This is an alternate ending to Tipsy Jessica. Thanks again to PixieKayGirl for getting me through the tough spots in this piece.
She let go of his neck, then pitched herself forward and swung her legs out at the same time. Somehow Seth managed to get her out of the car without injuring either one of them. "I don't feel so good, Seth."
Probably the best thing for her. And me. "Can you make it inside?" He looked around for a likely spot, but everything was too open for his liking. "Let's get inside." He hoisted her against him more firmly and pulled her to the back door. "Come on, Jess. We can make it to the guest bath downstairs."
"Can we?" she murmured faintly.
"Yes, we can," Seth said firmly as he drug her through the door and in through the kitchen.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
He'd managed to get her to sit down on the couch after he cleaned her up. She wouldn't close her eyes until he promised that he wouldn't leave if she fell asleep. He held her hand until she relaxed into the couch cushions.
As soon as he was sure she was settled, Seth returned to the kitchen and rummaged around in her pantry until he found a can of broth he was almost certain would be there. A light, warm chicken broth and some saltines would be just the thing for her unsettled stomach. He opened the can and emptied its contents into the saucepan that was on the burner. He turned it on low, then opened the cabinet to retrieve a couple of mugs and a plate for the crackers. As he fussed over her dinner, he smiled as he recalled his afternoon and evening.
It was rare to see Jessica so relaxed and uninhibited. She was usually so reserved...careful. She held herself to such a high standard, even as she had such compassion for those who fell far short. She had so many wonderful qualities. She was a dear friend, the dearest friend of his heart, but he could never let her know that.
He had loved Ruth, loved her dearly and loved her still, but...he just didn't want to be alone anymore. But it's not just that. You wouldn't have to be alone if you really didn't want to be. It's Jess you want. No one else will do. And he was pretty certain that, for Jessica, Frank Fletcher was the love of her life. And maybe that was the difference between men and women. Maybe women just loved more profoundly, more wholly than men? Maybe, although he could think of contrary examples in both genders. Maybe some people just had such a remarkable bond that nothing else could ever measure up. He smiled. He'd shared a deep bond with Ruth, certainly, and what he felt for Jessica wasn't the same, of course. How could it be? He and Ruth, just like she and Frank, had been young lovers and had grown up together. Nothing could compete with that. Still...
He wasn't incapable of love. Not at all. He had a loving heart, even if he did hide it under a brusque, sometimes coarse demeanor. He loved Jessica, differently, but no less dearly than he had Ruth. Today, Jess had hinted, tantalizingly, at being in love with him, but... He knew the effect alcohol had on some people. He'd never seen Jessica tipsy before. Perhaps she just had amorous feelings and he was the only outlet for them. His heart sank at the thought, but, he reasoned, she'd been mildly flirtatious with him before and nothing had ever come of it. Sometimes, after a difficult, fractious day, when his defenses were low, he thought of her crooking her little finger at him so beguilingly, swaying into the dining room to reveal the gift of that exquisite chess set. She did flirt with him occasionally. And in his secret heart he longed to remind her of that one day as he held her in his arms...
But none of this was getting Jess's dinner, if one could call it that, ready. He checked the broth and deemed it warm enough. He poured a helping into each mug-he might as well eat with her-then put the mugs on the plate and the sleeve of crackers under his arm.
He put everything down on the coffee table, then turned on a lamp in the far corner. He didn't think he could manage to get her upstairs tonight. Best to plan on her sleeping downstairs.
"You awake, Jess?"
"Mmm," she murmured.
"Good." He wrapped an arm around her and attempted to pull her into an upright position. "Upsy-daisy, Jess. Atta girl."
She smiled. "Frank used to tell me that. Atta girl, Jessie."
"Did he now." Seth turned a couch cushion lengthways to help prop her up, then he reached for a mug and sat down beside her. "Take a sip of this, Jess." Obediently she leaned forward as Seth held the mug for her. "Can you hold the mug yourself?" She gave him a disdainful look and took the mug from his hand. Seth smiled at her and reached for his own mug, then settled back into the couch cushions. "Eat some crackers, too, Jess. That will help settle your stomach.
They sat companionably as they ate. Jessica leaned forward to place her mug on the coffee table. "Thank you, Seth."
"You're welcome. Would you like some more?"
"No, thank you." She turned her face from his and yawned widely. "I'm a little tired, Seth."
Seth put his mug on the table. "Let's get you settled in for the night now." He helped her remove her shoes and the necklace she was wearing. If she noticed his fingers lingering on her neck, she didn't say so.
"You won't leave, will you Seth?"
"I'll stay right here, woman."
"Promise?"
"A-yuh."
"Sit with me, will you?"
"You ought to lie down."
"I will, I will. Just sit with me for a moment, won't you?"
She looked at him with those big blue eyes. He wondered if Frank Fletcher was ever able to resist the pull of those eyes. He doubted it.
"Alright, woman, alright. I'll sit with you." He settled in beside her. "But just for a few minutes. You need your rest."
