or phone and is up to her discretion.

But perhaps the biggest surprise was on the last page, when he saw her signature, as well as that of her publisher, both signatures being notarized, along with an official stamp on it, noting it is a copy for her records. Her signature was dated today. This was already a signed contract and not some pipe dream that she was using to negotiate. This was a done deal!

By the time he finished, stacking the pages back together, he could see her out of the corner of his eye. She was leaning against the counter, watching him as he read, while trying not to be obvious. He knew her well.

He continued looking at the contract in front of him. He can't believe that she signed this. At first, he wondered if her publisher had not wanted her books for some reason, but dismissed that nonsensical thought as soon as it crossed his mind. Every book she had ever written were best-sellers. Every prior contract that he was aware of had her committing to two to three books a year with up to three months of travel and she had mentioned several times over the last year that while she enjoyed all of her work, it was starting to feel like it was too much.

But to go from three books and three months of travel each year to this? To say he felt shock and confusion would be an understatement.

"Say something," she whispered, still standing by the countertop, with her hands resting on either side of her body.

"I'm shocked, Jess," was all he could think to say, when he finally raised his head to meet her eyes.

"Vaughn wasn't very happy, but as I didn't budge, he took what I offered. Matt wasn't happy either, but they have both made plenty of money off me over the years. I consider them both friends, but I needed them to understand that I am getting older and tired. I can't keep up with the pace. Or rather, I don't want to anymore. I want to write, but everything else...and…when they didn't understand and kept pushing, I simply dug in my heels and refused to compromise any further. Vaughn finally gave in and sent the signed contract yesterday. I signed this morning at the bank and faxed it back to Matt."

She shrugged, as though that is all there was to it, before coming back to sit down with two small dessert plates to dish up the pie.

"Well, Jess, I'd say you hold the power and they know it."

"I know. But I don't like exerting it. Makes me feel like a tyrant."

"I thought you were for women's equality."

She laughed, "I am. But for the exact reason there has been a struggle over the years for it, is why I don't like being worried that I am viewed now as a 'difficult author.'"

"I'm sure you were diplomatic, Jess. And I know you were not rude."

"No, I wasn't rude. Just very firm."

Seth wanted desperately to ask why she wanted to slow down when she was at her peak. He wanted desperately to hope that he had something to do with it, even as he knew he couldn't possibly be a factor in her decision.

But she knew him, because after watching him take another bite of his pie, she asked, "Just ask me what you want to know, Seth."

Clearing his throat, he said, "Well, I guess I just wondered why. I know you have been working hard for years, but you are energetic and seem to thrive on the activity."

Smiling, she said, "I suppose it has more to do with the travel than the writing itself. And they don't want to agree to publish more books without proper publicity. Minimizes their profit and all that. It's not that I don't want to travel, it's that I don't want to travel for months at a time, nor do I want to go to a new city every two days anymore. I'd like to travel, but for pleasure, and maybe go on more trips with you if you are open to that."

"Ayuh, Jess, I enjoy traveling with you."

"And…I would like to spend more time with you, Seth. I don't necessarily always want to be in Cabot Cove, but when I am…I want to have more time for you. And when I travel, I don't like leaving you behind."

Another shocking revelation. What was going on with this woman?

She moved her hand over to rest on top of his, and he sucked in a breath of air.

All he could say was, "You know I love spending time with you, woman. And if you will be here more, maybe I can cut back on some hours here and there."

"I'd like that, Seth."

It was late and he had had an exhausting day. He thought about suggesting they play chess, but he did not have the head space for it. Not only that, but his mind needed to think through what she had revealed to him tonight. He knew that there was far more behind her contract negotiations than she had told him thus far.

"Jess, please don't think I'm being rude, but I'm exhausted. I think I need to go home."

"I can tell. Your eyes are tired," she said, following him to the door.

"Thank you for a lovely dinner, Jess. It saved me from starving today."

She smiled, accepting the kiss on her cheek that he gave her, and watched as he went out to his car, waving as he drove off.