Depression? Not me, thought Jessica Fletcher. She was a successful author and in demand for speaking engagements. She had a bevy of friends and family, calling often and visiting occasionally. She enjoyed a variety of activities, gardening and fishing being two of her favorites. The post Christmas blues must be wearing her down.
It was late December and in Cabot Cove, Maine that was synonymous with snow, snow, and more snow. She had done her research and knew that less sunshine, fewer activities, and cold made depression more likely.
Stop it, she thought to herself. Don't start lying to yourself. You're down in the dumps over Seth Hazlitt. Last year, at this time, she and Seth had exchanged gifts and there was a warmth within that she didn't think much about until it returned a few weeks later. She realized that warm fuzzy feeling was a spark, a small flame, of affection she was feeling for her dear friend. When did that happen?
She took the time to really think about it and came to the conclusion that she had fallen in love with him so slowly that she hadn't realized it. The thought had filled her with hope but she wasn't sure what to do about it. Seth had never given her even a hint that he might reciprocate her feelings. Yes, he was a gentleman and courteous to a fault but other than the occasional hug or kiss on the cheek, nothing.
They exchanged simple gifts for birthdays and Christmas, they spent their leisure time together, and they talked on the phone when she was away from Cabot Cove but there were no intimate discussions and of course, Seth would never tell a ribald joke.
He was on her mind so often that it felt lonely when he wasn't. Since she didn't know what to do about Seth she had thrown herself into gardening last spring. Her yard turned out beautifully. Her neighbors complimented her and Seth was blown away. She was inviting him over for breakfast each weekend she was home and he always came. She would garden for an hour before showering and making breakfast then, more than likely, Seth would suggest fishing. It had been a wonderful spring and summer but no progress between them.
As the weather turned and got cooler, she started inviting him to dinners at her place. Clam chowder, minestrone, split pea and ham soup to warm their bones on a chilly evening followed by chess usually but again, nothing. And now another year is about to arrive and she was no closer to catching his eye but at least she was certain she was in love with him.
She wasn't aware of any New Year's Eve gatherings amongst her friends. Phyllis Grant had booked a trip for herself and a few of the ladies that frequent Loretta's beauty salon and they leave on the twenty eighth and are not due to return until after New Year's day. The Carson's were visiting family in New Hampshire. The Smith's were in Colorado skiing. The Turner's were cycling the flu through their residence.
The usual party throwers had different plans this year and Jessica wasn't prepared to host. She had done that at Thanksgiving and she was still exhausted. Maybe she could invite Seth over. Would he want to come?
"Seth?"
"Jess."
"I know it's late…"
"Ayuh."
"Are you in bed?"
"Ayuh."
"Seth, can you speak more than one word at a time?"
"Ayuh."
"I can see you're in a mood. Could you call me in the morning? After you've had a cup of coffee?"
Seth chuckled. "I'm just joshing you, Jess. What's going on?"
"I feel like getting gussied up on New Year's Eve. Do you feel like going out?"
"Well, there's a new front supposed to be forming and we might get some bad weather," he replied.
"Please."
"Sure, Jess. I'll drag out my tuxedo and nap before coming over so I can stay up past midnight."
Jessica laughed. "It's after midnight now, Seth."
"Yes, and I'm wondering why you're calling when you could ask me in the morning." His voice rose at the end of the sentence.
"I'm sorry, Seth."
"Feeling a little closed in?" he asked.
"Yes, exactly. I've been inside all day. I need to get out of here."
Seth laughed again. "I'll pick you up at eight and take you over to the diner for breakfast. Now let me sleep, woman."
Jessica hung up the phone with a smile. She knew he didn't mind the late night call.
New Year's Eve morning arrived and Jessica watched the weather report on tv. It was snowing heavily and even though Seth would insist on going once he put on his tuxedo, she didn't want to take the risk, not just to take her out for a few hours.
She furiously attacked her house, cleaning all surfaces to help her think of alternatives for the evening. She would have to call and cancel. She sighed. Oh well, he would probably call her and let her know they wouldn't be able to go.
She pulled out her large pot that she usually made clam chowder in and decided to offer Seth a meal.
By six o'clock she had napped, made dinner, and even if they weren't going out, she was still going to wear her dress. She had been saving it for a special occasion but it would probably lift her spirits. Normally it was something she would wear in New York. The hemline was more than adequate but the emphasis on her decolletage as well as the lowered back was a bit much for Cabot Cove. She wondered if Seth would even notice.
Her doorbell rang at eight o'clock and she wondered who was calling. Grabbing her wrap to cover her shoulders from the cold, and to prevent a nosy neighbor from eying her dress, she opened the door.
