Chapter 6

Jessica woke up the next morning, thrilled to find Seth asleep beside her. Her arm was across his chest and she was still on her side next to him. She watched as her arm rose and fell with every breath he took.

Daylight was coming through the blinds and although she did not hear Morag stirring, she knew that it would not be fair to make her wait to go outside much longer.

Disengaging herself from Seth's body, she placed a soft kiss on his shoulder. She got out of bed and wrapped her robe around her body.

Morag lifted her head from her dog bed and tilted it towards Jessica. Jessica did not speak, but moved her hand to encourage her to follow.

Downstairs, she turned on the coffee pot and then walked out the back door with Morag. When her dog jumped back up onto the porch a few minutes later, she promised to take her on a long walk after breakfast.

Back in the kitchen, she prepared the coffee and carried both mugs up to the bedroom. Morag returned to her bed on the bedroom floor, while Jessica set a cup of coffee on both bedside tables, before getting back in the bed after fluffing up her pillows to lean against the headboard. Seth had rolled onto his side, but remained asleep.

Sipping her hot coffee, she was happy. She had believed she was happy with her life for years now. And certainly, she was in her professional life, but now that Seth was beside her, she knew she had been deluding herself in many other ways, thinking she had been happy in her personal life. Perhaps she had been content most of the time, but having a taste of love and desire and remembering its sweetness, she did not want to go back to her prior solitude. She felt renewed and reawakened. Her spirit was elated.

Reaching with one hand, Jessica stroked his head, as she looked at his face in rest. She had loved running her hands through his chest hair and playing with his dog tags last night. She had felt so safe and treasured in his arms. Making love with Seth was everything she had dreamed it would be and she hoped last night was the first time of many.

Seth's eyes opened and she watched as he took in his surroundings. She saw him smile when he realized that he was in her bed, even as he turned his head to make eye contact.

"Good morning, sleepyhead."

Reaching for her hand, he held it tenderly, making circles with his thumb.

"Jess, please pinch me."

Giggling, she pulled her hand away long enough, to pinch his arm.

"Feel that?"

"Hmm, your turn," he said, as he pinched her as well.

"I'm awake…are you?" she asked, as she leaned over and kissed him, nibbling on his bottom lip.

"Hmm, yes, I believe I am now. I'm relieved to know that this isn't a dream. I can taste the coffee on your lips. Is there some for me?"

She motioned behind him. He rolled over and picked up his mug.

"I promised Morag an excursion after this."

Confused, he said, "That's an awful fancy way of saying…"

But before he could say 'walk,' she put her index finger across his lips.

"Don't say the 'w' word. She already knows what it means and she will get too excited and I'd like to enjoy my coffee first," she peered over at Morag, who was gazing at them suspiciously, but was still in her bed, waiting.

Chuckling, Seth said, "I see. She is in charge already."

"Yes, I suppose she is. You don't mind, do you, Seth?"

"Not at all. She makes you happy and if you are happy, I am happy."

"I never knew I could love a dog so much."

"And I never thought I could be jealous of a dog," he muttered as he sipped his coffee, even as he smirked. He did not begrudge Morag at all. He had matched her with Jessica after all. They were perfect for each other. As long as he fit in with the two of them, he was happy.

"Isn't it you, who is in my bed?" Jessica teased.

"So, it is, my love."

Seth leaned over and kissed her, before asking, "Why don't we take her on a drive today along the coast? It's supposed to be good weather and I would like to spend the day with you."

"That sounds lovely, my dear."

"Good. I suppose we should come up with a story before we leave of why my car has been outside all night."

"Why?"

"Why? Because people will talk and we need to know what we will say. Don't we?"

"Like a cover story or a lie?"

Flummoxed, he said, "Well, I don't mean lie per say, but I suppose we need to decide what to…"

She reached for his hand to hold, as she coaxed him to look her in the eyes, "Seth, we aren't going to create a cover story. We won't answer people's questions if they are just being nosy or wanting gossip, and if we actually know them well enough to tell the truth, they probably won't ask for it anyway. I have never asked a close friend if they were sleeping with someone, and I doubt any of my real friends would ask me."

"Jess, speaking of lies, my dear, I happen to know for a fact there have been plenty of times, you have poked your nose in your friend's personal relationships during murder investigations."

"Oh Seth, we aren't being investigated for a murder."

Laughing outright, he said, "Woman, after all these years and all the murders you have solved, I'm shocked it hasn't happened more often."

"What are you saying?"

"Just that I think it's adorable how you have a few blind spots."

