Seth Hazlitt was in trouble. He finally got his head above water financially when his car decided to fall apart. He always took very good care of his vehicles because they had to last him a long time. His ten year old Volvo was very dependable but he realized it was really a seventeen year old Volvo. He just had it for ten years. Now he had to somehow get a new car. It would completely ruin his plans to get Jessica the Christmas gift he wanted to buy her. With a sigh and a heavy heart he started searching the classified car ads for a newer used car.
Jessica put the phone down softly and went to make a cup of tea. She asked Seth to accompany her to the play at the community center but he declined. He didn't give a reason either. He just told her he had other plans and maybe she could call up one of her girlfriends to go see it with her.
Lately, Seth hadn't been around much. He dropped by when he was out jogging one morning and she persuaded him to have breakfast but other than that one day she hadn't seen him. Oh, he was probably inundated with sick patients. It was the flu and holiday season but she had a feeling in the back of her mind that it was something else.
Seth closed the office after the final patient left. Beverly had gratefully left early so she could do a little Christmas shopping. He wished he could take Jessica to the play tonight but he had to work. He took on a job delivering pizza of all things. One of his patients told him they were really short handed and he could earn a hundred dollars a night in tips. Seth got the idea to put on a hat with reindeer antlers and deliver to all his patients that ordered. He delivered a card with the yearly calendar and refrigerator magnet that he normally gave out alongside the pizza. He saved the postage he would have spent on them too.
The pizza delivery car was a typical compact that wasn't roomy or comfortable but it got the job done. The added benefit was he was able to fit in any errands he needed doing, like grocery shopping, between deliveries. He had worked a full week and it was true. He had nearly nine hundred dollars in tips. He wasn't sure if people were tipping him well because of the holidays or because it was him but in another week or so he would have enough to make a down payment.
Jessica sat in Sheriff Mort Metzger's office and looked around while she waited for him. He had called her in and didn't say why.
"Thanks for coming in, Mrs. F," Mort walked around his desk and took a seat. He lowered his voice. "I was thinking it was time we talked. The Doc is delivering pizzas at night."
"Delivering pizzas? Why?"
"I have it from a good source that his car died and he needs to buy another one. Cars cost money. Money he doesn't have."
Jessica was flabbergasted. "What am I supposed to do? Buy him a car? He would never accept one from me."
"Yeah, the Doc is full of pride. What I was thinking of was taking up a collection from the whole town, so he can't complain or give it back."
"It would have to be done in secret. If he got wind of it, he might feel, I don't know, humiliated or something." Jessica was thinking how Seth might react and none of the scenarios were positive.
"The thing is, we have to move really fast on this. He's been using the pizza delivery car to get into town and run errands at night so he isn't noticed."
Jessica thought about Seth's embarrassment. "Mort, get him out of town for a day, say Friday. We can run around collecting donations and I'll call the car dealership. We can make the down payment with what we collect. I'll make up the difference so the car will be paid for if we don't collect enough but I bet we will."
Mort and Jessica put their heads together and came up with a plan.
Seth sighed. He had been doing that a lot lately. He had two thousand dollars and Saturday night would be his last night delivering pizzas. Unfortunately he couldn't work Friday night because the Sheriff needed him to teach an emergency medical response class to the deputies. Mort called to confirm the time and he had completely forgotten about it. Of course, he didn't let on that he forgot about it.
Jessica immediately walked over to Loretta's Beauty Salon. If anyone could get the word out, these ladies could. Word spread like wildfire. Even though he could be grumpy, cheap, and tiresome, Seth Hazlitt was well liked in town. He excused bills that patients couldn't afford to pay. He helped paint many homes for his patients that were down on their luck for one reason or another. He was always willing to do a little shopping for an invalid or his patients that needed help. He sent Beverly over to a few homes at least monthly just to check up on patients. Yes, the doctor knew how to take care of his patients.
Seth was missing Jessica. When she was out of town, it wasn't unusual for him to begin missing her after a few days but she was in town and he didn't have the time to see her. He went to bed exhausted each night. Delivering pizza for three weeks was going to be the death of him. He was also worried about his gift to her. He was at the diner this morning having his breakfast when he thought of something he could get her.
Mara told him his breakfast was already paid for by another customer which brightened his day. He knew appliances weren't really something special but last month her coffee pot was beyond even his help and she had to admit defeat. She had been drinking tea ever since. He bought her a new one, nothing fancy, and on his way out he saw some decorative coffee mugs and grabbed a couple. He hoped she wasn't too disappointed with his gift. He would make it up to her on her birthday in March.
As soon as he walked in the door Saturday night, he saw the delivery driver that he replaced was back.
"Hey Doc! I have a huge order and I'm going to need three of you guys to deliver it," Frank Jensen, the owner, announced as soon as Seth walked in.
Seth noticed the place was hopping. It was a huge sixty pizza delivery order and they all had to arrive piping hot. The drivers piled twenty pizzas each into their cars and drove over to the high school. He should have known the order was for a bunch of kids. They carried the pizzas into the gym. Seth didn't even realize most of the crowd was adults but he noticed the bright red Volvo with a huge bow on top of the car.