Seth, dressed in his tuxedo and overcoat, stood there. He held a bottle of champagne in his hand.
"Seth, come on in." She ushered him inside and closed the door. "Why are you coming in the front?"
"You asked me out on a date for New Year's Eve, woman."
"I thought you would call and cancel. It's snowing heavily and the roads will be awful."
"The roads are already awful but not enough for me to cancel." He eyed her carefully. "You still got gussied up."
"I thought we would eat in and now that you've brought champagne, we can make a night of it." She removed the wrap from her shoulders and dropped it on a chair. She looked up to see if Seth noticed her dress but he had gone into the kitchen to get champagne flutes.
Seth's eyes nearly popped out of his head when Jessica removed her wrap and he immediately headed to the kitchen in order to gather himself together. Taking down the champagne flutes he wondered if he would be able to get through the night without ravishing her.
He loved her for a number of years now and she never dressed provocatively. She must not know the effect she has on a person or was she just so relaxed around him that the thought never entered her mind. He carried two flutes of champagne into the family room.
"Let's say goodbye to the old year now so we can prepare for the new," suggested Seth, handing her one of the glasses.
They clinked glasses and Jessica took a sip. Seth was over at her stereo finding music.
"I had planned to dance the night away so let's trip the night fantastic," said Seth as he bowed before her. The music was loud enough to hear the strains of the violins and they danced. And they danced. And they danced again. Jessica insisted they rest after nearly an hour and she led him to the kitchen where she dished up salads and the clam chowder. Seth put the steaks in the broiler to cook to his specifications before removing his and leaving her steak in to cook a few minutes longer.
They sat down and ate ravenously. Seth poured a bottle of red wine into glasses for them. He couldn't help glancing at her dress when she wasn't looking. He was the master at looking while she looked away and then looking away when she looked at him. His mind carried him away. He wondered what she was wearing beneath her dress. He had never seen a brassiere cut so low in the front and back. Maybe it was like bathing suits where it's built in. It didn't look like there was padding though.
The thought that she might not be wearing that particular foundation garment caused him to shift in his seat.
"Seth? Seth?"
"Oh, er, what?"
"You were miles away. Do you mind taking me along wherever you were?" she smiled at him.
"I was thinking about our New Year's kiss," he teased. "Don't think I forgot that you cheated me last year."
"What? I did not! We kissed as soon as the countdown ended," denied Jessica.
"Nope, you kissed me when they said 'one' during the countdown and then we started singing 'Auld Lang Syne'. I didn't get a Happy New Year until the song ended."
"How on earth do you remember that?"
"Jess, every man thinks about his New Year's kiss the same way women think about their wedding kiss so their lipstick doesn't get smudged."
Jessica laughed. "Alright, I'll wait until the new year has begun before kissing you."
"If you need to practice, just let me know." Seth cut into his steak and popped a piece in his mouth. He knew Jessica was staring at him after that remark. He didn't realize what he said until the words had left his mouth.
"Let's dance so we can make room for dessert," suggested Seth. "We can have dessert later."
Jessica got up slowly as though she had a lot on her mind but she followed him into the family room.
What exactly did he mean? Not one to let anything go, she had to ask.
"Seth, what did you mean about practice?"
"I was just thinking I don't know how much kissing you get up to and if you haven't kissed in a while, you might want to practice."
Jessica smirked at him. "Either you know how or you don't."
"Then you're in luck," he declared as he swung her around. "Let's find a tango."
They had to take another break eventually and Jessica served up dessert and cleaned the kitchen while Seth had a second helping and a coffee refill.
They danced until five minutes to midnight before turning on the tv and watching the traditional ball drop in New York City. As the countdown began Jessica was filled with anticipation and counted along. When the counting ended she turned to Seth.
"Happy New Year, Seth."
"Happy New Year, Jess." As soon as her name left his lips, he turned her in his arms and planted a kiss on her, a long lingering kiss that curled her toes. When the kiss ended, she stood there stunned. She looked at him and he was smiling smugly.
His face fell at her words. "I think we should practice."
"What? That kiss was perfect. Tell me you didn't enjoy it!"
"Oh, I enjoyed it, dear Seth. I enjoyed it very much."
She wrapped her arms around him, without pressing too close, and kissed him. His arms around her waist began to drop until he smoothly pressed her hips to him and deepened the kiss.
"This year is off to a great start," she stated, catching her breath. She placed her hand on her chest, breathing deeply.
Seth's eyes automatically followed the movement and this time Jessica caught him.
Ah, he finally noticed, she thought.
"Are we going to dance the night away? If so, I'll send you home after breakfast."