"Seth!"

Pulling her to him, he began peppering her with kisses all along her face, her neck, and down to her collarbone, and soon she forgot what she was getting upset about with him.

Fluttering her eyes back open, she stared at him, before she said, "Seth, I think I just let you get away with something and I'm not even sure what it was at this point."

"I do have some hidden talents, it seems. Now, let's take Morag on her excursion. If I run home to shower and change clothes, can you both be ready to leave in half an hour?"

She nodded and kissed him goodbye, as he got up to sneak out the back door.

S/J

Their Saturday drive along the coast was glorious. The leaves were changing and the colors were vibrant. They stopped several times to walk throughout the day, never in a hurry, but letting Morag run along the shoreline and finding spots to sit and watch the waves.

They stopped in a few towns for coffee and a diner for lunch. While in the diner, Morag watched them from the car with the windows down a few inches. Jessica and Seth sat at a table where they could see her through the windows and that way, they were all comfortable. The weather was perfect and Morag was content to watch and wait for them, especially as Jessica always gave her a small treat when they returned. The town with the diner had a cute little downtown square that they explored, walking with Morag on her leash.

They received a few curious looks from time to time while they were out, but they kept to themselves. They both seemed to feel as though they were in a dream that they were afraid to wake up from. As the sun began to lower in the sky, they stopped one last time for Morag to run by the water before heading back to Cabot Cove.

Seth and Jessica walked slowly on the hard sand while holding hands. It was funny. They had walked with Jessica's hand tucked into Seth's arm for years, always feeling close and comfortable with each other. But today, they had held hands at every opportunity and it somehow felt intimate and bold, as they had never done so in public. Familiar, yet soothing. Romantic even.

"This has been a wonderful day, Seth. Thank you for taking us out for the day."

"It's been my absolute pleasure, my love."

Jessica stopped walking and turned to face Seth. She wanted to express how she was feeling, but she was not sure she had the words.

"Seth, I wish I knew how to tell you how I feel. Saying that I love you, simply doesn't feel like enough anymore."

He tilted his head to regard her, listening to see if she would continue.

"After last night…and waking up with you this morning…" she trailed off, looking at Morag as she continued playing in the water.

Jessica let herself become distracted watching Morag and was glad she brought towels with them today, she thought, sighing. Why was it so hard to tell Seth about her emotions?

He knew she had become overwhelmed, but he wanted to know so badly what was going on in her head and tried to redirect her.

"Jess, I'm listening."

She smiled at him, "I'm sorry. I'm not very good at this."

"I wouldn't say that. I think we are both just out of practice."

She turned back towards him and made eye contact again.

"Seth, I have been alone for years now. Too many to want to count or keep track. You have, too. I think we could have stayed alone. We have both been independent and a bit set in our ways. But I know that I don't want to be alone anymore. And I hope you feel the same way. I want to feel a sense of belonging again and a sense of family. I know you have Margie and I have Grady and other nieces and nephews. But now? With you and Morag? I feel a sense of belonging and family that I have been missing for so long. Last night, when I fell asleep and I was in your arms and I could hear Morag snoring across the room, I felt such a sense of peace. I love you and I choose to be with you. Not because we have to, but because I want to. Because you are part of me now."

"Are you proposing?"

She chuckled, "Well, still not yet, but I suppose I am warming to the idea. Will you wait a bit longer for me to be ready?"

"Would I like to be the husband of Jessica Fletcher? Damn right, I would. But do I have to be? No, I don't. At least not right away. Do I want to belong to Jessica Fletcher in any way she will have me? Absolutely."

"And Morag."

"I can't forget Morag."

"Good. Now, are you going to kiss me?"

"That depends," he answered.

"On what?"

"Will you at least promise me now that you will be mine forever? That you and I will be this family you envision together?"

"And Morag. You keep forgetting her."

"How could I ever? Of course. Morag, too."

"I promise, Seth. I choose you and Morag to be my family forevermore."

With that, Seth pulled her into his arms, encircling her waist, as he pressed his lips against hers. As the kiss deepened and the heat built in their bodies, their senses were overloaded with the sound of the waves, the smell of the salty sea air, and the feel of Morag running around their legs trying to get their attention, sensing that she was somehow missing out.

As the kiss ended, he rested his forehead against hers, looking into her blue eyes that matched the sea today.

"I promise, too, Jess. Wherever you and Morag are, is where I want to be."

She knew he could see the love and desire in her eyes, just as she could see both in his own, as she whispered, "Let's go home, Seth."