She curled up beside him and let out a soft sigh of contentment that thrilled him to his soul. She was awfully close and, in spite of everything that had happened, she smelled so good. The sound of her steady inhale and exhale was soothing, and her warm breath tickled his neck. He shifted slightly. It had been a long day.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
He woke suddenly, disoriented. His neck was sore-that was unusual-and his collar felt tight. He blinked his eyes a few times, then looked around cautiously. The lamp cast a soft yellow glow over Jessica's living room and he remembered where he was and why. He hadn't meant to fall asleep on the couch. Somehow, they'd moved even closer together. Jessica was draped across his chest and he had slung his arm around her. It was a mercy that he hadn't collapsed on top of her. He could only imagine how embarrassed she would feel at waking like this with him. He had to shift her more firmly onto the couch, then he would move to the chair. Before he could begin the slow process of extricating himself from Jess's embrace, she began to stir. She began rubbing her face in his neck. This would never do.
"Jess," he murmured.
She raised her head and stared at him for a long moment, then struggled to sit up. As he leaned in to help her, she turned and pressed her mouth to his. It was long, sweet kiss full of promise. She pulled back, eyes closed, and sighed. "Oh, Frank."
No other utterance could have cooled his ardor more completely. He stroked her hair gently, then helped her to lie down on the couch. He covered her with the blanket, and mercifully she soon settled back into a deep sleep.
He sat in the chair opposite, rubbing a fingertip against his lips while his heart broke anew.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
Sunlight streamed in through the curtains and Jessica blinked and stretched. "You stayed," she said in a voice of wonder tinged with surprised delight.
"I said I would," said Seth gruffly. "How do you feel?"
"Much better," as she sat up and sang a yawn. She smiled at him. "How do you feel?"
"Sleeping in this chair didn't do me any favors," he said acidly.
She stood and stretched again. "You should stand up, Seth. Get your blood flowing!" Why was she in such a good mood this morning? Was she always this cheerful when she woke up?
"Are you always so cheerful in the morning?"
"I should think you'd be more cheerful on such a fine morning!"
"Jess-" He hesitated. No good could come of talking over yesterday's and last night's events.
Jessica looked at him shrewdly. "I remember kissing you, last night."
"What?"
"Last night. I kissed you."
"You weren't kissing me, Jess."
"What? What do you mean?"
"You were kissing Frank. You called me Frank," and his voice broke.
Her eyes widened. "Did I?"
"A-yuh."
"Oh, Seth." She hugged herself. "Yet you stayed."
"I did. You might have needed me in the night. For medical reasons, I mean," he finished awkwardly.
Jess was quiet for a moment. "That's not how I remember it."
Now it was Seth's turn. "What do you mean?" he asked carefully.
"I don't remember thinking of Frank...when I kissed you, I mean. I remember dreaming about him." She smiled softly. "I still dream of him sometimes, though not as often as I used to. Do you still dream about Ruth?"
Seth nodded. "Every now and again. What did you dream about last night?"
"Well, in a way, I was dreaming about you, too." She paused. "About us."
"Us?" Seth repeated faintly.
She looked him in the eye, steady, unwavering. His Jess had courage, unlike him, who was desperate to look away. He forced himself to maintain eye contact. "Yes. You and I were cooking dinner. Or rather, you were cooking and I was merely looking on when Frank came in the back door. You didn't notice him, but I did...right away." She smiled, but this time Seth could see unshed tears pooling in her eyes...those huge, sparkling eyes. "He folded me in a hug." She looked at Seth. "I actually felt his arms around me. He squeezed me and told me how happy I'd made him- then and now. Happy because of his memories of our good, strong marriage, and happy now because-" Here she faltered and Seth took a tentative step towards her. "Because I found you. Because we found each other. He said...he said," She broke. "He said it was time for me to love again. That of all the men I'd encountered since he died...that you were the only one who understood me. Who knows me and loves me because of that and sometimes in spite of it. He told me I didn't have to feel guilty or afraid anymore. Then he hugged me goodbye, and I felt your arms surrounding me. I felt the scruff of your cheek against my face. And I knew then. I knew it was you that I wanted. It was you that I wanted to kiss and hold. That it has been you for quite some time now. I'm only sorry for two things."
"What's that?" Seth croaked.
She closed the gap between them. "For succumbing to the smallest amount of the strongest cider." She paused, putting her arms around Seth's neck. "And for not saying your name when I kissed you, Seth." She kissed him again, slowly, deliberately. It took a moment for Seth to respond, but he allowed himself to relax into her and he brought his arms around her waist and pressed her to him, letting his happy tears fall.
She drew back, using her thumbs to wipe the tears from his eyes. "What is it, my darling?"
"I could get used to that," Seth chuckled through his tears. "My heart...it just broke, last night." Tears spilled from Jessica's eyes. "No, no, Jess. No tears." He smiled.
"And you stayed, in spite of that. You spent the night, in case I needed you." She drew him to her and kissed him fiercely. "I love you, Seth Hazlitt," she said as they broke apart. She trailed kisses along his cheek and neck. "I love you."
He shivered in her arms. "Oh, Jess. You don't know how I've longed to hear you say that. I love you, too. And, though it caused you discomfort, I'm grateful to the Applewood sisters and that powerful batch of cider."
Jessica groaned. "Don't remind me. I still feel a bit wobbly." Seth came over concerned immediately. "Don't worry," Jessica said, smiling. "It's nothing a few more kisses won't cure."