"Sounds great!" He went over and put on some upbeat music. They danced and he dipped her with a flourish at the end.
It was three AM when they took a break and sat on the sofa. "You're starting to slow down, Seth. I can make you breakfast and send you home now."
Seth was shaking his head. "Your dress is distracting me." He motioned in the general vicinity of her bodice. "You're definitely female."
"Would you like me to take it off?" she asked.
"Yes, yes, and yes!" exclaimed Seth.
"Oh Seth," she laughed before kissing his cheek. "You flatter me. I meant take it off to change into something else. Let's go to the kitchen."
"The exact opposite direction of where I wanted to go," he muttered.
"Seth!"
"What woman? You dress to attract my attention and now you have it."
Jessica blushed. She was reminded of her teenage self trying to catch a boy's attention. She was pretty clumsy about it but thankfully so were they.
Seth lifted up her chin. "I like when you flirt with me, Jess. I like it a lot."
She smiled at him. "What else do you like?"
"I like when you wear that dress," he replied. "I like when you let me dip you low," he said softly. He pressed a kiss to her lips before saying, "I like when you brush against me."
"You like a lot of things," she said, just above a whisper.
"I like you."
This time Jessica instigated the kissing. Leaning against the doorway into the kitchen, they took their time kissing and touching. Seth pulled back and rested his forehead against hers. One hand was on her waist and the other above her head.
"I was not expecting such a wonderful night."
"Me either," she whispered.
He kissed her softly. "Would you like to make it a wonderful morning?"
Blue eyes stared into hazel ones. "Yes," she answered softly.
Whistling softly Seth deftly flipped the pancake before juicing oranges. He was half starved. He hoped Jessica hurried in the bathroom and came down soon. He had gone home and changed, making sure he parked in a different spot when he returned.
He put a plate of bacon and sausage patties on the table and then the pitcher of orange juice. The pancakes followed alongside some blueberries he found in a bowl in the refrigerator.
Jessica entered just as he put mugs on the table. "Seth, this looks wonderful."
"You look wonderful," he replied.
"I'm wearing jeans and a sweatshirt," she complained. "You're the one wearing nice slacks."
"Now, I already took them off once. Not sure I can do it again right now."
Jessica gasped in surprise before they both began laughing.
"Seth, your car has been parked out front all night! We'll be gossip fodder."
"I drove off this morning and returned and parked it in a different spot," he explained.
"I'm not sure my neighbors will notice?" She turned her head to the side.
"Those snoops! I'm surprised they don't mark my tires to see if the car is in the same spot. Hence why my car is now ten feet from where it was last night."
"Clever, Doc, very clever," she returned. "When they find out we're together they will be snooping worse than ever."
"I'll bring my camera, take pictures of them snooping, and post them on the board in my waiting room."
Jessica laughed loudly but stopped at the knocking on her kitchen door. "Come in!" Mort Metzger, Sheriff of Cabot Cove entered. "Happy New Year, Mort."
"Happy New Year, Mrs F, Doc." He cleared his throat. "I was looking for you, Doc but I found Doc Avery and he assisted."
"Doc Avery was on call. I wasn't."
"Yeah, well your neighbor, Mr. Atkins thought he was having a heart attack. Turned out to be gas."
"Jessica and I danced the night away," remarked Seth, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Mort, can I get you a cup of coffee? I'm afraid Seth made it." She smiled at Seth and slipped him a sly wink.
Mort looked uncomfortable. "Just thought I'd let you know that Maureen got two phone calls this morning. One at two a.m. and the other about fifteen minutes later." He took a sip of the coffee Jessica put in his hands. "Your car was parked out front."
Seth frowned. "It was out front until 4:25 this morning and I returned at 6:30 to make breakfast."
"Yeah?"
"Mort we drank at dinner and had champagne throughout the night. It's not unusual to be tipsy on New Year's Eve." schooled Jessica. "I already know Gladys Porter is behind this latest rumor."
Mort laughed. "You called it Mrs. F, well I'll go tell Maureen and get the correction started." He put his empty mug on the counter.
Jessica closed the door behind him and leaned against it. "Seth, it's a holiday. Let's go to your place where we won't be disturbed."
"Why don't you pack a bag and spend the night?" suggested Seth. She got an impish look on her face.
"I did say my resolution this year was to spend more time doing something I loved." agreed Jessica. "You never told me what your resolution was."
"The same as every year. Make Jess aware of me, kiss her senseless, and make love to her," he answered quietly. Brushing his hands together he clapped them and then stood up. "Those were my final resolutions for years. Jess, you are looking at a perfect man."
Her laughter sent her running up the stairs to pack while he rinsed out the dishes. Yes, it was a fabulous start to a new year.