Chapter 1

"Hello?"

"Hi, Aunt Jess!"

"Grady? How are you?"

"Just fine, Aunt Jess."

"And Donna and Little Frank?"

"They are both great, too."

Jessica could hear the smile in his voice and she felt her shoulders relax. She tried not to worry about her loved ones, but Grady was different. He was special. The closest thing she would ever get to a child of her own and a lasting link to her beloved Frank.

She and Frank had raised Grady after his parents had died in a car accident, when he was in elementary school. She had soothed his tears those first few months, often in the middle of the night, when he would wake from a nightmare and cry out for his mother. Jessica knew she was a poor substitute for her sister-in-law, but she never once begrudged being woken up in the darkness, seeing his little body shake in the double bed. Sometimes he dreamed about his parents and sometimes he told her that he hadn't had a bad dream, but had simply woken up in the middle of the night and forgotten for a brief moment that they were both gone. When Grady would allow her to, Jessica would pull him into her lap and rock him back to sleep. He told her that he was too old for her to sing him lullabies, but he would hold on to her tightly all the same, and she promised to never tell anyone that he cried, even though she would tell him how brave it was to feel his feelings and he would always be safe with her.

Frank had grieved the loss of his brother mightily, but he had loved Grady as his own and had taken it as an honor and privilege that they both knew it to be that his brother and sister-in-law had chosen them to be the ones to raise Grady, knowing that they would do so with as much love and attention as they could give the little boy.

Without realizing it until Jessica lost Frank several years ago, young Grady had taught her about grief all those years ago and she knew that is why he had instinctively known how to be there for her in a way that no one else had.

Pulling herself out of her reverie, she listened as Grady told her about work and living in New York. He sounded happy and she loved feeling his happiness. He was such a kind and giving man, who had often been taken advantage of in the past, but he had found a wonderful wife in Donna and he was a present and active father to Little Frank.

Sensing that he wanted to ask her something and that he wasn't sure how, she confronted him.

"Ask whatever it is, Grady. You know you can."

"Yes, Aunt Jess. It's just that next weekend is our eighth wedding anniversary and I rented a cabin in Acadia for Donna and I to stay in."

"That sounds lovely, Grady. What a wonderful idea. Will you be able to stop by to visit on your way there?"

"Well, actually, yes. You see, I had thought we would bring Little Frank, but Donna kind of wanted more of a romantic weekend. I didn't really think of that when I booked it. But she suggested that since it's so close to Cabot Cove…that perhaps Frank could stay with you? It's only for two nights. And I know he is only six, but he is well-behaved, I promise," Grady said, in his usual anxious rush of words.

She sensed a little embarrassment on his part in admitting to his widowed aunt that his wife wanted a romantic weekend with him. But he was glad he could tell her, despite knowing he was probably red in the face at this point. Well, she would put him out of his misery quickly.

"Grady, stop it. Of course, you must bring Little Frank here. I would love to have him stay. I can't believe I didn't think to offer. He is at a great age for a weekend visit and I can already think of several things we can do together."

"Gee, Aunt Jess. That would be great. Thank you."

"Grady, I know you are a little old to hear this and neither of us have ever been too good at expressing our emotions, but I love you and I love your family. You don't need to be afraid to ask me to watch Little Frank. Ever. Alright?"

"Aunt Jess?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm never too old to hear that," he confessed quietly.

Oh, her heart clenched. Sometimes she forgot that just as he was the closest she would ever get to a child of her own, she was the closest he had to a mother. And she was his only link to his parents, Frank, and his childhood he had left.

"Perhaps I should tell you more often then," she whispered back.

"I'd like that. I love you, too, Aunt Jess."

Her eyes were watering, but she refused to cry on the phone where he could hear, even as she suspected he was struggling as well. Pushing her emotions away, they spent the rest of the conversation discussing logistics for the following weekend.

By the time they hung up, she was able to wipe her eyes and blow her nose, before lifting the phone once again.

"Hazlitt."

"Seth, it's Jess. Are you busy?"

"Not at the moment. Just working on some patient files before calling it a day. Are you calling to invite me to dinner?"

She hadn't been, but realized that it was almost dinner time and recovered before he could realize.

"Yes, could you bring some bread? I have some potatoes I'll pop in the oven and I can grill up some chicken and make a salad to go with it."

"Be there in half an hour."

Hanging up the phone once again, she moved to preheat the oven and set to work on marinating some chicken and tossing a salad. When Seth entered through the back door precisely half an hour later, she called out a greeting and turned to smile at him.

"Good day, Jess?"

"Yes, you?"

"Fair to middling."

He grabbed an apron and shooed her away from the chicken that she was about to cook, taking over and telling her to finish the salad.

Eyeing her from his vantage point at the stove, he asked, "What has you bouncing around with energy?"

"Oh, Grady called today."

"Ayuh? And what is he up to these days?"

"Well, he and Donna are about to celebrate their eighth anniversary and they rented a cabin at Acadia and are driving up next weekend."

"That sounds nice. Should be good weather for it. Will they stop on their way to see you?"

"Yes, actually, they are bringing Little Frank to stay with me for the weekend."

"Oh? And you are happy about that, are you?"

"Yes, of course, I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

"No reason. Little boys have a lot of energy though, Jess. Sure you are ready for that?"

"I did help raise Grady, Seth. I am aware of how much energy little boys have."

"Ayuh. But it has been a good many years since Grady was a young boy."

"Yes, and I assume that is your way of saying it has been many years since I was a young woman caring for Grady. But oh, Seth. Don't rain on my parade please."

His eyes softened as he said, "I'm sorry, Jess. Of course, you are excited and you should be. I didn't mean to take away your happiness."

"Thank you." She squeezed his arm, before adding, "But, I am hoping you will want to spend some time with us? I may need a helper."

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe I'm busy next weekend," he said, but she knew he was teasing, as he broke into an easy smile.

"Seth!"

"How old is the young fellow now?"

"Six. He is in first grade and cute as can be."

"I'd say that is old enough to learn to play chess and how to cast a fishing line."

Feeling a surge of excitement rush over her, she smiled at Seth, before she asked, "Do you think you could ask Caleb if he could take us out on the boat? We could teach him to cast and maybe Caleb would be willing to teach him about water safety and steering the boat."

"Ayuh, shouldn't be a problem. Better come up with a backup plan in case of rain though."

"Alright. I'll look to see if there are any children's events at the library next weekend or perhaps we could take him bowling or some other indoor activity."

"I've never known you to bowl, Jess."

"That's because I'm terrible at it and I don't particularly enjoy my ineptitude being on display for everyone to see."

Chortling in response, he teased, "What's your excuse when we play chess?"

Gasping in mock outrage, she smacked him lightly on his arm, before they laughed together.