The high school band started playing and he was pushed front and center.
Mayor Sam Booth spoke into the mike. "For once the citizens of Cabot Cove kept a secret." There was a lot of laughter after that remark. "Dr. Hazlitt, the town is ashamed that we have taken advantage of you for so many years. We're always calling you out after office hours and you have generously donated your services, forgiven our overdue bills, and even cooked meals for us when we were down and out. We heard your car went to automobile heaven a few weeks back and decided to get you a new one. Every single citizen donated, every single one, so if you want to give us our money back, you'll have to do it individually." He patted Seth on the back as more laughter from the crowd came.
Seth's face was red. It was an outpouring of love that he never expected. He forgot to be embarrassed. He was truly grateful. He cleared his throat. "I don't know what to say. I'm overwhelmed and touched. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You shouldn't have done it though. It's winter and heating costs are high. The lobster boats can't go out and the candle factory closed…"
He trailed off as he saw Frank Jensen start a rousing cheer of 'For he's a jolly good fellow' and the crowd joined in. Tears pricked his eyelids. Jessica came over to stand beside him and leaned over and kissed his cheek while hugging him. That broke the ice and everyone came over to shake his hand.
Mort gave him the car keys, insurance papers, and everyone shouted for him to drive. Seth's hands were shaking so badly he couldn't put the key in the ignition. The passenger door opened and Jessica got inside. She saw the difficulty he was in.
"Seth," She reached for his hand and held it. He calmed down and tried inserting the key again. He was successful this time and started the engine. The wide double doors were opened and he slowly drove outside. He still hadn't spoken by the time they arrived at her house.
"Seth? Come inside and have some tea. I have gingerbread too," urged Jessica. She got out of the car and walked around to the driver's side and opened the door.
"I've never had a new car before," he muttered.
She led him by the hand and walked to her door. Inside the house was warm and only took a few minutes before she set a plate of gingerbread in front of him.
"Seth? You're starting to scare me."
"Jess, I am feeling so…so…"
"Appreciated? Loved?"
"Relieved, Jess." Seth shook his head slightly. "I've fought so hard to get out of debt and hoped I could start really saving and then my car went kaput. I just knew it would set me back a couple of years and now I have a few dollars to add to my savings."
Jessica knew it was a relief to him but hearing him admit it was surprising. She smiled at him. Maybe they could discuss it since he seemed to be in shock.
"Mort and I figured if the whole town was in on it then you couldn't turn us down but I wish you would have come to me."
"Come to you to do what? Beg?"
And just like that, Seth was no longer in shock.
"Come to me and tell me that your car died. Just to unburden yourself, Seth. Isn't that what friends are for?"
"You don't understand, Jess."
"Of course I do. I'm fortunate that I know where my next meal is coming from. It's more than likely coming from you." She smiled at him. "Seth, you're my dearest and best friend. I wore out your car as much as you if you count all the driving you do for me. How do you expect me to tell you things in confidence if you can't tell me?"
Seth stood up. "Jess, I couldn't even buy you the Christmas gift I planned to get you. I got you a coffee pot!"
"Is it stainless steel to match my other appliances? Can it make just two cups instead of six? Does the cord retract? I know you, Seth. You chose the best one for me. You probably got me mugs too."
Seth blushed and Jessica smiled wider. "You did! You wonderful man! You're always taking care of me." She threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek. "I'd prefer a thoughtful gift over any other kind."
"Aw Jess, you're making me blush."
Jessica's bright blue eyes gazed into his. She leaned closer and kissed him full on the mouth. She kissed him again and again before leaning back. "Now you're really blushing."
Seth was surprised when she kissed his lips. Hers were so soft and he was just getting over it when she kissed him again and again.
"Now, don't go making the first move on me, woman. I was waiting to get you under the mistletoe."
Her eyes went up to the ceiling and he followed them. The sprig of mistletoe was hanging there. Jessica's laughter caused him to laugh as well.
"Grab that gingerbread, Jess. I'm taking you to my house so you can open your gift and we can drink coffee."
Even though it was only the twenty-second of December, Seth felt like it was Christmas. The town he loved, loved him back and the woman at his side, literally, was not disappointed in him.
He was about to put the papers Mort gave him in the glove compartment when he glanced at them. "Jess, they paid my insurance for a year! Full coverage!"
"Merry Christmas, Seth."
"It was you!"
"I had to do it, Seth. You always just get liability insurance. If I had known I wouldn't have sent you hither and yon and back again. Now my conscience is clear and I can have you take me to the train station or pick me up with no worries."
Seth battled with himself. He normally wouldn't accept such an expensive gift from anyone but this was Jessica. As he struggled he felt her hand slip into his.
"Seth," She tilted his face up. "Do I need to hang mistletoe in your car?"
"No, Jess. I mean yes. I mean…"
She laughed. "Let's go so I can show you mistletoe isn't necessary for a kiss."
Seth gladly started the car and they drove away.
It was a very merry Christmas.
